Texas Labor Against the War

In the Deficit & Debt Debate, the Problem Is a Deficit  of Facts

by Michael Eisenscher, National Coordinator, U.S. Labor Against the War
July 27th, 2011

[TxLAW note:  Where should the cuts be?  Who should pay?  Here are Eisenscher's suggestions.  For the full statement (well worth reading!), see http://uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=24517]

End the war in Afghanistan and finish withdrawing US troops from
Iraq ($118 billion). Nearly two-thirds of Americans say the
Afghan war isn’t worth fighting.  31% want U.S.  troops home from Afghanistan
immediately; another 21% say within a year.[11] They are
right.  These wars are not protecting us from Al Qaeda or other terrorist
networks.  Instead, they help them recruit.

Close half of our military bases overseas, with appropriate force reductions ($55
billion).

Stop trying to control fossil fuel supplies abroad – at a cost of $103 billion a year.[12] We don’t need to dominate the world’s gas and oil supplies
to guarantee our own security.  Investing in sustainable and renewable energy
systems here would make us more secure.  But even as is, all the world’s major
suppliers happily sell as much as the U.S.  is prepared to buy.

There’s $276 billion – $2.76 trillion over ten years.  We could get to $3.5 trillion by
terminating destabilizing Cold War weapons systems, cutting thousands of nuclear
warheads (the ultimate weapons of mass destruction) from our stockpile of 5000,
and actually tackling $60 billion in annual military cost overruns. . . .

If in addition, Bush era tax cuts for the very wealthy were rescinded, a new top
bracket were instituted for millionaires and billionaires, capital gains were
taxed at ordinary income rates rather than the 15% now in effect, a small
transaction tax was applied to speculative stock trades, tax loopholes that
allow the wealthy and large corporations to reduce or evade taxes altogether
were closed, the cap was lifted on maximum income subject to Social Security
taxes ($108,600) so that high earners paid on all their income, the estate tax
were restored to 2008 levels (45% on estates larger than $2 million), a
“Medicare for All” single-payer health plan replaced the for-profit model we
have now – in other words, if the privileged elite actually had to shoulder
their share commensurate with their wealth – the issue of the deficit and debt
would simply evaporate, and Social Security and Medicare would be put on a sound
basis for many decades to come.  Add to that the impact of real economic
recovery that puts people back to work, which would bring additional revenues
into the treasury, and we’ d be debating how to spend budget surpluses rather
than whose ox is to be gored.

Written by C Lee Taylor, http://www.hpjc.org/node/189, Houston Peace & Justice Center

Peace Camp Houston provides a unique, alternative day-camp experience that fosters an understanding of peace, justice and environmental awareness. Designed for children in grades K through 5th grade, the camp goals are to teach concepts of peace, equality, and justice at the appropriate age level; to encourage the development of self-esteem and critical thinking skills; to encourage respect for the environment and each other; to introduce peaceful conflict management skills and alternatives to competition and violence; to provide an opportunity for children of diverse backgrounds to create comfortable relationships.

Sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Houston Branch, the camp is now in its 12th year. Peace Camp 2011 is scheduled 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday July 25-29, at the Cameron Retreat Center at Holcombe near Almeda. Peace Camp is nonreligious and welcomes all children.

Some full and partial scholarships are available.

for more info, go to http://www.peacecamphouston.org/

(TxLAW note:  U.S. Labor Against the War played an active role in this conference, partnering with Iraqi union reps in a workshop on what’s going on in the Iraqi labor movement and its struggles with the Iraqi government.  Check out labourstart.org.)

Online Activists Gather from Around Globe to Jumpstart Labor Movement

By Stuart Elliott, from In These Times, July 13, 2010

Benedicto Martinez Orozco marches in support of McMaster University workers during the LabourStart conference, held from July 9 to 11 in Ontario, Canada.   (Photo by Stuart Elliott)

More than 200 people from 28 countries attend LabourStart’s first public conference

HAMILTON, ONTARIO—Sometimes it’s hard to understand the importance of an event or an organization when you’re involved in it. As a volunteer correspondent for LabourStart.org and a participant in its “Act Now”  campaigns, I obviously think LabourStart an important project. But I really didn’t really comprehend its potential until I attended the first public LabourStart conference at McMaster University’s School of Labour Studies in Hamilton, Ontario.

“As unions confront a 21st century global capitalism, which is imposing a race to the bottom to union-free environments, unions must use new technologies to create a new labor internationalism,” said Eric Lee, founding editor of Labour Start. “The mission of LabourStart is to promote those technologies and to practice a consistent internationalism.”

LabourStart is an international labor news and campaigning site, run on a shoestring and powered by nearly 800 volunteer correspondents. Every day  the site publishes links to labor news in 23 different languages, and its news feeds appear on more than 800 union websites. It conducts e-mail campaigns in eight different languages.

There was some trepidation among LabourStart leaders about whether an Internet-based, low budget union news and campaigning site could attract an audience of union activists oustide its most committed corespondents. Particularly since, unlike the recently concluded ICTU conference, this was not a delegated meeting.

