NEWS

Statement on US Military Aid to Israel
Post date: Thu, 07/10/2014 - 07:15
WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM UNITED STATES SECTION STATEMENT ON US MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL 
July 2014 
 
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, U.S. Section (WILPF-US), joins with Amnesty International and the U. S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation to call upon Congress “to suspend transfers of munitions, weapons, crowd control devices and military training to Israel.” The U.S. is Israel’s largest foreign supplier and as such is morally responsible for Israel’s lack of accountability for human rights violations.
 
The U.S. provides $8.5 million in military aid to Israel per day (according to www.ifamericansknew.org), an unconscionable amount given the unmet human needs of our own people. To add insult to injury, the U.S. has never held Israel accountable for human rights violations carried out with and made possible by our military aid. 
 
The level of government-sanctioned revenge and collective punishment of Palestinian youth and other civilians following the kidnapping and deaths of three Israeli teenagers shocks us. Violence has always been the currency of the occupation, and as international and U.S. support for boycott, divestment and sanctions to end the Israeli occupation grows, so does Israeli violence in order to maintain the occupation. 
 
Most recently on July 3, 15-year-old Tariq Abu Khdeir, a U.S. citizen, was brutally beaten following the horrific torture by fire and murder of his 16-year-old Palestinian cousin, Mohammed. The U.S. State Department has called “for a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force” in his beating. Earlier this summer President Barack Obama had stated, “We will do whatever it takes to see justice is done when people harm Americans.” Don’t make exceptions for Israel when it violates human rights. We demand U.S. pressure on Israel by suspending our complicit military aid and financial assistance. 
 
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WILPF Financial Reports
Post date: Tue, 07/01/2014 - 12:53

P&F_report_financials.pdf

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How to Register for 2014 Congress
Post date: Tue, 07/01/2014 - 12:35

How to pay for the congress online: Click the "Donate" button on wilpfus.org. On the next page, scroll down to the box where you enter your information (DO NOT click on the yellow donate button). Scroll down to the Donation Amount box, click on the drop-down menu for purpose of donation, and click on "Congress Registration Fees."

How to complete your registration form: Type the information on the form and save the form and e-mail it to CongressCoordinator@wilpfus.org. If the form won’t permit you to type into it, just print the form and mail it to the Boston office. Registrations postmarked on or before July 4 will be considered on time, as will online payments received even if the paper registration hasn’t arrived. If you have questions about completing the form, call Ellen Schwartz, 916-835-4330.

Please support the congress: Place an ad in the tribute book. Deadline is July 7. Download the order form.

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WILPF-US Statement on Iraq and Syria, June 2014
Post date: Mon, 06/30/2014 - 16:09

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM

UNITED STATES SECTION

STATEMENT ON IRAQ AND SYRIA

We, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – United States Section, reiterate that peace comes from the people on the ground developing their own democratic institutions. There is no military solution to the situation in Iraq. 

We are disappointed that the US Government is again considering possible military strikes rather than more negotiations. This problem is political and it has been created by past government failures to include the Sunni and Kurdish minorities. 

The most immediate need is for massive humanitarian aid for the thousands of refugees caused by the fighting in Iraq and Syria. The United States, as a wealthy nation, can lead on this. Providing weapons from any source can only inflame and prolong the suffering, and increase the death toll.

In the meantime, a diplomatic solution must be sought through comprehensive regional peace negotiations. These must be based on international law and the Geneva Conventions. The first steps would include a cease-fire and no more escalation of armaments. The needs of the people living in Iraq and Syria should take precedence over the policy interests of the United States or of any other outside regional players such as Saudi Arabia or Qatar or Israel.

The women of Syria, as a non-sectarian group, developed the following guidelines for negotiation at Geneva II. They were denied a seat. Women must be included in the process. We support these demands as being applicable to both Syria and Iraq. We urge the United States, instead of continuing policies that perpetuate violence, to become a partner for peace in a fully participatory process.

