tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82832988341161602462024-03-05T06:42:05.394-08:00Indiana Drones ProjectJoe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-29100037530664297182014-08-11T10:42:00.001-07:002014-08-11T10:42:46.577-07:00Rep. André Carson: Support the "Come Clean on Drones Killing" Bill! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqicz-DyZs3wec-QSSkFLM0__wIX0Mt1pIAyCAojxR8yNiY5du_DIRJaEJSy7J4i7kHgrujKPtm8fQzZuGey18uBzFXObRKaKoJ2_yed1hGwdzblizQf7mlhXRQegY1pOQ2dnuwYXAmTO/s1600/Andre-Carson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqicz-DyZs3wec-QSSkFLM0__wIX0Mt1pIAyCAojxR8yNiY5du_DIRJaEJSy7J4i7kHgrujKPtm8fQzZuGey18uBzFXObRKaKoJ2_yed1hGwdzblizQf7mlhXRQegY1pOQ2dnuwYXAmTO/s1600/Andre-Carson.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
"U.S. Representative André Carson , D-Indianapolis, member of the House aviation subcommittee, said [a recent] Call 6 Investigators' reporting has him pushing for action at the FAA and among members of his committee." The report in question was about "drones for hire" – a program that "allows individuals to rent unmanned aircraft for unspecified purposes, putting pilots and commercial airlines at risk." (See "Congressman Carson Speaks Up on Drones for Hire" in <a href="http://carson.house.gov/newsroom/past-e-newsletters/getting-my-marching-orders-may-3-2013" target="_blank">Rep. Carson's May 3, 2013 newsletter</a>)<br />
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<i><b>Now we need Rep. Carson to get up in arms about the <u>killing</u> that's being done with drones!</b></i><br />
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A bill is pending in Congress -- the The Targeted Lethal Force
Transparency Act (HR 4372) -- also known as the "Come Clean on Drone
Killing" Act. At this writing, quite a few of Rep. Carson's fellow
progressive caucus members have become co-sponsors for the bill. So
where is Rep. Carson?<br />
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<b><a href="https://carson.house.gov/contact/email-me" target="_blank">Rep. Carson's constituents need to contact him and urge him to co-sponsor the bill today.</a></b><br />
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Additional resources to help:<br />
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<a href="http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/" target="_blank">Identify your member of Congress</a><br />
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<a href="http://joescarry.blogspot.com/2014/04/mike-quigley-drones-transparency-hr-4372.html" target="_blank"><b>Example letter</b> to a member of Congress in support of HR 4372: the Targeted Lethal
Force Transparency Act (the "come clean on drone killings" act)</a><br />
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<b>Related posts</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://joescarry.blogspot.com/2014/03/congress-progressives-demand-US-drone-accounting.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vd67jy_sVfMiLjFOpWP4O3gWUoOPsUznltErvIu_WJfi2dEYMbeWpKi8u0-Agfqw9RJzjIWCbAc6YRsk2q_joKVDst_v2BBfHIFECJO1duXhPrQiOlAEuBO39TiO99c6_2kUZ81VYy_W/s1600/adam_schiff_90.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a>First
Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) called the U.S.
on the carpet for dodging the call from the international community to
come clean about its drone killings. Then Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
Walter Jones (R-NC) submitted a bill calling for drone transparency. So
... are we finally going to get the truth?<br />
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(See <a href="http://joescarry.blogspot.com/2014/03/congress-progressives-demand-US-drone-accounting.html" target="_blank">REAL Progressives Demand that the U.S. Come Clean on Drone Killings</a>)<br />
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-50313444288662993" itemprop="description articleBody">
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/indianapolis-hoosiers-protest-raytheon.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozIk7SGYvpPOAEWBrlWNfZRzwa3tYYSdmVE6XpcAk3IqK0Cm296YcTq28nUe5Dua1iQwqf5dhbPngwJcOUk6lNjIhRoihMC40BrSFO-E4kSa2G3yR6zJtVQq6Iq8vHFIzlQGSeS-d1l1i/s320/raytheon-protest-1.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a>As one protester, Carl, said, we need to keep urging people to resist --
"as long as the American people don't stand up and say "NO!" to this
military machine we've created, the military-industrial complex that
President Eisenhower warned us about, which is even worse now." Until
then, he continued, it will be U.S. taxpayers "that are killing the
people of Libya, and Syria, and Yemen, and Pakistan, and in Afghanistan,
and in the Philippines. and in Somalia. All over the world, our drones
our killing people in countries we haven't even declared war with."<br />
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(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/indianapolis-hoosiers-protest-raytheon.html">Indianapolis: Hoosiers Protest Raytheon Role in Drone Killings </a>) </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://joescarry.blogspot.com/2013/10/2014-year-of-transparency-for-us-drone.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfHoDUXHGzxFWfi6qM9V_h4cgOFFbGQNTDhDmXS5lATSb81Rb90ZTEcvnX4xhBT-iCV0bDx1qE-x5UO6D7j-dgjo4ZTa7z1qov6HG_4qMrBk5CL9XNOWjKG8fn4EshimNkuisW1C_miD9/s200/UN-flag-thumb.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
A 2013 U.N. report makes it clear that the U.S. has to report fully on all its drone attacks.<br />
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(See <a href="http://joescarry.blogspot.com/2013/10/2014-year-of-transparency-for-us-drone.html" target="_blank">2014: The Year of Transparency (for U.S. Drone Use)?</a>)<br />
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<br />Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-86380042435663710882014-05-09T10:37:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:27:27.930-07:00Report on May 7, 2014 No Drones Peace Vigil in Bloomington, Indiana<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">As reported in the <a href="http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=98177">Indiana Daily Student</a> and on <a href="http://wfhb.org/uncategorized/bpac-protests-drone-use/">WFHB community radio</a>, t</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">wenty-four people participated in the May 7th No Drones Peace Vigil in Bloomington, Indiana. Those present read 114 names of people in Pakistan and Yemen who have been killed by U.S. drone strikes, including many of the 69 children’s names who were <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/229844/the-day-69-children-died/">killed in the attack on the madrassa in Chenagai, Pakistan on Oct. 30, 2006</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2g3gnuOTHMC5_FlUdzFKdouWQfmlVV7wy_QCdsv35ojLr9bvbLJ3mhuT5xPqpQBBKghMUIOSpv1zEU2KwumTh0R0GqmgW6n9nQEEVBQtc6sJ3GyoLKtG91jiaAsrLf5OGwCLO-N4nJfH/s1600/megaphone+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2g3gnuOTHMC5_FlUdzFKdouWQfmlVV7wy_QCdsv35ojLr9bvbLJ3mhuT5xPqpQBBKghMUIOSpv1zEU2KwumTh0R0GqmgW6n9nQEEVBQtc6sJ3GyoLKtG91jiaAsrLf5OGwCLO-N4nJfH/s1600/megaphone+trees.jpg" height="400" width="376" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bearing witness to the victims of U.S. drone terror.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0GmwULnx1zu1-fZ6aWJgS_u5U33cs7oPTD07m6I7x6CeulR4z852uGCFq88cjxDOy00MZ7zXDuYB3QeTlhhMR20AYEOfH_4_Dh5fqyn8GWpth77AcVJpR7TFyRFx7opZFV0Z1jhkTr6U/s1600/group+w:pillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0GmwULnx1zu1-fZ6aWJgS_u5U33cs7oPTD07m6I7x6CeulR4z852uGCFq88cjxDOy00MZ7zXDuYB3QeTlhhMR20AYEOfH_4_Dh5fqyn8GWpth77AcVJpR7TFyRFx7opZFV0Z1jhkTr6U/s1600/group+w:pillar.jpg" height="346" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">Those reading names were a female singer/ performing artist<br /> originally from Iran, a businessman originally from Iraq,<br /> an Indiana University professor originally from Somalia,<br /> and an Oxford graduate/ writer/ Peace activist who is the<br /> son of a U.S. diplomat, who also recounted about the period<br /> between 9/11 and the launch of U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,<br /> and how a return to diplomacy and a change of policy is now needed.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Timothy Baer MC’ed the event, gave an introduction about the U.S. drone program and why it should be ended, and encouraged everyone to contact President Obama to call for an end to drone strikes. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCXuerxLhJCoc5DgE-rl4H7X0aALkUYNvWsvFXIMZt9CoCM5HzgfjPrg5i-uf4wehJoxXhyr5SsTuH1SCF56Ewlt4LqlrdKWlZoBUq5_fAZ73OwylzizkeHwPdV01GIw5E72a8ttlc4hN/s1600/downtown+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCXuerxLhJCoc5DgE-rl4H7X0aALkUYNvWsvFXIMZt9CoCM5HzgfjPrg5i-uf4wehJoxXhyr5SsTuH1SCF56Ewlt4LqlrdKWlZoBUq5_fAZ73OwylzizkeHwPdV01GIw5E72a8ttlc4hN/s1600/downtown+background.jpg" height="400" width="343" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">"The MQ-9 Reaper drone...statically<br /> hovered over the assembled group<br /> and drew attention from passersby."</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The MQ-9 Reaper drone replica with a nearly 12’ wingspan statically hovered over the assembled group and drew attention from passersby. Full color signs promoting the Drones Quilt Project exhibit, the ‘Not A Bug Splat’ project in Pakistan, and maps of areas where U.S. drone attacks occur were displayed. Newly printed signs were held, that read: Respect Human Rights, No More Drone Attacks, End Extra-Judicial Assassinations, End U.S. Drone Wars, and Stop Drone Killings. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJizx5v7VM5nNvxSXszDvQ24DNV_PbEwZF1ot7-SbKyD3ErKhz3x_v8dJDSMdWGzHUZ7Gb6R28S9Ez12deUwE5v8nbEu7SzJz-Ovk9Hq_lmK1s4dKOvSU2_oCITsdpEZGjzKp3hdCJvu5H/s1600/posing+under+drone+replica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJizx5v7VM5nNvxSXszDvQ24DNV_PbEwZF1ot7-SbKyD3ErKhz3x_v8dJDSMdWGzHUZ7Gb6R28S9Ez12deUwE5v8nbEu7SzJz-Ovk9Hq_lmK1s4dKOvSU2_oCITsdpEZGjzKp3hdCJvu5H/s1600/posing+under+drone+replica.jpg" height="395" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<b><i>STOP DRONE KILLINGS!"</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Copies of <a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/spring-days-of-action-2014/Flyers-Leaflets/DRONE-CONTROL-ACT.pdf">the Drone Control Act</a>, the proposed local anti-drone resolution, and anti-drone literature, as well as contact information for President Obama and Indiana members of Congress, were available and taken. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">People were encouraged to use pre-paid postcards and a suggested message to write to President Obama to end drone killings/ extra-judicial assassinations and to support international law. A number of postcards were written by participants and collected to be mailed.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiwoLWjit0ruow0Ok_77AVE5Bj5WB2xTKismlo2AiiORA0pgf392PFcebdN8QqzJSYcYffae7uU81_z0wWtmnvDZItqIwcugtszoNTMDARvWKycXv2VRnKrP9ooKDvDyR7NqI4Zf6JdRr/s1600/SDODA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiwoLWjit0ruow0Ok_77AVE5Bj5WB2xTKismlo2AiiORA0pgf392PFcebdN8QqzJSYcYffae7uU81_z0wWtmnvDZItqIwcugtszoNTMDARvWKycXv2VRnKrP9ooKDvDyR7NqI4Zf6JdRr/s1600/SDODA.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Spring Days of Drone Action are in full swing nationwide!<br /> <a href="http://springdaysofdroneaction.org/">CLICK HERE</a> for more information!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-55128020496000166022014-04-01T11:48:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:28:06.507-07:00Spring Days of Drone Action 2014 in BLOOMINGTON<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.bpac.info/">Bloomington Peace Action Coalition</a> is hosting a slate of exciting events during April and May as part of this year's <a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/2014/01/call-for-spring-days-of-action-2014.html">Spring Days of Drone Action</a>, with opportunities both to organize against drone killing, bear witness to the suffering of the victims, and to spread the word to the public. Central to BPAC's efforts will be local anti-drone legislation for the city of Bloomington as well as the proposed <a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/spring-days-of-action-2014/Flyers-Leaflets/DRONE-CONTROL-ACT.pdf?utm_source=Drone+Action&utm_campaign=c1003ed93b-What_You_Can_Do_7_24_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_beae583d40-c1003ed93b-323603761">Drone Control Act</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1648632421" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wednesday, April 2, 2014</span></span></span></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4ruMZDqcvea4NxeGCJp2a6KodBBgmxYuJaeDwr6KECE9hVgC2uUdCEXz8W7VEB6JsuYYOiWiRcAjb2MAN0RoP56GI6VFC5UIxT6tw4UHcsZduCczY3ulkhY9O6_y5KOrvJO9CIR_2z2z/s1600/monroe+county+courthouse+bloomington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><u>Peace Vigil ~ “War Is Terrorism! End U.S. Drone Warfare – Stop All Drone Strikes!”</u><br /><br /><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1648632422" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:00 - 6:00 p.m.</span></span><br />Monroe County Courthouse Square</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Corner of Kirkwood Ave. and Walnut Street</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Bloomington, IN</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4ruMZDqcvea4NxeGCJp2a6KodBBgmxYuJaeDwr6KECE9hVgC2uUdCEXz8W7VEB6JsuYYOiWiRcAjb2MAN0RoP56GI6VFC5UIxT6tw4UHcsZduCczY3ulkhY9O6_y5KOrvJO9CIR_2z2z/s1600/monroe+county+courthouse+bloomington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4ruMZDqcvea4NxeGCJp2a6KodBBgmxYuJaeDwr6KECE9hVgC2uUdCEXz8W7VEB6JsuYYOiWiRcAjb2MAN0RoP56GI6VFC5UIxT6tw4UHcsZduCczY3ulkhY9O6_y5KOrvJO9CIR_2z2z/s1600/monroe+county+courthouse+bloomington.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Monroe County courthouse square</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Join us under the </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8' long Reaper drone replica</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> on the Courthouse Square to stand for Peace and an end to all drone warfare.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We'll have signs, banners, and anti-drone literature, including copies of the proposed local resolution and the </span><a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/spring-days-of-action-2014/Flyers-Leaflets/DRONE-CONTROL-ACT.pdf?utm_source=Drone+Action&utm_campaign=c1003ed93b-What_You_Can_Do_7_24_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_beae583d40-c1003ed93b-323603761" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b>Drone Control Act</b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">. Feel free to bring your own appropriate message of Peace. Join us to participate for Peace!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1648632423" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Monday, April 7, 2014</span></span></span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><u>BPAC's Anti-Drone Committee Meeting</u><br /><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1648632424" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:00 - 7:00 p.m.</span></span><br />Monroe County Public Library, Room 1-A</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">303 E. Kirkwood Ave.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Bloomington, IN</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We're active with a structured campaign. Passing a local anti-drone resolution and informing our elected officials and the general public about the criminality of U.S. drone policy are our priorities. We need your involvement!</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /><br /><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1648632425" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Monday, April 7, 2014</span></span></span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><u>Bloomington Peace Action Coalition Meeting</u><br /><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1648632426" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7:00 – 8:30 p.m.