Wage Peace

Windows and Mirrors Pittsburgh

Final Potluck with Iraqi refugees and veterans

It was not your typical potluck dinner.   

While the Obama administration’s new Defense Guidance document has been portrayed as moving to significant cuts in the Pentagon budget, the President himself tells a starkly different story. At last week’s rollout, he said: 

AFSC staffer, Jessica Roach.

Invite your networks! Please join AFSC's Jessica Roach on the webinar Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at 12 noon EST.

Dear Friend,

It's time to give thanks. Yesterday, the congressional Super Committee actually gave us another reason to be thankful when it announced that the members were unable to agree on a plan to make $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions over the next 10 years.

This is a testament to the grassroots voices – including yours – from around the country that made it clear that any deal should reflect the priorities and values of “the 99%.”  In this case, no deal was definitely better than a bad deal.

Trillion dollars screen shot

If I had a trillion dollars youth film festival.

Dear Friends,

With President Obama's confirmation that all US troops will leave Iraq by the end of the year it's time again to consider the human and financial costs of war. More than $1 trillion have been spent on Iraq and Afghanistan, just imagine what benefit that money could have wrought. It’s time to hear what  young people – who will be paying for these wars for years to come – have to say about how best to remedy the distorted spending priorities shown in the current federal budget.

Nelofar

“My daughter, who was sleeping with us in the courtyard, was hit by the bomb’s shrapnel in her head, and she died on the spot,” said Mr. Mohammed.   Nelofar's uncle Shukrullah was also killed.

Aziz

After 33 days in Tor Jail, Aziz* was transferred to the larger jail, where he was held for 2.5 years. The owner of the house was held almost as long. Aziz was recently released and said:

Palwasha

Unfortunately, 13 people were killed that day and more than 40 were injured. Palwasha’s mother, Rose, was hit by shrapnel, which tore through her abdomen. Palwasha was also hit and taken to a hospital in Ghazni. Palwasha survived, but sadly, the tiny metal shard severed the six year old’s spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed.