In these days of recession, high unemployment, and cutbacks of every kind, the burden of the Iraq War weighs more heavily than ever. Nowhere is the tradeoff more costly than in the area of health care--a matter of life and death every bit as much as the war itself.
-The Iraq War tax burden for Duluth: $199,500,0001
-The Iraq War tax burden for the 8th Congressional District: $1,500,000,0001
-The Iraq War tax burden for Minnesota: $15,800,000,0001
In the last census approximately 5000 Duluthians were without health care for at least part of the year2. Duluth's Iraq war burden could pay for all of these people's health care costs for more than the next six and a half years!3
The Iraq war burden for every American household is $4,681 as of this writing1. That's enough for nearly 40% of the health care costs for a family of four for a year!4
The US Iraq war burden is $341,400,000 per day1. At that rate, each day's war spending could pay for health care for 56,900 Americans for a year3.
SOURCES:
1. Costs of the Iraq war from: http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home
2. Rounded up slightly from: http://www.rapsite.org. Based on 2000 census.
3. Assumes an average health care cost of $6000 per person per year. See Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=596&cat=5
4. Assumes a cost of $12,100 for a year in 2007. See National Coalition on Health Care, http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
**Figures for Iraq war costs are as of 11/16/08 and growing daily. This statement was prepared by Bob Kosuth for the Northland Anti-War Coalition.
November 23, 2008
November 22, 2008
Dec. 9-14 Week of Actions
The National Assembly to End the Iraq & Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, a national network of peace activists that the Northland Anti-War Coalition is a part of, is calling for a week of actions from Dec. 9-14. Here in Duluth we are planning a number of events to raise awareness that the war is still going on, and that regardless of who is in the White House, we have to keep making our voices heard on this vital issue.
Here are the events that we have planned so far in Duluth/Superior:
-Dec. 10: Student Walkout Against the War & for Human Rights. 12:10pm in the Kirby Plaza of the University of Minnesota-Duluth and in the downstairs lobby of Tower Hall of the College of St. Scholastica.
-Dec. 10: Forum on the History of CIA Interventions Around the World. 7pm in Room 333 of the Kirby Student Center of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
-Dec. 13: March & Rally Against the Iraq War. Assembly at noon in front of the Whole Food Coop Store [610 E. 4th St.] for a march to the Central Hillside Community Center [Lake Ave. & 4th St.], where there'll be an indoor rally.
We're also urging other groups and activists to sponsor a day during that week to hold a war related event. If you decide to organize an event, please let us know at wainosunrise@yahoo.com, and we'll be glad to help you promote it!
Here are the events that we have planned so far in Duluth/Superior:
-Dec. 10: Student Walkout Against the War & for Human Rights. 12:10pm in the Kirby Plaza of the University of Minnesota-Duluth and in the downstairs lobby of Tower Hall of the College of St. Scholastica.
-Dec. 10: Forum on the History of CIA Interventions Around the World. 7pm in Room 333 of the Kirby Student Center of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
-Dec. 13: March & Rally Against the Iraq War. Assembly at noon in front of the Whole Food Coop Store [610 E. 4th St.] for a march to the Central Hillside Community Center [Lake Ave. & 4th St.], where there'll be an indoor rally.
We're also urging other groups and activists to sponsor a day during that week to hold a war related event. If you decide to organize an event, please let us know at wainosunrise@yahoo.com, and we'll be glad to help you promote it!
November 12, 2008
Report on the November NAWC Meeting
NAWC Minutes – 11.09.2008
-Attendance: Carl S., Ellie C., Liz M., Margie N., Scott B., Adam R., Bob K., Coly W., Joan N., Peter K., Rolf S., Fern A., Tom S.
1. Finances: NAWC received $420 from its fall mailing and $127 from the collection can at the last protest.
2. Interstate Progressive Face-Off: It was decided to hold this event on the second Sunday in February at the Twin Ports Brewery. The event will be a social occasion where parts of speeches by famous Minnesota and Wisconsin progressives will be read by residents of each state. Those interested in helping to plan the event further should contact Ellie at Connolly.ellie@gmail.com
3. Iraq Moratorium: Adam reported that the October Iraq Moratorium picket at College and Woodland was a success, with 20 people and a high volume of passing traffic. The next picket will be November 21st at Pennell Park (Central Entrance and Arlington), 4:30-5:30 PM. New this month, there will also be a Superior Moratorium picket sponsored by Grandmothers for Peace, 4-6 PM at the corner of Belknap and Tower. It was decided to hold the December moratorium at the corner of Mesaba and Central (by the Coppertop Church).
4. December Week of Action: There will be a student walk-out at noon on December 10, with a march from UMD and Scholastica to the UU Church.
Saturday, December 13, there will be a regional anti-war protest, starting at noon, either starting from the Central Hillside Community Center and marching to St. Mark's AME Church, or vice-versa. Speakers we would like to include are: Ferris Keeling, an AFSME Council 5 rep, Mike Rogge, Mujtaba Alwan or another CSS speaker, and a UMD speaker. Joan Najbar will MC the rally.
