Call to Action by Courage to Resist: The Trump Administration has unleashed ICE in unprecedented ways. Hundreds swept up at a time, in search of “hispanics.” The US military forced to host and support new concentration camps, as well as deployments to the Southern border. We have the ability to interrupt and change the direction of this humanitarian crisis if we act now. Read more, including events this week.
Attorney Eric Seitz represented hundreds of objectors being drafted and GIs facing courts-martial during the US war in Vietnam. He continued to defend military resisters during the Gulf War (including Courage to Resist’s Jeff Paterson), and more recently, Iraq and Afghanistan objectors.
This Courage to Resist podcast was produced in collaboration with the Vietnam Full Disclosure effort of Veterans For Peace — “Towards an honest commemoration of the American war in Vietnam.” This year marks 50 years of GI resistance, in and out of uniform, for many of the courageous individuals featured. If you believe this history is important, please …
COURAGE TO RESIST ~ SUPPORT THE TROOPS WHO REFUSE TO FIGHT!
484 Lake Park Ave #41, Oakland, California 94610 ~ 510-488-3559 www.couragetoresist.org ~ facebook.com/couragetoresist
“…Roughly half the world’s military spending is by a single country that is under no threat of being occupied but has, on the contrary, attacked and occupied numerous other countries. Yet, ironically, it is a U.S. audience that may most need to gain nonviolent enlightenment, since the propaganda of military defense supports the military spending which generates the distant wars of aggression.”
— Counterpunch: Read Full Article
Keep Space for Peace Week
International Week of Protest to
Stop the Militarization of Space
• No Space Force
• No Missile Defense
• Close U.S./NATO Bases Worldwide
• Stop Drones Surveillance & Killing
• End Privatization of Foreign/Military Policy
• Convert the Military Industrial Complex
• Deal with climate change and global poverty
• Support the Green New Deal
· Andover, Massachusetts (Oct 10) Merrimack Valley People for Peace will dedicate its weekly Thursday morning vigil at Raytheon Corporation (where they build ‘missile defense’ radars) to Keep Space for Peace. 350 Lowell St. (Rte 133) 7AM to 8AM. btquirk@verizon.net
· Asheville, North Carolina (Oct 5-12) Each day during the week, members of the local chapter of Veterans for Peace will vigil and conduct a walkabout downtown for an hour carrying the No to NATO banner and passing out flyers. Contact Ken Jones at jonesk@maine.edu
· Augusta, Maine (Oct 11) Women in Black has entered the 17th year of continually holding weekly peace vigils in Augusta in front of Lithgow Public Library on Friday from 12:30 to 1:00 PM. rleisnerrfm@yahoo.com
· Bath Iron Works, Maine (Oct 5) Vigil across from administration building on Washington Street (Navy Aegis destroyers outfitted with “missile defense” systems built at BIW) 11:30-12:30 am Smilin’ Trees Disarmament Farm (207) 763-4062
· Beale Air Force Base, Marysville, California (Oct 28-29) NO SPACE FORCE! Keep Space for Peace. Two-day monthly Vigil & Peace Camp to stop Drone Wars and Global Militarization. Our theme will denounce Trump’s Space Force agenda. Beale plays a critical role in U.S. drone killing, as a key control base for the Global Hawk, a surveillance drone used to find and track potential targets. Join CODEPINK, Veterans For Peace, and other N. Calif. activists. Info Toby Blome: ratherbenyckeling@comcast.net
· Belfast, Maine (Oct 6) Waldo County Peace & Justice vigil at Resistance Corner (High & Maine St) from noon to 1:00 pm. dscampc321@gmail.com
· Blantyre, Malawi, Southern Africa (Oct 10) People’s Federation for National Peace & Development will organize a peace workshop. edwardchaka@yahoo.com
· Bombay, India (Oct 5-12) Dr. Leo Rebello has committed to Lecture in Colleges, Schools, NGOs on topics listed above. He has also put the space week notification on Facebook Groups, Twitter etc. prof.leorebello@gmail.com
