WAND Education Fund » WAND Bulletin

WAND’s December Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:03:14 +0000

December 15, 2011

Defense Authorization	FY2012 Appropriations
Super Committee Failure	New Jobs Study
Counting Our Blessings	WiLL
WAND PAC	Chapter and Field Update
Upcoming Events	Take Action

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!

WAND’s November Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:50:22 +0000

Super Committee	2012 Spending
On the Campaign Trail	WiLL
WAND PAC	Chapter & Field News
Upcoming Events	Donor Spotlight
Take Action	Webinar Calendar

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.

Thank you for all of your hard work!

WAND’s October Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:43:42 +0000

Dear WAND Friends,

Happy Friday!

Thank you for your understanding when we decided to skip our September bulletin. We were knee deep in planning our WiLL/WAND conference and couldn't even spare a moment! But don't worry- it's all here this month! You'll find information on our conference and all of the other exciting things we have been working on. Please take a moment today or this weekend to read and enjoy.

Military Spending	Nuclear Weapons
Take Action	WiLL/WAND Conference
WAND PAC	Chapter & Field News
Upcoming Events	Donor Spotlight
Member of the Month	Webinar Calendar

Military Spending and the Federal Budget

From WAND to the Super Committee: How to reduce the deficit

In Congress, the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, or so-called "Super Committee," is meeting to come up with $1.5 trillion in deficit reductions. Congressional committees made formal recommendations to the Super Committee on Friday, Oct. 14. The Super Committee is considering these and other incoming recommendations and will then mark up (write) and vote on its recommendations by November 23. After that, both the House and Senate will vote on the Super Committee recommendations by December 23. All of this means that budget debates are going to be part of the political debate for the remainder of this year – in Congress, in the media and in your home town too.

As Washington takes aim at deficit reduction, we'll be aiming to make sure that lawmakers target the bloated Pentagon budget that makes up over half of annual discretionary spending. We have some ideas about where specific cuts could be made. Here are three examples:

Cut nuclear weapons costs and stop sinking money into nuclear submarines. The 5,000+ nuclear weapons in our Cold War-sized nuclear arsenal and related costs will run up a tab of $700 billion over the next decade. As a prime example, we need to stop sinking money into the multiple nuclear-armed submarines cruising the oceans. They are not keeping us safer from real threats like nuclear terrorism.
Cut the Joint Strike Fighter.This is the biggest weapon system out there, plagued with delays, cost overruns and performance problems- not to mention that we already have superior and dominant fighter plane capabilities. Last week, even General Dempsey acknowledged that this program is a place to look for cost savings. See Dempsey: F-35 Could Be on Chopping Block
Cut back on the armed forces amassed abroad. As Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) says, “We overspend because we are over-extended.” We need to expedite bringing home troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, and we need to lower the number of ground forces we maintain.

To read more about these recommendations, please go here.
To download these recommendations as a PDF, please go here.

Nuclear Weapons and the Deficit

Freeze the Nukes, Fund the Future

Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) submitted a letter last week to the Super Committee proposing substantial cuts in spending on the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal. You can read the letter here.

As the Markey letter indicates, cost savings should come from spending on the Cold War-era U.S. nuclear arsenal which still exceeds 5,000 nuclear weapons. We are now spending about $50 billion per year on nuclear weapons and related costs. The letter says that we should, “freeze the nukes so we can fund the future.”

WAND pushed for calls and letters and our members really came through! A total of 65 U.S. Representatives signed the letter urging the Super Committee to reduce the deficit by cutting nuclear weapons spending! Click here to see if your Representative signed on to the Markey letter.

WAND's activists also helped get their Representatives to sign on to the Lee-Campbell letter for common sense defense spending reform. The bipartisan Lee-Campbell letter had over 35 signatures. Check to see if your Representative signed on.

Take Action!

The deficit reduction work of the Super Committee provides a great opportunity to persuade Congress cut to the bloated Pentagon budget over the next 10 years. In our ailing economy, these cost savings can be redirected to vital programs and human needs that strengthen our economy and our real security.

Visit the online suggestion box of the super committee and 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!”

To include more information about specific Pentagon spending cuts in your message to the super committee, click here.

2011 WiLL/WAND Conference

The 2011 WiLL/WAND Conference was a huge success!

Over 120 state legislators and community activists came to DC on September 18-20 for the 2011 WiLL/WAND conference, “Women at the Table of Power.” WiLL and WAND members from 34 states heard from distinguished speakers, participated in top-notch trainings, and took their message to Capitol Hill! We honored former WiLL member, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen with our Torchbearer Award. Under Secretary of State Ellen Tauscher told the crowd how important women’s voices are in making the world a safer place for all of us. Congresswoman Donna Edwards welcomed participants to our nation’s capitol. The Truman National Security Project and ReThink Media helped participants hone their communications skills.

Check here for more information about the conference!

At each conference we honor a group of outstanding WiLL members with Pacesetter awards for their noteworthy legislative service, their contributions to sound, progressive policy, and their groundbreaking leadership in their respective states.

Check here, here and here to see local coverage of our 2011 legislator Pacesetters!

Thank you to everyone who attended the conference and made it such a success!

WAND PAC Candidates Post Impressive Third Quarter Scores

Congratulations to our 2012 Endorsed Candidates for some impressive fundraising in the third quarter! New campaign finance reports show that NH-02 Democratic challenger Ann Kuster has overtaken incumbent Republican Rep. Charlie Bass in both total fundraising and cash on hand. Florida congressional candidate Lois Frankel (FL-22) raised a whopping $415,000 during the third quarter, marking one of the highest totals of any House challenger during this period! With $474,899, Elizabeth Esty had the most cash on hand among all the Democrats in CT-05. She raised $200,002 during the quarter, putting her close behind the Democratic House Speaker whom she faces in the primary. In Senate elections, Democratic candidate Susan Bysiewicz of Connecticut brought in about half the amount of her opponent, a sitting Congressman. "Connecticut is a state where it's not about having the most resources, it's about having enough,'' says Bysiewicz’s campaign manager, Jonathan Ducote. “We clearly are on a path to having enough.''

WAND PAC is proud to support these four strong candidates! Visit our website for more information about their campaigns and keep an eye out for our next round of endorsements, coming soon!

Chapter and Field News

Susan Cundiff Shares the Latest from DC

As part of their September program, Oregon WAND leader Susan Cundiff reported about her experience at the 2011 WAND/WiLL National Conference in Washington, DC. Susan shared conference highlights, the latest news from Capitol Hill, and the resources available to all members on the national WAND websites ( wand.org and wandactioncenter.org).

Founder of WAND Visits Atlanta

Georgia WAND hosted Dr. Helen Caldicott, the founder of Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (WAND), for several events on October 3 & 4 that raised awareness about the dangers of a nuclear world. As the world’s leading anti-nuclear activist, Dr. Caldicott spoke about the fallout after Fukushima and what the radioactive releases in Japan have meant for the health of its residents, especially women and children.

Nobel Peace Prize Potluck a Success

Arkansas WAND hosted a potluck dinner on October 11 to lift up this year’s three female Nobel Peace Prize winners: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), and Tawakkul Karman (Yemen). These women have shown the utmost in courage and daring in leading peace and democracy movements in their countries. Chapter members and local peace activists met to recognize and discuss the critical role women play in changing the world.

Upcoming Events

Oregon WAND Thinks Fashion Forward

On October 27 Oregon WAND will host a screening of their Fashion Forward DVD. The DVD will be used to market the Fashion Show against Militarism as an Oregon WAND production to be used by other organizations at the local, regional, and national level.

Arkansas WAND to Welcome David Cortright and Karen Jacob

Arkansas WAND has arranged for David Cortright to discuss his book, Ending Obama's War: Responsible Military Withdrawal from Afghanistan, at the Clinton School for Public Service on November 3. The chapter will then hold a lunch reception on November 4 for Karen Jacob, WAND Inc. Board Chair and wife of David Cortright.

Donor Spotlight on Sally Wylde

Long time WAND supporter and former Georgia WAND Board President, Sally Wylde passed away on August 19, 2011. Throughout her life, Sally epitomized the spirit of impact philanthropy through her varied contributions to WAND and other non-profit organizations, most notably as the founding mother of Oakhurst Community Garden Project. Sally’s legacy with WAND includes a generous bequest. This month we honor Sally Wylde’s vibrant life and her forethought in designating WAND in her planned giving. Thank you Sally!

WAND Member of the Month

Congratulations to Fern Katz of Southeast Michigan WAND for being selected as our Member of the Month! Fern has led her local chapter for many years, and serves diligently as the treasurer for the WAND Inc. national board. Learn more about Fern here.

Would you like to nominate an outstanding WAND member to be featured in the next E-bulletin? Simply send your nomination(s) and a brief statement about each candidate to WAND Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey at eramsey@wand.org.

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

Making the Case for Government with Demos
Thurs. October 27, 3:00pm ET

The "Strong on Defense" Myth with Dr. Larry Korb
Wed. November 2, 3:00pm ET

A Year of Opportunity for Women with The 2012 Project
Wed. November 9, 5:00pm ET

Thank you for all of your hard work! Have a great weekend!

WAND’s August Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:39:28 +0000

WAND's August Bulletin

A NEWSFLASH

Dear friends of WAND,

We are hard at work preparing for our biennial conference coming in less than three weeks - September 18-20. Instead of our regular monthly bulletin for August, we put together a quick NEWSLFASH highlighting our work this month.

We'll be back with our regularly scheduled full bulletin after our conference. Until then, read on and enjoy!

After the Debt Ceiling by Kathy Crandall Robinson

Racing to beat an August 2 deadline Congress approved the Budget Control Act, a deal allowing the debt ceiling to be raised and planning for deficit reduction measures. Was voting for the debt ceiling “deal” a necessary but bitter pill, or a “ sugar coated Satan sandwich” as one lawmaker called it? Read a selection of statements from WAND/WiLL women leaders in Congress, some of whom voted yes and some whom voted no, and see what you think. In the end, we agree with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi who said, “It’s not a deal we like, but it’s a done deal.” And now that it is done, we have some suggestions for the next steps in coming budget debates.

Read WAND's suggestions for the next steps here.

As part of the Budget Control Act, a special Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (JSC) was formed to make recommendations for further deficit reduction measures. Of the twelve JSC members (six Senators and six Representatives), only one woman is on this Committee --Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) who co-chairs the JSC. See more about Sen. Murray and other women WAND wished were at this decision making table here.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen to receive 2011 WAND/WiLL Torchbearer Award at our Conference!

For years WAND/WiLL have watched and admired Senator Jeanne Shaheen's (D-NH) success as the first woman in history to be elected as both Governor and a United States Senator. We especially appreciate that the Senator serves on both the Foreign Relations and Armed Service Committees where she plays an important role on crucial security issues. Most recently, Senator Shaheen showed exemplary leadership throughout the debate and eventual ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. We know Senator Shaheen will serve as an inspiration to all of our conference participants!

If you would like to hear Senator Shaheen speak during our Torchbearer Reception on Monday, September 19, please purchase tickets here.

MORE SPEAKERS AT THE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED!

In addition to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, we are pleased to announce

Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) will kick off the conference with opening remarks on Sunday, September 18. On Monday, September 19 Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Ellen Tauscher will be featured as our capstone speaker.

WAND turns 30!

WiLL turns 20!

WAND and WiLL kicked off their anniversary celebrations this month. So what have we been doing for these last 30 years? This list highlights amazing milestones in the world of WAND and WiLL. Check out a blog post celebrating WAND's birthday celebrations along with the birthday of WAND founder Helen Caldicott here.

WAND Webinars

WAND's webinar series is growing! In early August we hosted an informative and timely webinar with DEMOS titled: "Making the Case for Government." It was our largest turnout yet! If you missed this great opportunity to learn about the most effective messages to use when talking about government and the revenues it needs to do its job well, you can check out the power point presentation here.

Today, Wednesday August 24 we will host a webinar with ReThink Media on the art of writing and placing op-eds. The webinar will begin at 3:00pm ET and last approximately one hour. Register for today's webinar here.

