Peace Times Newsletters and Letters to the Editor from Elsa Crumpley   

You can read back issues of the Peace Times newsletters in PDF format and read the latest letter by Elsa Crumpley, a regular contributor for over 20 years.

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Letters to Peace Times from Elsa Crumpley

Elsa's letter of November 2009:

Missed opportunities – when will we ever learn to work to save the Earth?

Sixty-four years ago, the United Nations came into being, on October 24, 1945. Those of us who lived at the time well remember the elation – and fervent hope- the confidence - that this represented the beginning of a new era. Many of us had grown up through the first World War, which resulted in a redivision of territory in the world, with little assurance that world peace was on the horizon. The League of Nations represented the hope for the future, but proved ineffective in settling national rivalries.

We remember our conviction that the world had learned from the horror of WW2 that it was now or never to make peace real. Our newly-acquired and hard-earned wisdom would prevent events like the betrayal of the democratic election in Spain which led to the Franco coup. Franco was supported by Hitler and Mussolini, and the powerful nations of the West declared neutrality. Democratic believers around the world disagreed, taking significant, though unsuccessful action – they went to Spain to form an International Brigade to help the democratic government. But fascism won.

The new wisdom would never have allowed concessions as made to Hitler at Munich. As Hitler proceeded to occupy Europe, our new wisdom would have established a united front between East and West to defeat Hitler with a war on two fronts which Germany could not have handled. Hitler would have been defeated early-on, preventing the bitter years of death and destruction. Years of Hitler fascism in Germany and elsewhere would have been prevented. After World War II, we had faith in a new, competent organization which would keep peace in the world, because we knew full well the alternative. The knowledge that fascism had been destroyed by nations working together reinforced the relief at being able to return to our homes and families. We returned, vowing that human rights would be honored, that justice would prevail for all, that democracy would prevail, that racism would be no more, because these were the issues that we had fought for and won. The new United Nations was pledged to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war – to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights – to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedoms.”

Now, here we stand, in 2009, in the midst of a dangerous world: continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in Africa; threats and unease in Pakistan, India, Iran, Israel; the coup in Honduras, and continuing conflict of national interest in a world that has become global. The dismay at seeing our own government involved in the turmoil in defiance of the United Nations when we invaded Iraq, the failure to outlaw nuclear weapons in the world after seeing the destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, underscore the urgency of emphatic action to maintain rational and productive leadership to preserve life on our planet. Neither the planet nor our species are guaranteed everlasting life. Now is the time when we have some power to influence the future.

Will knowledge, experience and wisdom determine our future, or are we doomed to pursue private, individual, and national interests at the expense of life on Earth? 

Elsa's  letter of June 2009:

ADVERTISING CROWDS OUR SPACE

The hunger for profits has driven the advertising game to dangerous intrusions into individual privacy. Confident in their right to fill up all available space with whatever might persuade us to buy, the corporate world explores and carries out whatever is acceptable to the public. As long as we keep buying what is peddled, without resistance, this game will know no limits. But recent protests against the ever-increasing noise level of radio and TV ads has provoked results. If broadcasters don’t reduce the volume voluntarily, legislation will mandate controls, warned Rep. Anna Eschoo (D-CA).

Coca Cola has pursued the drive for profits to the far corners of the planet, urging the wonders of Coke, in spite of criticism and doubts about its contents, which may include a high level of pesticides, and which produce hyperactivity in children. No doubt, the successful impact of Coke is based on much more than its value. Much success is based on presenting Coke as insuring an exciting life and a wide range of activities that puts individuals right up there with the “best,” in the “swim of things.”

Our atmosphere is choking with advertising, spurred on by the obsessive drive to increase the profits of the producers of the products. It dominates our environment and our culture, and blights our surroundings.