· Brunswick, Maine (Oct 11) PeaceWorks weekly vigil (since 9/11) on town green from 5:00-5:30 pm. Will hold peace in space signs and banners. gaia@gwi.net
· Creech Air Force Base, Indian Springs, Nevada (Sept 29-Oct 5) 10 YEARS of DRONE RESISTANCE at Creech. Drone resistance mass mobilization. The U.S. Racist Drone Wars continue to expand around the globe, terrorizing and murdering the most vulnerable and poorest of communities, violating the national sovereignty of people and threatening us all into a much higher chance for an all-out nuclear confrontation. These are covert wars. Much is censored and hidden from the public, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! Contact: Toby Blomé: atherbenyckeling@comcast.net or Eleanor Levine: eastbaycodepink@gmail.com
· USAF Croughton, England (Oct 5) USAF Croughton is about to undergo one of the biggest redevelopments since it was constructed by the USAF almost 70 years ago. The new ‘Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex’ will put the site at the heart of a web of military and intelligence networks stretching from the USA to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. March & rally at main gate from 12-4 pm. Oxfordshire Peace Campaign, oxonpeace@yahoo.co.uk
· Delmar, New York (Oct 7) Vigil to Stop the Militarization of Space at Delaware & Kenwood Aves from 5:00-6:00 pm. Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Joelombardo222@gmail.com
· Fort Meade, Maryland (Oct 5) Members of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center will participate in Keep Space for Peace Week by going to the National Security Agency (NSA), from 11 AM to noon. We will carpool, and if interested in joining us contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.
· Gangjeong, Jeju, Korea (Oct 5-12) Promotion of Keep Space for Peace Week in Gangjeong and beyond. Korea is one of NATO partnership nations. The UN Command (UNC) which manages Korean War Armistice was created during the Korean War. It is actually a US military-led organ and supposed to have been dissolved decades ago by the decision of UN. The UNC steals the name and flag of UN. It is composed of 18 nations including 11 NATO membership nations and at least 4 NATO partnership nations. It has its rear troop units in Japan. People concern that it might function as the Asian version NATO. Recently personnel from the UN Command visited the Jeju navy base in Gangjeong village. We will share the importance of exposing UNC and other space related matters during the Keep Space for Peace week. Contact armha2013@gmail.com
· Harrogate, England (Oct 12) Public meeting with speakers & refreshments organised by Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign & Yorkshire CND. Dave Webb (as Global Network convenor) will speak on how Menwith NSA/NRO spy base fits in the US global military spread and the idea of a space force. At 7:00 pm, Harrogate Friends Meeting House, 12a Queen Parade, (wheelchair access and hearing loop). Contact for enquiries 01765 600928 sswift64@gmail.com
· Kathmandu, Nepal (Oct 5-12) We from GN Chapter Nepal, will organize GN October 5-12 programs at various places among the students teachers, scholars, thinkers and philosophers of the Nepalese society. Apart from this week protest for the peaceful Space; we will also inform in front of them (the audience) that our GN Coordinator from US will also come and give a talk on the pertinent issue on October 16-17, 2019. yprabhuray@gmail.com
· Kathmandu, Nepal (Oct 16-17) Global Network Coordinator Bruce Gagnon will speak on space issues at various colleges across Kathmandu. For details bhurtung@yahoo.com
· King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (Oct 12) Noon – 2p.m., Lockheed Martin, 230 Mall Boulevard (immediately behind the King of Prussia Mall at Mall and Goddard Blvds.) – From Drone Warfare to Nuclear War preparations and Trump’s ‘STAR FORCE’: Protest and ‘Reach-Out’ continues at the world’s largest war profiteer. Sights n’ Sounds, drums, whistles, banners, signs, and more. Brandywine Peace Community www.brandywinepeace.com brandywine@juno.com 484-574-1148
