Until 1963, the United States conducted atmospheric nuclear tests. In the process, they blanketed a wide radius with hazardous levels of nuclear fallout, especially affecting parts of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, where most of the tests took place. Decades later, it became clear that people who were living in those areas had drastically increased rates of cancer. Most severely affected were people who were children at the time and frequently drank milk containing large amounts of radiation. When consumed, the fallout gathers in the thyroid gland and may cause thyroid cancer later in life.

In 1990, Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and in the time since, the US government has granted compensation to 16,000 people, amounting to nearly $800 million. However, about 4,000 people have still been denied compensation, and money does not necessarily make up for the terrible consequences of cancer.

This experience is one of many examples of why nuclear testing must be permanently banned and makes clear that the United States Senate should ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). In fact, one of our Women Legislators’ Lobby Pacesetter awardees, Representative Jennifer Seelig (D-UT), has worked hard on this issue, having led the successful 2010 effort in Utah’s House of Representatives to unanimously pass a resolution in support of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

...

For More information about National Downwinders Day and the effects of nuclear testing, go here: http://www.ctbto.org/specials/infamous-anniversaries/27-january-1951-the-first-nuclear-test-at-the-nevada-test-site/

This post was written by WAND DC intern Hayley Anderson. 

As we listened to the President’s speech on Tuesday, we at WAND heard much that we liked. While we were disappointed that some of our core issues weren’t well addressed, we note that in this election year, this isn’t the last significant policy speech we’ll hear. 

Below are some specific highlights and themes from the State of the Union speech that provide us with some hints about the coming year and the agenda that WAND will pursue in 2012. Join WAND this year as we move our agenda to shape the state of the union. Help us to empower women to pursue policies for peace, security and sound budget priorities— you can start by responding to the State of the Union with a letter to the editor! If you’d like help writing and placing a letter, contact Elaina Ramsey.

War and Peace

The President started off his speech by highlighting the return of troops from Iraq and ended it with the killing of Osama Bin Laden.  It was noteworthy that the President emphasized that the “tide of war is turning” and proclaimed that we should, “Take the money we're no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home.”

WAND has been pressing for a focus on nation-building at home since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afhanistan. The President also reminded us that veterans need jobs and health care. WAND would add that this is something we should always remember before we even think about going to war.

The President spoke about beginning a transition in Afghanistan with the aim to “build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan.” We agree, and this year WAND will push for a transition in Afghanistan that provides the foundation for a sustainable peace and fosters Afghan women to play a key role in building this peace. 

Building a Sustainable Economy – Right Investments

The core of the President’s speech focused on developing “a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last,” with an emphasis on creating jobs and investing in education and clean energy. We like that. And we like that he noted that as our nation gets back to work, women should “earn equal pay for equal work.”

We will be better able to make the right investments to create a sustainable economy, if we cut the bloated, excessive Pentagon spending. While the President indicated some cost saving efforts at the Defense Department, we know that there is still too much wasteful, unsustainable spending based on Cold War strategies. Instead, we need the right strategy to provide 21^st century security matched with sustainable spending that preserves economic security. As chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey put it: “It makes no sense at all for us as a nation to have an extraordinarily capable military instrument of power if we are economically disadvantaged around the world.”  We need to invest in teachers, and clean energy jobs not in more nuclear submarines.

Bipartisanship

It’s really worth watching and not just listening to the State of the Union. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, seated with her Republican colleague Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and hugging the President, brought tears to our eyes.  House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has called Giffords the “brightest star Congress has ever seen.” With unmatched eloquence Gabby Giffords has said, “We can do so much more by working together.” 

The President also knows that Washington has to work better to move forward. He said:

[…] None of this can happen unless we also lower the temperature in this town.  We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction; that politics is about clinging to rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common-sense ideas.

National Security Investments/ America’s Role in World

Despite the best intentions of reasonable people, 2012 is an election year and it’s likely to be harder to find agreement about anything. National security is one area where bipartisanship should be an imperative. How can there possibly be disagreement about issues like preventing nuclear terrorism.  Every American wants the United States to be a leader in the world for peace and security, and a favorite line for us was:

From the coalitions we’ve built to secure nuclear materials, to the missions we’ve led against hunger and disease…. America is back.

Anyone who tells you otherwise, anyone who tells you that America is in decline or that our influence has waned, doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

In the coming year we will urge bipartisan support from Congress and the President to make sure that investments and efforts to secure nuclear materials are strengthened and sustained.'

