davidswanson's blog

Audio: Song: "Good News" by Paul Aaron

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:59:29 -0500

Listen here to a new version of the song the artist performed at Camp Democracy.

US ARMY INTERROGATOR sgt ricky clousing freed

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:20:32 -0500

Supporters welcome him home

For more information: Laurel Albina (206) 419 3811

US Army Interrogator Sgt. Ricky Clousing returns home to Washington State on Saturday, December 23rd after three months in a military prison.

Family, friends and supporters will welcome Sgt. Clousing at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 10:15PM on Saturday, December 23rd, Concourse B, Baggage Claim 11. Sgt. Clousing will also be speaking at a reception January 6th at a location to be announced.

On August 11th 2006 , after being AWOL from the military for over 14 months, Sgt. Clousing spoke publicly about what he called "the daily devastation of occupation in Iraq" which led to his decision to leave his unit after completion of his tour in Iraq. He then turned himself over to military custody. On October 11th he was found guilty of AWOL and sentenced to three months in prison.

Video: Stop Funding the War!

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:12:44 -0500

Watch this.

Camp Democracy Releases DVD

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 13:19:23 -0500

Camp Democracy has produced a 45-minute DVD of highlights: ORDER IT HERE.

Notes from the Producer, David Swanson:

Camp Democracy was a one-of-a kind experience. From September 5th to 21st, 2006, we gathered on the National Mall in huge tents to organize and train citizens and activists new and old in ways to oppose the Bush agenda. The idea for Camp Democracy arose out of discussions on listserves. A group of amazing volunteers (originally a handful, eventually hundreds) made it happen. And opposing the Bush agenda, in defense of democracy, was what united us.

Bringing together disparate movements was what made us unique. We brought anti-war activists together with those struggling to restore the homes of Hurricane Katrina victims. We made connections between climate change, the war, and immigrants' rights – connections of those issues and connections between groups and individuals working on them. Iraq Veterans Against the War met people at Camp Democracy who helped them acquire a bus, and they spent Thanksgiving helping Katrina victims in New Orleans. In the months since Camp Democracy I've run into people all over the country who met there and joined forces there. People remember it as an enjoyable experience full of music and marches and friendships. (Which is wonderful to hear, for those of us who remember it as a lot of work.)

Project For New American Values General Progress Report

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:54:35 -0500

Iraq Veterans Against the War held its first election at the Veterans For Peace National Convention in

Seattle on August 10, 2006. Since then several members have joined forces to do a national project of a

magnitude never before seen. At Camp Democracy from Septemer 2-21 in Washington, D.C., several

IVAW members participated in events such as educating the public on effects of depleted uranium. Four

members of IVAW were arrested at the Pentagon on false charges that were dropped. The arrest was an

attempt to stop these members from educating people at the Pentagon, who need to know the most, and

were arrested simply to hide their truths. Several members of IVAW and VFP spoke at a hearing on the

VA budget. They shared their experiences of the VA to people who decide the budget. Four members

Move Over GI Joe and Han Solo: Sgt. Ricky Clousing, Peace Action Hero

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:50:56 -0500

By Elizabeth de la Vega, www.TomDispatch.com

I look forward to the day when Mattel makes a Sgt. Ricky Clousing action figure.

As the mother of sons born eight years apart, I spent nearly half my adult life surrounded by - and stepping on - action figures. They were everywhere: a phalanx of tiny knights in shining armor on the windowsill; Batman and Robin frozen in an ice tray; and GI Joe guys in camouflage among the hosta. One Christmas, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo even ended up in the manger scene along with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, two cows, three sheep, and several Ewoks. My kids spent hours and hours in a fantasy world populated by villains and heroes of every description except one; there were no peace heroes.

I met a peace hero at Camp Democracy in Washington, D.C. not too long ago: Sgt. Ricky Clousing. He will not remember me, but I will not forget him. On a brilliant, blessedly unhumid day, Ricky sat on a makeshift platform within shouting distance of the Lincoln Memorial and told a story that was simultaneously agonizing and inspiring to hear.

Photos from Camp Democracy by Beverlie Thorstad

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:35:33 -0400

Link.

Videos of Utah Events in Support of Camp Democracy

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:58:29 -0400

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1500B43A35559E7E

Video on Exxon and the War

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:24:36 -0400

Video of Camp Democracy forum on Exxon: WMV.

Faster, lower quality version of same video: WMV.

Videos by Barry Student.

Video of Women or Peace Forum at Camp Democracy

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:19:14 -0400

Video of Women for Peace Forum at Camp Democracy: WMV.

Faster, lower quality version of same video: WMV.

Videos by Barry Student

Videos by Chris Belcher Available on DVD

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:24:54 -0400

Go here.

Liberty News TV Video Report on Camp Democracy

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 08:04:11 -0400

From Liberty News TV:

Friends, Activists and Countrymen (and Countrywomen),

I just completed the October episode of Liberty News TV, which is devoted to several days of Camp Democracy. It includes lots of interviews with Geoff Millard, Ann Wright, Malik Rahim, David Swanson and others. The show goes out today to 70 public access stations and Free Speech TV to 28 million homes via satellite. Here are the video links so you can watch it online too.

Windows Media

Real Media

Terrific New Video of Camp Democracy

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:50:41 -0400

By Debbie Clark, Veterans For Peace, Greater Atlanta Chapter 125

Play It.

Video: Sureya Sayadi at Camp Democracy

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:58:18 -0400

VIDEO of Sureya Sayadi at Camp Democracy.
WMV.

Faster, lower quality version of same video: WMV.

A tale of two war memorials

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:01:27 -0400

By Allison Hantschel, http://www.dailysouthtown.com

In Washington, D.C., last week for a political event, I visited two memorials, reminders at either end of the National Mall of the sacrifices of war.

The first was the World War II memorial, opened last year, a vast marble circle enclosing fountains, inspirational quotations from those who led the war and those who served in it, pillars for the dead of each state of the union. A field of 4,000 gold stars on the "Freedom Wall" commemorates the more than 400,000 Americans who died in World War II.

Such public spaces inevitably turn a little theme park; children chattered in strollers and teenagers raced past signs reading "no running" while tourists snapped pictures of other tourists snapping pictures.

Beside a bubbling fountain, an old man stood very straight, his white-haired wife's hand on his back. Another man rose, with great difficulty, from a scooter seat to snap a photo of the waterfall that drops down at the end of the reflecting pool.