· Largo, Florida (Oct 9) Peace First will be at the Raytheon plant at 7887 Bryan Dairy Rd, as part of Keep Space for Peace Week. Raytheon is the fourth largest weapons manufacturer in the world. Raytheon has made huge profits from the war in Yemen. 4:30 – 5:30 pm sjstew@gte.net
· Leicester, England (Oct 6) Weaving Hope for the Future. With major threats to our planet we will be finding hope through dance, poetry and storytelling. Castle Gardens Maypole from 2-4 pm. Leicester CND. pennywalker@riseup.net
· Limerick, Ireland (Oct 5-6) World BEYOND War’s fourth annual global conference on the abolition of war will be held on October 5th and 6th and include a rally on the 6th at Shannon Airport, where U.S. military forces routinely pass through in violation of Irish neutrality and of laws against war. http://worldbeyondwar.org
· Menwith Hill, England (Oct 8) Keep Space for Peace demonstration at 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the Main gates of U.S. NSA/NRO spy base Menwith Hill, HG3 2SW, speakers to be confirmed. sswift64@gmail.com
· Milan, Italy (Oct 3) Public debate entitled US/NATO Bases: Defense or Danger. Organized by CNGNN Italy. Jtmv812@gmail.com
· Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Oct 11) Showing the award-winning documentary ‘Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space’ at 7 PM at the Peace Center on 1001 E Keefe Ave. Sponsored by Peace Action WI, co-sponsored by Women’ International League for Peace and Freedom, Veterans for Peace, Milwaukee and more. pamrichard35@gmail.com
· Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Oct 12) Stand for Peace against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Noon to 1:00 pm in front of the old Nike Ajax Missile site, now the US Army Reserve Drill Center, 4850 W Silver Spring Ave. pamrichard35@gmail.com
· Nagpur, India (Oct 5 & 12) S.E.C. Railway Pensioners Association and Progressive Railway Women’s Organisation will hold demonstrations on 5th and 12th October. jnrao193636@gmail.com
· Tampa, Florida (Oct 8) Demonstration outside Senators Scott’s and Rubio’s offices in the U.S. Court House, 801 N. Florida Ave. 10:30-11:30 AM. We will make Sen. Scott’s connections to Raytheon the theme of the demonstration. President Trump wants to allow Raytheon to manufacture weapons inside Saudi Arabia. Call (727) 894-2832 for more info.
· Toronto, Canada (Oct 9) Vigil, outside the NATO Association of Canada office, 48 Yonge Street, from 12-1pm. Organized by the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. tlorincz@dal.ca
· Tucson, Arizona (Oct 10) Peace vigil at Davis-Monthan AFB at 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Air National Guard troops at Davis-Monthan are remotely piloting UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that are firing guided bombs and missiles and killing more civilians than targeted “terrorists” in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and possibly more sovereign nations. A-10 warplanes that train out of Davis-Monthan are responsible for the vast majority of radioactive ammunition – estimated at well over 400 tons – used in Iraq since 1991. Signs provided, or bring your own! More info: nukeresister@igc.org
· Ukiah, California (Oct 8) A “Keep Space for Peace Week” event will be held at the Mendocino Environmental Center 6-9 PM. “Space Night at the MEC” will start with an open house and information exchange at 6:00 pm, followed by Open Mike on KMEC radio from 7-9 pm. The Mendocino Environmental Center ia at 106 W. Standley Street. KMEC radio broadcasts at 105.1FM and streams live on the internet at www.kmecradio.org . The local event is sponsored by The Space Treaty Project. For more information go to www.spacetreaty.org or Facebook: The Space League.
· Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (Oct 2) Keep Space for Peace Week protest at space warfare base from 3:45 to 4:45 pm at the Main Gate. Parking at Vandenberg Middle School. Call Dennis at (805) 343-6322 for info or questions.
