[act-ma] 1/19 Winter Soldier - Fmr. Troops Speak Out (encuentro 5, Saturday, 3:00 p.m.)

[Suren Moodliar]

Friends,

Join Iraq Veterans Against the War (Boston Chapter), United for Justice with
Peace, and the Stop the Wars Coalition in an organizing/educational event to
preview the Winter Soldier Investigation being organized by Iraq Veterans
Against the War. Join us to find out how you can get involved and/or provide
your suggestions to promote Winter Soldier.

Venue: 33 Harrison Ave, 5th floor (encuentro 5)
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Date: Saturday, January 19, 2008

Program:

1. Welcome/Introduction to program: Facilitator, Susie Husted - MGA &
STWC (10 min)
2. What is "Winter Soldier"? Carlos Harris - Iraq Veterans Against the War
(10 - 15 min)
3. Discussion (Open Format - Facilitated by Susie & Carlos 20 - 30 min)
4. Video - Winter Soldier - 1971 (15 min) [Facilitators will decide if this
is useful/necessary]
5. How we can use WS to promote antiwar activities? Brainstorm (20 - 30 min)

The program will also build toward the WS fundraiser to be held on 1/27
(flyers will be made available for distribution).

Note: flyers and handbills can be downloaded from the
www.BostonDayOfAction.org <http://www.bostondayofaction.org/> website as
well as from:

http://www.massglobalaction.org/projects/flyer-2008-01-19-ws-half.pdf
http://www.massglobalaction.org/projects/flyer-2008-01-19-ws-quarter.pdf
http://www.massglobalaction.org/projects/flyer-2008-01-19-ws.pdf

What is Winter Soldier?
from: http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier

This spring, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is revealing the reality
of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. In what will be history's
largest gathering of U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as
well as Iraqi and Afghan survivors, eyewitnesses will share their
experiences in a public investigation called Winter Soldier: Iraq and
Afghanistan.

Winter Soldiers, according to founding father Thomas Paine, are those who
stand up for the soul of their country, even in its darkest hours. With this
spirit in mind, IVAW members are standing up to make their experiences
available to all who are concerned about the direction of our country.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time America has needed its Winter
Soldiers, in 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the
War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like
the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political
and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The
members of VVAW knew differently.

Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic
brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam.

Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the
lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into an
increasingly bloody occupation. Once again, war crimes in places like
Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war.
Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead
of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.

Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.
>From March 13-16, 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our
nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for
these wars. We hope you'll join us, because ours is a story that every
American needs to hear.

Suren


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----------------------------------------------------------
Suren Moodliar
Telephones: 617-482-6300 (wk); 617-482-7300 (fax); 617-968-0880 (cell)
Projects: encuentro 5 & fair employment
Address: 33 Harrison Ave, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02111
Websites: www.massglobalaction.org; www.fairjobs.org; www.encuentro5.org

Visit: www.reclaimingtheivorytower.org for a handbook on organizing and
strategizing!
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