Join us for a half-day conference examining the cost of US wars and conflicts and exploring ways in which these funds can be used to create a more sustainable, equitable and just society and world.
PROGRAM
Friday, April 26, 2 – 5:30 pm, 34-101, 50 Vassar Street, MIT
{Italics if invited, not confirmed]
2:00 pm: Welcome: Jonathan King
2:15 pm: Opening Panel:
– The Costs of War – Prof. Neta Crawford (Boston University);
– The Bloated Pentagon Budget – William Hartung (Center for International Policy);
– Saudi Military Aggression in Yemen – Michael Page (Human Rights Watch);
– The Increasing Risk of Nuclear War – [Elaine Scarry, Harvard University].
3:00 pm: Emerging Responses:
Chair: Cole Harrison (Mass Peace Action)
– Build Bridges not Bombs; Bringing Nuclear Disarmament into the State Legislature – [Rep Nika Elugardo Mass State Legislature]
– Don’t Bank on the Bomb – Divesting from Nuclear Weapons Manufacture – Rep. Mike Connolly (Mass State Legislature)
– Bringing the Moral Revival to Massachusetts– Savina Martin (Poor Peoples Campaign)
– The Intensifying Struggle for Affordable Housing – [Chuck CollinsInstitute for Policy Studies)
– Massachusetts Battles to Protect and Promote Public Education – Andrew King (UMass Boston)
3:45 – Workshops:
– A) Organizing on Campuses: Facilitator, Brian Garvey, MAPA; Zac Bears (PHENOM); Alice Pote (MIT/anti-Saudi Coalition); Gabby Ballard (MIT Students Against War); Paul Shannon (AFSC)
– B) Nuclear Disarmament Initiatives: Facilitators, Joseph Gerson and Michelle Cunha; Jerrold Ross (MAPA); Prof. Aron Bernstein (MIT)
– C) Moral and People’s Budget: Connecting Battles for Economic Justice with Reducing Pentagon Spending: Facilitator, Jared Hicks (Our Revolution); Andrea Burns (MAPA); Andrew King (UMass Boston); John Ratliff (Senior Action); William Hartung (Institute for International Policy).
– D) The Continuing Links between Militarism and Racism: Facilitator, Rosemary Kean (MAPA); Savina Martin (Poor People’s Campaign); Caesar Mc Dowell (MIT))
5:00: Report backs from Workshops
5:15 PM: Closing Keynote: TBA
5:30 Adjourn
