VFP Chapter 099 WNC

Last Vigil for 2011

2011-12-27T15:54:00.000-08:00

This evening, the Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099, held their last vigil for peace for the years 2011. They will continue into the new year, and one of them made the comment tonight that maybe if the US gets out of Afghanistan in 2013, then they could stop by 2014. But many of us do not think that will happen - most likely, a new war will be started by then.

Many thanks to the Veterans for Peace for standing vigil for all these years. They have been holding this vigil since 2003. It is cold out there, but at this point in time, many people honk and many people support them.

A Happy and Peaceful New Year to all!

New sign

2011-12-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Ron Harayda beside the new sign saying that Veterans for Peace will be cleaning up Roberts Street in the River Arts District of Asheville. Across the street is the Phil Mechanic Studio, where the Vets for Peace Chapter 099 office is located. This office is staffed from 11 AM to 3 PM Tuesday to Saturday. Stop by and visit us!

Street cleanup

2011-11-12T23:10:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, November 12, 2011, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099 did our first clean up of Roberts Street. This is the street that our office is located on. There was a studio stroll today in the River Arts district, and lots of people were out on the street. The weather was beautiful. Above is Ron and Kim on the clean up.

James was also involved in the clean up (on the left) and there is another picture of Kim.

Paul was another member of our clean up crew on November 12, 2011.

This is the back of Ron, James, Kim and Paul walking up Roberts Street.

We were later joined by Susan C. and her dog, Sylvie, (in photo above) and Susan C. was the one who took this photo of all of us at the end of the clean up. We did have several bags of trash, and there is probably more but the area was crowded with cars (from the studio stroll) so we could not get to them. We will be doing this once a month. Hope we always have this nice of weather.

Vigil and arrests at Pack Square on Veteran's Day

2011-11-12T20:20:00.000-08:00

APD waited until after midnight to arrest these three veterans, so that they would not be arresting Veterans on Veterans Day. They arrested these veterans for staying at Pack Square past the curfew. They were charged with second degree trespass and released.

Earlier in the evening, there was a vigil and a reading of the names of US military who were killed in our wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here is some information from the Asheville CitizenTimes:

The suspects are Kenyon Canoll McClellan, 72, of Wezeltown Road, Old Fort; Jonathan Scott Geler, 25, of Buchanan Road, Asheville; and Kindra Ajanemi Phillips, 41, of Grandview Road, Asheville.

Twenty-eight Occupy Asheville participants were arrested and charged with minor offenses following vigils at the Vance Monument on Nov. 2 and 5.

There were 24 arrested (or cited) on November 2, 2011 after a vigil for Scott Owen. Four more were arrested on November 5, 2001. In October, there were eight arrested for the same offense outside of City Hall. Total arrested for staying in the park after curfew: 39.

Photos came from Kindra Phillips Facebook page.

Some VFP Chapter 099 members at Freedom Square

2011-10-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken on October 8, 2011 at Freedom Square in DC. This was the beginning of the STOP THE MACHINE! CREATE A NEW WORLD! protest that is still ongoing. Above is Ken Ashe talking to another veteran. The next picture below is Ymani Simmons, with a couple of other activists. She is wearing her Veterans for Peace shirt. And the last picture below is Paul Turner, another local Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 member.

Some views of Freedom Plaza - October 2011

2011-10-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

The national Veterans for Peace have a large presence here at this protest. We are now in day three, and here are some photos from the first day (October 6, 2011) when the march to the US Chamber of Commerce returned to Freedom Plaza.

Helping Homeless Veterans into Housing -- September 10, 2011

2011-10-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who helped in any way with the event at the Veterans Restoration Quarters this past Saturday morning.

The Land of the Sky UCC folks met with members of Veterans for Peace 099 and several veterans from the VRQ.

There was a flurry of activity as many "welcome home" baskets were assembled for those veterans who are transitioning from the center to independent living in their own apartments. Baskets were stuffed with

donated linens, towels, dishes, kitchen utensils, lamps, cleaning materials, brooms, tools and the like. There were some big items as well that got taken to the storage facility at the VA. A mattress, bookcase,

TV, microwave oven, etc.

