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| NAME |
peacemaking |
DATE |
2003-01-23 |
HIT |
279 |
| TITLE |
What You Can Do To Prevent War |
What You Can Do To Prevent War
1/22
Friends,
The demonstration in Washington, D.C. was certainly the
largest peace demonstration in the U.S. since the Vietnam war. While
much of the press handled the numbers question cautiously, saying
"tens of thousands" (a million would be tens of thousands!)
estimates from participants range from 200,000 to 500,000.
So, what do we do next?
Let me suggest four things:
1) United for Peace and Justice, the national coalition, is calling
for people to organize
events for January 29, calling for peace, the
day after President Bush뭩 Statue of
the Union, which he will surely use to build
support for an invasion of Iraq.
2) Plan to join the massive rally in New York City on February 15
being organized by
United for Peace and Justice.. Many groups, including United
for Justice with Peace in the
Boston area are organizing buses. More information about the
peace march can be
found at www.unitedforpeace.org, and we뭠l be posting more
information as 2/15 approaches.
3) As the following Legislative Action Message from EPIC indicates,
we need to be pressing
members of Congress to sign onto the Brown -Kind letter
calling for legislation to - to repeal
Congressional authorization of the threatened U.S. invasion
of Iraq.
4. Finally, the Friends Committee on National Legislation has
prepared a one-page and five
point memo (see below) on what effective steps you can take
during the next several weeks
A) Writing, phoning and visiting members of Congress, C) working
with communities of
faith, C) writing letters and op ed articles for your local
newspaper after the State of the
Union speech next Tuesday, D) initiating anti-war resolutions in
your local city council
and/or other organizations that you are associated with, and 5)
keeping opposition to the
war visible through vigils, bumper stickers, roadside and bridge
presences with banners, etc.
We can prevent this war.
Work for peace,
Joseph Gerson
Momentum on Our Side: Call Congress Now 1-800-839-5276
EPIC's Perfect Storm Campaign continues. Never in our nation's
history have the churches been so united against a war. Never have
so many Americans acted to prevent a war before it starts. Among
working Americans, veterans, military families, celebrities, and
even Republicans, there is a groundswell of public opposition to war
and support for the continuation of weapons inspections. Around the
world this past weekend, millions rallied against war on Iraq. The
momentum is on our side.
EPIC's Perfect Storm Campaign continues. Never in our nation's
history have the churches been so united against a war. Never have
so many Americans acted to prevent a war before it starts. Among
working Americans, veterans, military families, celebrities, and
even Republicans, there is a groundswell of public opposition to war
and support for the continuation of weapons inspections. Around the
world this past weekend, millions rallied against war on Iraq. The
momentum is on our side.
However time is running short. We need you to call your
Representative this week via the Capitol switchboard at
1-202-225-3121 or toll-free at 1-800-839-5276! Call now!
This is the last week to act before President Bush gives his State
of the Union address on Tuesday, January 28th. To encourage the
president to move our nation away from war, REP. SHERROD BROWN
(D-OH) and RON KIND (D-WI) are circulating a sign-on letter in the
House of Representatives that urges President Bush to commit to the
procedure outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1441. As well,
the BROWN/KIND LETTER specifically urges the president to announce
his commitment to 1441 in the upcoming State of the Union address on
January 28th.
Of the 48 members of Congress who have signed the letter so far, 9
actually voted for the Bush war resolution last fall. This letter
reflects what could, with enough signatures, become a powerful
position in Congress, uniting both those that voted for the
president's resolution, and those who voted against.
Members of Congress must sign the letter by close of business
Thursday, January 23rd. The letter will be sent to the President on
Friday, January 24. On January 27, Dr. Hans Blix, the UN's chief
weapons inspector will deliver a report to the Security Council
concerning inspection efforts in Iraq. The State of the Union
address is currently scheduled for the following day. It is
imperative that as many Representatives as possible sign this letter
in order to ensure that its message is as powerful as possible.
ACT NOW! Urge your Representative to sign the Brown-Kind Letter.
Even if your Representative voted for the War Resolution last fall,
call them. Tell them the names of the members who voted for the Bush
resolution and who have also signed on to this letter like Reps
Crowley, Wexler and Kind.
See below for the full text of the letter and list of signers.
Find your Member of Congress at: www.congress.org
Text of the Brown-Kind Letter to President Bush
Dear Mr. President,
On November 8, 2002, the United Nations Security Council unanimously
endorsed a resolution designed to force Iraq to give up any weapons
of mass destruction. We believe the U.S. should make every attempt
to achieve Iraq's disarmament through diplomatic means and with the
full support of our allies, in accordance with the process
articulated in UN Security Council resolution 1441.
