THE WAR RAGES ON

The Peace and Justice Center vigilled for twenty years while the US military occupied Afghanistan. While the pullout last year was not well done, the Center believed the US should never have been there in the first place.

Now we have a new war, in Ukraine; it is destroying the country and traumatizing its people. It is killing Russians and Ukrainians alike, probably none of whom want this war. We vigil each Wednesday from 12 noon to 12:30 PM in front of Bangor City Hall on Harlow Street in downtown Bangor. Join us!!

While a single vigil has not usually ended a war, it is important that we speak on behalf of peace, not an escalation of the conflict. We need multiple pressures for peace—from the US public, the Ukrainian public, and the Russian public. 

This is the war that is getting publicity, but it is hardly the only conflict that is killing many and hurting many more. There is still Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and other conflicts. 

Our reasons for the vigil include:

*Start and maintain negotiations to stop the violence (use intermediaries like the UN, thousands are dying!!!, )

*Withdraw Russian military from all of Ukraine (they do not belong there)

*Stop militarization of the region—fewer troops and weapons, not more (the more weapons, the harder to negotiate an end to the fighting and the more dead and suffering)

*Support all refugees, including those from other countries and who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)

*Give more attention to ending wars that have been going on for years or even a decade or more (Yemen, Syria, Somalia, etc.)

*End sanctions that hurt the Russian public (promote sanctions that help Russian people pressure on their government to end the war)

*No regime change by US/EU in Russia or Ukraine (For the Russian/Ukrainian people to decide)

*Support Russians opposing the Ukraine war (so they can build a movement to end the war)

*Stop threats to use nuclear weapons (use of them would create massive casualties)

For more information, Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine:  Larry Dansinger, (207) 262-3706 or larryd@myfairpoint.net