Veterans for Peace, Inc. (VFP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational and humanitarian organization dedicated to the abolishment of war.

"The Pride of Olympia" - Rachel Corrie

Support the troops, cut the funding for war, use the money to bring them home now, and take care of them when they get here!

Deaths, Wounded, and Medical Evacuations due to illness or injury are more 90,000.

Statement Of Purpose

We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others

(a) Toward increasing public awareness of the costs of war
(b) To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations
(c) To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons
(d) To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.
(e) To seek justice for veterans and victims of war

To achieve these goals, members of Veterans For Peace pledge to use non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger purpose of world peace.

Welcome Back from Afghanistan! Larry Kirschner, Jody Mackey, and Douglas Mackey, members of VFP109, have returned from three weeks in Afghanistan where they shared messages of peace and teaching biosand water filter construction. Video: Peace and Clean Water for Afghanistan

Project RENEW It is estimated that 350,000 tons of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains scattered throughout Vietnam from the war that ended in 1975, resulting in more than 1,000 people being wounded or killed each year. In an effort to reduce the threat of these lethal remnants of the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund initiated Project RENEW, a cooperative effort between the Memorial Fund and the Quang Tri Province People's Committee, aimed at Restoring the Environment and Neutralizing theEffects of War.

Breaking News

Food Not Bombs April First ~ Sylvester Park 10:00 AM

Ann Chaudhry Trial Outcome- March 7, 2012

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Filed Over Boycott of Israeli Goods

Judge: Lawsuit Violates Washington Free Speech Protections
February 27, 2012 – Olympia, WA – In a landmark ruling, Judge Thomas McPhee has declared a lawsuit against the Olympia Food Coop illegal under Washington State law and awarded legal fees and sanctions to the defendants. Lawyers for the Olympia Food Co-op argued in court that a lawsuit brought against the store for its participation in a boycott of Israeli goods should be dismissed as illegal under Washington’s anti-SLAPP legislation.

Timeline
September 2, 2011: Five plaintiffs filed a case against sixteen current and former Board members of the Olympia Food Co-op in state court in Washington.
November 1, 2011: Defendants filed an Anti-SLAPP motion to strike Plaintiffs' complaint.
December 1, 2011: Plaintiffs filed a brief opposing Defendants' Anti-SLAPP motion/Motion to Dismiss as well as a Cross-Motion for Discovery.
December 15, 2011: Defendants filed their reply to Plaintiffs' Opposition, as well as four declarations in support of the Anti-SLAPP motion.
January 11, 2012: Defendants filed a brief opposing Plaintiffs’ cross-motion for discovery, as well as a supporting Declaration.
February 23, 2012: The Hearing on Defendants’ Anti-SLAPP motion/Motion to Dismiss and Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion for Discovery will take place at the Thurston County Superior Court before Judge Thomas McPhee at 9:00 am.

“If the United States applies increased sanctions, invades, bombs, sends combat troops or drones, or otherwise significantly escalates its intervention in Iran or the region directly or through support of its allies, I pledge to join with others to engage in acts of legal protest and/or nonviolent civil disobedience to prevent or halt the death and destruction which U.S. military actions would cause to the people of Iran, the Middle East, our communities at home, and the planet itself.”

International Expert on Weapons in Space Bruce Gagnon Speaks in Olympia
Tuesday April 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Traditions Café

The public is invited to hear Bruce Gagnon, Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, speak at Traditions Café, 5th & Water in downtown Olympia, at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday April 24.

The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space (www.space4peace.org) was organized in the early 90s to inform the public and prevent using space for wars and US hegemony. The U.S. military and weapons dealers refer to space as “The Next Frontier” and want to install nuclear-powered satellites in space to, basically, control the world.

In 1992 Bruce Gagnon had co-founded the Global Network . He has worked on peace and space issues in Florida, Maine and elsewhere for 29 years. He is a Vietnam-era veteran and an active member of Veterans for Peace. He is a member of the National Writers Union (UAW Local # 1981 AFL-CIO) and writes a popular blog called “Organizing Notes,” at http://space4peace.blogspot.com/

The event is co-sponsored by the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) and Olympia’s chapter of Veterans for Peace (the Rachel Corrie Chapter #109).

Admission is free, but voluntary donations will be accepted to support the Global Network’s activities.

No Charges, No Trial, No Lawyer, No Jury The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 has destroyed three of the ten guarantees of your liberty as stated in the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

PTSD misdiagnosis scandal leads to firings Col. Homas was removed during an Army inquiry into the practice of intentionally not diagnosing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in soldiers. Such a diagnosis entitles one to certain rights, benefits and compensation.

