Activism

To Members and Friends of Veterans For Peace:

I write with mixed emotions of sadness and excitement to inform you that I will be stepping down as Veterans For Peace Executive Director effective February 28, 2010. As of that date it will be a little over five years working for one of the most important organizations in the country. I have been blessed to be at the center of resistance to war during one of the most critical times in U.S. history. I cannot imagine a better place to have done this work.

I am sad as I think about leaving because I will miss being in daily contact with so many wonderful people. I will not be able to see the amazing actions, ideas and plans taking place across the country by Veteran and Associate members working to bring all our troops home and to build peace. I have made many good friends and associations. Working for Veterans For Peace is a hard act to follow.

I am excited because when David Cline asked me to apply for this position I really put my life on hold for five years. I moved far from my family in North Carolina and left a wonderful woman in New Jersey who has stayed by my side through all these years. But I am most excited about continuing the work of Veterans For Peace as a member and finding new ways to serve the cause for peace. After eight years of Bush and now a new era beginning, it is time for me to assess where I am and how I can best serve the cause.

THE TIME IS NOW! RALLY FOR PEACE! RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY!

Where: Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101 ( Map )

When: Friday, November 6, 2009, 5 PM

Portland will be the site of a major Rally featuring David Swanson on Friday, November 6 at 5:00 PM. Swanson, a nationally recognized activist and author, is co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney.org, the Washington Director of Democrats.com, and a board member of Progressive Democrats for America. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign and has been a leading voice for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

Click here for the place and time of a commemoration near you.

Nov. 3 Philadelphia PA
Nov. 4 Newtown and Kutztown, PA
Nov. 5 Bangor, ME
Nov. 6 Portland, ME
Nov. 7 M's Vineyard, MA

Take Action.

Thursday, November 12, 2009
12:00pm - 2:30pm
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC

Join Alliance for Justice on the National Torture Accountability Day of Action: we are calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to uphold the Constitution and the law by authorizing a full investigation of those who ordered, designed, and justified torture.

There is strong political pressure not to look back--not to investigate. But if we don't take responsibility for what America has done, how can we ensure that it won't happen again?

It's not a choice; it's a responsibility that we have to enforce the rule of law.

While Attorney General Holder keeps the investigative report on the torture memos under wraps, the authors of the torture memos have been able to further their careers.

When: 12 noon - 2 pm, Friday, Oct. 30th
Where: In front of the White House, 1600 Penn. Avenue NW
What: Us, the peacemakers, equipped with anti-war signs and noisemakers
Why: Because Pres. Obama is expected to announce a military surge over the weekend, and will be meeting with all of his war advisors Friday at the White House
Contact: pete4peace@gmail.com

http://www.bordc.org

A few weeks ago, the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected an opportunity to place crucial limits on the PATRIOT Act and other domestic spying authorities. These limits, proposed in the JUSTICE Act developed by Senator Feingold (D-WI), would have protected the privacy of law-abiding Americans and their right to be free from government spying.

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), still has a chance to protect Americans' rights. The House is our last chance to change the debate over PATRIOT Act reauthorizations.

BBDY 4 Pack

Even the least of us deserves justice and accountability starts with you. So why don't you send out a reminder. Even Bush deserves all the justice he can get and we should ensure he gets his day in court.

Use these images as a 4 PAK and send 4 different cards to the same person; or, choose your favorite and send the same postcard to 4 different persons.

It's easy. Each individual postcard is formatted to the dimensions of 4.25"x5.5". Quarter a sheet of paper and combine the cards as you like. Don't forget to print the other side. Remember the postage stamps. Then mail one to your best beloved, your friends and neighbors, some acquaintance--your politicians and their parties. Show someone you care about them and about justice. Don’t forget Cheney, Condi, Gonzales and Rove: CCGR 4 PAK.

MAY BE USED AS HANDBILLS W/O REVERSE SIDE.

Justice for Bush

Justice for Bybee

Justice for Delahunty

Justice for Yoo

Reverse Side Postcard

By Dave Lindorff

Next time you see a junkie sprawled at the curb in the downtown of your nearest city, or read about someone who died of a heroin overdose, just imagine a big yellow sign posted next to him or her saying: “Your Federal Tax Dollars at Work.”

Kudos to the New York Times, and to reporters Dexter Filkins, Mark Mazzetti and James Risen, for their lead article today reporting that Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother of Afghanistan’s stunningly corrupt President Hamid Karzai, a leading drug lord in the world’s major opium-producing nation, has for eight years been on the CIA payroll.

A Call for Congress to Take Action on Torture
October 28th, 2009

You can read the petition below, but in order to sign you must be registered and logged in! (If you can't get to those pages you already are registered and logged in.)

Read and sign as individual or organization and see further ways to help after signing. (If you can't get to the page you are not registered and logged in.)

Or read without signing below:

http://ivaw.org

IVAW member and U.S. Army Sergeant Travis Bishop is serving a one year prison sentence for refusing to deploy to Afghanistan because of his religious beliefs. Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for his conscientious objection (CO) to participation in war.

