The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia is:
a group of activists, including grandmothers and others, who are dedicated to ending war. On June 28, 2006, 11 of us went to the Military Recruitment Center in Philadelphia to "enlist" in the United States military, so that our grandchildren would not kill or be killed in Iraq. When we refused to leave without enlisting, we were arrested and charged with "Defiant Trespass". On December 1, 2006, Judge Deborah Griffin dismissed the charges against us, affirming the legality of our non-violent protest. We continue to meet together and resist war-making in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.
The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia meets:
WHEN: Every other Thursday,
from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
NEXT MEETINGS:
Thursday, May 2nd, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
WHERE: Friends Center, 1515 Cherry Street
ALL ARE WELCOME!
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Military Recruiters in High SchoolsHigh School Counselors
*Brochure:"Military Recruiters in High Schools? What Students Need to Know- Considerations for Counselors" front back web version Students Opportunities while in H.S. Alternative jobs,training, school resources in PA (pdf) Do you want to serve your country? Looking for Jobs/Training after H.S.? ¿Tienes suficiente information para registrate? Opt Out-student form Student Union link-opt out |
LISTEN TO YOUR PHILADELPHIA GRANNIES
|
Grannies at City Hall - June 14, 2012
Supporting a resolution to
"Bring the War Dollars Home"
Grannies at Mt. Airy Day -Granny Jean Haskell holding up our t-shirt
On May 5th Grannies Paula, Jean, Gloria, Gayl, Tony and Jen spent a wonderful time at Mt Airy Day talking to many, many people, giving out literature and urging everyone to call their Senators encouraging them to fund schools not war
and to work to prevent any military action in Iran. We walked the grounds talking to folks and shared a table with WILFP
where we had T-shirts, buttons, our brochures "Military Recruiters in High Schools-What Counselors Need to Know", leaflet "Fund Schools Not War' and handouts on preventing military action in Iran. We even signed up one new member!
and to work to prevent any military action in Iran. We walked the grounds talking to folks and shared a table with WILFP
where we had T-shirts, buttons, our brochures "Military Recruiters in High Schools-What Counselors Need to Know", leaflet "Fund Schools Not War' and handouts on preventing military action in Iran. We even signed up one new member!
Grannies after welcoming Celebrate Occupy parade at Rittenhouse Square with our Peace Doves on Dec. 31, 2011
Demand an Afghanistan Exit Strategy:
the time is now to make a call 1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
**********************************************************************
Please call your Senator and Congressperson and ask her/him to support:
The Senate and House bills--S. 3197 and HR 5015, respectively.
They would require President Obama to provide a plan and a timetable for withdrawal of all US forces
and military contractors, and identify any contingencies that might require changes to that timetable.
It would demand an exit strategy--long overdue--from a war that has already cost us too much in treasure and lives, and isn't in the interest of US
national security.
"Basically, what the bill is is a rejection of an open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan," said Rep. McGovern, on a conference call with
NGOs, activists, and media organized by Peace Action last week.
1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grannies at a march from City Hall to Independence Mall, Philadelphia
the time is now to make a call 1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
**********************************************************************
Please call your Senator and Congressperson and ask her/him to support:
The Senate and House bills--S. 3197 and HR 5015, respectively.
They would require President Obama to provide a plan and a timetable for withdrawal of all US forces
and military contractors, and identify any contingencies that might require changes to that timetable.
It would demand an exit strategy--long overdue--from a war that has already cost us too much in treasure and lives, and isn't in the interest of US
national security.
"Basically, what the bill is is a rejection of an open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan," said Rep. McGovern, on a conference call with
NGOs, activists, and media organized by Peace Action last week.
