1) STARS

"We Must Take Care of Home" by Wiltina Bultman

My name is Wiltina Bultman and I am a graduate from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University with a dual degree in Sociology and Social Work as well as a minor in African American Studies. Currently, I am the legislative assistant to the Chair of the Baltimore City Delegation and a representative of the 40th district Delegate Salima Siler Marriott, who is also a social worker. It was Delegate Marriott’s vision to establish a Baltimore Chapter of STAND, which is a means to provide young women of Baltimore an avenue to become activists. 

During my time in college, my social work classes taught me how it is my duty to advocate for the disenfranchised and stressed the importance of being the voice of those who are in need or are isolated by society. As a young African American woman born and raised in Gaithersburg, MD (Montgomery County), whose parents are from West Africa Sierra Leone, and who is currently living in Baltimore City, I have seen and listened to the different ways of life in which people must live.  As you take the time to read my thoughts, there are many men and women losing their lives fighting a war in Iraq, but I ask for all of us to stop and think that there is also a war here in the United States. There are people being killed on the streets, people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, young women who are pregnant, people dying from HIV/AIDS, single mothers working 2 or 3 jobs to provide for their children, youth not being properly educated in our school systems, people sleeping in the streets because they have no homes etc...  All of these issues are wars within the United States that have been put on the back burner.  I do not understand how we can go away from home and fight a battle, when we have not addressed the battles here in US. 

The President needs to focus on the issues at home. Due to the President's budget request for fiscal year 2006, the No Child Left Behind Act will remain under funded; environmental funding will be cut by 10%, 3 million families will not receive food stamps by 2010, state and local law enforcement assistance are at risk, and federal funding for vocational and adult education will be cut. These cutbacks are all indicators that the President needs to focus his attention on the problems concerning the people of the United States.

As I have been taught to advocate for the rights of my clients, I am advocating for the rights of men and women, young and old, rich and poor here in the United States.  I am that voice who is asking STAND members to take action so the President can hear our voice that we too have issues that are worthy of his attention. We must STAND together in peace so we can take care of home.

 

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2. If you don't know, now you know.

Top 10 Problems with the War on Iraq

1) American soldier deaths keep Increasing – Over 1600 US Soldiers have been killed: Click here.

2) Are Iraqis better off? Iraqi living standards have gone down: Click here.

3) The war is bankrupting America – the total cost of War on Iraq is already over 179 billion and counting with America shouldering most of the financial burden: http://costofwar.com/

4) Halliburton’s War Profiteering – Questionable ethics and practices: Click here.

5) The International Coalition – Dwindling numbers: Click here.

6) Questionable U.S. Intelligence – Fabrication and Inefficiency: Click here.

7) Global human rights violated: Click here.

8) Torture at Abu Ghraib: Click here.

9) Americans increasingly oppose the war: Click here.

10) No exit strategy in Iraq: Click here.

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3. Heads up!

An organization that is putting in some MAJOR work:

Latinas on the Rise

Latinas on the Rise is a membership and educational program designed to empower young Latinas to meet their professional and personal goals.  The program was started by and continues to be sponsored by State Representative Jessica Farrar due to her desire to assist young Latinas in achieving their goals. Latinas on the Rise is a non-profit organization and is run by volunteers deeply committed to its mission.

The program consists of pairing a participant with a mentor in her field of choice. The participant meets with her mentor once a month.  Participants also attend educational seminars twice a month. Educational seminars focus on both personal and professional skills and are designed to assist participants in developing their unique, individual talents and interests.

Latinas on the Rise is a unique and innovative program that functions from a feminist perspective. Drawing from the wisdom of State Representative Farrar, we recognize that the possibilities for Latinas today are endless, but barriers remain. Representative Farrar has developed Latinas on the Rise not to tell Latinas what to do, but to help them discover opportunities for themselves. The Latinas on the Rise programs focuses on the history of Latinas, the role of Latinas in our society, and skills needed in the workforce.

The program is intense and provides a rare learning experience for young women. Potential participants must be ready for personal development and be willing to make the time commitment to the program. Qualified participants will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending an educational institution in the Houston area. The program will run during the Fall semester from September to December 2004. Latinas on the Rise will be able to accept up to 15 participants this Fall.

