George Haeseler, a beloved friend and mentor
Compiled and written by Cecily O’Neil As many of you know, we lost a dear friend and fellow activist earlier this year. George Haeseler had moved to North Carolina to be closer to his adult children a few years ago, … Continue reading
It is what it is
By Jack Gilroy “It is what it is.” Is this recent statement from the POTUS stoical or contemptible? We need to decide come November 3, 2020. Having disbanded the national infectious disease preparedness board before the pandemic occurred and having … Continue reading
Black Lives Matter
By Jim Clune How should we support those resisting and protesting racism in America? A good first step is to stand up with Black brothers and sisters to say, in many ways, that “Black Lives Matter”. A second, and vitally … Continue reading
Solidarity or Bust!
By Tim Wolcott Raising your arm in a fist at a rally is not enough. We have internal work to do. Solidarity for the common good is an aspiration too often thwarted by ego, white fragility and apathy. Nonetheless, it … Continue reading
Webinar: What About World War II?
This webinar, features David Swanson, Executive Director of World BEYOND War, discussing the “What about WWII?” question so popular among supporters of military spending, and the history of Armistice Day. Organized by: Peace Action of Broome County, NY and Stu … Continue reading
Residents of Susquehanna County PA Reveal Why They Want Biden for President
After an article in the New York Times posed the question “Will Trump Win Pennsylvania Again?“, residents of Susquehanna County PA gathered to discuss why they want Biden for President. Video by Vera Scroggins HATE…….WILL NOT…..MAKE US…..GREAT…….VOTE ……BIDEN
Tree Planting Memorial
On a beautiful Fall day, members of our local VFP planted trees in the memory of Dick McLean, George Haeseler and Arvid Antonson. These trees are planted in Floyd West Park at the intersection of Chapman and Court Streets in … Continue reading
75 Years: Living With the “Device” *
By Doug Garnar I was born on June 6, 1945 (D-Day plus one year). 40 days later, on July 16th, the world changed with the first successful test of a nuclear device. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the civilian leader of the … Continue reading
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Memorium
Video by Vera Scroggins On August 6, 2020, Peace Groups gathered at First Congregational Church, Binghamton, NY for the 34th year of honoring the dead and harmed after the nuclear attacks of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945. Veterans … Continue reading
Health Care and Education, not Militarization
On July 16th, 2020, several BCPA members attended and helped out at a Citizen Action event to tell our Senators to help pass the Heroes Act which has passed the House. Many people need a People’s Bailout during this Coronavirus … Continue reading
Ring the Bell – Remember Hiroshima
In remembrance of the atomic bomb incineration of the Japanese people and land of Hiroshima 75 years ago, Peace Action and Veterans for Peace of Broome County will continue a decades-long tradition of ringing the outdoor ground bell at First … Continue reading
Requesting Deep Cuts in Military Spending
This video takes place outside Sen Schumer’s office in Binghamton, NY on February 10, 2020. Citizens from various peace groups congregated in front of the Federal Building and requested that our elected officials make deep cuts in the Military Budget … Continue reading
Full Spectrum Dominance
By Jim Clune I read an article recently that reviewed a book based on the premise that the America we now know as the USA was founded in 1619 when the first boatload of slaves arrived and not 1776, as … Continue reading
Protest Against War Spending
Press Release June 7th, 2020 Calling to shame the United States obscene Military Budget at Federal Building on Henry St, Binghamton, June 10th at 11 AM Simultaneous actions will be held on Wednesday June 10th at 11 AM at NY … Continue reading
Solidarity Caravan for Workers
By Ann Clune May day! May day! May day! With the world confronting a novel, life-threatening pandemic, we were made acutely aware of how much we depend on essential workers to sustain our lives. Critical workers include the doctors, nurses, … Continue reading
A reflection on Peace Action’s future
By Jim Clune Broome County Peace Action was originally formed in the 1980’s to address through the “Freeze Movement” the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Since then we have also been engaged in the issues of war making, cultural militarism, American … Continue reading
A New and Joyous Way to Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki
By Jack Gilroy Veterans for Peace, Chapter 90, works closely with Peace Action of Broome County, N.Y. The two groups meet together the second Saturday of each month, VFP at 10AM and Peace at 11AM. For decades Peace Action (formerly … Continue reading
Our grant engages students in activism
By Tim Wolcott After a circuitous, anxious trek through many hallways and a couple of flights of stairs, I neared the appointed Benjamin Franklin Elementary School classroom. I was glad to see through the open door, sun shining brightly onto … Continue reading
Peace Dividend Lost in 1991 – Can We Get It in 2020?
