Articles from Draft NOtices,
April — June 2009

Victory!

— Paula Hoffman Villanueva

A truly monumental victory against militarism in our schools has been achieved! And for this victory to come from the city of San Diego makes it even more amazing. The Education Not Arms Coalition, after a 1½-year campaign, has succeeded in moving the San Diego Board of Education to ban rifle training on 11 high school campuses. At the board meeting on February 10, after 90 minutes of testimony and discussion, the vote was 3-2 in favor of banning JROTC weapons training. More than 200 students and local activists filled the auditorium with their now-familiar, bright orange “No Weapons Training” signs. -Full Article

The U.S. Military’s Toxic Legacy

A digest of online articles

— Compiled by Mernie Aste

The Green Valley News and Sun of August 29, 2007, has an article by Riley Merline about the island of Vieques, famous for years of protest and the site of 60 years of military occupation by the U.S. Navy. The 10,000 people who live there, along with the 25 endangered species, are surrounded by unexploded munitions and 37 toxic sites.-Full Article

Freedom Fighters on My Mind

— Ernie McCray

DoWhen it comes to freedom fighters, I’ve met a few. I once shook hands with Martin Luther King long before he gave birth to his wonderful dream. I twice sang to Rosa Parks and basked in her beautiful and warm smile, so thankful that she once sat down so I could stand up tall. I remember sipping wine with Pete Seeger and kicking back while he sang and waxed eloquently about civil and human rights and his efforts to get the world to “study war no more.” -Full Article