Beyond War and Militarism
Beyond War and Militarism (BWaM) is a joint committee of the SPC and the CNY Solidarity Coalition. It draws resources from both parent organizations and enhances their interrelationship
A monthly Alternative Education Series offers perspectives on militarism not covered by corporate media. In July, noted anti-war activist Kathy Kelly made a rousing presentation to 90 people at All Saints Church. She spoke eloquently about the tragic situation in Yemen and expressed general concern about increasing US militarism. In September, Greta Zarro, organizing director of World BEYOND War, spoke on “The Social and Ecological Imperatives of War Abolition.” We look forward to a talk by Professor Frederick Carriere on North Korea on October 9 (see “Keep Trump’s Finger off the Trigger!,” page 3).
In several hours in late August at the entrance to the NY State Fair. BWaM garnered over 230 signatures on a petition to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. It urged them to do everything in their power to “support a negotiated settlement [in Yemen] and to insist that the United States stop providing Saudi Arabia with logistical support, drones and other weapons.”
– BWaM Menber
SPC Bike Raffle
When my bike chain rusted, the rest of my old bike began falling apart too. Are you in a similar situation, or looking to decrease your carbon footprint? Maybe you’d like to get some exercise, save money on gas, never worry about parking?Win a New Jamis Citizen bike from Mello Velo in SPC’s summer Bike Raffle fundraiser! Raffle tickets can be purchased at the SPC office, Syracuse Real Food Co-op, Mello Velo, ArtRage Gallery, Syracuse Cultural Workers, and Cazenovia’s Pewter Spoon Café. Tickets are 1 for $2, 3 for $5, and 7 for $10. The drawing is September 23 at the Westcott Street Cultural Fair.
– Taylor Gould
A Call for Interns
The new school year is here, and we are looking for eager, self-motivated interns to join our SPC team this fall. We are seeking applicants who have a passion for peace and social justice and are interested in advocacy, activism, public outreach, collaborative governance and more. As a previous SPC intern, this summer has been one of the most formative times of my life, where I had the opportunity to educate myself on a panoply of local and global social issues, create lifelong bonds with local activists and community members, and develop administrative and organizational skills that will help me move toward a career in international relations.
Start dates and work hours are flexible, although we do require interns to work 5-10 hours a week. Applicants from all fields are encouraged to apply. For more information visit www.peacecouncil.net/intern or contact the office.
– Askar Salikhov
Keep Trump’s Finger off the Trigger!
SPC’s Nuclear Free World Committee (NFW) is redoubling efforts for Senator Schumer’s support on the Markey-Lieu bill to prevent Trump from launching a nuclear first strike. We have petitioned at numerous events, including the State Fair, and plan to continue. Contact Diane Swords (315-391-4484) to help.
With the Beyond War and Militarism Committee, NFW presents Professor Frederick Carriere on October 9 at 7pm at ArtRage Gallery (505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse). Prof. Carriere will share latest developments with North Korea and how ordinary people can promote diplomacy and prevent nuclear disaster.
Frederick is a political scientist and director of the Korean Peninsula Affairs Center at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and calls the situation between the US and North Korea a “moving target.” He sees the possibility of a significant deal, but also greater peril, as the midterm election approaches and the “limited rational policy-solving ‘bandwidth’ of our political system is maximally strained.”
Our August 6 Hiroshima procession magnified the alarm that Trump and his advisors are preparing the US for nuclear war. It also celebrated the hope brought by the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (brokered by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) and the Nobel Peace Prize ICAN received for the Treaty. At our August 27 potluck at Thornden Park, we floated lanterns to remember all those who have died in the nuclear age and recommitted ourselves to abolish nuclearweapons
.– Diane Swords
Healthcare Not Warfare
On July 30, SPC joined the CNY AFL-CIO (Syracuse), Democratic Socialists of America, the CNY Alliance of Retired Americans, 1199SEIU and Physicians for a National Health Program CNY Chapter to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. The rally called attention to the impact of Republican tax cuts for the rich on funding for Medicare and Medicaid.
SPC summer intern Askar Salikov spoke on behalf of the Peace Council about the need to cut the military budget and invest in universal healthcare. Other speakers shared personal stories about rising health insurance premiums and how Medicaid and Medicare had helped the families.
SPC is one of hundreds of organizations supporting the Campaign for New York Health, a statewide effort to pass and implement universal, single-payer healthcare in NYS. Learn more at www.nyhcampaign.org.
