Video of the full news conference today — “NATO and U.S. Foreign Policy: Dangers Ahead”
H.R. 663/S. 191, Burn Pits Accountability Act
On January 17, 2019, Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI) introduced H.R. 663, the Burn Pits Accountability Act in the House and Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) introduced a companion bill, S.191, in the Senate.
Since the Persian Gulf War, a common waste disposal practice at military sites outside the United States was the use of burn pits. Smoke from these pits contained toxic substances that may have short-and long-term health effects, especially for those who were exposed for longer periods. Many service members reported acute symptoms of respiratory or eye irritation, gastrointestinal distress, or rashes during or shortly after exposure, but the research thus far has been inconclusive about whether there are longer lasting consequences to these exposures as many veterans, who are still struggling with
health conditions that arose during or after military service believe.
Both bills would require the Secretary of Defense to ensure that periodic health assessments ascertain whether a service member has been at a location when an open burn pit was used or exposed to toxic airborne chemicals. It will further require the Secretary to enter into an information sharing agreement with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). If a service member was exposed, the VA Secretary will enroll the member into the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, unless the member elects not to enroll.
In agreement with DAV Resolution No. 069, DAV supports H.R. 663 and S.191-legislation that would ensure that exposure to burn pits and airborne chemicals are recognized by both the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Thank you for all you do for America’s wartime service-disabled veterans and their families.
Take Action!
davcan.org
Veterans For Peace Calls on U.S. Government to End Persecution of Julian Assange and Wikileaks
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been wrongly subjected to arbitrary detention for five and a half years, according to a ruling by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The ruling is critical of Swedish prosecutors, who have refused to interview Assange in London about sex crimes allegations. It is also critical of the UK government, which is prepared to arrest Julian Assange as soon as he leaves the London Embassy of Ecuador, which has granted Assange political asylum. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says that Assange should be able to leave the embassy without facing arrest or extradition.
Veterans For Peace agrees with the UN panel. It is clear that Julian Assange is facing political persecution due to Wikileaks’ release of U.S. military and diplomatic cables, much of it provided by Chelsea Manning, who is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the U.S.
“Of course, we cannot dismiss Swedish allegations of rape and sexual assault,” said Michael McPhearson, Executive Director of Veterans For Peace. “However, the political agendas of several governments have sabotaged opportunities for Assange to be held accountable or clear his name.”
NDE Sacred Peace Walk: 2019
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!
For more information, see http://nevadadesertexperience.org/spw/
Peace Activists to Visit Russia on Bridge Building Mission
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.
READ MORE: http://www.space4peace.org
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.
Updates on the wolves rescued from Fur-Ever Wild
We are saddened to know that there were about 40 other wolves that our Wolves and Warriors team was supposed to have rescued from Fur-Ever Wild. These innocent animals went missing before we were legally allowed to enter the property
and their whereabouts are still unknown.
After undergoing veterinary examinations, cross-country transportation, and behavioral evaluations, many of the wolves were placed with our rescue partners. The wolves that we kept at our sanctuary required additional care, and we would like to share updates on a few of them and their progress. www.lockwoodarc.org
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
Audit finds California has mismanaged its veterans home properties
“California has “mismanaged” properties where its state-run veterans homes are located, failing to charge market rents to private users and shortchanging programs that should benefit from the leases, a state audit concluded Tuesday.” —
READ ARTICLE
Blase Bonpane has died
Memories are flooding in. Blase was a recipient of our PDSMM Lifetime Achievement Award. His acceptance speech
reverberated through the surrounding mountains! The last time I saw him, at the KPFK luncheon in his honor, his voice was almost inaudible but the words were the same – no more wars, no more killing, love peace, love each other.