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<title>UJP Activist: Occupy Peace Summit: Philadelphia, Feb. 24-26</title>
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<h1>Occupy Peace Summit: Philadelphia, Feb. 24-26</h1>
<p><img align="left" width="200" height="133" hspace="10" vspace="5" src="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/302/images/396283_10150530684514930_602629929_8851287_1215089695_n.jpg" alt=""><span><a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=nV8%2FMRS%2FU2kluBltv4kgnnkD39X025uO" target="_blank">Register NOW for Occupy Peace</a>! <img src="http://justicewithpeace.org/files/u415/UFPJ_logo2.png" alt="United for Peace & Justice" width="150" height="105" vspace="5" hspace="10" align="right"></span></p>
<p><span>United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) member groups are gathering in Philadelphia with Occupy Philly and local community activists to develop and share a new vision of peace and justice for our nation and the world. Come join us February 24-26 for this important meeting to begin this process. UJP</span> is the local member group of UFPJ in the Greater Boston area.</p>
<p><span><a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=PLP1FLFNl4PRzHrS2LuKd9TMD1zo6Ysh" target="_blank">You can register here</a>. <a href="http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2012/01/26/register-for-ufpjs-occupy-peace-summit-feb-24-27th/">More information</a></span></p>
<p><span>Changes are under way –some in response to the years of hard work by the domestic and international peace movements. U.S. troops have been withdrawn from Iraq and the Secretary of Defense has spoken of troop reduction and a possible change in the military mission in Afghanistan in 2013. There is also talk of reducing the size of the armed forces, retiring some ships and planes and closing down bases. <i><b>What has not changed is the commitment of American leaders in both political parties to maintain a vast superiority in military power, and to make the use or threat of force a centerpiece of its foreign policy.</b></i> We still have a long way to go: to stop the war in Afghanistan, to remove the thousands of private security forces from Iraq, to prevent a war in Iran, to halt US military interventions around the world, to eliminate the nuclear arsenal and to reduce the military budget.<br><br><img align="right" width="200" height="133" hspace="10" vspace="5" src="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/302/images/393951_10150530681129930_602629929_8851259_1588398072_n.jpg" alt="">The significance of the Administration changes must be evaluated within the framework outlined by the Department of Defense’s January strategic guidelines. Quoting Secretary of Defense Panetta, the document lays out plans to, “have global presence emphasizing the Asia –Pacific and the Middle East while ensuring our ability to maintain our defense commitments in Europe, and strengthen alliances and partnerships across all regions.” Iran and China are specifically mentioned setting them up as threats to be monitored and guarded against. Recent events seem to be leading towards a crisis with Iran every day.<br><br>
The Obama administration has outlined its war and peace agenda. We must begin to envision, create and articulate ours</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XVGhUkAbcwUAJJRhZMWC9NTMD1zo6Ysh" target="_blank">Register here!</a> for <a href="http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2012/01/26/register-for-ufpjs-occupy-peace-summit-feb-24-27th/">More information</a></span></p>
<p><span>With scarce resources and millions of people suffering in the weak U.S. economy under pressure from deficit spending and enormous debt, the Obama Administration is claiming to cut military spending when in fact it is only slowing down the Pentagon's budget increases. Yet the Administration and their opposition in the Republican leadership are looking for real cuts in human services such as healthcare, education and environmental protection, as well as a reduction in investments for infrastructure and research and development. <br><br>
Leadership in Washington is willing to increase spending on military forces to protect the interests of international corporations which gain billions in profits even as they evade paying a fair share of taxes. At the same time average Americans are left jobless with under sourced strategies to create jobs and inadequate tools to prepare for the jobs of the future. Millions have lost their homes or owe more on their home than it is worth and the economy is forecasted to be anemic for years to come. The interests of the rich and powerful are protected while the average Josephine and Joe are left at the mercy of <i>so- called</i> market forces.<br><br>
Policies that reduce investment in people and increase spending for weapons and death are not new. O<i>ur nation continues to go down a road of militarism and political intervention in the affairs of other countries. </i>It is incumbent on us to develop an alternative narrative for the average person to decide, should our nation continue on the path of pursuing global economic and political hegemony through military domination or is it time now, in the 21st century, for a different kind of diplomacy? Is it time for a new effort that will lead the world to ethnic and religious coexistence and international cooperation?<br><br><i>While the world is facing nearly insurmountable challenges such as climate change, fossil fuel depletion and nuclear proliferation </i>it is time we stop leaving the future of the world, our future, in the hands of politicians and corporations. Come join together in Philadelphia with local activist and the vibrant Occupy movement to start a conversation to envision our future, plan how to build the vision and then make it happen. <br></span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qrvmMZLX2jcX6c%2FqmnNFLNTMD1zo6Ysh" target="_blank">Register here!</a> for <a href="http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2012/01/26/register-for-ufpjs-occupy-peace-summit-feb-24-27th/">More Information</a></span></p>