There was a short program during which we got to hear from three of the veterans who told us their stories. We had coffee and refreshments and the children present made refrigerator decorations for the transitioning vets.

It was a worthwhile event and I wanted to thank everyone who participated.

Susan Carlyle

"Every year I am moved by the stories of the veterans, and one of our members was very moved by what Ken Ashe had to say re: how the militarism of our nation impacts those who serve. She shared his words with everyone in church on Sunday."

--Rev. Amanda Hendler-Voss

Land of the Sky UCC

www.landoftheskychurch.org

photos by Susan Carlyle

A Decade Too Long: two Afghanistan veterans explore nonviolence in Afghanistan

2011-09-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Organizing 101: Effective Social Change — led by Mike Ferner* September 23 & 24, 2011

2011-09-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Grieving about dashed hopes for change? Don’t mourn—Organize!

Friday evening 6:30-9pm North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave, Asheville

Presentation, Discussion

Saturday 10am-4pm: (Battery Park Apartments—Rooftop Garden, 1 Battle Square, downtown Asheville)

Workshop I, Lunch, Workshop II

Presented by VFP Chapter 099's Center for Peace Education & Training

Reserve your spot. Contact: Clare Hanrahan 828-242-5610 email: newsouthnetwork@gmail.com

Donations welcome

If you advocate for change, this event is for you whether your issue is peace, social justice, the environment, the economy, human rights…whatever.

What can we do to: stop these wars; save the planet; distribute wealth equitably; end racism…???

Mike says: “There may be more ways than one to get there, but this much is certain: we, the relative handful of committed believers, aren't going to get there on our own. Gleanings from history and my own experience tell me the best way is still found in Joe Hill’s last words: ‘Don't mourn for me, organize!’

“We must do more than fix the wrongs. We must make the rules, define the terms, run the show—in a word: govern ourselves….It is precisely when we learn how to gain the power to govern ourselves—not just the power to fix the wrongs—that we will be able to reorder these systems to serve the common interest and create a better life. And not coincidentally, it is when we begin to take organizing seriously that we will begin this journey.

“As Asheville goes, so goes the nation—or at least the movement! I am so looking forward to working with you on the most time-tested (and unfortunately these days, seldom used) method for social change. Warning: Numerous times through this process you will say to yourself, ‘What?? (or possibly even “WTF”) I know that!’ or ‘Huh? We're already doing that.’ You will be right. We will be teaching each other. It will be exciting, tedious, frustrating, great fun...and revolutionary.”

------

Recommended reading (whether you attend the event or not) : Introduction to THE POPULIST MOMENT: A Short History of the Agrarian Revolt in America by Lawrence Goodwyn

http://www.ratical.org/corporations/PMSHAGAintro.html

* Mike Ferner is a writer and activist from Ohio who served two years as the national president and is currently interim director of Veterans For Peace. He was elected twice to Toledo City Council, organized for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for 5 years, worked as communications director for the Farm Labor Organizing Committee the first three years of the Mt. Olive Co. boycott and worked as Communications Director for the Program on Corporations, Law & Democracy. Mike also worked as a volunteer on the FLOC Campbell Soup Co. boycott through the 1980′s. In the 70′s, organized two local anti-nuclear power groups in northern Ohio.

Mike traveled to Iraq twice, with a Voices in the Wilderness delegation just prior to the U.S. invasion in 2003, returning in 2004 for two months as an independent journalist. His book about those trips, Inside the Red Zone: A Veteran For Peace Reports from Iraq, was published by Praeger in 2006.

His activism includes several arrests for “disturbing the war,” including disrupting a session of Congress. During the Vietnam War he served as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, took care of hundreds of wounded soldiers and was discharged as a conscientious objector. Mike wrote the “Veterans For Peace Case for Impeachment and Prosecution.”

His main interest is in learning more about how the Populists organized the largest mass democratic movement in U.S. history and what that might mean today for popular uprisings looking for a better life.

