Artists and Writers Against Torture

World Can't Wait: Call for Entries

In the months following 9/11, the government of the United States began unjust and immoral occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq leading to the deaths of countless civilians. It began warrantless wiretapping and suspended habeas corpus. And it began openly torturing people and justifying it with questionable legalese.

In the hyper-sensitive environment that surrounded 9/11 and the military action that followed it, we lost sight of the most important commodity to which we can lay claim:

the Truth.

And the Truth is: torture is a crime.

Snip

Submission Deadline

The deadline for submissions of artwork or written work is November 1, 2009. If your piece/s is/are accepted for inclusion in Artists and Writers Against Torture, you will be notified by email by the end of November 2009........Rest Found Here

Now at the end of the page they give this: Remember to attach all submission files to your email! We look forward to seeing your submissions. Good luck! with the type files and other information you can send them in boxes provided.

Mother’s love: a plea to Michelle Obama

An Agent Orange activist calls on the first lady to help dioxin victims in Vietnam.

Vietnamese victims of the defoliant Agent Orange play at a social sponsorship center in Da Nang City June 26, 2009. US warplanes dropped about 18 million gallons of the defoliant on southern Vietnam for most of the 1960s.

The following is a letter sent to Michelle Obama by Secretary of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Association Len Aldis, who has worked for years to spread awareness of Agent Orange victims’ plight.

August 2 marks the beginning of Orange Week, a government program to create Agent Orange awareness through various programs nationwide. Orange Week ends on August 10, 48 years to the day since the US military begin spraying the defoliant on Vietnam.

Dear Michelle Obama,

You can find the Letter Here

Britain-Vietnam Friendship Association


"AGENT ORANGE: 30 YEARS LATER"

“AGENT ORANGE: 30 YEARS LATER” is a drama-documentary about the victims of Agent Orange 30 years after the Viet Nam War.

The goal of this documentary is to make the viewers aware of the impact of dioxin on the environment and the people. The film also underscores the need for compassion and heightens a sense of responsibility for our actions towards each other as stewards of the planet without regard for political differences.....>>>>>Much More Here

Justice for Victims of Agent Orange

I put this together when the Vietnamesse Reps were attempting to get the U.S. Courts to rule on Compensation for Defoliant Victims that still plague that country today.

The Vietnamese government says this has left more than 3
million people disabled.
Please Visit The Following Links

Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign

The Thanh Xuan Peace Village in Vietnam

Agent orange girl determined to overcome her destiny

"Chorus for Justice"

Vietnamese Delegation in U.S. to Sue Chemical Companies for Ongoing
Effects of Agent Orange

Justice for Victims of Agent Orange


'Nam Vets Again Press VA on Agent Orange

Armed with the latest study from the Institute of Medicine, Vietnam Veterans of America is petitioning Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki to add three illnesses -- including high blood pressure -- to the long list of deadly or debilitating ailments that have been linked to Agent Orange exposure.

The outreach is the latest in a long fight between some Vietnam veterans’ organizations and the U.S. government to connect a wider range of ailments to the chemical defoliant used throughout the conflict to strip away the enemy’s jungle sanctuaries.............

39 years later, Australia finds last Vietnam War missing
The officer in charge of Operation Magpies Return, wing commander Michael Warby (L), assisted by Vietnamese workers, sieves soil at the crash site.

An Australian search team has found the remains of the country's last two missing Vietnam War servicemen, 39 years after their aircraft crashed into a thick jungle, officials said Thursday............

Such helpers in the world...

There are such helpers in the world, who rush to save
anyone who cries out. Like Mercy itself,
they run towards the screaming.

And they can't be bought off.
If you were to ask one of those, "Why did you come
so quickly?" he or she would say, "Because I heard
your helplessness.

These words were written in the 13th century by the great Persian poet, Rumi. In the last week we have seen the cries of many Iranian people and most of us stand in solidarity with the people of Iran. The heated debate among our politicians will continue to rage about what we should say and what we should do as Iranians raise their voices. Though Rumi did not explicitly say it, my belief is that he implied that we should come as allies to stand next to the people of Iran, listening to their concerns and alert to their ideas and ready to do what they ask—not what we think they need......

The poems that follow...>>>>>

Voices Education Project

GOP Campaign Themes

These people have No Self Worth, I'm talking about those that just hang to this imaginary, once proud, Republican Tag. Even still calling themselves Conservative!


