Colorado Citizens for Peace

New Time for Saturday Vigil

IMPORTANT TIME CHANGE!

So that attendees of the regular Saturday peace vigil can also be present for the noon gathering of Occupy Denver, Colorado Citizens for Peace is moving the time to 10:30 until 11:30 A.M.

This change will stay in effect for the foreseeable future.

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Colorado Citizens for Peace
Weekly Vigil

Every Saturday

10:30 - 11:30 A.M.

Intersection of Wadsworth Blvd. and 52nd Ave.

Arvada, Colorado
MAP

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OccupyDenver.org

'End the Wars Peace Vigil'

Colorado Citizens for Peace will be hosting an 'End the Wars Peace Vigil' on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from noon until 1:00 P.M.

The special vigil will be held where the weekly gathering usually meets at 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Arvada, Colorado.

Live music will be provided by Eric Wright, former Director of Resources for the American Friends Service Committee. Eric will perform folk and peace songs.

Bring your own sign or one can be provided for you.

For more information contact:

Bruce Morrison at 303-43-0542
Kathy Tolman at 303-940-7151

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Colorado Citizens for Peace

Weekly Vigil

Every Saturday

Noon - 1:00 P.M.

Intersection of Wadsworth Blvd. and 52nd Ave.

Arvada, Colorado
MAP

CCP Now on Facebook

Colorado Citizens for Peace is now on Facebook.

Colorado Citizens for Peace
Community
Facebook

Eighth Anniversary of Iraq Invasion

This Saturday, March 19, 2011, marks the eighth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Come to the corner to protest and bring a friend.

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Colorado Citizens for Peace

Weekly Vigil

Every Saturday

Noon - 1:00 P.M.

Intersection of Wadsworth Blvd. and 52nd Ave.

Arvada, Colorado
MAP

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The following is an outline of two main talking points. One is that war is costly and the other is that these wars are unnecessary.

War is Costly

• We have spent over a trillion dollars on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 1 This does not include trillions more on the military budget, bases all over the world, or medical and other costs to care for returning soldiers.
• We lost over 58,000 soldiers in Vietnam and 5,766 in the current wars. 2
• Over 40,000 soldiers have been wounded in the current wars. This does not include post traumatic stress disorder and other difficulties reintegrating into civilian life.
• The loss to our country by what could have been if these people had not sacrificed so much for war can not be calculated. War results in children without both parents and communities without the contributions that might have been.
• Our politics have been polarized by the emotion, sacrifice, and outrage generated by war.
• We have little money to invest in infrastructure to maintain our prosperity.
• Our identity as an anti-colonial free people is tough to maintain when we act like an empire. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., the "soul" of America is damaged by war.
• Invading and occupying other countries contributes to a damaged world. Peoples rage at the death and destruction in their countries is directed at the United States and contributes to terrorist attacks.
• Our massive spending on our military is over six times the world's next most expensive military. This puts us at a disadvantage with our economic competitors.
• Many of our communities have become dependent on military spending. Not only does this divert the energy and creativity of these communities away from creating prosperity but it makes it very difficult to make decisions about security.
• Our large military creates a brain drain causing many of our brightest engineering graduates to work for the military instead of designing consumer products.

Recent Wars are Unnecessary

• Vietnam
We got involved in Vietnam in support of French colonialism. Direct combat by U.S. troops was sold based on the Golf of Tonkin incident and the Domino Theory. The golf of Tonkin incident did not happen as claimed. The Domino Theory held that if we did not stop Communism in Vietnam other countries would fall like dominoes. After killing a million Vietnamese people and sacrificing 58,000 of our bravest citizens, we left and it did not happen. The region did not go communist.
• First Gulf War
After supporting Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran (which killed a million people) and building up his military capacity including biological weapons, we went to war to remove Iraq from Kuwait. It would have been cheaper and killed fewer people if we did not build up his military capacity in the first place.
• Second Gulf War
The weapons of mass destruction did not exist. None of the 9-11 hijackers were Iraqi. Iraq's military was crippled after the first gulf war and Iraq was not a threat to the region.
• Afghanistan
There are fewer than 100 Al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan. 3 We are fighting the Taliban, a Pashtun based group that did not attack us on 9-11-01.

1. National Priorities Project Tallies Cost of War through September 30, 2010, http:www.nationalpriorities.org/publications.
2. http://www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf
3. President Obama's Secret: Only 100 al Qaeda Now in Afghanistan, Richard Esposito, Matthew Cole and Brian Ross, Dec. 2, 2009, ABC News, http://abcnews.go.com.

A Message From Cindy Lowry

December 1, 2010

Dear Fellow Peace Vigil Friends,

In light of the past seven plus months dealing with Bob's renal cancer and Type 2 Diabetes, I have decided that the time has come for me to let go of the Colorado Citizens for Peace group.