09/21/11 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

2011-09-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Second Annual Asheville International Day of Peace celebration, 4:30 to 7:30 PM at Pack Square.

Mike Ferner, Executive Director of Veterans for Peace National Office will speak. Entertainment includes Daniel Barber, Gerri LittleJohn, Deja Vu & Rhonda Weaver, Thomas Rain Crowe, and Greg Olsen. For more information: www.peacetownasheville.org.

Sponsored/endorsed by Veterans for Peace Chapter 099, Asheville Peacetown, Arts to People, the local UN Association, the B'hai community, the Mountain Area Interfaith Forum, the Social Action

Committee of the First Congregational United Church of Christ and other faith groups.

Speaking Truth to Power: faces of war

2011-06-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

This 11-minute slide show was part of the "Speaking Truth to Power" event that was produced by chapter members Paul Turner and Ymani Simmons. Speakers at the event included Ray McGovern, former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer and 27-year CIA veteran and analyst; Gareth Porter, investigative journalist and historian who specializes in U.S. national security policy; and U.S. veterans Conor Curran, Brock McIntosh, Mike Prysner and Josh Steiber (veteran of the Wikileaks “Collateral Murder” company).

More videos of the event will soon be released and posted here soon. A DVD will also be available.

Chapter 099 Goes the Extra Mile – In Women’s Shoes!

2011-05-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

Team VFP099

See Jim Brown's photo album.

It was the best kind of action: high visibility, low cost, and local. We enjoyed great media coverage, engaged many folks outside of “the choir,” and had fun. What’s more, none of us were arrested! In fact, the county sheriff and the chief of police were partners in the action.

On April 30, VFP Chapter 099 (Western North Carolina) members participated in “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” – The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. Team VFP099 slipped on women’s pumps, high heels, and flats and took a stroll through downtown Asheville with hundreds of other men including city council members, county commissioners, business folks, and a dozen other “teams.”

During this event to raise funds for the local crisis center for women, we were able to connect our work to theirs. In a brief recorded interview, I explained that the violence that permeates our society expresses itself as both domestic violence and foreign war and that we must work together to heal our culture. Along the march route, we engaged bystanders and gave them copies of Sandy Kelson’s military rape awareness flyer and copies of the spring War Crimes Times, referring them to the page 19 article, “17 Veterans Sue Pentagon for Indifference to MilitaryRapes.”

You can’t measure goodwill, but I know our chapter gained some stature in the community (in addition to the stature we gained in high heels!). I’m sure, given our long-standing weekly vigil against the wars, we’re typically perceived as narrowly focused on a single issue. But now our neighbors have seen us more as regular, community-minded folks who share their concerns as well.

We would do well to find more opportunities like this which give us a chance to connect our concerns to those of our communities.

2011-04-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Local Veterans Join Largest US Veteran-led Civil Resistance to War on December 16, 2010 in DC

2010-12-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 9, 2010

Local Contacts:

Ken Ashe, 828- 400-1145 (tville33 at yahoo.com)

Kim Carlyle, 828-626-2572 (kcarlyle at main.nc.us)

Susan Oehler, 828-337-1137 (dancewater2 at gmail.com)

[Asheville, North Carolina] — This will be the largest veteran-led civil resistance to the wars in recent history. On December 16, 2010, Veterans for Peace and other supporters will rally at Lafayette Park, then march in solidarity to the White House. They will refuse to leave the White House, demanding an immediate end to U.S. wars, whether conducted by occupation troops, drones, or proxy, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Palestine.

Two local veterans of Veterans for Peace Chapter 99 will be joining them in Washington, DC. Ken Ashe and Kim Carlyle intend to participate in this action of nonviolently refusing to leave the White House until arrested or dragged away.

Veterans for Peace and other peace activists will carry forward a flame of resistance to the war machine, and will put themselves as Mario Savio said, "upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus" with the intention of making it stop.

