Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans returned their war medals to NATO on Sunday, at the conclusion of a mass march through Chicago's downtown that took the marchers to the security perimeter surrounding the NATO summit at McCormick Place. One by one, the veterans explained why they were returning their medals, dedicating their action to "my brothers and sisters affected with traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder," "the 33,000 civilians who have died in Afghanistan that won’t have a monument built for them," "the one-third of the women in the military that are sexually assaulted by their peers," "Private First Class Bradley Manning, who sacrificed everything to show us the truth about these wars," and "the children of Iraq that no longer have fathers and mothers." Read more... Photo: Navy vet Todd Dennis of Madison throws back his Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Photo by David Soumis.

Tens of thousands of people came to Chicago on Sunday to protest the annual meeting of NATO, joining in a mass march through downtown that ended in a ceremony just blocks from where NATO officials were meeting. Iraq and Afghanistan vets returned medals they had been awarded in both wars, throwing the medals in the direction of McCormick place, the site of the NATO conference. Ash Woolson, a former sergeant in the Wisconsin National Guard who served in Iraq, took part in the medal turn-in protest. "We don't want to be carrying the burden of the blood that has stained these medals any longer," said Woolson, 30, who now teaches photography at the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin. Lillian Moats, who came from her home in Downers Grove to join the march said, "If we weren't spending such outrageous amounts on war, we'd have money for human needs. It seems like our country's priorities are upside down." Read more... (Photo by Madison Capitol Protesters)

Madison bus riders line up outside the Memorial Union Sunday morning, preparing to join the March Against NATO in Chicago. More photos here...

Action Alert 1: Keep Wisconsin drone facility in the spotlight
Action Alert 2 - Milwaukee: Protect rights of those held by police
Action Alert 3: Oppose hate speech at County fairs
Action Alert 4: Death-squad ties should disqualify University President
Action Alert 5 - Madison: Volunteer with Vets for Peace Memorial Mile  

Two thousand Palestinian prisoners who joined together in a mass hunger strike have won major concessions from their Israeli jailers, including a pledge to end solitary confinement for all prisoners and allow around 400 prisoners from Gaza to receive family visits. In addition, prisoners on "administrative detention orders" -- Israel's term for imprisonment without charge or trial -- will not have their terms renewed without fresh information or evidence being brought before a military judge. Veteran Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi said, "The hunger strikers' courage is magnificently inspiring, and their selflessness deeply humbling. They have truly demonstrated that non-violent resistance is an essential tool in our struggle for freedom." Read more...

Action Alert 1 - Milwaukee: Support World Fair Trade Day
Action Alert 2: Madison-Janesville-Chicago bus for NATO protest
Action Alert 3: Urge Obama to respond to nuclear threat
Action Alert 4: Federal bill mimics Wisconsin pro-mining bill

WNPJ member group Grassroutes Caravan was featured in a report by the Chicago Examiner about the decision by Trinity Episcopal Church in Chicago to offer NATO protestors camping space on its property the weekend of the NATO summit, May 19th and 20th. Trinity is the religious congregation closest to McCormick Place, where the NATO summit will take place, and Grassroutes Caravan is the " the first group of protestors to takeTrinity up on their offer." Grassroutes Caravan's "Mobile village of resilience" comprising up to 50 cyclists leaves Madison on May 13th and will arrive in Chicago on May 18th. Along their route, the caravan intends to "engage with locals as we ride, providing our "people power" by volunteering in community gardens, helping out with ecological restoration projects and otherwise giving back to those who would host our tent village on their land." (photo: Chicago Tribune) Read more...

Many Ways of Peace in Downtown Eagle River will hold its second annual Many Ways of Peace Festival Saturday, July 14, 2012, from 9am to 3pm.  The mission of the festival is to promote a culture of peace for the earth and all its inhabitants.  Speakers, music, food, a children’s tent, art, sand mandala for peace, and a chance to network with others who support this mission, will create a fun and inspiring day for people of all ages. We invite  fellow WNPJ friends and members  to come and participate in this year’s festival.  We have limited space for nonpartisan organizations to set up four- foot table displays and tend them for the day.  This space is provided free of charge and interested groups can contact us to inquire about availability and to reserve a space. 

We also welcome volunteers for the day!  Volunteers will be provided with a free lunch.  For out of town guests, there are wonderful opportunities to camp in the beautiful area that surrounds Eagle River.  Read more to learn about speakers and how to register....

