August 2022
The climate crisis, stark inequalities, conflicts and human rights violations, and the personal and economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have put our world under greater stress than it has faced in our lifetimes. And it occurs at a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
At the 10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
Examining Afghanistan's Humanitarian and Financial Crisis
A year after the U.S. withdrawal, Afghanistan is in the midst of an increasingly deadly humanitarian crisis with the majority of the people facing emergency levels of food insecurity and the Afghan state teetering on the brink of collapse. Medea Benjamin, who recently traveled to Afghanistan as part of a women"s delegation, offers an in-depth analysis of the crisis. Freezing of the Afghan Central Bank (DAB) Funds has made the situation infinitely worse. Unfreeze Afghanistan, a women-led campaign supporting Afghan peace and prosperity, recently organized a webinar, "Afghanistan: One Year of Taliban Rule," with women's rights advocates, humanitarian aid workers and experts on banking, examining the complex issues involved in releasing the DAB Funds. View a recording of the webinar.
Potential Breakthrough in Afghan Bank Funds Crisis
There may soon be a court ruling on the Afghan Central Bank (DAB) Funds held in the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank in New York. On August 26, U.S. Magistrate Judge Netburn issued recommendations that the Afghan Central Bank (DAB) funds should be immune from seizure in 9/11 lawsuits. September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, which has long argued that all the funds belong to the Afghan people, is encouraged by Judge Netburn's strong arguments. Judge George Daniels, who is overseeing four separate lawsuits brought by different sets of 9/11 families, must now issue a final ruling. If he rules that the court is not authorized to seize the DAB funds for compensation in the 9/11 suits, it would be a major step forward in addressing Afghanistan's fiscal crisis. Read more.
Save the Date! September 21 International Day of Peace; UFPJ Webinar: End Racism, Build Peace
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The United National General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race. The 2022 theme for the International Day of Peace is "End Racism, Build Peace." To mark this day, United for Peace & Justice will host a webinar on Wed. Sept. 21, at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Please mark your calendar and stay tuned for details!
Barber and Theoharis: We Need an Alternative Populist Vision to Defeat the MAGA Movement
Writing about this summer's Congressional hearings on the Jan. 2021 attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, Rev. William J. Barber II and Rev. Liz Theoharis, Co-Chairs of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, warn: "Whether Trump is charged or convicted, [his] network has fomented a populist movement determined to dismantle the institutions of American democracy. We fail to take the threat of this network seriously if we do not identify the kind of movement that can overcome it." Citing the June 18 Mass Poor People's Assembly in Washington, D.C. they conclude: "We need a movement big and broad enough to capture the imagination of everyday people and deliver policies that make life more sustainable for them and their communities." Read more.
The Fierce Urgency of Now; Highlights from the Peace & Planet International Conference
Peace & Planet's July 30 hybrid International Conference took place at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City and online, on the eve of the 10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It aimed to provide a forum for the world's peace movements to share positions and observations on the dynamics of an increasingly dangerous world order and to organize common strategies for peace, disarmament, and human survival. Speakers included Oleg Bodrov, Coordinator of the Northwest Russia Peace Movement, Jeremy Corbyn, UK Member of Parliament, and Rev. Liz Theoharis, Co-Chair of the Poor People's Campaign. Watch the video. Read Oleg Bodrov's Message of Peace and Solidarity from the Russian Coast of the Baltic Sea. Read the conference statement, The Fierce Urgency of Now.
NPT Review Conference Fails to Deliver
At the close of the month-long 10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), States Parties meeting in New York were unable to agree on the text of a final document. While the proximate cause was Russia's refusal to accept language about its military occupation of the Zaporizhzya nuclear power plant in Ukraine, many governments were dissatisfied with the draft final document, feeling that it was very weak and lacking benchmarks, timelines, and measurable goals for nuclear disarmament. Read the media reports from several relevant countries: Washington Post (US); The Guardian (UK); Xinhua (China); NHK (Japan); and Tehran Times (Iran). For a deeper dive read A Four-Week Festival of Double Standards by Western States Legal Foundation's Jackie Cabasso.