When a government is unjust and no longer serves the people it governs, it is the duty of the governed to resist the entrenched powers and change the course of the society. I can not stand by idly while my government, in my name, continues killing innocents abroad who have done no harm to us. When my government spends unlimited amounts of treasure on our war making machine and the supporting industries but neglects the needs of the governed, it is imperative that the people give voice to their concerns and try by all non-violent means possible to change the course of their government. This is why I will be in front of the White House December 16th demanding an end to the wars in the Middle East and the looting of our economy by the rich and powerful. – Ken Ashe, Veterans For Peace Chapter 99

Besides causing untold suffering and destruction, our futile and unending wars distract us from addressing unprecedented humanitarian and planetary crises. To allow war to even exist dishonors the teachers of peace who came before us. To fail to oppose war is to submit to those who make war. I choose to honor the peace teachers; I choose to oppose and resist the warmakers. —Kim Carlyle, Veterans For Peace and War Crimes Times

Who: Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099

What: Civil Disobedience at the White House

When: December 16, 2010

Where: White House, Washington DC

More information on this action is available at Veterans for Peace website: http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ and http://www.stopthesewars.org/.

Chapter Bylaws revised 12/01/2010 --approved 01/06/2011

2010-12-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

VETERANS FOR PEACE

Chapter 099

Asheville, North Carolina

BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1. NAME

The name of this organization shall be Chapter 099, Veterans For Peace, Inc. (VFP)

ARTICLE II. 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

(d) To seek justice for veterans and victims of war

(e) To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.

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.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership.

Membership in the chapter is gained by joining the national organization of Veterans for Peace, Inc., as a Full or Associate Member. The national office shall furnish an official roster of Chapter 99 members.

Section 2. Local Membership.

Members of Chapter 99 are requested to support the chapter by paying annual dues to be established from time to time by the chapter. Other individuals who support VFP goals and principles are welcome to attend chapter meetings and activities. Membership may not be denied because of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or any other discriminatory practice.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings.

Meetings of the membership shall be held at least once monthly. Additional meetings may be called by the president or at the request of at least three members provided that members are notified at least 72 hours in advance.

Section 2. Quorum.

Six chapter members shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3. Voting.

Each VFP member, whether a Full or Associate member, shall be entitled to one vote on motions coming before a chapter meeting. Prior to consideration and vote on motions, each individual present, member or not, shall have an equal opportunity to speak to the motion.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

Section 1. Office and Terms.

The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. They shall hold office for a term of one (01) year and until their successor is elected. The President, Vice President, and Treasurer shall be Full (veteran) VFP members.

Section 2. President.

The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the chapter and an ex-officio member of all committees. The president shall preside at chapter meetings.

Section 3. Vice President.

The Vice President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of that President’s absence and shall perform such other duties as may be from time to time prescribed by the President.

Section 4. Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of chapter meetings and shall also see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or as required by law. The Secretary shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be from time to time prescribed by the President.

Section 5. Treasurer.

The treasurer shall be responsible for all funds of the chapter and for the performance of all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may be from time-to-time prescribed by the President. The Treasurer shall submit a monthly Treasurer’s Report to the chapter membership.

Section 6. Vacancies.

Should there be a vacancy in the Presidency, the Vice President shall succeed to the Presidency and shall serve until the next annual election. If the Vice President is unable to fill such vacancy, the chapter membership shall elect a President from among its members who will serve the remainder of the term being filled. Any other vacancy shall be filled by the chapter members and the successor shall hold office until the next annual election.

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Executive Committee.

The officers, as described above, shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to take actions consistent with the purpose and bylaws of the chapter between chapter meetings when necessary and shall report any such actions to the next chapter meeting. The Executive Committee shall not spend or obligate more than $100 of chapter funds without a vote of the chapter.

Section 2. Formation and Reporting.

The president may appoint committees for specific purposes. Such committees may include members and nonmembers of the chapter, but membership of the committee must be approved by a vote of the chapter at a regular meeting. A committee chair shall be designated by the chapter President or, if the President so directs, elected by the committee members. The committee chair (or his or her designee) shall make regular reports to the chapter meetings as long as the committee is functioning.

Section 3. Term.