We are encouraging member groups of NAWC to pick an evening during the week to hold an event, which we will compile into the week's publicity package. Anyone planning an event should e-mail wainosunrise@yahoo.com. Socialist Action will be holding a forum on CIA interventions on Wednesday. UMD Students for Peace will have a movie night sometime during the week.
5. Strategic Plan: Joan proposed having a day-long retreat and planning session for NAWC. The NAWC membership will be surveyed first; Joan N. agreed to bring survey questions to the next meeting. The planning retreat will include discussion of civil disobedience vs. legal action.
6. National Anti-War Report: Adam gave a report on the ongoing drama of the national anti-war coalitions. UFPJ has called for a week of actions around the 6th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, but nothing real specific. ANSWER has called for massive protests in a few cities on March 21, 2009 to mark the anniversary. The National Assembly is trying to work with all groups to bring together a unified action for March 21.
7. University for Seniors: Fern is helping to organize sessions with progressive speakers for University for Seniors, and is looking for representatives of local peace and justice groups to speak. The sessions are Mondays January-March at 1 PM at the Kirby Student Center.
8. Next Groups to Present: At each NAWC meeting we try to arrange to have one of the groups that is part of our coalition to come and give a brief presentation about themselves and their work. We decided to invite Students for Peace to present at our December meeting, and Veterans for Peace at our January meeting.
9. Israel Divestment Meeting: A new state-wide group is forming in Minnesota around the issue of boycotting Israel and demanding justice for Palestinians under constant occupation. Bob K. and Carl S. will be driving to an inaugural meeting in St. Paul this Saturday—contact rkosuth@hotmail. com if you'd like to come.
-Attendance: Carl S., Ellie C., Liz M., Margie N., Scott B., Adam R., Bob K., Coly W., Joan N., Peter K., Rolf S., Fern A., Tom S.
1. Finances: NAWC received $420 from its fall mailing and $127 from the collection can at the last protest.
2. Interstate Progressive Face-Off: It was decided to hold this event on the second Sunday in February at the Twin Ports Brewery. The event will be a social occasion where parts of speeches by famous Minnesota and Wisconsin progressives will be read by residents of each state. Those interested in helping to plan the event further should contact Ellie at Connolly.ellie@gmail.com
3. Iraq Moratorium: Adam reported that the October Iraq Moratorium picket at College and Woodland was a success, with 20 people and a high volume of passing traffic. The next picket will be November 21st at Pennell Park (Central Entrance and Arlington), 4:30-5:30 PM. New this month, there will also be a Superior Moratorium picket sponsored by Grandmothers for Peace, 4-6 PM at the corner of Belknap and Tower. It was decided to hold the December moratorium at the corner of Mesaba and Central (by the Coppertop Church).
4. December Week of Action: There will be a student walk-out at noon on December 10, with a march from UMD and Scholastica to the UU Church.
Saturday, December 13, there will be a regional anti-war protest, starting at noon, either starting from the Central Hillside Community Center and marching to St. Mark's AME Church, or vice-versa. Speakers we would like to include are: Ferris Keeling, an AFSME Council 5 rep, Mike Rogge, Mujtaba Alwan or another CSS speaker, and a UMD speaker. Joan Najbar will MC the rally.
We are encouraging member groups of NAWC to pick an evening during the week to hold an event, which we will compile into the week's publicity package. Anyone planning an event should e-mail wainosunrise@yahoo.com. Socialist Action will be holding a forum on CIA interventions on Wednesday. UMD Students for Peace will have a movie night sometime during the week.
5. Strategic Plan: Joan proposed having a day-long retreat and planning session for NAWC. The NAWC membership will be surveyed first; Joan N. agreed to bring survey questions to the next meeting. The planning retreat will include discussion of civil disobedience vs. legal action.
6. National Anti-War Report: Adam gave a report on the ongoing drama of the national anti-war coalitions. UFPJ has called for a week of actions around the 6th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, but nothing real specific. ANSWER has called for massive protests in a few cities on March 21, 2009 to mark the anniversary. The National Assembly is trying to work with all groups to bring together a unified action for March 21.
7. University for Seniors: Fern is helping to organize sessions with progressive speakers for University for Seniors, and is looking for representatives of local peace and justice groups to speak. The sessions are Mondays January-March at 1 PM at the Kirby Student Center.
8. Next Groups to Present: At each NAWC meeting we try to arrange to have one of the groups that is part of our coalition to come and give a brief presentation about themselves and their work. We decided to invite Students for Peace to present at our December meeting, and Veterans for Peace at our January meeting.
9. Israel Divestment Meeting: A new state-wide group is forming in Minnesota around the issue of boycotting Israel and demanding justice for Palestinians under constant occupation. Bob K. and Carl S. will be driving to an inaugural meeting in St. Paul this Saturday—contact rkosuth@hotmail. com if you'd like to come.
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