Several Members of Minnesota peace organizations recently journeyed to Albany New York to a conference on Unity among peace activists, religious groups, student and labor organizations and poor people. Conference goal was to develop a unified strategy for surviving the failing war economy and end the multi- billion dollar tax drain the foreign wars have put on US tax payers. National Veterans for Peace and Albany's Thomas Paine Chapter were major sponsors of the event. Members of Chapter 27 attended, including Jack ,Ward, and Kim pictured below with WAMM members Coleen and Sarah.

In an impressive display of unity and solidarity, the delegates overwhelmingly endorsed joint actions for the next year.

Among them are the following:

• Devote October 7-16 to organizing local and regional protest to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan through demonstrations, marches, rallies, vigils, teach-ins, cultural events and other actions to demand an immediate end to the wars and occupations in both iraq and Afghanistan and complete withdrawal of all military forces and private security contractors and other mercenaries
• Mid-March, 2011 nationally coordinated teach-ins to mark the 8th year of the Iraq War and to prepare for bi-coastal spring demonstrations the following month
• Bi-coastal mass spring mobilizations in NYC, San Fransisco and Los Angeles on April 9, 2011

The conference supported emergency response actions to occur if the U.S. attacks or sponsors attacks on Iran and North Korea. The most significant vote was in solidarity with Palestine and in opposition to U.S. aid to Israel. The conference voted almost unanimously to support and organize actions in solidarity with Palestine.

Some Chapter 27 members arrived early so that they could join with VFP Chapter 10 members at a demonstration at Saratoga Springs, New York Opening Day at the Historic Race Track. Members of Chapter 10, and Thomas Paine chapters generously opened their homes to the Minnesotans, empowering them to attend the conference.