http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/2014/03/03/vietnam-veterans-sue-military-over-ptsd/5977203/
Spies of Mississippi: A New Film on the State-Sponsored Campaign to Defeat the Civil Rights Movement
Spies of Mississippi is a journey into the world of informants, infiltrators, and agent provocateurs in the heart of Dixie.
The film tells the story of a secret spy agency formed by the state of Mississippi to preserve segregation and maintain “the Mississippi way of life,” white supremacy, during the 1950s and ‘60s. The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission (MSSC) evolved from a predominantly public relations agency to a full-fledged spy operation, spying on over 87,000 Americans over the course of a decade.
The Commission employed a network of investigators and informants, including African Americans, to help infiltrate some of the largest Black organizations like National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). The MSSC was granted broad powers to investigate private citizens and organizations, keep secret files, make arrests, and compel testimony for a state that, as civil rights activist Lawrence Guyot says in the film, “was committed to an apartheid system that would make South Africa blush.” Read More: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/spies-of-mississippi/
Democracy Now: http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/25/spies_of_mississippi_new_film_on
Former CIA officials award Chelsea Manning for integrity in intelligence!
FROM The Private Manning Support Network
February 26, 2014
Army whistle-blower Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning took a huge personal risk when she decided to show Americans the true cost of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other foreign policy decisions.
For her bravery, she was honored at Oxford University on February 17th, when former CIA officers chose her for the annual Sam Adams Integrity in Intelligence Award.
Read More http://www.privatemanning.org/featured/chelsea-manning-acceptance-statement-of-sam-adams-award-for-integrity-in-intelligence
Veteran on Epic Quest Across America
March Across America
“Pirate” Michael Clift (part of Occupy Veterans San Francisco) is an army veteran who served during the Cold War. Radicalized by his experience with the military, he has been an artist and activist since 1989. He is traveling across the country to bring awareness to the issues of homeless Veterans and other Veteran issues. Challenging homeless veterans to stand up for their rights as human beings by taking their bodies and voices to Washington D.C.
http://occupyveteranssanfrancisco.weebly.com/march-across-america.html
He is with all humility and upmost urgency asking you to consider what he is doing, and to ask you to make a commitment to support his efforts as he continues on this quest for not only the various organizations such as Veterans for Peace and Occupy, but for all those who are unable to join him in this journey, and for all the uncounted and marginalized people they represent.
He will be creating video posts whenever possible of DOING what he can with the money, like passing out food to the needy, providing first aid, and the like. Donors will have video/photographic proof of the expenditures of their donation, and credit on my web sites, with personal thanks via private e-mail, and “batch” acknowledgements posted on Facebook.
HOW IT WORKS:
The donations go into the Paypal account, and then are transfered into a bank account, where it can used as needed. All one needs to do is make the donation to Paypal (you don’t need a PayPal account to donate) by clicking the PayPal donation button at the site. http://occupyveteranssanfrancisco.weebly.com/support.html
You can attach a note telling him what you would like the donation to be used for.
He has recently been joined on his quest to “March Across America” by Debbie, who had been following his blog and videos on line, she initially came down from Colorado in her van to help One Lib and Michael on their journey. She found Michael on the road, and have now joined forces. They will begin re-transmitting video and live streams, as she has the tools and skill sets previously handled by One Liberty; as well as a vehicle.
ABOUT OCCUPY VETERANS SAN FRANCISCO
Their mission is to encourage Veterans of the United States military to stop taking their own lives with addictions and despair, and to instead take their lives back into their own hands, without depending on either government styled bureaucracy or on the Federal Government itself, which has exploited the soldier and continues to exploit the veteran soldier through many of the various so-called charitable or non-profit organizations.
With our Search and Rescue missions, we connect veterans first with themselves, and then with each other, using a buddy system model that fosters esprit de corps and unit cohesion.
Where Dignity is Part of the School Day
This spring, students will respond to the YES! Magazine article, “Where Dignity is Part of the School Day.”* Fania Davis’ story is about using restorative justice circles in schools in lieu of zero-tolerance punishment. She shows how giving a student the chance to tell his or her story can help teachers and administrators get to the root of a behavioral problem, and ultimately keep kids in school and out of jail.
*This is the print magazine article title. The web version is titled “Discipline with Dignity: Oakland Classrooms Try Healing Instead of Punishment.”