</span></span><br />Monroe County Public Library, Room 1-A</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">303 E. Kirkwood Ave.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Bloomington, IN</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">All who are willing to work toward a Peace-filled world and positive change in U.S. foreign policy are strongly encouraged to attend.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The organizing agenda includes:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1. Updates on Iran, Syria, and Ukraine</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2. Report/ discussion on the Anti-Drone Committee's work, including:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> A. Local anti-drone resolution and meetings with City Council members</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> B. Participation in the </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2014 Spring Days of Action to End Drone Killing </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">campaign. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> C. Discuss a meeting with Rep. Todd Young about </span><a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/spring-days-of-action-2014/Flyers-Leaflets/DRONE-CONTROL-ACT.pdf?utm_source=Drone+Action&utm_campaign=c1003ed93b-What_You_Can_Do_7_24_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_beae583d40-c1003ed93b-323603761" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b>Drone Control Act</b></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> D. Drones Quilt Project (coming to south-central IN in May)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3. </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">World Beyond War</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> campaign </span><a href="http://www.worldbeyondwar.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.worldbeyondwar.org/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vgZm6UkFRAcshv1c2JFn6JI6vNTCw5KI60siLQrvWCPOIpynCop6BK-tjmQ15CJRCp3sGPZ0M2O7joieBJ6egggokn_yKka9YLYpQVSufBMseT0TDIxAe07pDJjuLQQCP3jiPtVMmk65/s1600/Todd+Young+R-IN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vgZm6UkFRAcshv1c2JFn6JI6vNTCw5KI60siLQrvWCPOIpynCop6BK-tjmQ15CJRCp3sGPZ0M2O7joieBJ6egggokn_yKka9YLYpQVSufBMseT0TDIxAe07pDJjuLQQCP3jiPtVMmk65/s1600/Todd+Young+R-IN.jpg" height="400" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the April 7th meeting, we will discuss contacting Indiana Rep.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Todd Young (R) to advocate for the Drone Control Act</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1648632427" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Saturday, May 3 through Sunday, May 18, 2014</span></span></span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://dronesquiltproject.wordpress.com/">Drones Quilt Project</a> </b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br />Monroe County Public Library – 1st Floor Gallery Space</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The<b> </b>Opening Reception will take place on <b>Saturday, May 3 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in room 1-C</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbKvWxvECits3elJPBEbejS7dsWH6E65hjda9XGmoGcOjeZqjjLIVuz91Bf2XRV33KHqpfjBF2MBZoDXO0w-tuBbZv9SF8u7yGHjddO-jimfCLQE_amKKFw4DTT_cinhF2-xFfz33bC1Q/s1600/copy-dronefuneral22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbKvWxvECits3elJPBEbejS7dsWH6E65hjda9XGmoGcOjeZqjjLIVuz91Bf2XRV33KHqpfjBF2MBZoDXO0w-tuBbZv9SF8u7yGHjddO-jimfCLQE_amKKFw4DTT_cinhF2-xFfz33bC1Q/s1600/copy-dronefuneral22.jpg" height="206" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dronesquiltproject.wordpress.com/">Drones Quilt Project</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Peace and blessings,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Timothy Baer</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Organizer, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><a href="tel:%28812%29%20720-0437" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+18127200437">(812) 720-0437</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The nationwide Spring Days of Drone Action are just beginning! <a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/2014/01/call-for-spring-days-of-action-2014.html">CLICK HERE to learn more about events taking place around the nation</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/2014/01/call-for-spring-days-of-action-2014.html">Spring Days of Drone Action 2014</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-70636568547477570902014-03-21T17:58:00.002-07:002014-07-05T08:29:29.630-07:0045 people, Reaper Drone, attend film screening in Bloomington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The </span><a href="http://www.bpac.info/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Bloomington Peace Action Coalition</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> held a screening of Robert Greenwald's </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://unmanned.warcosts.com/">Unmanned: America's Drone Wars </a></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">last Thursday, 3/20 (the 11th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq) at the Monroe County Public library. At least 45 attended the screening, and many stayed afterward for discussion, which included a presentation and comment on the proposed national </span><a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/spring-days-of-action-2014/Flyers-Leaflets/DRONE-CONTROL-ACT.pdf" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Drone Control Act</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> as well as a local resolution to ban drone use in the City of Bloomington, </span><a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/05/16857529-virginia-city-becomes-first-to-pass-anti-drone-resolution?lite" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">similar to resolutions passed in Charlottesville, VA</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> and other U.S. cities. The screening also provided an opportunity to announce the arrival in Bloomington of the </span><a href="http://www.veteransforpeace.org/who-we-are/member-highlights/2013/04/04/us-drones-quilt-project" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Drone Quilt Project</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> six weeks from now.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKzFoYziZojO9vU73HWLS2OYsD7qn_csIaUlosT6xWxMNVjqTjKkMoNu32YEikWbzf-zqzCWevEzf-f9pp6MW3lp23kKU78qK8Syq74yfgdimQ_TdPdNRTGZR9t_SPAyI-aaOUQMDPdUb/s1600/bloomington+Unmanned+screening.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKzFoYziZojO9vU73HWLS2OYsD7qn_csIaUlosT6xWxMNVjqTjKkMoNu32YEikWbzf-zqzCWevEzf-f9pp6MW3lp23kKU78qK8Syq74yfgdimQ_TdPdNRTGZR9t_SPAyI-aaOUQMDPdUb/s1600/bloomington+Unmanned+screening.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A Reaper Drone replica sat outside of the library underneath the<br />
Indiana state flag, showing Indiana's complicity in the Drone Wars<br />
while attracting viewers to the screening. Pictured<br />
are Susan Pennington, Linda Greene, and Timothy Baer of BPAC</td></tr>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Host a film screening, demonstration, or other event in your city as part of the nationwide Spring Days of Drone Action during the months of April and May! <a href="http://www.springdaysofdroneaction.org/">CLICK HERE</a> to post info about your event and learn more about events all throughout the country.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FjX4F09Sq-9RSoPe74jTCIHS5cRzioedl2Lr_mttzFSuOLnQj2DGDimB3xkm5HOxScgDepRbzI1umd5Gc_XKrBCrY2j8XUinQQb6daPgtK1rHt7d2-i_FqQ_AVQTncnif92-qyt8SYYQ/s1600/SDODA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FjX4F09Sq-9RSoPe74jTCIHS5cRzioedl2Lr_mttzFSuOLnQj2DGDimB3xkm5HOxScgDepRbzI1umd5Gc_XKrBCrY2j8XUinQQb6daPgtK1rHt7d2-i_FqQ_AVQTncnif92-qyt8SYYQ/s1600/SDODA.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Days of Drone Action 2014</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-89066881602863554682014-03-10T14:43:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:29:51.745-07:00FREE FILM SCREENING: Unmanned: America's Drone Wars<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">All readers are cordially invited to a FREE film screening of the 2013 Robert Greenwald-directed Brave New Films production,</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> UNMANNED: AMERICA’S DRONE WARS. </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The screening will be followed by a public discussion.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When: Thursday, March 20, 2014, 6:30 p.m.<br />Where: Monroe County Public Library Auditorium</b><br />303 E. Kirkwood Avenue<br />Bloomington, IN 47408</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtm192GSlOSbwbQnsH6BIOuJPImL8sjRgb0eie9M35fBk9e_oHr8MJgJfNVlNiO6mOi4zQP3pNLZAthh2EkkmnWuoWgGDWYeF9K4Z0jiKO1B33hCYj-QGH1_ydDfuJB7aCLCv6oZ8XxJF/s1600/Unmanned-header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtm192GSlOSbwbQnsH6BIOuJPImL8sjRgb0eie9M35fBk9e_oHr8MJgJfNVlNiO6mOi4zQP3pNLZAthh2EkkmnWuoWgGDWYeF9K4Z0jiKO1B33hCYj-QGH1_ydDfuJB7aCLCv6oZ8XxJF/s1600/Unmanned-header.jpg" height="110" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<i>Unmanned</i> is ESSENTIAL viewing." -Oliver Stone<br />
"It's a POWERFUL movie that shakes you to your core." -Cenk Uygur</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In his latest film, <b>UNMANNED: AMERICA’S DRONE WARS</b>, director Robert Greenwald examines the impact that U.S. drone strikes have at home and abroad. Through numerous interviews, including with a former American drone operator, Pakistani families mourning loved ones and seeking legal redress, investigative journalists, and top military officials warning against blowback from the loss of innocent life, the truth about U.S. drone warfare policy is revealed.<br /><br />In never-before-seen footage from the tribal regions of Pakistan, drone strike survivors describe the brutal reality of drone attacks ordered during the Obama Administration. The film highlights the personal stories of Pakistanis impacted by U.S. drone policy, showing how delicate life can be in this war where no one is accepting responsibility for the casualties.<br /><br /><b>UNMANNED</b> reveals that covert U.S. military actions are often imprecise and result in creating more enemies for the American people, who have little knowledge of how drone targets are set or why these extrajudicial killings are carried out.<br /><br />See film preview and more about <b>UNMANNED</b> at:<br /><a href="http://unmanned.warcosts.com/unmanned_about" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://unmanned.warcosts.com/<wbr></wbr>unmanned_about</a> <br /><br />The <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1107348408" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">March 20th</span></span> free film screening and discussion is sponsored by <a href="http://www.bpac.info/"><b>Bloomington Peace Action Coalition</b>.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://springdaysofdroneaction.org/">To learn more about this year's Spring Days of Action against Drones and post your own events, CLICK HERE.</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-61693000007718241242014-03-08T12:10:00.002-08:002014-07-05T08:30:07.248-07:00Peace Vigil in Bloomington Courthouse Square Elicits Shouts of Approval from Passersby<span style="font-size: large;">Members of the <a href="http://www.bpac.info/">Bloomington Peace Action Coalition</a> braved cold temperatures to come out to the Bloomington Courthouse Square last Wednesday and <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2014/03/peace-vigil-war-is-terrorism-end-us.html">demonstrate</a> against the state-sponsored terrorism that is U.S. drone killing and imperialism. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZTlPhzXAjd_mPtW1Kx7SQL5A1QCguJxYlPOcp45Jyj5lE3pbC9MaKEU6YH1HUe4xEUAjZP-SOxlmdeoZq4qM1IPNGKWQIXHypLgoCwA14vSULScWWXhVzaU9C4DkKcht348PLr8VFS3U/s1600/bloomington+demonstration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZTlPhzXAjd_mPtW1Kx7SQL5A1QCguJxYlPOcp45Jyj5lE3pbC9MaKEU6YH1HUe4xEUAjZP-SOxlmdeoZq4qM1IPNGKWQIXHypLgoCwA14vSULScWWXhVzaU9C4DkKcht348PLr8VFS3U/s1600/bloomington+demonstration.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"WAR IS TERRORISM"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Timothy Baer of <a href="http://www.bpac.info/">BPAC</a> reported: "Today, our message was mostly well-received by motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians who gave us thumbs-up, peace signs, nodding heads, or shouts of affirmation. "</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Timothy reports plans for more demonstrations in the very near future as part of the <a href="http://springdaysofdroneaction.org/">Spring Days of Action </a>against drone warfare and surveillance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Join <a href="http://www.bpac.info/">BPAC</a> and other groups and individuals around the country who plan to speak out this spring against drone killing.<a href="http://springdaysofdroneaction.org/"> CLICK HERE to learn more about the Spring Days of Action.</a>!</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-19846627283035985712014-03-03T15:37:00.003-08:002014-07-05T08:30:20.287-07:00Peace Vigil: War Is Terrorism! End U.S. Drone Warfare- Stop all Drone Strikes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1987053983" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Join the <a href="http://www.bpac.info/">Bloomington Peace Action Coalition</a> this <b>Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from </b></span></span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1987053984" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><b>5:00 - 6:00 p.m.</b> in</span></span><br />Monroe County Courthouse Square on the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Corner of Kirkwood Ave. and Walnut Street in </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Bloomington, IN for our monthly vigil against drone killing.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M6ylU7o-nmE-lOXiprcqWarq3ZJ5WQEtxDqoyp1c6qF3oXa4-oeIwmteFlvcHdG6OaOSmjd5H5qybKBed2EQVYcsQxsI8IyAmY7yfuzXXCqzEPTAOh0vE_9RAaQFHQqjsUCMIZd4W6fm/s1600/monroe+county+courthouse+bloomington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M6ylU7o-nmE-lOXiprcqWarq3ZJ5WQEtxDqoyp1c6qF3oXa4-oeIwmteFlvcHdG6OaOSmjd5H5qybKBed2EQVYcsQxsI8IyAmY7yfuzXXCqzEPTAOh0vE_9RAaQFHQqjsUCMIZd4W6fm/s1600/monroe+county+courthouse+bloomington.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Monroe County Courthouse in Bloomington</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We'll have signs, banners, and literature. Feel free to bring your own message. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Bundle up and participate for Peace!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/">CLICK HERE to learn about the upcoming nationwide Spring Days of Action against drone warfare and surveillance!</a></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-51473826214519178772014-03-01T17:34:00.001-08:002014-07-05T08:30:51.880-07:00Fly Kites, Not Drones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Kite-flying has long been synonymous for many with the spirit of Afghanistan, as a popular pastime that was banned under Taliban rule. This March, join <a href="http://indianapeace.org/">Indiana Peace</a> and <a href="http://vcnv.org/">Voices for Creative Nonviolence</a> to <b>Fly Kites, Not Drones</b> in protest against U.S. drone killing. The events will take place on March 22nd and 23rd and will be a part of the 2014 <a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/2014/01/call-for-spring-days-of-action-2014.html">Spring Days of Action Against Drones</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For more information about <b>Fly Kites, Not Drones</b>, contact nodrones_indiana@comcast.net</span></div>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/2014/01/call-for-spring-days-of-action-2014.html"><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICK HERE for more information about the nationwide Spring Days of Action!</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-736393521098254292014-02-10T12:12:00.001-08:002014-07-05T08:31:59.658-07:00Last Rites for America: Dave Lambert and Terry Doran discuss the decline of the U.S. empireIndiana activists Dave Lambert and Tim Tiernan spent an hour last week discussing the decline of the U.S. economy, the rise of inequality, and increasing imperialist overreach as exemplified by drone warfare. They did so with Terry Doran, for his show <i>Theatre for Ideas</i> on local public access TV.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xtXjsq2RO6juBcG9M8Wc_45IN7IvAGNFdfmdWAIuNgRZrrcatKMpH2bDAgpOVlr_uZtbZab7AGUKEAsNq2P6rrl9ThxHmWspZSuVWsDogJ6tLqNIJjX52N6olz9nqDtNv0hexOFmvxAu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-10+at+12.09.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xtXjsq2RO6juBcG9M8Wc_45IN7IvAGNFdfmdWAIuNgRZrrcatKMpH2bDAgpOVlr_uZtbZab7AGUKEAsNq2P6rrl9ThxHmWspZSuVWsDogJ6tLqNIJjX52N6olz9nqDtNv0hexOFmvxAu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-10+at+12.09.13+PM.png" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