I gave birth to this idea on February 25, 2005, and the baby has grown into a child at nearly six years old. It has been my pleasure and honor working with all of you for peace. I gladly hand over the peace group to Kathy Tolman and Radon\Virginia Dennis\Richard Bluhm\Bruce Morrison\Jim Sickafoose\Jan B.\Beth Hammer\Eugene and Suzanne Fitzpatrick and anyone else who has joined in to make "our corner" a success. I know that you will tend to our child as well.

I will remain as a consultant to the group, if needed. I will still contact everyone; but just to talk about life events and issues because I value everyone's friendship.

I want and need to pursue my poetry, renewable art projects and gain a greater sense of my own spiritually.

There is probably the chance that I will have to go to work in the foreseeable future. I love you all. I will come to the corner but only as a participant and stand up for the cause that I believe with every inch of body, soul and spirit. I will only remain as Coordinator until January 1, 2011. I truly hope that you understand. You will always be my friends.

Peace & Love

Cindy

Peace Vigil Marks Beginning of 10th Year in Afghanistan

Colorado Citizens for Peace and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center held a special vigil on Saturday, October 9, 2010, to commemorate the beginning of ten years of U.S. war and occupation in Afghanistan.

Sixty people attended at 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard from noon until 1:00 P.M. Responses from passing traffic was encouraging ... though regretful that the United States still is engaged in military conflict on the other side of the globe now for over nine years.

All Photographs by Dave Chandler.

'Meet-Up of People for Peace'

On Saturday, October 9, 2010, Colorado Citizens for Peace will unite with the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center (RMPJC) and the Boulder County Peace Group for a 'Meet-Up of People for Peace'.

Colorado Citizens for Peace is the longest running and continuing peace vigil in metro Denver having started on February 25, 2005.

Participants will meet at the intersections of West 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard from noon to 1:00 P.M. to promote peace and bring bring a greater awareness of the on-going U.S. wars.

To date, over One Trillion Dollars has been wasted on these wars. What has been gained?

All interested and concerned are invited to participate.
Signs will be provided for anyone attending who doesn't already have a one.

Music will be performed during the event by Scott Zulauf and Kevin Alumbaugh.

For more information, please contact:

Cindy Lowry, Colorado Citizens for Peace: 303-463-7728

Betty Ball, RMPJC: 303-444-6981

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Meet-Up of People for Peace
and
Colorado Citizens for Peace

Weekly Vigil

Every Saturday

Noon - 1:00 P.M.

Intersection of Wadsworth Blvd. and 52nd Ave.

Arvada, Colorado
MAP

Weekly Peace Gathering Enters Sixth Year

The weekly vigil for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world -- held at 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, every Saturday from noon until 1:00 P.M. -- commemorated its five years of existence on March 20, 2010.

The vigil is sponsored by an informal group known as 'Colorado Citizens for Peace'.

Over twenty citizens gathered for the usual 'vigil at the corner' on a cold, but calm day to remind passers-by that the U.S. wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have continued for the past seven and eight-and-a-half years.

Later, at the home of a dedicated participant for peace, nearly fifty folks gathered to appreciate their friendship and camaraderie. Speakers included Bob Kinsey, Carolyn Bninski, Cindy Lowery and a few impromptu words from Denver auditor, Dennis Gallagher.

At the corner of 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Arvada, Colorado.

A reminder of why we gather every week.

A dedicated group vigils weekly for peace.

Music provided by Kevin Alumbaugh and Scott Zuluaf.

Green Party of Colorado U.S. Senate candidate, Bob Kinsey.

Carolyn Bninski from the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center.

Dennis Gallagher with encouraging words.

Cindy Lowry reads a poem.

Non-Violent Training Offered

NON-VIOLENT DIRECT ACTION TRAINING

WHEN: Saturday, March 6, 2010
9:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.

WHERE: SEIU Local 105
2525 W. Alameda Avenue
Denver, Colorado

Learn how to effect change through non-violent, direct action. Historically, change happens when people come together and act -- write letters, make phone calls, rally, march, and engage in civil disobedience. Learn the history, principles, & practice and connect with organizations working on the issues YOU care about.

$5 Suggested Donation

All are Welcome!
Lunch Provided!

For more information and to RSVP, please contact:

Scott Kwasny at skwasny@mac.com

or

303-912-6504

Please let us know if you are interested in tabling at this event.

Fifth Anniversary of Vigil in February

Please circle the date of February 20, 2010, for the 5th Anniversary for the Colorado Citizens for Peace.

We will have our regular peace vigil from Noon until 1:00 P.M. at the intersections of W. 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, then adjourn to Kathy Tolman's home located 4735 Reed Street, Wheat Ridge (MAP), for a rally and potluck luncheon.

Our keynote speaker will be Carolyn Bninski from the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center who will address 'Grassroots Organizing for Social Change'.

Music will be furnished by Kevin Alumbaugh and Scott Zuluaf playing the acoustic version of their Egg Planet group. Cindy Lowry will read her original poem entitled -- AFGHAN TRILOGY.

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Colorado Citizens for Peace

Weekly Vigil

Every Saturday

Noon - 1:00 P.M.

Intersection of Wadsworth Blvd. and 52nd Ave.

Arvada, Colorado
MAP