This commentary is by Crystal Zevon, a resident of West Barnet.
As a Vermonter, I was one of 11 people arrested at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Washington, D.C., office on Oct. 4, calling for the senator to advocate for peace talks in Ukraine, not more war.
People have asked me: “Why Bernie? Isn’t he one of the good guys?” Some people aren’t so polite, but in any case, I want to address a few of the reasons I participated in a protest against Bernie’s pro-weapon, pro-war stance.
I voted for Bernie. I believed he was, in general, a far better choice than anyone else. On domestic issues like workers rights, he is. But when it comes to foreign policy, I was wrong.
In his long letter addressed to those of us occupying his office, he said, “… And, let’s be clear. Putin could end this war today by calling off his attack, but he has refused to do so.”
First of all, just a month after the Russian invasion, Putin and Zelenskyy were in negotiations that were going well — until the U.S. and UK intervened and told Ukraine not to negotiate but to fight instead. But even more important, right now, is the fact that Putin is not going to simply pull out. If we continue sending more weapons and fueling more war, what we are accomplishing is not an end to this war but an escalation, possibly leading to nuclear armageddon.
Another point from his letter that particularly rankled me was this: “I am gravely concerned about the millions of refugees fleeing Ukraine…. I signed a letter to Pres. Biden urging him to grant Temporary Protected Status…”
I agree with humane treatment of refugees. I would like to know why the white blond ones get temporary protected status while thousands upon thousands of brown refugees live under bridges (some for years), or die tangled in barbed wire, and have no hope of such status?
Earlier this month, Biden resumed deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants back to Venezuela and is reviving Trump’s immoral immigration policy to resume the building of a security wall on the southern border.
He goes on: “… We must invest in a global green energy transition away from fossil fuels …” Huh? With the Pentagon as the biggest institutional polluter on Earth, with war dependent on fossil fuels, how, exactly, are we transitioning away from fossil fuels? We cannot fully address the climate crisis while funding militarism and war.
The climate crisis is the world’s biggest security threat and its wrath is now being felt in Vermont. Just this summer, Vermonters experienced the worst flooding to occur in our state in decades. Many were caught off guard because their properties never experienced flooding before. The catastrophic flooding has left many farms still waiting for assistance. Scientists predict that this will be our new normal unless we start to make drastic changes now.
Global security for all, whether you are in Vermont or in Europe, is addressing the climate crisis and using diplomacy to solve conflict. As the world’s attention has now turned to the horrific situation in Palestine, it is worth noting that $3.13 billion a year in weapons and military aid does not ensure peace. An ”Iron Dome” and military barriers do not keep people safe.
Countries must address the root causes of war, conflict, and resistance and then resolve them through diplomatic solutions.
Not only is the war in Ukraine killing innocent Ukrainians but it is also destroying the lives of people around the world and exacerbating the climate crisis. It will not end without negotiations.
We can stop sending weapons, we can demand a cease-fire, we can ask for negotiations (which means exactly that — give and take). So, I got arrested in the hope that Sen. Sanders might respond to our urgent plea that Congress stop authorizing more money for war and start calling for a cease-fire and peace talks.
