[pjw] INFO: Over 200 organizations demand end to F-35 fighter jet program

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group Supporters
Below is a news release from CODEPINK announcing the release of a letter 
signed by over 200 groups telling Congress to stop pouring money into the 
F-35 fighter jet program, listing various reasons including the wasted 
funds, environmental impact and harm to local communities.

The Iraq Affinity Group signed onto this letter last month-- you'll see 
our names in the "P" section under Peace and Justice Works.

CODEPINK is asking for people to get the word out about this. The link to 
the release, which links to the letter, is here:

https://www.codepink.org/ben_cohen_roger_waters_and_over_200_organizations_demand_end_to_f_35_program

Thanks!
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group


Ben Cohen, Roger Waters and over 200 organizations demand end to F-35 program
    Over 220 Organizations Across the World Sign Letter Demanding an End to
    the United States F35 Fighter Jet Program

    View Full Letter with Signatories
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R2XEDWHSBlMIDdrT85nMaMclvuEoRMG1PIK5yFoW8zI/edit?usp=sharing

    Ben Cohen, Roger Waters join organizations from Europe to South America
    in calling for President Biden and the U.S. Congress to cancel the
    manufacturing and training of the F-35 fighter jet.

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: In a time of economic uncertainty, climate
    crisis, and the necessity for peace and stability for people and
    planet, over 220 organizations join together in an international
    campaign to end the United State's F-35 program. Citing "harm caused
    abroad, cost of the program to the taxpayer, inefficiencies and
    failures, the environmental impact of F-35s, and the effects training
    has on local communities" the large coalition of organizations are
    joined by Ben Cohen, Roger Waters, Noam Chomsky and others in signing a
    joint letter addressed to President Joe Biden and members of the United
    States congress.

    "I joined over 200 organizations from around the world in calling on
    the U.S. government to end the disastrous F-35 fighter jet program
    because as a global community we need to drastically change our
    priorities." Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd continued, "To the
    people in the countries the F-35 is sold to and produced in, it's time
    we demand a reinvestment into life, not war."

    The organizations signed on to the demand represent human interest
    groups from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Paraguay, Germany,
    Spain, Kenya, and Switzerland. With the intention of the US to sell the
    F-35s to countries around the world, citizens from those countries push
    back on the program and those sales.

    "This is of deep concern to many of us in the country." explaines Ruth
    Rohde, board member at the Arms Information Centre in Germany.

    "Germany is looking to buy the F-35 to carry American nuclear weapons
    stationed here. Not only is this going to be a large, unnecessary
    financial burden but also sustains the disastrous, indefensible threat
    of nuclear war on and from German soil."

    The coalition points out in the letter that not only is the F-35
    program an extension of dangerous militarism but the jets themselves
    have proven to be a money-draining and faulty piece of machinery. Even
    The Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith called
    the F-35 a "rathole."

    "The global community is fed-up with overpriced, underperforming weapon
    systems like the F-35. It's a complete waste of tax-payer dollars that
    causes harm abroad and here at home in Vermont." Ben Cohen, co-founder
    of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and Vermont local continued, "The only
    people this project benefits are the executives at Lockheed Martin.
    Real security is knowing you can see a doctor when you're sick, not a
    boondoggle fighter jet that can't fly near thunderstorms."

    Cohen, along with many Vermont-based organizations represent the
    working-class families who unwillingly are subjected to the physically
    and mentally detrimental F-35 training program that terrorizes their
    neighborhoods. The noise caused by the F-35 hits 115 decibels which
    especially hurts and injures infants and children, the elderly, and the
    disabled. The F-35 has 300 to 600 takeoffs and landings a month.
    Madison, Wisconsin residents are the next on the list to be subjected
    to this violation of personal privacy.

    The campaign to end the F-35 program is being spearheaded by CODEPINK:
    Women for Peace as part of their overall goal to end the war economy
    and create a stable and sustainable planet for all, not just a few.

    "The F-35 program is a microcosm of the military industrial complex.
    Each year the U.S. government funnels massive amounts of money into the
    program while letting places in the U.S. go without clean water for
    months or years. Sustaining this program for any longer will have
    detrimental effects on human life and the earth." Danaka Katovich,
    national co-director of CODEPINK.

    The letter is being emailed to the White House and Congressional
    staffers this week as well as being hand delivered directly to select
    members of Congress.

    The letter itself is just the beginning of the campaign. An
    international day of action is being planned for 2023 with thousands of
    people from four continents taking to the streets to stop President
    Biden from including the F-35 program in his defense budget proposal to
    be submitted to Congress for FY2024. Between now and the 2023 action,
    the 200+ organizations will be petitioning their elected officials and
    educating the public on the real life dangers and consequences of
    continuing the F-35 program.

    For more information regarding the campaign, please contact Danaka
    Katovich at danaka at codepink.org .