Travis began his career with the Army in 2004. He was deployed to Iraq from August 2006 to October 2007. According to his lawyer, he had doubts about taking part in military actions since then. In February 2009 when his unit was ordered to deploy to Afghanistan, Travis was convinced that he could no longer take part in war because of his moral and religious beliefs.

By Mike Ferner, After Downing Street

In a statement today directed to the U.S. House of Representatives, President Obama and its membership, Veterans For Peace urged its chapters to demonstrate opposition to the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan by doing two things:

1) Take the actions listed below within the next several days, before President Obama decides to escalate the war in Afghanistan, and

2) Plan acts of even greater resistance during the two days following any such decision.

· Continue writing and calling our representatives and demanding peace.
· If we’ve done that: take to the streets
· If we’ve done that: sit down in the streets
· If we’ve done that: sit down in Congressional offices
· If we’ve done that: sit down, clog up, incapacitate, call in sick, withdraw consent and generally bring the nation’s business to a halt, wherever and whenever we can, with any peaceful means available.

Upcoming Sit-ins:

October 28th:

Augusta, GA
When: 9:00AM
Contact: Joe Elliott, josephelliott6@gmail.com
Link: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-augusta.ning.com

Columbus, OH
When: 11:30AM
Contact: Drew Smith, drewsmith86@gmail.com
Link: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-ohio.ning.com

Glendale, CA
When: 10:00AM
Contact: Laura Flanagan
Link: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-la.ning.com

Newark, NJ
When: 12:30PM
Contact: Carol Gay, carolgay747@aol.com
Link: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-newark.ning.com

New York City, NY
When: 10:00AM
Contact: Jean Fox, jeanmaryfox@yahoo.com
Link: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-nyc.ning.com

Rochester, NY
When: Noon
Contact: Rebecca Elgie, healthylink@earthlink.net
Link: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-upstateny.ning.com

San Francisco, CA
When: 7:30AM
Contact: Dan Hodges
Link: http://mobilizeforhealthcare-bayarea.ning.com

Seattle, WA
When: TBA
Contact: Lila Z. pdx.lila@gmail.com

Noted National Activist to Speak in Bangor & Portland
David Swanson also to Speak at Nov 6 Peace Rally in Portland

Herb Hoffman, pala at maine.rr.com

National activist, and author, David Swanson will be speaking in Bangor on November 5 and in Portland on November 6.

David Swanson is co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney.org, the Washington Director of Democrats.com, and a board member of Progressive Democrats for America. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign and has been a leading voice for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

By Dave Lindorff

The Nuclear Regulator Commission will be holding hearings tomorrow and Wednesday in Hawaii on an application by the US Army for a permit to have depleted uranium at its Pohakuloa Training Area, a vast stretch of flat land in what’s called the “saddle” between the sacred mountains of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on Hawaii’s Big Island, and at the Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu. In fact, what the Army is asking for is a permit to leave in place the DU left over from years of test firing of M101 mortar “spotting rounds,” that each contained close to half a pound of depleted uranium (DU). The Army, which originally denied that any DU weapons had been used at either location, now says that as many as 2000 rounds of M101 DU mortars might have been fired at Pohakuloa alone.

But that’s only a small part of the story.

David Swanson, co-founder of After Downing Street Coalition and author of “Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union,” will be in the Philadelphia area Tuesday and Wednesday, November 3-4, speaking about his new book. Please share this information widely. Also see www.davidswanson.org/booktour .

FIRST EVENT: Tuesday, November 3
Speaking at the University of the Arts, Terra Hall, 201 S. Broad St. (between Walnut and Locust) at the invitation of Professor Chuck Pennacchio at the following times:
11:30 – 12:50 Room 604
4:00 - 5:30 PM Room 202
This will be open to the University community, but not to the general public.

SECOND EVENT: Tuesday, November 3
Speaking at Villanova University, 19085 , St. Augustine Center, Room 300, at the invitation of Professor Joseph Betz, Department of Philosophy, at the following time:
7:30 - 9:30 PM, free and open to the public.

THIRD EVENT: Wednesday, November 4

Democrats.com, the Aggressive Progressives - 600,000 strong and growing!

After months of debate, an overwhelming majority of Americans support a "robust public option" similar to Medicare.

And thanks to the heroic efforts of progressive activists, we have almost enough votes in the Senate and House to pass it.

The Democratic majorities in the Senate (60/40) and the House (258/177) are large enough to pass a "public option" even with no Republican support. But a handful of conservative "Democrats" are blocking the will of the Democratic majority.

These conservative "Democrats" refuse to listen to the Democratic voters who elected them. That means it's up to our Democratic leaders - Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and President Obama - to persuade them.

Join the Democratic Donor Strike for a Robust Public Option:
http://www.democrats.com/donor-strike-for-public-option?cid=ZGVtczQ3NTdk...