On Saturday, September 11, 2010, at 4 p.m., Peace Fresno will host a dinner and meeting for the entire peace community to reassess and recommit to a local antiwar strategy.  We will collaborate on setting an effective, coordinated agenda for the local peace community. Think standing on the corner with a sign is a waste of time? Believe YouTube and Facebook are the way to reach youth? Want advocacy training? Have an idea that would double attendance at events? Know how to make the community more effective? Bring your ideas and energy.

The Peace Community Dinner will take place on Saturday, September 11, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno (2672 E. Alluvial Ave., Clovis). Reserve your seat now for the meeting and dinner for only $10. Send your check to Peace Fresno, P.O. Box 5115, Fresno, CA 93755; please write “Peace Dinner” and the names of the attendees on the memo line. Voice mail 559-487-2515.

Duration of Major American Military Conflicts

Conflict                                                               Duration

Afghanistan (ongoing)                                         104 months

Vietnam War                                                      103 months*

American Revolution                                          100 months

Iraq War (ongoing)                                               88 months

U.S. Civil War                                                     48 months

World War II                                                       45 months

Korean War                                                         37 months

War of 1812                                                        32 months

U.S.-Mexican War                                               21 months

World War I                                                        19 months

Spanish-American War                                          5 months

Gulf War                                                                3 months

*All sources do not agree on the duration of the Vietnam War. This figure covers the period from the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution until the withdrawal of the last American combat forces from Vietnam (Asian News International [ANI]).

Source: Lee, R. The History Guy: Comparing America’s Wars by Length. Retrieved June 16, 2010, from http://www.historyguy.com/american_wars_by_length_of_time.html

The U.S. Congress will be voting tomorrow, July 1, on a $33 billion supplemental military funding bill.   Congress has the power to say NO to war by not funding it.  Our job is to let Congress know that NO WAR FUNDING is what we want.

Petition #1

http://www.democrats.com/oppose-33-billion-war-supplemental-for-2010

Petition #2

http://democrats.com/21-progressive-democrats-must-end-the-wars

You will find good background info when you go to both of these sites.  The first petition was create by Credo and the second by Democrats.com.

Additional background information on behind the scenes Congressional  juggling can be found in an blog by David Swanson, who spoke in Fresno in November 2009 about holding Congress accountable.  For David Swanson’s blog go to http://www.antemedius.com/content/war-escalation-funding-fight-week?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+antemedius+%28Antemedius+-+Liberally+Critical+Thinking%29

Many people say, “I hate war!” and then proceed to talk about why it’s necessary.  Peace Fresno members hate war and take action to end it.

We can change U.S. foreign policy if we are UNITED against war and militarism.  One person acting alone cannot change U.S. policy, but many people acting together have the power to change the government.  Social movements have changed laws, policies, and even the Constitution of the United State.  Successful examples include abolition of slavery, women’s right to vote, the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement of the 1960’s.

We must be passionate and persistent.  Peace Fresno continues to demand an end to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to call for “Troops Home Now.”  We are saddened that President Obama and Congress continue to add troops, weapons, and funding to the wars begun during the Bush administration.

There are many ways to contribute to peace making.  Your membership in Peace Fresno is a stand against war and a step in building the peace movement.  All are invited, but not expected, to meetings on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays at the Fresno Center for Nonviolence.

Thanks to Phil Traynor, Peace Fresno’s past president, you can now earn money for Peace Fresno by using the S.H.A.R.E.S. card when you shop at Save Mart and Food Maxx.  All you need to do is present the card before making your purchase.  Each swipe of your S.H.A.R.E.S. card earns 3% of qualified purchases for Peace Fresno, and you don’t even have to be a Peace Fresno member to participate.

Please join us in supporting the Community Alliance newspaper.  Its coverage of the local peace movement is unparalleled.  As a part of Peace Fresno’s annual membership drive, we offer the Community Alliance to new subscribers at the reduced rate of $20 (Normally $35).

