Karen M. Pierson writes: Fund Peace Corps, Not War



As the mother of one of the accepted Peace Corps volunteers who had planned since last November to leave for Africa this month, I would like to point out the travesty of the Peace Corps situation. It would appear that two days of this war could fund the entire Peace Corps annual budget.

Karen M. Pierson writes: Fund Peace Corps, Not War

Fund Peace Corps, Not War

September 20, 2008

The Sept. 15 news article "Financially Strained Peace Corps Puts Volunteers On Hold" tells us that the Peace Corps is short about $18 million in its $330.8 million budget to send talented volunteers throughout the world spreading good works in the name of the United States.

Ten months ago, the American Friends Service Committee estimated that the war in Iraq cost $720 million per day in short- and long-term costs — $280 million per day of that from the supplementary bills passed by Congress.

As the mother of one of the accepted Peace Corps volunteers who had planned since last November to leave for Africa this month, I would like to point out the travesty of the Peace Corps situation. It would appear that two days of this war could fund the entire Peace Corps annual budget.

Our daughter's marine biology, fisheries and teaching skills have been snapped up by a Massachusetts organization until the Peace Corps finds a place and the money to send her. But wouldn't it have been better to fund the Peace Corps to use her skills, and those of the hundreds of other dedicated volunteers, to improve our nation's image while teaching in developing nations — rather than fund two days of the excessive waste, defense contractor graft and loss of life the war has brought?



Karen M. Pierson

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Headlines: September, 2008; Speaking Out; Expansion

When this story was posted in September 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Peace Corps Suspends Program in Bolivia Turmoil began in Bolivia three weeks ago sparked by President Evo Morales' pledge to redistribute wealth from the east to the country's poorer highlands. Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from the country because of "growing instability." Morales has thrown out US Ambassador Philip Goldberg accusing the American government of inciting the violence. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia.

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September 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Eric Green writes: 2008 Election helps US Image Worldwide 28 Aug Tschetter meets with President Arroyo in Philippines 29 Aug Hill's new approach is an unsung success story 29 Aug Jackie Theriot served as PCV in Togo 25 Aug Therese Abalo became beekeeper to join Peace Corps 24 Aug Obituary for Pauline Birky-Kreutzer 23 Aug Peace Corps to Pare Ranks of Volunteers 22 Aug George Packer writes play about Iraqi occupation 22 Aug Martin Puryear retrospective at the National Gallery of Art 22 Aug Elaine Chao heads final 2008 Olympic delegation 21 Aug J R Bullington writes: Reinvigorate the Peace Corps 19 Aug Faith Van Gilder returns to Botswana 18 Aug Bill Owens still turning suburbs into art 18 Aug Amy Smith hosts International Development Design Summit 17 Aug McCain calls for greater volunteerism 17 Aug Sarah Chayes writes: Afghans don't support insurgency 16 Aug Maurice Albertson remembers origins of Peace Corps 15 Aug John Perkins "hit man" is now documentary movie 15 Aug Brian Connors helps local farmers in Malawi 13 Aug Dr. Peter Davenport no stranger to rural health issues 13 Aug Jeremiah Johnson tells story of HIV termination 8 Aug New: More Stories from July and August 2008

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PCVs Evacuated from Georgia The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.

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August 6, 2008: This Month's Top Stories PC in Budget Crunch may cut PCVs by 5% 5 Aug Garamendi first to announce run for governor in 2010 2 Aug Bob and Pat Parish receive president’s award 31 Jul Sam Brownback removes block on Kathleen Stephens 31 Jul Peace Corps Removes Ban on HIV-Positive Volunteers 31 Jul RPCVs organize online for Obama 31 Jul Peace group awards perfect rating to Sam Farr 29 Jul How Hill used back channels to negotiate Korean agreement 27 Jul Voter surge may hurt Shays 26 Jul Matthew A. Hamilton writes: A Shadow on Ararat 25 Jul Gates says Tools of inspiration are indispensable 15 Jul An interview with Composer Gabriela Lena Frank 13 Jul Ginny Farmer to swim in Olympics for American Samoa 11 Jul Dodd is possible vice presidential candidate 11 Jul Carl Pope supports the Pickens Plan 8 Jul George Packer writes: Obama’s Iraq Problem 7 Jul An Interview with PCOL 4 Jul Ifugao hopes for tourism boost after Campbell Trial 3 Jul Peace Corps To Quit Kiribati 3 Jul Tony Hall asks: Where is moral outrage over food crisis? 3 Jul Wofford raises awareness about global poverty 2 Jul New: More Stories from June and July 2008

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