WAND’s July Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:45:19 +0000

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Federal Budget and Military Spending

On Friday, July 8 the House completed consideration of the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Appropriations Act, passing it by a vote of 336 to 87. The overall bill provides about $530 billion for the Department of Defense base budget - a $17 billion increase over this year. Additionally, $119 billion is provided for war spending. You can read WAND’s summary of key amendments here.

This week the House is considering the appropriations bill that spends money on nuclear weapons. Please check WAND’s website later this week for a summary of key amendments to this bill.

Even though austerity measures are being imposed for vital programs in the name of deficit reduction, cuts to military spending remain off the table. Barney Frank (D-MA) summed it up well when he said, “The military budget is not on the table. The military is at the table, and it is eating everybody else's lunch.”

Meanwhile, lawmakers are in the midst of intense negotiations to find a way to cut deficit spending and reduce the debt. Nancy Pelosi and 14 other Democratic women recently led a charge in protecting key programs earlier this week. House Minority Leader Pelosi marshaled women, a key constituency, in her attempt to protect Social Security benefits. In a Politico article the Minority Leader is quoted as saying, “We know firsthand the impact of changes in Medicare. We know it because we are women and caregivers….” Read the article here.

Last week, WAND took part in a “Twitter Town Hall Meeting” with President Obama, where he discussed reducing the deficit. We joined the voices of thousands of Americans to ask the President to re-direct U.S. spending away from the Pentagon towards social needs. Make sure you stay connected with WAND on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook so you don’t miss out on these vital opportunities to connect with lawmakers!

If you want to have your voice heard in the federal budget debate, be sure to take our Federal Budget Preference Poll.

Nuclear Weapons – Dangerous and Expensive

This week marks the 66^th anniversary of the first nuclear weapons test explosion - Trinity. On July 16, 1944 at 5:30am MT an explosion produced power equivalent to 20 tons of TNT and shook the desert called Jornada del Muerto (Journey of Death) in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The explosion was the testing of the first nuclear weapon conducted by physicist Robert Oppenheimer. Sixty six years have passed since the testing of the first nuclear weapon and nuclear weapons remain a threat today. The United States and Russia possess the largest portion of the world’s nuclear weapons and we continue to pay the price for these weapons.

In a recent article by Joe Cirincione in The Atlantic Joe Cirincione points out the dangers and financial cost of continuing this nuclear history. The government is planning to spend almost $700 billion on nukes in the next 10 years - equivalent to the cost of the Iraq war over the past decade. To read the full article click here.

Women Legislators' Lobby

On July 1, many states began a new fiscal year, and for the fourth year in a row, most states are operating with significantly slashed budgets. Increasing the difficulties states face, this year the federal stimulus money that many states used to fill in budget gaps will mostly be gone. And although some states brought in slightly more in revenue this year than expected, it will not be enough to close budget shortfalls. We know all of our WiLL members had to make many tough choices and fought valiantly to protect the services on which their constituents count. Thank you for your hard work and public service!

Meanwhile in Washington, DC, the House just passed a defense appropriations bill that will allow defense spending to continue to rise while all other agencies will see their budgets cut (see WAND’s summary here.) Want to do something? Our upcoming conference will address the connections between state budgets and the federal budget. Get up-to-the-minute opinion research on people’s attitudes toward the government and learn how to explain to your community why we can and must responsibly reduce military spending! The conference will be held September 18-20 in Washington, DC. For more information contact Maureen Campbell at 202-544-5055 ext. 2603 or mcampbell@wand.org. Also check out our conference website!

You can also learn more about how best to communicate about government, budget and taxes on our upcoming webinar with Demos on Wednesday, August 3 from 3:00-4:00 pm EDT. Make the case for the critical services and programs you help your state and local governments to provide! For more information contact Maureen Campbell.

WAND PAC Announces First Endorsements for 2012

WAND/WiLL has encouraged women to run for higher office for 30 years and we’re back at it for the 2012 election cycle! Ours is the only political action committee committed to educating and advancing women in the arena of national security.

We’re pleased to announce our first endorsements in 2012! Ann McLane Kuster is running for New Hampshire’s 2^ndCongressional District for the second time. WAND endorsed Ann in her first bid for Congress in 2010, when she came within 1% of winning this seat. We're thrilled that she is running again! In Connecticut, Susan Bysiewicz is running for U.S. Senate. A former WiLL member, Susan served as a state representative for three successive terms from 1992 until 1998. She then served as Connecticut Secretary of State from 1999 to 2011. Both Susan and Ann have been vocal proponents for withdrawal from Afghanistan and are strong advocates of WAND’s issues.

WAND PAC will be keeping an eye on several other 2012 races. Among them are former WiLL member Lois Frankel for FL-22 and and WAND/WiLL woman U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, running for U.S. Senate in Nevada. Visit our 2011-2012 Endorsements website for the most up-to-date endorsement information!

WAND Member of the Month

Congratulations to Caroline Stevenson of Arkansas WAND for being selected as our Member of the Month! Caroline fostered the idea of building the Beacon of Peace and Hope monument and the Peace Garden as a gift to her community to symbolize the struggle to bring peace to the world. Her vision is now a reality with the completion of the monument and garden on the banks of the Arkansas River. Learn more about Caroline here.

Chapter & Field News

Arkansas WAND Celebrates the 4^th of July

Remaining true to tradition, Arkansas WAND celebrated Independence Day on the U.S.S. Razorback Submarine. Guests enjoyed fireworks, music, and food from the deck of the U.S.S. Razorback. Participants also checked out the Beacon of Peace and Hope and the newly planted Peace Garden, located near the docked submarine. A great time was had by all!

Patriot for Peace

Karen Jacob, our WAND Inc. board chair and Northern Indiana WAND chapter leader, published a compelling op-ed for Independence Day. As a patriot for peace, Karen wrote about her values and budget priorities. Her op-ed was published in a number of print and online newspapers around the country. The WAND community is lucky to be represented in the media by Karen!

Georgia WAND Announces a New Blog

To get the scoop on justice issues in Georgia, be sure to read Georgia WAND’s new blog! On July 1 Georgia WAND launched their blog featuring the reflections of local members. Email courtney@wand.org for more information or to contribute blog posts. Check out Georgia WAND’s latest blog articles here.

