Monday, November 15, 2010

Local Peace Group to Hold Communitywide Brainstorming Session - Bloomington, In

Bloomington Peace Action Coalition (BPAC) invites members of the community to attend a brainstorming and strategizing meeting to develop next steps for the local Peace movement. The meeting will take place on Monday, November 15, 2010, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in Room 1-B of the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana.

Anyone concerned about the far-reaching human, environmental, fiscal and national security impacts resulting from two ongoing wars and occupations and an ever-expanding U.S. military-industrial complex is invited to attend this meeting.

The midterm-elections this year were dominated by concerns about the national debt. This debt resulted in large part from U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, but this fact received little attention. Over the past 9 years, both Republican and Democratic Indiana congressmen and senators repeatedly voted in favor of funding these wars.

A dollar spent on the U.S. military is not available for spending on education, healthcare, emergency services, housing, increasing energy efficiency, development of renewable energy sources, or a less petroleum dependent transportation system, all of which are pressing needs in a time of declining petroleum supplies, global climate crisis, increasing poverty and lingering economic recession.

How can we communicate to our newly elected Indiana congressmen and senators the urgent need of cutting military expenditures?

War not only delivers instant death, injury and destruction during combat operations, but has effects far removed from the battlefield, placing huge burdens on generations to come.

In October, a large number of peace, environmental, faith and social justice groups in southern and central Indiana worked with BPAC in bringing author Barry Sanders to Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, and Indianapolis. Sanders spoke about the environmental impacts of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including impacts on U.S. soldiers who suffer long-term health problems from radiation and chemical pollution even after they return home. Sanders also pointed out the huge consumption of fossil fuels by the U.S. military, especially during war, and the resulting effects on the global climate.

In light of the enormous human and environmental costs of war, and of the ever expanding U.S. military presence around the globe, BPAC is joining Barry Sanders in calling for a “No War” movement. Peace is a necessity.

All who desire Peace and are willing to work towards it are encouraged to participate in Monday’s important community-wide meeting.

Contact Information:
David Keppel, keppel@sbcglobal.net, (812) 331-2815 (812) 331-2815
Christine Glaser, christineglaser@sbcglobal.net, (812) 336-0360

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