vfp logoVeterans for Peace 

Rachel Corrie Chapter 109  Olympia WA

Veterans Working Together for Peace & Justice Through Non-violence. Wage Peace!

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

Rachel Corrie FAQs Myths & Facts  

"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!

4483 died in Iraq (http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx)

1852 died in Afghanistan ( http://icasualties.org/oef/ )

1,421,933 Iraqi Deaths ( http://www.JustForeignPolicy.org )

 Iraq Deaths Estimator

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

454,000 veteran patients from the two wars in VA healthcare

2 POW/MIA (http://imagineaworldof.blogspot.com/2009/10/honoring-fallen-us-military-kia-iraq.html ) Webpage

Total Cost of Wars Since 2001

Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-TALK

GI Rights Hotline 1-877-447-4487

The Soldiers Project Northwest Email northwest@thesoldiersproject.org Call (206) 290-1035

Veterans for Peace Hour Videos

Crisis Line


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.

We urge all people who share this vision to join us. Membership Application Form (English)

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

You can read the project’s “Clean Water Diary” at http://globaldaysoflistening.org/pages/CleanWaterProjectDiary

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

Statement in Solidarity with the Olympia Food Co-op (VFP109RCC endorsed statement passed at Chapter Mtg 01/15/2012)

at the speed of foot At the Speed of Foot More than simply a hiking story, At the Speed of Foot, explores the events and ideas that led MarkFleming, VFP109, to the Appalachian Trail.  Along with the mountain, forests, small towns and other hikers, Mark reflects on his experience as a combat veteran of Vietnam.  Anger and guilt contrast with the often subtle, sometimes spectacular, landscape that passes under Mark’s feet. Release Flyer

The Trial of Bradley Manning - Rule of Law or Rule of Retribution by Ann Wright

Bradley Manning Trial In Depth: Notes from a Courtroom Viewer in Bradley Manning’s Article 32 Hearing

In Iraq, peace at last op-ed by Tom Hayden

Keith Olbermann - Veterans For Peace Board member Rumsfeld protest Boston

Homefront 911: Military Family Monologues Host Marvin Simmons of Northwest Veterans for Peace spoke with Stacy Bannerman, creator and producer of "Homefront 911: Military Family Monologues," a project of the Sanctuary for Veterans and Families. Also on the program are Tamara Rosenleaf, who wrote two of the monologues, and Belle Landau of the Returning Veterans Project. This program features moving readings of the military family monologues. (KBOO - Portland OR)0

Kucinich to Occupy Wall Street: Don't Forget the War Video

Listening to Victims of War - Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers (Global Day of Listening)

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.

If you would like us to tell your story, contact us at mills.dennis@comcast.net

Veterans Advocate Counseling

PSA for Veterans Benefit Counseling

Fridays

1000-1400

Coffee Strong

15109 Union Ave SW Lakewood WA 98498 (Exit 122 from Hwy5)

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 5th Avenue SE, in downtown Olympia. 

Dennis Kucinich

Congressman Dennis Kucinich Spoke in Olympia on
“The True Cost of War”

"The true cost of War - Rep. dennis Kucinich Q & A with Rep. Dennis Kucinich "the true cost of war"

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

 

  

 

Operation Recovery: Stop the Deployment of Traumatized Troops a campaign by IVAW for GI and Veterans' Right to Heal

Sexual Assault and Rape - Women in Uniform Time magazine March 8, 2010

A Open Letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee

Josh Stieber & Conor Curran Iraq Veterans Protest Afghan War  King5 Video Oct 7

Watada Discharged Article on Dan Ryan's trip to Viet Nan (page 3)

 

Afghanistan

Marking Ten Years of US War in Afghanistan by Michael T. McPhearson, former VFP Executive Director

Listening to Victims of War - Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers (Global Day of Listening)

Our Journey to Smile Watch inspiring, short videos of Afghan young people desiring peace and reconciliation.

Why Die for Karzai Obama's Speech on Escalating Troops for Afghanistan

An Open Letter to The Norwegian Nobel Committee

Rethink Afghanistan America cannot afford a war that does not make us safer, and Congress has the power to stop the escalation. Vote NO on any spending bill that would send more troops to Afghanistan.

