Open Thread - 29 Sep 2022: Some Good Stuff - World Beyond War!
Some Good Stuff - World Beyond War!
Late last month I got an email from an anti-war group that interests me: World Beyond War.
The email contained information about their second annual War Abolisher Awards (this link contains more information about all the awards and reproduces the text of the email I received). The awards made me happy because the group was rewarding people and organizations I respect and am very grateful to.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw9-F5HeIUE] video of the awards presentation
There are four awards given at the annual presentation. One is for lifetime efforts by organizations to abolish war. The award is called the Lifetime Organizational War Abolisher Award. This year it went to Collettivo Autonomo Lavoratori Portuali (CALP) and Unione Sindacale di Base Lavoro Privato (USB). These Italian dock worker unions have blocked weapons shipments from and through Italy at various ports. These weapons were meant to be used in a number of different wars such as the Saudi war on Yemen, the Israeli war on Palestinians in Gaza, the Syrian war and the Ukrainian war. It's great to know that the efforts of these brave dock workers being recognized!
The Organizational War Abolisher of 2022 award this year went to the Whidbey Environmental Action Network (WEAN), based on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. This is so cool. I heard about this group and others who fought this same thing in Washington state, a few years ago when information about the Navy's actions in state parks became public knowledge. The state Commission on Parks and Recreation gave the Navy permission to use the parks for military training (Truthout revealed this in a 2016 article: EXCLUSIVE: Navy Uses US Citizens as Pawns in Domestic War Games). This training was to consist of units such as Navy Seals hiding in vegetation and pointing guns and other weapons (supposedly not loaded, of course) at families picnicking on beaches or hiking through woods! WEAN, supported by other local groups, took the Commission to court over this, and won! As they should have!
Jermey Corbyn was presented with The David Hartsough Lifetime Individual War Abolisher of 2022 Award. There are many reasons why Corbyn received this award. The one I want to highlight is the speech he gave after a man named Salman Abedi killed 22 concert goers, most of them young girls, at the Manchester Arena in England in 2017. This mass murder was an atrocity. But the 'War on Terror' as Corbyn pointed out, was and is not the solution for such atrocities. The War on Terror, Corbyn insisted, with the agreement of much of the British people but few of the British political and ruling classes, has made the British people less safe, not more safe. Corbyn is in the video of the awards linked above, his part starts around the 1 hour mark.
And the fourth award, the Individual War Abolisher of 2022 award, went to New Zealand filmmaker William Watson in recognition of his film Soldiers Without Guns: An Untold Story of Unsung Kiwi Heroes. In 1997 the New Zealand army stepped into a conflict/war waging between the biggest mining company in the world and a Pacific Island people (the Maoris). The Kiwis did not use guns to solve the conflict, they used guitars, Maori culture, and understanding and love.
[video:https://vimeo.com/490372154] The film on vimeo
As an addendum: Here's a video of David Swanson, executive director and one of the founders of World Beyond War, giving a very recent speech in Seattle, WA
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViJUGaKJsEg]
So, thanks for reading and here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Hello!
Hope this last Thursday in September is rocking for everyone! Here, it is a bit cooler, and dampish. Just dampish, not really rain. But some liquid. After the driest summer in recorded history here in the Seattle area, dampish feels good. I've got a busy Thursday, but hope to get some more garlic planting and berry bed prep going!
Let us know what's happening with you. Whatcha doing? Reading? Learning about? Listening to, and watching?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning...
Thanks for the recognition of the various peacemakers. We need more of them, especially in these troubled times. A world without war sure would be nice. Imagine what could have been done with the $80 billion already sent to Ukraine....and that's just the US.
Thanks too for the reminder to plant garlic cause we've not got ours in, but will in the next day or two. We may get a rain Sat, a little band off Ian's remnant, but the prediction has gone from 2" to 0.2" as the path shifted to the East. The pictures from SW FL are pretty bad. 2.5 million without power. I hate to hear how many people were killed in the storm.
