EPEC’s Position on War and Peace

War is not the solution to diplomatic problems. The Environmental and Peace Education Center (EPEC) advocates a broad platform of non-violence in opposition to continued militarism at home and abroad. EPEC favors a phased substantial reduction of our nation’s excessive defense/military budget, and support efforts to strengthen international peacekeeping organizations. We advocate a full withdrawal of all combat and non-combat troops from Iraq and Afghanistan as quickly as possible without jeopardizing the safety of service personnel in the line of fire. The people of those nation-states should instead be empowered with the economic and political tools necessary to rebuild their countries. The U.S. should not continue to fund private security forces and other outsourced military operations, and must put an end to all war profiteering by defense contractors. EPEC seeks an end to violence in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, and supports increased political pressure aimed at producing dialogue that can bring about a peaceful, fair and lasting solution to the conflict.

We believe that those who have sacrificed and served in America’s military should be accorded with respect and honor. EPEC supports expanded and more accessible veterans’ benefits that never allow any former service personnel to slip through the cracks of the system. The victims of war, whether they were soldiers or civilians, must be properly and respectfully laid to rest in accordance with their wishes.