Nuclear Weapons and the Peace Movement
I’m attaching an expanded version of what I said this afternoon to an audience of 40 senior citizens. Nuclear Weapons and the Peace Movement
International Affairs (Click to see specific nations and regions)
Vietnam War: Here are a few interesting resources.
One of Martin Luther King’s most powerful and insightful speeches exposed the cruelty and stupidity of the U.S.’s war in Vietnam. His “Beyond Vietnam” speech on April 4, 1967 (exactly one year before he was murdered) put the war in the context of the U.S.’s long-standing foreign policy — and also in the context of the U.S.’s failure to provide real democracy for African Americans in our nation, even while our government falsely claimed that we were creating democracy in Vietnam. The speech was very, very controversial at the time because many people did not yet understand the connections. Every […]
Nuclear Weapons and the Peace Movement
Below I’m attaching an essay I wrote that fleshes out the 6 points I made very briefly in the speaking engagement about the need for a grassroots peace movement to abolish nuclear weapons: The U.S. has been provoking nuclear weapons since 1945. Nuclear weapons exist in the overall context of U.S. foreign policy. We must de-militarize our foreign policy overall as well as abolish nuclear weapons. The problems came from the top down, so solutions must come from the bottom up. Only a nonviolent GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT can change our foreign policy and abolish nuclear weapons. […]
During World War II, Franz Jagerstatter was a Catholic who resisted Nazis in Germany
When people promote nonviolence against oppressors, some skeptics say that nonviolent resistance would not have worked against the Nazis in World War II. Actually, there was a lot of nonviolent resistance against the Nazis, and much of it was successful. Not enough people know about Franz Jagerstatter, a bold Catholic pacifist who resisted Germany’s Nazis. I’m sharing this information that a friend elsewhere in the country had sent to me. She said this information came from Jim Forest, a powerful member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation who died in January 2022. I met him and also Gordon Zahn, another Catholic […]
Nuclear weapons: How the U.S. provoked the arms race, escalated it, and trapped the world in nuclear terror
Ever since 1945, the vast majority of Americans believed what the government said about nuclear weapons. Not only did the politicians tell us what to believe, but – as always – the mainstream news media reinforced the official government messages. Here are some crucial steps in how the U.S. trapped the world in nuclear weapons: #1. Since the 1940s, the U.S. government – and mainstream news media – have been telling us that our nuclear weapons are a “deterrent” that prevent nations from attacking us. Actually, the U.S. military could repel any attempted invasion without using nuclear weapons. #2. The […]
During World War I, German and British troops stopped fighting and celebrated Christmas together.
At Christmas time in 1914 – during World War I – German and British troops got out of their trenches, refused to fight, and celebrated the holiday together. Besides refusing to fight, they also shared music, singing, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, photos from their families back home, and so forth. John McCutcheon wrote and performed a great song about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJi41RWaTCs Also, I encourage you to watch this 21-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYwKD2dc33A&feature=youtu.be
Here is a compelling case for an immediate CEASEFIRE in Ukraine
Phyllis Bennis is one of the most savvy analysts and writers about foreign affairs. We need to spread widely this smart article she wrote in early November 2022: https://fpif.org/its-time-for-a-ceasefire-in-ukraine/?emci=5dfc9c31-0f61-ed11-ade6-14cb6534a651&emdi=ac98e224-1161-ed11-ade6-14cb6534a651&ceid=3993183
Biden, etc., are stuck in a manic Cold War obsession that could destroy the world in nuclear war
Biden filled his foreign policy positions with appointees who share Biden’s Cold War mania and bias in favor of militarism — instead of honest diplomacy and peace. For example, he appointed Anthony Blinkin to be his Secretary of State. The State Department is the federal agency in charge of directing U.S. interactions with other nations. Presidents should appoint to that position persons who are solidly committed to peace, honest diplomacy, etc. Biden appointed Anthony Blinkin, whose career has focused on URGING OTHER NATIONS TO BUY MILITARY WEAPONS MADE BY U.S. CORPORATIONS. That is how Joe Biden sees the role of […]
“Choose a Bold, Humane Future” — Glen’s November 2022 TV program
The November 2022 program on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series provides many fresh insights that can inform and empower you to take bold, positive actions on issues you care about. The American people know serious problems exist. Public opinion polls keep showing that increasing majorities say our nation is “on the wrong track.” So what do we do about it? Take small steps only? Or solve the big problems? Our November 2022 TV interview is positive, upbeat, creative, and encouraging. Besides working to stop what we oppose, what if we also worked equally hard and skillfully to accomplish what we […]
The Eight Stupidest Things About Nuclear Weapons, according to David Swanson
Nuclear weapons could easily destroy the world. All it takes is one reckless person whose finger is on the button — or one computer error — or one misunderstanding or miscalculation — and we’d all be dead. The status quo is NOT smart and is NOT sustainable. We need smart thinking about nuclear weapons. David Swanson is an expert who is alerting us to what he calls “The Eight Stupidest Things About Nuclear Weapons.” See this smart article: https://davidswanson.org/the-eight-stupidest-things-about-nuclear-weapons
PROHIBIT nuclear weapons! Support this global Treaty to do this!
