Garage Sale Benefit
September 6th & 7th

Call week of Sept. 1st to donate items!
Click on "Benefits".

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WITNESS TO A CRIME
A Citizens’ Audit of an American Election
By Richard Hayes Phillips

6:30 PM * September 15th * World Cafe, 449 Blair Blvd
"Sponsored Events"

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EUGENE SOLDIER GOES TO PRISON
Eugene Weekly - 7/24/08

Eugene soldier James Burmeister was given six months in prison during his Army court martial last week. Burmeister has been called a whistleblower for drawing attention to the military’s bait-and-kill tactics using small kill teams in Iraq.

Unable to face the possibility he was killing innocent Iraqi civilians and troubled by injuries from a roadside bomb, Burmeister went AWOL last year, fleeing to Canada. He returned to the U.S. and has since lingered for four months at Fort Knox awaiting judgment.

Burmeister was charged with AWOL and desertion. According to reports from supporters present in the courtroom, the prosecution used media stories, including a PBS interview and an article in The Oregonian in which the AWOL Burmeister discussed the bait-and-kill tactics, as evidence against him.

Army desertions have been steadily rising for the past several years but actually being convicted of going AWOL or desertion is relatively rare. Of the 4,698 soldiers who were charged with desertion in 2007 (AWOL for more than a month) only 108 were actually convicted of the offence. Three hundred and ninety-five soldiers were convicted of the lesser charge of AWOL.

 Charged with “desertion with intent to shirk important service,” Burmeister pleaded guilty to AWOL to avoid a longer sentence.

In addition to his six-month prison sentence Burmeister will receive a reduction in rank and pay, and a bad conduct discharge. The bad conduct discharge means he will not have access to veterans benefits, including medical care for his post-traumatic stress disorder and head injury.

Burmeister’s family had hoped he would be given a discharge in lieu of a court martial and return home to Oregon to help take care of his family. His mother, Helen Burmeister, suffers from multiple sclerosis, his sister is a diabetic with no health insurance to pay for insulin, and his brother has been diagnosed schizophrenic. Burmeister turned 24 in prison on Wednesday, July 23. — Camilla Mortensen

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Write to James,
 letjamesbefree@gmail.com with FOR JAMES in the subject heading
 Write letters to his family by sending your mail
with FOR JAMES' FAMILY in the Subject line.

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EPW Campaigns/Programs:      

      Cut the Funding! Stop the War!
            An important piece to ending the war must include opposition to the constant spending
                for the war.

     Alternative Media Program
        AMP's goal is to involve members of the community in the
          production of a wide range of “media” projects.

• Local sponsor of Democracy Now! on CTV  
• Production of alternative paper, The Peace Pages                 

    Committee for Countering Military Recruitment
        CCMR provides youth with more complete information
          regarding military service than that of military recruiters.

•  High School visits throughout Lane County with military veterans
•  Working w/ H.S. administrators to balance military access in schools
  

     Eugene Media Action
        EMA works to educate and empower citizens to view themselves as           media critics and activists.

• Lobbying mainstream media for more accuracy
• Campaigns to put the public back into public broadcasting
• Organize public education on media with national speakers
  

     Social Justice and Education Program
           SJEP works to promote, emphasize, and integrate issues                regarding Social Justice into public education institutions.

•  Provides alternative resources and networking for teachers

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From March 13-16th, U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan testified, at the National Labor College just outside of Washington, D.C., to what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground in these occupations.

The four-day event brought together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and present video and photographic evidence. In addition, there were panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists to give context to the testimony. These panels included everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support.

Details and additional video at ivaw.org & www.democracynow.org.  
Eugene Vets for Peace stories and images of the Winter Soldier event.

Warning - Testimony and pictures from video below are graphic.
Not for young children

 

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FOX ATTACKS IRAN

Through the efforts of dedicated volunteers  and members like  you, our organization has been an active presence in the community since its founding in 1981. For twenty-five years, we have  been promoting local and  international cooperation in the Peace  and Justice Movement. We support a commitment to world peace, social and environmental justice issues through nonviolent  grassroots action, education and mutual empowerment to show that  peace works. We provide office space and community organizing resources to community members, promote nonviolent strategies for direct action, and campaign against militarism and its use to preserve and promote other institutions of social and environmental oppression. Whether helping to make Eugene a nuclear free zone or fighting to end corporate greed, EPW has and will continue to work for justice locally and abroad.

Eugene PeaceWorks is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit. This allows us to maintain local control over what we do. So that we may continue our tradition of promoting and taking action for peace, justice and a clean earth, we need your generous support more than ever. Your continued donations and volunteer time are the foundation of the grassroots movement. Thank you again for your support over the years.