Week of Action for Peace in Ukraine September 12 --15, 2022
In a worrying development, President Biden on Aug. 24 announced the US's biggest-yet haul of weapons for Ukraine, saying the nearly $3 billion tranche is designed for Ukraine to "continue to defend itself over the long term." In anticipation of this announcement and in response, the Peace in Ukraine Coalition is calling for a Week of Action for Peace in Ukraine, Sept. 12 -- 15, 2022. Based on these demands: Ceasefire Now; Diplomacy to End the War in Ukraine; $$$ for Climate, Healthcare & Housing, Not Weapons to Enrich War Profiteers; and Do Not Risk Nuclear War; the Coalition is planning National Call-in & Write-In Days to Congress, the White House, State Department and the Media, plus a Day of Rallies Outside and Delegations Inside Congressional Offices. Find out more and get involved!
The Ukraine War: a Geopolitical Black Hole
The Ukraine War continues to exert a powerful influence over global affairs, from nuclear arms control to international trade in energy and foodstuffs. In New York, the member states at the Nonproliferation Treaty review conference failed to reach consensus for the second consecutive time, with the nuclear threats and threats to nuclear power facilities sharply dividing the parties, and also providing the governments of the nuclear-armed states with cover as they avoided meaningful commitments on disarmament yet again. The governments and peoples of Europe continue to struggle to chart an independent course between two of the world's most powerful nuclear-armed states. UFPJ will continue to provide a variety of perspectives via our Ukraine Resource Page.
The U.S. Russia, China & NATO: The Dangerous New Era of Great Power Confrontation & How We Respond -- Video
The Ukraine War crystalized a new era of "blockification" and increasing military, economic, and technological competition. Escalation of the war remains possible. Biden's National Security Policy and NATO's new Strategic Concept name China as a "challenge" to the rules-based order. Provocative naval and air force "exercises" in the East and South China Sea could trigger a U.S.-China nuclear war. On August 8, two leading analysts, Reiner Braun, of the International Peace Bureau, and Phyllis Bennis, with the Institute for Policy Studies addressed this fluid and dangerous landscape on a webinar co-sponsored by Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security and Massachusetts Peace Action. View a recording of the webinar.
Days of Action: a Bold Vision for Nonviolent Solutions to Our Pressing Crises
From the International Day of Peace on September 21 to the International Day of Nonviolence on October 2, 2022, Campaign Nonviolence, a project of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, calls on people and organizations to take action to end war, poverty, racism, and environmental destruction and support a culture rooted in nonviolence. Join one of the planned actions near you or register your own event. Recognizing that violence comes in many forms, this year's Days of Action will focus on efforts to prevent gun violence, halt the climate crisis, stop racist police brutality, eliminate nuclear weapons, divest from fossil fuels and weapons, guarantee food and shelter for all, protect the water, land, and air from destruction and pollution, and more. Read more.
Palestine and Lebanon: What is to be Done? Webinar September 13, 1pm EDT
Join the discussion on the situation in Palestine and Lebanon and US foreign policy towards the region. Panelists will address how things got to where they are, what is to be done, and how US foreign policy must be reoriented to promoting peace. Speakers: Hanan Awad, WILPF Palestine, Hala Kilani, WILPF Lebanon, Nada Farhat, WILPF US Middle East Peace and Justice Action Committee, Luci Murphy, WILPF US DMV Branch Black Liberation Caucus, and Solfrid Raknes, WILPF Norway. Moderators: George Friday, WILPF US Black Liberation Caucus and Barbara Taft, WILPF US Middle East Peace and Justice Action Committee. Register here. For additional information contact webinar organizer - Theresa El-Amin, WILPF Black Liberation Caucus sarnetwork(at)gmail.com
The 2023 Military Budget; Plutonium & Proxies -- Video
On August 16, Massachusetts Peace Action joined CODEPINK Congress to analyze the 2023 military budget - the top line, the line-items, and the amendments -- with special guests Lindsay Koshgarian and Ashik Siddique of the National Priorities Project. The session was timed to mobilize opposition before the Senate votes this fall on a $858 Billion military budget. That's $45 billion more than President Biden requested and $100 Billion more than Trump's military budget. What's in this behemoth? Plenty of giveaways to military contractors -- $$$ for new nuclear warheads, new plutonium pits -- $$$ for more F-35s, $$$ for more weapons to Ukraine and $$$ for Israel's Iron Dome. Watch the recording and learn more.