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Related themes explored at length in this stimulating and erudite discussion were the overwhelming power of money in politics, the decline of real democracy in America, and the genocide committed against indigenous peoples of North America. You can watch the interview <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYQGHTA4t8Y&feature=youtu.be">here</a>.<br />
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Lambert also had some help from the late, great George Carlin in articulating some of these points<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hYIC0eZYEtI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-74976169221803137372013-04-06T01:00:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:32:54.118-07:00April Days of Action Against Drones in INDIANA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBmh-go1jZibwVNLRRobLXKeQJ8nByccY6ECJtTkHtsYgJBG4oli2DksDwnnFgf0mFzXSZQqg2dpDuvoMggidBFbPLcLMsIOpEmn97sqPOHj7ptoKqLJofzr2d8nomAsG-PdaGPv62IdU/s1600/indiana-state-u-seal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBmh-go1jZibwVNLRRobLXKeQJ8nByccY6ECJtTkHtsYgJBG4oli2DksDwnnFgf0mFzXSZQqg2dpDuvoMggidBFbPLcLMsIOpEmn97sqPOHj7ptoKqLJofzr2d8nomAsG-PdaGPv62IdU/s200/indiana-state-u-seal.png" height="200" width="200" /></a>Numerous Indiana events are part of the nationwide <a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/12/national-anti-drone-group-calls-for.html" target="_blank">April Days of Action Against Drones</a>.<br />
<br />
On March 26, 2013, as part of the Indiana State University Human Rights Day observance, Robert Naiman gave a presentation entitled ""From Pakistan to Terre Haute: we can do something about the drone strike policy." Robert Naiman is Policy Director at Just Foreign Policy. Mr. Naiman edits the Just Foreign Policy news summary and writes on U.S. foreign policy at Huffington Post. He is President of the Board of Truthout. (Details on the <a href="http://www.indstate.edu/hrd/presenters.htm" target="_blank">Indiana State University 2013 Human Rights Day</a> page.)<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>OTHER UPCOMING INDIANA EVENTS</b></span><br />
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<b>FT. WAYNE</b> - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8283298834116160246" target="_blank"></a> - We will hold a protest at the gate of BAE Systems (formerly GE), 2000 Taylor Street. BAE is one of the larger companies that produce parts fo Predator and Reaper drones, the same one that have been killing innocent women, men and children in Pakistan, and other places. In addition to producing a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for war zones, it now is adapting the military-style planes for a consortium of government agencies (police departments, FBI. homeland security, etc) so they will be able to keep an eye on us from above. (There is parking on Taylor Street, as well as Electric Street, a short street running South off of Taylor, across from the BAE gates.) <br />
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(Add additional Indiana events to the <a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1170/p/salsa/event/common/public/index.sjs?distributed_event_KEY=708" target="_blank">master list of national April Days of Action actions</a>.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What about YOU? <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2013/02/become-part-of-indiana-drones-project.html">Become part of the Indiana Drones Project!</a></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Read about ALL the ways <span style="font-size: large;">YOU</span> can be involved </b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>in the <a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/12/national-anti-drone-group-calls-for.html">April Days of Action Against Drones</a><span style="font-size: large;">!</span></b></span></i></div>
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<br />Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-21618905973749667012013-04-05T09:51:00.002-07:002014-07-14T14:20:46.603-07:00Nationwide April Days of Action against Drones: Demonstration at BAE Systems Plant Provokes Counter-Protest <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The local chapter of <a href="http://www.veteransforpeace.org/" target="_blank">Veterans for Peace</a> showed up yesterday at the plant of <a href="http://www.baesystems.com/home?_afrLoop=694781917813000&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null&baeSessionId=Y1gGRp2hCShBpLfhvxMZr5JvXv81X3g24GNbNWRL40gGWhH9xxwy!-1068077679" target="_blank">BAE Systems</a>, a corporation guilty of the production of drones that are kiling civilians in Afghanistan. This event was an important part of the <a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">April Days of Action Against Drones</a>, a series of anti-drone protests taking place this month in communities nationwide.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyFv1pmbQvuv3dMz9P9tvCYhIwEsWb7gzDSDjEWCc5vFgGZDzUg2ojS1xUBW2IPo9mXEjuvsHT81h4KJePEu-X-vQ33rybCrvzi5Ki42WBv6SqZmyTesXlVOXF16DNFCdYMOZUMSrsoCI/s1600/BAE+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyFv1pmbQvuv3dMz9P9tvCYhIwEsWb7gzDSDjEWCc5vFgGZDzUg2ojS1xUBW2IPo9mXEjuvsHT81h4KJePEu-X-vQ33rybCrvzi5Ki42WBv6SqZmyTesXlVOXF16DNFCdYMOZUMSrsoCI/s400/BAE+sign.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></div>
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For Indianans taking part in the demonstration, the use of drones by the U.S. military had a local dimension beyond the presence of BAE Systems: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">It's a sad irony that April 4 is also the second anniversary when two United States servicemen, Benjamin Rast, of South Bend, and Jeremy Smith, of Arlington, Texas, were both killed by a U.S. Predator Drone in Afghanistan," said Dave Lambert, organizer of the protest and member of Veterans for Peace. The event received coverage on <a href="http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/group-protests-drones-at-bae-systems-plant" target="_blank">local mainstream media</a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">The demonstration provoked a response from BAE, which sent out 8 union workers to picket a few feet away with signs that read "BAE Systems: We Protect Those who Protect Us."</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOTGBEani1ZAvDApOvmDf570LhisfqWs5Q-2CKpXvQ4WOJg1cPpsmFgPP7A9e_MfHx0FzIVGdTpr6NbR46-95UD5Xz2DgKGeVkTxrX8zLLRSjsiFcDbKi06toGFSSDl-cSSAS_WXCrcBJ/s1600/BAE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOTGBEani1ZAvDApOvmDf570LhisfqWs5Q-2CKpXvQ4WOJg1cPpsmFgPP7A9e_MfHx0FzIVGdTpr6NbR46-95UD5Xz2DgKGeVkTxrX8zLLRSjsiFcDbKi06toGFSSDl-cSSAS_WXCrcBJ/s400/BAE.jpg" height="400" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BAE worker and anti-drone protester standing side-by-side in front of <br />
BAE's Fort Wayne plant. To date, this is the first substantive response seen<br />
by a manufacturer to the charges made by the anti-drone movement.</td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/D0XbsoOHFAU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://jg.net/article/20130405/LOCAL/304059964/1002/LOCAL" target="_blank">see the full story here</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/08/no-drones-groups-nationwide-state-by.html" target="_blank">GET INVOLVED IN YOUR STATE!</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-31798747952320197302013-03-20T08:10:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:34:56.932-07:00Become a Part of the Indiana Drones Project!<!-- 123ContactForm.com script begins here -->
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Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-503134442886629932013-03-10T09:16:00.000-07:002014-07-14T14:18:11.996-07:00Indianapolis: Hoosiers Protest Raytheon Role in Drone Killings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozIk7SGYvpPOAEWBrlWNfZRzwa3tYYSdmVE6XpcAk3IqK0Cm296YcTq28nUe5Dua1iQwqf5dhbPngwJcOUk6lNjIhRoihMC40BrSFO-E4kSa2G3yR6zJtVQq6Iq8vHFIzlQGSeS-d1l1i/s1600/raytheon-protest-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozIk7SGYvpPOAEWBrlWNfZRzwa3tYYSdmVE6XpcAk3IqK0Cm296YcTq28nUe5Dua1iQwqf5dhbPngwJcOUk6lNjIhRoihMC40BrSFO-E4kSa2G3yR6zJtVQq6Iq8vHFIzlQGSeS-d1l1i/s320/raytheon-protest-1.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a>On Friday, September 14, 2012, peace and justice activists in Indiana were at the <a href="http://www.raytheon.com/businesses/rts/overview/ceds/index.html" target="_blank">Raytheon facility in Indianapolis</a> to protest the company's role in drone killings.<br />
<br />
As one protester, Carl, said, we need to keep urging people to resist -- "as long as the American people don't stand up and say "NO!" to this military machine we've created, the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us about, which is even worse now." Until then, he continued, it will be U.S. taxpayers "that are killing the people of Libya, and Syria, and Yemen, and Pakistan, and in Afghanistan, and in the Philippines. and in Somalia. All over the world, our drones our killing people in countries we haven't even declared war with."<br />
<br />
Another protester, Tim, explained, "We believe that as these drones are being used, we are creating endless enemies around the world." Of great importance, he added, is that the unmanned drones allow the U.S. government to operate clandestinely in other countries, conducting hostilities in secret. "The American people aren't aware of what's going on in their name, as civilians are being killed," he explained. For details on victims of U.S. drone killings, he recommended people look at the reports compiled by the <a href="http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/" target="_blank">Bureau of Investigative Journalism</a> in London.<br />
<br />
Long-time activist JoAnne Lingle explained, "The purpose of this project is to educate people.We want the citizens of the United States to understand the long view of these drones. I am going to be part of a delegation going to Pakistan, where we're killing the most people -- the most civilians -- and we're going on a peace march in Islamabad, and we're also going to be interviewing families of drone victims, and we're going to be bringing their stories back to the U.S.A., and I hope to be able to speak to groups of people and bring the stories of the families who have lost loved ones by these drones." Lingle said that, after her trip to Pakistan, she will also be traveling to Kurdistan in Northern Iraq with <a href="http://www.cpt.org/" target="_blank">Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)</a>. She's been involved with CPT since 1997.<br />
<br />
View the full video of <a href="http://youtu.be/DjXlONu5biU" target="_blank">interviews with particiants in the Raytheon protest</a>.<br />
<br />
The Raytheon protest was part of the ongoing efforts of people in Indianapolis and across Indiana to stop the drones.<br />
<br />
<b>RELATED STORY</b>: Read about the protest by members of CodePINK, Occupy Tampa, and others at the Raytheon facility in Largo, FL, on August 23, 2012 -- <a href="http://nodronesflorida.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-we-need-to-stop-raytheon-drones.html" target="_blank"><i>Why We Need to STOP the Raytheon Drones Killing Machine </i></a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0NTNrcC7PxoLZXQ5Wof3Ymzpgxsf1zfa5dkSg2ytJwweD6WKqA0zjl2LNJ4Z2lHKsJg3FfHkzEH6vK7dZyE0FCcFME8p8oT0j04Bx1GkDH5k0jL9X5agnP04dUSdUhDB_jATr0NoILRq/s1600/team.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0NTNrcC7PxoLZXQ5Wof3Ymzpgxsf1zfa5dkSg2ytJwweD6WKqA0zjl2LNJ4Z2lHKsJg3FfHkzEH6vK7dZyE0FCcFME8p8oT0j04Bx1GkDH5k0jL9X5agnP04dUSdUhDB_jATr0NoILRq/s400/team.JPG" height="173" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raytheon protest was part of the ongoing efforts of people<br />
in Indianapolis and across Indiana to stop the drones.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-23005351396712929372013-03-01T07:10:00.000-08:002014-07-15T08:27:43.566-07:00My visits to Pakistan and Kurdistan<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>UPDATES:</b><br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-1-in-pakistan-report-from-code-pink.html">Day 1 in Pakistan: Report from Code Pink Delegation</a><br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/continued-from-day-1-in-pakistan-report.html">Day Two in Pakistan: October 4 Press Conference </a><br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-three-in-pakistan-october-5.html">Day Three in Pakistan: October 5, Preparing to March</a><br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/days-fourfive-in-pakistan-to-tribal.html">Days Four/Five in Pakistan: To the Tribal Areas!</a><br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-six-in-pakistan-october-8-day-after.html">Day Six in Pakistan: October 8 - Day after the Peace March</a><br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-seven-in-pakistan-october-9-day-of.html">Day Seven in Pakistan: October 9 - Day of Fasting to remember<br />the Children killed by Drone Attacks</a><br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-eight-in-pakistan-our-final-day.html">Day Eight in Pakistan: Our Final Day - Farewell Islamabad! </a>
</div>
by JoAnne Lingle<br />
<br />
I will be a participant in <a href="http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=6174" target="_blank">Code Pink's delegation to Pakistan October 3-10</a>. The delegation is a humanitarian mission to meet with victims and families of victims of <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html#drone">drone*</a> strikes. <br />
<br />
After the <a href="http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=6092" target="_blank">International Drone Summit sponsored by CodePink in DC last April</a>, we were invited by our friends in Pakistan to organize a Peace Delegation to Pakistan. As citizen diplomats from the United States, the delegation will join a peace march with survivors of U.S. drone attacks, major political figures, and thousands of Pakistanis to call for an end to the drone warfare killing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88oCKGsgBnK-ZSYoCghiWadWV4KAepmDUvtgN7xeYfFJpX0m9VV4SxS4NsYouoXshYdKESUg0vvCEJk_rvI_wBOL2M6PtRac1EVQ0R4GDbFta4Lz5FaqIlXQQZc9QiKfhyphenhyphenEbFncWW4W-I/s1600/Pakistan_and_Waziristan.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88oCKGsgBnK-ZSYoCghiWadWV4KAepmDUvtgN7xeYfFJpX0m9VV4SxS4NsYouoXshYdKESUg0vvCEJk_rvI_wBOL2M6PtRac1EVQ0R4GDbFta4Lz5FaqIlXQQZc9QiKfhyphenhyphenEbFncWW4W-I/s400/Pakistan_and_Waziristan.PNG" height="375" width="400" /></a></div>