Peace Fresno’s membership dues are still only $12, but larger donations are welcome.  Your financial contribution helps Peace Fresno to continue its important work.  Please complete the membership application; it helps us keep our records up to date. If you are not receiving email from Peace Fresno and you are interested in receiving weekly emails about Peace Fresno’s upcoming actions, please send us your email address or sign up on our website.

In peace,

Dan Yaseen, Vice President-Membership
www.peacefresno.org, 559-487-2515

9/21/09 Peace Edison’s Peace Day Concert to commemorate International Day of Peace

9/25/09 No Drones Protest – Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan

10/1/09 “Crossing Lines: Story as entry to relationship & change”

10/16/09 Dahr Jamail book tour, The Courage to Resist

10/17/09 Demonstration at River Park to commemorate the beginning of U.S. military action in Afghanistan in 2001, “Troops Home Now” “Peace in Iraq and Afghanistan”

11/1/09 David Swanson book tour, Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union

11/5/09 Speaker David Barsamian, host of Alternative Radio

12/1/09 Response to President Obama’s additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, Channel 30

12/4/09 Protest Against Obama’s Escalation in Afghanistan

12/25/09 Santas for Peace Demonstration

1/18/10 Martin Luther King March

1/28/10 Rethink Afghanistan Lynn Jacobsson’s class

2/12/10 Tabling at the Fresno Filmworks showing of The Messenger

2/14/10 Mardi Gras Parade

3/4/10 CSUF March for fair fees for students in California’s public colleges and universities

3/5/10 Interviewed by Mike Beevers on “Ideas from the Edge”

3/13/10 Water Forum at Fresno City College

3/18/10 Gay Straight Alliance “Stop the Hate Week” at Buchanan High School

3/21/10 Peace and Justice Festival: 9^th Annual Rally in the Valley – Dedicated to George “Elfie” Ballis, Speakers: Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence; Rick Reyes, Iraq Veterans Against the War

3/27/10 Cesar Chavez March

4/14/10 Speakers on “Costs of War on Israeli Society: Two Unheard Perspectives”

4/17/10 Victor Davis Hanson/Michael Parenti debate American Empire

4/26/10 Jan Slagter’s Feminist Activist class

4/30/10 Interview on Hmong radio, KBIF

5/1/10 Immigration Reform Rally and March

5/9/10 Tabling at the Clovis Cinco de Mayo Fest

5/28/10 Action at City Hall against SB1070; in support of a Comprehensive Immigration Reform now!

6/4/10 Protest condemning the killing of peace activists on the Freedom Flotilla. End the blockade of Palestine.

6/5/10 Community Link’s Rainbow Pride Parade.  All welcome to march with the Peace Fresno banner.  Meet at Palm and Olive at 9:30 a.m.

6/13/10 Lynn MacMichael will present slide and discuss her trip to Israel/Palestine with the Interfaith Peace Builders Delegation in December 2009 where she joined 32 other delegation members from the U.S. and Canada for two weeks of meetings, and information gathering among people and organizations, both Israeli and Palestinian, who are working to bring peace to the region.

Boldface type shows Peace Fresno was the lead organizer. Regular type indicates participation.

Woodward Park Regional Library, 944 E. Perrin Ave. Fresno

Slide Presentation and Discussion; Admission Free

Lynn MacMichael, a long time peace activist, will report in Fresno on her most recent trip to Israel and share knowledge and insights on the region.  She traveled with the Interfaith Peace Builders Delegation.  Thirty- three members of the delegation participated in two weeks of meetings and information gathering among people and organizations, both Israeli and Palestinian, who are working to bring peace to the region.

The slide presentation focuses on the obstacles to peace in the region, the effects of the current policies and the prospects for hope.  As Bishop Naim Ateek says, “We are not pro-Palestinian, or pro-Israel, we are pro-peace, and we are all children of God.”

Contact: Phil Traynor, 435-7520, ptraynor37