Hope you all have a good day. Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Garlic Planting Is fun!
I don't know why, maybe because its one of the last things planted outside here, but I really have a good time planting garlic. And it's so easy. One clove every hand length or hand width apart, in rows the same distance apart (if doing square foot gardening). You have until the ground freezes, if it ever does, before planting. So you are good to go! I've planted garlic as late as early November here in the PacNW, and it's done well. The bulbs are a smaller than 'normal' when planted late, but not that small!
Ian looks to have caused a lot of damage, even if it's not quite the amount touted by the news (because Ian hit south of Tampa instead of in Tampa directly). I'm glad it's not hitting your area directly, that little bit of rain predicted shouldn't be too bad. I'm sorry for all the people who had the storm, and will have the storm, damage and flood their houses and businesses. Gah. I haven't heard a casualty total yet... maybe it's going to be low because they evacuated so many?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
We are off to a beautiful autumn here in Chitown
Tree's are already turning color, the days are in the 50's, nightime in
the 40's with no rain in sight.
As for peace here is 2 pieces of info from across the pond where ordinary
citizens are speaking truth against power.
Here a former soldier exposes the Monarchy
https://www.doubledown.news/watch/2022/september/28/former-british-solid...
My daughter has many friends that were in the path of Ian, as of now there
hasn't been any news. Our fingers are crossed.
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
Dang, I hope your daughter's friends are ok!
GO Angelo Sanchez! We need politicians who can say these things here. I wrote my local house member about giving money to other things, not to the military. He sent me back an email full of crap, of course, about how we can't reduce money to the military because it might hurt veterans! I specifically said, reduce money to the arms manufacturers... I guess they are veterans now.
We have not had days in the 50s yet, which is very unusual. Usually we've had a few overnight frosts by now, but nothing. Usually the rainy season has started, but not yet. Gonna be near 80 next week! So we'll be breaking more records
Hope your day was good! Thanks for reading!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning Sima, thanks for the OT.
You underestimate the importance of these live training exercises where military and or police forces play war among civilian populations, practicing for war upon said populations. Possibly as few as 10% of the population would actively seek to wage war on and kill civilians, either for pure pleasure or for money. To keep our massive war machine ready to do so, which is one of the principal ways in which we conduct armed conflicts, we must inure our forces to the practice and idea of attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, so we need to hold drills and mock attacks in which simulations of such activities are carried out. This essential to maintaining our troops' readiness to go forth and wage war against enemies at home and abroad.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Good sarcasm!
Did you take that straight from the Navy's propaganda about this? Because it sure hits the spot they were pushing! Just in case, they need to be able to fight us, their sisters, mothers, brothers, fathers, uncles... sons, daughters... because you never know when TPTB will need help!
Hope your day was great, and thanks for reading and commenting!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
It was kind of easy. They have staged more than
one of their crazy exercises here in the east bay, one with some fanciful name like Urban Warrior or somesuch where one goal was to capture a local veterans' hospital (they have an obvious need to practice attacking hospitals because most civilized humans simply would not do such a thing, I assume).
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Veteran's Hospital?
That leaves me speechless, which is hard to do! I would say, if it were here in the Puget Sound area, that they should stay on base, and put their own families and kids along the miles and miles of beach and forest they have IN THEIR BASES, and then pretend to attack them. That would work!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
A World without War would bring about a utopian dream.
Unfortunately that is not what TPTB (controlled by the US) have in mind.
https://www.barrons.com/news/us-senate-approves-12-billion-in-new-aid-fo...
It is fair to speculate who indeed is behind this as some already have..
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/russia-ukraine-war-nord-stream-gas-leaks...
$4.5 BILLION to keep Kiev's finances going?
Nevermind the billions for military 'aid', again. What the hell? Then, when the US finally stops supporting them, the Ukrainian leaders will be fleeing in airplanes full of dollars, like our friends in the Afghanistan government did. Because the billions are stolen!