On the Peace March, we will be traveling from Islamabad to the tribal areas of the capital of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waziristan" target="_blank">Waziristan</a>, Miramshah, a 200 mile trip, the areas hit by drone strikes. We are willing to take the risks involved in traveling to this region. As the political situation is constantly changing, we will be flexible and ready to follow the lead of our hosts on the ground. <br />
<br />
We will be closely monitored by Pakistani intelligence agencies to watch what we are doing. And the CIA, directly and through their contractors. No political party would be against us; on the contrary they all welcome us. And, we will be working with the most popular person in Pakistan right now: Imran Khan.<br />
<br />
We want to reach out to the people there to show that we care about their lives; we want to show the American public how civilians are being targeted by drones; we want to come back to the US and tell the stories of drone victims. Our larger goal is to stop the drone strikes.<br />
<br />
We will be working with <a href="http://www.insaf.pk/" target="_blank">PTI</a>, which is the political party of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Khan" target="_blank">Imran Khan</a>, other anti-war groups with large networks in Waziristan and the surrounding area, the legal group called the <a href="http://rightsadvocacy.org/" target="_blank">Foundation for Fundamental Rights</a> and the local Pakistani chapter of the <a href="http://wilpf.org/" target="_blank">Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom</a>. <br />
<br />
Our itinerary will look something like this:<br />
<br />
<b>October 3-4:</b> Arrive in Islamabad, orientation, meetings<br />
> See: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-1-in-pakistan-report-from-code-pink.html">Day 1 in Pakistan: Report from Code Pink Delegation</a><br />
> See: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/continued-from-day-1-in-pakistan-report.html">Day Two in Pakistan: October 4 Press Conference </a><br />
<br />
<b>October 5:</b> Rally in Islamabad<br />
> See: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-three-in-pakistan-october-5.html">Day Three in Pakistan: October 5, Preparing to March</a><br />
<br />
<b>October 6:</b> Leave for Waziristan<br />
<br />
<b>October 7:</b> Peace March<br />
> See: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/days-fourfive-in-pakistan-to-tribal.html">Days Four/Five in Pakistan: To the Tribal Areas!</a><br />
<br />
<b>October 8:</b> Return to Islamabad<br />
>See: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-six-in-pakistan-october-8-day-after.html">Day Six in Pakistan: October 8 - Day after the Peace March</a><br />
>See: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-seven-in-pakistan-october-9-day-of.html">Day Seven in Pakistan: October 9 - Day of Fasting to remember the Children killed by Drone Attacks</a><br />
<br />
<b>October 9:</b> Visits/meetings<br />
>See: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-eight-in-pakistan-our-final-day.html">Day Eight in Pakistan: Our Final Day - Farewell Islamabad! </a><br />
<br />
<b>October 10:</b> Visits/meetings<br />
<b>October 11:</b> Delegation leaves<br />
<br />
However, a few friends and I will stay for 4-5 days after the delegation, visiting Lahore, Kashmir and other places deemed somewhat safe. <br />
<br />
From Islamabad, I fly to Sulaimaniya, Kurdistan in N. Iraq to work with <a href="http://cpt.org/" target="_blank">CPT</a> until November 18. I’ll be home just in time for Thanksgiving!<br />
<br />
If anyone would like to be added to my email list, you can contact me at jalingle [at] earthlink.net<br />
<br />
With hope for a more peaceful world,<br />
<br />
JoAnne<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html" name="drone"></a><b>*Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles)</b> have become the signature weapons of the Obama administration’s air strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Drones scout over the two countries launching Hellfire missiles into the region many times missing their intended targets, resulting in the deaths of many innocent people including children.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<br />
<b><i>Read more about JoAnne Lingle's protest activity against drones and other antiwar activity:</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/indianapolis-hoosiers-protest-raytheon.html">Indianapolis: Hoosiers Protest Raytheon Role in Drone Killings</a><br />
<br />
Dan Carpenter in <i>Indystar</i>, <a href="http://www.indystar.com/article/20120829/OPINION05/208290307/Dan-Carpenter-Warring-stars" target="_blank">Warring with the stars</a> - "[T]he Indiana Drone Project ... holds demonstrations and talks accompanied by a scale model of the remote-control aircraft used to kill people thousands of miles away whom the Pentagon and President Barack Obama have labeled as threats. How do they know, sitting at a console in New York and lining up a village gathering in Pakistan, that it's bad guys they're taking out? They don't, say critics, including human rights groups, government officials and residents of targeted areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. They tell of killings and maimings of dozens of non-militants, children among them, a collateral toll the U.S. says it tries to minimize."<br />
<br />
Dan Carpenter in <i>Indystar</i>, <a href="http://www.indystar.com/article/20111030/OPINION05/110300380/Often-busted-ever-free" target="_blank">Often busted, ever free</a> - "A 74-year-old grandmother from Indianapolis was in the gallery when Defense Secretary Leon Panetta began his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee regarding the Obama administration's plan to pull troops out of Iraq by year's end . . . ."<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Related posts</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-1-in-pakistan-report-from-code-pink.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpxfDmnKGSlsCuVm_WgXPrjor6_FTsd6dUzJp7grcAiniZi0L_TvRu0g7OyQHoxO2nKikDKRsU7E28iUiziwpDfQBAvELZsLwF-2u5mFg1ueqclv42WKtTan8XVDOabwAeXiZjyNgLvP9/s320/akbar-ffr.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
Our first meeting was with Shahzad Akbar and his team from the Foundation for Fundamental Rights (FFR), our host organization. Shahzad gave a general orientation about the people in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and how drones endanger U.S. National Security.<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-1-in-pakistan-report-from-code-pink.html">Day 1 in Pakistan: Report from Code Pink Delegation</a> ) <br />
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<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/continued-from-day-1-in-pakistan-report.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2Zd_WG1NddCezgoo_7ifs3pavjTTGUgWt0AWmMZmismQzroAdbrZAY1di3MvMEUgL6p6-alieQbEB9rvF-yC2RJdq9dTf7YptDdfIt7C2IjtcqN-rSVJpgUFqIPKcpN3DHWB-yCuqBfQ/s320/meeting.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
Kareem said, "We are not Taliban, Al Quaeda or terrorists. Our culture,
education, everything is disturbed. Many have left for other cities.
They should arrest the criminals, not kill seven civilians for every
militant. When 40 elders were killed by drone strikes during a <i>jirga</i>
(a decision making body) in Datta Khel, March 17, 2011, the fire lasted
one week. To this day, U.S. officials insist that all those killed were
militants."<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/continued-from-day-1-in-pakistan-report.html">Day Two in Pakistan: October 4 Press Conference</a> ) <br />
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<br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-three-in-pakistan-october-5.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoIcL9P-emAoRC9SJHRMonMd1T-xCksgSjvFW7UAIB-TszDOLsg815nMh1xqrw5F3M4lMy3T2bx2aY6sIDjPsxuQc_2qnQMhz3EnhxagGaXWaRUU5yKCgVWQYgfKsEAcfRbvD36fp4Hf3/s320/vigil.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a>Jennifer brought seven drone victims from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waziristan" target="_blank">Waziristan</a>
to tell their stories. We listened as we heard about their every day
terror - how collaborators put chips on door steps to mark victims,
causing distrust in communities. Because drones usually attack groups of
people, Waziris are afraid to go to funerals and weddings. Most family
compounds consist of 60-70 people so when a drone hits, many are killed.<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-three-in-pakistan-october-5.html">Day Three in Pakistan: October 5, Preparing to March</a> ) <br />
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<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/days-fourfive-in-pakistan-to-tribal.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGTcK96ZE6WaAtkFo10wmp4U_ghdFBNkkwCMz68tavhyQAZQ74mpt12gBZr8UTQE2omgsDKiq3LsF91zpXjtTG93fF98Uw35Gpoj40ztQA6ZJNmoY8EsZPf9MoH2fgdUDIWRCLxIPnFAr/s320/peace-sign.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
All along the road we traveled, people were lined up with banners that
said "Welcome" and "No Drones" in English. It was apparent people knew
who were in the buses. Rallys were held at every town and bus stop.
Traffic was jammed, often causing us to be at a stand still and turning
the 6 hr journey into 13 hrs with only two restroom stops.<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/days-fourfive-in-pakistan-to-tribal.html">Days Four/Five in Pakistan: To the Tribal Areas!</a> ) <br />
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<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-six-in-pakistan-october-8-day-after.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjTxdqnM8YqbDU_eh8obrov7N4fmlwH0OBvuKc3-r001kAxDKvqFLfU3ApfA45w9ILFbkvCB6vntml0IGkmgHF3k7QnJsallIOrLNDu0hq16eozIuFasNSmfD6xCIdHNT6_mHtCl2ShOv/s320/cnn.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
Although we were disappointed to have been prevented by the Pakistani
government from going into the Tribal Areas of Waziristan, we were
heartened to hear the drone issue had been pushed forward by the Peace
March. As one Pakistani woman said to us, "Your coming to Pakistan has
touched so many hearts that you cannot even imagine! You were able to do
what hundreds of millions of dollars spent by USAID in TV ads to win hearts and minds in Pakistan has failed to achieve!"<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-six-in-pakistan-october-8-day-after.html">Day Six in Pakistan: October 8 - Day after the Peace March</a> ) <br />
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<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-seven-in-pakistan-october-9-day-of.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnhvINOUdySQvln3ItnaqE3xp2gVK6tTaMcgvmP3b3Y5L4OF3Bg31BalE2cDlU_yqFGBUEtIXrwnjvMgDkEAjylEL7q45Rf3I5KyhBHkWJ26v2bojnsMZH2KNYgabPOSKFwjqaXVKobQn/s320/fast-group.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
We scurried to cover the Gazebo with our signs of "No Drones", "When
Drones Fly, Children Die" and "Code Pink Delegation for Peace". It
wasn't long before a crowd gathered and we began to have conversations
with lots of people. Some even began to fast with us.<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-seven-in-pakistan-october-9-day-of.html">Day Seven in Pakistan: October 9 - Day of Fasting to remember the Children killed by Drone Attacks</a> ) <br />
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<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-eight-in-pakistan-our-final-day.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7wo_-I5RvWDIkThLyGIx2_IlLtBaoEr1KL3qPpm2vjRjc9pp9zrKl3dYrXkdBC3-hOflkKoGFfzCgYy3nwHmHnrJUR9m5sN1iXbPOdFlVkr3RcAynHb2DZ9Ciky1wzaql7GiTsii1toM/s320/group.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
How could we possibly forget the people we met who had lost so much -
those who were putting themselves at risk by telling us their stories.
And how could we forget this message one of our delegates received, "And
thank you. Every Pashtun in Pakistan loves you for standing with us in
solidarity. When we have been pretty much forsaken by our own
government. I had relatives that saw your peace march through DI khan,
and it brought us hope for the first time in many years of insanity."<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-eight-in-pakistan-our-final-day.html">Day Eight in Pakistan: Our Final Day - Farewell Islamabad!</a> ) Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-8215573944738118742013-02-26T15:16:00.005-08:002014-07-15T08:39:21.153-07:00Call for "No Drones" in Indiana Colleges, Universities, and Research InstitutionsFriends,<br />
<br />
A national call has been made for <a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/12/national-anti-drone-group-calls-for.html" target="_blank">“April Days of Action”</a> to focus on three key components of U.S. drone work: Drone Manufacturers, Drone Bases in the U.S., and Drone Research. (<a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1170/p/salsa/event/common/create.sjs?distributed%20eventkey=708" target="_blank">See the list about nationwide actions and post your own planned actions for April.</a>)<br />
<br />
Given the fact that drones are now the primary weapons of warfare used by the US, and for surveillance both domestic and abroad, the research and development of this warfare is growing rapidly at academic institutions, in our towns and neighborhoods. Drones are the perfect instrument for endless war that kills civilians, even as they target “militants” in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
Academic institutions often receive large grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, enabling them to build labs within schools of engineering, for instance. We are well aware that without this research in robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and the accompanying accessories, these drone warfare projects would probably not take place. So there is an interdependent relationship between the universities and the U.S. government and or its Department of Defense and CIA. (CIA drones are used in countries with which the U.S. is not “at war”, ie Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, Mali, and others.)<br />
<br />
While universities tend to publicize some information on their respective websites regarding the drone work, it is most often said to be for non-military purposes. And there are students working in the labs who are convinced that all the research is for humanitarian purposes. However, history has told us that non-military can quickly and easily become military. Moreover research has shown drones make mistakes on recognizing their targets.<br />
<br />
We are therefore asking organizations and individuals, nationwide, to explore any drone research that might be going on at their local university. We are calling for local actions between April 16 and 18, 2013 (Suggested actions are listed below) Our limited research into University and Academic UAV programs indicates that research centers are operating in Indiana: <br />
<div style="font-weight: bold; margin: 15px;">
Ross Hulman Institute of Technology - Terre Haute<br />
University of Notre Dame - South Bend</div>
Before those dates in April we will need to know what information you have acquired about the research and what actions and events your group is planning.This will be shared among groups in the Network. You can send this information to us at notodrone@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
We will have a press committee that will receive your press release and any articles you are able to publish before or after the event.<br />
<br />
This project will complement other outreach, education and action projects that will be launched in April, focusing on drone bases, April 27-28 and drone manufacturers , April 4-6.<br />
<br />
Suggested actions:<br />
<ol>
<li>Learn what research is being done by searching on a university website. Look especially at the Engineering Dept.