Developments in advertising have escalated in recent years along with developments in technology. Some years ago, a New York Times story reported industry’s efforts to use cell phone space as a new source of profits. One attractive idea was to make ads “mobile” by alerting a cell phone user to a current sale in a shop near where the user was walking. Information about the user’s interests could be acquired as he/she clicked on the Web. “The mobile phone can reach everybody and it’s always on, but we need to rapidly define our industry standards to be able to benefit from this opportunity,” said the chief executive of Vodafone in Feb. 2007. Offering half-price or free can be “compelling,” said a Microsoft executive. “A pristine media,” said another.

New ideas have expanded the horizon. Some recent developments:

Ads on planes on tray tables, seatbacks, overhead luggage compartments; vehicles wrapped in a vinyl material covered with ads, driven by the car owner working for a fee, plus monthly payment with certain instructions for activity and behavior; train tunnels covered with advertising; commercials injected into relevant scenes in films; magazine ads located in desirable places based on door-to-door surveys of readers.

Contributing to these operations is an assortment of online consumer data, gathered by Web companies as you click on the Web, detailing information which reveals more about typical users. This assures content and ads people would respond to.

Did you think you had a private life? Look around you.
 

Elsa's  letter of March 2009: HOW MEAN CAN YOU GET?

President Obama took office as the country was threatened with disastrous economic collapse. Recognizing extreme urgency, he wasted no time dealing with the problem with the help of some of the best minds in the country, in a transparent show of nonpartisanship. He came up with a huge bailout of banks and a stimulus package to create jobs and industrial activity, and to stop home foreclosures, which were leaving people homeless.

Much of the stimulus was directed to the states that were desperate for aid. The stimulus included expanded benefits for the increasing unemployed. But not all the state governments responded positively as one would expect. Republican governors of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Alaska and Idaho raised protests about accepting the relief, objecting that expansion would eventually require them to raise taxes.

What’s going on here? The country is in crisis, and some governors reject federal aid to the jobless! When the whole country is called on to help those in need and restore confidence, there are governors who refuse the aid! Elected leaders refusing to join in the recovery? After begging for the bailouts for banks and big business, they would deny unemployment compensation for the workers in need?

This is truly partisan politics, and might suggest conspiracy and sabotage. Normally, states make the rules for unemployment compensation eligibility. Benefits vary from state to state. Mississippi benefits are lowest in the nation; only 25% of unemployed are eligible for help. Differences occur with respect to part-time workers, personal needs related to employment, family needs, needed skills and training, and the base period of previous employment to be considered. The federal stimulus applies certain requirements to receive benefits; half a million more workers would qualify for help The opposing governors express fear that when the federal funds dry up, the state would be expected to maintain the federal level by raising taxes on business. Workers are shocked and outraged, and the jobless numbers increase.

Some cities in LA County have been hoping to use their share of stimulus on their own preferred projects, but have been assured that would be illegal. Most outrageous are some banks that are considering returning their bailout money; they prefer huge bonuses for their CEOs rather than bailout conditions that require no huge bonuses, no evictions, modified mortgages, slashed dividends, shareholder votes on certain issues, etc.

Meanwhile, states are busy planning good use for their stimulus money for all kinds of projects that will not only put people to work but provide much needed transportation projects, unemployment compensation, Medicaid, etc

Can it be that the vast significance of our national and world crisis is not yet fully understood?
 

Elsa's letter of February 2009: Action Alert: Last Minute Tricks by Bush Administration

Among the big issues of war, economic collapse, foreign policy, health care, etc, President Obama inherited a host of pro-business, last minute rules and actions from the Bush administration. The list is long, affecting the health and safety of people and violates legislation dealing with clean air, endangered species, mine safety, occupational safety, and health. Big business interests are favored, relaxing restrictions and regulations that protect the general public; collective bargaining is abused. Some key items that will need swift action by the new government follow.

Recently, Bush gave final approval to the practice of coal companies cutting off mountaintops to mine coal, dumping debris into the valleys and streams below, destroying and polluting the environment, the water, and the lives of surrounding communities.

