Please join us this Wednesday, Feb. 24, anytime between 4 pm

and 5:30 pm at the Old Federal Bldg., 7^th and Pearl, as we as we mourn the death of the 1000 soldier killed in Afghanistan and call on Congress to take action to end the war.  Lane County Veterans for Peace Chapter 159 will read the names of Oregon soldiers who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq.

For more info contact Michael Carrigan at 541-485-1755 or c-541-844-4677

Contact Congress about the 1000th Death

Let Rep. DeFazio and Senators Merkley and Wyden know that over 1,000 U.S. soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Many more civilians - the total is not known - have died in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ask your member of Congress to use their vote to:

• Stop funding military intervention;
• Support Afghan-led efforts for good governance, strengthening civilian institutions and inclusive political reconciliation;
• Require the Administration to produce a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Senator Ron Wyden, email contact, 202-224-5244, Eugene: 431-0229

Senator Jeff Merkley, email contact 202-224-3753, Eugene: 465-6750

Rep. Peter DeFazio, email contact, 202-225-6416, Eugene: 465-6732

By year's end, there will be 100,000 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.  At one million dollars per soldier for deployment, we will be spending in excess of $100 billion a year, on military solutions.

The U.S. could more productively support visions for peace that exist everywhere in Afghanistan. Only support of peace building efforts will allow Afghans to begin the hard work of reconciliation.

For example U.S. funds would be better spent assisting and strengthening Afghan-led institutions necessary to create the stability and structures needed to heal from so many years of violence.

We could be investing in education by guaranteeing teacher salaries, supporting efforts for teacher training - by Afghans - and releasing funds to ensure school construction.  Currently almost half of all schools in Afghanistan don't have buildings.

Changing the nature of the U.S. investment in Afghanistan can bring stability. But it will require a long-term commitment to sustained and transparent financial and technical support.

It is a path that can end the unnecessary deaths on all sides and is the path to peace.

The event is sponsored by American Friends Service Committee, CALC, and Lane County Veterans for Peace Chapter 159.