Committees shall continue to function until their tasks are completed or until discharged by the President. The need for the existence of each committee shall be reviewed by the chapter annually.

Section 4. Budget.

Committees may be assigned a budget, not to exceed $100, by the President or a larger budget by a vote of the chapter at a regular meeting. Requests by committees for additional funds must be approved by a vote of the chapter at a regular meeting.

ARTICLE VII. ELECTIONS

Officers shall be elected annually at the September meeting of the chapter.

ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern VFP at any chapter meeting or committee meeting to the extent to which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

These by-laws may be amended at any chapter meeting provided notice has been provided to all chapter members at least 30 days in advance, along with the full text of the proposed change(s) and the time and place of the meeting.

Dues are due

2010-07-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year when we remind members to pay their annual dues. Chapter dues are $25 and can be sent to: VFP Chapter 099, PO Box 356, Mars Hill, NC 28754. Or you can pay our treasurer, Lyle Petersen, in person.

But to be a member of a chapter, you must be a member of the national organization. So make sure that you're in good standing with national. To renew, you can send a $25 check to: Veterans For Peace, 216 South Meramec Ave., St. Louis MO 63105. Or pay online.

Please note that after the August convention, national dues are likely to rise to 40 dollars.

Of course national would be willing to accept the additional fifteen dollars now if you'd like (or even more if you can). Likewise, Chapter 099 is always open to your generosity.

Also please note: Don't let lack of funds stop you from being a member. Contact a chapter officer is you need help.

Are You Listening?

2010-06-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

Ymani Simmons book is available here or at Malaprop's

Veterans Voices Live

2010-04-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ken Ashe telling it like it is, Lyle Petersen & Stack Kenny singing it like it is at the open house on March 14.

Sending the troops off to war: When will we ever learn?

2010-03-21T05:26:00.000-07:00

(rejected by the Mountain Xpress -- not of local interest)

We deeply regret this tragic loss of life.

--U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, after an airstrike killed a dozen civilians on Feb. 14 in Afghanistan

We are extremely saddened by the tragic loss of innocent lives.

--U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, after an airstrike killed two dozen civilians on Feb. 21 in Afghanistan

When in doubt, empty the magazine.

-- Buncombe County Commissioner Bill Stanley, speaking on Feb. 24 to a National Guard unit heading to Iraq, as reported in the Mountain Xpress

Human cultural behavior is often based on habit. Over time, habit can become tradition and tradition can become sanctified into ritual. A problem with traditions is that we rarely take the time to step back and reassess them in the context of a changing world or the light of new information. A problem with rituals is they become sacrosanct—holy and not to be criticized or tampered with.

We have a tradition of sending young people off to war. We do this because our leaders tell us this is necessary for our security. There might have been a time when our security was in fact threatened and our leaders were telling us the truth. In 1941, President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare a state of war in the wake of an attack against an American military installation. This was the last time that our country has officially and legally been in a state or war. Now, instead of responding to aggressors by declaring war, we have become the aggressors and we call it “war.” (Yes, we are the aggressors—no Iraqi of Afghan attacked any American until we invaded their countries.)

Nonetheless, we continue to send our young folks off to “war”–Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, not to mention Grenada and other lesser known threats to national security. It’s a habit. Leaders say, “War”; young folks go off. No questions.

We even ritualize it. We have ceremonies where we say goodbye to loved ones and send them off to “war.” Generals and colonels proffer platitudes and politicians provide sage advice. Such was the case reported in the March 3^rd Mountain Xpress: “Asheville-based National Guard unit heads to Iraq.” Evidence of the ritual nature of this event is that it took place at a Christian church. (I personally have a difficult time reconciling Jesus’ teachings with sending troops off to war, but so it goes.)

But perhaps we should take a moment to examine this tradition and this ritual in the context of a changing world and in the light of new information. What’s changed in the world is the nature of war. War used to be a conflict between armies on a battlefield. Over the course of time and especially with advances(?) in the technology of warfare, civilians—innocent civilians—increasingly are the casualties, even the targets, of war and populated cities are the battlegrounds. What’s more, the conflict is no longer between armies. We are fighting—our leaders tell us—terrorism. That’s a concept, a tactic; it’s not an enemy.

