Report on the Durham Town Hall Meeting
September 10th, 2011
 One day before the 10th anniversary of 9/11, nearly 100 Durham residents gathered to hear how NC’s 4th District elected officials would respond to the question: How will you carry our message to Capitol Hill to bring the war dollars home and fund our communities?
US Congressional Representative David Price congratulated the organizers for building a coalition and acknowledged that war and military spending are out of proportion. He warned, however, that his opponents in Congress intend to dismantle the New Deal and Great Society programs, regardless of military spending levels. “We have our work cut out for us,” he said.
Congressman Price was responding in part to remarks from NC Peace Action Director, Betsy Crites, that deficit hawks are ignoring warnings from economists against cutting deficits during a recession and instead are directing their scalpels at the very programs that would save jobs and strengthen our economic security. The so-called Super Committee of 12, charged with cutting $1.3 trillion, needs to start with serious cuts in the military budget, which accounts for 58% of discretionary spending, and the extravagant waste on wars of choice, before even considering cuts in domestic spending and the social safety net. She said wars and military spending must be on the table.
- Eddie Davis, the former President of the NC Association of Educators said cuts in education will have serious consequences. To just stay even will require voters to approve a ¼ cent increase in sales tax.
- Rhonda Robinson told of repeated trips to the emergency room because she could not afford health insurance or the expensive medicines to prevent epileptic seizures.
- Nick Wood, a labor organizer, spoke about the worsening unemployment, now over 10%, as state government and corporations lay off more and more people.
- Starla Tanner astounded the audience with the effects of cuts to NC Central University since 9/11 amounting to 57 fewer faculty slots, 452 fewer courses, and 12,000 fewer seats.
- Gabriel Sanchez of El Centro Hispano, which serves 10,000 clients, spoke of how El Centro is laying off a quarter of its staff due to state budget cuts.
Local elected officials listened and responded supportively. Durham’s mayor, Bill Bell, said “you have no problem with me” and has since assigned a staff person to work on the resolution for the City Council. City Councilpersons Cora Cole McFadden and Eugene Brown also voiced support. Chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners, Michael Page and Commissioners Ellen Reckhow and Brenda Howerton all said they would support a resolution such as that proposed.
State Assembly representative Paul Leubke summarized the message saying that pressure on state and local budgets is being caused by decisions at the federal level, and that excessive military spending is one of the key problems that has provoked the deficits that now affect us locally.
The Durham Town Hall Meeting was hosted by Durham People’s Alliance and NC Peace Action. Refreshments were provided by Eno River Eatery, 5277 North Roxboro Rd., Durham.
Drug Wars, Free Trade, and Immigration
Market Madness vs. Sustainable Traditions
with Sanjo Tree, Sunday August 7, 2011
 Over 100 people attended this annual event that included a South of the Border style dinner and raised more than $2400 to cover two scholarships for the Student Peacemaker Award. NC Peace Action administers the award, which selects young people for travel to Latin American with Witness for Peace. Sanjo Tree, Drug Policy Director for the Institute for Policy Studies, spoke about US policies toward Latin America that encourage the drug trade and unemployment, which in turn push people to emigrate. Tables were filled by organizations like Durham Friends Meeting, the Social, Economic, and Earth Justice Council of ERUUF, Sister Communities of San Ramon Nicaragua, NC Peace Action and Elders for Peace, plus contingencies from WILPF and Durham Immigration Solidarity Committee.
 Pilar Rocha, Director of El Centro Hispano spoke, as well as two recent travelers on Witness for Peace delegations. Gail Phares was the lady of the hour receiving unanimous recognition for all she has done in her almost 30 years of actively leading WFP.
Report on the MIC@50 Conference
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The Military Industrial Complex at Fifty got a thorough review on January 14 - 16, 2011 in Greensboro. At the conference attended by over 150, NC Peace Action Board members Mia Austin-Scoggins spoke on the “Extra Casualties of War”, and Wally Myers on “The Fall of the Empire”. The kick-off address by Peace Action’s National Field Organizer Judith LeBlanc, spoke about the Cost of War. Get highlights from their talks in the “Articles” section.
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On January 17, 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower warned about the rise of the Military Industrial Complex:
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. . . . We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”
The conference was Sponsored by Quaker House of Fayetteville and Guilford’s Friends Center, and co-sponsored by NC Peace Action and The Eisenhower Chapter of the Veterans For Peace.
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Report on Events
Presentations at the MIC Extra Casualities of War by Mia Austin-Scoggins . Is the Empire Falling? by Wally Myers
Unwelcoming Bush in Charlotte: Protest description and Criminal Complaint By: John Heuer 12/10
John Heuer, our Chair, got arrested for standing in front of the White House. He was in good company. About 100 of veterans got arrested with him, including Daniel Ellsberg and Chris Hedges. There was not much coverage within corporate media and when it was covered the fact that it was lead and organized by veterans was seldom mentioned. However, there was a good video on The Real News. 12/10
Poor Media Coverage of the Veterans For Peace arrests in DC. Letter to Herald-Sun By: Joan Walsh 12/10
Terrence Rynne: Gandhi and Jesus 10/10
America's Immigration Dilemma 8/10
Social Forum in Detroit 7/10
March for Diversity in Education 7/10
Nuclear Disarmament at the UN 6/10
Journey to Peace 6/10 by Betsy Crites
Reflections on the Journey to Peace by Wally Myers
PeaceMaker Dinner 5/10
Weaving a Net of Accountability with NC Stop Torture Now 4/10
Vigil-Rally for Peace with The Quaker House in Fayetteville. 4/10
March with HKonJ 3/10
Peace Mom Tour with Cindy Sheehan 10/09
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