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BFP Summary of Activities 2010
Sponsored and co-sponsored
Over the year, we sponsored and co-sponsored more than twenty educational events in Brooklyn on the subjects of Latin America, Afghanistan, international law, nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, national priorities, and different aspects of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
We enabled people to become involved in expressing their opinions on matters of world peace, social justice, and domestic priorities.
Anti-militarism (counter-recruitment)
Since Kings County has one of the nation's highest rates of military enrollment, we have taken on the challenge of cutting off this source of person-power for the war machine. Our leaflets "How to Go to College Without Joining the Military" (PDF) and "How to Travel and Have Adventures Without Joining the Military" (PDF) are regularly distributed at Brooklyn public high schools, along with information for students and parents informing them about how they can "opt-out" of the school releasing their personal information to military recruiters.
- Continuing in our counter-recruitment campaign, we distributed packets of literature describing career opportunities to high school students as well as information on how to “opt out” of military recruitment.
- We attended and spoke at career fairs. We distributed counter-recruitment literature in subway stations, at street festivals, at farmers markets, and on the street.
- We became “Mermaids for Peace” and distributed peace beads and cards with a peace message and information on “opting out” to the thousands of attendees at the Mermaid parade.
- We had a campaign emphasizing the cost of war in relation to our locality. At a local shopping mall we did a pre-holiday leafleting against the military recruitment in the schools.
Darfur
Monthly vigils at the U.S. Mission to the U.N., in conjunction with NYC Coalition for Darfur: call for effective action by the U.S. to end the mass killings and genocide in Darfur; to urge U.S. to give support pledged to UNAMID, and to raise awareness of conditions in the refugee camps for internally displaced persons in Darfur.
- We encouraged people to attend vigils, protests, and rallies: against the ongoing genocide in in Darfur’ against all war:
Diversity Outreach
We co-sponsored an interfaith peace march and a rally in a Brooklyn community that is opposed to the building of a mosque/community center in their neighborhood.
Iraq / Iran / Afghanistan / Pakistan
We encouraged people to attend vigils, protests, and rallies:
- marking the 1000th death in Afghanistan
- the 7th anniversary of the Iraq war
Demonstrations
During 2010, we vigorously opposed the expansion of the Afghanistan War and the military budget, and supported the “One Nation Working Together” national initiative with a major demonstration in Washington, D.C., for jobs and Justice.
Task Force - International Law
To gain a better knowledge of international law, we established a Task Force on International Law. A series of three panels and discussions in Fall, 2010, addressed the question: Does the U.S. Violate International Law?
Israel-Palestine
- We sponsored several rallies addressing the issue of products taken from the West Bank and sold by Israeli companies, to protest of the continued Israeli settlements and the tragedy of the Gaza Freedom flotilla.
- We sponsored a reading group meeting approximately every month to read and discuss current materials on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
- Through our participation in the campaign to boycott Ahava beauty products, made in an illegal West Bank Israeli settlement, we have focused attention on the harshness of the Occupation and the urgency of reaching a just solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Latin America
We worked to counter the pro-military US foreign policy in Latin America and elsewhere.
We encouraged people to attend vigils, protests, and rallies: for immigrant rights; against the coup in Honduras
Nuclear Zero
- We sponsored a bus to Washington for the One Nation rally in October 2010
- Co-sponsored an international conference and mass rally against nuclear weapons on the occasion of the UN Conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- We encouraged people to attend vigils, protests, and rallies: marking Hiroshima Day;
Peace Fair
Our 2010 Peace Fair was held at Brooklyn College in May. The keynote speaker was Father Roy Bourgeois, Vietnam veteran and founder of the School of the Americas Watch describing his journey “from silence to solidarity.”
- Educational workshops and films presented information and sparked discussions and dialogue about Israel-Palestine issue, Palestinian youth, Haiti, immigrant detainees, food justice, HIV, Darfur, Afghanistan and Iraq, nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, health care professionals and torture, and the impact of militarism.
- Artistic workshops presented socially conscious documentaries and photography, poetry against war, and playback theatre.
- Thirty seven organizations had informational tables. Children’s activities engaged the younger set. Musical performances throughout the day lifted spirits. Approximately 700 attended throughout the day. Also 200 high school students were involved in civic engagement workshops preparing for the event. The Peace Fair program was mailed to 1200 BFP members who were not able to attend.
UNICEF
Our Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign raised $1136 for UNICEF which went directly to UNICEF, as well as inspiring an additional $1900 from area schools which also participated. Using our e-mail newsletter, we campaigned for contributions to Haiti and for books to Gaza.
- We sponsored a variety of events designed to build a culture of peace: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, the David Rovics concert “Songs of Social Significance”, and “Brooklyn Poets Against War.”
Community-Building and Outreach
We held a community meeting and also encouraged several neighborhood peace groups in their activities
A poetry event featured poets against the war, including the poet laureate of Brooklyn.
We encouraged people to attend vigils, protests, and rallies:
- against the treatment of a political detainee;
- for repeal of Arizona law legalizing racial profiling; supporting religious freedom when the building of a community centers/mosque near Ground Zero was challenged; and against FBI raids targeting politically active individuals.
We sell buttons, t shirts and posters that have messages of peace. We sell olive oil to raise awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and support the developing Palestinian economy. Our weekly e-mail newsletter goes to 4000 persons.
Media Outreach
"War No More" is our once-monthly show on Brooklyn Community Access Television (BCAT), making our forums and programs available to those who could not be there in person. These programs are also available on DVD.
We continued our monthly half hour program “War No More” on Brooklyn public access TV featuring highlights from our forums, making them available to community members, especially senior citizens, who are not able to attend.
Awards
In November, 2010, the Sidel-Levy Peace Award of the American Public Health Association was awarded to Dr. Charlotte Phillips, Co-founder and Chairperson of Brooklyn For Peace, recognizing the importance of developing community based, sustainable, peace and justice organizations in the effort to prevent war. Although we still have a long way to go, we’re also proud of this recognition, which belongs to everyone who has worked to build Brooklyn For Peace.
Neighborhood Peace Groups
We held a community meeting and also encouraged several neighborhood peace groups in their activities
Intern and Volunteer Opportunities
We provided opportunities for young people to engage in a concrete and practical way with our peace and justice work by offering opportunities for volunteers (particularly high school students with community service requirements, as well as energetic retirees) and interns (who receive a modest stipend).
Get Involved!
Our working committees meet regularly to plan and carry out our work. Visit the events page for the latest schedule.
E-mail Newsletter: Join our mailing list to say up-to-date on anti-war activities in Brooklyn.
Join Us! Become a member of Brooklyn For Peace, and advance our work for peace.
Visit our Year End Summary pages and see the work we've done over the years: 2013/2012/2011/2010/2009/2008/2007/2006/2005/2004/2003