GI Rights

Veterans and Military Families

GI Resistance

Counter recruitment
The Draft
Peace & Justice
Hotlines

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Veterans and Military Families

Citizen Soldier - is a GI/veterans rights advocacy group founded during the Vietnam war. They have recently provided legal defense and public advocacy for Gulf War refusers

.GI Special - Daily reports on the war and resistance.

Gold Star Families for Peace - Families of soldiers who have died as a result of war organized to be a positive force in our world to bring our country’s sons and daughters home from Iraq, to minimize the “human cost” of this war, and to prevent other families from the pain we are feeling as the result of our losses.

Guerrero Azteca Project -Resources and and ways to contribute in helping our youth realize their true potential as peace-seeking future students in higher education.
In English and Spanish

Iraq Veterans Against the War - A group of veterans who have served since September 11th, 2001 including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are committed to saving lives and ending the violence in Iraq by an immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces. We also believe that the governments that sponsored these wars are indebted to the men and women who were forced to fight them and must give their Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen the benefits that are owed to them upon their return home.

Military Families Against the War - An organization of people in Britain directly affected by the war in Iraq whose relatives and loved ones are members of the British Armed Services. Military Families Speak Out - An organization of people who are opposed to war in Iraq and who have relatives or loved ones in the military. We were formed in November of 2002 and have contacts with military families throughout the United States, and in other countries around the world.

MotherSpeak - MotherSpeak fosters cultural awareness and understanding by sharing stories. We believe that dialog -- talking and listening -- with others enriches all of our lives and reduces suspicion, prejudice, and negative assumptions.

National Gulf War Resource Center, Inc.- An international coalition of advocates and organizations providing a resource for information, support, and referrals for all those concerned with the complexities of Persian Gulf War issues, especially Gulf War illnesses and those held prisoner or missing in action. Operation Truth - The mission of Operation Truth is to connect the American public with the troops who are serving or served in Iraq and Afghanistan and, by articulating an action agenda, empower citizens to tangibly support the troops.

Swords to Plowshares - A community based organization of veterans helping veterans.  Provides health, legal, housing, and other services to veterans.

Service Womens Action Network (SWAN) -"Supports and develops the leadership of veterans, mentors young women considering military service, works to solve problems facing women in uniform, and provides and promotes services that are healing to women after their military service experience. SWAN establishes a worldwide network of military women, veterans and allies to provide lasting support, community and resources."

Veterans for Common Sense - "Our mission, based on the pragmatic ideals of the American patriot Thomas Paine, is to raise the unique and powerful voices of veterans so that our military, veterans, freedom, and national security are protected and enhanced, for ourselves and for future generations."

Vets4Vets - "Vets4Vets is a place for veterans of today's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to use peer support to help each other through speaking and listening."

Veterans for Peace - We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others (a) Toward increasing public awareness of the costs of war. (b) To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations (c) To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons (d) To seek justice for veterans and victims of war (e) To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.

War Comes Home -- "... [A]n effort to put a human face on the conflict. Only by truly listening to the stories of soldiers who've come home, can we appreciate the realities of war and what we can do to help."  Includes archives from Winter Soldier hearings the week-end of March 14-16 2008.

Courage to Resist -- Organizes support for military objectors to illegal war and occupation and the underlying policies of empire.  Web site has information on resisters and resources to mobilize support.

Tom Joad -- Provides a place here for political commentary and information regarding struggles for justice.  There will a special focus at that struggle in Palestine.  Palestine is a land filled with refugees in their own country, much like the Joad family, and the real families they represented, here in the United States not so long ago.  

War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada) -- A broad-based coalition of community organizations that has launched a petition aimed at Canada's federal government to allow US war resisters who refuse to fight in Iraq to have refuge in Canada.  English and French.

American Friends Service Committee Youth and Militarism Program - Works to reduce the impacts of war and military institutions on young people's lives.Aims to halt the growing influence of the military in US schools and help students and educators work for peace and better education in their communities. Support those who refuse to participate in militarism and work to expand every person's right to walk away from war and violence.

Anti-ROTC Resource Page - Focusing on organizing against ROTC on college campuses.

Campus Anti-War Network -CAN is an independent, democratic, grassroots network of campus-based antiwar committees.

Coalition Against Militarism in the Schools (CAMS) -To bring together a network of organizations and individuals to oppose the growing intrusion of the military in the lives of young people in the Southern California area.

Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft (COMD) -An anti-militarism organization that also challenges the institution of the military, its effect on society, its budget, its role abroad and at home, and the racism, sexism and homophobia that are inherent in the armed forces and Selective Service System. Based in San Diego, CA.

National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY) -Join a growing national network of groups working to stop the militarization of schools and young people!

Non-Military Options for Youth - Believing in nonviolence, we seek to balance the military recruiting information given in the high schools and explore with students the many alternate choices available to them. Based in Austin, TX.

Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (Project YANO) -- Provides young people with an alternative point of view about military enlistment. Many members are armed forces veterans. In particular, we are concerned that many low-income students and students of color are being diverted away from higher education and into the military, where they are found in disproportionate numbers.

