- The American Friends Service Committee's Youth & Militarism site offers
resources for young people concerned about making their way in the
world. Here they can find help with understanding the reality behind
military recruitment pitches, conscientious objection, and non-military
career alternatives.
- Bring Them Home Now consists of military families, veterans, active
duty personnel, reservists, and others opposed to the ongoing war in
Iraq. “Without just cause for war, we say bring the troops home now!”
- Call to Conscience is a group of veterans representing a variety
of different political perspectives and experiences. “We feel that, as
veterans of the U.S. military, we need to speak directly to the troops
who are being deployed to Iraq for Bush War II.”
- The Center on Conscience & War (CCW) works to defend and
extend the rights of conscientious objectors. The Center is committed
to supporting all those who question participation in war, whether they
are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, documented or undocumented
immigrants, or citizens in other countries.
(202) 483-2220, (800) 379-2679
- Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors supports and
promotes individual and collective resistance to war and preparations
for war. CCCO offers extensive information, including the basics for
applying for CO status.
(510) 465-1617, (215) 563-8787
- Citizen Soldier is a GI rights organization offering a wide variety of
resources on current and historical topics.
(212) 679-2250
- Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft (COMD) challenges the military, its effect on society, its budget, its role abroad
and at home, and the racism, sexism, and homophobia that are inherent
in the armed forces.
(760) 753-7518, (619) 265-1369
- Courage To Resist is a group of concerned community members, veterans,
and military families that supports military objectors to illegal war
and occupation and the policies of empire. They support GI resistance,
counter-recruitment, and draft resistance.
484 Lake Park Ave # 41, Oakland CA 94610
510-488-3559
- GI Rights Hotline is a network of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations;
it provides information to service members about military
discharges, grievance and complaint procedures, and other civil rights.
(800) 394-9544, (215) 563-4620
- Gold Star Families for Peace is affiliated with Military Families
Speak Out. “We - as families of soldiers who have died as a result of
war (primarily but not limited to the invasion/occupation of Iraq) - are
organizing to be a positive force in our world, to bring our country’s
sons and daughters home from Iraq, to minimize the ‘human cost’ of
this war, and to prevent other families from (experiencing) the pain
we are feeling as the result of our losses. We are also hoping to be
lifetime support for each other through our losses.”
- Iraq Veterans Against the War welcomes anybody who has served
in the military (active duty, national guard, and reservists) since
September 11, 2001. (Military members who are currently serving
can be guaranteed confidentiality.) The main objectives of IVAW are:
1. Bring the troops home now; 2. Support Iraqi reconstruction in
whatever way possible; 3. Support our veterans and our troops now
and upon their return home.
(215) 241-7123
- Military Families Speak Out is an organization of people who are
opposed to the war in Iraq and who have relatives or loved ones in the
military. Membership currently includes over 2,000 military families.
(617) 983-0710
- The National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force assists
those working on military law issues as well as military law counselors
working directly with GIs. It trains and mentors counselors and
beginning military law attorneys in all aspects of military law through
training materials and direct communication. It updates changes in
military law and policy.
(415) 566-3732, (619) 233-1701
- National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth
(NNOMY) brings together national, regional, and local organizations
to oppose the growing intrusion of the military in young people’s
lives. NNOMY can help the nation understand that providing youth with peaceful and viable alternatives for achieving success in life is an
important sign of a civilized society.
(215) 241-7176
- PeaceAware promotes peaceful alternatives to local, national, and
global conflicts. Secondary school students or their parents can
download a Section 9528 Request (Opt-Out Form for Secondary
Students). The submission of this form to school officials requires them to refrain
from sharing a student’s personal information with military recruiters,
in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
- Peace-Out Veterans provide guidance to individuals considering the
conscientious-objector option.
- Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (Project
YANO) provides young people with an alternative point of view
about military enlistment. “Many of our members are armed forces
veterans who believe that high school students are getting a distorted
picture of the military and war from recruiting ads and marketing. We
are concerned that many low-income students and students of color
are being diverted away from higher education and into the military,
where they are found in disproportionate numbers. Our goal is to
help young people make educated decisions about their future. We
encourage them to think critically, search for more information, and
then make up their own minds.”
- Soldier, Say No is the website of Right to Resist, a network of former
soldiers and war resisters working to support the war resisters of today.
Soldier, Say No provides counseling resources for military personnel
considering their options, information on international law and laws
of war, testimony from Iraq war veterans, and more.