Join WAND this year as we work to establish sound budget priorities to provide peace and security to support human security and foster sustainable peace. You can get involved now:

• On February 3, you’re invited to a Conference Call with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis about job investments and women.
• Stay tuned for fact sheets, webinars and action opportunities addressing federal budget priorities and cuts to excessive military spending.   

We hope you’ll continue act and engage to improve the state of our union with WAND!

The NAP is the outcome of a process that began over a decade ago with the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which encouraged the UN and its member states to integrate a "gender perspective" in all aspects of peace and security. In October 2004, a subsequent Security Council Presidential Statement called on the “development of national action plans” to further implement SCR 1325.

The NAP states that the US will "institutionalize a gender-responsive approach to its diplomatic, development, and defense-related work in conflict affected environments," and will work to increase women's rights and "substantive participation in peace processes, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, transitional processes, and decision making institutions in conflict-affected environments." In institutionalizing this framework, the United States joins over 30 countries that already have adopted similar foreign policies to promote the welfare and the security of women and girls.

In an address yesterday at Georgetown University, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it is time for the U.S. to “fundamentally change the ways we do business” with regards to women’s issues and implored the audience to join the fight for equal protections and opportunities for women the world over.
Nowhere is this lesson more applicable than in Afghanistan, as we look to move away from war toward a political peace process that can and should include women’s voices. Civil society cannot exist harmoniously without the equal participation of women. After 10 long years of war, States must make a commitment to provide for long-term, sustainable investments in development programs that support and empower Afghan women.

“Too few (women) are empowered to be instruments of peace and security,” Secretary Clinton said yesterday. “That is an unacceptable waste of talent.” To build a stronger Afghan civil society that fosters gender equality and human rights, more women’s voices must be heard and recognized. In an attempt to draw conflicts to an end sooner, the NAP will expand women’s participation “before, during and after” wartime.

As Secretary Clinton emphasized, “women are not just the victims of war. They are agents of peace.” The time has come not only to end the war in Afghanistan, but to also ensure that women play a prominent role in the peacemaking process, taking a seat at the tables of power during all phases of negotiation.

Resources:

• National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security
• NAP fact sheet
• White House blog by Valerie Jarrett

You can read her letter to the editor here.

"Our own military budget and the belligerent rhetoric of our political candidates show that preparation for war doesn’t slow down even as its possibilities are lessened. "

WAND encourages all of our board members, chapter members, and activists to actively engage with the media. If you want help or tips in reaching out to write your own letter to the editor, you can check out our web resources here or contact Field Coordinator, Elaina Ramsey at eramsey@wand.org.

 December 15, 2011

Congressional Wrapping for 2011, Budget Packages for 2012

This week, Congress is working to untangle knotty spending and related issues, and heading home for the holidays.

Defense Authorization

The Senate and House have just reconciled their different versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2012.  The final measure contains controversial and disheartening provisions about detainees and authorization of military force that many say over-militarize our national security response to terrorism and endanger civil liberties. These provisions have led some advocates to call on lawmakers to oppose the bill. The White House, however, backed down on previous threats to veto the NDAA.

Afghanistan: We were pleased when, at the end of November, the Senate adopted the bipartisan Merkley amendment by voice vote in its version of the NDAA. This amendment called on the President to submit a plan for "expediting the drawdown of United States combat troops in Afghanistan." Unfortunately, the final NDAA changes the intent of this legislation. The language calling for accelerated drawdown of US troops is changed to accelerated "expansion of the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces." As it is now written, the provision fails to address the need to bring our troops home. It instead encourages a prolonged effort at an "enduring partnership."

Nuclear Weapons: With regard to nuclear weapons provisions, the final NDAA is an improvement over the House  bill – eliminating or scaling back objectionable measures and thus preserving Congress’ oversight responsibilities with regard to U.S. nuclear weapons policy. There were also some positive signs that a closer look at cutting excessive spending on nuclear weapons and related activities could be coming. For example, the NDAA requires a report assessing the costs and options for a fewer number of nuclear submarines than previously planned. The final NDAA also eliminates a $100 million increase for a ground-based midcourse missile defense system that the House had included. Finally, while a record high amount of $7.3 billion is provided for nuclear weapons complex “weapons activities,” this is  $355 million less than the President& rsquo;s budget had requested.