1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grannies at a march from City Hall to Independence Mall, Philadelphia
Military Recruiters in High Schools? What Students Need to Know Considerations for Counselors
Granny Peace Brigade
Philadelphia, PA
Considering military enlistment is an awesome and grave decision facing high school students at an impressionable age. Making an informed decision requires students to consider a wide range of issues and resources specific to that choice. School counselors play a key role in helping students make informed decisions. Frequently, however, the person who most often speaks to students about this decision is a military recruiter. Why? The military spends more than $4 billion annually on recruiting and employs over 27,000 recruiters. Military recruiters have one goal—getting recruits for the military. School counselors are objective, much better informed on post-high school options than military recruiters, and bound by ASCA and ACA ethics to serve the students’ interest.
Military service is significantly different from other post high school options. It often requires students to risk life and serious injury.
Counselors can play a critical role in guiding students to resources now available that help them understand military recruitment strategies, weigh their options and think through this decision in a way that serves their best interests and needs.
Military service is significantly different from other post high school options. It often requires students to risk life and serious injury.
Counselors can play a critical role in guiding students to resources now available that help them understand military recruitment strategies, weigh their options and think through this decision in a way that serves their best interests and needs.
Know your district's policies - Help protect student privacy
Protecting the privacy of students under the age of 18 is the responsibility of the school district and its employees
• What is the District’s policy on the ASVAB test (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery)? This test is used by the military as a significant recruiting tool, but offered to schools as a vocational test.
Students should be aware that they are not required to take this test, and/or give their test scores to military recruiters. In order to protect student privacy, counselors should inform their principals of Option 8 as a way to protect student privacy if giving ASVAB in your school. Many principals are not aware of this option. Under Option 8, the military scores the test but the results are forwarded to schools, not to recruiters.
• How does your district provide opt out forms to all students so they can exercise their student privacy rights and prevent the military from getting their name, address and phone number from the school? Students who do not sign an opt out form often receive unwanted phone calls and visits from military recruiters.
• What is the District’s policy on the ASVAB test (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery)? This test is used by the military as a significant recruiting tool, but offered to schools as a vocational test.
Students should be aware that they are not required to take this test, and/or give their test scores to military recruiters. In order to protect student privacy, counselors should inform their principals of Option 8 as a way to protect student privacy if giving ASVAB in your school. Many principals are not aware of this option. Under Option 8, the military scores the test but the results are forwarded to schools, not to recruiters.
• How does your district provide opt out forms to all students so they can exercise their student privacy rights and prevent the military from getting their name, address and phone number from the school? Students who do not sign an opt out form often receive unwanted phone calls and visits from military recruiters.
How counselors can help
According to the No Child Left Behind Act, high school students can prevent the military from accessing their private contact information for recruitment purposes by signing an opt out form.
Counselors can access the form in the student section on this website:
www.phila.k12.pa.us/
• Ensure that balanced information about the military is available in your school’s career center, library or cafeteria.
• Counselors could include information and speakers on alternatives to the military at school career fairs.
• Inform students of their rights: Protecting the privacy of students under the age of 18 is the responsibility of the school district and its employees.
• Students should learn how to finance college without joining the military.
• Students should know they are not required to take the ASVAB test or to give their test scores to recruiters.
• Students should know they can cancel any signed agreement in the Delayed Enlisted Program before reporting to active duty, without any consequences.
Young people under 18 are not allowed to sign contracts, buy alcohol or vote, yet recruiters are in Philadelphia schools, often unsupervised, appealing directly to students to enlist in the military
Military service is CATEGORICALLY different from other career choices
• Commitment is 24/7 for 8 years. Once the oath of office has been taken and the student is enlisted it is almost impossible to get out.
• Pay and benefits are often less than in the civilian sector, including educational benefits.
• Many civil rights, including the right to free speech, are surrendered.
• Sexual harassment and rape in the military, especially of women, is twice that of their civilian counterparts. In 2009, 2,900 women reported rapes (9 a day) and many go unreported.
• Serving in the military involves life threatening situations and armed conflict. Students could face times when they kill enemy combatants and/or innocent civilians, including children, or lose a friend. They could suffer severe bodily harm. Such experiences can have serious life-long implications that one does not have to consider when going to college or entering a job training program.
