Peace And Social Justice Organization Closes VT Office

(Host) A group dedicated to promoting peace and social justice has been forced to close its vermont office because of budget shortfalls.

The American Friends Service Committee has maintained an office in Montpelier since 1972.

But the group's national budget has been cut in half because donations have fallen.

Joseph Gainza has been a longtime volunteer and staffer for the Friends in Vermont. He says President Obama's election contributed to the budget problems.

(Gainza) "I think to some extent people took the election of the President Obama as a sign that the United States was going to change its foreign policy specifically in Iraq and in Afghanistan."

(Host) But Gainza says there are still many issues that he and other peace advocates want to pursue.

That includes an initiative he plans to lead next year. He wants to put a question on Town Meeting Day ballots asking the United States to abolish nuclear weapons.

That effort will be led by a new group that Gainza started called Vermont Action for Peace.

Hear Jane Lindholm's entire inverview with Joseph Gainza