Social Action Sunday - The Human Costs of War

On Sunday, March 29, at both the 9 a.m. and 11a.m. services, Jim Murphy, coordinator of a local chapter of Veterans for Peace, will speak to our UU BCO Fellowship on The Human Costs of War for Social Action Sunday. His talk will be followed by a question and answer discussion period.

The national organization, Veterans for Peace, was founded in 1985 as a non-profit 501c3 educational organization and recognized as a United Nations Non-Governmental Organization in 1990. Chapters and members are active in communities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

National conventions are held annually and members communicate through quarterly newsletters as well as daily listserv news, online discussions groups and the national and many chapter websites. Its motto is “Waging Peace Since 1985.”

Its national office is located in St. Louis, Missouri, and it has local chapters around the country that conduct public forums, meet with elected representatives and participate in marches to express opposition to militarism and war. Members and chapters actively participate in efforts to save VA health care and defend veterans’ rights; to protect our civil liberties threatened by the Patriot Act and other repressive legislation; to provide counseling through the GI Rights Hotline to active duty military needing assistance; and providing alternative information to counter military recruiters in the schools.

Its goal is promote a humane and democratic local, national, and global society by educating the public as to the true social, ecological, and spiritual costs of war. Our membership includes veterans of all eras and duty stations and we actively work to prevent the spread of militarism as
a form of foreign policy.

Jim Murphy’s chapter of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 60 from the Tappan Zee Brigade, NY recently received a Peace & Justice Award from the WESPAC Foundation in recognition of its work in Westchester County. The Chapter has continued its local counter recruitment program by sending veterans to speak to high school students in New York City and metro area schools.

Its local programs and services for vets, in addition to Coordinator Jim Murphy, were profiled in this summer’s Muste Notes. The Chapter co-sponsored programs featuring survivors of the attack on the USS Liberty by elements of the Israeli military on June 8, 1967. It also sponsored or participated in several poetry readings featuring veterans from the World War II to Iraq called Post-Traumatic Press. Many of its members currently participate in a writing workshop.

Their national website with more information and background on their programs and services is www.veteransforpeace.org. Please join us for this timely and relevant presentation by Jim Murphy, from Veterans for Peace, on The Human Costs of War.