[pjw] REPORT BACK: cluster struck: Friday rally #171 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello again IAG supporters

At last night's Friday Rally for Peace and Justice, nine of us rallied 
an seven marched-- and among the marchers were two new participants. One 
came with a "regular" and the other happened upon us, happy to see that 
people are working for peace!

I was able to respond to my "favorite" comment as a person told me, 
regarding my sign, that the US is "out of Iraq." Nope, there are 2500 
troops and the world's largest embassy still there. The person kind of 
shrugged an moved on. We had a lot of supportive honks and a group of 
three young people skateboarding by shouting "no war, yeah!!" The 
_security guard_ at a bar we pass every week told us "I agree with you." 
So don't make assumptions folks!

Some of the headlines we talked about, including one that will clarify the 
subject line:

--NATO is meeting on July 11 and will offer membership to Ukraine, but not 
right away. Doing that would mean they'd have to be more directly involved 
in the war against Russia. Regardless, it's a foolish tactic that just 
re-emphasizes the Russians' complaint that led to their invasion.

  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nato-members-closer-compromise-ukraines-152605056.html

---The Pentagon wants to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, even though 
they are banned in 120 countries. (Not ours!) You know, they send out 
little bomblets that look like soda cans so young people can pick them up 
and blow their limbs off.

  https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/cluster-munitions-would-be-useful-ukraine-pentagon-says-2023-06-22/

--Hey, you know that Chinese balloon that flew over the US and that 
America blew up? It's been confirmed that it did not collect data while it 
was aloft. (Even Fox News reported this story!) So, will this lower the 
temperature for the US wanting war with China? Rhetorical question.

  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66062562

---The Secretary of State, who's supposed to be our key diplomat, said he 
is just fine with President Biden calling China's President Xi a 
"dictator." Blinken said that Biden "speaks for all of us." Nope!!!

  https://thehill.com/policy/international/4066742-blinken-backs-biden-on-calling-xi-a-dictator/

--You may also remember a few weeks ago the US killed a Syrian man who was 
actually a sheep herder and not a "terrorist." Twenty-one human rights 
groups are calling for the US to make amends. Perhaps they might also look 
to the thousands of others killed in the "war on terror"? But, good start.

  https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4074773-more-than-20-human-rights-groups-call-for-pentagon-to-make-amends-after-deadly-syrian-strike/

--Some rather angry Iraqi protestors stormed the Swedish embassy in 
Baghdad after Kurdish Iraqis in Sweden burned a Quran.

  https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/290620233

--Instead of being forthcoming about their efforts to seek a peaceful 
alternative to war, the US is upset that Israel leaked the info about 
the talks they have been having with Iran about uranium enrichment and 
sanctions. But they finally admitted the talks are happening.

  https://www.axios.com/2023/06/28/iran-talks-leak-white-house-israel-sullivan

--For the first time (in 21 + years) a United Nations investigator visited 
Guantanamo prison. They found the conditions are "inhuman" (imagine if 
they'd been there during the torture years) and that denying people 
freedom without charge is a violation of their rights.

  https://apnews.com/article/us-guantanamo-detainees-un-investigator-cruel-treatment-bfae732732c7a3f596bb01e106f6fbca

In local news, last week I wrote about the Portland Police Lieutenants' 
bargaining agreement having language that would prohibit the new oversight 
system from investigating them for misconduct. On Monday, Portland 
Copwatch wrote a letter to City Council pointing out the problem. On 
Wednesday, a _newly revised version_ of the contract _with all the 
paragraphs fixed_ and _signed and dated on Tuesday_ was presented to 
Council. And the City Attorney credited the PCW letter. Small victories!

Watch here (it's only about 10 minutes):
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDM7jk1Enw8&t=7224s

At about the same place as usual, talked about two issues in 
Israel/Palestine:

--Netanyahu has backed down on the part of his plan where the Knesset 
(Parliament) can overturn Supreme Court decisions. It's not the end of the 
attack on separation of powers, but it's an important step.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-netanyahu-drops-judicial-overhaul-clause

--Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank have gotten so bad that four 
Israelis were given the "Palestinian" treatment and arrested/jailed right 
away due to the nature of their crimes. 100 Palestinians (and 20 Israelis) 
have lost their lives in the West Bank clashes this year.

  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-28/israel-acts-against-jewish-settlers-who-rampaged-in-west-bank

Toward the end of the march, I mentioned that the latest proposed 
amendments to the $886 Billion "defense" bill flag some of the money to 
address the many service people who take their own lives. Yeah, maybe if 
you stopped using people to fight your wars there'd be less suicide! And 
if you used that money for jobs, housing, education and the environment...

  https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/next-defense-dollars-5-2-141600254.html

I reminded folks that the Norman Solomon livestream is now up on youtube 
so you can watch it at any time.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_eOLIkJMl8

COVID update: The Washington Post states:
"Activists who are waging a difficult fight to keep covid-19 a top 
priority say the retreat is premature, as the virus continues to prey on 
the most vulnerable-- killing 40,000 so far this year. Hundreds still die 
daily, and long covid continues to inflict lasting complications on 
otherwise healthy people." So, we continue to suggest you mask up if you 
want to join us some Friday evening for this weekly event.

peace
--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group