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HAPPY 3rd ANNIVERSARY NYDoP!
Yesterday marked the 6th anniversary of a tragic moment in all our lives, today September 12th marks a joyous one. Three years ago today New Yorkers for a Department of Peace [NYDoP] took shape in its present form. [Duchess is honored to be a board member.] NYDoP is proud of the successes we’ve had and the commitment we share to see the creation of a United States Department of Peace and Nonviolence in our lifetime. This is a busy month for celebrating peacebuilding and there are still opportunities for you to participate and have some fun.

NYDOP’s Choose Peace campaign continues with the Peace Film Fest. Host a house party, invite your friends, neighbors and relatives, make some popcorn and pick a movie from a list provided that explores themes of nonviolence and social change. We’ve got the house party kits with everything you might need. Click on the provided link and order a house party kit today! http://www.nyc-dop.com/choose/filmfest.html

If outdoor action is more your style, then you may wish to choose a Peace Walkathon sponsored by The Peace Alliance. Click on the provided link for more details and either organize a walk or find one in your community. http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/407/36/

In the coming year New Yorkers for a Department of Peace [NYDoP] is planning, among other things, to focus more on local community outreach to support and partner with groups that are actively doing the work of every day peacebuilding. If you have any creative ideas, suggestions or thoughts, let us know at http://www.nyc-dop.com Please stay tuned for more wonderful things to come!

The 9/11 Conspiracy (Paperback)
James H. Fetzer (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812696123/105-5993218-5693253

Most See Iraq War as Complete or Partial Failure
Associated Press
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/8415

Combat Vet Becomes Kucinich Campaign Manager
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,176276.shtml

Denying the Truth: Petraeus, Iraq, and Our Pontius Pilate Press
Arianna Huffington
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/11/3774

It Only Takes 51 Senators to End This War
Robert Naiman
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/11/3779/

Ignoring the Other Victims of 9/11
Marie Cocco
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/11/3772/

[Duchess Note - I am one of those "other victims" that have health issues with my lungs. All due to the toxins in the air and buildings around the Wall Street area. That area was never properly cleaned following 9/11/01. Never!]

Borgen Project – Poverty Reduction Through Political Accountability
http://www.borgenproject.org/

Annual Cost of Improving the World
• $19 billion: Eliminates starvation and malnutrition globally
• $12 billion: Provides education for every kid on earth
• $15 billion: Provides access to water and sanitation
• $23 billion: Reverses the spread of AIDS and Malaria

US Costs in Perspective
• $522 billion: U.S. Military budget this year
• $340 billion: Cost of Iraq War thus far

The Military Budget for 2007
The federally budgeted* military expenditure of the United States Department of Defense for fiscal year 2007 is:

Total Funding $439.3 Billion +6.9%
Operations and maintenance $152.2 Bil. +6.6%
Military Personnel $110.8 Bil. +3.7%
Procurement $84.2 Bil. +10.5%
Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation $73.2 Bil. +3.1%
Military Construction $12.6 Bil. +57.5%
Family Housing $4.1 Bil. +2.5%
Working Capital Funds $2.4 Bil. +9.1%

The Department of Energy will spend an additional $23.4 Billion during FY2007 for the development, maintenance and production of nuclear warheads.

*Does not include extra-budgetary "emergency spending" bills, used to help fund the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, at an additional $120 Billion.

In 2003, the US military budget (minus emergency spending bills) represented 47% of the world's military spending. How's that for a point of reference on our military-industrial complex? What would the rational person in the rest of the world conclude about us based on these statistics?