“Youth” The Cultural Revolution

December 13
Friday, 6 pm
Room 206
Veterans Building
401 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco

Youth (Chinese: 芳华; pinyin: Fānghuá) a 2017 Chinese coming-of-age drama film. It follows a Chinese Army dance troupe and its members through the Cultural Revolution, the Sino-Vietnam War, and concludes when the Veterans come home in the 1990’s. The country has gone capitalist, and others are getting rich while the combat Veterans struggle with physical and psychological wounds.

Youth is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by a Chinese army Veteran of that war, and the producer of the film was also a Chinese army dance troupe Veteran. In a sense, this might be vaguely compared to Oliver Stone’s movies about the American war in Viet Nam.

This Veterans for Peace sponsored screening is followed by a short discussion by American combat Veterans who compare their war and coming home experience to the Chinese Veterans’ experience as portrayed in the film.

Youth is directed by Feng Xiaogang and written by Geling Yan. It was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It was scheduled to be released in China on October 1, 2017, but after previews in Beijing and other cities was pulled from the National Day schedule. It was released on 15 December 2017 It was the 6th highest-grossing domestic film of 2017 in China.

SPONSOR: Veterans For Peace, Chapter 69, Room 223A, Veterans War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Ave.
Facebook/SF.VFP

Howard Zinn Lifetime Achievement Award Reception

A Pre-Convention Reception evening honors Veterans For Peace 2016 Howard Zinn Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Visiting VFP UK members host a discussion” Undermining Militarism in the UK.” Pat Scanlon sings his new song “Extremist”

Wednesday, August 10, 7-9pm, Room 212
Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave, San Franciso
FREE: Consider contributing your favorite dessert to share.
RSVP: veteransforpeacesf@gmail.com
More Info: vfpnationalconvention.org
Convention: August 11-15, Clark Kerr Campus, UC Berkeley

The Howard Zinn lifetime achievement Award is bestowed to a person who has mad significant & onging outstanding contributions to the cause of peace. This individual also has made exceptional efforts to increase public swareness of the cost of war (via activism, teaching, writing, lecturing, the arts, music, film, stage, screen or radio.

Panel discussion by Veterans For Peace United Kingdom (VFP UK) menmbers features: Ben Griffin is the coordinator & founding member of VFP UK & served in the British Army Special Air Service (SAS); Daniel Lenham, served in the British Royal Air Force; Nadia Mitichell, served in the British Army.

VFP member Pat Scanlon sings “Extremist” Pat served as the coordinator of the “Smedley Butler Brigade” Boston VFP Chapter. He was featured in the “Daily Kos” as a rebel songwriter.

31st Veterans For Peace National Convention

PEACE AT HOME, PEACE ABROAD
A Just and Sustainable Future for the World’s Children
August 11-15, 2016, Thursday-Monday
Clark Kerr Campus, UC Berkeley, California
Veterans For Peace  National Convention
http://www.vfpnationalconvention.org/

Berkeley, California is the place to be in August when the 2016 VFP National Convention is held on the Clark Kerr Campus of UC Berkeley. Plenty of housing is available at this park like school in the heart of a very exciting city. The convention runs from Thursday August 11 to Monday August 15, a different arrangement than most years so please take note. Chapter 69 and the members of all the Northern California chapters look forward to seeing you.

Speakers: Oliver Stone, Helen Caldicott,  Andrew Bacevich, Antonia Juhasz, Rhodessa Jones (moderator), Ann Jones Keynote address.

Program: Highlights President’s Reception, Poetry Reading, Public Events: Panel 8/12  & Entertainment 8/14 , Business Meeting, Banquet, Open Mic, closing Ceremony & daily morning meditation, Plenary, Workshops, late night film showings & tabling & Howard Zinn Lifetime Achievement, Service & Stewardship, & Leadership in Peace Awards

Three Public Programs

Kickoff Party: The Boys Who Said No

The Boys Who Said No
Indiegogo Campaign Kickoff Party
RSVP: Christopher Colorado Jones

Saturday, April 2, 7pm, 1709 Addison, Berkeley, California

A documentary film in-progress on the young men imprisoned for resisting the draft during the Vietnam War. Support this film about our history and nonviolent direct action during the Vietnam War. On Saturday, April 2—Special guest David Harris and Cheri Forrester, screening of 17-minute segment and the Indiegogo clip, food and beverages! The first goal is $20,000 during the first week of the “kick-start” the campaign April 2 – 9. When people see the donations rising at a fast rate, they are encouraged to pitch in their support. For More Information and to RSVP to the Kickoff Party—contact Christopher Colorado Jones ccoloradojones@yahoo.com. Support the film. The Indiegogo campaign goal is to raise $50,000.

