"Bishop Pates please Teach, Test & Grade the DM Drone Command Center" Vigil Report

By Frank Cordaro

      Big thank you to Kathy Kelly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Kelly who spoke Sat. night for our Aug 5-9 24/7 vigil at St Ambrose Cathedral in DM. Kathy gave use personal accounts of people she's met who were victims of US bombings and drone killings in Iraqi, Syria, Palestine/ Gaza & Afghanistan.  Since we knew we would likely be outdoors, we billed Kathy's talk from the steps of St Ambrose. As it was, she actually talked from the public side walk in front of the Cathedral to a crowd of 25. It was personal,  it was gripping and moving, using the stories of real people and their tragedies to connect the dots and work of the DM Armed Drone Command to the end results of their armed drone mission.

Imagining a World Without Nukes- Peace is in our Hands- Des Moines Annual Remembrance of the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

By Christine Sheller

Sunday, August 6 the annual remembrance in Des Moines of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was held, titled “Imagining a World Without Nukes- Peace is in our hands”.  It was attended by over 100, at the traditional location- the Japanese Bell on the State Capitol grounds.  It is the longest running annual peace event in the U.S.  Catholic Peace Ministry worked along with cosponsors to put the program together.

The New York Magazine Article and Finding Truth

From The Climate Mobilization, Written by Marian Klein Salamon; Reprinted with permission

See www.theclimatemobilization.org

Last week, David Wallace-Wells published a cover story in New York Magazine, “The Uninhabitable Earth,” on some of the worst-case scenarios that the climate crisis could cause by the end of this century. It describes killer heat waves, crippling agricultural failures, a devastated economy, plagues, resource wars, and more. It has been read more than two million times.

DCW Frank Cordaro Sentenced to 72 Hours in Jail

(Last) Thursday, Frank Cordaro was sentenced to 72 hours in jail for trespassing at the Iowa Air National Guard base as part of the Des Moines Catholic Worker and Veterans for Peace ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the drone warfare currently being waged from Des Moines at the Iowa Air National Guard 132nd Wing, now a drone command center.

Annual MFSA Peace Walk & Prayer Service: Peace: Transforming the World through Social Justice

By Christine Sheller

Monday, June 12 was host to many from both the Iowa Methodist church conference, and others from outside the conference participating in the Annual MFSA Peace Walk and Prayer Service, sponsored by the Iowa Chapter of the MFSA and seven other Methodist committees/ organizations.  Iowa Peace Network participated in the conference, as the Methodist Church in Iowa is one of its supporting denominations; with a display table in the Exhibit Hall, and so was able to proceed to the beginning of the walk from the Events Center. 

If Our Government is So Bad…..Why Not Change it?

By Jeffrey J. Weiss

If any form of government does not secure “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” then it is the duty of the people to abolish it -- Those instructions came from Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.

Prayer In “Such a Time as This”

By Christine Sheller

If you’ve ever responded to a political email for a survey, donated, or sent emails to representatives and senators per a third party email, you probably see the subjects to many emails that come in by various organizations urging you to act on many different issues.

Tax Day Rally in Des Moines welcomes the Pentagon Sacred Cow

By Catholic Peace Ministry

DES MOINES, IA -- (Catholic Peace Ministry news services April 15, 2017) The Pentagon SacredCow made a special guest appearance in honor of himself at the tax day protest last Saturday afternoon, stealing the limelight from the 250 plus citizens who were questioning the priorities of the country and asking President Trump to release his tax returns.   

Des Moines says “NO” to Trump’s War

By Catholic Peace Ministry

DES MOINES, IOWA (APRIL 9TH, 2017) - Catholic Peace Ministry joined 'Iowa Uprising,' the 'Democratic Socialists of IA' and a number of college and high school students on April 8 at the Iowa State Capitol with its "The World Still Says No to War" sign in response to the illegal bombing of a Syrian military base by the current administration.

Palm Sunday Procession and Prayer Service for Peace 2017

By Christine Sheller

Iowa Peace Network, also a cosponsor, participated in the Palm Sunday Procession and Prayer Service for Peace, this past Sunday, April 9, 2017.  A large group gathered at the Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, and processed to the First Christian Church at 2500 University, about 12 blocks away.