• 25% of the homeless in the United States are veterans.
• At least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, while 1 in 4 suffers head or neck injuries.
• Veterans have twice the suicide rate as non-veterans.
• Pay and benefits are often less than in the civilian sector, including educational benefits.
• Many civil rights, including the right to free speech, are surrendered.
• Sexual harassment and rape in the military, especially of women, is twice that of their civilian counterparts. In 2009, 2,900 women reported rapes (9 a day) and many go unreported.
• Serving in the military involves life threatening situations and armed conflict. Students could face times when they kill enemy combatants and/or innocent civilians, including children, or lose a friend. They could suffer severe bodily harm. Such experiences can have serious life-long implications that one does not have to consider when going to college or entering a job training program.
• 25% of the homeless in the United States are veterans.
• At least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, while 1 in 4 suffers head or neck injuries.
• Veterans have twice the suicide rate as non-veterans.
Resources
FOR SPEAKERS OR MATERIALS
www.GrannyPeaceBrigadePhiladelphia.org
(Military in the High School section)
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 31
Chuck Rossi (610-566-3135)
charossi@verizon.net
PUBLICATIONS IN PDF FORMAT
“Thinking of Enlisting?”
http://afsc.org
WEB SITES
www.YaYaNetwork.org/alternatives
www.Webgui.Phila.K12.PA.US/
Prepared By
Granny Peace Brigade
Philadelphia, PA
and
Washington Truth in Recruiting
P.O. Box 40073
Bellevue, WA 98015
www.WaTiR.org/Welcome.html
• Ensuring that students receive fair and balanced information from their educational institutions. WaTiR is an organization working to educate about choices young people may make regarding military service.
05/24/2010
www.GrannyPeaceBrigadePhiladelphia.org
(Military in the High School section)
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 31
Chuck Rossi (610-566-3135)
charossi@verizon.net
PUBLICATIONS IN PDF FORMAT
“Thinking of Enlisting?”
http://afsc.org
WEB SITES
www.YaYaNetwork.org/alternatives
www.Webgui.Phila.K12.PA.US/
Prepared By
Granny Peace Brigade
Philadelphia, PA
and
Washington Truth in Recruiting
P.O. Box 40073
Bellevue, WA 98015
www.WaTiR.org/Welcome.html
• Ensuring that students receive fair and balanced information from their educational institutions. WaTiR is an organization working to educate about choices young people may make regarding military service.
05/24/2010
Miscellaneous
To see some of us at Anti-Gun Violence Rally at Philadelphia City Hall, click here
Click here for information about Philadelphia City Council.
Cluster Bomb Ban: Obama Will Review U.S. Decision Not to Sign Treaty
FCNL and the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs
have been urging Obama to make such a statement. Add your voice.
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23762/71436/
Keep Taking Action: The rest of the government needs to start supporting
the cluster
bomb treaty. Sign a petition to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging
the United States to renounce cluster bombs
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23763/71436/
Click here for information about Philadelphia City Council.
Cluster Bomb Ban: Obama Will Review U.S. Decision Not to Sign Treaty
FCNL and the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs
have been urging Obama to make such a statement. Add your voice.
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23762/71436/
Keep Taking Action: The rest of the government needs to start supporting
the cluster
bomb treaty. Sign a petition to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging
the United States to renounce cluster bombs
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23763/71436/
Knit to Thank a Vet
Contact Lois Durso at: ldurso@mtholyoke.edu or call her at (215) 546-7467.
The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia is joining the Grannies of New York and Denver, Colorado (and others) in knitting "Stump Socks" for our Iraq war veterans. Three yarn shops in Granny areas have been contacted and have agreed to support the project: Rosie's Yarn Cellar at 2017 Locust Street here in Center City, The Tangled Web at 7900 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill, and The Ewe and I at 221 Haverford Ave. in Narbeth. All three have received a copy of the patterns and the information below and are looking forward to helping you when you come in. (Thanks to Granny Gloria Hoffman for speaking with The Tangled Web.)