They allow themselves to be led around like the robots they've become, and frankly some on the Democratic side are just as willing, but the fall into line and march in lockstep Falls Souly on the GOP!


They've been Silent and Accepting of the Lies that led our Troops into Occupations and All that has come about because of that, the torturing, the no-bid contracts, the corruption, the deaths and maiming' s................................................, and oh so much more!


They've been Silent and Accepting as our Freedoms have been slowly stripped away, and Accepting of Rule by Executive Branch Alone ignoring the fact they have hired others to Represent Them!


They also find it Very Easy to Condemn those that give Service to Their Lives and Freedoms!


Last election cycle they Laughed at and Mocked the Military Service of one of the Presidential Candidates who Served This Country In Vietnam, just as I Did, and being in the same service branch, the U.S. Navy, they Spit on my Service, All my brother and sister Naval personal who served In-Country, and All the other Service Personal, but most of All, All Those Who Have Served This Country and Received It's Highest Honor For That Service, The Purple Heart!!!






I was waiting to see how they would Slam their Fellow Americans this year. Well they started early, peppering their talking points with the words needed, leading up to their Convention, and Let Both Barrels Go, Loud and Clear!!


They went after Anyone who 'Volunteers', everyone who run those Volunteer Organizations, to Help Others, you know that Christian and Human Ideology They Claim seemingly as their own as they Slam those who are following the same teachings but not Their Views!


I'm to Royally Pissed, as a Veteran, an Activist, and an Advocate to really go deep into All they've 'Spit' on, others have already started these Long Lists, you can read one Here as well as Here and Here.


There will be Plenty more I'm sure, especially as the Advocate, Volunteer, Community realizes what they've been subject to.


And Yes It's Spitting On That Which You Do as An American As Well As All Others Who Share This Planet With Them!!!!!!!


By the way, did Anyone hear anything mentioned on what these candidates and this so called political party are going to do for this Country, Our World Standing {not creating more hatreds and enemies} and Leadership, Our Constitution, Our Democracy, Our Freedoms, and will we tonight??

Iceland first, Iraq last

Iceland topped Vision of Humanity's Global Peace Index of 140 countries that analyzes how peaceful they are regarding international policy and domestic conditions, The Financial Times reported Tuesday.

Because of continued violence since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraq ranked last in the index developed by the organization based in Australia.

So says annual study ranking nations on how peaceful they are

And where does the U.S. stand in this years study on Humanity's Global Peace Index List, well we're number 97th, down one from 96th last year.

And why:

Index officials said the United States' position reflects its military expenditures and engagement. It also has more citizens in jail than any other nation, proportionally.

Vision of Humanity

Vision of Humanity groups together a number of interrelated initiatives focused on global peace. It brings a strategic approach to raising the world’s attention and awareness around the importance of peacefulness to humanity’s survival in the 21st century. read more

Business & Peace

Peace is a powerful concept. However, the notion of peace and its value in the world economy is not well understood. One of the key findings of the Global Peace Index was that there is a strong relationship between peace, business and national wealth. read more

Sustainability & Peace

Peace and sustainability are the cornerstones of humanity's survival in the 21st century. The major challenges facing humanity today are global – climate change, lack of fresh water, ever decreasing bio-diversity and over population. read more

Much more can be found at the Vision of Humanity website.

So in celebration of our ranking this year we should all show our patriotism by doning those lapel U.S. flag pins and lets double the size for better viewing, so nobody misses the fact we're wearing them.

Torture and Guantanamo Bay, amoung all the rest of our 'Appeasement' prisons, should make us all proud for next years rankings, as we drop even further.

I would also suggest that a new Auto Magnetic Symbol campaign be formed, Everyone To Paticipate, we need to replace all those missing 'Support The Troops' magnetic ribbons on our vehicles, to show our pride in being in the second half of the Peace Index and Falling!

The new symbol should be a gravestone, in gray, with number 97 very prominant and followed with "We're Number 97th", "We're Number 97th", "We're Number 97th and Falling"!

Now a big hand, we could wear, with 97 fingers upraised, would be a tall order as another symbol, but if someone could come up with one just think how wealthy you would become and you'd be able to keep that wealth with your fast disappearing taxes not needed to be payed and offshoring the company you set up.

Fall of Humanity..