There is a sense of relief that many here in the U.S. feel after the presidential election, but we understand this is a time to step up our organizing for peace and economic justice\u2014including the growing movement to close and withdraw the nearly 1,000 U.S. military bases located in foreign nations.<\/p>\n
From Okinawa and Guam to Honduras, Germany, Iraq, and beyond people who have suffered from the abuses inherent to foreign military bases have been calling for their withdrawal. People in the U.S. have joined this call, outraged by the damage done by U.S. bases abroad and by their expense, which diverts $138 billion a year from addressing human needs and revitalizing our economy.<\/p>\n
Representatives of 15 organizations have come together to organize a national conference for the closing and withdrawal of military bases. The goals of the conference are:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Share information about U.S. foreign military bases and resistance;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Develop new strategies and expand the U.S. anti-bases movement;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Integrate anti-bases organizing into a more coherent movement;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Raise the visibility of the U.S. and international anti-bases movements;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Apply pressure on Congress;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Close and reduce the number of foreign bases.<\/p>\n
The conference will feature base opponents from many \u201chost\u201d nations and will include leading activists as keynote speakers, panelists and workshop facilitators.<\/p>\n
Monday, March 2, will be a lobbying day on Capitol Hill, in which we encourage as many conference attendees as possible to participate. We\u2019ll provide talking points and group leaders.<\/p>\n
For more info contact:<\/p>\n
GGold@afsc.org<\/p>\n
(617) 661-6130.<\/p>\n
National Project on U.S. Military Bases<\/p>\n
www.projectonmilitarybases.org Participating Organizations:<\/p>\n \u2022 American Friends Service Committee www.projectonmilitarybases.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Security Without Empire: National Organizing Conference on Foreign Military Bases American University, Washington, D.C. Feb. 27-Mar. 2, 2009 Join Us at the Security Without Empire Conference There is a sense of relief that many here in the U.S. feel after the presidential election, but we understand this is a time to step up our organizing … <\/p>\n
\nNational Project on U.S. Military Bases<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 American University Department of Anthropology
\n\u2022 CodePink
\n\u2022 Fellowship of Reconciliation
\n\u2022 Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
\n\u2022 Granny Peace Brigade
\n\u2022 Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific Asian North American Religion at Pacific School of Religion
\n\u2022 Institute for Policy Studies
\n\u2022 International Women’s Network Against Militarism
\n\u2022 Peace Action
\n\u2022 Southwest Workers Union
\n\u2022 U.S. Peace Council
\n\u2022 United for Peace & Justice
\n\u2022 Veterans For Peace
\n\u2022 Women for Genuine Security<\/p>\n