Two Weeks Until Extraordinary Conference on Asia-Pacific Miliarization & Alternatives - Oct. 21-22 - Washington, D.C.

[Joseph Gerson]

Join us in Washington, D.C. October 21 & 22 for the Peace in Asia and the Pacific: Alternatives to Asia-Pacific Militarization conference

 

“Asia will return to its historic status, with more than half of the world’s population and half

of the world’s economic output. America must be present there. Markets and economic power

rest on political frameworks, and American military power provides that framework.”

            - Joseph Nye, Harvard University

 

“China isn’t making new claims, but it is now enforcing claims from

1919. It’s a tectonic shift.”

- Frank Jannuzi, Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff

We’re humbled by the leading peace activists and scholars from eight Asian and Pacific nations who will be joining us at American University. They come from China, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and of course the U.S. of A. (See list below.)

It will be an important conference helping to bring the U.S. peace movement into the Asia-Pacific century. You can find additional information and register at: http://afsc.org/PeaceInAsiaPacific

Why Asia and the Pacific?

·        We have to ensure that, unlike the 20^th century, the competition between a rising power (China) and a declining power (the U.S.) doesn’t lead to catastrophic war. Each nation’s military planning (and Japan’s) now centers on a possible war with the other.

·        The Northeast and Southeast Asian arms races – led by the US – are intensifying. They are dangerous and costly.

·        The U.S. and South Korea recently conducted a provocative military exercise that included capturing North Korea’s leader 

·        The U.S., China, Vietnam and the Philippines are engaging in equally provocative military exercises in the mineral-rich and strategically important South China Sea.

·        Midst the U.S. economic and budget crisis, the Pentagon plans to build still more military bases in Australia, Guam, Korea, Japan, and Okinawa, with expanded military access agreements in the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Where else can you:

Hear Chinese perspectives from Madame Yan Junqi of the Chinese People’s Congress and Shen Dingli of Fudan University’s American Studies Department

Learn how the U.S. military build up is wreaking havoc and find ways to oppose these bases from Julian Aguan of Guam, Herbert Docena of the Philippines, Ikaika Hussey of Hawai’i,  Youn-Ae Park and Wooksik Cheong of Jeju Island in Korea, Hiroshi Takakusaki of Japan, Bruce Gagnon, Hyun Lee and others here in the U.S.

            Develop an understanding of U.S. Asia-Pacific policies from Zia Mian of Princeton and John Feffer of the Institute for Policy Studies, or the changes under way in Burma from David Steinberg, Jason Tower and Wang Hanling

            Begin to sort out the complexities behind the increasingly dangerous confrontations in the South China Sea with Ngo Vinh Long, Herbert Docena and Wang Hanling, and play catch up on campaigns to cut spending for and abolish nuclear weapons from Jackie Cabasso, Junko Kayashige, Peter Kuznick, and Hiroshi Takakusaki?

            Join us!

            For the conference organizers,

            Joseph Gerson

            American Friends Service Committee

Speakers include: Jean Athey, Jackie Cabasso, Chen Duming, Wooksik Cheong, Shan Cretin, Herbert Docena, Ding Yifan, John Feffer, Bruce Gagnon, Joseph Gerson, Ikaika M Hussey, Aura Kanagis, Junko Kayashige, Peter Kuznick, Judith LeBlanc, Hyun Lee, Ngo Vinh Long, Zia Mian, Youn-Ae Pak, Gareth Porter, Shen Dingli, David Steinberg, Hiroshi Taka, Jason Tower, Wang Hanling,