Peace Talk — Autumn 2006
The Quarterly Newsletter of Peace Action MainePeace Action Maine has been publishing this quarterly newsletter since the 1980’s when we were the Maine Freeze Campaign, then the Maine Peace Campaign before taking our current name as a way of affiliating ourselves with the national network of statewide groups that grew out of the Sane Freeze movement.
The earliest copy on my shelf is the summer issue of 1991, which is full of thought- provoking parallels to the issues we’re addressing 15 years later. For example, three full pages were devoted to “Economic Conversion” and “The Peace Economy Project.” Bangor had just joined over 40 other Maine towns in endorsing a call to re-order federal budget priorities and “Reinvest in Hometown America.”
In 2006, Peace Action Maine is in the second year of building a sustainable alliance that joins peace and justice activists in a united effort with groups working on labor and environmental issues. The goal continues to be the conversion of our economy from militaristic to civilian usages; to create a culture that is sustainable both economically and environmentally. Representative Tom Andrews was honored on page 2 of the 1991 issue for his courageous stand in favor of closing Loring Air Force Base at a time when that base had been listed for closure and the State Planning Office was predicting dire losses in jobs and income, population and government revenues. Sounds familiar?
Now Brunswick Naval Air Station has been listed for closure and we’re actively supporting efforts for sustainable re-use of that land and the promise of jobs that promote environmental responsibility; jobs that can’t be “outsourced” to cheaper markets; jobs that build pride in the natural beauty and natural resources of our community.
In 1991, as that summer issue was going to press, the Project For A New American Century (authored by Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle et al) was actively planning for the Pax Americana we see unfolding today. Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon are already devastated. Will the destruction of Syria and Iran be next?
The best strategy PeaceTalk has for creating change is to continue to raise awareness; to educate ourselves and our readers so that we grasp the intention of Bush/Cheney policies. We ask each reader to do everything you can to share your ideas with friends, family and colleagues. It is hard, even devastating, to know what the leadership of this country is doing to destroy rather than to build, to dominate rather than to nourish. But we must face it and become as active as we can in opposing violence at every level.
Part of PeaceTalk’s job is to balance the bad news with reports of the many positive local projects our progressive community is undertaking See pages 2 and 5 for news about the Wall Street anti war rally, the Troops Home Fast in Brunswick and the Bridges for Peace success in Winslow. We welcome your ideas for projects to include in future issues.