President Donald Trump issued an executive action calling for stepped up violence in Syria and a vast expansion of the US military, including its nuclear arsenal, to prepare for war with “near-peer competitors”—a reference to nuclear-armed China and Russia—and “regional challengers,” such as Iran.
– Read Article http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/01/28/pent-j28.html
7 Veterans Arrested in McCain’s Office
Seven protesters arrested at the Washington office of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Thursday after refusing to leave.
Read Article: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/veterans-protesting-tillerson-arrested-at-mccains-office/article/2612382
Group of veterans arrested Thursday in Sen. John McCain’s office during a protest over secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson’s oil ties.
Read Article: http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans-arrested-for-protest-in-mccain-s-office-1.449754
Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence commuted by Barack Obama
The whistleblower, who has been imprisoned for six years, is set to go free in May.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/17/chelsea-manning-sentence-commuted-barack-obama
31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom March
About 600 people came together Monday morning to walk through the streets of Oxnard in the 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom March.
Read Article: http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/oxnard/2017/01/16/pressing-concerns-forefront-martin-luther-king-jr-march-oxnard/96208366/
BE A PART OF HISTORY AT STANDING ROCK AND SUPPORT IVAW
I am writing to you tonight from inside my tent at Oceti Sakowin resistance camp. A week ago, I traveled here with a delegation of Iraq Veterans Against the War members to support the Standing Rock Sioux’s fight for Indigenous sovereignty against extractive industry and in the face of militarized police.
After we arrived, we heard about the group of veterans who put out a call for a mobilization on December 4th, and several of us decided that we would stay. While we are hearing different reports on numbers, but it’s likely that over 1,000 veterans are traveling to peacefully protest the pipeline. This is a historic moment in a historic fight and we need to be here.
I arrived thinking I would stay for the week. I did not expect that I would find a deep need to stay longer. I had no idea that thousands of other veterans would be coming. We have a critical role to play in this mobilization. Many of these veterans have not participated in peaceful, non-violent actions like IVAW has for the last decade. These veterans need to be trained and oriented. IVAW, with Veterans For Peace and the Indigenous People’s Power Project (IP3), is on the ground to facilitate these trainings and connections.
You can be part of this historic fight. We count on supporters like you to ensure that our veterans have enough food, fuel, and shelter to contribute to stopping the Dakota Access Pipeline. I have to be honest with you: tensions are rising. The Army Corps of Engineers has asked the Oceti Sakowin camp to voluntarily leave and the Governor of North Dakota has issued an emergency order to evacuate. The Seven Council Fires leadership is organizing to stay and we, as veterans, can help de-escalate situations and help people remain peaceful and prayerful in actions. Native veterans have taken heroic leadership to confront the United States and demand that it honor the treaties.
WE NEED YOU TODAY – DONATE
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5966/donate_page/ivaw-donate
http://www.ivaw.org/blog/ivaw-tells-army-corps-engineers-stand-down-standing-rock
Veterans For Peace at Standing Rock
12.3.16
Veterans For Standing Rock Have Arrived — Update
Members of Veterans For Peace have joined in solidarity with thousands of people who have traveled to Standing Rock, North Dakota to stand with our Indigenous sisters and brothers in opposing the construction of an oil pipeline by the Dakota Access company that threatens drinking water and sacred burial grounds. Veterans For Peace will continue to support this effort. As veterans, we see the connections between greed, racism, violence and environmental destruction in our own communities, and war and militarism abroad. We strive to achieve “Peace at Home and Peace Abroad” as a lens through which we view our mission.
We believe the Standing Rock action is consistent with our philosophy and approach to help build a more just, peaceful and sustainable world. Read our full statement supporting Standing Rock resistance and our Thanksgiving statement.
Read More: http://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/veterans-peace-standing-rock/
Upcoming Veterans Mobilization at Standing Rock
Veterans For Peace members are joining the upcoming “Veterans Stand For Standing Rock” mobilization happening December 4th -7th. Many of our members will stand together with veterans from all over the U.S. who are converging to Standing Rock in support of the Native-led non-violent resistance to stop the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
This action is not organized or sponsored by Veterans For Peace but many members are on their way to support the call to veterans to mobilize in support of Standing Rock. Veterans For Peace supports any solidarity efforts towards the indigenous resistance at Standing Rock.
Get Details: http://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/veterans-peace-standing-rock/
Pentagon: Come Clean on Use of Depleted Uranium Weapons in Syria
Urge President Obama & Congress to clarify when the U.S. has used depleted
uranium weapons in Syria and what U.S. policy is.
Take Action
PETITION http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/pentagon-come-clean-on?r_by=1135580
The U.S. military ignored its own guidelines for the use of depleted uranium
ammunition in the 2003 Iraq War, firing the controversial weapons at unarmored targets, buildings in populated areas and troops.
The use of depleted uranium in munitions is controversial because of concerns about potential long-term health effects. A 2005 review concluded that human epidemiological evidence is consistent with increased risk of birth defects in the
children of people exposed to depleted uranium.
Chelsea Manning Second Suicide Attempt
Be sure to listen to Daniel Ellsberg’s statement on her website below.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/04/us/document-chelsea-manning.html
Chelsea Manning Support Network:
http://www.chelseamanning.org/