ACTION ALERT: Three Months of
Critical Actions on Climate and War
Veterans For Peace
(September 7, 2023) — Hot off the presses! The latest issue of Peace and Planet News is a special edition for distributing at Marches to End Fossil Fuels happening September 15 and 17, across the country.
VFP is a co-sponsor of these marches.
This is a superb opportunity for VFP members to spread the word about militarism and the climate crisis.
Order copies NOW to have them in time: ORDER HERE.
VFP 2023 Convention
It’s been just two weeks since the Veterans For Peace 2023 Convention opened August 25. We’ve received lots of positive feedback, and are feeling immensely grateful for all board and staff members, convention volunteers, producers, presenters and participants whose combined efforts made this year’s online convention a great success! The programming was rich, both thought- and action-provoking, and the sessions were well attended.
We are also super excited to report that convention fundraising efforts brought in more than double our $10,000 Ralph Nader matching grant goal!
For those who registered, convention program videos may be accessed NOW via the virtual convention space. For everyone else, the convention recordings will be publicly available two weeks from now on the VFP YouTube channel. [We’ll let you know when they go public.]
There are three things we can’t wait to share, however.
The first is the video of our two Saturday keynote speakers — Clare Daly, a member of the European Parliament, and Jeffrey Sachs, PhD, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University (with thanks to Anthony Donovan).
The second is our collection of 2023 Convention Ads, which contain some important messages you won’t want to miss! [Click here.]
Third is the great session organized by VFP’s Climate Crisis & Militarism Project, linked in the first paragraph of their report, just below the buttons.
Watch CCMP’s Convention Session
VFP’s Climate Crisis and Militarism Project (CCMP) kicked off the VFP convention with a powerful session that included solid information, intergenerational dialogue, poetry, music, and calls to action; over 100 people attended, and more are seeing the recording.
Big thanks to presenters Matthew Hoh, Miriam Pemberton, Aniya Butler, Sharon Abreu, Woody Powell and Ian Mooney, and to Ellen Davidson and Sean Nestor for providing tech support!
Join CCMP at the MARCH TO END FOSSIL FUELS
September 17 in New York City
As part of the Anti-Militarism Hub participating in the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York City on September 17, Veterans For Peace members will be joining allies to demand that Biden declare a climate emergency and phase out oil and gas drilling on public lands. We will also send a signal to the climate/environmental movement that the “contributions” by wars and militarism to global heating can no longer be ignored, but must be reported fully to the UN, and seriously reduced. It is time to address the elephant in the room!
The March is endorsed by hundreds of organizations including VFP. We encourage folks who plan to attend this or other climate actions to order the special issue Peace & Planet News to pass out to the public.
Additional CCMP Activiities
CCMP has been partnering with visits by the Golden Rule to cities on the East Coast and the Great Lakes region.
CCMP steering committee member Jim Rine participated in a week-long retreat hosted by the Brown University’s Cost of War project focused on strategies to convince the public and policy makers that addressing the worsening climate crisis must include addressing increasing US and global militarism.
Host a CCMP Slideshow!
Dozens of VFP groups have hosted our slideshow presentation, followed by discussion. Is yours one of them? If no, would you like to? If yes, would you like to host a slideshow focused on the Russia-Ukraine War and its climate impacts? Get started by clicking on the button below and filling out our form. Are you involved in climate/environmental work in your chapter? Let us know by dropping a line to climate@veteransforpeace.org.
ACTION: Sign-Up for a Climate Crisis & Militarism Presentation
A Calendar of Events
SEPTEMBER 17 • 1 PM
March to End Fossil Fuels NYC
Broadway between 54th & 57th Street, New York City
www.endfossilfuels.us
Veterans For Peace, the VFP Climate Crisis & Militarism Project, and the VFP Washington, DC, Chapter are all partner organizations. We will be participating in the Anti-Militarism Hub for this march.
SEPTEMBER 20 • 6 pm ET, 5 pm CT, 4 pm MT, 3 pm PT
Climate Crisis and Militarism Project meeting
Open to all VFP members.
SEPTEMBER 21 • 6–8 pm PDT
18th Annual International Day of Peace Awards Ceremony
Miracle Springs Resort, 10625 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs, CA
Email Tom for info: tomswannhernandez@earthlink.net
The Jon Castro Chapter of Veterans For Peace is a cosponsor. VFP Deported Veterans Advocacy Project reps Robert Vivar and Jan Ruhman are on the program.
SEPTEMBER 22–24
World BEYOND War #NoWar2023 Conference:
Nonviolent Resistance to Military
SEPTEMBER 24–30
Defuse Nuclear War Week of Action
www.defusenuclearwar.org
VFP is a member of the Defuse Nuclear War coalition.
SEPTEMBER 30–OCTOBER 8
Global Days of Action for Peace In Ukraine
www.peaceinukraine.org
Veterans For Peace is a co-sponsor.
SEPTEMBER 30–OCTOBER 8
Global Days of Action for Peace In Ukraine
www.peaceinukraine.org
Veterans For Peace is a co-sponsor.
OCTOBER 7–14
International Keep Space for Peace Week
space4peace.org
Each year the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space holds Keep Space for Peace Week in early October. This year our theme is the dangers of crowded orbits.
OCTOBER 15–19
SOVA Legislative Conference.
Join the SOVA National Campaign in Washington D.C. to advocate Congress to help us Save Our VA.
OCTOBER 22 • 1–3 PM PDT
Daniel Ellsberg’s Celebration of Life
To be held on Zoom
Email the family for info: contact.ellsberg@gmail.com
NOVEMBER 11
Armistice Day
Check out our 2022 Armistice Day Recap to see the variety of ways our members have celebrated Armistice Day (aka Veterans Day).
NOVEMBER 12 • 8 PM EST
Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal
Livestreamed Opening Session
The Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal will hold accountable — through testimony of witnesses — US weapons manufacturers who knowingly produce and sell products which attack and kill not only combatants but non-combatants as well. These manufacturers may have committed Crimes Against Humanity as well as violated US Federal criminal laws. The Tribunal will hear the evidence and render a verdict.
Veterans For Peace
3407 S. Jefferson Ave, #219
St Louis, MO 63118
United States
