March Bulletin Posted
 March is Women’s History Month!
WAND will be celebrating women all month long in honor of Women’s History Month! Keep your eyes peeled for op-eds, blogs and articles highlighting women history-makers for peace and security. Stay tuned for more!
WAND NEWS WAND Releases Annual Budget Letter for Organizations
Congress is in the midst of an epic budget battle. Drastic funding cuts are proposed for vital programs like education and health care, while the bloated Pentagon budget grows. This is the time to weigh in about our nation’s budget priorities! On Friday, WAND began circulating an annual budget letter calling on Congress to cut excessive military spending and support smart budget priorities. The letter will be delivered to all members of Congress by the end of next month. We invite any organizations that you know– community, religious, human needs, environmental, women’s organizations and others– to sign onto this letter to Congress. Please help us to gather hundreds of organizations to sign this letter! For more information on the budget letter and how you can get involved, please visit WAND’s website. Tell the Senate – Fund Programs to Secure Loose Nukes
In April 2010, President Obama hosted 47 nations at a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. where world leaders pledged their support to secure vulnerable nuclear materials. Numerous bipartisan reports have highlighted the urgency of the danger and warned that more needs to be done to prevent nuclear terrorism. Many Senators voiced concerns about nuclear terrorism in the course of debate on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) and Congress was set to approve FY 2011 funding increases requested by the Administration for programs that would secure vulnerable nuclear materials. Unfortunately these funds were not secured and in the current budget battles these programs are in serious jeopardy. The recently passed House Continuing Resolution would drastically cut funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Nonproliferation programs by 22% (more than $600 million) below the Administration’s FY 2011 Request. Funding must be increased to maintain U.S. leadership in these crucial efforts. One example of an especially important program is the NNSA Nonproliferation's Global Threat Reduction Initiative. Without a funding increase, this program would face dangerous and costly delays in completing critical conversion, removal, and protection activities in Russia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, and Mexico. However, within NNSA’s Nonproliferation account, there is one expensive program that has nothing to do with securing vulnerable nuclear weapons materials outside of the United States. Instead, the U.S. plutonium disposition MOX (Mixed Oxide) program funds U.S. facilities that would run weapons plutonium in commercial reactors. This program faces cost over-runs and poses serious health, safety and (ironically) proliferation dangers. MOX should not be allowed to “divert resources from high-priority overseas nonproliferation activities” as Congressional conferees warned in FY 2010. Please write to your Senators and ask them to restore money to NNSA’s Nonproliferation programs and assert that these funds be directed only to programs that secure vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide. See sample letter here. If you are interested in writing a letter to the editor on this subject please contact Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey eramsey@wand.org |
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The WiLL budget letter has launched! |
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Chapter and Field News The Real State of the Union Georgia WAND hosted their ninth annual “Real State of the Union,” featuring noted Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jay Bookman sharing his perspective on the state of American politics. Tom Neilson, a political satirist and folk musician, also performed. The event was a success with 180 people in attendance! Watch videos of the event here.
Spreading the vision of WAND Northern Indiana WAND President and WAND Inc. board chair Karen Jacob gave a stellar presentation about WAND at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN on February 14! As a renowned peace activist in the South Bend area, Karen was asked to share with students about the value of “Women Empowered for Peace: Models of Change and Hope.” What a great way to spread the mission of WAND! To read more about Karen’s presentation, click here. “Women Call for Peace” Art Exhibit Arkansas WAND board member Anncha Briggs organized a spectacular reception for the "Women Call for Peace: Global Vistas" art exhibit on February 24. There was a panel discussion about the exhibit, exploring the relationship between art and activism. Former Arkansas First Lady and guest of honor Betty Bumpers spoke about the U.S. Institute of Peace. Betty Bumpers is the founder of Peace Links and serves on the advisory board of Arkansas WAND. Check out some pictures of the reception! Fashion Resistance to Militarism In collaboration with the University of Oregon, the savvy members of Oregon WAND hosted their second annual “Fashion Resistance to Militarism” on February 25. They produced an eye-catching expose of how militarism has seeped into our homes, our closets and our minds. This unique show features original designs that challenge some pervasive assumptions about militarism and uncovers all the ways that war is made to seem normal. The show is so successful that it’s being brought to the birthplace of WAND— Cambridge, MA– for the May 6 Mother’s Day event! Be sure to view pictures of this incredible Fashion Show! Upcoming Events FREE Training on Federal Budget Priorities Our March 10 webinar on federal budget priorities has filled up, but have no fear, we’re hosting another webinar! Federal Budget Priorities: Our Values Your Voice will be presented on Monday, March 14 at 1pm ET by the National Priorities Project and WAND. Our Values Your Voice will include an updated summary of the Congressional budget process - both fiscal year (FY) 2011 spending and the President’s FY 2012 budget request. We will take a critical look at how unchecked Pentagon spending is adding pressure to make deeper cuts in funding for basic human needs and other investment priorities. We will analyze specific ways the federal budget is affecting states and local communities. Learn how your voice can be heard and how to influence Congress to make budget decisions based on the values we uphold as a nation. Join us Monday, March 14 at 1pm ET for this free, one hour webinar. Registration is required to attend this online training. Contact Elaina Ramsey, WAND Field Coordinator at eramsey@wand.org if you would like to attend. Upcoming Conferences A number of conferences and lobby days that focus on WAND’s issues are coming up in Washington, DC. Check out the links below for more information. Be sure to save the date for our very own WAND/WiLL Conference: September 18-20, 2011.
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Donor Spotlight! Next month WAND will begin a Donor Spotlight program. We'll highlight and honor a different faithful supporter of WAND each month. Stay tuned!
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Don’t forget to ask any organizations you know – community, religious, human needs and others- to sign on to our budget letter. Please write to your Senator and ask them to restore money to NNSA’s nonproliferation programs and assert that these funds be directed only to programs that secure vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide. |
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