Eugene PeaceWorks

The Eugene Weekly, KWVA and Eugene PeaceWorks proudly present:

AMY GOODMAN of DEMOCRACY NOW!
In Eugene, Monday, Nov. 23rd

Award-winning journalist Amy Goodman, host of the daily, grassroots, global, radio/TV news hour Democracy Now!, is on a national speaking tour to mark DN!'s 13th anniversary and launch her new book, Breaking the Sound Barrier.

Amy will be in Eugene on Monday, November 23rd, 12 noon-2 pm at the WOW Hall- 291 West 8th Ave. Eugene, OR 97401.

Amy will read from and speak about her new book Breaking the Sound Barrier. The event will begin with an introduction by the book's editor, Denis Moynihan, and conclude with Q & A. Tickets are $5 at the door and you're welcome to bring your lunch.

This event is a benefit for KWVA and Eugene PeaceWorks, with sponsorship support from the Eugene Weekly. KWVA 88.1 FM is the University of Oregon student owned and operated radio station., broadcasting Democracy Now! Monday-Friday at 7am. Eugene PeaceWorks is the local sponsor for Democracy Now! broadcasts on Cable Channel 29 Monday-Friday at 5pm.

For more information contact KWVA at 541-346-4091.

THEY'RE HOME!!! & OUT OF THE ARMY
Eugene Soldiers Imprisoned for REFUSING Redeployment to Iraq

SUZANNE SWIFT &
JAMES BURMEISTER

"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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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

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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Thank you for your interest in
Eugene PeaceWorks!

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.

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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.