PEACE AND JUSTICE VIGIL: WAR SPENDING DEPRIVES US OF LIFE

Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/01/2024
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location
Corner of Main St and Illinois Ave

Categories No Categories

MONTHLY PEACE AND JUSTICE VIGIL:
WAR SPENDING DEPRIVES US OF LIFE
SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2024 NOON TO 1:00 PM
The Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois will hold the Monthly Peace and Justice Vigil on Saturday, June 1, Noon to 1 P.M. at the corner of Main and Illinois Ave., Carbondale. On Sunday, June 2 at 2 P.M. join the weekly Rally for Peace in Gaza. Gather at 1:45 at the corner of Main and Illinois Ave in Carbondale (Pavilion) for a Rally from 2 P.M to 3 P.M.
The National Priorities Project routinely assesses the US budget and determines how military expenditures could otherwise benefit people and the planet. “The United States broke records last year by continuing to ramp up its military spending. Consistently spending more than 50% of its discretionary budget on militarism, the United States funds war at a level much greater than that of any other nation.” “Over the long term, reinvesting in human needs over militarism could be transformative.” For far less than the $21 trillion spent on militarism in the 20 years after 9/11, the U.S. could transform society and the environment. 4.5 trillion could fully de-carbonize the U.S. electric grid. A $100 billion annual cut to military spending could provide health care to more than 7 in 10 uninsured adults and solar power could be installed for each household in the U.S. with billions of dollars to spare.
“The United States is already struggling with the growing cost of the climate crisis and nations around the world are faced with housing shortages and costly climate disasters. Shifting our focus away from a ceaseless arms race and prioritizing a rapid renewable energy transition and an equitable housing system are just some of the first few things we can do with the Everest that is the Pentagon’s budget.”
Appropriate signs will be provided at the vigil, but all are invited to bring their own. The next monthly meeting of the Peace Coalition will be held on ZOOM on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, 6pm. For information about joining, contact georgeannhartzog@gmail.com.