thenatureofmind

Washington Leads The World To War

What must the world think watching the US presidential campaign? Over time US political campaigns have become more unreal and less related to voters’ concerns, but the current one is so unreal as to be absurd.

The offshoring of American jobs by global corporations and the deregulation of the US financial system have resulted in American economic failure. One might think that this would be an issue in a presidential campaign.

Washington Leads The World To War

Imagining a World Beyond War

Over 300 people gathered last week at a conference at American University in Washington, DC, which brought together a remarkable assembly of philosophers, scientists, activists, diplomats, lawyers, doctors, economists, media experts, and activists working against patriarchy, gender discrimination, poverty, and racism, to develop creative answers and intelligent directions on how people can take action to put an end to war. The event was organized by World Beyond War, a new and vibrant network and campaign, which in less than two years has gained the endorsement of thousands of people and organizations in 135 countries who signed a pledge “to commit to engage in and support nonviolent efforts to end all war and preparations for war and to create a sustainable and just peace.” The gathering initiated a sorely needed examination of the public perception of the inevitability of war on the planet while promoting the possibilities and solutions for abolishing it.

Imagining a World Beyond War

'Do you realise what you've done?' Putin addresses United Nations General Assembly 2015

 

Plowshares sentencing shows U.S. government afraid of peace activists

Outside the courthouse in Knoxville, Tenn., where three anti-nuclear activists were severely sentenced on February 18, Michelle Boertje-Obed, the wife of one of the three Transform Now Plowshares members, encouraged everyone to see Judge Amul Thapar’s ruling in a positive light. Despite her husband Greg having just received over 5 years in prison for infiltrating the Y-12 nuclear weapons facility on July 28, 2012 and damaging federal property — along with Michael Walli and 84-year-old Catholic nun Megan Rice – Michelle pointed out that the judge could have easily given them much longer sentences, as recommended by the prosecution.

Plowshares sentencing shows U.S. government afraid of peace activists - Waging Nonviolence.

The Great Mandala - Peter Yarrow & Richie Havens

World's #1 Arms Dealer Ensures that It Will Remain the #1 Terrorist Organization On The Planet

Petition | United States Congress: Take the Profit out of War-Profiteering

Many companies are driven to pursue the next War to meet obligations of maximizing profits for the organization and shareholders. Executive Compensation is excessive for War Profiteers and Tax-Payers cannot afford to buy another yacht or private island for these folks. The demand for War-Profits puts us all at risk, creating enemies so that a few can line their pockets with gold. 

Petition | United States Congress: Take the Profit out of War-Profiteering | Change.org.

Iraq War Costs U.S. More Than $2 Trillion: Study

The U.S. war in Iraq has cost $1.7 trillion with an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades counting interest, a study released on Thursday said.

The war has killed at least 134,000 Iraqi civilians and may have contributed to the deaths of as many as four times that number, according to the Costs of War Project by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University.

Iraq war costs U.S. more than $2 trillion: study

Tim Buckley: No Man Can Find the War

A Veteran's Remorse: What Have We Done to Iraq?

We've all been there by now, 10 years having passed since that heady dash across the Mesopotamian sands in March 2003.

One of my fonder memories of time spent there comes from a midday patrol through the streets of Al Amarah, in 2004, a town in the southeastern province of Maysan. The temperature was the wrong side of 40C, lines of salt from evaporated sweat traced my desert combats, and every muscle ached.

After halting the patrol and taking a knee, I saw an Iraqi man appear from a small shack. He hurried over to me, beaming and carrying a metal tray, on which sat a tiny glass of steaming tea, swirling with sugar.

"Shukran jazelan," I said appreciatively and through cracked lips, and savoured the best tasting brew I've ever had.

A veteran's remorse: what have we done to Iraq?