Upstate New York Peace Groups
Please send updates or new information to Syracuse Peace Council
Broome County
Broome County Network for Peace and Justice, George Haeseler, 607-729-1044,
g.haeseler@worldnet.att.net
Capital District
Social Justice Center is a physical center, providing office space and other resources to organizations working on issues of the environment, homelessness, youth project, college campuses, racism, sexism, homophobia and fair trade. SJC, 33 Central Ave Albany NY 12210, (518) 434-4037
Women Against War is based on the idea that war is not the answer and that women can lead the way. We need to work to end violence as a way of dealing with conflict. We want to bring the voices of women, their collective energy and their unique skills to bear on peace and social justice issues. Equal rights and opportunities for women are an essential requirement for creating a peaceful world. We need to make ending violence against women a central concern of the peace movement. We need to educate people about the special impact of war and violence on women and children. We need to work to empower women to participate in foreign policy decisions so that the United States addresses conflict situations from a peacemaking (non-violent) perspective. WAW, PO Box 505, Delmar, New York 12054, email, web: http://www.womenagainstwar.org.
Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace is an organization of concerned members of the Bethlehem community working for peace. The group formed in January 2003, and currently we have over 500 members--and growing. BNP is comprised of a wide spectrum of adults and youth who are currently working for a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the situation in Iraq, and elsewhere in the world. We believe that war is NOT the answer, and that voicing our dissent and helping our government end this disastrous war and avoid future wars are vital and patriotic acts. They have a weekly email newsletter to promote upcoming events and activities, and includes insights from local and national news. BNP, PO Box 473, Delmar, New York 12054, email, web: http://www.bethlehemforpeace.org
Cayuga County
The Cayuga Coalition for Peace is the first peace group in Cayuga County since
the war in Vietnam. Its purpose is to keep the option of peaceful resolution
of conflict at the highest level of public debate.
Contact:
Central New York
Syracuse Peace Council
The Syracuse Peace Council is the oldest grassroots, autonomous peace and
social justice organization in the US. Educating, agitating and organizing for
peace and social justice since 1936. SPC makes the connections between militarism,
social oppression and economic injustice. The organization maintains a broad
program of action, including the monthly Peace Newsletter,
regular email communications and an active website.
Syracuse Peace Council, 2013 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13203, (315) 472-5478,
spc@peacecouncil.net, www.peacecouncil.net
American Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes
people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian
service. The Syracuse office oversees various partnership projects in the upper
New York State area. AFSC, 2013 East Genesee Street, Suite 1, Syracuse NY 13210,
(315) 475-4822, crizzo@afsc.org, www.afsc.org/mar/nys.htm
Peace Action of Central New York
Peace Action of Central NY is part of a movement of people in the U.S. and
worldwide. We call for an end to nuclear armaments. We work for a new world
order that will replace militarism, racism, and social and economic injustice
with a global peace system based on principles of common security and non-violent
conflict resolution.
Peace Action of CNY, 2013 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210, Phone: (315) 478-7442,
info@peaceactioncny.org, www.peaceactioncny.org
Syracuse University
The Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) at Syracuse University is affiliated
with national Peace Action, and has branches on many universities and colleges.
Its goal is to promote the peaceful solution to international conflicts through
education and activities on campus. This fall it held a well attended forum
on Iraq, including speakers on both sides of the issue. The group held a number
of protests on the campus quadrangle.
Contact:
Genesee Valley
Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace is a nonviolent activist group, maintaining
close contacts with national groups such as Peace Action, and Nicaragua Network.
Genesee Valley Citizens For Peace, Box 363 Geneseo NY 14454, Tel. 585.346.2530,
Fax 585.243.4002, email: ahmatlingvcp@Igc.org
web: www.gvcp.org/
Geneva
Finger Lakes for Peace is the new peace organization in Geneva. It organized
two anti-war marches in October and filled two buses for the October 26 anti-war
march in Washington. A member of the Geneva City Council drafted and presented
a resolution against the war to the Council, which was unfortunately defeated.
However, the initiative generated many letters to the editor and much spirited
conversation. For January it is planning a war/peace debate and organizing buses
to go to Washington.
Contact: Stephanie Kutzke, (585) 526-6036, FLforpeace@yahoo.com
Ithaca
The Committee on US/ Latin American Relations (CUSLAR) is a network
of volunteers promoting awareness of the culture and politics of Latin American
nations and their relationships with the United States.
CUSLAR, 316 Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853,
(607) 255-7293, cuslar@cornell.edu,
www.rso.cornell.edu/cuslar/
The Ithaca Coalition for Global Justice (The Sharks) is committed to
economic, social, and environmental justice in Tompkins County, the US and the
world. We are workers, students and community members striving to involve people
from diverse backgrounds and experiences in our struggle. SHARKS Meetings are
Mondays, 7-9 p.m., at GIAC, corner of Court and Albany Streets, Ithaca, NY.
