As President of the local chapter of Veterans For Peace, I submitted this response to Obama's speech as a letter-to-the-editor to the Sacramento Bee.
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The President announced the end of "combat" operations in Iraq, but there really haven’t been many real combat operations for U. S. Soldiers this whole year - and we still lost more than 40 soldiers in 2010. The remaining 49,700 troops are supposed to be in non-combat roles, but as Veterans For Peace President Michael Ferner points out, "Non-combat troops is simply the latest in a long line of military euphemisms meant to obscure painful reality."
Meanwhile the pointless death, injury, and maiming of American soldiers continue in Afghanistan, and it gets worse every year. And for what? To prop up a corrupt government in a place with no strategic importance to America? Afghans have resisted outside interference for thousands of years. Our efforts will be no more successful than the Russians, the British, the Persians, the Greeks... Time to end the pointless sacrifice of young American lives.
Please join Veterans for Peace and other Peace Activists this Saturday, 6:30 - 8 PM, at the corner of 20th and J streets for the monthly Peace Vigil.
This is a chance to demonstrate your continuing commitment to ending the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dead soldiers, dead civilians, and foolishly spent money continue, even though the media acts like it's all over.
Casualties, military and civilian, increase each month, suicides increase, costs increase, lies increase - let's increase the peace pressure.
Come early, stay late, enjoy Second Saturday, but during the Peace Vigil we want you to help us remind Sacramento that the war/occupation continues.
Bring your own anti-war sign or use one of ours.
[IOr call (916) 482-3018 with your name, phone number, and showtime choice.]
APE intends to honor requests in the order received.
COUNTDOWN TO ZERO traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs: nine nations possess nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join them, with the world held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident. Written and directed by acclaimed documentarian Lucy Walker (Devil’s Playground, Blindsight), the film features an array of important international statesmen, including Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Pervez Musharraf and Tony Blair. Countdown to Zero makes a compelling case for worldwide nuclear disarmament, an issue more topical than ever with the Obama administration working to revive this goal today. The film was produced by Academy Award® winner and 2009 nominee Lawrence Bender (Inglourious Basterds, An Inconvenient Truth) and developed, financed and executive produced by Participant Media, together with World Security Institute.
If you can’t join us on Aug. 6, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO will run until Aug. 12.
Vigil at 2nd Saturday Art Walk. 20th and J Streets, on the corner.
Theme: Demand Peace Now in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine! Use our signs or bring your own. Veterans for Peace, 916-698-8131.
Please join us. There is usually parking north of J Street, on G, H, and I Streets.
Second Saturday has turned into a great local street fair. It is fun and the crowds are usually interested in seeing and talking with us. You will also see other free speech activities, a conga line (usually there), vendors, and there is usually outdoor music. So in addition to speaking out for peace, you can entertain yourself as well. I hope to see you there.
San Francisco March and Rally
Saturday, March 20
11 a.m. Civic Center Plaza
Buses and Carpools to San Francisco for March 20
Sacramento (carpools only): Contact Sacramento Peace Action, 916-448-7157, sacpeace@dcn.org
People from all over the country are organizing to converge on Washington, D.C., and on the West Coast to demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan and Iraq.
On Saturday, March 20, 2010, there will be a massive National March & Rally in D.C. There will be coinciding mass marches on March 20 in San Francisco at Civic Center Plaza, 11am and in Los Angeles.
We will march together to say “No Colonial-type Wars and Occupations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine!” We will march together to say “No War Against Iran!” We will march together to say “No War for Empire Anywhere!”
Kathy Kelly, an Irish-American, three-time Nobel Peace Nominee, relates her experiences visiting war zones in Pakistan and Gaza in her talk on: The Costs and Sorrows of War.
Kathy Kelly (born 1953) is an American peace activist, pacifist and author, a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, one of the founding members of Voices in the Wilderness, and currently a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. She has been described as "probably the most respected leader in the American peace movement."[1]. As part of peace team work in several countries, she has traveled to Iraq twenty-six times, notably remaining in combat zones during the early days of both US-Iraq wars. She has been arrested more than sixty times at home and abroad, and written feelingly of her experiences among targets of U.S. military bombardment and inmates of U.S. prisons. She lives in Chicago.
