Santa Cruz Branch of the Women's International
League for Peace and Freedom
Welcome to Santa Cruz WILPF!
Our branch was started in the 1960s and now has over 250 peace and freedom loving members, women and men. We are one of the largest, most active branches in U.S. WILPF. For more information, see also the National and International WILPF web sites.
For nearly a century WILPF has been a leader in peace and justice activities around the world. As a member of WILPF you can become an important part of the worldwide struggle for peace and freedom. You will be kept informed regarding programs and actions through our local branch.
You will find projects and news of interest on this web site. We are glad you are here and hope that you enjoy your visit. Join us!
Coming Event -- Stop military recruitment in our schools!
Program Meeting, Tuesday, February 16th at 7 p.m.
Stop military recruitment in our schools! Recruiting starts in movie theaters, shopping malls and in public middle and high schools. Students as young as 11 can participate in Cadet and Training Corps! Military recruiters use unchecked aggressive advertising, extravagant gift giving, and false promises of benefits and harassment of pre teens and teenagers. Arcata and Eureka have stopped this; the San Rafael School District has stopped this; we can too in Santa Cruz!
Come hear April Burns, who has been a volunteer GI Rights counselor for the past 16 years, deliver two messages: Stop military recruitment in our schools, and GIs, know your rights!
Our program meetings are at the Quaker Meeting House , 225 Rooney St., Santa Cruz (off Hwy 1 at Morrissey). Free, everyone welcome, donations cheerfully accepted! 831 457 6797 for more info.
Since 1994, the GI Rights Hotline has been providing free, confidential, and accurate information on US military regulations and practices to service members, veterans, potential recruits, and their families. A consortium of more than twenty non-governmental, non-profit organizations located in more than fifteen states and in Germany, the GI Rights Hotline (877-447-4487) provides resources, counseling, options and information on military discharges, AWOL and UA, and GI Rights.
Coming Event -- Branch Corporations & Democracy Committee
Black Wave: film and talk by Riki Ott, March 27th at 7 p.m.
The worst Texas oil spill in more than 15 years occurred the last week of January . It was contained February 1st, and authorities credit a massive emergency response with averting an environmental disaster. About 462,000 gallons of oil spilled when an 800-foot tanker headed for an Exxon Mobil Corp. refinery in Beaumont collided Saturday with a vessel pushing two barges. As of February 1st, roughly 220,000 gallons of oil had evaporated or dispersed.
Thirty years ago – March 23, 1989, Prince William Sound was devastated by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The people of Cordova, Alaska are still waiting for the clean-up and compensation for that spill. See Black Wave, a film by author and environmentalist Riki Ott, that depicts the environmental, social and economic consequences of the black wave that forever changed the lives of the fishermen and people of Cordova, Alaska. Join them in their tale of the longest legal battle in U.S. history against ExxonMobil. Program will be 7p.m on Saturday March 27 at the Live Oak Grange. Sponsored by WILPF, the Live Oak Grange and the Santa Cruz Chapter of Sierra Club. Donations accepted, no-one turned away. More information at wilpf.news@calcentral.com
Coming Event -- People Against Chemical Trespass
The Santa Cruz Local Control, Pesticide and Chemical Trespass Ordinance will come up soon for a Santa Cruz City Council agenda, likely in February. This ordinance will ban future forced bulk pesticide applications on our community.
What you can do
- Show up at the City Council and be a part of changing the law, and history, here in Santa Cruz. When the exact date is set we’ll email you.
- Write letters - The other effective thing to do is use the “Talking Points” on our web site to tailor your letters to the City Council – early and often!
- If you haven’t been active on this WILPF issue previously, now is the time. Your letters will be crucial. Find media and City Council contact information on our website.