Brian Arredondo, R.I.P. December 23rd, 2011

"He Suffered So Much"

May 10, 1987 to December 19, 2011
by Cindy Sheehan

Honoring Brian Arredondo

 

Brian’s wake and funeral will be held December 27 and 28.

 

Please attend and lend your support. See detailed times and places and how you can help.

 

Brian Arredondo was 17 when his 20 year-old brother, Alex, a U.S. Marine, was killed in Iraq on 25 August, 2004.  He was 24 this past Monday, 19 December, when he took his own life.

 

To remember Brian ArredondoCarlos Arredondo, the father of Alex and Brian, his only children, was so distraught when the Marines came to tell him that his oldest son was killed, he caught their van and himself on fire, burning over 26% of his body. His recovery from his physical wounds was long and difficult, but his emotional wounds from having his son killed by the U.S. government in its illegal and immoral war in Iraq will never completely heal. However, I know since my son, Casey, was killed in Iraq only four months before Alex, that Carlos was beginning to be able to get through his days without overwhelming pain before his other son committed suicide. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Summer 2012 Peacemaker Internship December 11th, 2011

Massachusetts Peace Action is seeking students, recent graduates, or young activists who can commit 10-15 hours per week from May to August.   A small stipend is available.  Start and end dates are flexible.   If there is interest, there is the possibility of extending the internship into the academic year.   Our office is located in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

 

Massachusetts Peace Action is a nonprofit organization working to develop the sustained political power to foster a just and peaceful U.S. foreign policy. Through grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and community education, we promote human rights and global cooperation, and seek an end to war and the spread of nuclear weapons and other egregious weapons systems.

 

Our current campaigns include organizing to re-direct funds from weapons and war to programs that address environmental and human needs, end the war in Afghanistan and preventing one with Iran, and abolish nuclear weapons.

 

Responsibilities may include:

- Drafting educational and promotional materials (flyers, fact sheets)

- Tracking the development of relevant legislation and campaigns

- Posting updates to Facebook, Twitter, our website, masspeaceaction.org, and writing e-mail alerts

- Working with staff and board members to plan a Music for Peace fundraiser, forums, lectures, and special projects

- Showing films and talks at your campus, and organizing a student peace group

- Assisting with mailings, data entry, and other projects as needed

 

Qualifications:

- A passion for international peace and justice issues

- Desire to build political power through grassroots organizing within the U.S. political process

- Strong computer skills using Microsoft office, Google apps; knowledge of graphic design, blogging, and social networking helpful but not required

- Strong writing skills

- Desire to work as part of a small team in a grassroots setting

 

To apply, please submit a brief cover letter, resume, and (optional) short sample of your writing, creative or community work (e.g. a flyer, fact sheet, blog link, web page, news article, etc. that you have created) to cole@masspeaceaction.org.  Include in your cover letter your interest and/or experience with peace and justice work.   Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.