Recruiter Abuse Hotline
1-877-688-6881

American Friends Service Committee
http://www.afsc.org

War Resisters League -Committed ye to eliminating war, and its causes of war. WRL works for peace within a framework of social justice.

Food Not Bombs - These urban pioneers give away free vegetarian food to people who are homeless and hungry and organize to spotlight the military's theft "from all those who are hungry and are not fed." Also connected with the squatters known as Homes not Jails. Local chapters are sprouting up everywhere.

Center on Conscience and War - Information and analysis about the possibility of a draft; organizing and anti-draft lobby.

Swarthmore College Peace Collection - The home of the CCCO archives and information on the history of conscientious objection and draft resistance. Contact them if you are researching a school project!

Amnesty International - The international human rights organization.

Canadian Peace Alliance - Canada's largest umbrella peace organization. Helps member groups to act as a broad network, in order to provide a strong, coordinated voice for peace issues at the national level.

Catholic Worker - A network of houses of hospitality for homeless people throughout the U.S. Founded by Dorothy Day, the Workers live a commitment to a religious-based anarcho-pacifism through service and protest.

Center for Defense Information -Provides alternative views on security; educates the public and informs policy-makers about issues of security policy, strategy, operations, weapon systems and defense budgeting, and pursues creative solutions to the problems of today and tomorrow.

Christian Peacemaker Teams - Nonviolently deploying peacemakers around the world.

Code Pink - a women initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement that seeks positive social change through proactive, creative protest and non-violent direct action.     

Fellowship of Reconciliation/USA - Seeks to replace violence, war, racism, and economic injustice with nonviolence, peace, and justice. Educates, trains, build coalitions, and engages in nonviolent and compassionate actions locally, nationally, and globally.

Friends for a Nonviolent World - Works to build a world where all people can speak truth to power, practice alternatives to violence, gain strength from community, and act in a spirit of cooperation to work for peace and justice. Based in St. Paul, MN

IGC Progressive Directory - A very large site (encompassing PeaceNet, WomensNet, LaborNet, ConflictNet, and EcoNet) with a powerful internal search engine.

Iraq Photos - A news blog on the war in Iraq. It is well updated, and pulls no punches. They also archive many high quality photographs that are not available anywhere else.

Jewish Peace Fellowship- We WORK to abolish war and to create a community of concern transcending national boundaries and selfish interests.

Nonviolence Web - Created by New Society Press alums and home to many wonderful groups listed here.

Peace Abbey -- The National Registry for Conscientious Objection was created at The Peace Abbey following the war in the Persian Gulf in early 1991. The National Registry provides men and women of all ages with an opportunity to register their objection to personal, national, and international violence.

Peace Action - Works to cut the military budget, stop the arms trade, and, of course, promote nuclear disarmament. Many local chapters protest the militarization of schools.

Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA) - Provides leadership in the broadly defined field of peace, conflict and justice studies. Dedicated to bringing together academics, K-12 teachers and grassroots activists to explore alternatives to violence and share visions and strategies for social justice and social change.

Peace Brigades International - Sends, upon request and consultation, nonpartisan "peace teams" into areas of violent conflict in order to provide nonviolent human-shield "bodyguards" for activists and human rights workers.

National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee - The U.S. coalition working to promote conscientious objection and resistance to paying for war.

Truth Out - A news and editorial weblog with information not covered in the mainstream media.

Turtle Women Rising - Turtle Women Rising are needed in Washington D.C. on October 10-13 2008 in front of the White House. Bring your drums, prayers, and your songs... Every culture holds the energy of the heartbeat that lives in the drum, giving all people this ability to share in the language of the universe, the sound of life. The drum beat is a form expression that allows our spirits to speak to each other’s heart. It is a way to connect to all life without creating disagreements. Every living thing has a vibration, a heartbeat. This vibration has the power to heal, transform and raise consciousness to our minds, heal our hearts and activate our bodies and feed our spirit.

United for Peace and Justice - a coalition of more than 800 local and national groups throughout the United States opposing our government's policy of permanent warfare and empire-building.

Women Against Military Madness - A nonviolent feminist organization that works in solidarity with others to create a system of social equality, self-determination and justice through education and empowerment of women. Based in Minneapolis, MN.

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Promotes an annual peace budget to redirect money from the military to meet human, especially women's, needs. Many local chapters work to demilitarize schools.

Hotlines

Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE

From the website:  "Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 140 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline.... "

Sexual Assault Hotline
1-877-570-0688

Miles Foundation: addressing Sexual Assault by Military Personnel,Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse

From the website:  "he Miles Foundation is a private, non-profit organization providing comprehensive services to victims of violence associated with the military; furnishing professional education and training to civilian community-based service providers and military personnel...."

Recruiter Abuse Hotline
1-877-688-6881

American Friends Service Committee

Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE

Connects caller to local suicide hotline services.  Available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  All calls tare private and confidential.