WAR RESEARCH AND THE UNIVERSITY
WAR RESEARCH AND THE UNIVERSITY
Wednesday
February 15
7:00 PM
180 PLC
University of Oregon
FREE ADMISSION
Sponsored by Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice, and Strike for Peace
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War Research and the University
A panel discussion on the global impact of America's excess militarization
This forum, brought to you by Concerned Faculty and CampUS
Strike for Peace, identifies America's militarism as a central cause of
foreign and domestic disruptions. It will expand on the point of view that,
subsequent to WWII, the US military has become an instrument for world
domination, enriching a select few at the expense of everyone else. And you
will be reminded of the costs, in money and civil liberties, of America's
imperialism.
Many of you will recognize that this problem is not a new one, and
you may ask, "why do we address it now, and why here?" We do so for two
reasons: (First) The misuse of American military power since 9/11 has
resulted in a loss of respect for our country of unprecedented degree. We
are all aware that this loss of respect is impacting the University's
primary missions of education and research. More seriously, the
consequences of America's militarism may well push the world over the edge
of ecological catastrophe, with global warming and nuclear annihilation
competing for first place. (Second) Many on our campus are unaware that our
University plays a role in the nation's out-of-control military spending.
In fact, UO is an active member of the Military-Industrial complex that
President Eisenhower famously warned against.
We expect that our University Senate will soon hold hearings on UO
involvement in Defense Department research and will deal with legislation
to change that involvement. It is important that the University Community
be aware of the substance of these deliberations in order that they can
more wisely advise their elected UO Senators.
Members of our panel, Brian Bogart (graduate student in Peace
Studies) will explain the history of post WWII militarization. Jane Cramer
(Assistant Professor of Political Science) will present evidence that US
military spending is far higher than is required for national defense and
appears to be driven by self-serving interests; Gordon Lafer (Associate
Professor in the Labor Education Research Center) will explain how
excessive military spending inevitably leads to loss of civil liberties;
and Louise Westling (Professor of English) will present evidence that the
UO is an active participant in the militarization of America and will
question whether this involvement is compatible with the University's
stated mission.
Following the presentations, we will all have the opportunity to
discuss these ideas with the panelists and with each other.
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The Program:
(1) Introductory comments (Frank Stahl) -- 5 minutes
(2) History of the development of a war-based economy (Brian Bogart) -- 15
minutes
(3) Statistics/documentation of taxpayer's money spent on "Defense" etc.
and comparison between U.S. and other countries' spending on "Defense" vs
social programs such as health care, education, environment (Jane Cramer)
-- 15 minutes
(4) Explanation/documentation that reduced social spending and increased
military spending results in increasing loss of democracy and civil
liberties. (Gordon Lafer) -- 15 minutes
(5) Quotes from the AAU in support of expanding DoD power and money, and,
conversely, an interpretation of the UO Mission Statement that supports a
stand against aggrandizing the Pentagon. (Louise Westling) -- 10 minutes
(6) An hour's worth of audience participation.
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Take Back America
A People’s Guide to Global Economic Injustice
Introduction
Amid the clamor of daily life, as most people deal with career and family obligations, a few scholars are hard at work on behalf of all humanity and Planet Earth. They are the ones with the time and dedication to look for and assess the vast wealth of information quietly accumulating in the public domain pointing to an astounding crime that changed America and now threatens our civilization. They are the ones who are piecing together the jigsaw nature of this crime and have begun articulating how it was and remains the root cause of global economic injustice.
If asked about their sources of information, these scholars might go so far as to say, thank goodness for the CIA, for it was this agency that, between 1947 and 1991, delivered private reports to policymakers that have in the wake of the Cold War proven to be accurate, but which were systematically ignored and publicly countered by policymakers.
In defense of their work, former directors of CIA and others are flooding the public domain with evidence supporting the case of a Cold War manufactured by members of President Truman’s administration to save the aircraft industry in the wake of World War II, and thereafter maintained by subsequent administrations for economic reasons. The evidence also strongly supports the notion of a premeditated transition, made between 1992 and 2001, from war on communism to war on terrorism, for precisely the same reasons.
Since 9-11, the goal of these scholars has been to investigate and articulate this global crime, particularly the negative impact on taxpayers and community infrastructures, including academic institutions, of the defense industry’s dispersed-vendor phenomenon -- the manufacturing of each weapons program in many different states, economically motivating state political leaders to continuously pursue passage of such programs, no matter how immoral or unfeasible.
The American economy and its political process is a house of cards -- an Enron bubble -- and the American people would be wise to support these few scholars, and to prepare to use this information to reform our political process and transfer the national priority from weapons production to human progress by popular demand. To take back America, we must participate. Root-cause oriented activism, and sharing the central thesis, are the keys to uniting effectively for change.
