Woodstock Peace Economy: Hinchey boosts Predator Drones

Howard Zinn

"I'm gratified that citizens of Woodstock and its environs are organizing to transform the production of components now used for frightful weapons to peaceful and sustainable purposes. The bucolic setting of Woodstock is such a contrast with the ugliness of arms production. It is especially horrifying that this is taking place in a town whose heritage is peace and harmony. I support your work and hope other people will rally to your campaign to remove this blight from your areas, and perhaps other places in the country where war materials are produced will take up the struggle for a weapons-free, peaceful world. Thank you for what you and your friends are doing."

David Swanson

"Woodstock Peace Economy is providing the necessary answer to the claims of senators and congress members that they cannot shift funding from weapons to human needs because weapons mean jobs. While we know theoretically that non-military investment creates more and better-paying jobs while avoiding all the damage done by unnecessary weaponry, until local communities demand conversion from swords to ploughshares, and local workers demand conversion from swordmakers to ploughmakers, mere facts are not going to get in the way of legislators' loyalties. If other communities follow Woodstock in pursuing a peace economy, we just might all live to tell about it."

Friday, October 23, 2009

Hinchey boosts Predator Drones

This isn't new but we hadn't noticed it before. A year ago, a press release from Congressman Maurice Hinchey boasted :
"Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today visited L-3 Communications in Binghamton, New York for a live demonstration of the company's unique Air Force Predator simulator and to announce $2.4 million in new federal funding he's secured for the company to dramatically improve the simulator to better prepare U.S. Air Force service members for operating unmanned reconnaissance missions. Hinchey used his position on the House Appropriations Committee to secure the funds, which he had included as part of the recently approved Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Defense."
L-3 Communications is one of Hinchey's biggest campaign contributors.