Stay tuned for more WAND analysis of the final outcome of the NDAA

FY 2012 Appropriation

Also this week, Congress plans to complete its overdue Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget. (The fiscal year began October 1, 2011.)  A Continuing Resolution providing funding at last year’s level is set to expire on December 16. There is a packaged “omnibus” appropriation measure prepared that would finalize the budget for FY 2012, but now this must-pass measure is being tied up with consideration of payroll taxes. Most observers believe that in the end a deal will be struck – there will not be a government shut down and Members of Congress will be home for Christmas. How exactly this will be done is not yet clear. 

Super Committee Failure – Sequestration Cuts and Jobs

Just before Thanksgiving, the so-called “Super Committee”, or the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, failed to make any recommendation for deficit reductions over the coming decade, triggering automatic cuts –or “sequestration.” These sequestration cuts are planned to go into effect on January 1, 2013 and the Department of Defense is in line for a portion of the automatic cuts. Some have been seeking changes to exempt the Pentagon from these cuts.  This debate will continue through the coming year. It should be noted that exempting the Pentagon from cuts will mean that deeper cuts are forced upon other budget priorities.

New Study on Job Creation Released!

Several years ago, a study by economists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed that military spending is less effective at creating jobs than investments in education, healthcare, clean energy or tax cuts. We’re excited to announce we have an updated version of this study! Once again, the economists found that military spending is a relatively poor job creator. With Congress engaged in heated debates about how to tackle unemployment and government spending, this updated study couldn't come at a better time! For more information and resources, please check out the military spending page on our website. Make sure your members of Congress know that you don’t want your tax dollars spent on programs that don’t keep us safer and don’t create as many jobs as other investments!

For more about how the budget process works (or how it’s supposed to work), see our guide: Budget Process Basics.

The Coming  Holidays -- Counting our Blessings

WAND Executive Director, Susan Shaer, recently wrote an op-ed that was picked up by multiple papers throughout the country. The holidays provide a time of reflection and gratitude for what we have in the United States. Read Susan's op-ed and remember that even during these difficult times, we are truly fortunate.

As we celebrate the good news that our troops in Iraq are coming home for the holidays, we’re also pushing forward to expedite homecoming for troops in Afghanistan. As you reflect on this past decade of war and the toll it has taken, we especially recommend this op-ed: Our Children Will Finally Learn that Wars Can and Do End by Ryan McDermott.

WiLL

Earlier this month David Cortright of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame gave our WiLL state directors a broad overview of the status of women in Afghanistan. As we continue our work addressing the war in Afghanistan and women in Afghanistan, please be on the lookout for more opportunities to take action in the coming months! David will be speaking around the country. If you’d like to host him, please let us know! For further information, please contact Maureen Campbell at mcampbell@wand.org or 202-544-5055 ext. 2603.

WiLL Pacesetter Rep. Karen Camper authored an excellent letter to the editor about the importance of nuclear non-proliferation funding. Read it here.

And don’t forget to check out our Pacesetter profiles at www.willwand.org! Once a week, we highlight one of the 10 WiLL members who received Pacesetter awards at the 2011 WiLL/WAND conference. These incredible, inspiring women represent just a portion of the great work done by WiLL members all over the country! We’re looking forward to working with our WiLL members in the new year!

Three New Endorsements for 2012!

WAND PAC is pleased to announce the endorsement of three new progressive women running for Congress in 2012.

Running in CA-51 is former State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny. During her 12 years serving in both chambers of the state legislature, Ducheny was the first woman and first Latino to chair the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and worked tirelessly to reform welfare, promote renewable energy projects, and invest in education and infrastructure.

Former Chief of Police Val Demings is running for Congress in FL-08. Demings became the first woman appointed Chief of Police in Orlando in 2007. During her tenure, Demings reduced incidences of robbery, shootings and murders in Orlando by forty percent before retiring after 27 years in the force.

In NM-01, County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham is running for Congress. Grisham currently serves as the Bernalillo County Commissioner in New Mexico and is a health care consultant. She formerly served as Director of the Agency on Aging in New Mexico for 14 years and in 2004 was appointed Secretary of Health. Grisham also co-founded a small business specializing in management and consulting services for non-profits in health care reform.

Learn more about WAND PAC candidates on our website  and be sure to support progressive women in 2012!

 Chapter and Field News 

New Advocacy Resources Available!