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4. Update from national WAND

60 Years After Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- Lessons remain to be learned

Sixty years after the first atomic bombings, the dangers of nuclear weapons remain far too great, and they are becoming more complex. The Soviet-U.S. conflict is over, but some 30,000 nuclear weapons remain. There are at least eight nuclear-armed nations, with possibly more on the way, as well as worries that terrorists might get their hands on a bomb.

It is vital that we do what we can to remind the public and policymakers of the tremendous destructive capacity and the human, environmental, and financial costs of nuclear weapons. Young people all over the world are coming together to say NO to militarism, war and oppression. Keep reading to learn more about how you can get in where you fit in!

Youth Rally in Hiroshima

Youth Trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki – July 31- August 12, 2005

For more information, contact Sophie at slefeez@hotmail.com.

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5. ON THE NEWS

A Short History on Military Recruitment Fraud

• In the late 1970s 427 Army recruiters were dismissed and 12,700 soldiers were found to be enlisted through fraud or irregularities in the preceding 12 years. 

• For the Army, from 1982 through February 1993: 2,801 cases of impropriety were proven and 1,496 recruiters were relieved.

• In the Navy, from 1981 through 1992: 1,370 incidents of misconduct were proven and 277 recruiters were relieved.

• In the Marine Corps, from 1985 through February 1993: 320 incidents were proven against recruiters and 171 were relieved.

• Just from 1990 to 1993: More than 400 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps recruiters were relieved for misconduct. In the Army and Navy combined more than 1,290 were admonished or given punitive discipline for misconduct or errors. Between 7.1 and 9.8 percent of its recruiting force was disciplined for misconduct or errors.

• In 1995, Army recruiter James Harris was put on trial for accepting unfit recruits from an unaccredited private high school in the Los Angeles area. 

• In 1999, John Norwick, as asthmatic, was told not to mention his medical problem. After an asthma attack and a trip to the hospital where they told him he "passed the test," he was sent back to complete enlistment processing. Major O’Neil said that "He was tested for asthma and was not positive for asthma."  Norwick left Ft. Benning on February 2, 1999

• In 1999 Former Navy Recruiter Carl Nyberg said "It's done to trick and intimidate the person into (enlisting). It's told to somebody who doesn't have access to a lawyer, or a strong family network. It's an intimidation and lying technique targeted to the most vulnerable applicants." "The corruption is so thoroughly institutionalized in recruiting; it would take congressional hearings just to make a dent in cleaning things up."

• In 2001 a WFAA-TV investigation found that recruiters supplied enlistees with hundreds of counterfeit high school diplomas and instructed them to lie about their academic background.

• In 2004 Jose Camacho from Arizona signed a Delayed Enlistment Agreement (DEA) when he was 17. In December 2004 he requested a release from that Delayed Enlistment Program, a right afforded through military regulations. He got a call from someone in the Recruiting Command informing him they would not give him the release he was entitled to.

• In 2003, Miguel Navarro was recruited by Marine Corp recruiters in New York City though the Delayed Enlistment Program and was planning on doing four years of active duty. Miguel, enlisting for money to attend college, was told that he could go to college right after basic training.  When Miguel realized this to be untrue, he requested separation from the Delayed Enlistment Program. He was asked to come into the recruiting station to discuss his decision and when he got there, he was taken into a small bathroom and was yelled at, told he would be arrested if he didn't show up for processing, and told he would never receive any financial aid for college for the rest of his life.

• In 2004, Dustin Baker was recruited by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard through the Delayed Enlistment Program. Derek was interested in becoming a medic and firefighter in the civilian employment sector. Dustin was lied to and told that his ASVAB score enabled him to qualify for the Medic job classification, the only job he expressed interest in, and told that he would only go to Iraq if, as a Medic, he volunteered for that duty. Dustin was coerced to sign the DEP enlistment contract when the recruiter revealed to him that his true ASVAB score was 4 points too low to qualify for the Medic position. Dustin was given the job of Infantryman. 

• Dr. Teresa Whitehurst, clinical psychologist: "I was sitting in a Virginia high school office a couple of years ago when a recruiter approached another inner-city boy clothed in ill-fitting jeans and a stained shirt: 'Hey, if you sign up today, you'll get a $5000 bonus, right away! Wouldn't you like $5000? You know, girls like guys who have a car. You could get a really cool used car with $5000! I'll be back after school, meet me here and we'll take care of the paperwork, okay?'"