Mr. Stanley’s words might have made more sense in another age, a time when the worst outcome of a doubtful action would be casualties among comrades—“friendly fire” as we euphemistically call it now. But today, emptying a magazine in conditions of uncertainty is most likely to result in the killing or wounding of women and children—“collateral damage” as our leaders like to say.

While the senseless carnage is enough reason to give pause, consider that each civilian maimed or killed has friends and relatives whose hearts and minds will not be won over to our side. Practically speaking, the “wars” we’re waging in Iraq and Afghanistan are both counterproductive and insane.

We need to ask basic questions: What is war? Who is the enemy? Is this old tradition of sending young people off to “war” still valid? Do we dare to cast doubt on the ritual sendoff ceremony? And more questions: Is military force the antidote to terrorism? Or does it just create more terrorists? Can we trust what our leaders say? What are their real motives? Are there better ways to insure our security? Has war outlived whatever usefulness it may have once had?

Finally, we’re told national security is the goal. But Americans would feel much more secure if we all had health care and jobs—and if the good people of our National Guard were safe at home, ready to respond when emergencies and natural disasters endanger our citizens.

Kim Carlyle is president of Veterans For Peace WNC Chapter 099 (http://vfpchapter099wnc.blogspot.com/), editor of the War Crimes Times (http://warcrimestimes.org/), and lives near Barnardsville.

RESOLUTION: Stop Spending Our Tax Dollars for Hostilities in Afghanistan

2010-01-17T07:58:00.000-08:00

Peacetown sponsored by Veterans For Peace Chapter 099 WNC (in collaboration with War Resisters League Asheville and other organizations and individuals) requests the Asheville City Council to consider and approve:

CITY OFASHEVILLE

IN THE CITY COUNCIL

RESOLUTION NUMBER ________

RESOLUTION ADVISING NORTH CAROLINA DELEGATES REPRESENTING ASHEVILLE CITIZENS IN THE U.S. CONGRESS AND SENATE TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF A TIMETABLE TOWARD ENDING EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURES OF OUR CITIZENS’ TAX DOLLARS ON MOUNTING HOSTILITIES IN AFGHANISTAN

WHEREAS, the financial resources available for use by governments at the local, county, state and federal levels in the United States are and must be limited; and

WHEREAS, the people of Asheville, NC have paid collectively since 2001 nearly 57 million dollars of their limited financial resources for warfare in Afghanistan alone; and

WHEREAS, citizens of Asheville, NC struggle to enjoy the benefits of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” described in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, or the “promotion of the general welfare” guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, because of necessary city-wide financial cut-backs on essential local services, such as education, infrastructure, economic development, transportation, public safety, housing, healthcare and environmental improvements; and

WHEREAS, because nearly one-half of all taxes collected by the federal government goes to fund the country’s military efforts; and

WHEREAS, because of this burdensome taxation at the federal level on Asheville citizens, such citizens find it extremely difficult to accept additional taxation and fees at the local level for above mentioned constructive and necessary local public services;

WHEREAS, continuing and surging of destructive warfare too often creates lasting and unnecessary harm to our brave and dedicated U.S. military personnel, their families and their communities, and to innocent people of Afghanistan;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the City of Asheville, NC respectfully requests that the U.S. Representative Heath Shuler of the North Carolina 11th Congressional District and both of North Carolina’s U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagen support House Bill 5015 and Senate Bill 3197 before the 111th U.S. Congress that require a timetable for de-escalation of hostilities in Afghanistan beginning in January 2011; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City of Asheville, NC urges its members of Congress to take strong and forceful action to influence the U.S. Congress to steadily decrease funding of this and related military operations, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the financial resources used to prosecute the war be redirected to address the urgent needs of the most vulnerable portions of our population, including education, health care and full benefits for returning veterans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to Barack Obama, President of the United States, the members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation, the North Carolina State legislature and North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue.