Comfort Woman Grandma Yong Soo Lee

Grandma Yong Soo Lee, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 09/17, 2015 Photo: Tomo  Hirai, Nichi Bei Weekly

Sunday, March 20, 2016
7pm, Room 206
Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave.,
San Franicsco, CA 94102

 

Visiting from Seoul, Korea, Grandma Yong Soo Lee is speaking about her life during World War II and  about the Comfort Woman who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army. She is an activist for women’s rights and those who seek an apology from Japan. She is among the last of the surviving “comfort women,” tens of thousands of Koreans and Chinese who as girls were kidnapped and forced into farm labor and sexual servitude for Japanese soldiers during World War II. Lee, 87, previously gave witness at the Sept. 17, 2015 San Francisco Board of Supervisors subcommittee meeting and they unanimously passed “comfort women” memorial resolution at San Francisco City Hall. 

Add Your Voice: Historic SF BA Veterans Study

It takes about 30 minutes to complete, and for a veteran’s trouble the study is providing a $15 gift card.

The University of Southern California has asked all the veterans’ organizations to join in and spread the word to their membership and encourage veterans of all eras to take the survey.

Follow this link for directions: cir.usc.edu/…/research-…/san-francisco-veterans-study

2016 Việt Nam Tour Update

Hometown Hero: John Koehler
Channel 5 News
Green Bay Wisconsin
February 3, 2016
Terry Kovarik reports

Green Bay, Wisconsin’s John Koehler is heading to Vietnam for three weeks in March on a humanitarian mission to learn more about Agent Orange to share with Veterans and their families when he returns.

Over four million Vietnamese have been exposed to Agent Orange and it is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths and disabilities within the population there. Some scientists predict that it will continue to impact up to seven generations within a family . Personally, John has lost two very good friends who died in their mid fifties due to exposure when they were young men. He is looking forward to working with Vietnam Veterans of America local and state chapters as well as Veterans for Peace to help and provide support to families who are coping with this genetic affliction. He is also hoping to learn a bit more about what is being done throughout Vietnam to care for the children who will be institutionalized the rest of their life due to being exposed to Agent Orange .

Pirate Mike: VFP SF Chapter 69

November 2, 2015
Ammarill News: Veteran Bicyclist Killed In Accident
by Aaron Davis aaron.davis@amarillo.com

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A cross-country bicyclist died Friday when he was struck by a vehicle Thursday evening along west of Groom, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers said.

About 6:30 p.m., Stephen Michael Clift, 48, of San Diego, was riding his bicycle eastbound in the outside lane of Interstate 40 when a 2013 Kia driven by Cindi Trevino, 42, of Groom, struck Clift.

VFP 2016 Annual Spring Tour To Việt Nam

Veterans For Peace Việt Nam Tour

Mar 14 – Mar 30, 2016
Sign Up For The Tour

Each year since 2012, members of Việt Nam’s Hoa Binh (Peace) Chapter 160 of Veterans For Peace invite up to 20 veterans, non-veterans, spouses & peace activists to come to Việt Nam for an insider’s 2-week tour. The Hoa Binh chapter is the first and only overseas VFP chapter of American Veterans living in Việt Nam!

Save The Veterans Building For Veterans

“Patriotic Organization” Petition by the Posts of the American Legion
Monday, November 2, 9am
San Francisco Superior Court, Room 204
McAllister @ Polk Street

Support Us Attend the hearing and show your support for the Veterans community. We’ve worked years to be able to get this petition heard.

A hearing in SF Superior Court over the SF Posts of the American Legion’s petition asking the Probate Court to construct a definition of “patriotic organizations” as it is used in the 1921 Trust Agreement in the phrase on the Legion’s rights:

“The San Francisco Posts of the American Legion, or a majority of them, shall under such rules and conditions as they may prescribe, provide headquarters for the Veterans of the Mexican War, Grand Army of the Republic, Spanish-American War Veterans, and other such patriotic organizations as said San Francisco Posts of the American Legion may from time to time desire to install.”