In this season of giving, WAND has created a number of new resources to help you promote peace in your communities. Download our Budget Priorities Toolkit to learn more about U.S. military spending. Push for the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by downloading our CTBT Toolkit & Postcards. And be sure to check out our latest advocacy materials for tips on writing effective letters to the editor and making your voice heard at town hall meetings.

WAND Chapters Support the 99%

With creativity and compassion, WAND chapters across the country continue to support local Occupy Wall Street movements in their communities. Occupy Little Rock participants have received food and supplies from Arkansas WAND. Georgia WAND continues to contribute to the Occupy Atlanta movement by supporting anti-foreclosure encampments. And Oregon WAND recently participated in a community conversation with the city Council to support the Occupy Eugene effort. Connect with your local WAND chapter to stand in solidarity with the Occupy movement and the 99%!

Upcoming Events

January 2012 Membership Month

WAND members – mothers, volunteers, activists, professionals, retirees – find that by taking steps together we can create positive change in our communities and, in fact, change the world. Join us in that pursuit by renewing your annual membership or becoming a WAND member in January 2012! Click here to learn about all the great benefits of WAND membership. Suggested annual dues are $50, but please give whatever you can afford. Your WAND membership counts no matter what amount you decide to give.

Take Action!

The Occupy movements show that we have to speak out loudly for an economy that works for all of us. Watch this short video about The Story of Broke . Learn how we can invest in the 21^st century green economy by reprioritizing our spending away from wasteful government subsidies and the bloated Pentagon budget.  

Then, encourage the youth in your community to participate in the 2^nd annual If I Had a Trillion Dollars Youth Film Festival. This contest allows young people to demonstrate what they would do with a trillion dollars if we weren’t spending it on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans or on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Winners get a free trip to Washington, DC to showcase their videos to members of Congress! ]]> http://www.wand.org/2011/12/16/wands-december-bulletin/feed/ 0 http://www.wand.org/2011/12/15/sayre-sheldon-in-the-boston-globe-on-the-end-of-the-iraq-war/ http://www.wand.org/2011/12/15/sayre-sheldon-in-the-boston-globe-on-the-end-of-the-iraq-war/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:33:01 +0000 Elizabeth Holland http://www.wand.org/?p=3653 On Sunday, December 11th WAND's President Emerita Sayre Sheldon had a letter to the editor published in The Boston Globe. The link to the letter is here or you can read it below.

True war cost must include tally of Iraqi's losses

LINDA J. Bilmes estimates that the Iraq war will cost the United States a staggering $4 trillion, plus a human cost that will continue here for years ( “What have we learned?’’ Op-ed, Dec. 7). She alludes to the remaining problems in Iraq. Yet only if we in this country really face the results of the war for Iraqis can the entire cost of the conflict be understood. Iraqi deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands, millions remain in exile, living conditions have deteriorated to a level far below pre-war conditions, and violence continues to take civilian lives. We cannot blame ourselves entirely for these results, but we need to factor them into the cost of this war, or any war.

WAND celebrates this news.

We are also pushing forward to expedite homecoming for troops in Afghanistan.

As we reflect on this past decade of war and the toll it has taken, we especially recommend this op-ed Our Children Will Finally Learn that Wars Can and Do End by Ryan McDermott.

 

In going to war, I learned to better appreciate the basic things that life offers more than I did before, such as holding my son. Hopefully, our leaders of this and subsequent generations will learn that wars always require more sacrifice than expected and that the human costs continue even after the troops come home. Perhaps we will avoid the next Iraq War. History suggests that the odds are stacked against us.

For our children, who have known only wars that do not end, they will soon learn that wars can and do end.

-Originally published in The Huffington Post

Indonesia's endorsement makes it the 156th country to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The Asian state was among nine remaining countries whose ratifications are required for the treaty that was negotiated in the mid-1990s to take effect. There are eight countries still left to ratify the CTBT including the U.S., China, India, Iran and Israel.

To read a full article on Indonesia's recent ratification, please go here.

To check out WAND's information on the CTBT, please go here.

