Brooklyn Reps Oppose War Spending: Call to thank them for their votes Action Alert
Call Congress: Vote AGAINST Free Trade Agreements Wed July 13, 10 pm: Does the U.S. Violate International Law?
Support Brooklyn For Peace: Become a member! Brooklyn
Congressional Reps Oppose War Spending In two key votes in the House of Representatives last week Brooklyn Congressional Representatives took a clear stand in opposition to the Pentagon budget. Representatives Clarke, Towns, Velazquez and Nadler all voted against the entire FY 2012 Defense Appropriations bill of $648.7 billion. (Unfortunately, however, the bill passed: Vote in the House was 336 in favor, 87 against.) Brooklyn’s Jerrold Nadler, together with Barbara Lee, (D–California) and Walter Jones (R–North Carolina), sponsored an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill which would have stopped all funding for combat and allocated funds only for the safe withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan. (Also unfortunately, this amendment did not pass: Vote in the House was 97 in favor, 322 opposed) Once again Nadler, Clarke, Towns and Velazquez were in solid support of this important antiwar amendment. In Brooklyn, the exception is Rep. Michael Grimm (R), whose district includes all of Staten Island plus part of Bay Ridge. Grimm continues to support spending on war.
If Clarke, Nadler, Towns, or Velazquez represents you, please call again to thank them for their vote. If you’re in Grimm’s district, also call to let him know what you think.
BIG THANKS to all of YOU took the time to make these calls. The continued pressure from grass-roots folks in Brooklyn has made our delegation one of the most consistently antiwar delegations in the country. However, we stilll have a long way to go!
The Obama Administration has clearly decided to continue the war in Afghanistan until at least 2014. At a time when vitally needed domestic programs are being cut, $648.7 for military spending is far in excess of what is needed to protect national security. ($530 billion is for the Pentagon, and $118 billion is to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.) These misplaced priorities affect everybody! We need to make stronger connections with a wide range of communities to make our voices heard. Work with our Peace and Economic Justice Committee to reach out to new constituencies in Brooklyn and beyond. Next meeting Tuesday July 19, 7 pm. E-mail pej@brooklynpeace.org for location and to be kept informed of future activities. Action Alert: Call Congress: Vote AGAINST Free Trade Agreements The package of three free trade deals – Korea FTA, Panama FTA and the Colombia FTA– is moving forward on the “fast track” in Congress. Despite the widespread opposition of labor and human rights supporters to the Colombia FTA in particular, the Obama administration is pushing to pass all three. (The President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is even optimistic about having the agreements in place this month, during July.) The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program which is part of these agreements acknowledges the loss of jobs a a consequence of Free Trade Agreements. As a result of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement, involving United States, Canada, and Mexico) 2 million jobs in the U.S. were lost in ten years. However, Republicans are objecting to the inclusion of the TAA programs in these agreements.
We must act NOW to stop these agreements! Please call your House Representative TODAY at 202-224-3121. Tell her/him that you oppose the Colmbia Free Trade Agreement, as well as the Panama and Korea FTA’s. Click here for local contact information and to learn who represents you.
Read the letter which BFP has sent to Congressional Representatives Clarke and Towns, who thus far are on record as supporting these FTA’s. To learn more about Free Trade Agreements, visit Public Citizen (Global Trade Watch).
For infomation on the U.S.-Colombia FTA, visit Washington Office on Latin America or The Mingas Network To let us know that you called, or to work with our Latin America Committee, e-mail latinam@brooklynpeace.org
Wednesday June 8, 10 pm Does the U.S. Violate International Law? A Forum Series sponsored by BFP and others addressed this question in fall, 2010. Did you miss it? Catch the highlights! From Session Two: Tina Foster, Esq., International Justice Network Tune in by cable in Brooklyn at: Channel 35 (TimeWarner); Chanel 68 (Cablevision); Channel 83 (RCN); Channel 43 (Verizon) Don’t have cable access or you’re not in Brooklyn? Watch from anywhere on your computer: Live video-stream, must watch at time of the cablecast Go to BCAT TV Network, scroll down to Channel 2 and Launch! (Requires Windows Media Player) DVD of the complete program is available. Have a friend or neighbor (especially a senior citizen) who can’t get out to our events? Let them know how to tune in on BCAT or get the DVD. “War No More” is BFP’s monthly Cable TVprogram, cablecast on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 10 pm
Coming up:Wednesday August 10, 10 pm: From Session Two: Q & A with Tina Foster and Shahid Buttar (Bill of Rights Defense Committee) Questions?
Call 718-624-5921 or e-mail bfp@brooklynpeace.org
Support Brooklyn For Peace! Become a member! Participate in one of our committees. Make a tax-deductible donation to suppport our work! Your financial support is an important way of participating. Questions? Call 718-624-5921 or e-mail bfp@brooklynpeace.org