MAY 1: ROBERT NAIMAN SAYS DRONE POLICY CAN CHANGE WITH CITIZEN PRESSURE
Protesters gathered on May 1 outside the Iowa Air National Guard Base, the site of a planned drone command center.
Video of Robert Naiman’s talk in Des Moines:
Naiman is special guest of IA peace groups for vigil and lecture as U.N. investigates US drone policy
DES MOINES - (CPM News Services) Robert Naiman, founder of Just Foreign Policy and frequent contributor at Huffington Post, spent time with Iowans Wednesday in two events to draw attention to the possibility that a drone command center may be placed at the Iowa Air National Guard’s 132nd Fighter Wing near the airport.
The morning event drew media as 40 people protested in front of the facility where a drone base may be placed. Several signs opposed drones in Iowa, raising legal and moral questions and saying that this could make Iowans vulnerable.
PEACE GROUPS IN CENTRAL IOWA GATHER ON TAX DAY, SAY HALF THE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET IS LOST TO PENTAGON
PEACE GROUPS IN CENTRAL IOWA GATHER ON TAX DAY, SAY HALF THE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET IS LOST TO PENTAGON
The other 21 Federal agencies divide remaining 50 cents
The United States is 40th in life expectancy tied with Cuba, but spends as much on the military as rest of the world combined
DES MOINES - (Catholic Peace Ministry news services) A group of Central Iowans stood outside of the main Post Office on 2nd Avenue during the busy noon hour to draw attention to the Federal Discretionary Budget, where they held a banner that depicts our permanent war economy.
“Is this banner not what General Eisenhower warned us about?” asked director of the Catholic Peace Ministry, Jeffrey J. Weiss.
“We are tied with Cuba for 40th for life expectancy, our education and health care is in some parts of our country on par with Colombia.”
“Why not compete for the healthiest, best educated, and most morally sound population in the world rather than most proficient at producing the machinery of death? Weiss added, “This budget is a total rejection of the message of a non-violent Jesus.”
KCCI-TV 8 covered the event and should feature this evening
Among the groups represented the American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Peace Ministry
(FYI: The Catholic Peace Ministry advocates transitioning military personnel into the civilian economy providing a ‘WPA style’ jobs program; when you break down the Pentagon budget powerful catalysts are entities like Lockheed-Martin that generate profits from taxpayer monies).
Here’s a set of pictures from the post office vigil:
May 1, 11 a.m. Iowa Air National Guard 3100 McKinley Ave, Des Moines
Plans are underway to replace the F-16s at the Iowa Air National Guard base with a weaponized drone command center. U.S. drone strikes have killed hundreds of civilians, including women and children, and are a violation of U.S. and international law. Join Veterans for Peace, Catholic Peace Ministry, Physicians for Social Responsibility, American Friends Service Committee, Methodist Federation for Social Action, Clarion Alliance, STAR*PAC, Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Peace & Justice Center of the Cedar Valley, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Iowa Peace Network, Sisters of Charity BVM Leadership Team , Clinton Franciscan Center for Active Nonviolence & Peacemaking and the Des Moines Catholic Worker in saying NO to these unlawful killings.
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Robert Naiman
“We CAN Do Something About the Drone Strike Policy”
May 1, 7 p.m. American Institute of Business 2500 Fleur Drive, Des Moines (Conference Room of the Activities Center on Bell Avenue, just west of Fleur)
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PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION FOR PEACE DRAWS 100
DESPITE SNOW STORM, ANNUAL MARCH AND WORSHIP SERVICE PROCEEDS
DES MOINES - (Catholic Peace Ministry news services) A crowd of 100 gathered at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul downtown Sunday, at the invitation of the Des Moines Ecumenical Committee for Peace, to declare a time for peace on a holy day.
The crowd assembled at the Iowa State Capitol then marched to the church, carrying palm fronds and banners bearing messages of peace. Also present were two coffins, draped with the flags of Iraq and the United States, a reminder of the costs of war. Due to inclement weather, the traditional donkey-named Willis-was unable to lead the march. The event drew support from 40 co-sponsors (listed at the end of this article) of various faiths.