Army Officer's Leaked Report Rips Afghan War Success Story By Gareth Porter. WASHINGTON, Feb 11, 2012 (IPS) - An analysis by Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, which the U.S. Army has not approved for public release but has leaked to Rolling Stone magazine, provides the most authoritative refutation thus far of the official military narrative of success in the Afghanistan War since the troop surge began in early 2010

دوستدار شما Thank you for hearing our voice of peace, as being heard is a breakthrough for silence. ( DostdAr shumA Yours lovingly ), Hakim in Afghanistan On behalf of Abdulai, Zekerullah, Abdul Ali, Raziq, Lala, Faiz, Mohd Jan, Mohd Hussein and Ali Mohd http://ourjourneytosmile.com/blog

"Soldier Stories: Paths to Healing and Return" Videos (started June 25th)

“Soldier Stories”, a series of programs produced by the Rachel Corrie Chapter 109 Veterans for Peace, offer veterans the opportunity to tell their stories, to speak about their combat experience and how that experience has and continues to influence their lives.

Equally important, “Soldier Stories” informs the viewer about what the nation asks when it sends men and women into combat. The viewer will learn about the choices humans must make in war. They will learn, too, that the war comes home with the warrior and the costs continue well after the guns fall silent.

Veterans Advocate Counseling

Trained veteran advocates provide free VA benefits counseling for active duty personnel and veterans so they can file claims for the veterans with the VA. Mark Fleming is an accredited independent VA Claims agent who will help file appeals, present oral arguments in person at the VA Regional Office with the veteran. In the event the case is denied at the local level, learn to prepare for continuing appeals at the DC level, at the VA board of Veterans Appeals and if necessary,1file an appeal with the U. S. Court of Appeals for Veterans (three steps down from the Supreme Court). Bring your DD214 and all your records with you. (Resources)

VFP109, the Rachel Corrie Chapter in Olympia WA, produced a short PSA to alert active duty and veterans about their VA benefits. Every Friday, Dennis Mills, Lena Swanson, and Mark Fleming provide counseling at Coffee Strong which is a GI-owned anti-war pro-soldier coffee house near the gates of JBLM. We are beginning to see more senior enlisted personnel seeking help as well as many in medical hold. We want to encourage other VFP chapters to have independent accredited VA Claims Agents assist the growing numbers of those seeking help. VFP109 appreciates having a local access TV station, TCTV, where we can produce monthly programs.
http://blip.tv/veterans-hour/veterans-benefits-assistance-psa-5689519

Veterans Benefits Advocacy Videos

What Veterans Need To Know To Successfully File VA Claims http://blip.tv/file/4860617

Events Calendar

Veteran Benefits Counseling Fridays 10-2 pm at Coffee Strong. Active duty and veterans are encouraged to drop in and learn what VA benefits to which they may be entitled.

Veteran Advocate Training The goal is to train students how to pass the test for the title of Independent Agent in order to receive accreditation from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Contact Mark Fleming rezdog02@hotmailcom for details.

2012 Schedule for Veterans Hour on TCTV (Channel 22 in Olympia) Monday 5 pm and Thursday 8 pm.

U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich spoke on “The True Cost of War” on Monday afternoon February 21 (Presidents’ Day) at the Capitol Theater, 206 5^th Avenue SE, in downtown Olympia.

Latest News

THE FALL ISSUE OF THE WAR CRIMES TIMES AVAILABLE NOW!

This issue of the War Crimes Times features: USS Liberty (Joel Kovel), Vietnam (Deborah Nelson), Afghanistan (Francis A. Boyle, Jay Janson); Torture (Dave Lindorff); Army Experience Center (Pat Elder); Readers and veterans speak out; poetry; and more. Download the pdf

Afghanistan

Critical Concern was created to express other viewpoints to ponder. You are encouraged to submit articles or links.

Friendly Water for the World seeks to increase environmental and community sustainability by helping communities help themselves. Our focus is on building local capacity through training and helping to start local micro-business or community-led distribution strategies. Biosand water filter projects are currently in Afghanistan, India, Kenya, and Burundi.

Veterans for Peace

Rachel Corrie Chapter 109 Olympia WA

"The Pride of Olympia" - Rachel Corrie

Statement Of Purpose

Breaking News

Food Not Bombs April First ~ Sylvester Park 10:00 AM

Ann Chaudhry Trial Outcome- March 7, 2012

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Filed Over Boycott of Israeli Goods

International Expert on Weapons in Space Bruce Gagnon Speaks in Olympia
Tuesday April 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Traditions Café

"Soldier Stories: Paths to Healing and Return" Videos (started June 25th)

Veterans Advocate Counseling

Veterans Benefits Advocacy Videos

Events Calendar

Veteran Benefits Counseling Fridays 10-2 pm at Coffee Strong. Active duty and veterans are encouraged to drop in and learn what VA benefits to which they may be entitled.

Latest News

THE FALL ISSUE OF THE WAR CRIMES TIMES AVAILABLE NOW!

Afghanistan

Photos

Action Items