Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Is Jimmy Carter Right on Israel?

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group (WPJG) is sponsoring a talk by John Spritzler, "Is Jimmy Carter Right on Israel?" He will examine former President Carter's controversial book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," and address the question: "Does Israel practice apartheid policies?" Mr. Spritzler will describe the history and issues behind the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and propose avenues for a peaceful solution.

Mr. Spritzler is an author: "The People as Enemy: The Leaders' Hidden Agenda in World War II" and co-author of "On the Public Agenda: Essays for Change". He is also a Research Scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health and a founding member of New Democracy. This WPJG talk will be held at the Walpole Public Library on Tuesday, April 3rd at 7:30 PM. The public is invited to come and consider an issue that is critical to achievement of peace in the Middle East.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Peace Vigil 4th Anniversary of Iraq War in Walpole

Please join us for a peace vigil on Saturday, March 17 to mark the 4th Anniversary of the Iraq war and to remember the U.S. and Iraqi dead. We will be joining groups across the country in calling on the U.S. to end this disastrous war and bring our country’s troops home to safety. This war, which should never have been started, has caused four years of death and destruction. A 60-foot banner with the names of many of the more than 3,100 U.S. solders killed in the war will be displayed. We may also have a chain of rings with all 3,100+ names. Seeing the actual names of our dead is sobering as we reflect on the terrible human cost of this war. Over 22,000 other solders have been wounded, many with serious debilitating injuries. Iraqi civilian casualties are estimated to be as high as 600,000. The high financial cost of the war is placing a huge burden on the U.S. budget and will continue to do so for decades, limiting funds available for human needs. The direct cost through 2008 will be over $500 billion just for Iraq or about $1,700 for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. The total cost will exceed $2 trillion.

A moment of silence with prayers will be held along with the reading of representative names of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in the war. The vigil will be held on the Walpole Common, across from the Post Office, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Please attend for all of part of the vigil.