Upcoming Events

WAND Supports a Nuclear Free Future: July 16

WAND and a number of local groups are sponsoring the Festival for a Nuclear-Free Future on July 16 in Boston, MA. The festival is free and family-friendly. Come and enjoy games, puppets, skits, music, dances, and information about what ordinary citizens can do to promote a saner, safer world without nuclear weapons. Check out the webpage for more information.

Join Oregon WAND in Walking for Peace: July 20-August 8

Oregon WAND invites you to join the Nipponzan Myohoji Annual Peace Walk,July 20-August 8. With the theme "For a Nuclear Free Future in Respect for Mother Earth," the walk serves as a reminder of the critical dangers presented by nuclear weapons and Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. For more information, click here.

Conference
Planning for the 2011 WiLL/WAND conference is in full swing! This year’s conference will be held September 18-20 at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, just minutes away from the Capitol. Our biennial conference is an inspiring and empowering three-day event. Highly regarded media/message trainers will offer valuable skills-building sessions. Dynamic women speakers will discuss women’s political participation and our efforts to create a safer world for generations to come. On the final day, we’ll go to the Capitol to lobby our Senators and Representatives! Maureen Campbell and Elaina Ramsey are co-planning the conference. For more information, call 202-544-5055 or email will@wand.org. Check out our website for more information or to register!

And get involved!!

Join us for a webinar: "Making the Case for Government and the Revenues it Needs to do its Job Well" on Wednesday, August 3 at 3:00pm.

This webinar is being provided in partnership with Public Works: The Demos Center for the Public Sector and will offer compelling and research-driven recommendations about how to communicate about government, budget and taxes in a way that can create a more productive public conversation. You can learn more and sign up for the webinar here.

Don't forget the Federal Budget Poll. WAND wants to know what type of federal budget you support! Take part in our poll here.

June Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:23:15 +0000

The War In Afghanistan

One May 27, the House of Representatives concluded its consideration of the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Despite many measures counter to WAND’s mission adopted in the NDAA, there were also signs of hope in the debate, including amendments on Afghanistan. Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) sponsored an amendment adopted by voice vote that ensures that Afghan women are part of the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. And though it did not pass, the amendment offered by Reps. McGovern (D-MA) and Jones (R-NC) which calls for a timeline for withdrawal garnered 204 votes, the strongest support yet for the President’s promised “accelerated transition” out of Afghanistan. Please also see our summary of the House version NDAA.

In the Senate, a bipartisan letter urging the President to make a "sizeable and sustained" reduction in forces from Afghanistan beginning in July gained much support. The letter was circulated by Senators Merkley (D-OR), Udall (D-NM), and Lee (R-UT) and had the signatures of 27 Senators! The press advisory can be found here.

Thank you to all WAND members and supporters who joined with us in calling Congress to urge support of these important measures!

The President is expected to announce a decision on troop withdrawal this month. Stay tuned to our Action Center next week as we anticipate more debate on Afghanistan in the House and Senate.

Military Spending

Vote for the America you want! Tell Congress which budget you think is best for America. The Senate is writing next year’s budget now. Here’s your chance to weigh-in and share your budget priorities. WAND is partnering with the New Priorities Network to feature a web-based poll on three budget alternatives: President Obama’s fiscal year 2012 budget request, Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity GOP budget, and The People’s Budget released by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. To cast your vote for the federal budget of your choice, click here.

The Women Legislators' Lobby (WiLL)

This is a busy summer for WiLL, ending with our biennial conference in Washington(September 18-20)! We can’t wait for new and longtime members to join us for a great three days in our nation’s capitol. Hone your message skills, meet with your members of Congress, and network with other women legislators and activists! For more information about attending the conference, contact Maureen Campbell at will@wand.org or 202-544-5055 ext. 2603.

We’re also excited to expand our social media presence. Check out our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates about the conference and much more!!

2009 Conference Attendees

Conference

Planning for the 2011 WiLL/WAND conference is in full swing! This year’s conference will be held September 18-20 at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel just minutes away from our capitol. Our biennial conference is an inspiring and empowering three-day event. Highly regarded media/message trainers will offer valuable skills-building sessions. Dynamic women speakers will discuss women’s political participation and our efforts to create a safer world for generations to come. On the final day, we’ll go to the capitol to lobby our Senators and Representatives! Please be on the lookout for more information in the coming months! Maureen Campbell and Elaina Ramsey are co-planning the conference. For more information, call 202-544-5055 or email will@wand.org. Check out our website for more information or to register!

WAND PAC Update

We’re already excited about several races in 2012, including two in New Hampshire. Ann McLane Kuster, who was defeated by Republican Charlie Bass in 2010, is again running for a seat in New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District. Carol Shea Porter is also running again for the seat she held from 2006 to 2010. Carol was defeated by Republican Frank Guinta in New Hampshire’s 1^st Congressional District. WAND PAC endorsed both Annie and Carol in the last cycle.

The 2010 elections brought the first drop in the number of women in Congress in over 20 years. With 42 WAND/WiLL women in Congress at the present, we are committed to improving that number in 2012.

WAND PAC will be keeping an eye on several other 2012 races. Among them are Susan Bysiewicz for Senate in Connecticut, Lois Frankel for FL-22, and WAND/WiLL woman Rep. Shelley Berkley, running for Senate in Nevada. Stay tuned to our PAC website for the most up-to-date endorsement information!

WAND Member of the Month: Eileen Nittler

Congratulations to Eileen Nittler of Oregon WAND for being our first WAND Member of the Month! WAND honors Eileen for her incredible activism, especially for consistently submitting letters to the editor. She was published four times in the Eugene Register Guard in the last six months! Learn more about Eileen here.

Would you like to nominate an outstanding WAND member to be featured in the next E-bulletin? Simply send your nomination(s) with a brief statement about each candidate to WAND Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey at eramsey@wand.org.

Chapter and Field News

Photo Chapter Challenge Ends June 30

We’re currently in the process of redesigning our WAND brochures and are in need of recent photos. To win one free registration to the upcoming September 18-20 WAND/WiLL National Conference for your chapter, simply send your pictures to WAND. The chapter that has the most pictures selected to be in our new brochure will win the Chapter Challenge! Please submit all pictures as email attachments to eramsey@wand.org by midnight on June 30.

