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SUZANNE SWIFT FINALLY OUT OF THE MILITARY!
This is a joyous email from Sara Swift, Suzanne's mother who has tirelessly worked for justice for Suzanne.
"December 31 marked the last official day of Suzanne Swift's active military duty. She sent me a text message after she finished handing in her signed paper work, "DONE" it read.
"I wanted to write one last email to you all to thank you for your care and support through the past few years. It has been a long long haul. You emails and prayers have been crucial in helping Suzanne get through this and she is now finished.
"What are Suzanne's plans? To come home, go to school and put her life back together. She is optimistic about her future and looking forward to becoming more active in "real" life.
"Once again, happy New Year and thank you for your support."
JANUARY 2, 2009
VFP KICKS OFF 'STOP TORTURE' EVENT FEATURING JAMES YEE AND DEMISSIE ABEBE
VOICES OF TORTURE: PERSPECTIVES FROM A WITNESS AND A SURVIVOR
January 9, 2009, St. Louis, MO
Featuring the former U.S. Army Chaplain at Guantanomo Bay, Captain James "Yusof" Yee and Ethiopian torture survivor and current Executive Director of TASSC, Demissie Abebe
DECEMBER 29, 2009
SECURITY WITHOUT EMPIRE: NATIONAL ORGANIZING CONFERENCE ON FOREIGN MILITARY BASES
There is a sense of relief that many here in the U.S. feel after the presidential election, but we understand this is a time to step up our organizing for peace and economic justice - including the growing movement to close and withdraw the nearly 1,000 U.S. military bases located in foreign nations.
American University, Washington, D.C.
Feb. 27-Mar. 2, 2009
From Okinawa and Guam to Honduras, Germany, Iraq, and beyond people who have suffered from the abuses inherent to foreign military bases have been calling for their withdrawal. People in the U.S. have joined this call, outraged by the damage done by U.S. bases abroad and by their expense, which diverts $138 billion a year from addressing human needs and revitalizing our economy. Representatives of 13 organizations have come together to organize a national conference or the closing and withdrawal of military bases. The goals of the conference are:
- Share information about U.S. foreign mlitary bases and resistance;
- Develop new strategies and expand the U.S. anti-bases movement;
- Integrate anti-bases organizing into a more coherent movement;
- Raise the visibility of the U.S. and international anti-bases movements;
- Apply pressure on Congress;
- Close and reduce the number of foreign bases.
The conference will feature base opponents from many "host" nations and will include leading activists as keynote speakers, panelists and workshop facilitators.
Monday, March 2, will be a lobbying day on Capitol Hill, in which we encourage as many conference attendees as possible to participate.
DECEMBER 24, 2008
DID THE GI MOVEMENT END THE VIETNAM WAR? AND WHAT IS THE REAL LEGACY OF GI COFFEEHOUSES?
By David Zeiger
Over the past three years, there has been a significant growth of opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations among active duty soldiers, and several organizations have been doing tremendous work with soldiers and veterans. From those supporting soldiers who have refused deployment and been court-martialed, to the work of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace, the Military Project and Different Drummer Café, determined work is being done to turn the deepening disaffection and anger with the occupations inside the military into a real political movement and force.
This was published in the November 2008 VFP Newsletter
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