During the 1960s the world was alarmed that some nations had nuclear weapons and more nations were starting programs to build their own. The 5 nations that had them (U.S., U.S.S.R., the U.K., France and China) were alarmed that other nations (South Africa, Brazil, etc.) might join their elite “nuclear club” and threaten the world — just as the 5 nuclear nations were doing. In response, the world’s nations negotiated a grand bargain between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Nearly every nation of the world promised NEVER to build or acquire nuclear weapon while the 5 nuclear nations promised to […]
If we want “national security,” we must establish “climate security”
FACT SHEET: No National Security without Climate Security Environmentalists know that EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED. This is true about public policy issues too. We cannot have “national security” unless we have “climate security,” because climate disruptions makes the U.S. (and the rest of the world) INSECURE and causes global disruptions (environmental catastrophes, massive migrations of climate refugees, etc.) that endanger “national security” and result in escalating military violence. See the FACT SHEET posted below to understand how the U.S. government’s pitifully small spending to protect the climate compares to its enormously gigantically outrageous spending for the military. The National Priorities Project […]
US Militarism Fuels Domestic Gun Violence
Overwhelmingly, the American people want to reduce gun violence. Smart people urge Congress and state/local governments to pass specific legislation banning assault weapons, requiring background checks, preventing dangerous people from owning guns, and so forth. All of those are good ideas and necessary. But nearly all people who want to reduce gun violence OVERLOOK “THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM” that persistently REINFORCES AND PROMOTES gun violence: THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN POLICY AND BUDGET AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTE SHOOTING (and bombing) in THE MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION THAT VIOLENCE SOLVES PROBLEMS. The government SETS A BAD EXAMPLE that ordinary Americans follow when they shoot people […]
People need “Peace Literacy” so they’ll learn about peace (and practice it), not only about wars
Paul K. Chappell grew up in a violent household. He joined the U.S. Army, graduated from West Point, was deployed to Iraq, and left active duty as a Captain. Then he turned toward peace. He realized that people need to to become as well-trained in waging peace as soldiers are in waging war. He created the concept of “Peace Literacy” to help people of all ages and from all backgrounds work toward their full potential and a more peaceful world. See www.peaceliteracy.org Just like West Point trains soldiers and the Civil Rights Movement has conducted serious training for disciplined nonviolent […]
At Christmas time 1914 – during World War I – German and British troops refused to fight!
My September 2022 TV program provides encouraging information about soldiers who refuse to fight. An exciting inspiration occurred during World War 1 when — on Christmas eve — German and British troops got out of their trenches, refused to fight, and celebrated the holiday together. Besides refusing to fight, they also shared music, singing, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, photos from their families back home, and so forth. John McCutcheon wrote and performed a great song about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJi41RWaTCs Also, I encourage you to watch this 21-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYwKD2dc33A&feature=youtu.be Please share this with other people. Yes, PEACE IS POSSIBLE!!! We have huge […]