It's so frustrating and stupid. Just stupid. I've been wondering if the Nordstream stuff is US linked or done by the US. I wouldn't be surprised if it were, like, the CIA...
Hope your day was great, despite all the depressing news from all over.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I have been seeing sample petitions from
the Texas Supreme Court with a whole new cause of action based on cyberbullying. Maybe we can see damages become codified. It happens often in divorces. It is a much better cause of action than defamation, for sure.
I had a chat with a lawyer pal, a Blue No matter Who Democrat. The very thought of negotiating peace in Ukraine was offensive to her. She said most of her reading of news or tv was the BBC.
Interesting times, and difficult ones.I dream of actual peace, but have never actually experienced it.
I am always glad any peace organization gets positive notice. That is a bright spot in today's world, Sima.
Thanks for the OT, and I hope you and the kids are having a great fall!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I can't get over how...
Negotiating peace in Ukraine, or anywhere, is so offensive to some. Can't people look beyond the next second, to consequences? Can't they learn a bit of history? Can't they imagine the sky getting dark as the nuclear clouds stream overhead? Do they really think they are that special?
As for cyberbullying, it's a thing and I'm quite glad it's getting some legal attention.
Thanks for the comment, and I hope you and the LOYL (love of your life) are doing and did well today! Husband will be getting the last load of hay in another couple days, and then, it can rain here and we'll be fine. In fact, I want it to rain, the fields are brown!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hope you get sufficient hay.
With a fertilizer shortage, how the hell are hay growers going to produce next year's crops?
Yeah, cyberbullying is here amongst us. The route we previously took was defamation, but judge's are frightened to punish people because of the first amendment. The last defamation case I won, my client only got a positive ruling that defamation occurred, but the judge didn't award my client a cent in damages. It was token only, so my client had only a sense of satisfaction, but the perp was unpunished financially.
It is very cool this morning, and sipping coffee on the porch, watching birds, baby lizards, is just lotsa fun. TLOML is always game for running and playing. We can make a fun trip out of grocery shopping.
I have to get ready for work. Bet you already started your chores!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Not to disagree at all, but your comment
reminds me of one case when such a verdict was warranted. There was a case where some one of humankind's absolute worst assholes was awarded a buck, with the obvious implication that their reputation was worth exactly that. Loved the hell out of it
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
The defamer bastard
has what he calls a news blog. It is funded mostly by local elected officials which get positive news coverage. My client was a probation officer who noticed that the blogger was a life time sex offender registrant who constantly went places he was prohibited from going, and somehow the sheriff didn't require him to check in annually. The sheriff donates to the blog.
My guy was accused of everything under the son, and he literally quit his job and moved to Alaska, where locals there wouldn't read a news blog featuring county news in east Texas. The local judge recused himself out of fear that he, too, would be blasted in that blog. An out of town judge replaced him, but he was not far enough away that he wanted to deal with it. He has failed to make a final ruling on damages for 5 years now. The blogger continues to defame my client.
Cyberbully just might work on that blogger one day.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Thanks for the good stuff, Sima
We need more people building bridges to cross the divide. It seems though that it is only possible in smaller groups where there is a strong desire to achieve peace and understanding, and find or recapture common ground. The Bougainville war and peace documentary is a good example of how that might be possible. Fundamentally it requires the participation of the real protectors of the land, and the benevolence of the people involved.
I really enjoyed both the documentary and David Swanson’s talk.
I'm glad you enjoyed the documentary and the talk!
I did too. I had no idea how the NZ army was used, or how it made itself so useful, and so peaceful. I wish most of the other armies around the world could do the same. Maybe a futile wish, but we can try!
Thanks for adding the link about the movie, it's a good read. Hope your day has been good and something fun has happened. Thanks for stopping by and adding to the discussion!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so