SUPER COMMITTEE DEADLINE

The so-called “Super Committee”, or the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, is on the brink of its due date for making recommendations for at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions over the next decade. The committee is scheduled to finalize their legislative proposal the day before Thanksgiving, November 23.  Negotiations, rumors and speculation are running rampant on the Hill, but progress in any given direction is unclear.  Please take the time today to let the Super Committee know that you think they should cut excessive Pentagon spending. Send them a message here

After the Super Committee makes its recommendations, Congress will have to approve the recommendations by December 23. If the Super Committee fails to agree on a recommendation, or Congress does not approve the recommendation for sufficient deficit reduction, a set of automatic cuts –or “sequestration”- will go into effect. Under sequestration, the Department of Defense is in line for automatic cuts. The administration, defense contractors and some in Congress are already finding ways to make sure that the automatic sequestration cuts are changed so that the Pentagon won’t be cut. Among scare tactics, defense industry advocates have made some fairly outrageous claims about the number of defense jobs that would be lost and the negative effect this would have on the economy. We know that, in fact, federal spending in the defense sector creates far fewer jobs than spending in other sector such as education, energy and environment, or healthcare.

For more on WAND’s take on the defense industry’s campaign opposing Department of Defense cuts, see a recent blog post written by WAND Public Policy Director, Kathy Robinson.

For more on military spending and job creation see Military Spending: A Poor Job Creator by William Hartung.

Join us on our December 13 webinar with Chris Hellmann of the National Priorities Project, "After the Super Committee: What's Next?"

2012 SPENDING

Congress is now also working to complete its overdue Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget. This week both the House and Senate must approve an extension of the current Continuing Resolution which is providing place-holder funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 that started at the end of September.  It is anticipated that this time a short extension to mid-December will easily pass both chambers – no threat of government shutdown this time.

ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS: Meanwhile, in order to get the final FY 2012 spending allocation done, the Senate has been striving to work through appropriation bills but running into difficulty. This week the Senate began considering  the Energy and Water Development Appropriation (which includes spending on nuclear weapons and nuclear nonproliferation programs), but progress has stalled and it is not clear when work on the measure will be completed.

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION: The Senate is planning to take up the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on November 17.This measure could have a number of possible amendments related to Pentagon spending, Afghanistan policy and nuclear weapons, although amendments may be limited as the Senate tries to get the bill done and leave for its Thanksgiving recess.

Check our website for a summary of significant outcomes from the Senate in the coming week.

For more about how the budget process works, see our guide: Budget Process Basics.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

There have been a number of Republican Presidential debates already, but Saturday November 12, was the first nationally broadcast debate focused on national security issues. On Tuesday, November 22, CNN will hold another debate focused on national security issues. You can submit questions to CNN and then join WAND for live twitter discussion of the debate. It’s so much more fun to be tweeting with friends during these debates!

Learn more about taking part in the debate here.

Read WAND's own Kathy Robinson's reflections on the November 12th debates here.

TIME TO SPEAK UP

These budget battles provide numerous opportunities to highlight budget priorities and raise concerns about excessive military spending. Would you like to write a letter to the editor, op-ed or blog about this? Or maybe you have an opportunity to speak up while visiting with your Member of Congress, attending a public gathering, or participating in a radio show discussion. We are happy to help you with talking points, tips and other support, just contact Elaina Ramsey, Field Coordinator at 202-544-5055

WiLL

This year four states elected new state legislators. New Jersey, Mississippi and Virginia have completed their elections and Louisiana will hold runoff elections on November 19. Unfortunately, it is certain that the number of women state legislators will once again drop this year. This is why we partner with groups like The 2012 Project, which encourages more women to run for office! We will be hard at work recruiting newly elected women to join WiLL’s ranks and working to engage women already serving!

Please check out our Pacesetter profiles at www.willwand.org! Once a week, we highlight one of the 10 WiLL members who received Pacesetter awards at the 2011 WiLL/WAND conference. These incredible, inspiring women represent just a portion of the great work done by WiLL members all over the country!

WAND PAC is pleased to announce the endorsement of two new candidates in the 2011-2012 election cycle!

Oregon State Senator Suzanne Bonamici is running in a special election for Oregon's first Congressional district! Suzanne was appointed to the state Senate and elected to her Senate seat in 2008 and 2010. As a state legislator, she has led the fight for consumer protections and education. The seat in Oregon’s first district opened up when Congressman David Wu resigned. The special election will be held on January 31, 2012.

Two-term State Representative Kelda Roys is running for Congress in Wisconsin's 2nd District! At age 32, Representative Roys is the youngest woman in the Wisconsin State Assembly and serves as Caucus Chair, representing Wisconsin’s 81^st District in Northwestern Dane County. Kelda has continuously proven her great leadership by pushing for various progressive issues and fighting tirelessly against Gov. Scott Walker’s proposition to remove workers' rights from public employees.

