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by Elisabeth Bumiller and Mark Landler
The New York Times
November 11, 2009
" WASHINGTON — The United States ambassador to Afghanistan, who once served as the top American military commander there, has expressed in writing his reservations about deploying additional troops to the country, three senior American officials said Wednesday."
(full article)
SHARED INTERESTS DEFINE OBAMA'S WORLD
In engaging adversaries, the President sometimes unsettles allies
By Scott Wilson
The Washington Post
Monday, November 2, 2009
"... President Obama is applying the same tools to international diplomacy that he once used as a community organizer on Chicago's South Side, constructing appeals to shared interests and attempting to bring the government's conduct in line with its ideals.
Obama's approach to the world as a community of nations, more alike than different in outlook and interest, has elevated America's standing abroad and won him the Nobel Peace Prize. But on the farthest-reaching U.S. foreign policy challenges, he is struggling to translate his own popularity into American influence, even with allies that have celebrated his break from the Bush administration's emphasis on military strength, unilateral action and personal chemistry ..."
(full article)
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL SUMMIT ON NUCLEAR
NON-PROLIFERATION AND NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
United Nations Headquarters
New York, New York
September 24, 2009
"... Today, the Security Council endorsed a global effort to lock down all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. The United States will host a summit next April to advance this goal and help all nations achieve it. This resolution will also help strengthen the institutions and initiatives that combat the smuggling, financing, and theft of proliferation-related materials. It calls on all states to freeze any financial assets that are being used for proliferation. And it calls for stronger safeguards to reduce the likelihood that peaceful nuclear weapons programs can be diverted to a weapons program ..."
(full article)
OBAMA'S YOUTHFUL IDEALS SHAPED THE LONG ARC OF HIS NUCLEAR-FREE VISION
By William J. Broad and Davide E. Sanger
The New York Times
July 5, 2009
In the depths of the cold war, in 1983, a senior at Columbia University wrote in a campus newsmagazine, Sundial, about the vision of "a nuclear free world." He railed against discussions of "first- versus second-strike capabilities" that "suit the military-industrial interests" with their "billion-dollar erector sets," and agitated for the elimination of global arsenals holding tens of thousands of deadly warheads.
(full article)
U.S. AND RUSSIA SEEK MORE EXTENSIVE WEAPONS CUTS
By Jonathan Weisman
Wall Street Journal
July 1, 2009
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and Russia are expected to launch new talks aimed at reducing the number of
and other nuclear weapons on both sides, a senior Obama administration official said Tuesday, in an ambitious
effort that could help ease bilateral tensions over other issues as well.
(full article)
NORTH KOREA, IRAN, AND THE END OF NUCLEAR DETERRENCE
By Tad Daley
Common Dreams
June 26, 2009
Co-authored by Kevin Martin, Executive Director of Peace Action
When South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited Washington for a summit with President Barack Obama on June 16th,
the United States reaffirmed its "commitment of extended deterrence" to Seoul, "including the U.S. nuclear umbrella."
In response, on June 25th, the 59th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, North Korea vowed to continue to
expand its nuclear arsenal, to deliver a "fire shower of nuclear retaliation" in response to U.S. "provocations," and
insisted that the nuclear umbrella statement only "provides us with a stronger justification to have a nuclear deterrent."
(full article)
TAKING NORTH KOREA AT THEIR WORD
By Tad Daley
Common Dreams
May 27, 2009
Pyongyang has consistently said that its nuclear weapons are intended to deter aggression. And, indeed, they do.
Shortly after North Korea exploded its second nuclear device in three years on Monday morning, it released
a statement explaining why. "The republic has conducted another underground nuclear testing successfully in
order to strengthen our defensive nuclear deterrence." If the Obama Administration hopes to dissuade Pyongyang
from the nuclear course it seems so hell bent on pursuing ...
(full article)
HOUSE BACKS OBAMA'S AFGHAN SURGE, AMID CALLS FOR EXIT STRATEGY
By John Nichols
The Nation Blogs / The Beat
May 14, 2009
"Sometimes great presidents make mistakes," declared Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern as he announced
his intention to vote against $97 billion in "emergency" supplemental funding for the continued U.S. occupation
of Iraq and President Obama's dangerously misguided plan to surge 21,000 more U.S. troops and trainers into
Afghanistan ...
(full article)
EX-US SEC STATE URGES REPUBLICANS TO BACK TEST BAN
By Charles J. Hanley
AP
April 17, 2009
The latest U.S. nuclear showdown doesn't involve any foreign enemy. Instead, it pits President Barack Obama against his Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, and concerns the question...
(full article)
OBAMA'S NUCLEAR CHALLENGE
By Jonathan Schelll
The Nation
April 15, 2009
"So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,"
President Obama said at the open-air rally in Prague on April 5. With these words came a change in the global air, as if a window had
been opened a crack in a dark room that had been sealed shut for decades. ...
(full article)
HOW FEASIBLE IS OBAMA'S NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AGENDA?