Adopted by the Council:

Council Members:

Date ____, 2010

Maggie Burleson

City Clerk of the City of Asheville

The following organizations and individuals have endorsed the Afghanistan resolution:

2010-01-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

Buncombe Green Party Coordinating Committee

First Congregational United Church of Christ

Jubilee Gandhi Team

Peacetown Asheville

Veterans For Peace Chapter 099

War Resisters League Asheville

Dr. Lewis E. Patrie
Rev. Ken Sehested, co-pastor, Circle of Mercy Congregation

“THAT’S THE WAY IT IS”—CHAPTER 099 LAUNCHES WEEKLY TV PROGRAM

2010-01-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

by James Latimore

Veterans For Peace Chapter 099 went from a weekly radio show to a weekly TV show in 2009. VFP-TV can be found on URTV Channel 20 in Asheville, North Carolina, broadcast live at 7:30 PM on the first and second Tuesday of the month, and on tape the remaining Tuesdays. In addition, the program is re-broadcast in five different time slots each week. Access by Internet is also available at www.urtv.org.

The program focuses on material not usually found on mainstream media. An example is the recent program about the annual protest against the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia—a military and CIA institution which for twenty years has trained terrorists for Latin American regimes (or would-be regimes) that can be counted on to serve American foreign policy interests. Several chapter members attended the protest and brought back some great film of the event.

Another recent program was devoted to the Culture of Peace workshop the Chapter hopes to make available to the community in 2010.

We also cover news of regular chapter activities, such as publication of the War Crimes Times and the collection of funds for a start-up work project for Iraqi women.

Ronald Harayda & Kasha Baxter handle the technical end as Producers while editing transformations are provided by David Ireland. James Latimore produces long term planning content & is our research guru. No small feat there. Other contributors are Chapter President Kim Carlyle, former Presidents Ken Ashe and Lyle Peterson, and James Latimore who rotate as Hosts, planning program content and conducting on-air interviews.

We encourage folks to submit ideas for programs and provide feedback--we’re still in the learning stage and are opwen to suggestion. Contact us at (828)252-1967 or vfptv@live.com with suggestions, hoorahs, or enlightenment.

Donate

2010-01-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

Please click here to make a secure, online donation,

(click again on “Orphanage Fund”)

or send your donations, however large or small, to:

Veterans for Peace Chapter 099

PO Box 356

Mars Hill, NC 28754

Chapter 099 Weekly Vigil at Pack Square

2009-12-08T09:33:00.001-08:00

Stand with VFP and other peacemongers at Pack Square each Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30pm.

"Peacetown" meeting: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays after vigil

2009-12-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

Peacetown sponsored by VFP is a network of individuals and organizations coordinating public nonviolent actions opposing the escalation of the war and occupation of Afghanistan.

Peacetown is a project of Veterans For Peace Chapter 099.

Meetings are open to the public and held the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 6 p.m. at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut Street 1-D, Asheville, NC (downstairs from Scully's--also enter through wrought-iron fence on Lexington Avenue).

For information or to participate call Kim Carlyle 828-626-2572 or Coleman Smith 828-301-6683.

Armistice Day

2009-11-11T12:40:00.000-08:00

As we observe the holiday on November 11 and any related events, remember

the original intent--to honor the cease fire that occurred on the 11th

hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In 2008, VFP passed a resolution

(below) that reminds us: "the substitution of the word "Armistice" to

"Veterans" changes the focus from peace to war by celebrating and honoring

warriors and war."

Also see the article below from 11/10/2008.