</li>
<li>Organize a forum, preferably on campus, with speakers and discussion. Be sure to publicize in campus newspapers, and possibly include a professor as one of the speakers. Also include local activists.
</li>
<li>Plan a small meeting with the appropriate persons in the department working on drone research, both professors and students.
</li>
<li>Hold vigils and leaflet on or close to the campus, as well as in town.
</li>
<li>Let us know if you need further tools for your research.
</li>
</ol>
Thanks in advance for your reply to notodrone@gmail.com. <br />
<br />
With all good wishes,<br />
<br />
Marge Van Cleef, WILPF, Philadelphia<br />
Leila Zand, For USA<br />
Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Related posts</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://joescarry.blogspot.com/2013/07/do-we-have-drone-problem-at-midwest.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje91YCAIiilXzt38IPay5jeluMn1mJ_V0oSYU_g8_tVL-9x9va0pjHG0kfeFL74e8eDnnMNXyfP3oAsy4dCl6XVDepQmS4sIj_IQ9C9q3vwfqJrTkxGEtrY5YfQcVqM9zcNgF0ZASO3E_c/s320/region-Midwest-green-b.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><b>Do we really want the American heartland serving as the
brain-trust for the U.S. global project of drone surveillance and
killing? </b></i><br />
<br />
Here is a round-up of research, development, and training
activity connected to drones at Midwest colleges and universities. I've
indicated those schools that are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land-grant_university" target="_blank">land-grant universities</a>. There appears to be a high concentration of drone work at land-grant universities.<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://joescarry.blogspot.com/2013/07/do-we-have-drone-problem-at-midwest.html" target="_blank">Do We Have a Drone Problem at Midwest Colleges and Universities?</a> )<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nodronesmaryland.blogspot.com/2012/08/anti-killer-drone-activists-seek.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PwlEHtzuq-lxRNfIeBgyJCLFrN4lVlywxkrm6B2ROhmCZmmyS_3UTjKTV29Eq8bWO1yFARn1dWOPuk6zJ9y0aXUfsA4Kg8KhW1MT_HqqbgHwiwIGwzK6WiInLznFZtahitIo2l6h/s320/jhu-apl.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
What are some of the forms that campus activism might take? Since Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has a
contract to do drone research, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR], on May 1, sent a letter to Ronald
J. Daniels, JHU president, and Dr. Ralph Semmel, director of the APL,
seeking a meeting . . . .<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesmaryland.blogspot.com/2012/08/anti-killer-drone-activists-seek.html" target="_blank">Anti-Killer Drone Activists Seek Meeting with Johns Hopkins University President</a> )
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<a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/02/call-for-no-drones-at-us-colleges.html#list" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhswAo2v1ahEqvixrbtqKxer-XL7EcdFxUcHtxCMb74QqMeetoF4oh_wXkyQUSv0dvYHrvJODSbevm8o5xCBTx551zJyFoWIWdUFRI9646uK26pDQsyaU1kTcIQqFocIFtszGYrbBwhw/s320/college-pennants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Preliminary research into University and Academic UAV programs indicates
that a research centers are operating in dozens of locations.<br />
<br />
(See <a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/02/call-for-no-drones-at-us-colleges.html#list">List of U.S. Drone Research Sites</a>)<br />
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Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-43269934763934560582012-11-19T06:31:00.000-08:002014-07-05T08:37:30.895-07:00Lambert to Clergy: On Drones, "Silence is Betrayal"Indiana antiwar activist Dave Lambert threw down the gauntlet in an opinion piece published Friday in the Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel:<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; margin: 15px;">
On April 4, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his antiwar speech at Riverside Church to an audience of Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam. You can read it on the Web at www.tinyurl.com/mlk1967. In that speech, entitled “Beyond Vietnam,” he said that “silence is betrayal.” He was imploring members of the clergy, as well as lay people, to speak out against the war, which he considered obscene and “an enemy of the poor.”<br />
<br />
Today, we have no one of his prominence speaking out against the war in Afghanistan, now in its 12th year, nor against the illegal use of drones. Unfortunate. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8191tHF7spcN69TeppNJDbcVzi1IZYEPfgLdmBlTpaStEgTlEN5sAa0ndbdYApvrdE3log6Ez1LJNT1AVMaiAkixb1vLFJXkArr71370azqbTW3QHTMuLuuKnNlkt8iCDCEoQUtY154vA/s1600/lambert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8191tHF7spcN69TeppNJDbcVzi1IZYEPfgLdmBlTpaStEgTlEN5sAa0ndbdYApvrdE3log6Ez1LJNT1AVMaiAkixb1vLFJXkArr71370azqbTW3QHTMuLuuKnNlkt8iCDCEoQUtY154vA/s200/lambert.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a>Lambert continued: "Dr King, at Riverside, said 'the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today (is) my own government.' <b>It would be wonderful, in my estimation, if caring clergy and lay people could heed Dr. King’s message and speak out against the slaughter in the name of 'fighting terrorism.'</b> <i>(Emphasis added.)</i><br />
<br />
(Read the full opinion piece here: <a href="http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121116/EDITORIAL/121119714/0/SEARCH" target="_blank">Speak out against the slaughter inflicted by 'fighting terrorism'</a>.)<br />
<br />
Dave Lambert is a member of Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, and for the past few months, he has been transporting a one-fifth model of a Reaper drone from <a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/" target="_blank">Know Drones</a> to towns and cities throughout Indiana, and handing out information leaflets, "in an effort to educate people about what their tax dollars are paying for as well as the wanton destruction this machine of war causes." You can see more of Dave Lambert's work on the Indiana Drones Project blogsite:<br />
<div style="margin: 15px;">
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/11/veterans-day-in-angola-indiana-stop.html" target="_blank">Veterans Day in Angola, Indiana: STOP THE DRONES NOW!</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/indianapolis-hoosiers-protest-raytheon.html" target="_blank">Indianapolis: Hoosiers Protest Raytheon Role in Drone Killings</a>
</div>
Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-83207105850719071892012-11-17T08:18:00.000-08:002014-07-05T08:37:47.244-07:00Veterans Day in Angola, Indiana: STOP THE DRONES NOW!This latest demonstration takes place in the small conservative town of Angola, Indiana, hosted by Women in Black. If they can do it there, you can do it anywhere.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbqc2RKK2CA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-P5IHQmlzsRXlhkc0szlolm0i1WXunRuLIYqai5LJRRmWoFA5xLRmySWC0gZ665y5LI8Ciif6uh2TAYYQPh-oR73j_AZAfmXO8ic_NXUTqOyujz2olIE1DhC2ldPSQ4Aq2zNF6JHPClC/s400/angola-signs-SMALL.JPG" height="310" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbqc2RKK2CA" target="_blank">"STOP THE DRONES NOW!"</a><br />
Veterans Day, 2012, Demonstration<br />
Angola, Indiana</td></tr>
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War - What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!<br />
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<a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/11/drones-what-are-you-prepared-to-do.html" target="_blank">What are YOU prepared to do?</a><br />
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<a href="http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/11/drones-what-are-you-prepared-to-do.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69_9kFIAKCP8LpVGOTa4zYFWdDHd3M80nHyFHdSj-tS4FzivJKuKaqDge9bdQFI2WdOtazMy1yVhWQgsNdWVGIhwgczn1e77Eu3g1fhzc5QfLE8zqHB9nIN-2GDZZ41etCOz52xFqwEZl/s400/what-are-you.JPG" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-20830243778652129082012-11-03T04:36:00.001-07:002014-07-05T08:39:15.098-07:00In Indiana, Manchester U Peace Studies Takes on the Drone Issue <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcTHWNqjoxaA-eFIAmsJz6sS0L0AlhbO92Yhi2ObVSUZBDHzoMAurhE-9OCITPjbQJ3H88CblF5K-ph41CRubTbnB11b_fKYRdMZHiFsK4lev5576uNshqD5hKTS4DCeNbWEos3OdL-Vx/s1600/Peace-Drone--Becca-Creath.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcTHWNqjoxaA-eFIAmsJz6sS0L0AlhbO92Yhi2ObVSUZBDHzoMAurhE-9OCITPjbQJ3H88CblF5K-ph41CRubTbnB11b_fKYRdMZHiFsK4lev5576uNshqD5hKTS4DCeNbWEos3OdL-Vx/s320/Peace-Drone--Becca-Creath.gif" height="225" width="300" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://www.manchester.edu/academics/departments/Peace_Studies/faculty.shtml" target="_blank">Peace Studies program at Manchester University</a> (North Manchester, IN) has taken on the issue of drones.<br />
<br />
With the help of the Indiana Drones Project, <a href="http://www.hoosiersforpeace.org/Home.html" target="_blank">Hoosiers for Peace and Justice</a>, and local activist <a href="http://www.cpt.org/speakers/cliff_kindy" target="_blank">Cliff Kindy</a>, leaders at Manchester arranged to bring the drone replica supplied by <a href="http://www.knowdrones.com/" target="_blank">Know Drones</a> and hold a series of presentations and discussions. As reported in the <a href="http://www.manchester.edu/osd/oakleaves/archives/Issue_32/article1.shtml" target="_blank">Manchester University <i>Oak Leaves</i></a>,<br />
<div style="margin: 15px;">
<i>According to peace studies coordinator Becca Creath, the model drone was intended to “spark a conversation” about the use of drones domestically and internationally. “The purpose of the model drone is partly to raise awareness about the fact that the U.S. government is using drones,” she said. “We wanted it to be an opportunity to spark a conversation about how we use [drones] and why we use them."</i></div>
According to the <i>Oak Leaves</i> report, "Three classes dedicated class time to visiting the drone—two international politics classes and one first-year seminar—and many students took time out of their busy schedules to chat about the drone."<br />
<br />
In addition to bringing home the effect of drone killings on victims abroad, the discussions about drones at Manchester helped bring attention to another of the "dirty secrets" of the U.S. drone war: the psychological damage done to the people operating them:<br />
<div style="margin: 15px;">
<i>Both Creath and Kindy stressed that drone operators still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder despite operating from a remote location. This was an issue that hit close to home for Manchester’s student body. According to Kindy, four students had friends or family members that operated a drone, and three of those suffered from post-traumatic stress.</i></div>
Before the drone left North Manchester, the town had a chance to join in on the conversation when the drone appeared at the local farmer’s market.Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-53596099372141401472012-10-28T06:07:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:26:48.474-07:00Day Eight in Pakistan: Our Final Day - Farewell Islamabad! Continued from <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-seven-in-pakistan-october-9-day-of.html">Day Seven in Pakistan: October 9 - Day of Fasting to remember the Children killed by Drone Attacks</a> - JoAnne Lingle reporting on her trip.<br />
<br />
<b>11:00am - Meeting with the <a href="http://iba.org.pk/" target="_blank">Islamabad Bar Association</a></b><br />
<br />
Our delegation was invited by Nisar Shah of the Democratic Lawyers Association (DLA) to discuss peace. Meanwhile, another group of "black coats" was waiting in the wings to disrupt us.<br />
<br />
A discussion over drone attacks was cut short after speeches were disrupted by right-wing lawyers from the Namoos-e-Risalat Forum (NRF) who were not so friendly. When they began shouting, "Go, America!", we at first thought this was a rallying cry - something like "Go, team!" We quickly learned, however, that it was anything but that when we heard, “Down with America”, “We hate you”, “We hate Americans” being chanted by NRF members who entered the room in the middle of the speeches and tried to disrupt the program.<br />
<br />
The DLA had expected the disruption; however, we delegates had not.<br />
<br />
“We passed a resolution against the Americans and held several protests against them, how could we allow them to come to the court premises?’’ said NRF Chairman Rao Abdur Rahim. “Americans follow double standards; they kill innocent civilians through drone attacks while sending a peace delegation to Pakistan,” said Abdur Rahim.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, DLA Chief Co-ordinator Nisar Shah said they had invited our delegation to the district court to have a discussion about the drone attacks with the lawyers.<br />
<br />
"It was embarrassing when a few right-wing lawyers tried to disrupt the event as the delegation was invited by us, Shah said. “What message are we conveying to the world through this kind of act?” He added, “At least we should have the courage to listen to their point of view.’’<br />
<br />
In spite of the disruption, we did receive some positive responses. One young man said, "Thank you for standing up for what you believe in and risking your lives to come to Pakistan to protest the drone attacks that are killing us."<br />
<br />
Not only did we stay to the end, we interacted with several of the lawyers afterwards, including the women lawyers who extended an invitation to join them for tea. One delegate said she received a letter of apology later with the hope that the delegation would continue our mission of peace from one of the lawyers she spoke with as we were leaving.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9X1Q_H5EgFFpRQm5hkiUiSHdV8Ca9mFBctgy_W5P5M1uM7ilvonv_XA-umMDx1RhOT36_o9EDjSVQ1beeyDjBzfHyEe6BlMK5MnREpk1PTvTaQhh2Y3BBsFIwotINuQgKRthNXdLSfj0/s1600/reza.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9X1Q_H5EgFFpRQm5hkiUiSHdV8Ca9mFBctgy_W5P5M1uM7ilvonv_XA-umMDx1RhOT36_o9EDjSVQ1beeyDjBzfHyEe6BlMK5MnREpk1PTvTaQhh2Y3BBsFIwotINuQgKRthNXdLSfj0/s200/reza.png" height="152" width="200" /></a><b>1:00pm - invitation to lunch at CNN Studios</b><br />
<br />
Our delegation was invited by <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/sayah.reza.html" target="_blank">Reza Sayah, CNN Correspondent</a>, to their studios for a lovely lunch. We enjoyed meeting the staff and spending time talking with them. Reza was planning to leave that evening to visit his family in Pennsylvania. This was a very special treat!<br />
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<b>5:00pm - A Rally for Malala at the Islamabad Press Cub</b><br />
<br />
The delegation attended a Rally to support Malala Yousufzai who was shot in the head and neck when gunmen fired on her while in a school bus in the Swat valley two days ago. We heard she was in stable condition but could not be moved. CodePink had extended all help to her but were told the Pakistani government was taking the initiative for her care. Imran Khan conveyed thanks to CodePink for their offer to fly Malala to the U.S. for further medical care if needed.<br />
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<b>7:00pm - Dinner and Bittersweet Good-byes</b><br />
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We enjoyed a lovely Farewell Dinner at an outdoor restaurant with an after dinner closing of our circle. Awards were given to every member of the delegation in zip lock bags that included candy and other treats. The awards had special significance for each recipient - all in good humor, of course.<br />
<br />
This has been a delegation I will never forget - a humbling experience to be among so many committed and dedicated peace activists who are striving to make this a more peaceful, loving world. With the understanding that our work has just begun, we made a list of things we would do when we returned home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7wo_-I5RvWDIkThLyGIx2_IlLtBaoEr1KL3qPpm2vjRjc9pp9zrKl3dYrXkdBC3-hOflkKoGFfzCgYy3nwHmHnrJUR9m5sN1iXbPOdFlVkr3RcAynHb2DZ9Ciky1wzaql7GiTsii1toM/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7wo_-I5RvWDIkThLyGIx2_IlLtBaoEr1KL3qPpm2vjRjc9pp9zrKl3dYrXkdBC3-hOflkKoGFfzCgYy3nwHmHnrJUR9m5sN1iXbPOdFlVkr3RcAynHb2DZ9Ciky1wzaql7GiTsii1toM/s400/group.jpg" height="248" width="400" /></a></div>