Mother’s Day with Georgia WAND

In spectacular form, Georgia WAND hosted their annual Mother’s Day for Peace celebration and fundraiser on May 22. The event featured the Indigo Girls and a keynote address by Winona LaDuke, an internationally acclaimed author, orator, and activist. Winona spoke about the absurdity of nuclear power as a misuse of technology, and its devastating effects on the earth. WAND members Betsey Miklethun and Bob Farquhar were also honored for their years of service and activism. For more information, click here.

Upcoming Chapter and Field Events - find them here!

Fern Katz to Discuss the Human Cost of War

Southeast Michigan WAND chapter leader Fern Katz will give a presentation on June 18 to the Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit. She’ll be speaking about “Military Spending and the Human Cost of War.” Gray Panthers is an intergenerational social justice organization that works for peace and justice for people of all ages. Click here for more information about the event.

Upcoming Congressional Recesses

Your members of Congress are heading home soon for Independence Day (House recess: June 27-July 5; Senate recess: July 5-8). Now is the perfect time to schedule a meeting with your Senators and Representative to share your values! WAND will provide you with everything you need to plan a successful meeting. You can also check out our Congress Meets Community campaign for more tips about scheduling constituent meetings. For additional support or resources, contact Elaina eramsey@wand.org.

Vote for the America You Want

Don't forget to cast your vote in the New Priorities Network budget priorities poll. WAND is partnering with the New Priorities Network to feature a web-based poll on three budget alternatives: President Obama’s fiscal year 2012 budget request, Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity GOP budget, and The People’s Budget released by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. To cast your vote for the federal budget of your choice, click here.

WAND’s May Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:08:50 +0000

The War In Afghanistan

A Moment for Transition

In light of the news of Osama bin Laden’s death, WAND offered a statement in response that recognizes this new moment and emphasizes the importance of pushing for a transition from war-making to peacebuilding. WAND is committed to making sure that women’s security and rights are protected during this transition and that Afghan women play a leading role in building civil society. See our revised Official Statement on Afghanistan, recently adopted by WAND’s Board of Directors.

Urge Congress to Act

Please send a simple e-mail to ask your Representative to co-sponsor HR 1735 today! The “Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act” calls on President Obama to provide Congress with a timeframe and completion date for the transition of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. Next week, the House will consider the Defense Authorization bill and we can expect that Afghanistan policy will be debated.

WAND Webinar Calls Attention to Afghan Women

Right on the tails of the successful Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on women in Afghanistan, WAND again teamed up with David Cortright to host a webinar on his study “Afghan Women Speak.” Approximately 45 activists joined us for a presentation that emphasized the importance of including women in the transition to peacebuilding in Afghanistan.

Thanks to all 45 activists who joined us, including the students of Jo’el Thomas-Jones’ 8^th grade class in Dayton, Ohio! Please see our summary of “Afghan Women Speak.”

Nuclear News

Fifty Years and Counting: The Time for CTBT is Now!

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) would ban all nuclear weapons explosions and is a vital tool to constrain the spread and threat of nuclear weapons. The United States signed the CTBT fifteen years ago and has not conducted an explosive nuclear weapons test since 1992, but the U.S. Senate has not yet ratified the treaty. In order for the United States to realize the CTBT benefits to detect, deter and confront other nations striving to test and develop nuclear weapons, treaty ratification is vital.

Last week Ellen Tauscher, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and Security, delivered a speech making the case for the CTBT and signaling that the Administration will now engage the U.S. Senate to reconsider CTBT ratification. At WAND, we especially like this part of her speech:

Just think that in 1961 some 10,000 women walked off their job as mothers and housewives to protest the arms race and nuclear testing... [T]he actions of mothers taking a symbolic and dramatic step to recognize global nuclear dangers showed that the issue has resonance beyond “the Beltway,” beyond the think tank world and beyond the Ivory Tower. That level of concern is there today and we need your energy, your organizational skills, and your creativity to tap into it. [This is a reference to women of Women Strike for Peace who called for a strike against nuclear testing on Nov. 1, 1961.]

We thank you again for your hard work last year to successfully secure Senate ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Women of WAND and WiLL contributed significantly to this victory for U.S. and global security. Now we are asking you to join again with us -- and great women leaders such as Ellen Tauscher -- in the effort to ratify the CTBT. We must take up the unfinished business of those inspiring women who went on strike for peace nearly 50 years ago.

Read our CTBT fact page here

Check out our new blog post " WONK Speak 101" to help decode some of the language.

Military Spending

Irresponsible Defense Bill?

With growing concern about the deficit, even the Pentagon is realizing that military spending has to be restrained. Last week Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said:

"The defense budget alone cannot solve our deficit crisis. But it’s hard to envision an overall solution -- either economically or politically -- that does not include some contribution from the 20 percent of government spending that goes toward defense…Given our budget challenges, it is irresponsible to embark on programs that we simply cannot afford. [Emphasis added] We need to live within the resource levels that we’re going to have, and to do that we need to make the hard decisions now.” (May 11, 2011 speech at the Air and Space Museum in New York.)

Disregarding these words, the House Armed Services Committee prepared a decidedly profligate Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Defense Authorization bill that includes support for Cold War era nuclear weapons policies, funds for programs the Pentagon doesn't want and expanded war-making authorization.

For a summary of last week’s House Armed Services Committee action on the Defense Authorization bill see our post here.

Next week the House of Representatives will debate and vote on the FY 2012 Defense Authorization bill. We expect a vigorous debate with many amendments.

The Women Legislators' Lobby (WiLL)

In April, over 330 current and former women legislators sent a strong message to Congress that military spending cuts must be on the table in budget discussions! View the final letter and resources about military spending here. Many thanks to all who helped collect signatures! We are especially thrilled that many newly elected women signed onto the letter this year. We will continue to promote the letter in meetings with members of Congress and in the media-- by encouraging legislators to place letters and op-eds in their local papers. We also held a webinar for state legislators that provided in-depth information and analysis about federal spending and its impact on state budgets. Please stay tuned for future webinars!

