United for Peace and Justice is helping to mobilize a demonstration for October 2nd in Washington DC. The purposes of the event are to call for an end to the war and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq and to redirect the money saved to domestic programs addressing the needs of US citizens. (See their call for support after my comments.)
The evidence so far suggests that 50,000 US military troops, some number of US military bases, a large contingent of government contractors and their employees, along with US air and naval forces, will remain in Iraq for some unspecified period of time.
In Afghanistan, the US troop level has risen to 100,000, along with 30,000 or so troops from allied countries. There are US special forces largely hidden from view working on counter-terrorist projects. General Patraeus is requesting and additional 2,000 troops. There are hundreds of US military bases in the country. The number of contractors working for the US military is going up. There is little progress in building a viable and effective national police or military force. Recent news stories continue to report on widespread corruption in the Afghan government. The majority of Afghans who are polled want an end to the occupation. There is little sign of an end to the conflict.
Leading the way, US policies have left both countries devastated, driving them into poverty or deeper into poverty, created the conditions for civil war, and, especially in Iraq, produced four million refugees and the lowest overall standard of living since 1991. As yet, neither country has a stable government.
United for Peace and Justice, One Nation Working Together
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/, 221-868-5545, P.O. Box 607, Times Square Station, New York, NY, 10108.
Will We See You There?
Two weeks ago we asked if you were ready to hit the streets again. The answer is coming in from every corner of the country: YES.
Even with the usual challenges of end-of-summer organizing, momentum for the One Nation Working Together mobilization in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 2nd is growing every day. New organizations - both national and local groups - are signing on. New organizing committees in cities big and small are coming together. Buses are being reserved, carpools are being organized, and people are getting ready. Without exaggeration, all signs point to the 10.2.10 mobilization being of historical proportion. To put it simply: This is one you do not want to miss!
With the long Labor Day weekend behind us, now is the time to take our organizing to the next level. What we do - what we all do - in the next few weeks will determine if 10.2.10 is one of the largest and most powerful expressions of the progressive agenda that our nation as ever seen. The peace movement has a tremendous role to play, if we step up now. We know how to turn out people: Remember the massive protests against the war in Iraq that we made happen? Those events were critically important in and of themselves, and they also laid the foundation for the work we are now engaged in.
Our work as a movement goes beyond turning out large numbers of people for an historic event. We have an opportunity to help millions of people understand how the struggle to end the wars and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq is directly tied to the urgent need to re-direct this nation's economic and social priorities. We can bring our clear call for cuts in military spending into the efforts to fund the needs of all of our communities, including creating millions of new, green jobs.
Making these connections will only be as strong as our presence within the One Nation Working Together movement. This means being part of the local organizing coalitions that are already in place, or building new ones in the cities where they don't exist yet. It means turning out massive numbers of people in Washington, DC on 10.2.10. And it means helping us build the peace presence there.
Here's what you can do:
1) Find out if there's an organized coalition in your area. Click here to see a list of what's already in place.
2) If there is not a coalition, start right now to form one. If you need help, let us know by contacting us at onenationforpeace@gmail.com or 973 666-4605.
3) Be sure to add your group's name to the growing list of groups participating in the 10.2.10 March on Washington. Click Join Our Coalition here.
4) Join the Peace Table of the ONWT effort. We are the umbrella structure organizing to make sure the issues the peace movement works on every day are visible on October 2nd and a part of the overall agenda for this new movement.
5) Donate today to help support the work of the Peace Table. With a relatively small budget we can have a tremendous impact, but we need to your help now to make that possible. Or mail a check to: UFPJ, PO Box 607, Times Square Station, NY, NY 10108
We will soon send you more details about what will happen in Washington, DC on October 2, including how the Peace Table will make our messages a visible part of the day and how your group can help make that happen. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at 973 666-4605.
Help us continue to do this critical work: Make a donation to UFPJ today.
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