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How could we possibly forget the people we met who had lost so much - those who were putting themselves at risk by telling us their stories. And how could we forget this message one of our delegates received, "And thank you. Every Pashtun in Pakistan loves you for standing with us in solidarity. When we have been pretty much forsaken by our own government. I had relatives that saw your peace march through DI khan, and it brought us hope for the first time in many years of insanity."<br />
<br />
And, finally, the big question: are we made safer by drone warfare? <br />
<div style="margin: 15px;">
<i>“I will never forget what the American soldiers did to my country, my tribe and my family. They violated our national sovereignty and our Islamic laws. They killed my son and my younger brother. They destroyed my home. If I see the soldiers who are responsible for this – if I have the opportunity — I will kill them.” (translated from Pashtoun)</i></div>
These are the chilling words of Kareem Khan, a Pakistani journalist from a tribe in Northern Waziristan, whose compound was destroyed by a Hellfire missile from an American drone on Dec. 24, 2009. They starkly illustrate the concept of “blowback.” What you sow today, you will reap tomorrow." <br />
<br />
Although the U.S. announced shortly after the strike on Khan’s compound that a “militant target” named Al Juma had been killed, no one by that name was present. Several months later, yet another strike allegedly killed the same man. “I think probably he is still alive today,” Khan said with graveyard humor.<br />
<br />
“Tell your president he must stop using drones to kill innocent people, and tell your fellow Americans they must join you in protesting,” pleaded Kareem Khan. “We are proud of our culture and our way of life, and you are destroying it.”<br />
<br />
Without adequate words to express my gratitude for your support and love....<br />
<br />
Blessings to each and every one,<br />
<br />
JoAnne<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Read the full story of JoAnne Lingle's participation in the Code Pink peace delegation to Pakistan.</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>For more photos see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157631649653824/" target="_blank">Code Pink delegation photo site</a>.</i>Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-53340757792430891412012-10-23T06:56:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:26:10.981-07:00Day Seven in Pakistan: October 9 - Day of Fasting to remember the Children killed by Drone AttacksContinued from <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-six-in-pakistan-october-8-day-after.html">Day Six in Pakistan: October 8 - Day after the Peace March</a> - JoAnne Lingle reporting on her trip.<br />
<br />
We planned this to be a public fast, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan#Fasting" target="_blank">Ramadan Fast</a> with no food or liquid from sunrise to sunset, to atone for the U.S. killer drone strikes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRt7P_8o6cL6FLa5jSvRAkfwGnl2TXd2XD_S6hicDhLub1gk1EtmRW098-SVOA3C7GNkkQk13mQcKb4ZBaFm_pciPt-oSkhXbNSc4Vds0-Hv962zwLH3lsq4BIgNx8NKIalgyAWU-UoQp1/s1600/fasting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRt7P_8o6cL6FLa5jSvRAkfwGnl2TXd2XD_S6hicDhLub1gk1EtmRW098-SVOA3C7GNkkQk13mQcKb4ZBaFm_pciPt-oSkhXbNSc4Vds0-Hv962zwLH3lsq4BIgNx8NKIalgyAWU-UoQp1/s200/fasting.jpg" height="143" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>6:00 am</b> - up before sunrise to eat and get ready to get on the bus that would transport us to the Islamabad Press Club where we would spend the day fasting and talking with passers-by. When we got there, we discovered the street in front of the Press Club had little to no traffic and saw nary a soul walking by.<br />
<br />
So, back on the bus to find another public place. Ah, the shopping mall where there are lots of stores and an area with benches and even a Gazebo. We scurried to cover the Gazebo with our signs of "No Drones", "When Drones Fly, Children Die" and "Code Pink Delegation for Peace". It wasn't long before a crowd gathered and we began to have conversations with lots of people. Some even began to fast with us.<br />
<br />
Next the media came for interviews. One of our fasters was invited to go to the CNN studio for an interview. <br />
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At sunset when we heard the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhan" target="_blank">Call to Prayer</a>, we asked one of the Pakistani men to say a prayer. Then, with others joining, we broke our fast with the traditional eating of dates and drinking water. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnhvINOUdySQvln3ItnaqE3xp2gVK6tTaMcgvmP3b3Y5L4OF3Bg31BalE2cDlU_yqFGBUEtIXrwnjvMgDkEAjylEL7q45Rf3I5KyhBHkWJ26v2bojnsMZH2KNYgabPOSKFwjqaXVKobQn/s1600/fast-group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnhvINOUdySQvln3ItnaqE3xp2gVK6tTaMcgvmP3b3Y5L4OF3Bg31BalE2cDlU_yqFGBUEtIXrwnjvMgDkEAjylEL7q45Rf3I5KyhBHkWJ26v2bojnsMZH2KNYgabPOSKFwjqaXVKobQn/s400/fast-group.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
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Later, we were devastated to hear news of the Taliban attack on the 14-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousufzai, who is an outspoken advocate for girls to attend school. We began to collect funds to send to Malala's school and we are reaching out to global community to find medical help for her neurological needs. We condemn this violence and understand that American drone attacks increase extremism. We are praying for Malala's quick recovery and return to school.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYiiurGF-H9xtaM-948l9RxjVvGVI1yg4R6GxXHen7pLTOPOUwniRf0OZyBfQQcKQsfWspKsW3C59rBRHS9SLfwybqALhyrewu1KJOF3wfEjKzqo7k8l0xYGkTCQWITfAoHKUcOL27kzs/s1600/malala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYiiurGF-H9xtaM-948l9RxjVvGVI1yg4R6GxXHen7pLTOPOUwniRf0OZyBfQQcKQsfWspKsW3C59rBRHS9SLfwybqALhyrewu1KJOF3wfEjKzqo7k8l0xYGkTCQWITfAoHKUcOL27kzs/s200/malala.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>A day filled with gratitude for the fast and filled with sorrow for the tragic shooting of Malala Yousufzai, a courageous young girl who spoke out for justice while knowing she was risking her life in doing so. May her family and the larger community be comforted in their time of need.<br />
<div style="margin: 15px;">
<i>"Healer of our every ill, Light of each tomorrow,<br />
give us peace beyond our fear, and hope beyond our sorrow.<br />
You who know our fears and sadness, grace us with your peace and gladness.<br />
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts."</i></div>
<br />
Continued at: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-eight-in-pakistan-our-final-day.html">Day Eight in Pakistan: Our Final Day - Farewell Islamabad! </a><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Read the full story of JoAnne Lingle's participation in the Code Pink peace delegation to Pakistan.</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>For more photos see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157631649653824/" target="_blank">Code Pink delegation photo site</a>.</i><br />
<i> </i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kylukyBsSUtDmvREgM6HLc4dBjNh5hn-0cgNwUHruu_J5AaQ4dlXleJN-I19O-0g9rZZguvC8yvlBtlfv0hKYRPJDp_LLdrT1rDhVAwa14fOL9zPUkItmcuPQOZc3SQWnPfup2Fv5IYn/s1600/peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kylukyBsSUtDmvREgM6HLc4dBjNh5hn-0cgNwUHruu_J5AaQ4dlXleJN-I19O-0g9rZZguvC8yvlBtlfv0hKYRPJDp_LLdrT1rDhVAwa14fOL9zPUkItmcuPQOZc3SQWnPfup2Fv5IYn/s400/peace.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-49032781412555601592012-10-23T06:44:00.000-07:002014-07-05T08:25:32.010-07:00Day Six in Pakistan: October 8 - Day after the Peace MarchContinued from <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/days-fourfive-in-pakistan-to-tribal.html">Days Four/Five in Pakistan: To the Tribal Areas!</a> - JoAnne Lingle reporting on her trip.<br />
<br />
<b>10:00 am - Report back from the March</b><br />
<br />
Our peace march made international headlines on CNN (see <a href="http://codepink.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=voIu%2FGvoEf1lyChzmwpePCbBCVo0fx0Q" target="_blank">CNN video</a>), the <a href="http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/u-s-peace-activists-in-pakistan-decry-drone-strikes/" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/imran-khan-and-codepink-blocked-from-tribal-area/2012/10/07/d9f6e58a-10ca-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_story.html" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>, Al Jazeera, the BBC, and <a href="http://codepink.org/article.php?id=6241" target="_blank">over 100 major news outlets</a> as well as Pakistani newspapers, Dawn and The News.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjTxdqnM8YqbDU_eh8obrov7N4fmlwH0OBvuKc3-r001kAxDKvqFLfU3ApfA45w9ILFbkvCB6vntml0IGkmgHF3k7QnJsallIOrLNDu0hq16eozIuFasNSmfD6xCIdHNT6_mHtCl2ShOv/s1600/cnn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjTxdqnM8YqbDU_eh8obrov7N4fmlwH0OBvuKc3-r001kAxDKvqFLfU3ApfA45w9ILFbkvCB6vntml0IGkmgHF3k7QnJsallIOrLNDu0hq16eozIuFasNSmfD6xCIdHNT6_mHtCl2ShOv/s320/cnn.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
Although we were disappointed to have been prevented by the Pakistani government from going into the Tribal Areas of Waziristan, we were heartened to hear the drone issue had been pushed forward by the Peace March. As one Pakistani woman said to us, "Your coming to Pakistan has touched so many hearts that you cannot even imagine! You were able to do what hundreds of millions of dollars spent by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Agency_for_International_Development" target="_blank">USAID</a> in TV ads to win hearts and minds in Pakistan has failed to achieve!"<br />
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<b>3:00 pm - Afternoon meeting at MEASAC Research Center in Rawalpindi</b> with Pakistan with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamid_Gul" target="_blank">General Hamid Gul</a>, a retired high ranking officer in the Pakistan Army, who served as the Director General of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Services_Intelligence" target="_blank">ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence)</a> during the brutal regime of the Dictator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Zia-ul-Haq" target="_blank">Zia al Haq</a> (whose name means Light of the Truth).<br />
<br />
The General said he was the darling of the Reagan Administration (and the CIA, my words) during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan but now he's on the terrorist list as an acknowledged member of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummah_Tameer-e-Nau" target="_blank">banned militant organization Ummah Tameer-e-Nau</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKj0hlbmfc7vEpiQHm2LjmO06PNOeeQ_IAlReDObC_X6TC06gyGFRzDkvUeSi47SGAIIhAjf9fdabO-J4dxzkE0mlSeiMnycZeiT_T7OhePntUpZQbutpfOUFtgxlvteMhsCPKSQLPSDD/s1600/hamid-gul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKj0hlbmfc7vEpiQHm2LjmO06PNOeeQ_IAlReDObC_X6TC06gyGFRzDkvUeSi47SGAIIhAjf9fdabO-J4dxzkE0mlSeiMnycZeiT_T7OhePntUpZQbutpfOUFtgxlvteMhsCPKSQLPSDD/s200/hamid-gul.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a>According to Wikipedia, General Gul worked closely with the CIA during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan when he was the ISI chief. But, he became passionately anti-American after the United States turned its back on Afghanistan following the 1989 Soviet withdrawal, as the United States had promised to help build a prosperous Afghanistan.<br />
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As for the drone attacks, he said, "They must be stopped. Pakistanis have suffered for eight years from drones invading Pakistan's air space and sovereignty." He said the U.S. should offer compensation to the victims. He admitted, however, that the Pakistani government is complicit with the U.S. in not counting deaths of civilians by drones and not compensating the victims of drone attacks. He also complained about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academi" target="_blank">Blackwater</a> contractors in Pakistan and said they should leave. <br />
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He feels the U.S. Embassy should not act as a military base and mentioned the CIA and 2,000 marines that are stationed at the Embassy with plans to expand the Embassy on an additional 84 acres, constructing it to have eight floors with three of the floors underground.<br />
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There was more the General talked about regarding U.S. foreign policy, most of which we agreed with; however, we were constantly reminded of his complicity with the brutal regime of the Dictator Zia al Haq, who ruled Pakistan 1977-1988.<br />
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General Hamid Gul ended by saying he fears that Pakistan may be heading the way of the Iranian Revolution.<br />
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<b>5:00 pm - Around Islamabad</b> - The rest of the day was spent visiting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faisal_Mosque" target="_blank">Faisal Mosque</a> and scouting for a place for tomorrow's fast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KA_oJBU8Rip7QOo5U16om-ZbXIuRohOTVK25uy0gFu-_0LT2-IzrpCDcJNg6BGVdIB0KTjyNx2VW6yF8tIZ5WaSHXNPpWfKAarecyPJx_E-41ug9_RQRAVzNnggjqG1WKtWStnXxBet0/s1600/mosque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KA_oJBU8Rip7QOo5U16om-ZbXIuRohOTVK25uy0gFu-_0LT2-IzrpCDcJNg6BGVdIB0KTjyNx2VW6yF8tIZ5WaSHXNPpWfKAarecyPJx_E-41ug9_RQRAVzNnggjqG1WKtWStnXxBet0/s320/mosque.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
Later that night, we heard of the first drone attack since we left <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank,_Pakistan" target="_blank">Tank</a>, our last stop on the Peace March. (See <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19893757" target="_blank">BBC story on U.S. drone attack on Tank</a>.)<br />
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<i><b>Tomorrow, the Fast</b>: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-seven-in-pakistan-october-9-day-of.html">Dedicated to the Memory of the Children who have been killed by U.S. Drone Attacks.</a></i><br />
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<br />
<i><a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Read the full story of JoAnne Lingle's participation in the Code Pink peace delegation to Pakistan.</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>For more photos see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157631649653824/" target="_blank">Code Pink delegation photo site</a>.</i>Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-363058421254482962012-10-20T13:54:00.001-07:002014-07-05T08:25:47.290-07:00Days Four/Five in Pakistan: To the Tribal Areas!<i>"Go to Places that scare you."</i> - Alice Walker<br />
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Continued from <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-three-in-pakistan-october-5.html">Day Three in Pakistan: October 5, Preparing to March</a> - JoAnne Lingle reporting on her trip.<br />
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<b>9:00am - Peace March to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waziristan" target="_blank">Waziristan</a></b><br />
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Long before we departed our hotel, Code Pink's tireless Tighe Barry had taped enlarged photos of children who had been killed by drones on both sides of our two buses. An even larger photo was taped on each roof.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenZKqiM5y4ELrgOwchDvHg6PFvDxr4CP1LvpBgTFbAxQ6koH2Lxe3NRGqx_UXSPZtf8RlbQs_l8rvHPEvFJVpUGGvmetuQlLmpKDdXcHKgcGXAUJbES2WGyi7Gsm-ZlSLbCxNYcnZh9c1/s1600/bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenZKqiM5y4ELrgOwchDvHg6PFvDxr4CP1LvpBgTFbAxQ6koH2Lxe3NRGqx_UXSPZtf8RlbQs_l8rvHPEvFJVpUGGvmetuQlLmpKDdXcHKgcGXAUJbES2WGyi7Gsm-ZlSLbCxNYcnZh9c1/s400/bus.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a>We were on our way! Two buses with a total of thirty-one North American peace activists were going to South Waziristan despite warnings from the U.S. Embassy and the Pakistani government. Our first scheduled stop was Imran Khan's headquarters for a rally. With security cars leading and Imran's bullet proof car directly behind, our buses were to follow Imran and his posse.