– Ursula Rozum
Alliance for a Green Economy
Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) works for a carbon-free, nuclear-free, energy-efficient future. Currently we’re:
• Working to save community solar by fighting “Darth VDER,” the complicated and discriminatory Value of Distributed Energy Resources policy that’s thwarting community solar in many parts of NY. VDER has caused hundreds of community and commercial solar projects across NY to come to a halt. Stay tuned!
• Drawing attention to the Cuomo administration’s nuclear bailout and making a strong case for building renewables instead of propping up last century’s problematic energy sources. (www.tinyurl.com/ycqxhsm2). Sign on to support choosing 100% New York renewable energy instead of paying nuclear subsidies at www.allianceforagreeneconomy.org/100NYGreen
• The people who brought you Solarize team up to bring you NYSERDA’s program for heating (and cooling) buildings using ground-source or air-source heat pumps! Check out the www.HeatSmartCNY.org for upcoming events.
SPC is represented on AGREE’s Steering Committee.
– Andra Leimanis
UJTF and Allies Stood Up for Jobs
On August 21, the Urban Jobs Task Force and its allies showed up for two SIDA (Syracuse Industrial Development Agency) hearings regarding the tax benefits requested by two developers. One was VIP Structures for its $31 million redevelopment of the Post-Standard building, and the other was Gerharz Equipment for its $5 million consolidation at 222 Teall Ave. of its two business locations.
In return for these tax benefits we asked the developers to include city residents on their projects. A week before the SIDA hearings, we contacted VIP Structures. The day before the hearing VIP met with us and committed to work with us again as it did on the South Ave. PriceRite build. That 2016/2017 collaboration resulted in 30% city residents and 30% minorities building the grocery store. We asked Gerharz to follow VIP’s example.
– Aggie Lane
Trump is “Welcomed” to Upstate NY
As Air Force One set down in Central NY, the jester-in-chief was met by hundreds of voices in opposition to his administration. SEIU Local 1199 initiated a demonstration in Watertown and Indivisible Mohawk Valley initiated one in Utica. Members of the Syracuse Peace Council and the CNY Solidarity Coalition joined both actions to express their resistance. Both groups organized carpooling to the protests.
In Watertown, the opposition focused on healthcare with the prominent sign “Trump Care = No Care.” Speakers, including numerous veterans, contended that the tax money should be spent on the needs of the residents of Watertown and Jefferson County.
The Utica rally was large (estimated 500-2000) and highly spirited. Demonstrators focused on a wide range of concerns as expressed with many creative signs and banners.
– Ron Van Norstrand
Activist Appreciation: Caroline Kim Tihanyi
Since joining SPC through her work with immigrants’ rights, Caroline has been a diligent member of the Steering Committee for two years and a constant supportive presence at rallies and protests. She played an important part in creating our first Membership and Visioning Meeting in January, helping coordinate an uplifting event. This summer, we were thrilled that she joined in organizing our annual Hiroshima Day Procession. She connected this year’s procession with the local refugee community by facilitating a party for kids in the Northside CYO summer program to make paper dove props to carry in the procession, and was phenomenal as our media spokesperson.
Caroline always brings an aura of warmth and mindfulness, keeping our spirits up during times of political turmoil. A strong advocate for immigrants and refugees and a dedicated proponent for peace, we thank Caroline for her efforts and energy!
CNY Solidarity Coalition
Since its infancy, the CNY Solidarity Coalition has had two main goals―to provide legislative momentum to counteract the harmful Trump era agenda and to promote connection and outreach to communities. Ideally, the work of outreach serves to inform the legislative work. This requires continued effort to learn from and understand local communities.
Recent community-centered Coalition meetings have focused on understanding impacted communities’ needs and on learning about the organizing and advocacy already occurring there. We met at the Northside Learning Center and learned about the services provided and the inspiring work of the New Americans Forum. At another meeting, Workers Center members spoke about the impacts of not having drivers’ licenses on local immigrant communities. The Coalition is working to be responsive to communities’ expressed needs.
In addition to a weekly legislative action alert, the Coalition publishes a weekly community outreach event calendar where community events, political education, meetings and fundraisers are shared. Learn more at www.cnysolidarity.org. and sign up to receive our alerts and meeting schedule.
– Marianna Kaufman
IPad 5+ or Android 5.0+ tablet. SPC is joining the 2000s with a new way to easily offer credit card options when we sell merchandise or event tickets. A tablet will make it work even better. Color printer or access to color copying. Help us upgrade the appeal of our written materials―either by printing on your own color printer, or one you have access to. We’re happy to supply the paper. A small light-weight table, with small, light-weight chairs. Petitioning at the State Fair (and elsewhere) is often more effective when there is a small table for the petitions, information, etc.. But it needs to be easy to carry from the car or bus to the petitioning site.
