2006 NEWS and INFORMATION

for North Country Veterans for Peace (NC-VFP)

Different Drum Internet Café opens in downtown Watertown, NY (10/27/06)

The Different Drum Internet Café recently opened in the downtown Watertown Aracade building (address is 12 Paddock Arcade, 1 Public Square, Watertown, NY 13601). The cafe, according to its founders, is "...designed to provide soldiers and families at Ft. Drum with an inviting and comfortable (and warm!) place to socialize and to hear music and other live entertainment. Soldiers will also have access to legal counselling, a bookstore, and a regular program of film showings and discussions on current issues." More information about the cafe can be found at their website: www.differentdrummercafe.org/.

Be certain to check the upcoming events at the cafe. Recent films shown at the Different Drum include "Poison Dust" (depleted uranium) and "Sir! No Sir!" (the GI movement to end the war in Vietnam).


 

North Country Veterans for Peace will make a presentation on "Veterans Health Care Legislation" on July 19, 2006 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton, NY.

Veterans Health Care Legislation? will be the topic of a presentation by North Country Veterans for Peace on July 19th at 7:30 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3 1⁄2 East Main St., Canton, NY. Legislation is pending in New York State that will assist National Guard veterans in obtaining medical services for exposure to "toxic" materials such as depleted uranium (DU). DU is a radioactive and chemically-toxic heavy metal that has been used by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan (read more about DU and NYS legislation).

     Opponents of DU weapons claim we are poisoning our own troops similar to the way Vietnam veterans were effected by "Agent Orange". The US Department of Defense has put out conflicting information on this issue but continues to use these weapons. They claim the benefits of the weapons outweigh the health risks to veterans. The program on July 19th will include video clips of interviews with sick veterans and medical experts as well as a live presentation regarding the current legislation and recently released medical research.

     This presentation is free and open to the public. Veterans and family of service members are especially encouraged to attend. For more details contact Miles Manchester at 268-0041 or the North Country Veterans for Peace website at: vfp-northcountry.org.

 

North Country Veterans for Peace will present the film Poison Dust on June 20th at 7:00 PM in the Community Room at the Potsdam Village Civic Center.

The film centers on the military's use of depleted uranium (DU) weapons. These weapons have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan by the US and British forces. Is the "dust" from DU making our troops sick? Many scientific and medical experts believe this radioactive and chemically toxic material is the cause of mysterious and unexplained illnesses among our veterans.

There is current legislation pending in New York State (read more about DU and NYS legislation) that will give New York National Guard veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan assistance in obtaining medical testing to determine if they are contaminated with DU. Find out about DU weapons and related legislation.

The film and discussion are free and open to the public. Veterans and family of service members are especially encouraged to attend. For more details email Miles Manchester.

Directions: The Community Room is located in the Potsdam Village Civic Center. Parking is located next to the fire department and in front of the police station. Enter the Civic Center through the doors that also lead to the police station (to the left), but turn right and go up two flights of stairs. The Community Room is the only space located at the top of the stairs.


NC-VFP offers new service to the North Country: DVDs and videos on loan. (May 13, 2006)

The North Country Veterans for Peace has a wide selection of DVDs and videos about issues involving war/peace, military life, veterans issues, the CIA, depleted uranium and much more (see below). If you are local to the North Country of New York, you may request the loan of any of our DVDs and videos. If you are not a member of Veterans for Peace, there is a $10 deposit required for each item borrowed. Generally, only one item may be requested at a time. Information about the DVD/video titles we offer at Borrow DVDs/Videos.

 

NC-VFP joined Alternatives to War, students and other concerned citizens on Saturday, March 25, 2006 in Potsdam for a peace vigil and walk.

North Country Veterans for Peace - Chapter 121, Alternatives to War, students and other concerned citizens stood in solidarity with millions of people around the world at the weekly Peace Vigil in front of the Potsdam Post Office in downtown Potsdam from 11am-12 noon on Saturday, March 25th. A “Walk For Peace” followed, ending at the Community Center of the First Presbyterian Church, 42 Elm St, where a discussion about the war was held. These events continued the local effort to demand an end to the war and to bring U.S. troops home now, and coincide with peace rallies held worldwide to mark the third anniversary of the attack on Iraq. “We stand in solidarity with other Americans across the country who say no to this war and the costs it exacts from our country’s human and economic resources,” said Paul Saint-Amand, President of North Country Veterans For Peace and a Vietnam-era veteran. “We also denounce cuts in Veterans’ Benefits and the refusal of our government to treat the war-related effects on veterans and civilians. Aside from our own dead and wounded, over 100,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed, countless wounded, and those who survive lack basic needs of housing, food, clean water, health care, electricity, jobs and safety.” (see photos from the event as well television coverage from Channel 7 News)

 

NC-VFP joins state VFP rally in support of New York State Bill A9116 (National Guard Depleted Uranium Testing/Task Force Bill) on February 7, 2006.


NC-VFP members respond to President Bush's State of the Union Address

Letter sent to local newspapers and media on Febuary 2, 2006. [Letter in PDF format]

 

See *2005* NEWS and INFORMATION on the North Country VFP

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