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by Sharon Grimes, W A M M
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WAMM Praised in Op-Ed
WAMM is cited in a St. Paul Pioneer Press article, “What if women ruled the world?” by Norbert Hirschhorn. In the article he says, “Women have been fierce warriors throughout history, but also fierce advocates of nonviolent protest and resistance. One example is the group Women Against Military Madness founded in Minneapolis.” (10/7/08)
A True Leader
The 2008 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari because his efforts “have contributed to a more peaceful world and to fraternity between nations.” His work to build lasting peace has taken him to Tanzania, Namibia, Indonesia, Kosovo, and Iraq. (Minneapolis StarTribune, 10/12/08)
Fall Success Stories
The Friends Committee on National Legislation (a Quaker lobbying group) noted the following September success stories:
• Congress included an extension of the ban on the export of most types of cluster bombs in a bill that keeps the government running through March 2009. A one-year ban would have expired on September 30.
• Funding was blocked for the Bush administration’s proposed Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. In September, a House-Senate conference committee for the 2009 military authorization bill refused to allow any money to be spent on RRW.
• Congress invested in peace when it included funds to create a civilian response corps that could be sent to crisis-torn countries to help restore basic services and support political and economic reconstruction. The House had earlier included $55 million for the program in the Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act, which did not pass the Senate. The money was included in the 2009 military authorization bill; although FCNL opposes any funding for war, FCNL supports the civilian response corps. (10/07/08, http://www.fcnl.org/about/successes/2008-2.htm)
Europe to Aid Iraq Refugees
European Union countries will accept up to 10,000 more Iraqi refugees. They will send a mission to Syria and Jordan, which are struggling to house and feed refugees, to identify the most vulnerable people. (Minneapolis StarTribune, 9/26/08)
Vigil Held in Tehran
A candlelight vigil was held in Tehran on September 21, which was designated in 1981 by the United Nations as International Day of Peace. The Tehran Peace Museum and the Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support planned the event, which is a first in Iran, where tensions with the United States are causing concern. The purpose of the ceremony was to commemorate “all victims of wars and conflicts and to pray for the establishment of sustainable peace in the world.” (Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran, 9/17/08)
Myanmar Activist Freed
Myanmar citizens held peaceful protests in Japan in September to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the National League for Democracy party. In western Myanmar, about 100 Buddhist monks held a peaceful protest to commemorate the one-year anniversary of last year’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations. Days before the anniversary, Myanmar freed the longest-serving political prisoner along with 9,000 other inmates. Win Tin, a journalist and activist who had been in prison since 1989 is an aide to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (Minneapolis StarTribune, 9/24/08 and 9/28/08)
Conscience Call
Several military defense lawyers said that Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld, a prosecutor in the war crimes tribunals at Guantánamo Bay, quit because the government suppressed evidence that could have helped a young Afghan man facing life in prison. (Minneapolis StarTribune, 9/25/08) |
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© 2008 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete November 2008 Index - click here
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