United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), a national coalition of over 1400 organizations including Peace Action Wisconsin, has launched its campaign for a new vision of this country's future. The time is now for new national priorities rooted in the vision and values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A world without racism, poverty or war.

Yes We Can! bring an end to U.S. wars and occupations and begin rebuilding our economy. Over 50% of the federal budget goes to military spending. Cutting this even by a fifth would enable our country to increase spending in ways that will strengthen our economy, including healthcare for all, creating jobs, and reversing climate change.

UFPJ's national campaign aims to strengthen grassroots alliances to shift our government's federal budget priorities. Public actions across the country March 19-21 on the 6th anniversary of the war and occupation in Iraq will make the links between enormous military spending, our economic crisis, and the desperate need for human needs funding here at home. We cannot address the current economic crisis in this country without challenging the $650 billion scheduled to be spent on war and militarism in 2009.

The local actions in March will be followed by a national march and rally in New York City on Sat., April 4. That is the anniversary of Dr. King's famous anti-war speech at New York's Riverside Church exactly one year before he was assassinated. The march will head towards Wall Street to make it clear that BEYOND WAR, A NEW ECONOMY IS POSSIBLE.

On March 19, 2003, the United States launched an illegal and immoral war against the people of Iraq. For six long years, our government has lied, human rights and the rule of law have been disregarded, the death toll has mounted, and massive destruction has left Iraq in ruins. The war has drained our national treasury while the profits of oil companies and war profiteers have soared. But there is a new spirit in our nation, a new sense of possibility and change. One change that is urgently needed is ending the war and occupation in Iraq -- now and completely!

It must also be clear that we will not allow the quagmire of Iraq to be replaced by a quagmire in Afghanistan. UFPJ strongly calls for an end to the occupation in Iraq and the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

Join local actions throughout Wisconsin on the 6th anniversary of the war and occupation in Iraq (see www.wnpj.org for listings). And hop on a bus to New York for the big April 4 event. We must send a strong, unequivocal message to the new Administration and the new Congress: the people of this country want the occupation of Iraq to end -- and to end now!

Peace Action Wisconsin is pleased to announce the hiring of our new staff.

Bob Burkart-Lemke will serve as Program Manager and have responsibility for our issue work. He will be organizing our educational events, legislative lobbying and demonstrations. Bob has been an active volunteer with us for the past few years, is a member of Veterans for Peace and has a lifetime commitment to the work of peace and justice.

Jessie Read has been hired as our new Office Manager. She has been a member of Peace Action for some time and has great experience in running an office with her background as a church secretary and a masters in business with a major in accounting.

Jim Draeger comes on board as our part time Operations Director. Jim recently helped found People's Books Co-op. He will help be a bridge between program work and office and will be involved with coordinating volunteers.

They look forward to working with you, our members.

Despite many deaths and much injury US officials openly expressed relief that we avoided being hit by the "storm of the century," as hurricanes Gustav & Ike hit the U.S. with much less force than once feared. But Cuba was not so lucky. Within one week, it was hit by both of these category 4 hurricanes with winds of 200+ mph, accompanied by torrential rains and flooding. Both were much weakened by the time they left Cuba (Ike crisscrossed the Island over 4 days, affecting all 14 provinces), after they destroyed half of Cuba's sugar crop, some 100,000 homes, and much of the infrastructure, including one historic town that had survived since the days of Columbus - until now. Cuba reported only 7 deaths, not due to a miracle, but to extensive preparations and evacuation of millions of people.

This has left Cuba devastated, including our sister province of Camaguey (Madison's sister is Camaguey City, Milwaukee's is the port of Nuevitas). Due to the US economic blockade, it is illegal for most U.S. citizens to send direct aid to anyone in Cuba, except through specially licensed charities. One of them, the "Wisconsin Medical Project," is collecting tax deductible donations (which you can mail to or bring to Heitzer Law offices, 633 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1410, Milwaukee, WI 53203, 414 273-1040), to buy and send aid directly to our brothers and sisters in Camaguey.

The U.S. Conference of Bishops, Barack Obama, and even right wing Cuban American organizations in Florida have called for Bush to suspend parts of the U.S. embargo, so that relatives can send unrestricted remittances and can't travel to Cuba. (Sign on at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/) Meanwhile Cuba has asked the Bush administration to allow it to buy US generators and construction materials (which is now illegal), and food from US suppliers subject to mutually agreeable private credit (which is also illegal for Cuba only). For more info, see: www.lawg.org, www.wicuba.org and www.madisoncamaguey.org.

The Peace Education Project of Peace Action Wisconsin is a member of Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee. Between now and Dec. 15 you can give a workplace donation to us through your annual fall workplace giving campaign. If your employee only offers United Way ask for your donation to go to Community Shares and choose the Peace Education Project.

Community Shares supports organizations that work for social justice and a healthy environment by connecting donors with issues they are passionate about.