Syrian Women’s Initiative for Peace and Democracy

11-13 January 2014

Demands on the Negotiation Process

  1. Adopt the Geneva I Communiqué as the baseline for a political solution and as the starting point for the negotiation process that seeks to build a comprehensive and lasting peace, and which lays the foundation for a state based on citizenship and the rule of law.
  2. Start the democratic transition process to end tyranny in all its forms and lay the foundations for a pluralistic civil and democratic state in which all components of society are equal, and which upholds human rights in accordance with international norms and guarantees freedom of speech and belief.
  3. Affirm that the State should be based on the principles of peaceful transfer of power, separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, rule of law and neutrality of the military. 
  4. Reject any political solution based on ethnicity, confessionalism, religion or military balance on the ground, to protect the territorial integrity of Syria and the unity of its people.
  5. Demand that the constitution guarantees the equality of women and men and penalizes all forms of discrimination and violence against women.
  6. Demand a constitution that guarantees the rights of equal citizenship to the Syrian people in all their diversity and affiliations.
  7. Establish a clear timetable for the negotiation phase.
  8. Urge all relevant international actors to end all forms of military support to the parties and call upon neighboring states to control their borders with Syria in accordance with international laws. 
  9. Develop a national Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration program.
  10. Incorporate strategies to guarantee gender-sensitive transitional justice.
  11. Prohibit the transitional government from entering into contractual agreements that extend beyond its tenure or from signing contracts that may bind the country beyond the transitional stage or threaten its independence in any way.

 

 

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Spring and summer 2014 Peace & Freedom
Post date: Mon, 06/23/2014 - 06:06

FINAL_p&f_spring-summer2014.pdf

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Palestinian Unity Government Statement
Post date: Fri, 06/13/2014 - 18:00

We, the members of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, United States Section, welcome the formation of a Palestinian Unity Government, as announced on Monday, June 2, 2014. It has been a long time since all voices have been heard in that troubled land, and negotiations for peace have been undermined due to that fact. We are also pleased that the U.S. government has agreed to listen to all of the voices.

In the Palestinian elections held in 2006, the Palestinians overwhelmingly elected Hamas as their representative. However, both the U.S. and Israel chose to ignore the results of this exercise in democracy and instead to negotiate only with representatives of Fatah, the party that garnered fewer votes. This lack of inclusion has meant that many of the voices in Palestine were never heard, or never acknowledged. A consequence of this has been continued hostility and lack of peace.

Even Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has noted that one must speak with one’s enemy in order to make peace. The U.S. has made a significant gesture toward achieving that discussion, and we applaud that move. We also urge the U.S. government to consider removing Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations, and thus to help remove the stigma from the group as well as to remove the obstacle to full negotiations which has often been voiced in the phrase, “We will not negotiate with terrorists.” When people believe that their voices are being heard, they do not feel the need to resort to the types of actions that others believe to be terror.

We sincerely hope that this is a real start down the road to a complete and lasting peace in the region.

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Branches Host Earth Democracy Events
Post date: Wed, 05/28/2014 - 09:58

From West to East, five Branches are actively participating in the Earth Democracy program with a focus on water and on Guardianshipfor Future Generations, developed by Carolyn Raffensperger and one of our framing initiatives  We hope you’ll be inspired by their work and invite you to contact the person at the end of each report for more detailed discussion and mentoring.  

In California with drought across the state, Jean Hays and Ann Carruthers of the Fresno Branch Earth Democracy Issue Group have organized for May 10 an extremely important water conference titled “Troubled Water,”  with expert speakers on the very controversial, and some say, disastrous $50 billion water management plan.  In mid-April, the Sacramento Branch hosted an Earth Democracy Workshop (you could post some photos) and Millee Livingston, who attended from the Sierra Foothills Branch, link writes that “they are now inspired to work with other local groups to develop a water issue program.” 

Meanwhile, two Branches are working on Guardianship for Future Generations. After two years of work inspired by Carolyn Raffensperger’s 2012 tour, Santa Cruz is working with their County Supervisors and Department of the Environment to amend the County Code to include Guardianship and the Precautionary Principle. And, the Burlington, VT Branch that recently hosted a tour with Carolyn reports they “will now work to put together their own statewide plan to go forward on guardianship for future generations.” Cherly Diersch writes, “We highly recommend our WILPF sisters in other cities sponsor your own Earth Democracy, Attorney Raffensperger tour. Thank you WILPF Mini-Grants for your support and the WILPF Earth Democracy group’s leadership that gave Burlington and Vermont a kick start to be a leader in new sustainability policies.” 