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Everything changed as soon as we pulled out from our hotel - this would be the first of many changes along the way We didn't go to Imran's headquarters for the rally. We were told to go ahead because journalists and media had completely swamped Imran Khan's headquarters. Now our buses would trail behind all the other vehicles. At the least, we were promised security in front and at the read of our buses.
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All along the road we traveled, people were lined up with banners that said "Welcome" and "No Drones" in English. It was apparent people knew who were in the buses. Rallys were held at every town and bus stop. Traffic was jammed, often causing us to be at a stand still and turning the 6 hr journey into 13 hrs with only two restroom stops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGTcK96ZE6WaAtkFo10wmp4U_ghdFBNkkwCMz68tavhyQAZQ74mpt12gBZr8UTQE2omgsDKiq3LsF91zpXjtTG93fF98Uw35Gpoj40ztQA6ZJNmoY8EsZPf9MoH2fgdUDIWRCLxIPnFAr/s1600/peace-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGTcK96ZE6WaAtkFo10wmp4U_ghdFBNkkwCMz68tavhyQAZQ74mpt12gBZr8UTQE2omgsDKiq3LsF91zpXjtTG93fF98Uw35Gpoj40ztQA6ZJNmoY8EsZPf9MoH2fgdUDIWRCLxIPnFAr/s400/peace-sign.jpg" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
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When one of the fixers came on our bus to tell the women to close the curtains and cover their heads, it was obvious we were in a place that was not very welcoming to Americans.
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Our bus got lost! We had noticed for some time that we were not keeping up with the other bus - cars were getting in between us. Soon we realized we were totally alone on the road. Our bus was in the middle of nowhere without security. Another unplanned adventure!
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An hour or so later, the driver turned around and we saw our convoy; however, all the security was up front near Imran Khan's car.
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Richard Leiby, correspondent for the Washington Post, was imbedded on our bus and sitting right next to me. Richard interviewed me and wrote an article about our journey, quoting my story about having a drone replica in our church one Sunday. The article was published in the Post the following day: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/imran-khan-and-codepink-blocked-from-tribal-area/2012/10/07/d9f6e58a-10ca-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_story.html" target="_blank">Imran Khan and Codepink are blocked from Pakistan’s tribal area</a>.
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<b>Imran Khan and Codepink are blocked from Pakistan’s tribal area</b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YhlXL7s-azEBPQUTJJZBS-bmXp9VLXeXnVRYABBRnV4lPGyUlxuwcI_PlfnuelR0CglwMWRHmSJXSJ6ZyoLyPfd4PIc9EzrCIc0BrhBjNgLDyc50SA6u4GdgBzZabVb00x0y225u50cK/s1600/welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YhlXL7s-azEBPQUTJJZBS-bmXp9VLXeXnVRYABBRnV4lPGyUlxuwcI_PlfnuelR0CglwMWRHmSJXSJ6ZyoLyPfd4PIc9EzrCIc0BrhBjNgLDyc50SA6u4GdgBzZabVb00x0y225u50cK/s320/welcome.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>At 10:30 p.m., we arrived at our overnight destination, a compound called "The Farm", a stone's throw from South Waziristan where we were to be the next morning! We had a late night supper of beans, rice and beef before finding our sleeping quarters. Exhausted from our long day's travel, our twenty plus women went to the three rooms assigned to us to discover a woman journalist had taken one of the rooms and locked us out. Fortunately, we found enough mats to lay on the floors of the two remaining rooms and flopped on the floor exhausted, placing our bodies "head to toe".
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The next morning, we were awaken by a loud knock on the door at 6am telling us we must clear the room in 15 minutes. Breakfast was to be served in this room. With amazing speed, we did it.
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After breakfast, Imran Khan came to our room to thank us for coming. He told us the Pakistani government had closed the roads into South Wazaristan and we would not be able to go further. He said it didn't matter that we could not continue. The fact that we had come this far was inspiring to the people in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federally_Administered_Tribal_Areas" target="_blank">Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA</a>.
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At 10am, a huge rally was held in a tent at the Farm to welcome Imran Khan and our delegation. After speeches by Imran Khan and Medea Benjamin, we said our goodbyes, packed up and headed back to Islamabad. On the way back, Imran had arranged a lunch for us at a lovely place beside a lake with a breathtaking view of the mountains.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkTet27OOKDsk9f_EgfJnDUgWCv5NGVXBgHnyyOjILN_QuqJKtCsPr1hrA46t7sU1mXdh17ZxKWSs-SjryfLUCA3nXkkRF0thLv0uXJIUBi4fR0MgmS5ECmHd2QjgydJl1Cp5-oCzKAvf/s1600/rally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkTet27OOKDsk9f_EgfJnDUgWCv5NGVXBgHnyyOjILN_QuqJKtCsPr1hrA46t7sU1mXdh17ZxKWSs-SjryfLUCA3nXkkRF0thLv0uXJIUBi4fR0MgmS5ECmHd2QjgydJl1Cp5-oCzKAvf/s400/rally.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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We were back at our home away from home, the Chancery Hotel, in less than six hours and welcomed by the staff, who had by now become our friends, with cups of steaming hot tea.
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With gratitude and appreciation for your love and support and with hope for a more Peaceful world.
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JoAnne
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Continued at: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-six-in-pakistan-october-8-day-after.html">Day Six in Pakistan: October 8 - Day after the Peace March</a><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Read the full story of JoAnne Lingle's participation in the Code Pink peace delegation to Pakistan.</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>For more photos see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157631649653824/" target="_blank">Code Pink delegation photo site</a>.</i>Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-55541026144608871252012-10-20T13:04:00.001-07:002014-07-05T08:24:42.695-07:00Day Three in Pakistan: October 5, Preparing to March<i>Continued from <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/continued-from-day-1-in-pakistan-report.html">Day Two in Pakistan: October 4 Press Conference </a> - JoAnne Lingle reporting on the <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Code Pink "Stop the Drones!" delegation to Pakistan</a>.</i><br />
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<b>FRIDAY, October 5, 2012</b><br />
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<b>9:00 Debrief</b> - rumors begin to fly high and low warning us not to go on the Peace March. We heard from the Embassy's American Citizen Services head security guy that there were credible sources we might be attacked. He said he wanted to help us in any way he could; however, when asked about the sources, he said he couldn't reveal them. A different answer would have surprised us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u9_cROAPg8jy_xXUKkRqZV7BzMQzLXrKutb9KVGXlUAiDaSAvHzy6efiKgPntOKGVltdMjHR1JHU-fBZ0ntzjDWZc7lVskCejYBVYsgu6MwPfgQvWcU83J8kjov_Xooc7Qt1tcXRClXl/s1600/school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u9_cROAPg8jy_xXUKkRqZV7BzMQzLXrKutb9KVGXlUAiDaSAvHzy6efiKgPntOKGVltdMjHR1JHU-fBZ0ntzjDWZc7lVskCejYBVYsgu6MwPfgQvWcU83J8kjov_Xooc7Qt1tcXRClXl/s320/school.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><b>10:00 - Visit to <a href="http://www.chfdubai.org/pak_umeed.html" target="_blank">U Meed-e-Noor Orphanage (Hope and Enlightenment)</a></b> - center for special needs children. This orphanage cares for 68 special needs children, ages from infants to early twenties. Services offered at U Meed-e-Noor include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy and language development.<br />
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The children suffer from a host of impairments including hearing loss, Autism, stammering, Down's Syndrome, Dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy, Polio, Muscular Dystrophy, Muscular Skeletal and Neuro-Muscular Disorders.<br />
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As we visited the classrooms, we were amazed at the visual and tactile aids available for the children - even Dr. Seuss and Sesame Street books in English! As the children matched colors, letters and sounds, it was a joy to watch them when they picked the correct one and the teacher gave them a High-Five.<br />
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A list of the orphanage's partners included the Embassy of Japan, Korea, The High Commission of Canada, UNICEF, Austrian Development Agency, British High Commission. Notably absent on the list were the U.S. Embassy, USAID or other U.S. organizations.<br />
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<b>11:00 - Scouting for a public venue for a one-day Fast</b> to be held after the Peace March in memory of children killed by drone strikes. This turned out to be quite an adventure! Our plan was to get as close as possible to the U.S. Embassy. It took some time to discover that this was not to be. Our bus tried every road leading to the U.S. compound. Several hours passed before we realized we were stuck at a checkpoint with Pakistani soldiers not allowing us to go forward or backward since it was now after Friday prayers. Turns out, we were stuck by containers protecting the U.S. compound. These containers were like those overturned the previous Friday during riots in response to the infamous film.<br />
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While the Pakistani soldiers continued making phone calls to get permission to free us from our predicament, we noticed children in a field flying kites. Not to miss an opportunity to connect with kids and have some fun, we got off the bus. Just when we were enjoying ourselves with the kids, a call came from the Embassy, inviting us to the compound.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9CSsUBl_V0kUHmEaIM4_hjFbscEkxpveTbIFhqqxVhyphenhyphenLanaPWMZwSNsnDH2NHFlPyx31YRL-A4uaP8XrjtXJa8H4z3ls8mt0psM42GkspygfApknYx0O4YmM3154xkbPROvzltYIGpqF/s1600/embassy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9CSsUBl_V0kUHmEaIM4_hjFbscEkxpveTbIFhqqxVhyphenhyphenLanaPWMZwSNsnDH2NHFlPyx31YRL-A4uaP8XrjtXJa8H4z3ls8mt0psM42GkspygfApknYx0O4YmM3154xkbPROvzltYIGpqF/s400/embassy.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
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Upon reaching the Embassy , we were told by security, "Don't get off the bus!!" Pleading to use the restrooms, we hopped off to use the outside facilities; then we scattered to take photos in front of the Embassy complete with security personnel.<br />
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For all the obvious reasons, we scratched the Embassy as a place for our Fast.<br />
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<b>2:30 - At the Hotel: Jennifer Gibson, of the Stanford research team - <a href="http://livingunderdrones.org/" target="_blank">Living Under Drones: Death, Injury, Trauma to Civilians from U.S. Drone Practices in Pakistan</a></b>, spoke to our delegation. We were to appreciate, much later during the Peace March, the tremendous help she was to us.<br />
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Jennifer brought seven drone victims from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waziristan" target="_blank">Waziristan</a> to tell their stories. We listened as we heard about their every day terror - how collaborators put chips on door steps to mark victims, causing distrust in communities. Because drones usually attack groups of people, Waziris are afraid to go to funerals and weddings. Most family compounds consist of 60-70 people so when a drone hits, many are killed.<br />
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After a drone strike, several more follow, keeping rescuers from the scene. Children are suffering from depressions and are afraid to go outside to play or go to school. In one month, there have been 17 suicides because of tension from living under drones. Families have even stopped sitting together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoIcL9P-emAoRC9SJHRMonMd1T-xCksgSjvFW7UAIB-TszDOLsg815nMh1xqrw5F3M4lMy3T2bx2aY6sIDjPsxuQc_2qnQMhz3EnhxagGaXWaRUU5yKCgVWQYgfKsEAcfRbvD36fp4Hf3/s1600/vigil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoIcL9P-emAoRC9SJHRMonMd1T-xCksgSjvFW7UAIB-TszDOLsg815nMh1xqrw5F3M4lMy3T2bx2aY6sIDjPsxuQc_2qnQMhz3EnhxagGaXWaRUU5yKCgVWQYgfKsEAcfRbvD36fp4Hf3/s400/vigil.jpg" height="254" width="400" /></a><b>5:30 - Rally and Candlelight Vigil at Jennah Market with PTI Students:</b> This was a great opportunity to rally with young people. Our Code Pink delegation carried banners and signs: <i>No Drones! When Drones Fly, Children Die! We are Delegates for Peace!</i><br />
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CNN was among the many TV and print media. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/sayah.reza.html" target="_blank">Reza Sayah, CNN correspondent</a>, asked my opinion about mainstream media which led to a lively discussion. He said the interview would air in the U.S. that night around 9pm. We saw it in Pakistan at midnight. Reza gave me his card and asked that I call him when we get back from the Peace March. I did - more about that later.<br />
