ACTIVIST PROFILE
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the YouthPeace Club based in a high school in Norwich, CT. “YouthPeace is a group of youth who do not accept war, racism, sexism, homophobia, or exploitation as facts of life. We work for nonviolent resolution of all conflicts from personal to international.”
The high school students who started the YouthPeace Club—Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer and Matt Wiedenheft—were inspired by WRL events they attended, including the YouthPeace Organizer Training in 1997 and the WRL 75th Anniversary conference in 1998. Their first priority was and remains counter-recruiting, including running an Opt-Out campaign for the past 6 years (we helped over 600 students get off the military recruiters lists this year). They started an “Alternatives to the Military” tabling effort in the Fall of 1998 that continues today and the YouthPeace Club was organized in the Spring of 1999. Pat and Matt continue to support the young activists. Patrick meets with them weekly, and coordinates the counter-recruitment efforts. Matt encourages their use of political art, including teaching them to silk screen patches and is currently working on creating a community garden project.
The YouthPeace Experiment is an annual weekend training organized by WRL/New England with the participation of the students. The name comes from a quote by Gandhi “Those who are attracted to nonviolence should, according to their ability and opportunity, join the experiment.” Many YouthPeace activists have become WRL activists, including Patrick and Angie Hart who have both served on the WRL National Committee.
Join us on September 18, 2009 for the 44th Annual War Resisters League Peace Awards event, "Stubborn Hope: Celebrating the Ongoing Struggles for Justice and Peace in Southern Africa", honoring the Work of Dennis Brutus, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), and Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ).
Martin Luther King by Vanessa Chakour (created entirely with the words to his speech, Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence)Win a holiday gift for a loved one! Your raffle contribution goes directly to support the campaigns and programs of the War Resisters League in our efforts to end war and eliminate its causes. We try to choose prizes with some special meaning, unique, handcrafted items and/or those from people or companies who are members and friends in the struggle for peace and justice. Prizes include Four Nights on Cape Cod, New York City Ballet Tickets, Homemade Bread deliveries for a year, fine books, WRL-themed gifts and original artwork, including a set of posters by artist Luba Lukova, editor of the WRL 2010 Peace Calendar.
On one hand, we have the proposed military escalation in Afghanistan and the deadly Predator drone attacks in Pakistan, and on the other the global food crisis and melting snow—the line connecting them has been called by some “a war on the earth.” In this war, the military claims it’s making peace, the corporations that do the worst damage claim we can’t afford not to wage war, and both have the ear of the administration.
The War Resisters League's famous "pie chart" flyer, which analyzes the Federal Fiscal Year 2009 Budget (released in February 2009)!
Each year War Resisters League analyzes federal funds outlays as presented in detailed tables in “Analytical Perspectives” of the Budget of the United States Government. Our analysis is based on federal funds, which do not include trust funds — such as Social Security — that are raised separately from income taxes for specific purposes. What you pay (or don’t pay) by April 15, 2009, goes to the federal funds portion of the budget.
Order print copies via our online store, or by phone at 212.228.0450.
Social change doesn't just happen. It's the result of the work of committed people striving for a world of justice and peace. This work gestates in groups or cells of activists, in discussions, in training sessions, in reflecting on previous experiences, in planning, in experimenting and in learning from others. Preparing ourselves for our work for social justice is key to its success.
Special Issue of WIN magazine features interviews from a cross section of grassroots organizers from across the country.
Ralph, a lifelong war resister and pacifist, died February 1 in New York City. Ralph had been the heart and soul of WRL since he came on staff shortly after the end of World War II.
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Antimilitaristas de América latina rechazan el golpe de Estado en Honduras y exigen desarme y reducción del gasto militar. (English translation coming soon)
As we approach the April 4 anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s great 1967 “Beyond Vietnam” speech in New York City’s Riverside Church, the War Resisters League reiterates King’s urgent cry for nonviolence—and nonviolent resistance.
NNOMY's National Counter-Recruitment and Demilitarization Conference will be held July 17 to 19th, 2009 in Chicago.
WRL Posters are now available online at justseeds.com, the website of Justseeds/Visual Resistance Artists' Cooperative. The first of the WRL posters up on the Just Seeds site is the classic, Capital Punishment, by Peg Averill (1949-1993) who created hundreds of political graphics in the 1970s and 80s.
New listing of WRL local meetings and events.
Ed Hedemann, author of War Tax Resistance: A Guide To Withholding Your Support From the Military, discusses what you can do with your money and why it doesn’t have to go to defense spending.
Beloved longtime WRL staff member Karl Bissinger succumbed to a stroke on November 19. Karl was an energetic and creative fund raiser, an enthusiastic civil disobedient, a generous host to countless meetings, a loyal and supportive friend
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On one hand, we have the proposed military escalation in Afghanistan and the deadly Predator drone attacks in Pakistan, and on the other the global food crisis and melting snow—the line connecting them has been called by some “a war on the earth.” In this war, the military claims it’s making peace, the corporations that do the worst damage claim we can’t afford not to wage war, and both have the ear of the administration.
Each year War Resisters League analyzes federal funds outlays as presented in detailed tables in “Analytical Perspectives” of the Budget of the United States Government. Our analysis is based on federal funds, which do not include trust funds — such as Social Security — that are raised separately from income taxes for specific purposes. What you pay (or don’t pay) by April 15, 2009, goes to the federal funds portion of the budget. Order print copies via our online store, or by phone at 212.228.0450.
Special Issue of WIN magazine features interviews from a cross section of grassroots organizers from across the country.
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Antimilitaristas de América latina rechazan el golpe de Estado en Honduras y exigen desarme y reducción del gasto militar. (English translation coming soon)
As we approach the April 4 anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s great 1967 “Beyond Vietnam” speech in New York City’s Riverside Church, the War Resisters League reiterates King’s urgent cry for nonviolence—and nonviolent resistance.
NNOMY's National Counter-Recruitment and Demilitarization Conference will be held July 17 to 19th, 2009 in Chicago.
WRL Posters are now available online at justseeds.com, the website of Justseeds/Visual Resistance Artists' Cooperative. The first of the WRL posters up on the Just Seeds site is the classic, Capital Punishment, by Peg Averill (1949-1993) who created hundreds of political graphics in the 1970s and 80s.
New listing of WRL local meetings and events.
Ed Hedemann, author of War Tax Resistance: A Guide To Withholding Your Support From the Military, discusses what you can do with your money and why it doesn’t have to go to defense spending.
Beloved longtime WRL staff member Karl Bissinger succumbed to a stroke on November 19. Karl was an energetic and creative fund raiser, an enthusiastic civil disobedient, a generous host to countless meetings, a loyal and supportive friend
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