· Visakhapatnam, India (Oct 12-13) International Conference on Super Powers’ Dominion in Outer Space & Global Sustainable Development. Co-Sponsored by Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University and the Global Network. Speakers will include Professor Peter Kuznick, Subrata Ghoshroy from MIT, Lindis Percy from UK, Professor Aruna Kammila and Bruce Gagnon. People of our planet must consider the question of the kind of seed one carries from earth into the heavens. The essential objective of this Conference is to give a stage to exhibit emerging issues and challenges in outer space, including legal, political, economic as well as scientific in order to ensure peace and security in the international sphere with concern to outer space. For details intconf@dsnlu.ac.in
· White House, Washington DC (Oct 11-12) Rage Against the War Machine. Starting at the White House and march to the Pentagon. The nuclear clock is at two minutes to midnight – we must unite for peace and against the war machine. A Conference, the Anti-Imperialist Revolution Summit, will be held the next day on Oct 12. For more info http://marchonpentagon.com/2019-march
· Washington DC (Oct 7) The Pentagon Monday at 7-8 AM. Will Hold Keep Space for Peace and No Weapons in Space signs at weekly Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Peace Vigil. artlaffin@hotmail.com
· Washington DC (Oct 11) The White House: Friday at 12 Noon –1:00 PM. Will Hold Keep Space for Peace and No Weapons in Space signs at weekly Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Peace Vigil. artlaffin@hotmail.com
Space Week Co-Sponsors:
• March on the Pentagon: Rage Against the War Machine
• No to War – No to NATO
• United National Antiwar Committee (UNAC)
• US Peace Council
• Veterans For Peace
• Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom
• WorldBeyondWar.org
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space PO Box 652 Brunswick, ME 04011 (207) 607-4255 http://www.space4peace.org
November 15th-17th, 2019 www.soaw.org Phone: 202-234-3440
Dear Friends,
As members of the Illinois chapter of the SOA Watch and the broader SOAW organizing collective, we have spent decades dedicated to the movement for truth and justice. We are excited to share two current SOAW Fall 2019 Priorities: a Bi-National General Assembly Strategy meeting in September and the SOAW November 15-17th Ft. Benning, GA commemorative gathering. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Central American University (UCA) massacre — one of the many atrocities that occurred in Central America as the United States funded civil wars, trained military at the SOA/WHINSEC, and ensured that right-wing governments remain in power regardless of their human rights violations.
We understand that the conditions people are fleeing in Central America are a result of the training, support, and funding that the United States has funneled into state violence for decades. Over the last few days, news broke that Fort Benning — home of the School of the Americas / WHINSEC — is now being considered as a detention center facility for children. Simultaneously, the US has deployed troops and border patrol agents to Guatemala in order to “halt migration”, justifying it as “humanitarian aid”. The architects of death would like us to believe that what happens in the borderlands is distinct from the training provided at SOA/WHINSEC, but we know that US-supported state violence is at the root of forced displacement and the reason people are dying at the border right now.
We know that we must be as fierce, strategic, and effective as possible to hold the US accountable for the decades of intervention that have devastated communities throughout the Americas, resulting in torture, forced disappearance, mass displacement, assassination, and forced migration. This is why in September representatives from different constituencies from both north and south of the US/Mexico border will gather for an in-person meeting in Chicago to evaluate the context, share experiences of resistance, and develop a plan to help guide our movement in the coming months and years — making certain we always center truth and justice with the guarantee that the atrocities of the past will not be repeated.
As the Trump administration enacts deplorable policies that have caused 6 Central American migrant children to die in detention while also proposing locking up more children at Ft. Benning — one of the locations that created the conditions of violence from which they flee — we will once again be present at SOA/WHINSEC! Given that it’s the 30th anniversary of the Central American University (UCA) massacre, we will gather at the gates of the School of the Americas in Ft. Benning, GA from November 15-17 bridging the past and present. Together, we recommit ourselves to never forgetting the violence that our communities have been subjected to, not only in word, but in action.
Make no mistake, we will not rest until we dismantle the wall and all the racist, xenophobic, classist, dehumanizing policies that prop it up. We also want to be clear that our work to dismantle border imperialism is ongoing and we still need to respond, we still need to resist — no more deaths from SOA to the Borderlands!! To the implementation of increasingly xenophobic and racist practices, we say “BASTA – NO MAS! ENOUGH – NO MORE!”
Thank you for being a part of the SOA Watch movement! Our work is only possible with your support, and we hope that you will continue to organize with us, take action with us, and make certain that we can keep the movement to end all forms of US-supported violence strong and dynamic.
¡Adelante!
Chris, Kathleen, and Liz
Chris Inserra: Stage and Program Working Group since 1997 & served on original SOAW Advisory Board
Kathleen DeSautels: Served 6 months as Prisoner of Conscience 2002-2003 & is part of the Peacemaking Collective
Liz Deligio: Served 3 months as Prisoner of Conscience in 2004, served on SOAW Council & is part of the Peacemaking Collective
For decades, we’ve deported military veterans—legal residents of the United States—while dangling citizenship before them. Read Article
ICE Is Deporting Veterans Without Checking Their Service Status
From 2013 to 2018, ICE failed to follow its own policies requiring agents to consider a veteran’s military record before beginning the process of removal from the country, according to the report. Time in service, awards and deployments are all among factors that are supposed to be weighed when making a deportment decision.
