Peace, antiwar conf comes to Albany, NY

Excerpted and edited by Carolyn Bennett from materials posted by National Peace Conference
A National Conference to
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW
July 23–25, 2010, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Albany, New York

Sponsored by After Downing Street, Arab American Union Members Council, Bailout the People Movement, Black Agenda Report, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Campus Antiwar Network, Citizen Soldier, Code Pink, International Action Center, Grandmothers Against the War, Granny Peace Brigade, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, May 1st Workers and Immigrant Rights Coalition, National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, National Lawyers Guild, Office of the Americas, Peace Action, Peace of the Action, Progressive Democrats of America, Project Salam, September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, The Fellowship of Reconciliation, U.S. Labor Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Voters For Peace, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, World Can’t Wait Schedule Friday evening July 23 panel discussion on “Strategies & Tactics in the Struggle to End the Empire’s Wars and Occupations,” presentation of action proposal; Saturday July 24 keynote speakers, workshops, lunch panel on Government Repression, Defense of Political Prisoners and Guantanamo Detainees, plenary discussion of action proposal, amendments & resolutions; Saturday evening July 24 public forum with speakers & cultural performances; and Sunday July 25 plenary discussion and vote on action proposal, workshops

In these troubled times

Washington’s wars and occupations rage resulting in ever-increasing numbers dead and wounded, destruction of countries which pose no threat to the United States

Trillions are spent on seemingly endless conflicts in pursuit of profits and global domination. Trillions more are lost by working people in lost jobs, homes, pensions, health care, cuts to social programs and public services.

The United States goes to war to plunder the world’s fossil fuel resources, the unrestrained use of which threatens the future of our planet.

We must demand the immediate and total withdrawal of U.S. military forces, mercenaries and contractors from Afghanistan and Iraq, and the end to drone attacks on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other countries; and call for self-determination for peoples of all countries.

We recognize, moreover, that the Middle East cauldron today also encompasses Iran, Yemen, Palestine, and Israel, while countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa are targeted for intervention by a militarized U.S. foreign policy.

UNITY OF ACTION IS DEMANDED by the urgency of the current world situation and for generating the broad social movement we must create not only to end wars and occupations, but fundamentally to change the aggressive policies that inevitably lead our country to militarism, racism, and war.

‘Money for Human Needs Not for Wars, Occupations, and Bailouts’ must be our cry.

Source
National Peace Conference, http://nationalpeaceconference.org/Home_Page.html