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<br />
Continued at: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/days-fourfive-in-pakistan-to-tribal.html">Days Four/Five in Pakistan: To the Tribal Areas! </a><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Read the full story of JoAnne Lingle's participation in the Code Pink peace delegation to Pakistan.</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>For more photos see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157631649653824/" target="_blank">Code Pink delegation photo site</a>.</i>Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-18815260961238274882012-10-20T07:49:00.001-07:002014-07-05T08:26:24.996-07:00Day Two in Pakistan: October 4 Press Conference<i>Continued from <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-1-in-pakistan-report-from-code-pink.html">Day 1 in Pakistan: Report from Code Pink Delegation </a> - JoAnne Lingle reporting on her trip.</i><br />
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<b>Day Two - Thursday, October 4, 2012</b><br />
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Morning meeting at Shahzad's office, <a href="http://rightsadvocacy.org/" target="_blank">Foundation for Fundamental Rights (FFR)</a>. We heard stories from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waziristan" target="_blank">Waziri</a> survivors: Kareem Khan (a journalist for Al Jazeera and Pakistani newspapers), Mohammed Yusef, and Ejad Ahmed.<br />
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Kareen's house was totally destroyed when hit by a drone strike Dec. 31, 2009. Killed in the attack were Kareem's 16 year old son, Kareen's younger brother and a construction worker, both were government workers. The U.S. claimed that three militants were killed in the strike.<br />
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Kareem said, "We are not Taliban, Al Quaeda or terrorists. Our culture, education, everything is disturbed. Many have left for other cities. They should arrest the criminals, not kill seven civilians for every militant. When 40 elders were killed by drone strikes during a <i>jirga</i> (a decision making body) in Datta Khel, March 17, 2011, the fire lasted one week. To this day, U.S. officials insist that all those killed were militants."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2Zd_WG1NddCezgoo_7ifs3pavjTTGUgWt0AWmMZmismQzroAdbrZAY1di3MvMEUgL6p6-alieQbEB9rvF-yC2RJdq9dTf7YptDdfIt7C2IjtcqN-rSVJpgUFqIPKcpN3DHWB-yCuqBfQ/s1600/meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2Zd_WG1NddCezgoo_7ifs3pavjTTGUgWt0AWmMZmismQzroAdbrZAY1di3MvMEUgL6p6-alieQbEB9rvF-yC2RJdq9dTf7YptDdfIt7C2IjtcqN-rSVJpgUFqIPKcpN3DHWB-yCuqBfQ/s400/meeting.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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"The U.S. Embassy will not allow us to talk with them. When one of us tried to go, the Pakistani army and police beat him in front of the Embassy."<br />
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Other testimony from the Waziris of those killed by drone attacks: a mother and her 10 month old baby killed when their home was struck; a father and his two sons, ages eight and ten; and, the headmaster of a school.<br />
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Kareem ended by thanking us for coming to listen to their stories. He said of the U.S., "The blood shed of Muslim people has no value."<br />
<br />
At 3:30pm, we attended a Press Conference at the Marriott for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Khan" target="_blank">Imran Khan</a> and the Peace March scheduled for Sunday, October 7. Although there were hundreds in attendance, it appeared there were an equal number of journalists present as well.<br />
<br />
Speakers included Shahzad Akbar, Code Pink's <a href="http://www.codepink.org/article.php?id=51" target="_blank">Medea Benjamin</a>, <a href="http://www.reprieve.org.uk/clivestaffordsmith/" target="_blank">Clive Stafford Smith of Reprieve</a>, and finally, Imran Khan who ended his talk speaking to our delegation: "You've come to see their pain," and "You'll be surprised to see the welcome you'll get." He didn't tell us anything we didn't already know - we've seen their pain and the welcome we've received thus far has been beyond any and all expectations!<br />
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After the speakers finished, there were lots and lots of photo-ops, including groups photos of our delegation. After the photos, we cut loose and sang, inviting others to join in with "We shall not be moved" and other Civil Rights songs. When we began a line dance, even some of the WILFP and PTI women joined us!<br />
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A final meeting in the evening that was not on the day's schedule: (this, we discovered would become a regular occurrence during the coming week :-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/JusticeProjectPakistan" target="_blank">Justice Project Pakistan (JPP)</a>, a non-profit law firm providing support to those prisoners who are the most vulnerable in the criminal justice system, presented "Families of Bagram Detainees"<br />
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There are 50 Third Country Nationals at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parwan_Detention_Facility" target="_blank">Bagram</a>, 37 of which are Pakistani. We met with the family members of ten of them.<br />
<br />
These prisoners have been held indefinitely without access to lawyers and without having been informed of the evidence against them. Some have been held for years, some abused, one arrested two years ago when he was fourteen. Another not permitted to speak to his family for six years and is believed to be in grievous physical and psychological condition.<br />
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As each family member told the story of their loved one, we were implored to contact the Obama administration which has attempted to legitimize Bagram Prison, claiming that in the last year conditions and procedures have been improved.<br />
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Finally, after a long day, heavy on our emotions but feeling grateful for the opportunity to listen to our brothers and sisters who willingly share their burdens and sorrows with us, we rest... looking forward to another day in Pakistan.<br />
<br />
Blessings to all,<br />
JoAnne<br />
- writing from Istanbul<br />
<br />
Continued at: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-three-in-pakistan-october-5.html">Day Three in Pakistan: October 5, Preparing to March </a><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Read the full story of JoAnne Lingle's participation in the Code Pink peace delegation to Pakistan.</a></i><br />
<br />
For more photos see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157631649653824/" target="_blank">Code Pink delegation photo site</a>.Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283298834116160246.post-36413122567271057502012-10-17T07:21:00.001-07:002014-07-05T08:23:28.276-07:00Day 1 in Pakistan: Report from Code Pink Delegation<i>The letter below was received from JoAnne Lingle on October 17. See also <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">JoAnne's article, written September 21, in anticipation of her departure for Pakistan to participate in the Code Pink delegation</a>.</i><br />
<br />
Dear Friends and Family,<br />
<br />
Words cannot fully express how privileged I feel to have been part of the recent <a href="http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=6174" target="_blank">Peace Delegation to Pakistan</a> - 30 U.S. citizens and 1 Canadian.<br />
<br />
Arriving in Islamabad: 10 of us arrived on the same plane from Abu Dhabi. Benazir Bhutto International Airport is old, small and run down. A sad legacy to the airport that bears her name.<br />
<br />
The immigration lines were long. When we finally got to the man at the desk, he handed us forms to fill out, then took our photos. When I stood in the place for my photo, he waved me on. I smiled and asked, "You're not taking photos of old women today?" He laughed and said, "No, No! It's OK, we have you in our system." No one else had the same response. Interesting!<br />
<br />
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As we stepped outside the terminal, we were greeted by hordes of well wishers shouting, "WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! We were showered with rose petals, serenaded and presented with two lovely bouquets of roses. This warm welcome was unexpected and overwhelming. After all the hoop-la, we were whisked to our hotel where we were warmly welcomed with refreshments. At 3:30am we were ready for a short rest before beginning our first day of an awesome 7-day journey seeing Pakistan through new eyes.<br />
<br />
<b>October 3 - First day:</b> After getting to bed at 5am and told our 1st meeting was scheduled for 10:30am, I set my alarm clock for 9. Neither my room mate nor I heard the alarm and were awaken with a phone call at 9:45!<br />
<br />
Our first meeting was with Shahzad Akbar and his team from the <a href="http://rightsadvocacy.org/" target="_blank">Foundation for Fundamental Rights (FFR)</a>, our host organization. Shahzad gave a general orientation about the people in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and how drones endanger U.S. National Security. Most information from this orientation can be found in the <a href="http://livingunderdrones.org/" target="_blank">Stanford/NYU Report: Living Under Drones: Death, Injury and Trauma to Civilians from U.S. Drone Practices in Pakistan</a>.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpxfDmnKGSlsCuVm_WgXPrjor6_FTsd6dUzJp7grcAiniZi0L_TvRu0g7OyQHoxO2nKikDKRsU7E28iUiziwpDfQBAvELZsLwF-2u5mFg1ueqclv42WKtTan8XVDOabwAeXiZjyNgLvP9/s1600/akbar-ffr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpxfDmnKGSlsCuVm_WgXPrjor6_FTsd6dUzJp7grcAiniZi0L_TvRu0g7OyQHoxO2nKikDKRsU7E28iUiziwpDfQBAvELZsLwF-2u5mFg1ueqclv42WKtTan8XVDOabwAeXiZjyNgLvP9/s400/akbar-ffr.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our 2nd meeting was with the Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Richard Hoagland, who came to meet with us at our hotel. After he was introduced, Amb. Hoagland walked around our table, shaking hands with each one as we introduced ourselves to him. He shared with me that he was from Ft. Wayne IN. Later I heard that he was also a Mennonite and that we could call him "Dick" :-)<br />
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Amb. Hoagland was very cordial but forthright in his request that we not participate in the Peace March to Waziristan. When asked if the U.S. would attack Waziristan with drone strikes during the march, he said, "I will guarantee 100% that Code Pink will not be targeted," not fully answering our question.<br />
<br />
In the afternoon, we went to a shopping area to exchange money and shop. Women bought Pakistani dresses and head coverings while the men bought shirts and hats. Everything is quite reasonably priced here. Some of us found a wonderful book store that had everything from Chomsky to Guevara. I purchased two books: one on Islamophobia and one titled: Fatal Faultlines: Pakistan, Islam and The West.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBJwtLLC0DHtE7Q-ceWvmjs3phFbbWNyFvcKgwfPGslaYcnILQMirP-D2jh6hyphenhyphenQZhyphenhyphennLihv46elNhZk1BSxgA4vqAbmuPCQTDHfILRAoCVUbrJiG2VDyE3g3tw1KV-An5_yLueI9CpRV7/s1600/group-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBJwtLLC0DHtE7Q-ceWvmjs3phFbbWNyFvcKgwfPGslaYcnILQMirP-D2jh6hyphenhyphenQZhyphenhyphennLihv46elNhZk1BSxgA4vqAbmuPCQTDHfILRAoCVUbrJiG2VDyE3g3tw1KV-An5_yLueI9CpRV7/s320/group-1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a>Later that evening, those of us newly arrived were invited to dinner at the home of the head of the <a href="http://wilpfus.org/" target="_blank">Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)</a>. There we were greeted by other women and engaged in lively conversation. Although they are against the U.S. drone attacks, they were not supporting Imran Khan who they said was right of center when it came to economic issues. Instead, they were supporting a coalition of small progressive parties.<br />
<br />
During the after dinner conversation, they were delighted to hear that a large part of my financial support had come from Muslim friends of <a href="http://www.alhudafoundation.org/" target="_blank">Al Huda Mosque in Indiana</a>.<br />
<br />
A local and well known musician played and sang several Pakistani songs, ending with Bob Marley's "Stand Up for Your Rights" and a rousing "Ain't Gonna Study War No More".<br />
<br />
With gratitude for your love and support for the people of Pakistan.<br />
<br />
With Hope for a more Peaceful World,<br />
<br />
JoAnne <br />
- from a hostel in Istanbul, overlooking the beautiful Blue Mosque<br />
<br />
<br />
Continued at: <a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/10/continued-from-day-1-in-pakistan-report.html" target="_blank">Day Two in Pakistan: October 4 Press Conference</a><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://nodronesindiana.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-visits-to-pakistan-and-kurdistan.html">Read the full story of JoAnne Lingle's participation in the Code Pink peace delegation to Pakistan.</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>For more photos see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157631649653824/" target="_blank">Code Pink delegation photo site</a>.</i>Joe Scarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622018908879921573noreply@blogger.com1