VETERANS FOR PEACE
CONVENTION
2025 Schedule
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Please note that the times below are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?
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05:30 AM
Buses to Nellis
6:00 AM
Arrive @ Nellis Air Force Base
6:15AM - 7:45 AM
Nellis Air Force Base Demonstration
10:00 AM
Opening Plenary
Noon
Lunch
7:00 PM
Opening Program
9:00 PM
Poetry moderated by Doug Rawlings
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11:00 AM
Sitting Meditation with Claude AnShin Thomas
12:00 PM
Business Meeting
3:30 PM
¡Presente!
4:00 PM
Workshop: Impact of Current Wars on Climate Crisis
6:00 PM
Keynote Event: Focus on Gaza with Odeliya Matter, Elik Elhanan, and Huwaida Arraf
9:00 PM
Music Event w/ David Rovics, Joanne Rand, and Issa Boulos
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12:00 PM
Workshop: Calling Out the War Industrialists and Calling for Divestment
2:00 PM
Workshop: Resisting Repression: Strategies of Solidarity in the New McCarthy Era
4:00 PM
Workshop: The Rising Multi-polar world: WIll the Empire start World War to prevent it?
6:00 PM
Workshop: Moral Injury in Today's Wars and a Future Care Model
8:00 PM
Closing Keynote: We Sail Until Palestine Is Free: The Freedom Flotilla
9:30 PM
End convention
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Additional Programming
Social Room - Open 24 Hours
AUGUST 16TH
Please note that all times are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?
12:00 PM
SITTING MEDITATION WITH CLAUDE ANSHIN THOMAS
​Veterans, you are invited to join Claude AnShin Thomas for two sessions of sitting meditation during the convention— Friday, August 16, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm EDT and Saturday, August 17, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT. Sitting meditation is a powerful way to address the unique challenges due to military service. It can offer a way into finding peace with our un-peacefulness. Sitting meditation is a practical tool that offers insights to navigate the challenges of post-service life, fostering resilience and discovering the ability to be more present. Join us with this chance to transform your life and embark on a path to peace and healing. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@zaltho.org. We look forward to welcoming you. Together, let's take the first step towards a life of peace, understanding, and renewal.
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​Presenter: Claude AnShin Thomas
3:00 PM
WORKSHOP: DEPORTED VETERANS ADVOCACY PROJECT
Moderator: Willie Hager
Panelists: Jan A. Ruhman · Robert Blessing · Rudy Melson · Gary Loutzenhiser · Miguel Hernandez · Robert Vivar
3:45 PM
WORKSHOP: THE RED TEAM REPORT ECHOES SOVA'S STANCE
Panelists: Suzanne Gordon · Jeff Roy · Arlys Herem · Bruce Carruthers
5:00 PM
Panelists: Juyeon JC Rhee · Brad Wolf · Ann Wright · Elliott Adams · Joseph Essertier · Kapsong Kim · Gil Kim
7:00 PM
OPENING PROGRAM
Welcome Host
Blessing and Centering Four Arrows
Offering of a Poem: Jenny Pacanowski
Opener Marjorie Cohn
Opener Margaret Stevens
Keynote: Margaret Kimberley
Keynote: Harrison Mann
Juan Bettancourt Appeal For Redress
9:00 PM
POETRY
Moderator: Doug Rawlings
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Veterans speaking truth to power is a beautiful thing…
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Veterans expressing that truth as spoken art is world changing. Join Veterans For Peace in the sharing and baring of creative souls through poetry, spoken word, and oral tradition.
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Want to read a poem or sing a song? Sign up here!
AUGUST 17
Please note that all times are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?
11:00 AM
SITTING MEDITATION WITH CLAUDE ANSHIN THOMAS
​Veterans, you are invited to join Claude AnShin Thomas for two sessions of sitting meditation during the convention— Friday, August 16, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm EDT and Saturday, August 17, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT. Sitting meditation is a powerful way to address the unique challenges due to military service. It can offer a way into finding peace with our un-peacefulness. Sitting meditation is a practical tool that offers insights to navigate the challenges of post-service life, fostering resilience and discovering the ability to be more present. Join us with this chance to transform your life and embark on a path to peace and healing. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@zaltho.org. We look forward to welcoming you. Together, let's take the first step towards a life of peace, understanding, and renewal.
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Presenter: Claude AnShin Thomas
12:00 PM
BUSINESS MEETING
We will be using the regular Zoom Online Meeting format for this year’s business meeting. This will allow everyone present to see who is attending the meeting. The board’s request is for you to keep yourself on mute unless you have been recognized to speak. Please raise your virtual hand and wait to be recognized before speaking.
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During the discussion on resolutions, we will “call the question” and move to a vote when there are no members on the “pro” or “con” side after three members have spoken “for” and three “against” each resolution.
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During other items that require discussion, debate, and a vote, we will take speakers for each side until there are no members wanting to speak for either side. We will then “call the question” and move to a vote. Zoom format has a function that allows members to participate in a poll-which we will be using for the convention straw vote.
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Fall Vote
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All current VFP members will have the option to vote in October. Online ballots will go out in October.
3:30 PM
¡PRESENTE!
4:00 PM
WORKSHOP: IMPACT OF CURRENT WARS ON CLIMATE CRISIS
Moderator: Gary Butterfield
​Panelists: Ian Mooney · Taylor Smith-Hams · Patrick Bigger · Lennard De Klerk · Tamara Lorincz
6:00 PM
KEYNOTE EVENT: FOCUS ON GAZA
6:00 PM: Blessing and Centering - Oren Lyons
6:30 PM: Focus On Gaza: Odeliya Matter, Elik Elhanan, Huwaida Arraf
Moderator: Will Hopkins
Panelists: Odeliya Matter · Elik Elhanan · Huwaida Arraf
7:30 PM: Joy Metzler
7:45 PM: Awards​​
9:00 PM
MUSIC EVENT
David Rovics, Joanne Rand to perform song-swap style interspersed with a few videos incl. Issa Boulos
AUGUST 18TH
Please note that all times are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?
12:00 PM
​Panelists: Christian Sorenson · Terry Lodge · Jack Gilroy · Nick Mottern · Kathy Kelly
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
6:00 PM
8:00 PM
CLOSING PROGRAM: WE SAIL UNTIL PALESTINE IS FREE: THE FREEDOM FLOTILLA
​​​​Panelists: Mary Brownlee · Jayson Mizula · Ann Wright · Barry Riesch · Elliott Adams
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Members of the Freedom Flotillas "Break The Siege" on Gaza action in April of 2024 will share their experiences and thoughts about their involvement. Please join us for the final session of the convention