What: BePeace Foundations Course
When: May 24 – May 28, 2010; 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Christ Unity of Sacramento, 9249 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento
Who: Unity Center of Davis
Phone number: (530) 758-2424
Email: BePeaceSacramento@gmail.com for more information
FOR MORE DETAILS:
Unity Center of Davis is proud to host the BePeace Foundations Course, created by Rita Marie Johnson of Costa Rica. Rita Marie Johnson is the founder of the Rasur Foundation which sponsors the Academy for Peace of Costa Rica. She initiated a bill for a Ministry for Peace in Costa Rica which has now become law. In this course, she will share an extraordinary practice she has termed BePeace®. The course is a 40-hour experience where participants learn how to “feel peace, speak peace and teach peace”. Feeling peace is the ability to remain coherent under stress. Speaking peace is the ability to connect with others empathically and honestly through compassionate communication. When you feel peace and speak peace, you can BePeace and teach others this practice as well.
Where Office of Rep. Doris Matsui
501 I Street
Federal Court House
Sacramento, CA 95814-7305
Progressive Democrats of America's Healthcare NOT Warfare campaign has expanded with the Brown Bag Lunch Vigils. PDA had its official kickoff for the BBLVs in January in 22 congressional districts across the country. This month, on February 17, at least 40 CDs will be holding these vigils to raise awareness among the public and our elected officials that the electorate is not being served by current U.S. war policies.
Brown Bag Lunch Vigils (BBLV) are held on the third Wednesday of every month (with a few exceptions) in front of the home offices of representatives, and even a senator or two, in congressional districts all over the country.
Howard Zinn, historian who challenged status quo, dies at 87
January 27, 2010 05:40 PM - By Mark Feeney, Globe Staff
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/howard_zinn_his.html
Howard Zinn, the Boston University historian and political activist who was an early opponent of US involvement in Vietnam and a leading faculty critic of BU president John Silber, died of a heart attack today in Santa Monica, Calif, where he was traveling, his family said. He was 87.
"His writings have changed the consciousness of a generation, and helped open new paths to understanding and its crucial meaning for our lives," Noam Chomsky, the left-wing activist and MIT professor, once wrote of Dr. Zinn. "When action has been called for, one could always be confident that he would be on the front lines, an example and trustworthy guide."
Building a Progressive California Democratic Party Platform
The Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento (PDA) held a meeting on Saturday, Jan. 9th to discuss improvements to the CA Democratic Party (CDP) Platform. All area Progressive Democrats were invited by Wellstone President Tamie Dramer and Political Affairs Chair Chris Niehaus to help shape the Party's Platform. CDP Platform Committee member Christine Thomas started off with a brief overview of the committee. CDP Progressive Caucus Chair (and PDA NorCal co-coordinator) Karen Bernal spoke about the need for Progressives in California to change the Party and how we can use our numbers to improve our platform. The room overflowed with attendees that took on issues such as Health Care, the Environment, Energy, Labor, Economic Justice, Poverty Elimination, Education & Criminal Justice.
This year was only weeks old when PDA members came together in Washington for a grassroots leadership meeting. The eyes of the world were focused on Washington in anticipation of the inauguration of Barack Obama, taking place just days later. Besides the coming celebration, PDA members were focused on how to make this organization even more effective in 2009.
With hopes for the new presidency still high, PDA hit the ground running under the Healthcare NOT Warfare banner. Armed with printed flyers and the Healthcare-mobile, PDA members and our allies fanned out across District and distributed 250 thousand pieces of material.
Submitted by scribbler on Mon, 12/21/2009 - 2:46pm
Recently John invited me to join your group, so this is my first diary. Since I live in a different state, my entries will have national or worldwide issues as subjects.
When Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize, like many others I was stunned and mystified. When he delivered his acceptance speech trying to justify escalation and expansion of war, I was not only stunned but ashamed.
In contrast there was awarded an earlier, real prize earned over a long lifetime by a noted journalist who has devoted his entire career to peace with justice: John Pilger was awarded the City of Sydney, Australia Peace Prize. John's acceptance speech is in keeping with his reputation and shows the honesty of the committee in awarding him their prize.
Here is the link to the only video I have found on the net. Don't be thrown off by the title which may have been used to get it broadcast in America.
Sacramento's August Peace Event invites you to see
San Francisco March and Rally
The Costs and Sorrows of War
Howard Zinn, historian who challenged status quo, dies at 87