When Our Leaders Fail To Lead ,,,We Have To Make Them  - David Korten

The 2nd Cup of Tea Peace Vigils

The US army is overstretched and exhausted, says peace campaigner Sarah Lazare

Veterans oppose troop increase in Afghanistan We urge all Americans, especially Veterans and active-duty service members, and Military Families to speak out against the war in Afghanistan.
Click here to find out how many US troops are left in Afghanistan.

Photos

Coffee Strong Banner Coffee Strong Photos

Protest Fort Lewis Brig Photos & video

Arlington NW Memorial 2009

Iraq Memorial To Life - Olympia WA March 20-21, 2009

Dahr Jamail's Photographs from Iraq

Arlington NW Memorial 2005 in Olympia

Arlington NW / Iraq War Memorial 2006 - Olympia WA   Photos Iraq War Memorial 2006 in Olympia

Arlington NW Memorial 2007

Arlington NW / Iraq War Memorial 2008

Aerial view of ANW2008

Jason Murley photo, General Administration Office

Photos by Bert Whitlock 

Photos by Kay Schultz  

The Olympian Article & Picture

Lewis County Chronicle Article on the ANW Display in Centralia

Al McCleese Photos

Washington D.C. Rally Photos by Bob Rudolph

Lake Fair Photo Al McLease of Chapter 134 provided Other Lake Fair Photos

Shortcuts for Quick Reading  
Shortcut for Music/Videos 
Shortcut for Audio Files

Veterans for Peace Sexual Assault Resource Page
War Resisters 
Depleted Uranium
Larry Kerschner Writes   
Winter Soldier Bibliography - Suggested reading, watching and listening  
PTSD Resources
Dahr Jamail's Mideast Dispatches
If you haven't seen it, take a look at the AFSC video on the cost of war:   http://www.afsc.org/cost/  

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.


The National Veterans Foundation has opened a toll-free helpline (1-888-777-4443) for Troops, Veterans and their families. All calls are answered live by trained veterans, who listen, provide crisis intervention services, emotional support and information, or immediate referrals to local providers who can help. The NVF Helpline has already served more than 275,000 people in need.

"As I see it, our mission remains un-changed – to establish ourselves as the credible source of information and first-hand experience of  the real costs and causes of war – and to use that information to convince the public of its own desperate need to change the course of America away from militarism and military domination of the planet." -- Woody Powell, former VFP Executive Director

How much does it cost to keep a single US soldier in Iraq with the increasing prospect of being killed or seriously injured? $350,000 a year!  See http://www.stopwar.org.uk/Statistics.htm

Action Items

Help Iraq Vets Maintain a Coffeehouse in Lakewood The concept of opening a GI coffeehouse near Ft. Lewis is now a two year reality. The Seattle and Tacoma Chapters of Iraq Veterans Against the War and several Veterans for Peace chapters are raising money to run the GI coffeehouse, Coffee Strong, near the Washington base. Coffeehouses have traditionally served as anti-war headquarters and have been integral in creating an anti-war GI movement. If you can please be a sustaining donor, please send your gifts to the GI voice project in Tacoma, so we can keep open a center of GI resistance. It would be greatly appreciated if you could please forward this message widely. Checks must be made to: GI Voice: THE MEMO MUST READ: Coffee Strong Support. Please send all tax-deductible donations to: GI Voice 15109 Union Ave SW Lakewood WA 98498


The Vietnam Friendship Village Project
is a residence for children and elderly people suffering from the impact of Agent Orange. Built on a former rice paddy near Hanoi , the Friendship Village is a living symbol of peace and reconciliation, an amazing example of former enemies working together for a common compassionate cause. Currently, six countries are involved in this international project. Dan Ryan, a member of the US Committee, is available to present informative documentaries and discussion on this project. He can be reached at 360-352-3293 or peaceguy02@yahoo.com

Veterans for Peace - Rachel Corrie Chapter 109
804 Narnia Lane NW
Olympia, WA 98502-2592

Duane King - VFP109 President
360 357-9181
affe8alls@comcast.net

Mike Ferner - Interim Director
314 725-6005
vfp@igc.org
 
free counters  Locations of visitors to this page

Each new death of a soldier or a civilian, each child who loses a parent to the carnage, each healthy body that is broken or burned in this war that didn't have to happen, is a reminder of how horribly wrong he [Bush] was. -- Bob Herbert, NY Times