By Jack Gilroy It’s April 2020, and the planet is in the midst of a pandemic. Our best epidemiologists still can’t predict how many more than the current number of over 40,000 will die in America from Covid – 19. … Continue reading
A Gratitude Caravan
May day, May day, May day! With the world confronting a life-threatening pandemic, we are more than ever acutely aware of how much we depend on a vast number of service workers to help us live our lives. High on … Continue reading
George Haeseler
Jack Gilroy shares a letter sent to George, a friend for about 35 years, a little before George’s passing. I remember well when I joined Sane Freeze in 1985. I was feeling pretty lonely at the high school where I … Continue reading
Remembering WWI—There Is No Just War
My father, Francis Gilroy, a US Navy airman wrote home to his mother from Queenstown (Cobh) Ireland after 11 Am on November 11th, 1918 that he had “been up”. “Up”, meaning flying in a seven-ply wood wing aircraft, a submarine … Continue reading
Veterans for Peace Winter 2020 Newsletter
From the Veterans for Peace Winter 2020 newsletter, page 18: The past year was the busiest ever for VFP Stu Naismith Chapter 90. It began with the January 2019 annual luncheon and conversation (via phone) with Suzanne Gordon of San … Continue reading
Bearing Witness to Homelessness in San Diego
By Stan Levin / San Diego Veterans for Peace They are here, by the hundreds, by the thousands, the dispossessed among us. People having little in the way of the niceties of a comfortable existence That equates with the concept … Continue reading
No U.S. – Iran War – Peace Groups Protest – January 4, 2020
Several Peace Groups and Political Activist Groups present to protest possible War on Iran. Video by Vera Scroggins
Plowshares 7 Convicted
Brunswick, Georgia – late October No one was allowed to wear shirts with messages into the court room for the Kings Bay 7 Trident Plowshares Trial. Outside of the court house Veteran For Peace members, complete with a black and … Continue reading
BCPA / Teach Peace Now School Grant Winner
Broome County Peace Action in collaboration with teachpeacenow.com have secured a modest victory for peace education (albeit a high quality one) with BCPA’s funding of Binghamton’s Benjamin Franklin Elementary School’s social action project, “Culturally Responsive Authors Club”. This is the … Continue reading
Climate Change and Peace Issues
By Jim Clune A recent post by Medea Benjamin of Codepink connects numerous ways the climate crisis and militarism are intertwined. In this post, I’m paraphrasing her piece, as well as including other relevant facts. Ms. Benjamin states that our … Continue reading
BCPA / VFP 2019 Peace Scarecrows
Broome County Peace Action and Broome County Veterans for Peace again collaborated on an entry in the county’s annual scarecrow competition at Otsiningo Park. While we did not win the competition, we did spread some public awareness that our groups … Continue reading
Children’s Peace Fair
Veterans for Peace & Peace Action of Broome County worked together to produce a Children’s Peace Fair this past Hiroshima Day, August 6. Adults said it was a resounding success. The abundant, joyful sound of children support that conclusion. Early … Continue reading
My Lai Touring Exhibit in Binghamton
My Lai Memorial Exhibit is a project of Chicago Veterans for Peace and honors the Vietnamese people who died as a result of our political and military actions in their country during the Vietnam War. Your donation to My Lai … Continue reading
Our Main Mission: No Nuclear Weapons
By Jim Clune The original impetus to forming Broome County Peace Action was the Freeze Campaign of the 1980’s. However, the nuclear weapons never went away. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock is now set at 2 minutes to … Continue reading