By Lawrence Wittner
History News Network
April 20, 2009
Not since Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, decades ago, talked of abolishing nuclear weapons
has an American president pledged to work toward that goal. ...
(full article)
283 BASES, 170,000 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, 140,000 TROOPS, AND AN ARMY OF MERCENARIES: THE LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE IN IRAQ
By Jeremy Scahill
AlterNet
March 30, 2009
With last week's announced escalation of the war in Afghanistan, including an Iraq-like "surge" replete with 4,000 more U.S. troops and a sizable increase in private contractors...
(full article)
OBAMA'S NUCLEAR WAR
By Mark Thompson
Time
January 26, 2009
The latest U.S. nuclear showdown doesn't involve any foreign enemy. Instead, it pits President Barack Obama against his Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, and concerns the question...
(full article)
VISION FOR A NEW FOREIGN POLICY
By Cora Weiss
The Nation
January 6, 2009
Peace activist Cora Weiss delivered this speech at the 28th annual Conference for Peace sponsored by the New Jersey Coalition for Peace Action at Princeton University November 16, 2008...
(full article)
BUSH: ONLY TIME WILL TELL ABOUT HIS LEGACY
By Carolyn Lochhead
San Francisco Chronicle
January 4, 2009
Love him or hate him, George W. Bush leaves office among the most consequential presidents in modern history. Like his home state of Texas, his presidency was big...
(full article)
ISRAEL'S ENDGAME
By John Barry
Newsweek
December 29, 2008
The attack on Gaza shows that the Olmert government feels it may be running out of options. Does the Gaza offensive signal that the Israeli government has decided to embark...
(full article)
OBAMA NEEDS A PROTEST MOVEMENT
By Frances Fox Piven
The Nation
November 15, 2008
The astonishing election of 2008 is over. Whatever else the future holds, the unchallenged domination of American national government by big business and the political right has been broken...
(full article)
WE HAVE THE MONEY — IF ONLY WE DIDN'T WASTE IT ON THE DEFENSE BUDGET
By Chalmers Johnson
Tom Dispatch
September 29, 2008
There has been much moaning, air-sucking, and outrage about the $700 billion that the U.S. government is thinking of throwing away on rich New York bankers...
(full article)
NUCLEAR BAN? START WITH U.S.
By Lawrence S. Wittner
Times Union
August 3, 2008
The world's nine nuclear powers continue to cling to some 27,000 nuclear weapons, almost all of them more deadly than that first atomic bomb...
(full article)
PANYS and our allies from WESPAC sponsored a rally at West Point on Tuesday Dec. 1, before the President’s speech announcing the troop escalation in Afghanistan. The following day, PANYS members joined UFPJ, IVAW and Code Pink for a rally in front of the Times Square Army Recruiting Center in New York City.
Dr. Charles Hitchcock of Peace Action International was honored by being named as one of the Co-Chairs of this year's UN/DPI conference. (That's the annual conference of the 1,500 NGOs that work in the United Nations.) The theme: For Peace and Development: Disarm Now! Much of the three day conference focused on nuclear abolition, although there were also discussions on small arms and the impact of war on various populations. Peace Action's expertise was highlighted in a variety of ways, including Dr. Hitchcocks' leadership and presentations by national Executive Director Kevin Martin and Scoville Peace Fellow Lisa Putkey. For more information on the conference, as well as a copy of the Conference Declaration, click here.
Photo Petition
for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
In his recent speech in Prague, President Obama reconfirmed America's commitment to upholding its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which include reducing our own nuclear arsenal. Please sign our online petition. You can encourage President Obama to fulfill the vision of a nuclear weapons-free world within our lifetimes. Print out a hard copy and have friends, family and neighbors sign, and return it to the address on the bottom. Thank you!
The First Doris Shaffer Memorial Lecture on Practical Steps to Peace and Justice in the Middle East was on July 28th. We had about 100 people attend a fantastic pangel discussion featuring Issam Aburaya, Daniel Fleshler, and David Wildman. The discussion after the lectures was both challenging and engaging. If you were unable to attend, the event was videotaped and will be availible soon on this web site.
On Tuesday, July 21, PANYS hosted an estate planning seminar with elder law experts David Goldfarb and Michael Kutzin of Goldfarb, Abrandt, Salzman & Kutzin. The meeting was informative and helpful, providing lots of details on various taxes and aspects of an estate. If you would like copies of the information that was given out, please call 646-723-1749. Thank you to both David and Michael for taking time out of their day to make our event a success!
Peace Action New York State is thrilled to announce that our network has expanded to include a second chapter in Westchester, No War Westchester. No War Westchester is a committee of WESPAC, a local peace and justice organizing hub. For more information on No War Westchester, their Iraqi Student Project, or their weekly Saturday vigil, see their web page at www.nowarwestchester.org.
