By Amanda Craver, Chapter Coordinator, North Country for a World BEYOND War
The new North Country chapter of World BEYOND War launched on Saturday, December 7, 2024 with a gathering at the Saranac Lake Free Library, in Saranac Lake, NY, hosted by Amanda Craver, Chapter Coordinator.
Fifteen people attended the gathering, which served as an opportunity to learn more about the global World BEYOND War movement and discuss plans for the local chapter. The chapter plans to meet monthly with additional specific project meetings as needed. Many project ideas were discussed, including:
- Education as a means for reclaiming war news and bringing it back into the public eye as a valid, urgent concern, with logical and realistic aims for action. Educational events may include: film screenings and discussions; book clubs; and guest speakers.
- Nonviolent direct action/agitation as a means of raising awareness. Ideas included: lobbying policy makers; continued letter writing in conjunction with P.S. Letters for a Ceasefire in Gaza; distributing informational handouts at public holiday events such as Veteran’s Day (encouraging a return to naming it Armistice Day), or Mother’s Day (emphasizing its anti-war origins); holding public vigils and peace walks through downtown to exemplify unity on the issue of opposing wars; caroling for a ceasefire; and more.
- Media outreach including op-eds to local newspapers; social media; billboards/ads; mural painting; creating a chapter zine; holding an art exhibition and having a stall at local art walks; open mic events; readings/performances; and having a parade float at the Winter Carnival.
- Service/volunteerism as a chapter to build coalitions and organize diverse community members. Including volunteering at food pantries and veterans’ organizations; roadside cleanups like adopt a highway programs; and fundraising for WBW.
- Member gatherings and activities to energize members and build camaraderie, including group hikes (summiting a peak and dropping a WBW banner/flag); potlucks; jam sessions; and visiting other chapters in the region.
The new North Country chapter will welcome joint organizing efforts between other local organizations and movements. A few mentioned at the meeting included: NY21 Watchdog Group (congressional seat accountability), Facebook Group – “Open to Peace”, PS Letters for a Ceasefire, North Country DSA, and student groups at local colleges.
The North Country Chapter is made up of a broad coalition of community members from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We value input and participation from all areas of society including youth and elders, for example, who may have varying perspectives and offerings to bring to the table on striving for and achieving peace and the abolition of war. The goal of the chapter is to provide educational resources and discussion activities to foster unity, as well as non-violent direct action opportunities – all to facilitate progress towards protecting our community, and the world, from the economic, environmental, democratic, and cultural downsides of war.
War not only wreaks its death and destruction upon innocent people and other living things, it leads to the destruction of our Earth’s biosphere that supports all life on our planet. War kills people and destroys property. War is a top cause of the erosion of civil liberties, a top justification of government secrecy, the basis for the militarization of local police, a catalyst for racism and bigotry, a top creator of refugees and of cruelty toward refugees, and the reason humanity risks nuclear apocalypse. Militarism is a top destroyer of the natural environment, yet exempted from major environmental standards. Just a small portion of the amount of money spent on wars and militarism could end global hunger, provide clean drinking water, housing, healthcare, college educations, and a myriad of other needs.
While society is largely divided politically, North Country for a World BEYOND War strives to bring people to the table around the common enemy – war – seeking peace amidst the fierce divisions here at home and international war abroad. There is still much to unite around, and it is an urgent need to seek common interests, global and domestic, through connection and collective participation in groups such as North Country WBW.
The next general chapter meeting will be held on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, at 3:00pm-5:00pm. Learn more about the chapter at worldbeyondwar.org/northcountry and contact NorthCountry.WBW@gmail.com to get involved.