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Armistice Day/Veterans Day (Approved at the 2008 VFP national convention )

Whereas bells worldwide were rung on November 11, 1918 to celebrate and

recognize the ending of WWI, "The war to end all wars" and

Whereas to commemorate that peaceful pledge, bells were rung November 11

for over 35 years, and

Whereas, legislation making November 11 a holiday passed in 1938, " Shall

be a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter

celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." and

Whereas the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service

organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word

"Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the

approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November

11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars, and

Whereas the substitution of the word "Armistice" to "Veterans" changes the

focus from peace to war by celebrating and honoring warriors and war, and

Whereas that November date symbolized the nation's desire to hold to a

peaceful future and away from war, and

Whereas, too often rhetoric and patriotic symbols are used instead of

genuine compensation for the extraordinary sacrifices and services of

military personnel, and

Whereas 90% of victims of wars are now civilians and by honoring only

veterans, the public is distracted from the awful price paid by those

other than military members, and

Whereas Chapter #27 has for over 17 years promoted the ringing of a bell

eleven times at its ceremonies on November 11 and at other solemn

occasions such as funerals to remind the public of that Armistice Day

peace pledge, and

Whereas the ringing of bells is so much more fitting and peaceful than the

often practiced gun salutes and fighter plane flyovers.

Therefore Be It Resolved that Veterans For Peace, Inc. urges its

memberships to adopt the procedure of honoring peace by focusing on bell

ringing on Armistice Day, November 11 and other solemn occasions.

----

Veteran's Day: Keeping Faith With The Original Intent of Armistice Day

WASHINGTON - November 10, 2008 - A veterans' organization ask the nation

to remember the original intent of Veterans Day.

The original Armistice Day ended World War I on November 11, 1918, but not

before nearly 30 million soldiers had been killed or wounded, and over

seven million taken prisoner.

Congress responded to a universal hope that this would never happen again

and passed a resolution calling for "...exercises designed to perpetuate

peace through good will and mutual understanding...inviting the people of

the United States to observe the day in schools and churches...with

appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."

Congress later resolved November 11 was to be "...a day dedicated to the

cause of world peace."

Of the many veterans' organizations in the U.S., one exists specifically

to carry out the original purpose of Armistice Day, now celebrated as

Veterans' Day. In word as well as action, Veterans For Peace, a national

organization with 120 chapters, is dedicated to the cause of peace.

"Unfortunately Veterans Day has turned into a day to support war rather

than a day to reflect on the horrors of war and the need to work for

peace," said Veterans For peace Executive Director Michael McPhearson.

"Veterans For Peace has over 120 chapters around the country, many of whom

will be commemorating veterans day by marching in traditional parades,

conducting solemn ceremonies and vigils to give an alternative view about

war and the meaning of the day," McPhearson went on to say.

"Our statement of purpose is clear and direct when it says we intend to

'abolish war as an instrument of national policy.' We want this

generation of veterans to be the last," said VFP president Elliott Adams.

The former Army paratrooper and Viet Nam veteran added, "We not only speak

out for peace, our organization works towards it every single day. We will

continue to do so and in fact increase our efforts as VFP seeks to raise

awareness of the human and monetary cost of war in the face of the global

economic crisis."

Please visit www.veteransforpeace.org to learn more about VFP Veterans Day

activities.

###

Veterans For Peace was founded in 1985 and includes veterans of all eras

and wars from the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), World War II, the Korean,

Vietnam, Gulf and current Iraq wars as well as other conflicts cold or

hot. It has participated in every major demonstration against the war in

Iraq. Our collective experience tells us wars are easy to start and hard

to stop and that those hurt are often the innocent. VFP is represented at

the UN as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

Join the Chapter 099 email discussion group

2009-11-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

What? - An e-mail/discussion group that enables us to exchange information and ideas. Group members can communicate with the entire group by using a single e-mail address.

Who can join? - anyone who wants to keep informed of our activities and efforts to promote peace.

How do I join? - Send a blank e-mail message to vfp099-subscribe@yahoogroups.com The Yahoo Group Service will reply with a confirmation message. Simply reply to the confirmation by e-mail and follow instructions to complete your enrollment.

How do I send a message to the group? - Once your enrollment is complete, you may send and receive group messages. To send a message, address it to vfp099@yahoogroups.com.

What if I want to leave the group? - Each message comes with an easy unsubscribe link. You may also remove yourself at any time by sending a blank message to VFP099-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Can I catch up on past messages? - To maintain Members' privacy no archive is visible on the web. Email delivery of all new messages does not contain members addresses. A message post does contain the sender's address.