Corporate factory farms may violate the Clean Water Act by dumping tons of fecal waste into waterways without EPA permits. 100,000 hogs may produce fecal waste equal to a city of one million.

When Congress ordered a moratorium on uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, the Interior Department challenged Congressional power to prevent mining on federal land, approving one million acres of federal land to be mined for uranium. This would endanger Colorado River, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

EPA has permitted the burning of hazardous waste as fuel, exempting 100,000 tons of refinery and petroleum waste from Congressional legislation protecting the public from exposure to toxic substances.

When a court ordered lowering the amount of lead allowed in the air to protect young children, Bush ordered limiting the number of lead monitors to enforce the new EPA standard, reducing government control.

Some two million acres of federal land in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado are now subject to oil shale mining and refining, with harsh results on the environment.

One rule allows mining, drilling, logging, and damming without review by habitat engineers and biological health scientists of US Fish and Wildlife Service, violating the Endangered Species Act.

A last-minute change in the H-2A visa program for temporary farm workers allows hiring foreigners over Americans, lowering workers' wages and eroding labor rights.

Workers' rights have been violated by rescinding collective bargaining rights of 8600 federal workers involved with "national security." Bush argued that national security would be put at risk by union labor.

Another rule restricts the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from responding to workplace hazards

A recent federal court ruled that US citizens may be searched without warrant,

when in foreign countries, violating constitutional protection.

The practice of last minute rules by an outgoing administration to impose its policies on the country is common. The new government reviews the last minute legacy and rejects the undesirable through government agencies and officials, legislation and legal action and public demand. It may take a long time.

 Elsa's letter of January, 2009: THE LAST MINUTE RUSH

In a last minute rush to promote its agenda to make life easy for big business moneymakers, the Bush administration is working overtime against the health and welfare of people. In almost daily actions, it aims to remove regulatory controls on business in order to maximize profits. Is Mr. Bush unaware he’s leaving the White House?

Recently, (12/5/08), the Interior Dept. issued a new rule challenging Congressional authority to prevent mining on public land. With emergency power under a 1976 law to stop mineral development, Congress had recently declared a 3-year moratorium on uranium mining on one million acres near Grand Canyon. Interior now says the Congressional action lacked a quorum, and is ignoring the moratorium.

This action followed directly on a White House rule finally allowing legal approval for removal of Appalachian mountaintops to allow easier coal mining. Directly affected are the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Surface mines now outnumber those underground. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 400,000 acres of forest were cut, and nearly 724 miles of streams were buried from 1985 to 2001 by mountain mining, where forests are clear cut and holes are drilled to blast apart rock. Coal is scooped from exposed seams. The rock and dirt debris is then dumped into nearby valleys and streams, endangering health and welfare of people and environment and destroying the landscape.

Residents and environmentalists have been opposing this outrage for five years, as acceleration of the destruction of mountains, forests and streams throughout Appalachia. EPA scientists declared that dumping mining waste into streams devastates downstream water quality. The Environmental Defense Fund called the legalization of mountain-top mining a “fire sale of epic size for coal and the entire fossil fuel industry, with flagrant disregard for human health, the environment or the rule of law,” and said the rule would make it easier for utilities to put coal-fired generating stations near national parks. It would also allow companies to modify coal-fired power plants and increase their emissions without installing new pollution-control equipment.

Legislators have opposed the rule, as have the governors of Kentucky and Tennessee. We await long-overdue changes from the new administration.

Elsa's letter of October 27, 2008: CRITICAL EVALUATION = TREASON?

Critical observation of the year -long election campaign does not instill pride or confidence in the level of ballot-box democracy, nor in the indisputable integrity of the candidates. Granted, that the competition, personal and political, and the fact that so much is at take, guide much of the campaign, doesn’t the thousand years of
evolution of our species expect a higher level of development? Even as we have not succeeded in accomplishing a workable economic system that generates equality and justice to all, we have not learned how to build government that generates equality and justice to all.

