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Veterans For Peace: Celebrating 25 Years

TAKE ACTION

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HERE ARE SOME ONGOING ACTIONS YOU CAN DO:

Join Veterans For Peace – We need all the support we can get. Who better to speak out against war and to help solve conflicts in a non-violent way than those who have faced war firsthand. Associate Members (non-veterans) are welcome as well. Veterans cannot do it alone. We need you to stand with in our efforts to end war as a means to solve conflicts.

If you are already a member, become active in your chapter. Chapter activities are where the rubber meets the road. VFP is growing and our message is spreading because of individual member and chapter activities. Positive change will not happen unless we make it happen.

 

Other Action Ideas

Reach out to other veterans

There are other veterans in your area who feel the same way you do. Reach out to them. Use the VFP brochure to help describe our organization. Correspond with us if you are alone out there, and we will help put you in touch with others of like mind nearby.

Talk with other veterans and listen carefully to their concerns. Personal contacts are the key to developing strong support networks within our military communities.

 

Call and write letters to elected officials

Contacting elected officials is easier and more effective than most people realize. The first step is locating their contact information. For federal Representatives and Senators, you can go to the following links:

US House of Representatives
Enter the ten-digit zip code from your driver's license.

US Senate
Click the menu that says "Choose a State."

Elected officials say that a regular paper letter written by hand is highly effective in getting their attention, but the envelope and letter need to prominently include your ten-digit zip code so they can immediately identify you as a voting constituent.  Federal elected officials have been slower and more reluctant to open regular mail in Washington DC since the anthrax scares.  Sending letters to their local offices is better.  Phone calls to their offices are also very effective.  Aides are trained to record the content of messages, and it is effective to leave your message on voicemail.  Email is the least effective, but is still important.  Be sure to include your ten-digit zip code in the email message. Keep phone and email messages clear and concise, and make sure to identify yourself as a veteran. For example:

"Senator, I am a Vietnam veteran and I am appalled at the US policy in Iraq . I do not believe we can any longer justify having troops there.  The reasons for this occupation are suspect, and the cost in lives and money is too high.  I urge you to support bringing our troops home immediately."

Letters can be a bit longer, explaining the actual hardships you have undergone, or how you feel, but keep them to one page, and make sure the demand is what stands out.

Do not limit your appeals to federal elected officials. Counties, towns and cities can be compelled by voters to pass resolutions calling for an end to the occupation. This strategy is VERY effective in getting the attention of federal elected officials.  It tells them there are people who (1) care deeply, and (2) are organized.  This is the one-two punch to gain the attention of politicians.

For contact information about state and local officials, contact your State Board of Elections and your County Board of Elections. Many of these local bodies have web sites.


Organize meetings with the U.S. Representatives and Senators

Put together a delegation of veterans and military family members and ask for a face-to-face meeting with your federal elected representative.  Call their local office and explain that your delegation wants to meet with him/her.  Prepare your group for the meeting by refining the message, rehearsing for questions the politician might ask, and determining a primary spokesperson to take questions.  One way to start the meeting is to have everyone that attends say something very personal and brief.  Then the selected spokesperson can make a statement for the group. Questions or comments can be answered by the person to whom they are addressed.  Having supporting letters, articles, and commentary to give the elected official is always a good idea, especially articles or commentary that show eroding voter support for the war.

If the official is refusing to meet with you, write up a news release that tells the local press "Senator Widget ducks meeting with local military families."  Information on how to write news releases and contact the media can be found here. You can even hold a press conference outside the official's office.

Always have a meeting of your group immediately after your meeting with the official to discuss how it went, how to do it better the next time, and how to follow up (maybe with a news release).

Attend public events where members of Congress and other politicians will appear

Politicians appear at local festivals, fundraisers, parades and holiday events. You can get information about their schedules from the news and on their web sites. Show up in numbers where you can, and be prepared to ask questions and make comments.  These appearances can also provide opportunities for demonstrations (especially at fundraisers).  Always be prepared for the media.  That means notifying the media, refining your central message to a pithy sound byte of around 5-15 seconds, and (for TV) having something eye-catching such as pictures of your loved ones in the military. (A prominent banner or t-shirts with your web site or phone number doesn't hurt).

Gene Sharp's 198 Ideas for Non-Violent Action>