After hearing about the New York Grannies working on this project, samples were made and sent to the Head of the Prosthetics Division at the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center to get their input on whether these would be useful and, if so, which sizes and colors would be most appreciated.
The samples were given to amputees at the Center who were asked to use them and then share their comments with staff. We knew from both the New York and the Denver Grannies that the socks had to be able to be machine washed and dried; after a careful check of available yarns, the samples were made in knitting worsted weight (Plymouth) Encore and (Berroco) Comfort yarns.
Response from people at the Prosthetics Department at the Veterans Medical Center indicated that these yarns were very comfortable and that the preferred colors would be brown, khaki, black, medium or dark blue, dark red, medium or dark green: basic sock colors. It was suggested that it would be best if knitters avoided using flamboyant colors. Subtle stripes are fine - if you feel up to it!
We are asking those of you who knit - and/or have friends who knit - to visit the yarn shops mentioned. You can bring the pattern and information below with you however the shops have received copies of the patterns.
Make your stump sock(s) and get them to me - I will collect them and get them to our contact at the Medical Center. They can be brought to a Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia meeting or sent to Lois Durso, 1326 Spruce Street #1803, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Patterns below are for three sizes - small, medium and large.
A. Small Size*
Yarn: Plymouth "Encore" and Berroco "Comfort" knitting worsted weight
Needles: 16" round needles in sizes 6 and 8 and you will need size 8 double pointed needles for the decrease rows.
With a 16" size 6 round (or double pointed needles), cast on 66 stitches and work in K2 P2
ribbing for 3 or 4". Switch to size 8 needle(s) and knit one row adding 6 stitches - 1 every 11 stitches. You will have 72 stitches. Then work in stockinette until piece measures 9" long,
including ribbing.
Decreases: 1. K6, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog around the row. 2. Knit one round. 3. K5, K2 tog, K5, K 2 tog across row. 4. K one round. Continue to decrease in like manner until 9 stitches remain. Weave stitches together. Weave in ends.
B. Medium Size
Same as for small but use size 8 needle(s) for the ribbing and size 10 needle (s) for the stockinette rows and decreases.
C. Large Size
Same as "Medium" above but start by casting on 72 stitches. In the first row on the larger needles, add 8 stitches evenly spaced across the row. Then continue to work with 80 stitches to decreases. Note: You will end up with 10 stitches to be woven together.
N.B. Please note that the important thing is to work in multiples of 8 stitches. You can make an XS size by starting with 58 stitches and following the instructions for the A small size above (using size 6 and 8 needles). Add 6 stitches evenly spaced across the first stockinette row. You will end up with 8 stitches to weave together.
Similarly, you can make an extra large by starting with 80 stitches and increasing 8 stitches evenly spaced in the first stockinette row. You will end up with 11 stitches to weave together. I was told that they would need twice as many in Medium, Large, and Extra large sizes than in the small size.
If you can, please do wash and dry the sock(s) before mailing.
*****It would be wonderful if you would enclose a note with each sock saying something like - "In thanks for the service you have given our country" or "Made with Love (or Made with Thanks) by Granny (your name) of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia" or something brief so the recipient will understand that you appreciate the sacrifice he or she made.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongoing: Grannies work to ensure OPT OUT information reaches all parents of juniors and seniors in our public high schools : keep our students safe from military recruiters, Click here for more information.
Contact Lois Durso at: ldurso@mtholyoke.edu or call her at (215) 546-7467.
