Weekly Local Peace Vigils - Stand with Us!

Maine’s Bring Our War $$ Home Campaign
January 14, 2010

A news conference to launch Maine’s Bring Our War $$ Home campaign was held in the State capitol building’s Hall of Flags. Peace activists joined health care providers, social workers, clergy and current and former legislators calling for cuts to military spending and the funding of jobs, health care, education, and social services. Speakers from multiple perspectives pointed a way out of Maine’s fiscal crisis: bring pressure to stop funding war in the House of Representatives in Wash DC.

Then, a joint meeting of the Appropriations and Education Committees heard testimony during their public hearing on proposed cuts to program including student financial aid, the state library, museum, and K-Univ. education. "Connect the dots," state legislators were told by a succession of antiwar speakers. "It is time for leaders to speak out about the drain of endless war on state finances.Maine’s citizens pay about $320 million per year, on average, as their share of the occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan."

A great turnout by activists from Kennebunkport to Deer Isle, and everywhere in between, energized us for a 3-month campaign to bring our war dollars home!

WABI Ch. 5 news at 6pm gave us almost 2 minutes of excellent coverage, see it here about 9 1/2 minutes into the show (click on 6pm news): Watch TV5 News

Many good photos here courtesy of Roger Leisner - The Maine Paparazzi - Radio Free Maine can be seen here: The Maine Paparazzi

A breaking news item appeared in the Portland Press Herald, Kennebuck Journal and Morning Sentinel:

FMI: bringourwardollarshome.org

“Rethink Afghanistan”

Too many critical questions surround the war in Afghanistan that only public debate and Congressional oversight hearings can answer. Rethink Afghanistan is a ground-breaking, full-length documentary focusing on the key issues surrounding this war. Diverse testimony, including a unique segment presenting many women of Afghanistan, covers both problems and solutions, while graphic footage of civilian casualties from U.S. air strikes illustrates why military force is ineffective at solving Afghanistan’s many problems. Hear from veterans of the war as they testify to Congress about facts on the ground.

FMI on the documentary: rethinkafghanistan.com

Interview of Lisa Savage by Bruce Gagnon of
Global Network Against Nuclear Power & Weapons in Space

CODEPINK Maine’s Lisa Savage (and one of the founding members of WABPJ) was interviewed by Bruce Gagnon of Global Network Against Nuclear Power & Weapons in Space.

Lisa talks about:

• Why there is no military solution in Afghanistan, and what to do about it, including a current campaign to meet with Maine’s congressional delegation to question escalation of the war there and in Pakistan.
• The lack of improvement in women’s rights and living conditions over the past eight years,and why they are calling on the U.S. to get out now.
• The use of drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, for air strikes on civilians, and concerns about plans to bring these robotic bombers to Maine.

http://www.archive.org/details/ThisIssue_LisaSavage

Lisa can be reached at lsavage3ATgmaiDOTcom or by calling 643-2356.

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. Won’t you join us? www.codepink4peace.org

Lobbying

Reports from recent visits (March 2009) with Senators Snowe and Collins’ staff and Representative Michaud on the proposed surge of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and thanking Chellie Pingree for her recent (May) “No” on war funds.

Investing in health care, education, mass transit, or construction for home weatherization and infrastructure creates more jobs than investing an equivalent amount in the military. For more information you can download this Word document. The complete study is available here: The U.S. Employment Effects of Military and Domestic Spending Priorities [pdf].