Conference

Chapter and Field News

Arkansas WAND Honors Young Peacemakers for Mother’s Day

On May 4, Arkansas WAND hosted their annual Mother’s Day Peace Luncheon for a sold-out crowd at the Governor’s Mansion! About 25 high school students were honored and spoke to the attendees about their inspiring work to advance peace. Kudos to Arkansas WAND for encouraging a new generation of peacemakers!

Southeast Michigan WAND Features Atomic Mom
As part of their Mother’s Day program, Southeast Michigan WAND screened Atomic Mom on May 5. This documentary portrays the lives of two women, both mothers, who are affected by the atom bomb. What a powerful way to celebrate the real meaning of Mother’s Day for Peace!

Fashion Resistance to Militarism Staged in Massachusetts
Following the incredible example set by Oregon WAND, National WAND hosted Fashion Resistance to Militarism on Friday, May 6 in honor of Mother's Day for Peace. The exciting fashion show was an eye catching look at how militarism pervades our society. To check out photos from the event, as well as learn more about who attended, please visit our website here.

WAND Members Lobby their Mayors
WAND collaborated with CODEPINK to urge mayors to sign onto a resolution urging Congress to redirect military spending to domestic priorities. Southeast Michigan WAND leader Fern Katz and Oregon WAND leader Susan Cundiff were able to get their mayors to sign onto the resolution that brings the war dollars home! Click here for more information about this initiative.

Georgia WAND Represents at ANA DC Days
Eleven outstanding members of Georgia WAND came to Washington, DC in early April to participate in Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s (ANA) DC Days. They received vital trainings and briefings about anti-nuclear issues, and spoke with their members of Congress about the dangers of nuclear power. Click here to read more about their time in DC!

Carol Urner Receives Grassroots Award
Long-time WAND member Carol Urner received an award on April 5 for her years of activism with Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. WAND Public Policy Director Kathy Robinson presented the award to Carol during Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s reception celebrating 24 years of grassroots organizing. Learn more about Carol’s incredible work by reading Kathy's remarks: Carol Urner ANA Award.

Members and Chapters Rally Behind Annual Budget Letter

Thank you to all the WAND members and chapters who circulated our annual budget letter calling on Congress to consider responsible cuts in military spending. The letter was signed by 163 national, regional, and local organizations, representing millions of people, and was delivered to all members of Congress on April 8. We could not have done this without you!

Upcoming Chapter and Field Events - find them here!

Send a quick email to ask your Representative to co-sponsor HR 1735 today! The “Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act” calls on President Obama to provide Congress with a timeframe and completion date for the transition of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.

WAND’s April Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:54:08 +0000

Nuclear News
Fund Programs To Secure Loose Nukes

On April 5, 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic, President Obama outlined the steps needed to move toward a safer world, one without nuclear weapons. He made a specific commitment to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world within four years

Unfortunately, necessary funding for these nuclear nonproliferation programs has now been frozen with a series of Congressional stop-gap spending measures. In February 2010, President Obama requested a $550 million (26 percent) increase for these programs. Congress has yet to act on this proposal and is now drafting another “Continuing Resolution,” or stop-gap funding measure, to fund the government through the end of this federal budget year (September 30, 2011).

On April 5, the anniversary of the President’s Prague speech, please join our nationwide effort by calling or writing your Senators and Representative. Ask Congress to restore money to NNSA’s Nonproliferation programs and assert that these funds should be directed only to programs that secure vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide.

CALL or E-MAIL YOUR MESSAGE on TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2011.

News on Afghanistan

WAND Advocates for Afghan Women

In early March, WAND Executive Director Susan Shaer, Public Policy Director Kathy Robinson, and Washington Associate Elizabeth Holland headed to the Hill to talk about Afghanistan with members of Congress, including Democratic leadership and freshman members. The WAND staff was joined by Patricia Cooper of the Women’s Regional Summit project, a conference aimed at bringing together women leaders in the region to discuss their role in the development of long-term security and stability. Using the new study “Afghan Women Speak”as a frame for the discussion, WAND asked for support for a drawdown in troops tied to a social compact that provides for long-term, sustainable investment in aid that supports and empowers Afghan women.

Members of Congress Call for Significant and Sizeable Troop Withdrawal
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) led a bipartisan group of members of Congress in sending a letter to President Obama that calls for a significant and sizeable reduction in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan beginning no later than July of this year. The letter was sent to the President on March 16 and was signed by 80 Representatives. Read it here.

Withdrawal Bill Fails, but Message Rings

On Thursday March 17, the House failed to pass a bill urging President Obama to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Dec. 31, but the debate leading up to the vote suggested that lawmakers are growing impatient with the White House’s war strategy. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), was not expected to pass after a similar vote received only 65 votes in the House last year. However, policymakers in the Administration and Congress watched closely as the resolution garnering 93 votes this year signaled waning support for the war among both parties. See how your Representative voted here.

Get the latest news on our newly updated Afghanistan page!

On Libya

On March 18, 2011 the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize military action and the imposition of a no-fly zone in Libya (UN Security Council Resolution 1973).

On March 19, British, French, and American forces began the military campaign against Col. Muammar el Qaddafi to protect Libyan citizens. WAND released a statement on the events unfolding in Libya on March 22. In the statement, WAND joins the voices that ask for official recognition that defines the goals of this operation. WAND opposes another long, expensive and dangerous commitment of our military power and supports efforts for non-military solutions. You can read the entire statement here.

Military Spending

WAND Budget Letter

Thank you to all the organizations that have signed on to our annual budget letter, which calls on Congress to cut excessive military spending and support smart budget priorities. The letter currently boasts over 150 signatories from national, state, and local organizations. In April, WAND will deliver the letter to members of Congress, demanding smarter budget priorities.

To learn more about our budget letter and what members of Congress are saying about our nation’s budget priorities, please check out our website here.

Deadline fast approaching for the WiLL budget letter!
The WiLL budget letter campaign is in full swing. We have over 250 signers but we want to add many more names! With heated debates over budget priorities raging in Washington, DC and state capitols, now is the time for state legislators to call on Congress to examine wasteful spending in the military budget. With lawmakers consider devastating cuts at the local, state and federal levels, military spending cannot be ignored. View the letter here and contact any women legislators who might be interested! For more information about WiLL and the budget letter, contact Maureen Campbell at 202-544-5055 or mcampbell@wand.org.

