CCPJ Events

Over 25 local peace and justice groups are invited to send representatives to give 2-minute reports on their group's most pressing issue(s). You will be amazed and inspired to hear about all the wonderful things being done here!

5:30pm Gather and pot luck
6:30pm Community reports followed by informal
conversations and networking

Brown Bag Lunch Demonstration for Peace

VA's 5th district is one of over 100 districts to hold a vigil against war funding at congressional offices.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., warned, "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." Yet more than 40 years later, our country continues its plummet into a state of warfare and occupation that many fear is becoming permanent.

Polls show a majority of Americans want our involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to end. Brown-baggers are asking members of the House to publicly commit to voting NO on any bills that fund wars and to publicly urge their colleagues and the House leadership to make the same commitment. This position necessarily includes opposition to the proposed $33 billion supplemental expected in the coming weeks to fund an escalation of the war in Afghanistan.

Starting in May 2010, we take our case to Congress through our Brown Bag Lunch Vigils—BBLVs. There is a better way to resolve the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and remove the U.S. from the role of occupier. The BBLVs will send a message to our senators and representatives that through humanitarian programs to feed, educate, rebuild, and employ these war-wracked people, we can effectively help these countries reach peace.

Join over 100 Congressional Districts in Changing the Conversation and Legislation every third Wednesday of each month.

Print Flyer http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/sites/afterdowningstreet.org/files/new...

Join this event on FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000278251318&v=wall&story_fbid=120426364645331#!/event.php?eid=120564641300593&ref=ts

More Info: (434) 249-3312.

Please join us for our monthly meeting. Find out what's going on locally and nationally in the area of Peace and Justice. Offer your ideas, and participate in events and actions.

Everyone is welcome.

NOTE: Our current meeting time--4:30 pm--makes it less convenient to have a pot luck
supper in connection with the meeting, so we are discontinuing the accompanying pot
luck (for the time being, at least).

Southwood is a community of more than 300 trailers, the majority of them inhabited by Mexicans, Salvadorans and Hondurans. It was purchased by Habitat for Humanity in March 2007. Two years later, Habitat contracted Communitas Consulting to survey Southwood residents and service providers about its residents, the conditions in Southwood, and what changes residents are anticipating. Come listen to survey results and Habitat’s response. For more information, visit the CJ website at www.cj-network.org

As part of a series of events opposing the Afghanistan war, come see and discuss director Robert Greenwald's acclaimed film "Rethink Afghanistan". Running time is 75 minutes.

"Rethink Afghanistan" is a 2009 documentary about the ongoing war in Afghanistan. This full-length documentary campaign features experts from Afghanistan, the U.S., and Russia discussing critical issues like military escalation, how escalation will affect Pakistan and the surrounding region, the cost of war, civilian casualties, and the rights of Afghan women.

Creators Robert Greenwald and Brave New Foundation are releasing this film in real time, enabling them to stay atop an ever-changing news cycle. They have already released the first three segments of this five-part documentary: Afghanistan + More Troops = Catastrophe, Pakistan: "The Most Dangerous Country", and Cost of War online for free.

The film interviews experts like Andrew Bacevich, Stephen Kinzer, Anand Gopal, Steve Coll, Ann Jones, Linda Bilmes, Jo Comerford, Dr. Roshanak Warnak, and more.

As part of the filmmaking process, acclaimed Director Robert Greenwald (Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers, Outfoxed, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price) traveled to Afghanistan to meet with and interview members of Afghanistan's parliament, bloggers, women's rights organizations, and groups committed to the peace movement.

The ultimate goal of this documentary campaign is to raise the level of public discourse, compel people to ask key questions about the war, and urge Congress to hold oversight hearings. Already, the campaign has successfully helped retired Corporal Rick Reyes and other veterans testify before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and meet with members of Congress. Reyes, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, testified before Sen. John Kerry and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He told the committee, "Sending more troops will not make the US safer; it will only build more opposition against us. I urge you on behalf of truth and patriotism to consider carefully and Rethink Afghanistan."

Enjoy authentic Afghani food, music, dancing, and clothing on Friday Nov 20.

Meet other interested folks and engage in consciousness raising about ending the Afghanistan war and occupation.

See, hear and taste a small piece of Afghan culture.

Dinner will be provided by Arianna's Grill and Kabob, our local Afghani restaurant.

Donation for this dinner and event is $15, to benefit the continuing work of CCPJ.