Tax Day 2020 Letter to Congressional Delegation

Tax Day actions in Des Moines this year were more simple than in years past.  A couple of peace group leaders met and agreed to send letters to Sen. Grassley, Sen. Ernst, and Rep. Cindy Axne for this Tax Day relating to military budget and use of nuclear weapons, as Tax Day was moved to July 15 because of COVID.

Grounded… or Flying by the Seat of our Pants? & Bewildering Federal Budget

By Chrissy Kirchhoefer; reprinted with permission; first printed for the NWTRCC (National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee) newsletter June/ July 2020

An increased number of military planes have been flying over the US and targeting cities, often in clusters, to show appreciation to “front-line workers.” 

Covid Connections

By: David Shogren; reprinted with permission; printed originally for the Iowa Chapter MFSA (Methodist Federation for Social Action) newsletter, Social Questions Bulletin (SQB) Spring 2020

This year has brought perhaps the most radical shift in multinational lifestyles since World War II as Covid-19, a novel coronavirus, erupted in Wuhan, China, population 11 million. The pandemic spread quickly and pervasively.

The Good, the Potential, and What Might Happen

By David Swanson; reprinted with permission, first published for davidswanson.org

https://davidswanson.org/the-good-the-potential-and-what-might-happen/


Already we’ve seen, as a result of people taking to the streets in the United States:

-Four policemen indicted.

-More racist monuments dismantled.

Racism in the Military Justice System: The GAO Responds

By:  Kathleen Gilberd; reprinted with permission; originally printed for Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft newsletter, Jan.- Mar. 2020 

The military portrays itself as an equal opportunity employer, prohibiting racial discrimination, punishing racist behavior and offering strong careers to people of color. The reality is far different: African-Americans and other people of color serve predominantly in the lower ranks and perform less glamorous jobs.

Letter to the Editor: What We Can Do About Gun Violence in Iowa

We applaud the Iowa Nurses Association in its recent issue of Iowa Nurse Reporter for taking a firm, evidence-based stance on gun violence: it is a public health crisis. We are two retired RNs who have been working in Decorah to educate our citizens about safe gun ownership and sensible gun legislation.

He’s Got Eight Numbers, Just Like Everybody Else

by Kathy Kelly, reprinted with permission; first published electronically for a Voices for a Creative Nonviolence (VCNV) email April 3, 2020

On April 4, 2020, my friend Steve Kelly will begin a third year of imprisonment in Georgia’s Glynn County jail. He turned 70 while in prison, and while he has served multiple prison sentences for protesting nuclear weapons, spending two years in a county jail is unusual even for him.

Book Review: Just Mercy, A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

By Christine Sheller

Just Mercy is a weaving of personal narrative, storytelling, and reasons to hope in the midst of a criminal justice system that’s broken.  Stevenson begins with some facts about incarceration and execution, along with his story about how he came to be founder and director of EJI- Equal Justice Initiative.

Iowa Peace Network Endorses Int'l. Conference "Stop the New Nuclear Arms Race"

By Christine Sheller

"Those who say a world without nuclear weapons is impossible need to get out of the way of those who are making it happen.” - Beatrice Fihn, ICAN

Iowa Peace Network recently endorsed the “Stop the New Nuclear Arms Race” scheduled for May 22-25, 2020 in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Nukewatch, the Nuclear Resister, and the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA), were planners for the event. 

Why are we talking about trauma? Is that the right word?

By Katie Mansfield, reprinted with permission; first published electronically from STAR/ Center for Justice and Rebuilding partnered with EMU (Eastern Mennonite University) based in Virginia.  A partner in St. Paul, MN as well.  Go to www.emu.edu/star to see more.

Harm is a word that can represent the impact of actions that create pain and stress. These actions may be intentional or unintentional.
In some cases, the creator/originator of the harm is unaware of actions’ impact or unavailable to be accountable for the impact. Not all harms lead to a trauma response, though many harmful situations can contribute to daily stress.