Chapter and Field News

Oregon WAND Stands Up for Budget Priorities

Oregon WAND continues to speak out about our nation’s unbalanced budget priorities! On February 24, WAND board member and Oregon WAND co-chair Susan Cundiff published a rousing op-ed about wasteful military spending. Members of Oregon WAND then met with Rep. Peter DeFazio’s (D-OR 4^thDistrict) office on March 21 to advocate for ending the war in Afghanistan and reductions in defense spending. Many thanks to Oregon WAND and other chapters and members who continue to weigh in about budget priorities!

Georgia WAND Hosts Anti-Nuclear Activists
On March 23 & 24, Georgia WAND hosted two accomplished anti-nuclear activists from Russia. Dr. Nataliya Mironova and Natalia Manzurova spoke about their experiences and work in the anti-nuclear movement. Dr. Mironova is a prominent leader in the human rights and anti-nuclear movement in Russia, and Manzurova, an expert in radiation ecology, was charged with the task of cleaning up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. To view pictures and learn more about Georgia WAND’s Voices from Chernobyl event, click here.

Arkansas WAND Represents at Ecumenical Advocacy Days
Over 700 people from faith communities across the United States came to DC on March 25-28 to participate in 2011 Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD), including Arkansas WAND members JoAnne Mills and Susan Sims! Focusing on the EAD theme Development, Security and Economic Justice: What’s Gender Got to Do with It?, JoAnne and Susan met with their Congressional representatives to urge them to consider cutting wasteful military spending instead of making deep cuts to domestic and international programs that support women and children. Thank you to JoAnne and Susan for representing WAND at EAD, and for putting your faith into action!

Fern Katz to Receive Tikkun Olam Award
Our very own Fern Katz has been nominated as a 2011 Eight over Eighty Honoree by the Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit! A retired math teacher and professional volunteer, Fern is a longtime member of Southeast Michigan WAND. Fern is being honored for her life-long efforts in demonstrating the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam– Repairing the World. Along with seven other individuals, Fern will receive the 8 Over 80 Tikkun Olam Award on May 15 at the Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, MI. We at WAND are proud of Fern’s dedication and activism, and celebrate with her in this honor. To learn more about Fern, check out her WAND Inc. Board Treasurer biography.

Next Steps after Field Visits

In 5 months WAND Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey completed field visits and introduced herself to all 5 WAND chapters in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Oregon. Elaina had a wonderful time meeting hundreds of chapter leaders and members and learning about chapter activities. Now that field visits are completed, Elaina is focusing on strengthening communications/messaging and resources for WAND chapters and members. This conversation began on March 21 during the Chapter Leaders call, and will continue throughout the year as WAND seeks to grow its membership and chapters.

Upcoming Events

Georgia WAND Heads to DC in April
Georgia WAND will be taking 13 women to Washington, DC this month to participate in Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s DC Days (April 3-6). The participants will receive training before speaking with members of Congress about anti-nuclear issues. With the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan, this is the best time for Georgia WAND members to inform their congressional representatives about the dangers of nuclear power.

Mother’s Day Fashion Show Heads to Cambridge

WAND is thrilled to announce that Oregon WAND’s Fashion Resistance to Militarism fashion show will be featured during the Mother’s Day event in Cambridge, MA on May 6. Fashion Resistance to Militarism is a runway exposé of how militarism has seeped into our homes, our communities and our minds. This unique fashion show features eye-popping, one-of-a-kind designs that challenge some pervasive assumptions about war, and uncovers all the ways that war is made to seem normal. Tickets to this event include entry to the Mother's Day fashion show, appetizers, desserts, beverages, and a cash bar. To purchase tickets, please click here.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT
EDIE ALLEN

I first walked into the WAND national office in 1983, with a baby in my arms. At that time, the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a terrifying nuclear arms race, and I despaired about my children’s future. My minister had suggested that I volunteer for a peace group, so somewhat dubiously, I offered to help. WAND put me to work, not only stuffing envelopes and licking stamps but also phoning activists all over the country and writing profiles of the candidates that WAND PAC had endorsed. Fortunately, I was able to donate money as well as time to WAND. I have served on the board of WAND Education Fund for many years.

TAKE ACTION!

On April 5, join a nationwide day to call on Congress to restore money to the NNSA’s Nonproliferation programs and assert that these funds should be directed only to programs that secure vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide. Secure loose nukes here!

Don’t forget to have your organization sign on to our budget priorities letter here!

Ask your state legislator if they have signed on to the WiLL budget letter. Learn more here.

March Bulletin Posted

Elizabeth Holland — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:34:51 +0000

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

The WiLL budget letter has launched!
With heated debates over budget priorities raging in Washington, DC and state capitols, now is the time for state legislators to call on Congress to examine wasteful spending in the military budget. As lawmakers consider devastating cuts at the local, state and federal levels, military spending cannot be ignored. We are collecting signatures from current and former women state legislators until Tuesday, March 15. We expect to have hundreds of signatures by the time we deliver this letter to each member of Congress. View the letter here and contact any women legislators who might be interested! For more information about WiLL and the budget letter, contact Maureen Campbell at 202-544-5055 or mcampbell@wand.org.

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.

Citizens for Global Solutions Conference ( March 17-18)
Ecumenical Advocacy Days (March 25-28)
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability DC Days (April 3-6)
WAND/WiLL National Conference (September 18-20)

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!

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.

WAND’s February Bulletin

Elizabeth Holland — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:40:34 +0000

: Sec. Clinton and Foreign Minister Lavrov signing ratification documents

WAND NEWS

Successful START- Next Steps

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) went into effect on Saturday, February 5th, 2011. On that historic day, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exchanged final New START ratification documents at a security conference in Munich, Germany. This exchange finalized New START and will lead to the first reciprocal on-site inspection of U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals in nearly two years.

At the Munich conference Secy. of State Clinton said, “When we met two years ago not long after the 2009 Munich Conference, we exchanged gifts, ideas, and pledges to repair relations between our countries, and today we exchange the instruments of ratification for a treaty that lessens the nuclear dangers facing the Russian and American people and the world.” More on the exchange of ratification documents can be found here.

