Committee Updates and Action Items

May 2020

Program Committee

Join Next Open Program Committee Meeting on June 2

By Joan Goddard

The national Program Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 2 at 5/6/7/8 pm will follow up on the nifty open-to-all-members meeting we had in April, with annual program planning breakout rooms for branch and at-large members, hosted by each issue committee listed on the WILPF US Our Work page.

For info, contact Program Chair Joan Goddard at the email address listed on the National Board page.

Disarm/End Wars

Sign and Share Petitions Supporting Call for a Global Cease-fire

By Odile Hugonot Haber and Ellen Thomas

Last month, we reported on the March 23, 2020 call by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a global cease-fire during the coronavirus pandemic (see "What We Can Do Right Now as Disarm Activists"). Silencing the guns and ending air strikes in zones of conflict (including permanent truces in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen) would help create corridors for life-saving aid, open special windows for diplomacy, and bring hope to places most vulnerable to COVID-19.

Many peace organizations and some nations joined the call, but not the United States and Russia. So France’s President Macron tried diplomacy, creating a resolution promoting a limited cease-fire for conflict zones, to be monitored by a 15-nation international council. The US and Russia sluggishly joined in. Chinese President XI Jinping confirmed that he agrees, and Macron is hoping for a virtual summit of the five nations in the United Nations Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia, US).

This is not what Guterres asked for and would still allow states to continue military operations against individuals and armed groups designated as terrorists by the Security Council. Nevertheless, for those living under the bombs, it is a blessed relief.  

Thanks to the work of Cherrill Spencer and the Disarm Committee, acting with the Earth Democracy and Middle East Committees, WILPF US has joined with many organizations and the United Nations to call for a global cease-fire.

World Beyond War is keeping a running total of the countries that have signed on, and there are two petitions you can sign, one set up by World Beyond War at Action Network and another by Avaaz. We urge you to sign on to one or both of these petitions, and to share them widely.

Women, Money, & Democracy

Act Now On Student Loan Forgiveness

By Marybeth Gardam

A US Department of the Treasury’s recent webpost promotes the idea that The CARES ACT works for all Americans. Not quite true.
 
A recent national webinar drew hundreds of people and advised how holders of federal student loans could apply for delayed payments during the pandemic. But any student who obtained a loan from a bank or private lender or their university finance office is just out of luck! That includes millions of people who cannot expect any relief, even while their employment is suspended because of COVID-19!  
 
The WILPF US Women, Money & Democracy Committee, finds it unacceptable that millions of students will not be able to get student loan forgiveness, at a time when we need to have everyone participating in our economic recovery.

In this recent eAlert, learn how you can take action NOW on this issue through using social media and contacting members of congress.

Earth Democracy

Mother’s Day Statement, New Plans & Materials Coming Soon

By Nancy Price

The Earth Democracy Committee will have a statement for Mother’s Day, May 10, to highlight Climate Justice+Women+Peace.

Furthermore, for the June eNews, we’ll unveil a new social media plan, new materials for several of our sub-committees, and posting the “Communities and Nature” Toolkit.

If you have comments or questions, please email Nancy Price, nancytprice39@gmail.com