Farms Not Arms: Rural US Disproportionately Affected by Iraq War Casualties
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEPTEMBER 5, 2007
2:34 PM
|
CONTACT: Farms Not Arms
Shayna Samuels, 718-541-4785
|
| |
|
Rural US Disproportionately Affected by Iraq War Casualties
Farmers & Vets from Around the Country to Gather in Manhattan to Protest Ongoing War on Sat. Sept. 8 --
Advance Interviews Available
|
| |
|
NEW YORK - September 5 - As thousands gather to attend the 26th annual Farm Aid concert to benefit America's family farmer -- to be held this Sunday on NYC's Randall's Island -- a group of farmers and veterans are meeting to call attention to an issue receiving little attention in today's headlines: the burden on rural communities after six years of war. A recent Carsey Institute Report indicates that small towns and rural areas across the country bear drastically disproportionate numbers of fatalities in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Global war, global warming, and the excessive use of fossil fuels are adding to the already existing crises of loss of farmland, family farmers and economic opportunity in rural America. Now hundreds of thousands of young men and women are returning from war to these very communities without adequate healthcare, counseling or vocational training.
The public forum on "The War and Rural America" will focus on changing our nation's priorities from war and destruction to support for family farmers, regional agriculture, bio-fuels, and job opportunities on farms for returning veterans.
WHAT: "The War and Rural America" hosted by Farms Not Arms and Family Farm Defenders
WHERE: The Warwick Hotel, 65 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019
WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHO: Dr. William O'Hare, author of the Carsey Institute report on rural casualties
George Naylor, Iowa soybean farmer, President of National Family Farm Coalition
Jim Goodman, Wisconsin beef and dairy farmer, speaking for Family Farm Defenders
Roger Allison, Missouri hog farmer, Executive Director, Missouri Rural Crisis Center
Ronnie Cummins, President, Organic Consumers Association
Nadia McCaffrey, Gold Star Mother, founder, Veterans Village
Steve Ledwell, Field director, Veterans Victory Farm, New Hampshire
Matt McCue, Iraq war veteran and currently a farmer in Niger, Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer
This event will also mark the announcement of the Farmer-Veteran Coalition, the building of a politically neutral organization that will work to provide farm jobs, job training and land for deserving veterans and infuse our nation's food production with young people already acquainted with hard work and sacrifice.
### |
|
Printer Friendly Version
E-Mail This Article
