Office Of The Amercias For The Cause Of Justice And Peace

Addicted To War Books-to-Schools Project

Over the past two years the "Addicted To War Books-to-Schools Project" organized by the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools (CAMS) has provided over 2,000 copies of the book at no cost to middle school and high school teachers across the nation. Addicted To War is a history of U.S. foreign wars – including the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – presented in comic book format. Over 200,000 copies have been distributed in the United States. The San Francisco Board of Education has just voted unanimously to make Addicted To War a supplemental text book to be used by history teachers in the district.

This book is of critical importance because of the limited and distorted perspective of United States history that is provided in the great majority of American schools. This is especially true – as we have all experienced as students and as teachers – with regard to our country's history of foreign wars. Addicted To War provides an alternative source that raises serious questions about the causes and consequences of these wars, including their domestic costs. It encourages readers to think critically about U.S. foreign policy, and provides background for discussion about current events, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It can also inspire student engagement and activism. The book assembles – in a highly accessible format – information from a wide variety of sources, which are referenced in 161 footnotes. To learn more about Addicted To War, please see: www.addictedtowar.com

The "Addicted To War Books-to-Schools Project" makes this book available to middle school and high school teachers who want to use it in their classes, but cannot rely on their school districts to buy it. It provides class sets of the book to teachers and leaders of youth education activities free of charge. In connection with this project, CAMS has encouraged teachers to develop curricula, using Addicted To War and other alternative texts and materials, which are posted on our web site: www.militaryfreeschools.org . We have also supported teachers who are advocating the adoption of Addicted To War and other alternative texts by school districts. Many teachers have thanked us for helping them present alternative points of view about militarism.

In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), over 25 middle schools, high schools and adult schools have benefited from this project. Teachers have used Addicted To War as a supplementary textbook in social studies and history courses, and it has also been put to creative use in peer mediation, global citizenship, art, human rights, persuasive writing, and film projects. The "Addicted to War Books-to-School Project" has also provided books to other school districts across California, and other states including Kansas, New Mexico, Hawaii, New York, Vermont, Illinois, and Maryland. It is a crucial tool that effectively informs and educates students to make decisions about their own and our world's future.

We are in need of tax-deductible donations to help support the "Addicted to War Books-To-Schools Project". All donations will go directly towards supplying books to teachers and other youth educators. For every $2.50 that is donated, one book will be supplied free-of-charge to an educator who has applied to get books through the project. A donation of $75 will make a class set of 30 books available to a teacher. The author and illustrator of Addicted To War, Joel Andreas, generously gave his book royalties to help launch and maintain this project. We are grateful for the support of Joel and many others who have provided funding for the past two years.

Your support is greatly needed at this time. Please make a tax deductible donation to:

CAMS-IHC
Addicted To War Books-To-Schools Project
P.O. Box 3012
South Pasadena, CA 91031

CAMS is a program of the International Humanities Center (IHC). Donations to IHC are exempt from income tax under Section 501 [c] (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

If you have questions, please contact:

Arlene Inouye of CAMS: 626-799-9118: arlene@militaryfreeschools.org (www.militaryfreeschools.org) or

Frank Dorrel, Publisher of ADDICTED To WAR: 310-838-8131 fdorrel@addictedtowar.com, fdorrel@sbcglobal.net (http://www.addictedtowar.com).