The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, November 18, 1974, Page page 3, Image 3
FP expands concern to new issues By Greg Wees If Nebraskans for Peace (NFP) conjures up only thoughts of ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam, think again. The group, which during the late '60s and early 70s concentrated on bringing home U.S. troops and severing aid ties with South Vietnam, has broadened its horizon considerably, according to Steve Fowler, NFP coordinator. Now Vietnam is just one of six issues of importance identified by NFP at a meeting last May, he said. Task forces are assigned to each of those areas, Fowler said. Fowler joined NFP in June and is paid $220 a month. He also is a state senator from Lincoln and a past ASUN president. In June NFP moved to its present headquarters at the First Christian Church, 430 S. 16th. St. 1969 Start NFP started in 1969 when Rural Nebraskans for Peace and state Vietnam moratorium groups merged. Then interest in the NFP reached a highpoint, Fowler said. However, a drop-off of interest in NFP occurred following the signing of the Geneva peace agreement that ended American troop involvement in the war, according to Fowler. The paid staff had to be reduced to one, he said, and there was a decline in support and contributions. As it became clear that U.S. military and economic aid was continuing, Fowler said, interest was renewed and NFP membership increased to 225, the current number of members who each pay at least $10 annually to NFP. Contributions from Clergy and Laity Concerned, a national peace lobby, and other groups Nov. 18, 1914 "The Pharmaceutical department is the only school or college in the University that puts out an annual. Requests come for it every week for use in braries and for reference use. This indicates that the annual is of some value as a standard among this class of publications and this is putting Nebraska's School of Pharmacy in the front rank. to begin Jaeio (S 1 1975 j Work Study IFederal Loans! I and j and j Internship iFederalGrants Please J3end nmati on o n j n i i "Genera! Accounting . " Business Administration Professional Accounting Office Specialist Stenographic Executive Secretarial Legal Secretarial Professional Secretarial Medical Secretarial Court Reporting Legal Assistant Word Processing Key Punch Federal Loans Work-Study Internship Placement ; Federal Grants Name. Street. City. .StateZip. Telephone Number. 1 r.aii 40? 432-5315 or mail Couoon Today: Lincoln School of CominsrcB 1821 'SC St., Lincoln,, tuE 68501 account for the rest cf the $10,000 budget for 1974, Fowler said. Two functions of NFP, he said, are educating the public about important national issues and lobbying in Congress. Because the group is a lobby, it is not tax exempt, Fowler said. Effectiveness . As an example of NFP's effectiveness, Fowler pointed to the defeat of an April 4 Pentagon attempt to get an additional $226 million in military aid for South Vietnam from Congress. "We had people writing their congressman and working against the increase. For the first time all three (Nebraska) congressmen voted to reduce funds," Fowler said. "The U.S. is supporting a corrupt military dictatorship," Fowler declared. NFP urges suspending all U.S. military and economic aid that supports South Vietnam's president, Nguyen Van Thieu. The Thieu government would fall without this aid, Fowler said. Economic aid should be suspended, he said, because the Thieu regime has been selling food received from the U.S. under the Food for Peace Program, then using the money for the military. Impeachment One of the six target areas selected last May that is no longer an NFP concern is the impeachment of former President Richard Nixon. Fowler says NFP is not satisfied with President Gerald Ford's limited amnesty plan. "The alternative service and allegiance pledge of the plan we do not agree with," he said. Ford's plan also does not include violators who objected to the war while serving in the Armed Forces, he said. The Nebraska peace group advocates complete, unconditional amnesty for draft deserters and dodgers, Fowler said. He said the NFP also is trying to prevent funding of the B-1 bomber, which, according to two studies, will cost from $44 billion to $75 billion to develop and service a squadron of 241 planes for 10 years. Financing David Powell, a NFP member, estimated in the May issue of Nebraska Report, the NFP newspaper, that Nebraska over the next ten years will collect over $310 million to finance its share of the B-1 bomber. "The B-1 is a military extravagance that really isn't necessary," Fowler said. He added that "NFP hasn't had luck with Nebraska congressmen" on this issue. Another area of NFP involvement is the Lincoln Wounded Knee trials. During the first months, group members publicized the trials and "several hundred dollars," was collected to pay legal fees. Call 472-2589 to place a Daily Nebraskan classified ad. it is there The heights of peace are not scaled by the angry and vio lent climber. Violence always obscures goals and dissi pates constructive energy The path of non-violence leads to God. It is a realiz able goal. Individual women and men have achieved it. Perhaps some day nations will. You and I can help show the way. Get together with your family, friends, neigh bors, or coworkers to dis cuss the problems of violence and how you can work to gether to help solve them. For a helpful discussion guide and further informa tion write: Religion In American Life, 475 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017. Play an active role in yourj community and .. . help show the 1JJ Way. RELIGION IN AMERICAN lift The community of God. Make it your way. I f I X L? ShW Wth Audence Part icipat ion 1 jj V Incredible, fascinating wondera of the Cr"3 s. I Sixth Sense 1 Performance followed by j an informal rap session with Gil Eaglesl J CA I , Tickets: I $1'50 available at Union South Desk ( I L i I. i jm i -3( therentertaining psychic GIL EAGLES t r monday, november18, 1974 ciaily nebraskan I page 3