Our WAND PAC Endorsees support the goals that WAND holds dear: a reduction in violence and militarism and redirection of excessive military resources to unmet human and environmental needs. We want to help these progressive women candidates to change the face of Congress!

Chapter and Field News 

David Cortright Visits Arkansas WAND

Arkansas WAND hosted David Cortright of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice to discuss his book, Ending Obama's War: Responsible Military Withdrawal from Afghanistan, at the Clinton School for Public Service on November 3. The next day Cortright visited with and encouraged Occupy Little Rock participants and students at the Pulaski Academy and the University of Arkansas' Little Rock to practice nonviolence. David and his wife Karen Jacob (WAND Inc. Board Chair) also participated in the November 5 community dedication of Arkansas WAND’s Beacon of Peace and Hope monument and the Peace Garden. It was an inspiring and memorable visit for all!

WAND Members Receive the Janice Kelley Volunteer Award

Congratulations to Debbie Goolsby of Arkansas WAND and Annie Laura Stephens of Georgia WAND for receiving the Janice Kelley Volunteer Award! Both women were honored at the 2011 WiLL/WAND National Conference for their activism and commitment to building a more peaceful world. Click here to learn more about these incredible women.

Nominate the Next WAND Member of the Month

Know a dedicated WAND member? Here’s your chance to nominate your fellow member to be featured in the next E-bulletin as the WAND Member of the Month! Simply send your nomination(s) and a brief description of each candidate to WAND Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey at eramsey@wand.org.

Upcoming Events

Oregon WAND to Host Two Great Events

On November 17, Oregon WAND member Pat Hoover will share her personal story as a “downwinder” affected by Hanford, a former nuclear weapons production site in south central Washington State. The following day, Dr. Bob Gould of Physicians for Social Responsibility will speak about the health risks associated with nuclear weapons. For more information about both of these events, click here.

Donor Spotlight on Susan and Andrew Magdanz.

For the third year in a row Susan and Andy are opening the doors to their Avon Place Glass Studio in Cambridge to host a WAND fundraiser.  This unique event gives guests an opportunity to attend a festive holiday cocktail reception while previewing the latest collection of glass pieces designed by expert glass blowing artists. It is yet another way our supporters offer their resources to raise money for WAND. We thank them and encourage all to come by to check out the 3^rd Annual Glass Sale on December 9^th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

For ticket information please go here.

If you are interested in hosting an event for WAND, please contact Mahua Heath at mheath@wand.org or call 781-643-6740.

Take Action!

WAND has partnered with the producers of a short film called The Story of Broke to call for a shift away from military spending and government subsidies and toward investments in the 21^st century green economy. Watch The Story of Broke to support our year-long campaign to rebuild our economy!

Then help fix our economy by visiting the online suggestion box of the Super Committee to send this message: “Much of the unchecked Pentagon spending is directed at last-century strategies, leaving us vulnerable as we fail to address 21^st century security needs. Pentagon spending discipline is needed to contribute to deficit reduction and to maintain our nation’s economic strength and security. Cut Pentagon spending, not human needs!”

Make sure to mark your calendars for WAND's upcoming webinars!

• TODAY: Thursday, November 17 at 3:00pm ET
  Women Strike for Peace: 50 Years and Counting
  Join WAND's Public Policy Director Kathy Robinson as she takes us through the history of Women Strike for Peace and reminds us why the work of WSFP is so important today.
  Sign up here. 

• Tuesday, December 13 at 3:00pm ET
  After the Super Committee: What's Next? with Chris Hellman of the National Priorities Project
  Sign up here.

Sign up and learn more about these webinars by clicking here.

Thank you for all of your hard work!

The United States isn’t broke; we’re the richest country on the planet and a country in which the richest among us are doing exceptionally well. But the truth is, our economy is broken, producing more pollution, greenhouse gasses and garbage than any other country. In these and so many other ways, it just isn’t working. But rather than invest in something better, we continue to keep this ‘dinosaur economy’ on life support with hundreds of billions of dollars of our tax money. The Story of Broke calls for a shift in government spending, including military spending, toward investments in clean, green solutions that can deliver jobs AND a healthier environment (sounds a lot like WAND's mission, right?). It’s time to rebuild the American Dream; but this time, let’s build it better.

To learn more about what WAND has been doing to help shift the federal budget debate, please visit our resources page here.

Check out the Story of Broke video below:
•