On 10-year anniversary of Invasion of Iraq, CPM and Students Beyond War vigil at crowded Des Moines intersection: THE WORLD STILL SAYS NO TO WAR
DES MOINES – (Catholic Peace Ministry News Services) On the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq (dubbed ‘illegal and immoral’ by Pope John Paul II), the Catholic Peace Ministry and Students Beyond War gathered at Merle Hay and Douglas Avenue with signs and reflection. The group held signs including a large banner that read: ‘The World Still Says No to War.”
Crowd of 265 convenes for 18th Annual Bishop Maurice J. Dingman Peace Award Dinner
Drake Law Professor Sally Frank receives Peace Award and Sister Simone Campbell speaks on the meaning of peace
ANKENY - (Catholic Peace Ministry news services) Sister Simone Campbell, the subject of national attention for her advocacy of peace and justice, told the crowd gathered at the 18th Annual Maurice J. Dingman Peace Award Dinner on Saturday that peace requires a spirit of joy that is often brought to our attention by children.
Campbell weaved stories of the ‘Nuns on the Bus’ tour with her experiences traveling to Iraq a few years ago. In a poem she wrote on a 12-hour cab ride from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan she shared the names of Iraqi children who she had met.
She also shared the story of two 10-year old boys from Toledo, Ohio who were ecstatic about the lighting in their new bathroom after authorities discovered the youth were taking care of their disabled mother, all alone.
AFSC AND CPM GATHER TO SEND SEQUESTATION MESSAGE: TRANSFER PENTAGON SPENDING INTO HUMAN NEEDS
DES MOINES - (CPM News Services, 2/28/13) - A group of Iowans heeded the call of the American Friends Service Committee and Catholic Peace Ministry to assemble in front of 1900 Grand Avenue, to protest ‘sequestration’ that will cut education programs. The gathering was in front of a Gateway Education facility that is scheduled for closing as a result of budget cuts.
DES MOINES, January 23, 2013 - (Catholic Peace Ministry news services) Despite the bitter winter cold, more than 20 activists gathered Wednesday morning at the Iowa Air National Guard’s 132nd Fighter Wing Headquarters located at Des Moines International Airport to protest the installation of a new drone unit there. The new unit, authorized by the recently-passed military spending bill (National Defense Authorization Act), will replace the Guard’s F-16 unit. (See “Drones to replace F-16 fighter jets over DM” Dec 19, 2012 Omaha World Herald http://www.omaha.com/article/20121219/NEWS/712209937)
PRESIDENT OF VETERANS FOR PEACE DISCUSSES DELEGATION TO PAKISTAN, USE OF DRONES IN WAR
PRESIDENT OF VETERANS FOR PEACE
DISCUSSES DELEGATION TO PAKISTAN,
USE OF DRONES IN WAR
On bitterly cold January night,
50 show at Central IA Library
to hear Leah Bolger
DES MOINES, January 22, 2013 - (Catholic Peace Ministry news services)Leah Bolger has been trying to draw attention to the use of drones in warfare for years but says participation in a delegation to Pakistan and a renewed sense of activism to oppose their use brought her to Des Moines.
“The time is now as there is a sense both by some members of Congress and in our public that these policies are far out of line on many levels,” said Bolger, a former Navy commander who served 20 years in the military and is the first female VFP President.
Bolger was speaking to an audience at the Franklin Library, an event hosted by Veterans for Peace Chapter 161, Catholic Peace Ministry, and American Friends Service Committee.
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Plowshare pins for sale!
These plowshare pins were made from the metal of a "sword" of the 20th century: a U.S. Air Force F-84 Thunderjet fighter plane. To order, please contact CPM by phone or email, or make a donation via the Paypal/Dwolla buttons above (make a note that your donation is for a plowshare pin and please include your mailing address). Pins are $10.
Faith in F - 16s, drones, and a permanent war economy rejects the Sermon on the Mount--
In the 1st Century, living under Roman military occupation, did not the Prince of Peace command Love and a Kingdom of God?
Life over a Culture of Death? --Catholic Peace Ministry
These plowshare pins were made from the metal of a "sword" of the 20th century: a U.S. Air Force F-84 Thunderjet fighter plane. To order, please contact CPM by phone or email, or make a donation via the Paypal/Dwolla buttons above (make a note that your donation is for a plowshare pin and please include your mailing address). Pins are $10.