Sources:       Fox5 News Atlanta – I Team investigative report

                   Albany Times Union

                   Army Times

Investigative Reporters & Editors

                   WFAA- TV Dallas, Texas

                   JesusontheFamily.com

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6. Announcements/Internships

1) United for Peace & Justice

Internship for organizing, outreach, research & more. Submit resume & cover letter prior to applying; send to interns@unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545

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2) Intern Program at Georgians for Choice - the Statewide Coalition for Women's Freedom

Georgians for Choice is looking for dynamic, enthusiastic interns who will contribute to the atmosphere of service for and collaboration between member organizations. Georgians for Choice is committed to reproductive rights as a fundamental human right. We recognize that the history and structure of our society is one in which low-income women, young women, rural women and women of color have the hardest time accessing reproductive health care. The issue of choice is an issue of racial, social and economic justice.

Georgians for Choice has undergraduate and graduate internships available each school semester or quarter for college and university students. Internships are also available for recent graduates. Internships are located at the offices of Georgians for Choice, in Atlanta, GA.

Georgians for Choice currently has the following intern positions available: Access Project Coordinator, Membership Organizer, Information Specialist, Communications Coordinator, Religious Coalition Organizer

To apply:

Please submit:
1. A cover letter stating:
* Why you would like to work as an intern for Georgians for Choice
* What you think you can contribute to Georgians for Choice through your work as an intern
* The approximate dates you are available and the estimated time per week
2. Your resume
3. A writing sample
4. Two references (contact information only; not letters)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Apply by mail to: Georgians for Choice, Internship Program, PO Box 8551, Atlanta, GA 31106
Or email your application to: evuley@georgiansforchoice.org
Or fax your application to: Georgians for Choice Internship Program 404-532-0025

For more information or questions contact the Georgians for Choice office at 404.532.0022

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3) Regional Director Training for National Campus Debate Series

20/20 Vision is launching a student-led Regional Directors' Council. Ten energetic participants from colleges and universities from across the US will be chosen to go to Washington, DC for an intensive, hands-on training in non-profit advocacy and field organizing. During this one school-year term, participants will be our point person in their region for our work on global security and the environment and will be our point of contact for a non-partisan debate on the Iraq war and related issues on their campus.

All inquiries are welcome, especially from students in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Washington State.
For more information, contact Ryan Spaeth, Outreach Coordinator, at (202) 833-2020 ext. 11 or Ryan@2020Vision.org or visit http://www.2020vision.org/students/Reg_Dir.htm.

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4) Counter-Recruitment Summer Camp at UFPJ

UFPJ is organizing a local campaign to counter the pressure military recruiters are putting on youth to join the military. This summer, UFPJ will host a youth organized, youth-led and youth-attended counter-recruitment camp for youth and students. If you are interested in strategizing and organizing this camp, please contact Mallika Raghavan or Yvonne at the United for Peace and Justice office.

Tel: (212) 868 5545
Email: recruit@unitedforpeace.org.
Address: 322 8th Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY
http://www.notyoursoldier.org/

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5) KNUK Radio

The KNUK Radio Project is a grassroots song-writing contest open to all amateur and professional songwriters and musicians. KNUK was inspired by the historic "No Nukes" concerts which drew hundreds of thousands of people to Madison Square Garden in 1979 and helped spark broad citizen actions on nuclear issues in the 1980s. Sponsored by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, the KNŪK (pronounced kay-nūk) Radio Project similarly provides an outlet for a younger generation of Americans seeking information and inspiration regarding critical peace and security, social justice, and civic engagement issues.

The submission deadline is Friday, November 4, 2005. Judges include Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett, Julia "Butterfly" Hill and other celebrities and activists. Winners will be featured on a compilation CD, tentatively titled "Education Not Militarization," which will be distributed nationwide in spring 2006. Proceeds from this project will support continued youth outreach and campus organizing efforts addressing peace and security issues.
For more information on KNUK Radio, visit http://www.knukradio.org or contact Michael Coffey, Director of Youth Programs, at (215) 853-2587 or mcoffey@napf.org.