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<li><span>Friday February 24: Meet and Greet, 5 pm - 7 pm, Mexican Post, 1601 Cherry, Philadelphia, PA 19102<br><br></span></li>
<li><span>Saturday February 25: Working Sessions, 9 am – 5 pm, ARCH Street United Methodist Church, 55 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102<br><br></span></li>
<li><span>Sunday February 26: Working Session, 9:30 am – 4 pm, Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102</span></li>
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<p class="rteleft"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org">United for Justice with Peace</a> is a coalition of peace and justice organizations and community peace groups in the Greater Boston region. The UJP Coalition, formed after September 11th, seeks global peace through social and economic justice.</p>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/node/3404">Occupy Peace Summit</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Fri Feb 24</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">6:00pm</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name">Friends Center</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">Philadelphia, PA</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-node-data-field-image-field-image-fid"><img src="http://justicewithpeace.org/files/imagefield/a31-holding+our+space+arrests-t%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" title="a31-holding+our+space+arrests-t[1].jpg" width="180" height="120" class="imagefield imagefield-field_image"></td> </tr>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/node/3387">Remember Fukushima: Walk for a New Spring</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Fri Mar 2</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">9:00am</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name">Seabrook, NH to Plymouth, MA to Vernon, VT</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">Seabrook, NH to Plymouth, MA to Vernon, VT</td>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/node/3426">Occupy AIPAC!</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Fri Mar 2</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">9:00am</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name"></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">Washington, DC</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-node-data-field-image-field-image-fid"><img src="http://justicewithpeace.org/files/imagefield/OccupyAIPAC.jpg" alt="" title="OccupyAIPAC.jpg" width="200" height="69" class="imagefield imagefield-field_image"></td> </tr>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/node/3454">Remember Fukushima!</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Tue Mar 6</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">6:00pm</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name">Cambridge Friends Meeting Center</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">Cambridge</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-node-data-field-image-field-image-fid"></td> </tr>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/node/3433">Challenging the Pivot: The U.S., China, & Alternatives to Asia-Pacific Militarization</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Tue Mar 13</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">7:30pm</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name">Episcopal Divinity School, Washburn Auditorium</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">Cambridge</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-node-data-field-image-field-image-fid"><img src="http://justicewithpeace.org/files/imagefield/Carrier%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" title="Carrier[1].jpg" width="200" height="50" class="imagefield imagefield-field_image"></td> </tr>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/node/3299">Massachusetts Jobs with Justice 20th Anniversary Dinner</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Thu Mar 15</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">6:00pm</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name">Suffolk Downs</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">East Boston</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-node-data-field-image-field-image-fid"></td> </tr>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/node/3455">Bridging the Divide: United States / Pakistan</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Sat Mar 17</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">6:30pm</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name">St John's United Methodist Church</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">Watertown</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-node-data-field-image-field-image-fid"><img src="http://justicewithpeace.org/files/imagefield/SarwarPuzzleCasey.jpg" alt="" title="SarwarPuzzleCasey.jpg" width="200" height="53" class="imagefield imagefield-field_image"></td> </tr>
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<td class="view-field view-field-node-title"><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/st-patricks-2012">St. Patrick's Peace Parade</a></td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">Sun Mar 18</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-event-event-start">1:30pm</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-name">assemble one block west of Broadway MBTA Station</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-location-city">South Boston</td>
<td class="view-field view-field-node-data-field-image-field-image-fid"><img src="http://justicewithpeace.org/files/imagefield/StPatsParade.jpg" alt="" title="StPatsParade.jpg" width="180" height="120" class="imagefield imagefield-field_image"></td> </tr>
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<div class="view-footer view-footer-Upcoming-Events-Featured"><p><i><a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/upcoming-events">More Peace and Justice Events</a>. How to <a href="http://justicewithpeace.org/posting-events">Submit Events</a></i> <br>
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