The policies also call for deportation cases that might involve veterans to be referred to higher headquarters for a decision. Those policies also were not followed, the report states. Read Article
FROM — DAILY KOS
“Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Iran Nuclear Agreement, which has increased tensions in the Middle East. While those fighting ISIS on the ground assert there are “no increased risks from Iran or allied militias,” Trump and Republican allies are hell-bent on using anything to justify an attack. We need to stop this rush to war before it begins. Sign the petition to Congress: Stop the drumbeat of war with Iran. The stakes are too high.”
Tell Congress to Clean Up the Contamination from Military Bases [petition]
There is movement on this now in Congress. Please sign this petition so that we can deliver it to the key person.
TO: John Barrasso (R-WY), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
We demand that the federal government immediately start cleaning up PFAS contamination at federal facilities across the country, including active and decommissioned military bases, and the communities surrounding them. We call for the passage of S.1372 – The PFAS Accountability Act of 2019.
Per and Poly Flouralkyl Substances or PFAS are among the deadliest chemicals ever developed. They are used in fire-fighting foams to extinguish massive petroleum fires during routine military training exercises on hundreds of bases around the world. The carcinogenic foam is allowed to leach into groundwater to poison water and sewer systems in adjacent communities.
Drinking PFAS-contaminated water causes several types of cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, miscarriages, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.
Twelve members from one family near Peterson AFB who drank water contaminated with PFAS have been poisoned to death.
The U.S. military is poisoning U.S. Ground Water. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, in their report “A Toxic Threat: Government Must Act Now on PFAS Contamination at Military Bases,” the military is poisoning the water, and trying to cover up the crime. As a result of lobbying by the chemical companies, the Trump administration has reduced safety requirements.
Help us gather as many signatures as possible before delivery! Sign and then forward this far and wide! PETITION
— FROM VeteransForPeace.org
Veterans For Peace firmly opposes U.S. attempts to increase tensions in the Persian Gulf and create the conditions for war against Iran.
The U.S. has created ongoing tensions with Iran by leaving the Iran Nuclear Deal, by imposing punishing economic sanctions, and by making questionable accusations against Iran. Veterans know first-hand how dangerous lies and exaggerations can lead the American public into war..
It is imperative that the U.S. immediately begins seeking diplomatic solutions to conflicts instead of creating pretexts for war. Veterans For Peace calls on the U.S. to:
• Draw down all its military forces from the Persian Gulf
• End its economic war against Iran, lifting sanctions immediately
• Re-join the six-country Iran Nuclear Deal
• End the 2001 Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) that administration after administration has used to fund military expeditions around the globe under the guise of fighting the Islamophobic “War on Terror”
We walk in the footsteps of a long legacy of peace walkers and spiritual leaders to draw attention to the nuclear dangers that continue to threaten our planet, and the violent robots (RPAs or drones) continuing to kill people monthly, damaging the community of life in the desert. We also focus on the threats of nuclear waste to the Sacred Yucca Mountain. Please join us in transforming fears into compassion and apathy into action during NDE’s annual Sacred Peace Walk!
More than 20 peace activists from Sweden, England, Nepal, Canada and the US will journey to Russia
on April 25-May 10 for a study tour intended to build a peace bridge between the people of their nations.
The trip is being organized by the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space (GN).
Dave Webb, chair of the UK’s Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (and also board convener of the GN)
said, “We are deeply concerned about NATO expansion and US ‘missile defense’ deployments ringing Russian borders.
We feel that citizen diplomacy is needed now more than ever between Russia and the west.
“We want to see and hear for ourselves what Russia is really like. We want to meet with Russian citizens,
teachers, students, political leaders, journalists and others in order to listen and to ask questions so we can get unfiltered
information.”
This Russia study tour will have three components.
·
Moscow: Arrive on April 25
·
Crimea: On April 30 the group will fly to Crimea
·
St. Petersburg: On May 5 the group will fly to St Petersburg
Members of the GN and Veterans For Peace will make up the bulk of those going on
the trip.
We walk in the footsteps of a long legacy of peace walkers and spiritual leaders to draw attention to the nuclear dangers that continue to threaten our planet, and the violent robots (RPAs or drones) continuing to kill people monthly, damaging the community of life in the desert. We also focus on the