- Veterans Against the Iraq War is a coalition of U.S. veterans who
support our troops but oppose war with Iraq or any other nation that
does not pose a clear and present danger to our people and nation. They say: “Support the troops; oppose the policy.”
(201) 876-0430
- The organization Veterans for Peace (VfP) includes veterans from
World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, other conflicts, and
peacetime veterans. Members believe that U.S. citizens will be secure
at home only when there is peace and justice abroad. VfP seeks to
abolish war as an instrument of international policy.
contact
(314) 725-6005
- The War Resisters League affirms that all war is a crime against
humanity. See their Youth and Counter-Militarism Program and Revolution
Out of Truth and Struggle (ROOTS).
Both campaigns promote
nonviolence, justice, and an end to the militarization of youth.
For general WRL, (212) 228-0450; for Y & C-M P, (212) 228-0450, xt. 102 or
For ROOTS:
Other Peace-in-Iraq and SOA Watch Resources
- Voices in the Wilderness (VITW) was formed in 1996 to nonviolently
challenge the economic warfare being waged by the United
States against the people of Iraq, and to end the U.S. occupation of
Iraq. Testimonies of VITW members staying in Iraq, and extensive
information on U.S. policy there, are available at their website.
See also Voices for Creative Nonviolence
- Join the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) in calling on Congress to introduce and pass the Sensible Transition
to Enduring Peace (STEP) Resolution, which states that the United
States will withdraw all U.S. troops and bases from Iraq. This simple
resolution will build unity on a policy of peace for Iraq.
(800) 630-1330, (202) 547-6000
- Photojournalist Linda Panetta focuses on cultural, environmental,
and human rights, with particular emphasis on conflict zones (some
past, some current), including Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia,
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti. She also has chronicled SOA Watch’s annual November vigil and civil disobedience at Ft. Benning,
GA.
(215) 473-2162
- SOA Watch (SOAW) ;works to stand in solidarity with the
people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC, and to
change the oppressive U.S. foreign policy that the SOA represents. Numerous videos,
books, a newsletter, and other activist tools are available at their website. Follow this link.
National SOA Watch office:
(202) 234-3440
NEW RESOURCES!
-
The Wounded Warrior Call Center is a hotline for injured, wounded, or ill (former and current)
Marines, sailors supporting Marine units, and their family members. They offer information, resources, and advocacy
for men and women suffering from physical or psychological wounds. 1-877-487-6299
-
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and pressing 1,
you will be connected with round-the-clock access to mental health professionals who focus solely on helping veterans.
-
SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) —
This nonprofit's mission is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma, and serve as a resource for those touched by suicide.
According to the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), "Suicide is a very real threat for veterans. A recent CBS news investigation found that, in 2005, veterans were twice as likely to commit suicide as non-vets, with 120 veteran suicides each week. Those of us who are between the ages of 20-24 have the highest rate of suicides, between 2–4 times higher than our civilian peers."
-
Vets 4 Vets is a peer support group for recent veterans. In weekend workshops and local groups, veterans talk and listen to each other to help heal from negative wartime and military experiences. Contact them to find out about upcoming workshops. 520-319-5500
-
National Veterans Foundation is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that gives assistance,
information, and resources to veterans from all military branches. 1-888-777-4443
-
Clifford Cornell Support Site—
From “The Truth Of Cliff's Journey To Resist The Iraq War”:
“Like so many other young people who join the military, Cliff joined seeking a way to afford a college education. And like so many others, when the recruiter told him something Cliff believed the recruiter. So many people fall into this trap because they trust their government. The problem with this is that the military does not work by the same rules as the goverment. In my opinion, many military recruiters can be equated to slick used car salesmen, they are the snake oil merchants of today. And just like the used car salesman they will say anything or promise anything to get people to sign on the dotted line....”
-
Combat Paper Project — “...The goal is to utilize art as a means to help veterans reconcile their personal experiences as well as broaden the traditional narrative surrounding service, honor and the military culture. Through papermaking workshops veterans use their uniforms worn in combat to create cathartic works of art. The uniforms are cut up, beat and formed into sheets of paper. Veterans use the transformative process of papermaking to reclaim their uniform as art and begin to embrace their experiences as a soldier in war....”
or by postal mail at Green Door Studio, 4 Howard Street, Suite G-1, Burlington, VT 05401; or by phone at 802.316.1124.
|