Agenda: Veterans for Peace March 4, 2014
Date: March 4, 2014
Location: North Oxnard United Methodist
2300 West Gonzalez Road, Oxnard
Time: 6:00 pm
—————
6:00 pm I. Call to Order
6:04 pm II. Attendance / Introductions
6:10 pm III. Old Business:
a. Approval of Minutes – Review of February mtg
b . Treasurer’s Report – George
c. Scholarship Committee Report – Laura
d. High School Counter Recruitment Report – Michael
e. Feedback from February activities/events:
1. Feb. 16th – Coffee House Presentation
2. Feb. 18th 6:00pm our member, Lanny Kaufer will speak at the Camarillo Library.
3. March 16th Squashed Grapes Fundraiser status report.
4. Status of application for the Fourth of July Street Fair
6:45 pm IV. New Business
8:00 pm V. Adjourn:
Fundraiser for Veterans For Peace at Squashed Grapes
Please Join Us at Squashed Grapes
http://www.facebook.com/SquashedGrapes
2351 East Main St, Ventura
Sunday, March 16, 2014
1pm – 4pm
To listen to good music by the band popularly known as Home Made Jam. They have volunteered their musical talent to raise funds for Veterans For Peace. Funds will be utilized for scholarships and our work towards peace and social justice.
At this event you’ll enjoy good food at reasonable prices and the company of each other who are believers in the pursuit of peace and human harmony at home and abroad.
For more information please contact: Anthony Whitaker (805) 813-1463
Program
1:00 pm – Welcome by VFP Chapter 112 President – Sr. Acevedo
1:20 pm – Music Time featuring “Home Made Jam”
2:30 pm – Intermission – Poetry Reading:
Los Pintos de Gitmo
Prisoners of Guantanamo Bay
Presented by: VFP Member Gabriel Serrano
…in the spirit of their liberation
2: 45 pm – Music Time featuring “Home Made Jam” until your feet get tired of Rockin N Rollin
4:00 pm – Thank you very much for your attendance and contribution
Co-Sponsors: In the spirit PUMA “Pintos Unidos Mexicanos Americanos
Proposition 41 – support request
As you are aware, last year all veterans’ organizations I represent, including yours, supported AB 639 by Speaker John Pérez from Los Angeles.
This bill required that $600 million of existing CalVet bonding authority be used to build multifamily permanent supportive housing for disabled veterans to be built near existing VA facilities or California State Veterans Homes.
This measure does not interfere with or change the current CalVet Home Loan program for single family homes or farms. It adds to the existing program.
This program is now on the June ballot as Proposition 41. The sponsors are asking all veterans groups that supported AB 639 to sign the attached form allowing your organization to be listed in support.
FYI – it is 100% legal for non-profit veterans groups to sign on in support of propositions on the ballot.
You will recall your organization supported Proposition 36 in 2012. Prop. 36 was to allow military personnel to continue to get long-term auto insurance discount when they were deployed overseas. Unfortunately it failed.
Please review the enclosed form and have the Commander and/or the Adjutant sign the form.
View Campaign Prospectus
Time is short; the election is in four months.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have been appointed as a member to the Coalition for Veterans Executive Board as an unpaid volunteer.
Pete Conaty
www.peteconaty.com
Cindy Sheehan Running For Governor
February 20th is the deadline for “Signatures in Lieu” of filing fee to get Cindy Sheehan on the ballot for Governor here in California.
The campaign has been working since January 1st to collect the signatures, and we really do not have a clear idea of how many have been collected, but we believe it is far short of the 10k needed.
That means that we will have to pay 35 cents per signature NOT collected, and we also do not have the money on hand in our campaign chest to do that.
Please make a DONATION, or PLEDGE today. http://cindyforcalgov2014.nationbuilder.com/donate
In these days of crumbling empire, crumbling economy, and crumbling infrastructure, a NEW DAY and NEW WAY for California are needed.
——
Jerry Brown says: “California is Back” We say: “For the 1%. We want it back for all.”
Jerry Brown supports fracking and other forms of oil extraction.
We support expanded, accessible, clean public transportation and using the subsidies and tax breaks given to Big Oil to invest in clean and renewable forms of energy.
Jerry Brown supports nuclear power, we say, “Decommission all nuclear power plants.”
Jerry Brown is in the pockets of the Prison Industrial Complex, we say, “Free all non-violent offenders and invest that money in our children and education.”
Jerry Brown wants to run unreasonable surpluses, we say, “give that money back to the people by restoring needed public and social services.”
Jerry Brown is unconstitutionally going forward with the “Tunnel Project,” we say: STOP! The people of California have already said, “No.”
There are many ways that we oppose the government of the 1% and feel that we need to wrest OUR STATE out of their hands by this people’s movement.
What’s Troubling American Troops
It’s about “combat experiences,” not length of deployment.
By Mark Thompson
@MarkThompson_DC
Feb. 04, 2014
This Army graph makes crystal clear what many U.S. troops, and their loved ones, have long suspected: the more combat events they experience, the more mental-health problems they will suffer. In fact, according to this illustration from a new Army report, there is a direct linear relationship between combat exposure and resulting mental maladies.
http://swampland.time.com/2014/02/04/military-troops-iraq-afghanistan-ptsd-combat/#ixzz2smKxMCsM
Santa Barbara: March 15-2014 Global Network Space Organizing Conference
March 14-16, 2014
Vandenbergs Role in US Global Domination
Implications of US Pivot into the Asia-Pacific
22nd Annual Space Organizing Conference
La Casa de Maria Retreat and Conference Center
Santa Barbara, California
More Information: http://www.space4peace.org/actions/gnconf_2014.htm
The 2014 Global Network space organizing conference will be held near Vandenberg AFB, California on March 14-16. We will meet at the La Casa de Maria Retreat and Conference Center in Santa Barbara. On Friday, March 14 well organize a 4:00 pm vigil at the front gate of Vandenberg and on the evening of March 15 we will hold a public event at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara.
Conference Program
Friday, March 14
2:00 pm Hospitality lounge & Conference registration at La Casa de Maria Retreat Center (800 El Bosque Rd, Santa Barbara). All guests should check in at the registration office, and then proceed to Casa San Ysidro.
3:30 pm Leave for Vandenberg AFB
4:00 – 5:30 Vigil at Vandenberg AFB
6:00 – 7:30 Dinner at Casa San Ysidro house
– Welcome by Dennis Apel (Guadalupe Catholic Worker House)
– Music by Holly Gwinn Graham (Olympia, Washington)
8:00 – 9:30 Showing of Ghosts of Jeju documentary film
Saturday, March 15
7:30 am Breakfast at Casa San Ysidro house
9:00 – 11:00 Introductions and local updates
11:15 – 12:00 Presentation by Bard Wormdal (Norwegian journalist) on his book The Satellite War
12:00 – 1:30 Lunch and awards
3:00 – 4:00 Presentation by Tamara Lorincz (Canadian activist) on Conversion & Demilitarisation
5:15 – 6:15 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Move to Trinity Episcopal Church (1500 State Street)
7:00 – 9:00 Community program at Trinity Episcopal Church (free and open to public)
– Welcome by David Krieger (Nuclear Age Peace Foundation)
– Dennis Apel (Guadalupe Catholic Worker House)
– Dave Webb (GN Chairperson, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Leeds, UK)
– Andrew Lichterman (Western States Legal Foundation)
– Christine Hong (Korea Policy Institute and US Santa Cruz)
– Mary Beth Sullivan (Social worker & peace conversion activist, Bath, Maine)
– Music by Tom Neilson & Holly Gwinn Graham
Sunday, March 16
7:30 am Breakfast
9:00 am – 12:00 Global Network annual membership meeting (Election of board, coordinator’s report, budget review, strategy & planning discussion, next meeting decisions, 2014 Keep Space for Peace Week theme)
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Check out of retreat center
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Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
(207) 443-9502
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/ (blog)
Countless Dead, Poverty, Corruption – and the Taliban Rising What We Did to Afghanistan
by PATRICK COCKBURN
A few years ago in Kabul, I was listening to a spokesman for an Afghan government organisation who was giving me a long, upbeat and not very convincing account of the achievements of the institution for which he worked. To relieve the tedium, and without much expectation of getting an interesting reply, I asked him – with a guarantee of non-attribution – what benefits the Afghan government had brought to its people. Without hesitation the spokesman replied that these benefits were likely to be very limited “so long as our country is run by gangsters and warlords”.
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