Brian Bogart/IntelligentFuture
If we do not advance our Founding vision for peace, we will perish by advancing our technology for war.
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www.VelvetRevolution.us
Food & Water as Weapons of Mass Destruction
It is clearly becoming a clss warfare in the once United States of America. Under President George W. Bush, basic salvation is being used against citzens in Iraq, and will soon be happening to citizens of the US. I often write my representatives in congress, and just last nite I was urging them to bring in the UN Peacekeepers to find a resolution to this war in Iraq. The neo-cons will not let it rest until our President is the dictator that he wants to be. Is america ready to file bankruptcy ? That is what this administration is pushing for. All the while, stripping programs of value from the middle and lower income groups. I am very glad to see active groups working against these defeatism policies pressed on by future King George. Democrats MUST show their credible actions are for not only the good of the people, but for the removal of this abnoxious President who thinks that we owe him more power.
Web Way To Global Peace
THE WEB WAY TO SAVE PLANET EARTH
By: John McConnell
"The Man Who Started Earth Day And The Earth Trustee Idea"
Internet has provided WWW – a World Without Walls. Here is how anyone and everyone can think and act as an Earth Trustee and help make our planet a home to be proud of. The Earth Trustee Agenda can appeal to the most people (people of every creed and culture) and do the most good for people and planet. Also, here is the formula for individuals and institutions that can convert words into actions, tap the best of every religion and ethic, and rapidly replace hate, fear, greed and injustice with altruistic attitudes and actions that will eliminate poverty, pollution and violence.
As we enter a new millennium a new global state of mind is emerging. The end of the "Cold War" and the new data connections of Internet provide new possibilities for peaceful change.
While the old way of thinking still hinders peace and justice in Jerusalem and other trouble spots, the miracle of the World Wide Web brings new connections among people of good will who are seeking a way to global peace and prosperity.
Following is the Earth Trustee Agenda that can best serve this purpose and provide a sustainable future:
EARTH TRUSTEE AGENDA
"Let every individual and institution now think and act as a responsible trustee of Earth, seeking choices in ecology, economics and ethics that will provide a sustainable future, eliminate pollution, poverty and violence, awaken the wonder of life and foster peaceful progress in the human adventure."
To succeed we must combine heart and mind in effective action. If this article moves you emotionally and you now know what to do, you will act. Let us first consider the following:
In order to come together in care for our planet we must respect and care about one another. People of all creeds and persuasions find agreement in the three most important words in human history, "Love One Another."
Heartfelt love, faith and prayer by people of most every religion is increasing around the world.
While great differences exist in creeds and social issues, more and more people are finding common ground. There is growing awareness that we are one human family and must now take charge and take care of our planet. We can and must now come together where we agree -- leaving room for differences on matters where we don't agree.
SPACE AGE WORLD VIEW
"We set out to explore Space and discovered Earth."
Now we know Planet Earth has amazing raw materials (land, water, gold, oil -- , etc., and organic life). With proper use of our new technologies, with logical economic policies and fair benefits for services, everyone could join in the rejuvenation of Earth. In this New Millennium we can make our planet a Garden of Eden.
There is no excuse for extreme poverty and unearned extreme wealth. New Earth Trustee economic policies can remedy this. There is growing support for a New Millennium Proposal to cancel the massive debts owed by the poorest countries. This should be followed by vigorous efforts to restructure economic institutions and achieve just and efficient production, trade and currency exchange. "Think globally, act locally."
Internet now provides access to ideas, actions, records and results. Let all institutions now report how much their policies and programs accomplish Earth Trustee goals. A growing flood of Earth Trustee solutions will follow.
FACING THE DIFFICULTIES
While it is good to accent the positive and focus on solutions, we also need to honestly face the difficulties. Whether it is the result of sinful nature, childhood neglect or bad genes, humanity today is crippled by hate, fear, greed, sickness, crime and misuse of money and power.
Fortunately, the vast majority of people believe in the golden rule and try to be honest. They can support the vision and actions that will bring a positive, global, state of mind. This will better enable efforts and their values to reach the minds and hearts of those engaged in evil acts -- who in truth "know not what they do." Earth Trustee vision and action will replace enmity with harmony.
Actions good or bad begin in the mind. Evil will be overcome -- not just by laws or military might, but by love and faith and vision of a better way.
TWO LEVELS OF REALITY
To achieve Earth Trustee goals it is important to recognize two levels of reality -- the physical and the metaphysical, or spiritual.
People of all creeds and cultures can now agree on physical reality. We agree we have a great planet and can benefit by its nurture.
