Operation Gratitude Care Packages to a unit of Soldiers in Kuwait. 

Sixteen years ago, the first four Operation Gratitude Care Packages were sent to a unit of Soldiers in Kuwait.  Throughout the ensuing years, there have been countless acts of generosity and creativity from caring supporters who, like you and me, wanted to say “Thank You” to our men and women in uniform. One such effort, spearheaded by two ten-year-old girls, not
only touched my heart, but inspired one of our most successful, yet simple programs that everyone, including YOU, can still participate in today:  

Cents for Service
Using decorated shoeboxes, fifth graders, Mercera and Madeline, organized a coin collection drive at their school and raised nearly $2000 in just 10 days! That was enough money to send 123 Care Packages to deployed troops far from home.  

What a way to “Make Every Penny Count.”

Mercera and Madeline showed us that every American can make a significant impact by simply collecting coins at their
home, work, school, scout meeting, or place of worship. And you can too! Get started today:  Decorate a jar, throw
in your own loose change, and then encourage everyone you know to join in.
 
For more ideas on starting your own Cents for Service campaign, click here.

Herb Hoffman and Roger Carasso respond to this important New York Times article

Herb Hoffman and Roger Carasso respond to this important New York Times article on veterans organizations, and bringing the perspective of Veterans For Peace.

This is a very interesting article, as are the comments from many veterans, including Herb Hoffman of Albuquerque VFP.

There is a lot of food for thought here. Veterans For Peace is certainly unique. We must work hard to be more visible, to have a greater impact, and to grow.

Wage Peace in the New Year!
Gerry Condon, VFP Board President

http://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/us/politics/veterans-service-organizations.html

The Occupation of The American Mind

Israel’s Public Relations War In The United States ~ Narrated by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd 

An Excellent Must See Film – Frank Dorrel

THIS IS A FILM THAT DEMANDS TO BE SEEN! IT SHOWS, WITH DEVASTATING PRECISION, HOW EFFECTIVE PROPAGANDA CAN HIDE CRIMES THAT ARE EPIC IN SCALE AND HAVE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES.
— Ken Loach, Filmmaker & Activist

Over the past few years, Israel’s ongoing military occupation of Palestinian territory and repeated invasions of the Gaza strip have triggered a fierce backlash against Israeli policies virtually everywhere in the world—except the United States. The Occupation of the American Mind takes an eye-opening look at this critical exception, zeroing in on pro-Israel public relations efforts within the U.S. Narrated by Roger Waters and featuring leading observers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S. media culture, the film explores how the Israeli government, the U.S. government, and the pro-Israel lobby have joined forces, often with very different motives, to shape American media coverage of the conflict in Israel’s favor. From the U.S.-based public relations campaigns that emerged in the 1980s to today, the film provides a sweeping analysis of Israel’s decades-long battle for the hearts, minds, and tax dollars of the American people in the face of widening international condemnation
of its increasingly right-wing policies.

WATCH FULL LENGTH FILM

Watch shorter versions and the Trailer on the website:  http://www.occupationmovie.org/

“It doesn’t matter if justice is on your side.You have to depict your position as just.”—Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

Veterans in the Wind Industry

See what these Veterans have to say about working in the wind industry.
This Veterans Day, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is celebrating by launching a campaign to honor our Veterans.
The U.S. wind industry proudly hires veterans at a rate 72 percent higher than the national average, and the skills, teamwork and dedication they acquire while serving are perfect fits for wind work.

Fort Benning launches new wind technician training program for veterans

More at: http://www.awea.org

Six Recent US Antiwar Demonstrations Your Rulers Don’t Want You Talking About

A friend told me yesterday that he hadn’t seen an antiwar protest in America in ten years. It was a sincere comment; he genuinely hadn’t seen any coverage on any peace activism in his country during that time. And of course he hadn’t; it is mainstream media’s job to distort public narratives in favor of the war-hungry plutocratic class which owns the media outlets. But I’ve actually been noticing a lot of antiwar activism lately which, while often far from the spotlight of mass media attention, has given me a lot of hope for the future.
Read article at CaitlinJonhstone.com

Despite US Agent Orange Cleanup in Vietnam, Compensation Vow Still ‘Unfulfilled’

US Defense Secretary James Mattis toured Bien Hoa Air Base outside Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Wednesday, once a US airfield during the Vietnam War, but now best known for being one of the hot spots where Agent Orange was sprayed, and to which the US has now returned, decades later, to help remediate. http://sputniknews.com/analysis/201810181068981624-US-Agent-Orange-Cleanup-Unfulfilled-Promises/

Soliders You are Not Alone

Attached is a flyer that Veterans For Peace is beginning to distribute to U.S. soldiers who are being deployed to the Mexican border to confront  the caravan of Central American asylum seekers.  It offers perspective, support and resources to soldiers who may be questioning this misguided military mission and their role within it. 

You are not alone if you are thinking WTF am I doing on the U.S. border with Mexico?
You are not alone if you are asking if this is some kind of political stunt.
You are not alone if you wonder what all this concertina wire is for.
Is it even legal to deploy troops on U.S. soil? Against desperate asylum seekers?
You are not alone if you are re-thinking your role in the U.S. military.
No, you are not alone. Many people, in and out of the military, have these very same concerns. Veterans For Peace certainly does. We believe the deployment of U.S. troops to the border is an illegitimate use of the U.S. military. We believe the Central America caravan poses no threat whatsoever to anyone.

VFP_Flyer_for_Soldiers_Gerry

Download .pdf

FROM TRUTH DIG – BORDER UPDATE

http://www.truthdig.com/articles/trump-border-patrol-fires-tear-gas-at-migrants-including-children-at-mexico-border/
 

San Ysidro border crossing closed by US Customs and Border Protection – CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2018/11/25/us/san-ysidro-port-of-entry-closed/index.html

US Customs and Border Protection San Diego has closed road and pedestrian bridges in both directions at the San Ysidro port of entry.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-border-crossing-20181125-story.html