One wonders how it is possible to put down an opponent by derogatory names, connections, religions, racial background, knowledge, ideas. Lack of patriotism” is favored as a means to destroy a reasonable pponent.. Of course, the present Bush administration has dragged us to new low: lies, manipulations, with us or against us, fighting errorism, etc. McCain-Palin follows the same pattern. The Clinton-Obama
campaign was also unpleasant. In this most critical time in the history of our species, we can only hope the Obama administration will introduce new level of human accomplishment.

Is it not possible, in this enlightened 21st century, to deal with problems and issues with thoughtful examination and analysis, with honesty, objectivity, consideration of all the consequences for all the people?

With US and world economy in collapse, isn’t it time to apply some common sense before it is too late? Isn’t it time for lasting peace, respect for UN, health care and education for all, an end to the gap between rich and poor, wise use of our resources and environment, space travel-- time for a surge to new heights of science and achievement, rather than remain an endangered species, doomed to possible extinction or lack of wisdom and intelligence?

Elsa's letter from September 17, 2008 -- THE NEED FOR CHANGE IS REAL-- Start by banning cluster bombs!

Obama’s campaign made “Change” its slogan. McCain tried to borrow it, because it seemed to work. Voters are asking for definitions.

Let’s talk about Cluster Bombs for a beginning. These have been used in warfare for some time now: the bombs are dropped over a huge area with deadly shrapnel artillery shells filled with an explosive charge and many small metal balls, designed to explode in the air over the bjective). What doesn’t explode and do its damage, is left behind to commit its damage at a later date. What better time to explode than when
a curious cild comes to pick up this curious thing in its path? Isn’t death and destruction the hoped-for result of dropping the bomb?

A few months ago, 111 nations agreed on a draft treaty to ban cluster munitions. Not included in the agreement were China, Russia, Israel, India, Pakistan, Brazil, and the United States. When it came up for a vote, Sen. McCain voted against the ban; Sen. Obama was one of 4 senators to support it in 2006. Sen Leahy attended the recent meeting, but there was no representation from the government. Ralph Nader was
there too. The White House was quoted in opposition: “Cluster munitions have demonstrated military utility, and their elimination from U.S. stockpiles would put the lives of our soldiers and those of our coalition partners at risk.”

Early December is scheduled for final agreement of the pact, which would ban the use, production and sales of cluster munitions. There is an 8-year deadline for the participating nations to destroy most of their stockpiles of the weapons. The nations are also committed to provide “technical, financial or material assistance” for clearing up cluster munitions “remnants” that remain on the territory of other states.

It is estimated that the nations not signing on have at least a billion cluster munitions, counting the “bomblets” carried by each weapon. A job for the new administration will be to join the effort to forever ban the use of these weapons. Nearly one-quarter of the Senate has cosponsored The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S.594/H.R. 1755). Our representatives, and the candidates, won’t know how we feel about these deadly weapons unless we let them know. So we know what we must do. Don’t delay!

Elsa's letter from July 26, 2008 --It's High Time for Action!

Let it be noted, to the lasting honor of democracy-loving people of the US, that a  brave group of House legislators testified at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on July 25, 2008 to the criminal role of the Bush government. They defied intimidation, defeatism, political threats, and compromise with autocratic control to challenge the crimes of the Bush administration and to call for impeachment and defense of the Constitution.

Commendation is also due to the Oakland Tribune (July 26) which reported the timely news to the public. We couldn’t find it in the New York Times.

For some time now, Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio has been trying to get consideration of an impeachment resolution on the House floor against Bush and Cheney for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” In addition to the Iraq war, crimes include disregard of the global warming threat, toxic gas emissions, international agreements and rules of international peace and justice, denial of habeas corpus rights to detainees, use of torture, etc.