The UN resolution calls for a tough new weapons inspection regime;
it requires the government of Iraq to provide inspectors with
immediate, unimpeded, unconditional, and unrestricted access, and
requires that Iraq permit inspectors to interview officials,
scientists, and other individuals as necessary to fulfill the
mandate of the resolution. This is an inherently difficult task
requiring patience and perseverance.
The report scheduled to be given by Chief UN weapons inspector Dr.
Hans Blix and Director General Mohamed EI Baradei on January 27,
2003 will assess whether the United Nations Monitoring,
Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and International
Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) comprehensive mission is proceeding in
the unobstructed and effective manner necessary to realize the aims
of UN Security Council resolution 1441. We encourage your
Administration to sufficiently weigh future decisions regarding Iraq
on the assessment given by UNMOVIC/IAEA, including additional
inspection time and resources as appropriate. Your commitment to
working through the UN Security Council and your vocal support for
resolution 1441 are critical to UNMOVIC/IAEA's eventual success.
In addition, we respectfully urge you to use the opportunity
provided in the upcoming State of the Union Address to offer
assurances both to the American people and the international
community that the United States remains committed to the diplomatic
approach and comprehensive inspections process agreed to in UN
Security Council resolution 1441.
Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to your
response.
Sincerely,
(signers listed above)
5 Things You Can Do to Prevent War Against Iraq
January-February 2003
On November 8, 2002, the United Nations Security Council unanimously
passed Resolution 1441, calling for renewed UN weapons inspections
to disarm Iraq. International inspectors began their work on
November 18, returning to Iraq for the first time after four years.
Despite this new opportunity to avert a war and disarm Iraq
peacefully, the Bush Administration continues its press toward an
unprovoked U.S. military invasion. The early weeks of 2003 are a
critical time for citizen action to stop the war on Iraq. Here are
five things you can do to help convince Congress and the
Administration that war is not the answer.
1. Continue communicating with your Members of Congress. On October
10, 2002, Congress passed a resolution authorizing the President to
wage war against Iraq. However, thanks to all the messages that
poured into congressional offices, nearly one-fourth of the Senate
and one-third of the House voted no to war. Many members who voted
for the resolution also called on the Administration to work with
the UN in pursuit of diplomacy. Congress still has a very important
role to play in ensuring that the Administration lives up to its
commitments under Security Council Resolution 1441 to support UN
weapons inspections and work through the UN to address any
challenges to the process. Continue to write and visit your members
of Congress. Ask them to contact the President and urge him to
support UN weapons inspections to peacefully disarm Iraq. January 21
is designated as a national day for lobby visits with local
congressional offices!
2. Participate in the interfaith Season of Peacemaking. Many
religious groups are working together to witness against a military
invasion and for peaceful alternatives to war. Religious delegations
are also visiting Iraq on humanitarian and peacemaking missions.
Collaborate with other faith groups in your area to organize vigils,
worship services, prayer and fasting, or other community events in
your area. Invite individuals who have traveled on delegations to
Iraq to speak at your events. Ask your representative and senators
to participate and alert the press to your activities.
3. Write a letter to the editor or op-ed. Ongoing press coverage of
the widespread opposition to war is needed, particularly around the
time of the State of the Union speech on January 28. Write about
your opposition to war and support for peaceful, diplomatic
alternatives, including the successful completion of UN weapons
inspections. Remember that the most effective letters refer to
legislators by name. If you believe your local papers are not
sufficiently covering the growing opposition to war, try meeting
with newspaper editorial boards to discuss the issue.
4. Initiate anti-war resolutions in your city council or other
local organizations. Local resolutions that express opposition to
war against Iraq and support for peaceful diplomacy can put pressure
on elected officials and demonstrate organized, vocal opposition to
war at the community level. Speak to your local city council, union,
faith congregation, and professional associations about passing a
resolution against war with Iraq.
5. Continue to be a visible presence for peace. Groups across the
country are holding regular vigils, organizing demonstrations, and
finding creative ways to be a visible presence for peace in their
communities. Together, these local efforts help demonstrate active,
nation-wide opposition to a war against Iraq and open the political
space for alternative views to be heard. Reach out to different
groups in your community -- veterans, churches, young people, labor
unions, and others -- to help build diverse coalitions that actively
witness together. Major demonstrations are being planned for January
18 and February 15. Order your free FCNL "War is Not the Answer"
bumper stickers by sending a request to field@fcnl.org!
Friends Committee on National Legislation, 245 Second Street, NE,
Washington, DC 20002
Tel. 800-630-1330, Fax 202-547-6019, Website: www.fcnl.org
This email is being sent to you by the Peace and Economic Security
Program at the American Friends Service Committee. |
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