WILPF US moves forward; delegation challenges US intervention in Venezuela; conference builds collaboration
Greetings, WILPF US Members!
WILPF US is moving quickly! In the under two months' time that I've been President, we've initiated and continued multiple projects.
On
our February 14 ONE WILPF All-Member Call, we invited branches to step up to be the site for the 2020 Congress. Just last week the final proof for Peace & Freedom magazine went to press. The national racial justice reading and discussion group resumes monthly conference calls this Thursday, and our multiple issue committees continue to be active. At the same time, in order to enhance collaborative and strategic program work, a new ad hoc committee is getting started with reviewing our program structures. And just this last weekend, numerous WILPF branches joined in the actions nationwide to seek a diplomatic and peaceful solution
in Venezuela
.
With March, it only gets busier! In another week, I'll be leaving for South America, joining other leaders of US peace groups in this special peace groups' delegation to Venezuela. This cooperative effort could contribute to more honest and analytical media coverage of the alternatives to DC's military-first foreign policy approach. As March continues, right after International Women's Day on March 8, participants in WILPF US's Practicum and Local to Global programs join hundreds of others in New York for the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women presentations. And on March 22, at the Women's Peace Initiative, WILPF US delegates participate with representatives of selected women's groups
in a conference
to explore collaborative work.
Our WPI delegation of WILPF activists is being organized by board member Nancy Price. Other board members on the delegation are Membership Development Chair, Shilpa Pandey, and I. Delegate Odile Hugonot Haber is the Middle East Committee Co-Chair. Setou Ouattara, of the Boston Branch, is part of a CTBTO (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization) Youth Group. Barbara Nielsen bring the delegation her experience with the Disarm Comm.
Both the fact-finding delegation to Venezuela and the WPI conference are exciting opportunities for strengthening the peace movement in the US. Even though it's a challenge for me to keep up -- especially with an
erratic
, irresponsible, and
bellicose White House
driving the news feed and US politics! -- all our many projects advance important facets of WILPF. And this work will inform our 2020 WILPF US Congress.
That election-year gathering -- and the set of position questions we're compiling for our members to reference and raise with candidates this year -- will give us the opportunity to highlight additional WILPF issues often ignored by candidates. Our goal is to help inform voters about topics such as safe food and water, the UN sustainable development goals, and the multiple costs of the US nuclear weapons policy,
I'm asking WILPF members to stand up and speak out! Below I list several ways for you to participate and respond. Also, in this fast-moving world, I hope you'll all watch for upcoming eAlerts -- such as the recent ones on Venezuela developments -- and closely read the monthly eNews. To improve our communications with members, we'll regularly get the eNews out early in the month (and that means we'll be firm about receiving eNews submissions by the deadline!).
I know that you already act in many ways to encourage and support the better world that WILPF advocates. I hope you'll stay open and responsive to the urgency of these times, when so much is at stake. And, in the rush of it all, let's keep space for personal relationships and small joys! Art and culture, nature and exercise, and good food shared with others -- these all are part of the satisfying world we want everyone to be able to live each day.
My thanks to each of you for your caring work!
Darien De Lu
WILPF US President
Participate and Respond!
Propose your city for the 2020 WILPF Congress
Invigorate your branch with the excitement and team work of congress planning! Is your branch ready to showcase local WILPF programs and other community initiatives by hosting the congress? Also, make your suggestions for congress cities and themes! Send to [email protected]
Promote racial justice
Gain insight and skills through reading and discussing -- or simply listening -- on the Racial Justice
Group
monthly conference c
alls
: fourth Thursday of each month at 5 PM Pacific time / 8 PM Eastern time. Pre-registration required!
Register here: (You will get a reminder message by email with the call-in info.)
- Thursday, February 28, White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism, the 2018 book by Robin DiAngelo.
- Thursday, March 28, Carol Anderson's 2016 book: White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide.
Question Presidential and Congressional candidates nationwide
As the 2020 elections approach, what issues would you like candidates to be aware of and address? Send in your good
questions!
Please classify each question by a general topic area and, if you can, incorporate related key statistics and other information, with references and citations.
Of course, the citations are for individual reference - not to be asked as part of the question! National WILPF will edit and refine the questions and circulate lists of them, sorted by topics, to you the members. By raising these carefully crafted questions at candidate events, we can inform the public and ourselves about candidate positions.
Join in the next Program Committee conference call on April 2
That's the first Tuesday, now at a new time: 5 pm Pacific time / 8 PM Eastern time.
Hear updates on issue committee projects and learn about long term plans, including possible Women's Peace Initiative developments. Make your individual and/or branch work more effective by coordinating with national activities! Watch for call-in information.
