A CALL TO ACTION: September 22, 2015 in Washington, DC

For our planet, the war-ravaged, and the poor we will sow the seeds of hope for peace.

 

Guided by conscience, reason, and deeply held convictions, we call upon people of good will to come to Washington, DC on Tuesday September 22, 2015 to actively participate in a witness of nonviolent civil resistance calling on Congress and the White House to take meaningful action as we confront the climate crisis, the unending wars, the root causes of poverty, and the structural violence of the military-security state. There will be an occupation of a Congressional office, followed by direct action at the White House.

 

The Pentagon is the biggest consumer of fossil fuels. Wars are being fought for oil and will be waged to secure precious resources in the years to come. Wars destroy populations and habitat, assault the environment, and greatly contribute to climate chaos. The use of depleted uranium, chemical weapons and toxins are part of the Pentagon's arsenal. Another disastrous example of the mistreatment of the environment are the pesticides used in the drug wars and Plan Colombia which have had a catastrophic impact on the people and our planet. The ultimate weapons of mass destruction are nuclear and entirely threaten life on the planet. All nuclear weapons and the plans for their use must be abolished.

 

The United States has been in a perpetual state of war for decades, which includes proxy wars such as Saudi Arabia's air assault on Yemen. Countries, including those with democratically elected governments, have been overthrown in violation of international law. It is not sustainable for the US to continue waging war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan. In these countries the US is conducting an illegal and immoral drone program that has killed and maimed thousands. The US military footprint is in evidence at hundreds upon hundreds of military bases abroad including new and expanding bases on South Korea's Jeju Island and in Okinawa, Japan.

 

The US must cease its hostile rhetoric and sanctions against North Korea, Russia, and Iran. Furthermore, the US should seek a diplomatic solution to the civil war in Syria, disband NATO, and end the increasing military presence in Southeast Asia commonly referred to as the "Asian Pivot" which works against peaceful relations with China. We must end all military aid to Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the other countries in the Middle East. A new approach must be taken by the Obama Administration to free the Palestinians from over half a century of violent Israeli oppression. Diplomacy is the only answer to stop perpetuating the cycle of violence. Violence and war are not the answers to conflict, as history has shown that only human misery results.

 

It is not sustainable and or even moral to continue to spend trillions of dollars to prop up this economic system dependent on the war profiteers and fossil fuel industries. We call upon our government to withdraw support for the wealthy financial corporate elites who profit at the expense of the poor. Such inequality threatens our planet. We must create an economic system that supports working people and the poor by reorienting our economy to supporting human needs over the profits of a tiny minority of people. The Pentagon budget must be cut and resources directed to a universal healthcare system, renewable energy, free education and trades programs, and the creation of a jobs program to rebuild the infrastructure of this country. We have enough resources to eliminate hunger and homelessness and this must be done.

 

End structural violence!

We call upon our leaders to listen to and take action on behalf of Native Americans and people of African descent who have suffered grave injustices for centuries through many forms of institutional and structural violence. We call for an end to mass incarceration and solitary confinement in all prisons and jails, closing the detention centers for undocumented immigrants, shutting down the Guantanamo prison and immediately releasing prisoners who've been cleared for release, closing the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation "School of the Assasins", and ending the militarization of our local police.

 

For more information contact malachykilbride at gmail.com, mobuszewski at Verizon.net, or joyfirst5 at gmail.com.