United For Peace and Justice organizes its activities around
several major areas of work. Some of this work are key programmatic
focuses that are supported by working groups. Other issue are ones that
we care deeply about and do what we can to support by amplifying the work of member
groups or engaging in solidarity actions as needed.
Key Program Focuses
Iraq:
UFPJ has, throughout its history, strongly called for the
immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, and calls on the Obama
administration to move forward with troop withdrawal immediately. UFPJ
continues to take action as needed to end the US military and economic
occupation.
Afghanistan:
Since September 2001, U.S. military forces -- under the auspices
of NATO action -- have waged war in Afghanistan; and now, in the name of
fighting the 'good' war, the Democratic Party, which controls Congress and the
White House, has promised escalation in Afghanistan. UFPJ is taking a lead in
exposing and stopping the horrors and costs of nine years of irrational,
illegal, counter-productive, and deadly military action. The war in Afghanistan
has brought neither security nor a reduction of terrorist groups nor freedom
for the women of that country. Thousands of civilians have been killed and the
already-weakened infrastructure is being further destroyed. Thousands of U.S.
troops have been killed and deaths will rise. UFPJ calls for an immediate withdrawal
of U.S./ NATO forces from Afghanistan with a negotiated just settlement
involving Afghans, neighboring countries and international parties. The
Afghanistan Working Group connects antiwar organizers from both national
and local peace organizations. We develop action plans, share
information about the Afghanistan war and the movement to end it, and lift up
successful antiwar work.
We participate in a monthly series of vigils at congressional offices, send action
alerts on developments and Congressional action to UFPJ supporters, and
produce literature and
gather resources. We have a discussion listserv and a
biweekly conference call. Write Ufpj-afghanistan-subscribe@lists.mayfirst.org to
join our listserv or write ufpjafghanistan@gmail.com for
information. The AWG's convenors are Cole Harrison of United for Justice
with Peace (Boston) and Janet Weil of Code Pink.
Click here for the Afghanistan
Working Group webpage, with resources, fact sheets, etc.
Nuclear Disarmament/Redefining Security
This August will mark the 65th anniversary of the U.S. atomic
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the threatened use of nuclear weapons
remains at the heart of U.S. militarism. Despite his soaring rhetoric,
President Obama has recently requested “well over” $180 Billion over the next
ten years to maintain and modernize nuclear warheads and their delivery
systems, and a nuclear weapons complex including new bomb factories in New
Mexico, Tennessee and Missouri. The administration is also promoting a
“renaissance” in nuclear energy including new uranium mining on Navajo
land. We spent a full year organizing and mobilizing with international
partners for a major conference, rally, march and peace festival in connection
with the recently concluded month-long Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)
Review Conference in New York City. The NPT Conference did not produce
the breakthrough we were hoping for and we will forge ahead as part of a
growing and intensifying international campaign working for a treaty to abolish
nuclear weapons. In a recent breakthrough, the U.S. Conference of Mayors
unanimously called on Congress to slash spending on nuclear weapons and
redirect funds to meet the urgent needs of cities. We believe that nuclear disarmament
should serve as the leading edge of a global trend towards demilitarization and
redirection of resources to meet human needs and protect the environment.
Please join us! -- Convener: Jackie Cabasso, wslf@earthlink.net
War Funding and More - Legislative Working Group
What We Do: Our working group helps to connect people
and groups across the country who are pressuring Congress to end the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq, and to redirect military spending to domestic needs.
Effective Congressional work requires more coordination than other antiwar
activities. Individual members of Congress are most likely to respond
positively, if colleagues are encountering similar pressure from
constituents. People who looking for ways to move Congress have found it
helpful to be aware of approaches that are being used around the country. By
connecting to the Legislative Working Group, you can receive and share
information about the varied initiatives that are being implemented.
Joining Legislative Working Group: Just
send an email to: rustiandgael@unitedforpeace.org
--give your name, organization (if any), names of Congressional Rep and
Senators.
If I Join This List-Serve Will I Drown in Emails and Requests for
money? No. But we will keep you
updated on relevant developments in Congress, information about what other
national and local groups are doing, announcements of “call-in days,” vigils
and other forms of protest as well as useful resources. You will also be
invited to participate in occasional conference calls.
Co Conveners: Gael Murphy CODEPINK and Rusti Eisenberg
Brooklyn for Peace
To call your member of Congress and ask them to join the Out
of Afghanistan Caucus, stop funding the wars and bring the troops home,Congressional
Switchboard: 202-224-3121.
OTHER KEY AREAS OF WORK
Military Spending –There are a number of
member groups working to develop campaigns to fund jobs and human needs by
cutting the military budget. The Peace Economy Project has been hosting
regular strategy calls and a number of groups are collaborating on a workshop at
the US Social Forum. We like the idea of collaborating on a
grassroots campaign that can rebuild a base, expand lists and put pressure on
policy makers to shift our economy to jobs and justice not war.
Solidarity Work and Building Alliances, The UFPJ network
encourages member groups to reach out to and build relationships with the
labor, environment and immigrant rights communities. We are
exploring/pursuing collaborations or solidarity actions as they come
up. UFPJ will also continue to educate and take action to prevent
or respond to crises as they happen--whether it be the global gathering for
climate justice in Bolivia, the racist law in Arizona or the deadly attack
against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. UFPJ wants to keep our network
informed and connected.
Palestine/Israel:
We will continue to work to end U.S. military and economic aid to Israel that
facilitates the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the apartheid policies of
the Israeli government. The recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza
Humanitarian Flotilla has opened up a new moment where the possibility of
changing the US policy is greater that ever. UFPJ will continue to support
efforts to end US support for the occupation of Palestine
Truth-In-Recruitment/GI
Resisters/Military Families: We support organizing and
peaceful opposition by those in uniform -- including military resisters -- to
illegal policies of aggressive war, occupation, and violations of the Geneva
Accords and international standards. This includes strengthening our work with
military families, veterans, and truth-in- recruitment efforts, as well as
demanding the troops be fully cared for when they get home.
Civil Liberties/Torture/Immigrant Rights/Accountability: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan distort
our nation’s priorities and are inseparable from the 'war at home': the
undermining of democracy, and the attacks on immigrants, youth, people of
color, the poor, women, LGBT people, and working people. The undermining
of civil liberties has deepened the general erosion of democracy in the
country: the ripping away of voting rights, attacks on the rights of workers
and immigrants, attacks on human/civil rights (including those of women,
gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transgendered (LGBT) people, people of color, and ethnic
and religious minorities), and the deepening assault on the environment. The
struggle for peace is essentially bound up with the struggle for democracy, and
for social and economic justice in the U.S. Building alliances between
constituencies based on common needs and solidarity remains essential to
winning concrete victories for justice at home and peace around the world.
Climate Justice – The US military is the
largest consumer of fossil fuels and thus the greatest contributor to co2
emmission. UFPJ understands that unless we can stem the militarization of
our world, we will not be able to save the planet . We will continue to
educate and take action in solidarity with impacted communities as needed.
Internet Committee –We are slowly trying to
make the website more accessible and dynamic. Without much money to
commit to this, it will take time to make the changes we would like. If
you have skills to volunteer, we’d love to talk with you more.
Contact: SIUHIN@aol.com
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