El Salvador PCV Colin Gallegher supports Peace Corps Independence



El Salvador PCV Colin Gallegher supports Peace Corps Independence

Wednesday, May 22, 2002 – Colin Gallagher is a city planner in Monterey and was a peace corps volunteer in El Salvador.

Peace Corps Independence

The Peace Corps has historically operated independently of other governmental agencies. Now there is a serious threat to this independence from the newly created USA Freedom Corps and the USA PATRJOT Act. The only agency with a mission to promote peace and. friendship is now vulnerable to informational exploitation by intelligence agencies.

The USA Freedom Corps requests what i.s called "RELEVANT INFORMATION” from its members. One of the members of the USA Freedom Corps Council is the Attorney General; another is the Director of Peace Corps. The USA PATRIOT Act orders the Attorney General to act with the Director of C.IA., to program training of Federal officials who are, quote, “not normally engaged in.identifying and utilizing foreign. intelligence.”

What will foreign governments already suspicious of the United States think of this development?

The solution is to IMMEDIATELY draft legislation stating that the “relevant information” mentioned in the Freedom Corps Executive Order shall, not apply to information, associated with Peace Corps, and that section 908 of the PATRIOT Act shall not apply to the Peace Corps.

Legislation is currentl.y being drafted that could protect Peace Corps from the USA Freedom. Corps, so now is the time to contact your Representatives and let them know what to do. You can. find more on the Peace Corps Independence movement, and a related. petition, at www.peacecorpsonline.org - Act now for Peace.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

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December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Dodd says Rumsfeld's answer was unacceptable 9 Dec RPCV Blake Willeford runs classic movie theatre 9 Dec RPCV says education is key to curbing AIDS 9 Dec RPCV Dannielle Tegeder opens exhibition 9 Dec Shalala 1st Woman In Touchdown Club 9 Dec "Today we have a new country" says Toledo 9 Dec DDN wins Investigative Reporting Award 8 Dec Celeste on Panel to study Colorado finances 8 Dec RPCV leads Rotary Club medical team to Togo 6 Dec Vasquez to speak at Hawaii, Wisconsin commencements 6 Dec Tom Murphy warns Pittsburgh on budget abyss 2 Dec Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan runs Pachamama imports 30 Nov more top stories...

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RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

By Paul Jospeh (pool-71-126-94-63.phlapa.east.verizon.net - 71.126.94.63) on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 12:31 pm: Edit Post

I am considering doing Peace Corps in Central America and trying to find infor from people who have served there. So I welcome anyones comments. I hope its ok to post here.If not please direct me to the right place.