But the conference was able to attract over 200 participants from more than 28 countries. Attendees ranged from presidents of national unions, to representatives of Global Union Federations, to local union officers, to staffers, to grassroots activists.

Adam Lee of United Steelworkers International thanked LabourStart for its “tremendously effective” campaign on behalf of Vale nickel miners strikers, who settled a year-long strike just days before the conference began. On the first morning of the strike, which began in July 2009, more than 1,000 emails were sent to the Brazil-based multinational company. Two-thirds were from outside Canada, in eight languages from 80 countries, Lee said, It provided a “real boost” to the workers. And Brazilian workers for Vale were able to win a better than expected contract because the company didn’t want to take on two international campaigns at the same time.

Robin Alexander, director of international affairs for the United Electrical workers union, said that when she got an appeal from workers at PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company, the first place she turned for help was LabourStart.

As Lennon Ying-Dah Wong, a union leader from Taiwan, spoke on a panel about China, I loooked to my left and saw Benedicto Martinez Orozco, co-president of the Frente Auténtico del Trabajo. Michael Eisenscher of US Labor Against the War, Amjad Ali of the General Union of Oil Employees in Basra (Iraq), and Erin Radford of the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center spoke on a panel about unions in Iraq. Other panels were devoted to Mexico, Eastern Europe, and Iran.

Unfortunately, some people were unable to attend the conference—but the reasons why are enlightening. A leader of Bangladeshi textile workers union canceled his visit because of a monumental campaign in his home country—more than 50,000 workers there are on strike, protesting the lowest wages in the textile industry.

Representatives of independent unions in Egypt and Algeria were, at the last moment, denied visas by Canada. (AFL-CIO Solidarity Center representatives  ably filled in at a workshop on the revival of unions in those countries.) The ham-handness of Canadian authorities may backire. Derek Blackadder, national representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said that there was so much outrage at the exclusion of the Egyptian and Algerian unionists and so much excitement about their pioneering work that Canadian unionists will be exploring ongoing solidarity work on their behalf.

Of course, connecting disparate unionists, spread across different levels of different unions, to unite in international solidarity is no easy task. But LabourStart’s global network of 800 correspondents and 70,000 Act Now e-mail activists will continue to be a part of that effort, which must be a central component of the future of the labor movement.

The recent IVAW National Convention in Austin, and additional events in Killeen were a big success! IVAW kicked off its convention in style with a protest at the gates of Fort Hood.  But that was just the beginning.  On Friday, after a great day of meetings, discussions and presentations, an appreciation dinner was held at 5604 Manor.  Veterans and supporters had an opportunity to talk and enjoy a great meal together.  Last, but certainly not least, IVAW members returned to Under the Hood Saturday night for a barbecue, concert and fundraiser.  The concert was originally scheduled at a venue in Harker Heights, but after the venue management cancelled the event, Under the Hood offered to step in as the new concert location.  The evening was a big success.  Under the Hood would like to take this opportunity to thank IVAW and everyone at the concert who made donations so that we can continue our important work to support soldiers and veterans!

Under the Hood needs YOUR assistance now!  This is a critical time and we can’t keep our doors open without your ongoing support. Please consider signing up for a recurring donation today. If you believe in the work we do at Under the Hood, show us your support by considering a monthly donation.  As little as $10.00 a month can go a long way toward making Under the Hood sustainable.   Two hundred supporters contributing $10 a month will help us ensure that we can continue to provide these important services.  It’s easy to become a sustainer through PayPal.  The first 100 supporters to sign up for a sustaining donation will receive their choice of a poster or 12 oz. bag of Under the Hood coffee!   We would like to thank our most recent UtH supporters. A special thanks to our newest sustaining donors. Two months into this campaign, we have 38 sustaining donors toward our goal of 200!   We would also like to again thank IVAW for their recent donation and support.    The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center.  FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.

Under the Hood has an update regarding the military spouses who recently contacted us for assistance. Last month we told you about a group of military spouses who were seeking assistance in speaking out against combat training for soldiers with no-deployment profiles.  Dahr Jamail’s interview and subsequent press that the spouses received seems to have had some positive impact.    Immediately following the release of Dahr Jamail’s article on multiple national websites, the Fort Hood Sentinal published a news release entitled “Policy changes affect Soldier deployability, readiness; regulatory guidance provided”.  Additionally, according to the spouses who spoke out, four of the soldiers deemed non-deployable were notified that they would have a Medical Evaluation Board initiated and one was informed that he would be chaptered out.         (Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: AfghanistanMatters, assbach)

Check out the new ResiStore! Now you can purchase great items and support Under the Hood at the same time. Check it out here.      Under the Hood Update is on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and connect with other fans of Under the Hood.  Visit our Facebook page by clicking here.

P.O. Box 16174 | Austin, TX 78761-6174 US

Peace Camp is a day camp, 9:00am until 3:00pm, for children ages K through 5th grade. Peace camp is going into its 11th year. For the last seven years we have been holding camp at the Cameron Retreat Center on the grounds of the Dominican Properties at Holcombe near Almeda. Peace Camp is not religious and welcomes all children. Camp has usually taken place in July after summer school.

IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR CONVENTION KICK-OFF
Friday, July 9, 7pm, 5604 Manor Road

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is holding its 2010 national
convention July 9-11 in Austin, and supporters of IVAW will have a chance
for informal discussion and socializing with the group’s members. Tickets
for the event, which will include a buffet catered by Mamas of Color
Rising, will be $15 at the door. In addition to an awards presentation,
the evening will feature a talk by Antonia Juhasz, director of the Chevron
Program at Global Exchange and author The Tyranny of Oil: the World’s Most
Powerful Industry, and What We Must Do To Stop It. Juhasz is a member of
the advisory board of IVAW. The panels and workshops for the IVAW
convention will be on Saturday, July 10, at Huston-Tillotson University,
900 Chicon St. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is a national
membership organization of veterans and active duty troops who have served in the “Global War on Terror” since September 11, 2001. Founded in 2004 by nine Iraq veterans, IVAW is now made up of 65 chapters comprised of close to 2,000 members, including chapters on military bases. IVAW is building a national GI and veterans’ resistance movement to 1) end the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2) attain quality health care and other benefits for returning troops, and 3) win reparations to rebuild a sovereign Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information visit the IVAW website.

http://www.ivaw.org

At Under the Hood, Memorial Day 2010 was a day to remember two friends who were mainstays of the Texas peace community. Nick Travis III, 55, passed away suddenly early Monday morning, May 24, in Austin. Lisa Morris, 28, passed away unexpectedly the next day in Copperas Cove.  Nick, a long-time peace activist, was known to show up at Under the Hood with his guitar and infectious smile.  People couldn’t help but be a little happier with Nick around.  Lisa, a regular at Under the Hood, always made sure to stand in protest with fellow soldiers, veterans and family members at the gates of Fort Hood.  She leaves behind many friends.  Both will be missed dearly.  Our work continues on in their memory.

Under the Hood needs YOUR support now!  This is a critical time and we won’t be able to keep our doors open without your sustaining donation. Please consider signing up for a recurring donation today. If you believe in the work we do at Under the Hood, show us your support by considering a monthly donation.  As little as $10.00 a month can go a long way toward making Under the Hood sustainable.   Two hundred supporters contributing $10 a month will help us ensure that we can continue to provide these important services.  It’s easy to become a sustainer through PayPal.  The first 100 supporters to sign up for a sustaining donation will receive their choice of a poster or 12 oz. bag of Under the Hood coffee!

We would like to thank our most recent UtH supporters. A special thanks to our newest sustaining donors.We now have 16 sustaining donors toward our goal of 200!   We also want to thank Lee & Hardy Loe and Sue & Walter Long for their generosity.  Because of these two families, we had two very successful fundraisers in Houston and Austin in May.  We are also very grateful for a $1,000 grant from the Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia in Seattle, Washington.

The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center.  FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.

Under the Hood has had a steady stream of soldiers reaching out to us for support. For the first time, however, a group of military spouses recently contacted Under the Hood for assistance. As the U.S. heads into its tenth year of combat in Afghanistan and continued combat missions in Iraq, the number of soldiers facing multiple redeployments and resulting physical and mental health problems is reaching unprecedented levels. Soldiers and families are increasingly finding that the Army is doing little to address these and other health issues soldiers face. In fact, right here in Fort Hood, the Army is violating its own regulations by training soldiers for deployment despite their non-deployable status.

RISE TOGETHER: IVAW national convention is coming to Austin July 8 – 11, 2010. IVAW and Under the Hood mutually support each other’s efforts to end the war, one soldier at a time!  We look forward to seeing many of our IVAW brothers and sisters this July.  For more information about the IVAW convention, check it out here.

Or visit Under the Hood on the web at

20 July 2009

THE ARMY WILL INCREASE ITS SIZE BY 22,000

I think we would call this throwing good money after bad. A million other ways to spend it, but this is what the establishment chooses.

Richard Jehn / The Rag Blog

Iraq. Photo: Michael Kamber.
Gates announces temporary increase in U.S. Army
By David Morgan / July 20, 2009

Washington — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday announced a temporary increase in the size of the U.S. Army that would boost the force by up to 22,000 troops for three years.

He told reporters at a news briefing that the increase, intended to cope with strains from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, would raise the total strength of the Army to 569,000 soldiers.

“The Army faces a period where its ability to deploy combat units at acceptable fill rates is at risk,” Gates told reporters. “This is a temporary challenge which will peak in the coming year and abate over the course of the next three years.”

. . . full story at http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/army-will-increase-its-size-by-22000.html

Meanwhile, U.S. suffers highest monthly number of military deaths in Afghanistan ever, 30.  The total is 56 for NATO forces (defending the North Atlantic?).  Four more Americans were killed in Afghanistan on Monday, making July the deadliest month for U.S. troops since the war began in October 2001.  And the month’s not over yet.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the surge in U.S. and allied deaths in Afghanistan this month is “regrettable and tragic,” and that the Obama administration believes it has no choice but to continue the fight. (AP)

Did she mention the Afghan people killed?  Including civilians.  Including children.  Including women–supposedly being freed by the U.S.