Peace diploma handed out by members of the Pledge of Resistance at Johns Hopkins U. commencement

PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE-Baltimore, 325 East 25^th St . , Baltimore , MD 21218

Ph: 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski@verizon.net

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES & FAMILIES May 22, 2008

We, members of the Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, bestow this Peace Diploma with the hope your life will be one of seeking peace and working for justice.

As you depart from Johns Hopkins University , you are going out into a perilous world, made more dangerous by the actions of the Bush administration. The invasion of Iraq began on March 20, 2003, and still today a very bloody and disastrous occupation continues in that country. In 2008, the Iraq War costs close to $15 billion a month, which contributes to the current financial mess.

Sadly, U.S. forces are engaged in the torture of prisoners in Iraq , Afghanistan , Cuba and other unnamed countries. It is difficult to believe that democracy is really a goal of those who ignore the Geneva Conventions. THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that, in 2005, the Justice Department approved secret memos authorizing the use of several cruel interrogation tactics.

The U.S. Empire has created a permanent war economy. Since the empire needs weapons, the Pentagon awards research contracts to corporations and educational institutions to fulfill the need. The Johns Hopkins University , for example, in fiscal year 2006 was #60 on the Department of War Top 100 list of military contractors receiving $524,670, 196 from the Pentagon. In 2006, the Applied Physics Laboratory was #16 on the Navy’s list of Top 50 contractors receiving $451,748,798 to perform military research.

Those sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles sent into Iraq were tested at the APL. The lab is a major developer of technology for warships and also continues to receive millions of dollars for research on the long-discredited Star Wars program. The APL develops and conducts missions to meet warfighter needs in space.

Baltimore faces many funding problems, and the city government is forced to cut back desperately needed social services. The money diverted towards war research at the Hopkins lab would be better spent in Maryland on projects which enhance life. Let President William Brody know that you oppose weapons research at Johns Hopkins .

We in the peace movement will continue to speak out. We urge you to add your voices.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center , 325 E. 25th St. , Baltimore , MD 21218 . Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs