Showing posts with label Ben Griffin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Griffin. Show all posts

Tuesday 12 February 2019

Video: Ex-soldiers speak out on the cost of war and how their experience made them peace activists






Brent Stop the War has held meetings and demonstrations about the cost of war in terms of victims' deaths, infrastructure destruction, environmental disaster and creation of refugees as well as the financial cost to the economy. Last night's meeting was rather different as we heard first-hand from ex-soldiers whose experience of war has made them into peace activists.

Both speakers are members of Veterans for Peace (UK) but made it clear that they were not speaking on behalf of the organisation but as individual members. VfP (UK) are not a pacifist organisation although some members may be. They believe the country has to be defended but object to counter-productive, dehumanising foreign wars.

The first speaker is Julio Torres, a New Yorker who was in the US army for eleven years including a year in Iraq.  Ben Griffin, the second speaker and founder of Veterans for Peace (UK) served in Northern Ireland, Macedonia, Afghanistan  and Iraq. He was released from the British army after refusing to serve under American command.

Both speakers were open and honest in a meeting which at times became very emotional creating a great bond between the speakers and the audience.


Friday 8 February 2019

Rare chance to hear from 'Veterans for Peace' Monday February 11th at Brent Mencap


Brent Stop the War has held meetings and demonstrations about the cost of war in terms of victims' deaths, infrastructure destruction, environmental disaster and creation of refugees as well as the financial cost to the economy.

Monday's meeting will be a little different.  We will hear first-hand from an American and a British soldier, who are members of Veterans for Peace (UK), about the personal cost to them and their families, friends and neighbours of participation in these wars.  Their voices are not heard as much as they should be and BStW has organised this special meeting so that Brent residents can hear directly from veterans about what war has meant for them, the conclusions they have drawn from their experience and their resultant activism.

The meeting is on Monday February 11th 7.30pm to 9.15pm at Brent Mencap, 379-381 High Road, Willesden, London NW10 2JR  Nearest tube Dollis Hill (Jubilee line) and 260, 266, 297 bus routes.

Speakers: 

Julio Torres, Veterans for Peace (UK) New York born Torres was a member of the U.S.  Army for 11 years 2005-2016, including a year in Iraq, with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Ben Griffin. Ben is an ex Paratrooper, SAS soldier and founder of  Veterans for Peace UK. He served in Northern Ireland, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2005 he was released from army service after refusing to continue serving under American command in Iraq. Ben served as as national coordinator for VfP until 2018 and remains an active member.
 

Monday 28 January 2019

Wars: The Effect on Soldiers - First hand accounts: Monday February 11th



Monday, February 11th 7.30 – 9.15.

Brent MENCAP, 379-381 High Rd, London NW10 2JR

Speakers: Julio Torres, Veterans for Peace (UK) [New York born Torres was a member of the U.S. Army for eleven years 2005-2016, including a year in Iraq, with the rank of Staff Sergeant]
Ben Griffin, ex-Paratrooper, SAS soldier and founder of Veterans for Peace UK, served in Northern Ireland, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2005 he was released from Army service after refusing to continue serving under American command in Iraq. Ben served as national coordinator of VfP until 2018 and remains an active member.
The financial costs of US and British wars in the Middle East since the beginning of this century have been well documented.
The personal costs to the soldiers who took part and to their families, friends and neighbours are often less noticed.
This is an opportunity to hear and talk to war veterans about their experiences and how we might learn to fight for peace.
 Organised by Brent Stop the War




All welcome
Disabled access. Close to Dollis Hill tube (Jubilee line, Chaper Road access). Buses include 52, 260, 266, 302