Stop Raytheon's Nukes: The Raytheon Campaign Joins Forces with Nuclear Abolitionists
On August 24, the Raytheon Anti-War Campaign and Massachusetts Peace Action's (MAPA's) Nuclear Disarmament Working Group launched a new collaboration with a webinar featuring Jackie Cabasso, Executive Director of Western States Legal Foundation, Richard Krushnic, a researcher of military production, imperial U.S. foreign policy and overt covert warfare, Paul Shannon, a coordinator of the Raytheon Anti-War Campaign, and Nick Rabb, a member of MAPA's Peace and Climate Working Group. Watch the recording and learn about Raytheon's production of key nuclear weapons that make nuclear war more likely and how this campaign will use Raytheon's extensive Massachusetts presence to give visibility to the need to abolish nuclear weapons. Sign up to join the Raytheon Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons.
Radio Show: Militarism and the Climate Crisis
In the most recent episode of CODEPINK radio, War Is Not Green intern Sophie Shepherd discusses the Inflation Reduction Act, what the War Is Not Green campaign has been up to, and shares a recording of a recent event hosted by CODEPINK at the People's Forum in New York titled "How Militarism Fuels the Climate Crisis and What You Can Do About It". What do these two issues have to do with each other, and even more importantly - how can the movements for anti-militarism and climate justice work together to build a more just, livable future? Listen and learn more.
U.S.-China Climate Talks in Tatters
In response to the recent trips made by U.S. Members of Congress to Taiwan, CODEPINK's Marcy Winograd writes about the impact of these trips on international diplomacy broadly, and the climate crisis specifically. Winograd writes: "With the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP-27) slated to address the preservation of biodiversity and the need for decarbonization and capital to create sustainable cities, it would be a travesty for the U.S. and China to remain ecologically estranged, stalled indefinitely on climate talks." Read more.
Reflecting on Israel's Recent Bombing of Gaza
In light of Israel's most recent bombing of Gaza, Justina Poskeviciute contextualizes the devastation within the larger siege on Gaza, and Israel's racist and ahistorical policies. Even when Gaza is not being bombed, Poskeviciute writes, it is still under attack - and that will continue as long as the West provides indiscriminate military and financial support. Read more. Sign CODEPINK's petition telling President Biden to stop U.S. military aid to Israel.
Cuba's Matanzas Fire and U.S. policy
On August 5, lightning struck an oil tank in Cuba's largest oil facility in Matanzas, causing what ended up being the largest oil fire in the country's history. As the fire blazed on in the days following, Cuba's requests for international assistance were essentially ignored by the United States. Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan of ACERE and Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK unpack how this inaction, paired with U.S. sanctions and designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terror, impacts the lives of everyday Cubans. Read more. Sign CODEPINK'S letter calling for the White House to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
On a Hopeful Note: Colombia's First Leftist Government Sworn In
CODEPINK's Latin America campaign organizer Samantha Wherry writes about the recent, historic inauguration of Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, and Francia Marquez, Colombia's first Afro Colombian, woman, lawyer, and land defender vice president. Wherry describes how a powerful social movement defied the odds and made this moment a reality, and the challenges the Petro-Marquez government may soon face as they take on the elite's status quo. She writes: "The miracle of this victory was made possible by the brave souls that dared to dream of a more just and equitable Colombia." Read more.
Benefits of United for Peace and Justice Membership -- Give Us a Look!
In these challenging times, we would like to remind you of some of the benefits of United for Peace and Justice membership and invite your group to get more engaged. United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) is a network of organizations. Any group that agrees with our Unity Statement is eligible to join. UFPJ membership provides a variety of opportunities for organizations to extend their reach. You can publicize your actions and campaigns via "Currents," our monthly newsletter, and our web site. You can also raise awareness of the resources your organization has available by adding your entry to our new Member Group Resources page. Click here for more on what UFPJ has to offer, contact our national organizer George Friday at info.ufpj(at)gmail.com.
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