Barb Nichols, newly-elected president of the UNA Dane County chapter, announces a call for nominees for the annual Global Citizen Award.  This will be the fifth year that UNA Dane County will honor a Dane County resident who has made a special contribution to improve the lives of others. The Global Citizen award will be presented at our annual UN Day luncheon on October 28, 2012. This Global Citizen award is presented to someone whose work contributes to the well-being of all humankind in the spirit of the United Nations. We believe many citizens work with little recognition and reward and are important to the development of a more sane and just world. Therefore, we will honor a Dane County resident as a sign of hope and an example for others to follow. We invite your nomination. Read more below, to learn how.....

The Immigrant Worker's Union issued this press release about the May Day Rally at the Capitol : As part of a series of national protests on behalf of the 99%  over one thousand people rallied at the State Street stairs of the Capitol. "Despite the change in time and format, the spirit of solidarity and struggle remained the same as in other years" said Alex Gillis from Immigrant Workers Union, "this year the importance of the rally revolved around the need for broad and diverse movements to come together all across the city and I feel satisfied that we did it once again, our rally was diverse, inclusive and full of good solidarity". Read more below about the list of speakers and endorsers of the event. CONTACT: Yvonne Geerts (608) 335-0357

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, the state’s largest conservation organization, has named Laura Olah, Executive Director of WNPJ member group Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger as the federation’s “Water Conservationist of the Year.” The formal presentation of the award was made at the federation’s annual meeting on April 14 in Stevens Point. Laura is a life-long resident of Sauk County and helped to organize CSWAB in 1990 when Army officials publicly confirmed that high concentrations of carcinogenic solvents had migrated beyond the fence line of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant and contaminated drinking water wells of private homes.  In the years that followed and continuing today, Laura has worked tirelessly to hold the Army accountable for the environmental impacts and threats to human health resulting from the decommissioned plant.  The award recognizes her more than 20 years of service protecting the environment and health and welfare of the citizens of Wisconsin who reside around the Badger Army Ammunition Plant.

Seven citizen activists, including Bonnie Block, past director of WNPJ (left), were arrested for calling for an end to drone warfare at Camp Williams/Volk Field, WI on Tuesday April 24.  They were joining with activists in New York, Nevada, California, Missouri, Illinois, and Maryland in risking arrest as they raise their voices to draw attention to the travesty and illegality of drone warfare.

Did you know that the consensus view of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies is that Iran is not developing a nuclear weapon? Or that the Israeli government agrees with this assessment? WNPJ's new "Iran and the bomb - get the facts" flyer includes information you're probably not getting from the corporate media, where false claims of an "Iranian nuclear threat" are treated as established fact. "No War On Iran!" vigils are planned all over the state for the last week in March - make this fact-filled flyer part of your own "No War On Iran" event! Click here to download a .pdf copy of the flyer, image of flyer below.

More WNPJ history here, including an interview with past Chair, Alfred Meyer ...and you can find interviews of other 20-year members here -

Learn more about 2012 summer peace and justice camps for youth!

Interested in planning, promoting or being part of the camps this summer? 

Echo Vally Hope Summer Camp, near Ontario -www.echovalleyhope.org - Contact: denaeakles@earthlink.net 

Wisconsin Peacemakers Adventure Camp, near New London -  Aug. 19th - 25th.  Contact Clif Morton at - morton@hughes.net or see www.wisconsinpeacemakers.org

Friendship Center Children's Camp, Dodgeville. July 20th - Aug 4th. Contact info@friendshipcenterwi.org or see www.friendshipcenterwi.org

WNPJ's first User's Manual is designed to help WNPJ member groups and individual members make greater use of the services we offer, including: statewide lobby days, event publicity, weekly action alerts, WNPJ work groups, meetings and awards and website features like In the News and Success Stories. Printed copies of the WNPJ Users Manual are free to member groups and individual members, or read the full Users Manual online here...

On Saturday, October 8th, Senator Fred Risser was presented a "Lifetime Peacemaker" award by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. "From sponsoring one of the first lesbian and gay rights bills in the country back in 1982, to taking a stand for workers' rights as one of the 'Fighting 14' earlier this year, Senator Risser has long fought the good fight," said Diane Farsetta, WNPJ Executive Director.