Let history show that there were many who cared. At this time, we in the US can still exercise our democratic rights to remove a criminal government. Let’s use it!

Elsa's letter from July 10, 2008 --Bhopal disaster -- why the media silence?

After the huge, fearful disaster in Bhopal, India, 24 years ago, when the Union Carbide plant leaked 40 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate gas which killed 3,000 people as they slept, there has as yet been no cleanup of the toxic waste, nor of the contaminated groundwater. Was it considered that the $550 compensation for those affected would take care of the liability? Many thousands were affected subsequently; blindness, breathing difficulties, gynecological disorders continue to plague the area.

In 2001, Dow Chemical purchased the plant, disavowing any responsibility. “As there was never any ownership, there is no responsibility and no liability,” said the Dow spokesman. Local activity was ongoing, to establish Union Carbide-Dow responsibility, and to get the Indian government to act to force a cleanup. Surprisingly, the Indian government was reluctant to act against Dow; pressure on Dow might imperil the huge investments the government was seeking. The state Gas and Health Minister was quoted as confident the waste was no longer hazardous, and questioned whether it had caused the water contamination.

To add to the disbelief and outrage over the extent of civic and corporate irresponsibility, the NY Times did not finish the long story of July 7 on Bhopal. There was not a word about the activity going on for justice in Bhopal. On June 10, 2008, survivors of the Bhopal disaster began a 500-mile, 35-day march to India’s capital, Delhi, to demand action from the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on promises made 2 years ago concerning economic, social, medical rehabilitation, and clean drinking water. Demonstrations continue with marches, hunger strikes, fasts, lie-ins, etc. 500 women vowed to block entry to a Dow construction site until Dow assumes responsibility. National and local activity is demanding government and corporation action to finally restore justice and provide whatever aid is needed to bring
long-overdue assistance to the people of Bhopal.

Read the whole story on the computer by typing in Bhopal, and find out how you can help. Why has the media been silent about this story of people action against state and corporate irresponsibility? Why 24 years?

Elsa's letter from Spring 2008: Recognition – at last -- SF monument honors Abraham Lincoln Brigade volunteers

After a Spanish election in the 30s brought to power a democratic government, a fascist attack led by Gen Franco and supported by Hitler and Mussolini, was launched in 1936.

The world was shocked and very disturbed. But the leading countries of the West refused to lend assistance or send aid to Spain, in spite of the years of watching Hitler take power in Germany, with oppression of the German people, and occupation, one by one, of surrounding countries in Europe.

In the years just prior to World War II, the West adopted a policy called "neutrality," basically an accommodation to Hitler. Worldwide, progressive, democratic forces were outraged, aware that the fascist machine needed to be stopped already; Spain was the place to act. Since the western governments were turning their backs on the growing danger, progressive forces worldwide planned to aid the Spanish people by organizing an international battalion to go to Spain and volunteer to help defend the government.

The nearly 3,000 US young people who went to Spain in opposition to government policy became known as the Abraham Lincoln Battalion. They believed that the democratically elected government must be defended against the fascism that was sweeping Europe.

Though the war was lost, the brigades fought bravely and sincerely, in a determined and honorable demonstration of international solidarity.

On March 30, San Francisco dedicated the first national monument to the Lincoln Brigade. Eleven vets attended the ceremony – nationwide only 36 remain. The monument features expressions and statements of leading citizens of the time, plus pictures of people and events involved in the struggle.

The monument was eight years in the making, and is a fine statement honoring this significant action taken by those willing to sacrifice themselves for democratic rights. It took the major countries of the West several more years to act against Hitler.

The ultimate disgrace of western policy occurred when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin went to Munich and gave Hitler part of Czechoslovakia (1938), declaring "Peace with honor." In all, about 30,000 volunteers from 53 nations fought to save democracy in Spain. Had the world acted at the time, World War II might have been prevented. Here's the coverage and a video .

Read more of Elsa's insights in archived editions of Peace Times!