For more information, contact Pete
Meyers, 607-256-9733
Ithaca Indymedia Center's online calendar of local events is at: ithaca.indymedia.org/media/event/
Ithaca Catholic Worker is part of the larger Catholic Worker movement and works on various anti-war and social justice activism. Contact: Mary Loehr, 607-256-9733
Jefferson County
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) Fort Drum NY Chapter is part of the
national group founded by Iraq war veterans in July 2004 to give a voice to
the large number of active duty service people and veterans who are against
this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent. IVAW calls for:
Immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq; Reparations for the destruction
and corporate pillaging of Iraq so that Iraqi people can control their own lives
and future; and Full benefits, adequate healthcare (including mental health),
and other supports for returning servicemen and women. Today, IVAW members are
in 43 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and on numerous bases overseas, including
Iraq. IVAW currently has 17 chapters around the country and in Canada. IVAW
members educate the public about the realities of the Iraq war by speaking in
communities and to the media about their experiences. e-mail,
national website: http://www.ivaw.org
The Jefferson County Peace Alliance was organized in 2003 as a grassroots
effort formed in response to the proposed War in Iraq. JCPA's original purpose
was to educate the community and organize events on peaceful alternatives to
war. Now as we grow, we hope to embrace a more social change platform with activities
focused on events to create a better community.
Contact information: www.geocities.com/jeffcopeace,
email: jeffcopeace@hotmail.com
Mohawk Valley
In response to the threat of a war in Iraq, the Mohawk Valley Peace Coalition
(MVPC) has been formed in the Utica area. Its goal is to challenge the inevitability
of violent conflict in all its forms by:
1. increasing awareness of the consequences of and alternatives to violence
2. promoting an understanding of the motivation for war
3. offering education for creative conflict resolution
Contact: Tracy Taylor, (315) 269-4583, ttaylor@utica.edu
North Country
Alternatives to War is a coalition of people in northern New York State
who advocate a sensible and nonviolent approach to resolving national and international
conflicts. Contact: PO Box 742, Canton NY 13617, info@alternativestowar.org,
www.alternativestowar.org/
North Country Vets for Peace is an officially recognized chapter of the national organization Veterans For Peace, Inc. (www.veteransforpeace.org). Chartered in the spring of 2005, our chapter holds regular meetings in Potsdam and Canton, NY. The NCVFP chapter is unique because our members reside within a 2.5-hour radius across five counties of rural upper state New York (St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Clinton, Franklin and Essex Counties). Like all VFP chapters, membership is open to veterans and non-veterans alike. North Country Veterans for Peace, P.O. Box 368, Potsdam, NY 13676, email, web: http://www.vfp-northcountry.org
Folks trying to stop Fort Drum Use of State Forest for Training
Michael Barsuglia & Lis Barsuglia-Madsen
315-543-2214
e-mail: loomy@westelcom.com
A State Forest in Lewis County could soon become the next training area for Fort Drum soldiers. It is 20,000 acres and is one of the largest Forest Preserves in New York State. Fort Drum officials say that because the post is bringing in a new brigade, more land is needed. Now, I have talked with officials from Fort Drum Liaison Office and the DEC - the story keeps changing and escalating. From what I've been told by officials 57,000 acres will be needed.
For more information: On www.wwnytv.com search for "Fort Drum." The article "Update: Mixed Reaction to Drum Land Use" has a link to DEC's web site with a map and a description of Jadwin Memorial State Forest.
You can also contact:
Fort Drum Liaison Director Carl McLaughlin - 315-836-1531;
e-mail: info@fdrlo.org; web site: www.fdrlo.org
DEC Watertown Regional Director Stephen Litwhiler - 315-785-2239
We need your help, support, and input.
This is unprecedented in New York State Land Use.
Let us not open the door.
Oneonta
Citizens' Alternative Voice (CAV) is a community-based organization located
in Oneonta, New York. We are committed to promoting education and action on
alternative responses to global terrorism.
Citizens' Alternative Voice, 15 Mountainview Dr., Oneonta NY, 13820, (607)
431-1985, Francis Carlson, admin@cavoice.org,
www.cavoice.org/
Oswego
Oswego Peace thru Justice is an Oswego-based group working for peace
and justice..
Contact: Robin Miller, (315) 342-7933, rmille29@twcny.rr.com
Rochester Area
Metro Justice is a membership organization which works for peace and justice
on local, state, national and global levels. To accomplish these goals, we educate,
agitate and organize.Metro Justice, 36 Saint Paul St. #112, Rochester NY 14604,
(585) 325-2560, metroj@frontiernet.net,
www.metrojustice.org/
Pro Soldier, Pro Peace vigil. This small group holds a peace vigil every Wednesday from 7pm til 8pm on Main St. Palmyra, at the corner of Williams St. (across from HSBC bank.) Contact is Sandy Fessler.
Western New York
The Western New York Peace Center is a not-for-profit membership organization
that provides people in Western New York with opportunities to learn about and
act constructively on a variety of local and global issues related to peace,
human rights and social justice. WNY Peace Center, 2123 Bailey Ave., Buffalo,
NY 14211, Telephone: 716-894-2013, Fax: 716-894-8705, email: director@wnypeace.org,
www.wnypeace.org/