In Fresno, members of the Earth Democracy Issue Group have been working since January on the H20 #2 Water Conference. The first, 2010 Fact vs. Fiction Water Conference was a great success. As Jean Hays and Ann Carruthers write,  “it is still “fact vs. fiction, so it was time for another water conference so the facts could be presented, thus clearing some of the troubled waters of misinformation. At the close of the conference, participants were asked to write what they planned to do next to save Mother Earth’s water supply. They were all photographed holding their written pledges, and will soon be available on Facebook and YouTube, at which time, we will link them here.  They write: “It has been a labor of love…love of Mother Earth!” Read their full report and conference flyer here.  

On April 11-12, the Sacramento Branch link hosted an Earth Democracy workshop at the famous co-op housing. Millee Livington from the Sierra Foothills Branch attended along with Theresa Cote and writes that “WILPF members were inspired by the presentation Friday evening. Contact was made with Caleen Sisk to schedule a time and date that she would be available to come to Auburn, CA. They wil be contacting other local Auburn community interested organizers to help develop a water issue program in the near future is in the works.

Photo: Carolyn shares a laugh with Scott Farley of the Gund Center for Ecological Economics, University of Vermont, who is introducing her to a brown bag lunch crowd at the Center.

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Updates for Triennial Congress: July 31–Aug. 3, Detroit
Post date: Wed, 05/28/2014 - 07:22

by Congress Coordinator

START / END TIMES: The Congress begins on Thursday, July 31, 6 pm, with a dinner, followed by the opening ceremony at 7 pm. The Congress ends at noon on Sunday, August 3.

PROGRAM BOOK: Each Congress participant will receive a beautiful program book. Organizations, individuals, and WILPF branches are invited to place an ad. Would you or your branch like to honor a WILPF member or someone who has inspired you to become a peace activist? Memorialize a deceased member or loved one? Or highlight a branch project? Your ad will help defray the costs of the congress. Camera-ready copy is preferred, but we can design your ad for you. Click here for the order form. Or email tribute2014@wilpfus.org and we’ll send you the form. DEADLINE: JUNE 30.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND: Please help raise funds for scholarships for the congress. A scholarship can make the difference between “I wish I could attend the Congress” and “I’m attending the Congress!” We already have requests for scholarships. Please contribute today. You may donate online by clicking here. Scroll down the page, fill out your personal information, then go to the “Donation Amount” box. Here you will choose “Congress Scholarship” in the purpose box. Or you can write a check payable to WILPF-US, with “Congress Scholarship” in the memo line. Send checks to WILPF-US, 11 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116. 

WORKSHOPS: There’s still time to submit a workshop proposal. Click here to download the form. DEADLINE: June 15.  

TRANSPORTATION: Let us know your travel plans, whether you will be arriving at the airport, train station, or bus stop. Email CongressCoordinator@wilpfus.org with your destination and time of arrival. (Note that this e-mail is different from the one given in the original registration form.) The nearest airport is Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), and the nearest Amtrak train station is located at 11 W. Baltimore Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202. The Megabus stops at Cass and Warren, at the Wayne State University campus. The Greyhound bus station is located at 1001 Howard Street, Detroit, 48226. If you arrive by train or bus, we’ll arrange to have a volunteer driver pick you up. Air travelers will be picked up by an airport transportation service.

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Immediate Opening for WILPF US Section Representative on the International Board!
Post date: Wed, 05/07/2014 - 07:15

The WILPF US Section urgently needs a replacement representative to the International Board. We regret to start this announcement with the news that Catia Cecilia Confortini, has resigned as our International Board (IB) Representative (Rep). 

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Position Application Materials
Post date: Wed, 05/07/2014 - 07:15

application_us_section_representative.doc

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