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Rolla Peace News

May 15, 2018
Dear Friends:

Note from webperson: If you are having trouble reading this, it is posted at

http://tomsager.org/Peaceletters/peaceletter051518.html

          In this newsletter is:

1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2018
2. ONE BRIGHT LIGHT IN A WEEK OF DARK
3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org)
          a) Déjà Vu All Over Again: Nicaragua, Iran, Oliver North, John Bolton And More
          b) Israel: Crimes Against Humanity

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1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2018

We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office THIS THURSDAY, MAY 17, FROM NOON TO 1:00 PM (and most subsequent Thursdays until peace is established). Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be around 80. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign.

2. ONE BRIGHT LIGHT IN A WEEK OF DARK

I've heard lots of people maintain that human nature is naturally greedy and contentious, and that a society based on concern for the welfare of all isn't possible. There's lots of evidence for that view, given what's been going on in this country, and in the world. But there is such a society, in a tiny, poor country in Central America: Costa Rica.

Costa Rica's 5 million citizens enjoy free health care and education, and a government that prioritizes clean energy and protection of the environment. Joseph Stiglitz's article details the accomplishments and the continuing problems facing the people and their government, and also puts forth some possible solutions. Their newly-elected President appears to have the will to continue policies based on caring for the people and the land, and is trying to bring the spirit of cooperation into the political system (imagine that!).

So when our politicians tell us that a society that works for everyone “just can't be done,” don't believe them. They just don't want one.

3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org)
          a) Déjà Vu All Over Again: Nicaragua, Iran, Oliver North, John Bolton And More
          b) Israel: Crimes Against Humanity

DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN: NICARAGUA, IRAN, OLIVER NORTH, JOHN BOLTON AND MORE

A reader suggests an article on the return to the news of Nicaragua, Iran and Oliver North.

Over 30 years ago, the Iran-Contra scandal broke. The Reagan administration sold arms to Iran in exchange for the release of US hostages held in Iran. Proceeds from the sale of arms were then funneled to the Nicaraguan Contras, a group of terrorist organizations engaged in drug smuggling and gun running, who were also fighting against the revolutionary Sandinista government in Nicaragua: illegal, perhaps even treasonous, on both accounts. Oliver North, recently named President of the NRA, oversaw operations. John Bolton, now Donald Trump's National Security Advisor was then Assistant Attorney General. Bolton refused to hand over subpoenaed documents to Congress and did his best to torpedo the congressional investigation.

The connection today may not be quite so clear.

As National Security Advisor, John Bolton is pushing the United States toward another Middle Eastern War with Iran. Abrogating the Iran Nuclear Agreement was only the first step.

Oliver North, as President of the NRA says Parkland kids who watched their classmates mowed down by gunfire are engaged in “intimidation and harassment and lawbreaking” and compares protests against the NRA to Jim Crow racism and violence.

Nicaragua has been pretty stable lately, up until April when the government imposed an increase in social security taxes and a reduction in benefits. This austerity measure was met with popular protests, which soon morphed into protests against the government. Violence ensued. Protests continue in spite of the cancelling of these austerity measures.

Today, peace talks which include the government, the opposition and other stake holders began under the auspices of the Nicaraguan Catholic Bishops. The government has also announced that the Inter American Commission of Human Rights will investigate the deaths of several demonstrators that have occurred over the past month.

In 1990 the US was successful in fomenting regime change in Nicaragua through an economic blockade which included the mining of the Nicaraguan port of Corinto and support for the Contra War. Many see the dirty hands of the CIA involved in today's unrest too.

One of the results of further unrest and violence in Nicaragua will likely be an outflux of Nicaraguan emigrants headed for the US border. Immigration to the United States from Nicaragua is quite small compared to its less stable, more violent northern neighbors: Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala; but that could change.

Iran seems determined to keep the nuclear agreement in place in spite of the withdrawal of the United States. I hope they are successful and I hope that Europe, China and Russia back the agreement to the fullest extent possible. Donald Trump's attempt to escalate war in Korea appears, for now, to have backfired. Let's hope this one backfires too. China may hold the key to keeping this important international agreement alive.

Sadly those most responsible for Iran-Contra got off without jail time in spite of some felony convictions. In fact, they were rewarded. So now here they are, back again to foment more violence and do more damage.

ISRAEL: CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

This is unbelieveable. Israelis firing live ammunition indiscriminately at unarmed Gazans protesting non-violently against the Israeli blockade and for the right to return to their ancestral homelands which are now in Israel. There are approximately two million people crammed into Gaza's 141 square miles without adequate access to water, food, medicines and other humanitarian necessities and virtually no possibility of leaving. Almost 100 dead and thousands wounded in the past few weeks.

Here in the United States, which funds this atrocity to the tune of billions of dollars each year, only Bernie Sanders and a few other legislators have the guts to speak out against these crimes against humanity.

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Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Grassroots Rolla: near the top of rightmost column).

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Wage peace,

Helen
helenm (at) fidnet.com

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