A note from peace activist Ed Flaherty:

This week is a full week, beginning with Martin Luther King day on Monday.  Let reflection on his efforts be an inspiration to all of us.    Hope you can make your efforts known during the coming week!

Tuesday, January 21st, 7PM Democrats & Republicans will be holding caucuses.  You can find the location of your caucus by going to thecaucuses.org.  If you are going to a caucus, you may want to use the opportunity to present some resolutions and get some conversation and education going. Here are a few hypothetical ones you might want to use, but come up with your own too.

• The piloting or controlling from within the state of Iowa of unmanned aerial vehicles, if they are weaponized, must be prohibited, as well as the triggering of any weapons mounted on such vehicles.

• The U.S. must persist in active, good-faith diplomacy with Iran, recognizing that a war with Iran is not in our national interest.

• The U.S. prison at Guantanamo must be promptly closed. The detainees who have been cleared for release or who have not had charges brought against them must be released.

• Military spending accounts for more than half of discretionary spending in the federal budget. It must be substantially reduced if we are to have adequate funding for pressing domestic needs and if we are to reverse the direction toward endless war.

Wednesday, Jan 22nd

Free Movie. “Unmanned: America’s Drone Wars” At Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A.  6:30 PM – 8:30 PM. This is a brand new Robert Greenwald film examining our increasing use of armed drones. It includes coverage of US drone use in Pakistan and other countries, and features interviews with US officials and family members of civilian victims.  (This is an excellent movie.  I’ve watched it twice, and looking forward to seeing it again).  Sponsored by Veterans for Peace #161, Johnson Co. Green Party, Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, and PEACE Iowa.

Thursday, Jan 23rd

Please join us in the Iowa City Emergency Campaign for Syrian Refugees.  For a special evening fundraiser featuring Middle Eastern food and music.  OLD BRICK CHURCH, Iowa City  6:30 PM.  Suggested donations: $20 for adults/ $15 students. Proceeds towards UNICEF.  The humanitarian crisis in Syria, and for the 2 million Syrian refugees in other countries, is excruciating and in its 3rd year. The Syrian people desperately need our help.  Sponsored by St. Raphael’s Orthodox Church, University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, Veterans for Peace Chapters #161 & 169, Iowa United Nations Association, Iowa City People for Justice in Palestine, PEACE Iowa, Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the UI Arab Student Association.