Announcing VFP Convention in Albuquerque
We are pleased to announce that the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Chapters will be hosting the Veterans For Peace National Convention in Albuquerque, NM, from August 5 to August 9, 2020. Our convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza located in downtown Albuquerque.
The theme of this year’s convention is “All is one, Toward a Peaceful and Nuclear-Free World. Since our founding, Veterans For Peace has had it in our goals “to end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons”. This year’s convention will highlight work being done to address nuclear weapons as well as nuclear colonialism and broader topics such as what decolonizing the peace movement looks like.
This weekend will mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the first nuclear explosion of all time at the Trinity Site, New Mexico, which occurred on July 16, 1945. Nuclear colonialism has continued since that date, with the United States time and again selecting New Mexico for not only additional nuclear tests, but also as the site for nuclear waste storage - despite the overwhelming opposition of indigenous communities in the region.
Veterans Demand Accountability for Revelations in Afghanistan Papers
The release of the Afghanistan Papers this week has laid out in clear detail the failed policy and the catastrophic level of malfeasance that reach the highest levels of the U.S. government. Every level of government bears responsibility for misleading the American public and for creating the conditions in which an unchecked military operates without accountability.
The Afghanistan Papers are filled with over 300 people detailing the systematic failure of the military to take any responsibility and blaming the “corruption” of the Afghanistan government, all the while revealing the massive corruption and lies that the U.S. is perpetuating. While military commanders bemoaned Afghan leaders enriching themselves off American tax dollars, those self same commanders were climbing government ranks, earning promotions for promoting endless war. (Read full statement)
Veterans For Peace and About Face: Veterans Against the War gathered veterans who served in the U.S. War in Afghanistan to write the above statement. If you are a veteran of the U.S. war in Afghanistan sign up here to join a call to strategize on next steps.
Members In Action
Save Our VA National Conference!
The SOVA CONFERENCE in Washington Feb 9-12 was A GREAT SUCCESS! Read the report back! SOVA CONFERENCE REPORT
Check out other highlights about VFP Members!