In the larger question, "What’s life all about?" we are faced with profound mysteries of life and death. Conflicting creeds try to deal with them.
Some of my best friends and I disagree on life after death. I don't believe in reincarnation. When I met with the Dali Lama, I praised him for his strong support of peace and the care of Earth. We agreed that in our differences over reincarnation we each based our beliefs on hypothesis that could not be scientifically proven. I did not have a videotape of what people were doing in heaven – and he did not have an X-ray of a soul waiting for reincarnation. We must recognize our differences and work together where we agree.
The best of our science and logic provide no answers all can agree on. Our beliefs are based on faith. While we may differ on the nature of God and life after death, we can commend actions that nurture people and planet -- regardless of the persons creed.
The Earth Trustee agenda should not be a stumbling block to people of any creed -- who want to help "peace, justice and the care of Earth."
When it comes to the mysteries of life the human search continues and will not diminish. The explosion of knowledge about the Cosmos is accompanied by scientific study of spiritual healing and psychic phenomena. The more we learn, the greater the mystery!
The Astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking concentrated on how the Cosmos grows. The results were astounding. However, in his last words on a TV program, "The Universe" he stated, "We are finding the answer to 'how.' When we find the answer to Why?, we will have the mind of God."
To continue our quest to understand the great mysteries of life we must avoid the death of nature and the collapse of civilization -- a real present danger. Let us now convert Earth Kill to Earth Care and make this new millennium an Earth Trustee Millennium.
EARTH DAY
International Earth Day is celebrated around the world each year on the March Equinox (March 20 or 21). The United Nations Peace Bell is rung at the moment Spring begins -- followed by two minutes for silent prayer or meditation. This provides a special time for people worldwide to join simultaneously in dedication to be responsible Trustees of Earth.
The March Equinox was chosen for the first Earth Day (1970). The idea was not local convenience or comfortable weather -- which varies from place to place, but a day suitable for international celebration. On this day, night and day are equal. This day is a million year symbol of the balance of nature and the equilibrium we seek on Earth.
While there are many holidays celebrated around the world by different governments, religions and different groups, the idea of Earth Day was to recognize we are all one human family and have only one Earth. We needed One Global Annual Holiday for the whole human family. Earth Day on the March Equinox can best serve this purpose and become the Great Day for Planet Earth and encourage more Earth Trustee actions around the world.
WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO
If you agree in principle with this Earth Trustee proposal for a sustainable future, then decide you will help make it work.
First, adopt an Earth Trustee attitude. That means an Earth Trustee way of looking at everything. You want your daily choices in work, travel, shopping and other activities to naturally reflect your Earth Trustee values.
Individuals will differ in what they pay most attention to. You may get interested in composting, planting trees, or volunteering for some project that is bringing peace and justice with understanding and action to better your neighborhood.
If you have not already done so, join some group that you feel will assist Earth Trustee goals. Where possible get them to use the Earth Trustee name for their efforts. All who seek to further peace, justice and the care of our planet can foster mutual understanding and cooperation by calling their effort an "Earth Trustee" effort. The Earth Day/Earth Trustee agenda in the Earth Magna Charta can help any worthwhile project. Your church, club, school or business can adopt the Earth Magna Charta and in its own way implement its policies and agenda.
EARTH TRUSTEE INSTITUTIONS
Individual Earth Trustee actions can improve conditions in institutions as they presently exist. Far more will result as we restructure institutions to conform with Earth Trustee policies and purposes. Businesses, banks, churches and temples, clubs, towns and cities, are all invited to help implement the Earth Trustee Agenda. They can adopt the Earth Magna Charta ( http://www.earthsite.org ) and implement its Earth Trustee ideas in their own way. Every web site can be an Earth Trustee site and do their part to help people and planet.
WHAT GOVERNMENTS CAN DO
The actions of governments is a key factor in deciding the future of Planet Earth. When governments adopt and support the Earth Trustee Agenda we will end humanities long addiction to war as a means of settling differences.
EARTH TRUSTEE ACTIONS -- Think and act as an Earth Trustee every day. Proceed Earth Day observance with Earth Trustee actions where you are and post them in your favorite web sites on Internet. On Earth Day, join with your friends and family at home, church, school or work to mark this day with attention for the wonder of life and what we can do for people and planet. Let's have bells ring all over the world when the Peace Bells are rung on Earth Day. Explorers in Space will share their inspiring views of our beautiful planet as they join in the celebration.
The Earth Trustee Millennium provides a new beginning of promise and hope.
Spread the word. Now is humanity’s greatest opportunity.
Earth Magna Charta: http://www.earthsite.org
John McConnell - Ph: 303/758-7687
4924 E. Kentucky Circle
Denver, CO 80246