The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia is joining the Grannies of New York and Denver, Colorado (and others) in knitting "Stump Socks" for our Iraq war veterans. Three yarn shops in Granny areas have been contacted and have agreed to support the project: Rosie's Yarn Cellar at 2017 Locust Street here in Center City, The Tangled Web at 7900 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill, and The Ewe and I at 221 Haverford Ave. in Narbeth. All three have received a copy of the patterns and the information below and are looking forward to helping you when you come in. (Thanks to Granny Gloria Hoffman for speaking with The Tangled Web.)
After hearing about the New York Grannies working on this project, samples were made and sent to the Head of the Prosthetics Division at the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center to get their input on whether these would be useful and, if so, which sizes and colors would be most appreciated.
The samples were given to amputees at the Center who were asked to use them and then share their comments with staff. We knew from both the New York and the Denver Grannies that the socks had to be able to be machine washed and dried; after a careful check of available yarns, the samples were made in knitting worsted weight (Plymouth) Encore and (Berroco) Comfort yarns.
Response from people at the Prosthetics Department at the Veterans Medical Center indicated that these yarns were very comfortable and that the preferred colors would be brown, khaki, black, medium or dark blue, dark red, medium or dark green: basic sock colors. It was suggested that it would be best if knitters avoided using flamboyant colors. Subtle stripes are fine - if you feel up to it!
We are asking those of you who knit - and/or have friends who knit - to visit the yarn shops mentioned. You can bring the pattern and information below with you however the shops have received copies of the patterns.
Make your stump sock(s) and get them to me - I will collect them and get them to our contact at the Medical Center. They can be brought to a Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia meeting or sent to Lois Durso, 1326 Spruce Street #1803, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Patterns below are for three sizes - small, medium and large.
A. Small Size*
Yarn: Plymouth "Encore" and Berroco "Comfort" knitting worsted weight
Needles: 16" round needles in sizes 6 and 8 and you will need size 8 double pointed needles for the decrease rows.
With a 16" size 6 round (or double pointed needles), cast on 66 stitches and work in K2 P2
ribbing for 3 or 4". Switch to size 8 needle(s) and knit one row adding 6 stitches - 1 every 11 stitches. You will have 72 stitches. Then work in stockinette until piece measures 9" long,
including ribbing.
Decreases: 1. K6, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog around the row. 2. Knit one round. 3. K5, K2 tog, K5, K 2 tog across row. 4. K one round. Continue to decrease in like manner until 9 stitches remain. Weave stitches together. Weave in ends.
B. Medium Size
Same as for small but use size 8 needle(s) for the ribbing and size 10 needle (s) for the stockinette rows and decreases.
C. Large Size
Same as "Medium" above but start by casting on 72 stitches. In the first row on the larger needles, add 8 stitches evenly spaced across the row. Then continue to work with 80 stitches to decreases. Note: You will end up with 10 stitches to be woven together.
N.B. Please note that the important thing is to work in multiples of 8 stitches. You can make an XS size by starting with 58 stitches and following the instructions for the A small size above (using size 6 and 8 needles). Add 6 stitches evenly spaced across the first stockinette row. You will end up with 8 stitches to weave together.
Similarly, you can make an extra large by starting with 80 stitches and increasing 8 stitches evenly spaced in the first stockinette row. You will end up with 11 stitches to weave together. I was told that they would need twice as many in Medium, Large, and Extra large sizes than in the small size.
If you can, please do wash and dry the sock(s) before mailing.
*****It would be wonderful if you would enclose a note with each sock saying something like - "In thanks for the service you have given our country" or "Made with Love (or Made with Thanks) by Granny (your name) of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia" or something brief so the recipient will understand that you appreciate the sacrifice he or she made.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongoing: Grannies work to ensure OPT OUT information reaches all parents of juniors and seniors in our public high schools : keep our students safe from military recruiters, Click here for more information.
Grannies and the Mummers Parade
Grannies at the Philadelphia Mummer's Parade. Many of us marched down Broad Street with signs and gave out paper cranes to children standing along the street. We had a car in front of us with a big sign "Support Our Troops, Bring the Troops Home".
