04-02-2010, 06:55 AM
New England United Host Anti-War Conference at MIT
By Lauren Howland
On Saturday morning, around 300 people piled into a conference room at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to discuss the future of the anti-war movement in the New England area.
New England United, a regional anti-war network that was started in July of 2007, held a convention to address the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The crowd ranged from grey-haired men and women reflecting their fight to end the Vietnam War during their youth to Cambridge high school students wanting to voice their opinions.
Robert Hanson, an older man wearing a peace shirt was the first to speak. He warned the group that his generation had failed in continuing the peace movement, and now people see peace and anti-war activism the same way they see voting—something you only have to take part in once and awhile.
“If I can offer you some advice, if a suggestion comes up that sounds like the 60’s—put it on the backburner,” said Hanson.
The gathering lasted from 10:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., alternating between panels and workshops, and concluded with an organizational session to discuss ways to incorporate more people into a protest that will be held March 20 in front of the White House to support the return of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Glen Ford, editor of Black Agenda Report, an online journal of African American thought and action, was one of the first to speak.
“How did corporations, blacks, and leftist all end up on the same side?“ Ford comically asked the audience. Calling it a “trick of history” Ford expressed his dismay when in 2008 the capitalistic system started to fall apart and instead of people fighting, back they became completely demobilized.
The speakers covered a broad array of topics including the expansion of U.S. occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Palestine. They argued that this expansion uses resources, especially money, that could be better used in domestic and social issues. Lecturers also discussed the institution of new U.S. bases being set in Columbia and Honduras, and our nation’s decision on how and where to distribute money and aid to the people of Haiti after the earthquake devastated Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas.
Ashley Smith, of the International Socialist Review, claimed that to end the wars, one needs to get the public to connect the dots between war spending and social progress.
“We should demand they do more then just talk about war opposition and block war spending,” Smith said of our government.
Workshops ensued where people broke off into smaller groups and held discussions about topics that were more closely related to the activist work they do, such as the war in Latin America, resistance within the military, global warming and its relation to current wars.
Seven UNH students attended the Student Organizing workshop in hopes of preparing themselves more thoroughly for the progression of the anti-war movement on and around campus.
“This is just the first step in connecting with the other students for peace and creating a more connected network of people working for peace in our world,” UNH junior philosophy major Vanessa Ruiz said after the conference.
By Lauren Howland
On Saturday morning, around 300 people piled into a conference room at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to discuss the future of the anti-war movement in the New England area.
New England United, a regional anti-war network that was started in July of 2007, held a convention to address the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The crowd ranged from grey-haired men and women reflecting their fight to end the Vietnam War during their youth to Cambridge high school students wanting to voice their opinions.
Robert Hanson, an older man wearing a peace shirt was the first to speak. He warned the group that his generation had failed in continuing the peace movement, and now people see peace and anti-war activism the same way they see voting—something you only have to take part in once and awhile.
“If I can offer you some advice, if a suggestion comes up that sounds like the 60’s—put it on the backburner,” said Hanson.
The gathering lasted from 10:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., alternating between panels and workshops, and concluded with an organizational session to discuss ways to incorporate more people into a protest that will be held March 20 in front of the White House to support the return of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Glen Ford, editor of Black Agenda Report, an online journal of African American thought and action, was one of the first to speak.
“How did corporations, blacks, and leftist all end up on the same side?“ Ford comically asked the audience. Calling it a “trick of history” Ford expressed his dismay when in 2008 the capitalistic system started to fall apart and instead of people fighting, back they became completely demobilized.
The speakers covered a broad array of topics including the expansion of U.S. occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Palestine. They argued that this expansion uses resources, especially money, that could be better used in domestic and social issues. Lecturers also discussed the institution of new U.S. bases being set in Columbia and Honduras, and our nation’s decision on how and where to distribute money and aid to the people of Haiti after the earthquake devastated Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas.
Ashley Smith, of the International Socialist Review, claimed that to end the wars, one needs to get the public to connect the dots between war spending and social progress.
“We should demand they do more then just talk about war opposition and block war spending,” Smith said of our government.
Workshops ensued where people broke off into smaller groups and held discussions about topics that were more closely related to the activist work they do, such as the war in Latin America, resistance within the military, global warming and its relation to current wars.
Seven UNH students attended the Student Organizing workshop in hopes of preparing themselves more thoroughly for the progression of the anti-war movement on and around campus.
“This is just the first step in connecting with the other students for peace and creating a more connected network of people working for peace in our world,” UNH junior philosophy major Vanessa Ruiz said after the conference.
"Where is the intersection between the world's deep hunger and your deep gladness?"