Thank you to everyone who joined WAND in the 2009-2010 effort to secure Senate ratification of this vital treaty to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons and ensure a more stable U.S. nuclear relationship with Russia.

In the past months of our START Campaign, you have helped us in many ways. For example:

• Over 1300 emails were sent to Senators asking for consideration and ratification of START through our WAND Take Action Center.

• WAND and WiLL (Women Legislators’ Lobby) organized over 50 meetings with U.S. Senators on Capitol Hill or in their home states.

• WAND published hundreds of letters to the editor and opinion editorial pieces in different newspapers and online news sources throughout the country.

New START is a great victory, but it is only a first step. We have much more work to do as we pursue efforts to reduce nuclear dangers and achieve a safer world without nuclear weapons. WAND joined with other organizations sending a letter to the President urging him to pursue some important steps. See the letter here.

One of our top priorities is ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) to ban any nuclear weapons explosions. The CTBT is vital to our security. It would curb the spread of nuclear weapons, and establish a global monitoring network to detect and deter cheating. WAND will be working to build the case for the CTBT.

For more on the CTBT see the Project for the CTBT website here.

As Budget Mess “Debate” Builds, WAND Calls for New Priorities

On Monday, February 14, the Administration will release its budget for the coming Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. As the President’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) aptly stated in a recent op-ed: “The budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.” The enumerated values and aspirations of this Valentine’s Day budget request is not likely to be met with much love from Congress, where there is much hand-wringing about the debt and the mood is to slash spending – at least for everything except the Pentagon budget.

The President forecasted his budget plan in his recent State of the Union Address, outlining aims to invest in education and innovation but also efforts to restrain spending. Unfortunately the President seems unwilling to truly scrutinize military spending, relying on very modest proposals from Defense Secretary Gates that would only reduce some of the rate of spending increase for the Pentagon. Meanwhile, drastic cuts are looming for the rest of the discretionary budget.

The same week that the FY 2012 Budget Request is released, the House will consider funding for the remainder of this year. The annual appropriations process was not completed by the last Congress, thus a stopgap Continuing Resolution has funded most programs at the previous year’s spending level (FY 2010). When the Continuing Resolution expires on March 4, Congress is obligated to extend the stopgap measure or appropriate spending for the remaining seven months of this fiscal year. The House plans to slash spending for all so-called “non-security” spending and will likely make draconian cuts to a wide variety of programs while the Department of Defense is uniquely protected. It is not clear how the Senate will approach the FY 2011 appropriations, leaving some concerned that an impasse could lead to a government shutdown.

While the Republican-led House and the Democrat-led Senate will debate spending for this year and begin the budget process for FY 2012, the rising debt is looming. The debt ceiling, a cap set by Congress on the amount of debt the federal government can legally borrow, is likely to be reached sometime this spring. Without a Congressional vote to raise the ceiling, it is possible that the government could be unable to borrow money and would therefore go into default. Some in Congress are refusing to raise the ceiling without substantial spending cuts.

In this intense fray, we believe there must be a new focus on cuts to bloated military spending. In the last two years, military spending has been 58% of overall discretionary spending. Spending cuts that exempt defense will likely decimate critical programs and cripple our economy, while leaving us with increasing deficit spending for wars and outmoded Cold War weapons.

Stay tuned for more information and for actions you can take. We will be closely tracking developments and in the coming weeks will launch our annual letters to Congress about budget priorities. We hope you will join us throughout February and March as we work to get hundreds of signatures to call for budget priorities that really are a reflection of our nation’s values and aspirations!

WiLL recruitment efforts are in full swing!

Last year, we counted nearly one-third of women legislators as WiLL members, and we’re looking for new members to grow our ranks. We also welcome returning legislators who are joining WiLL for the first time or renewing their memberships. WiLL members receive access to timely materials and trainings and opportunities to raise awareness about the federal budget’s impact on the states. Learn more here! As we get ready for our biennial conference in Washington, DC on September 18-20, we want to have as many talented women join WiLL as possible! If you know of a woman legislator we should recruit, please email will@wand.org. Later this month we will also be collecting signatures from women legislators for our annual letter to Congress about the federal budget. Be on the lookout for more information soon!

Chapter and Field News

2011 Membership Drive

Your WAND membership counts! Help us reach greater heights in 2011 by becoming a member of WAND or renewing your membership today. Be part of a powerful community of women leading our country to a peaceful and secure future! Our 2011 Membership Drive has been extended until February 15. To learn more about the benefits of WAND membership, click here.

Field Visits

In an effort to learn best practices and grow WAND’s field activities, Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey continues to visit all our chapters around the country. So far Elaina has experienced the southern hospitality of Georgia WAND and Arkansas WAND. She is excited to visit Oregon WAND at the end of February, followed by a trip to Northern Indiana WAND and Southeast Michigan WAND in early March. Visit our Flickr page to view pictures of the field visits.

Upcoming Conferences

• Citizens for Global Solutions Conference ( March 17-18)

• Ecumenical Advocacy Days (March 25-28)

• Alliance for Nuclear Accountability DC Days (April 3-6)

• WAND/WiLL National Conference (September 18-20)

Upcoming Chapter Events

Arkansas WAND

As part of Black History Month, Arkansas WAND will feature its documentary Woodruff; A Lesson of Non-violence at the University of Central Arkansas, Reynolds Hall on February 11, 7:30pm. To learn more about this event, check out Arkansas WAND’s revamped website: http://arkwand.com/

Georgia WAND

Georgia WAND is hosting their 9th Annual “Real State of the Union” on Friday, February 11, featuring noted Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jay Bookman sharing his perspective on the state of American politics. This year, Tom Neilson, a political satirist and folk musician, will perform following Jay’s speech. The program will be held at the Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Avenue, Atlanta 30307. Please go to http://gawand.org/ or call 404-524-5999 for more information.

Oregon WAND

On February 25, Oregon WAND will host its second annual “Fashioning Resistance to Militarism” fashion show at the University of Oregon. This show uses fashion to uncover the high cost of militarism in women's lives, and depicts how the devastating effects of war have seeped into our homes, our closets, and our minds.

Want to get involved? Join our ranks! Join WAND and WiLL as we take on the most pressing issues of the day!

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