Action alert and upcoming events

[Andrea Whitmore]

Hello, Friends of Peace,

I want to ask you to call or email your Congressional Representative and your two Senators about the bills/issues below, if you would. Email is possible 24/7. Calls will have to wait till Monday.

Here is the information:

• H.R. 938, The United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013, would make Israel a “major strategic ally,” a privileged relationship that no other nation enjoys. It would also protect aid to Israel from any future across-the-board budget cuts. We are in a time of need in the U.S. Why should a wealthy state take our tax dollars? Could this bill entangle us in war if Israel unilaterally attacks yet another nation? Do we want this much cooperation with a government that thumbs its nose at all our presidents?
  

• H.R. 850, The Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013, would extend existing sanctions targeting Iran’s energy and financial transactions to include an even broader range of its commerce with the rest of the world. Children there are already dying for lack of ordinary medicines. There is no evidence, according to our own intelligence services, that Iran seeks nuclear WEAPONS, which are quite different from nuclear energy or nuclear medicine. Do you remember the lead-up to the disastrous, tragic, Iraq war? Deju vu unless you speak up. Consider not only the plight of Iranian children--but also the economic fallout from yet another war. Can you afford it?
  

• AIPAC is pushing to exempt US aid to Israel from sequestration, the mandatory reduction of all federal expenditures. Social Security payments are undergoing cuts. FBI expenditures are being reduced. Education Department services are decreasing. It is absurd to suggest that our massive amount of aid to Israel would be exempted.... but it is highly likely that the Israel lobby will accomplish this behind the scenes, if we don't actively oppose it.

Follow this link http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml) to find your Representative's name and how to email or phone him/her. The same link will locate your two Senators' information. Now is the time to stand up for the United States, and the serious needs we have here--and now is the time to tell our representatives that we do not want yet another war.

You can read and track the bills at http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/938 and http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr850

ALSO: Citizens for Justice in the Middle East will soon announce showings of "5 Broken Cameras," the Oscar-nominated documentary about life under occupation in a small Palestinian village. It's astonishing that the film was among the nominees. You can see it on Netflix, or you can wait for one of our screenings. If you'd like to show it at your church or other non-profit organization, please let us know and we'll work out a way for you to share the video. We have purchased the screening rights.

We will also host poet Remi Kenazi in April, and will send details soon. He minces no words, this man. He's in your face with his views in his performance-poetry, and will not leave you unmoved. A remarkable experience.

On April 3, three area women will share photos and video of their experiences in Gaza and the West Bank of Palestine at Village Presbyterian Church. Come hear "Watering the Holy Land" in room 126 on Wednesday, April 3, at 6:30 PM. The church is at 6641 Mission Road in Prairie Village, Kansas. You just might want to make the trip yourself after you hear them!

And THIS SUNDAY at 2 PM, come share your thoughts at "Speaking about Israel/Palestine," a follow-up session from the February talk by Gershon Baskin. This event is for you to air your thoughts about Gershon's talk and about the issue in general. It's at Avila University, Whitfield Center, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO.Please engage with the scheduled events, watch for news of those to come, and please--make your voices heard with your Senators and your Representative. This very week, there are 13,000 lobbyists for the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington working to get the above bills passed. We cannot afford to let that happen. Unless we speak up, our Congressional representatives will vote away our rights and our money to a foreign country that has plenty, and that wants to take us to war again--while at the same time, needs right here in the USA are being cut. Speak up.

Thanks for all you do.

Andrea