Where will you be on October 7?
War Resisters League to jbennet August 12, 2011
wrl@warresisters.org
Will you help WRL mark 10 years of the "Global War on Terror"?
October 7th, 2011 will mark 10 years since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the start of the Global War on Terror. To commemorate this sad anniversary, we* are calling for a month of local and national activities from September 7th to October 7th. During this time, we hope to promote relationship-building among people and communities affected by U.S. militarism and the U.S. war economy, both in the U.S. and Afghanistan, reflect on how our world has changed in the past 10 years, and share our "war stories" from the last decade.
We have spent the last 10 years marching in the streets and participating in many forms of nonviolent action to end the wars, put a stop to the growing militarization of U.S. communities and borders, and redirect our country’s resources to meeting human needs here at home. Despite of these efforts, we’re still entangled in two (or more) wars; at least 200,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, over 6,000 U.S. troops have died in combat, and thousands more have taken their own lives; Muslim individuals and communities as well as immigrants to the U.S. are under ever-increasing surveillance by a racist and Islamophobic "Homeland Security" system; unemployment numbers keep rising and funding for education, social security, and healthcare are all being gutted while Congress continues to increase military spending.
In Washington D.C. on October 7th, we will be marking this commemoration of the Global War on Terror with a unique forum, War Voices: Stories from a Decade of Militarism at Home and Abroad, which will bring together people directly impacted by U.S. militarism, including the Afghan-American/Afghan-Canadian group Afghans for Peace, and the U.S. war economy with ally groups, as well as writers, musicians, and artists. Through story-telling, workshops, discussions, and cultural performances, we will build our power as a movement by meeting one another, building relationships that will inspire us for the long haul, and envisioning new directions for the future. We will be providing a live webcast of the forum in D.C. for those who are unable to join us for the event. At the forum, we also hope to premiere new digital media featuring Afghan organizations talking about their work.
On September 7th, we will be launching a new popular education-inspired curriculum on the U.S. war economy, as well as a section on the current on-the-ground reality in Afghanistan and Afghan-led efforts for a more just society. These materials will be posted to our website on September 7th, as well as the excellent clearinghouse and network of educators and artists engaged with this decade of war called '10 Years and Counting'. If you are interested in hearing more about the curriculum or using it to build with economic justice groups in your local area, we welcome you to contact us at: ali@warresisters.org
We’re calling on our members and supporters to help us promote these events nationwide and organize a workshop or forum in your own community on or before October 7th. We will soon be posting resources on our website on how to adapt these tools and projects to meet your local needs.
For general questions about the month of local and national activities against 10 years of war and occupation, contact: info@warvoices.org
Please help us to spread the word!
In solidarity,
*War Resisters League, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Peace Action, United for Peace and Justice
Check out the latest from the frontlines of antimilitarism on the WRL Blog!
"The Flavor of Freedom"...and War: Day of Honey by Annia Ciezadlo
Written by Jeanne Strole, co-director of the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute, this is a review of a memoir that explores themes of "love, food, family, friends, clashes of culture, prejudice and war's profound effects on the everyday lives of civilians." This memoir details the history of food in the Middle East, a romantic relationship between two transplanted New Yorkers, one from Chicago the other from Beirut, and describes the "flavor of freedom" in Iraq.
Wisconsin Updates!
This post lays out the current on-the-ground reality in Wisconsin following the amazing weeks of resistance of workers in the state in February and March. It also provides links to recent protests, events, and actions led by Wisconsinites committed to resisting the government assault against organized labor.
Check out WRL's latest counter-military recruitment leaflet!
Know Before You Go, 'Cause There's No Reset Button is a collaboration with the Ya-Ya Network (Youth Activists-Youth Allies), a youth-led antimilitarist organization based in NYC.
Our leaflet breaks down the enlistment contract and life in the military and provides new stats about sexual assault in the military, racial disparities in becoming an officer, and stop-loss.
Written to be accessible to everyone while providing the most important info for making a fully informed choice about joining the military, this leaflet will be a staple for counter-recruiters.
Available on our online store for $0.15/copy plus 20% shipping.
The black and white and color versions of the leaflet are also available for FREE download.
For more information on WRL's counter-recruitment work, email kimber@warresisters.org or call
212.228.0450 x12
Send mail to War Resisters League 339 Lafayette St. New York, NY 10012
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