Larry Wittner, Peace Action New York State member, historian, and award-winning author, has created a new, abbreviated version of his authoritative trilogy, "The Struggle Against the Bomb." Confronting the Bomb tells the dramatic, inspiring story of how citizen activism helped curb the nuclear arms race and prevent nuclear war. This exciting read reveals hows how a worldwide, grassroots campaign — the largest social movement of modern times — challenged the nuclear priorities of the great powers and, ultimately, thwarted their nuclear ambitions.
Now available at www.sup.org or other online bookstores.
On Monday, May 25th, North Korea successfully tested a Hiroshima-sized nuclear weapon.
The need for the abolition of nuclear weapons is one of the core values of Peace Action New York State and all of our 17 chapters and 3,000 members. The complete elimination of nuclear weapons must be a key component in any realistic plan for peace, human security and full development. In addition to being deeply disturbed by Monday's test, we believe that the United States has a particular responsibility to be a leader in the movement for nuclear disarmament.
For more information, please see:
On Monday, May 18th, the Peace Action Fund of New York State hosted the 2nd Annual William Sloane Coffin Jr. Peacemaker Awards at the 1199 SEIU Penthouse in Manhattan. The evening was a wonderful collection of jazz music, good food, old friends and great conversation. Last year's honoree, Cora Weiss, presented the 2009 Peacemaker Awards to two dynamic young activists, Cliff Cawthon and Jennifer Hyman. We also had the opportunity to celebrate the work of six of our colleagues in the peace movement: Brooklyn for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, The Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, Military Families Speak Out, No War Westchester and United for Peace and Justice. For photos of the event, please click here.
Great news! On Wednesday, May 6th, the 2009 NPT Prep Comm achieved it's primary goal - establishing an agenda for the 2010 NPT Review. More than 50 members of Peace Action from around the country are there to participate in the program, talk to the media, and network with our international allies. For detailed information on the Prep Comm, read Kevin Martin's blog or the daily digest created by Reaching Critical Will.
On May 1, 2009, members of Peace Action came out to support immigrant and worker rights in New York City because we know that peace and social justice are two sides of the same coin. Fund human needs, including worker rights and immigration reform, not war!
On March 19, 2009 more than 700 New Yorkers participated in marches, vigils, rallies and lobby visits to mark the 6th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. More than 20,000 people from around the country came together for national events less than two weeks later. For a detailed report of how New Yorkers marked the 6th anniversary, click here.
March 19, 2009 is the 6th Anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Across New York, members and chapters of Peace Action will be marking this sad date, and those around it, with commemorations, vigils and events. To find an event in your community, please check the events calendar.
John Nichols, author of The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders Cure for Royalism, and a columnist and political reporter for The Nation addressed a full-house in Westchester on Sunday, February 1st. He discussed "What did we exactly win with Obama? Where does the Peace Movement go from here?" The event was dynamic, exciting, and inspirational.
On Saturday, February 7th, more than 85 activists, including 25 students, from around New York State gathered in Rochester for the 2009 Peace Action New York State Annual Meeting. We had workshops on outreach to veterans, student organizing, working with the media, the National Guard campaign, the military budget and more. Kevin Martin and Paul Kawika Martin from national Peace Action were both there to give us a break-down of what's happening in Washington. If you missed it and want the highlights, call Cheryl at 646-723-1749. 2009 PANYS Annual Meeting.
Peace Action activists all over the state have been calling for an end to the violence in Gaza. Upper Hudson Peace Action held a candlelight vigil for Gaza on January 6, 2009. On January 7, 2009, our Long Island allies issued a joint statement on Gaza. On January 13, 2009 a candlelight vigil was held in front of the U.S. Mission to the U.N. in NYC. Finally, Buffalo State Students for Peace held a candlelight vigil on January 16, 2009.
For information on how you can get involved, click here.
As the war in Iraq changes from an invasion to a long-term occupation, the President no longer has Congressional authorization for the war. That means that Gov. Paterson is not required to accept the federalization of members of the New York State National Guard to serve in Iraq. Please join PANYS and our allies in a campaign to keep the New York Guard at home where they belong!
For more information,
click
here.To sign an on-line petition, click here. Or
download a petition here.To go to the Save the Guard campaign web site, click here.
Members of PANYS joined approximately 400 peace activists at the third and final Presidential debate at Hofstra University on October 15th. We were there to demand a peace President and support events organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Long Islands Alliances for Peaceful Alternatives. What began as a peaceful, fun afternoon turned scary when 15 people were arrested and an IVAW member was left bloodied and nearly unconscious after being trampled by a police officer on horseback.
Peace Action New York State welcomes its 15th Chapter: Dutchess Peace Coalition. Dr. King’s words “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice” are the motto of Duchess Peace Coalition. PANYS embraces this idea, just as it embraces its newest chapter, Dutchess Peace Coalition. The Coalition has been active in planning peace and justice events for years and PANYS is proud to welcome it into its family.
Peace Action New York State now has a Group page on Facebook. Please join our group to get updates on upcoming events (like our summer film festival "Wastelands: Environmental Casualties of War") and help us recruit friends.
More Info
Peace Action: Past present and Future is on sale now for $15.00 (plus shipping and handling)