Sharing our blessings- FW: Candlelight Vigil - day after President Obama announces AFghan decision & Contact President NOW
Ira Harritt
Dear Peacemakers,
I hope you have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season and that you are able to share our blessings with each other and the world. One way to do that is to act for peace by calling the White House and tell the President expanding the war in Afghanistan would be a huge mistake!
I have been hearing reports that the White House Comment line has been tied up and people are having trouble getting through. I encourage you to contact Obama and if you cannot get through by phone try one of the other ways listed below.
Though the pundits, especially the military ones, are predicting President Obama will send thousands more troops to Afghanistan, according to Obama advisers “he had yet to make known his final decision.” (KC Star, 11/25/09)
If you have not already contacted the President this week please do so by:
ÿ Calling the Whitehouse comment line: 202-456-1111 (takes calls from 9am to 5pm Eastern) or use Peace Action’s Toll free number, 888-310-8637
ÿ Trying the Whitehouse Switchboard: 202 456-1414 – they will put you into the queue for the comment line (but at least you will not get a busy signal)
Since the phone lines have been so busy you can also
ÿ Email the President at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact or
ÿ Fax at 202-456-2461.
Also please come to the
Peace On Earth Candle Light Vigil to End the Afghan War
the day after President Obama announces his decision, 6:30 to 7:30pm
at the J.C. Nichols Fountain, 47th and Main Street, KCMO.
(If he makes his announcement on December 1st as some report then the vigil would be on Wednesday, December 2nd)
We will have vigilling from 6:30 to 7:00pm with vigilling at the J.C. Nichols Fountain and candle light processions through the Plaza with groups of vigillers. At 7:00pm we will have a program with speakers and music.
Sincerely,
Ira Harritt
American Friends Service Committee, KC
From: Ira Harritt
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
4:38 PM
To:
(afsckc-p...@list.afsc.org)
Subject: Candlelight Vigil - day
after President Obama announces AFghan decision & Contact President NOW
Dear Peacemakers,
President Obama is being pressured by the military to escalate the fighting in Afghanistan. Leaks are suggesting that he will announce his plans for Afghanistan on December 1st. Some sources are predicting he will send an additional 34,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
However, the decision has not been announced and we still have a small window to have our voices be heard. We encourage you to contact the President Now (this week) and tell him to say “No” to escalation in Afghanistan.
Over the past week and as part of the National White House Call-In Days (November 23 - November 25) we have been encouraging concerned citizens to call the White House Comment line and tell the President:
§ No additional troops to Afghanistan.
§ Create a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and for diplomacy and dialogue with all parties to the conflict, without preconditions.
§ Provided badly needed development aid coordinated by civilian-led organizations, not the military.
§ Redirect the more than $44 billion spent yearly on war to supporting real human needs in Afghanistan and at home.
A call, email or fax the President today.
This simple action could prevent years of suffering and bloodshed.
You can call the Whitehouse comment line: 202-456-1111 (takes calls from 9am to 5pm Eastern) or use Peace Action’s Toll free number, 1-888-310-8637 or since the phone lines have been busy you can also email the President at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact or fax at 202-456-2461.
At last night’s KC Iraq Task Force Meeting we discussed several activities including organizing a Candlelight Vigil to take place the day after President Obama announces his decision, 6:30 to 7:30pm at the J.C. Nichols Fountain, 47th and Main Street, KCMO.
(If he makes his announcement on December 1st as some report then the vigil would be on Wednesday, December 2nd)
Please join us and spread the word. See flyer below. Or click here to get flyer from web.
Because we were not able to address all of the planning on our agenda we decided to hold a special meeting of the KC Iraq Task Force next Monday, November 30, 6:30pm. Please join us in planning for activities to promote peace and end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Wishing you a Thanksgiving full of blessings,
Ira Harritt
American Friends Service Committee, KC
ihar...@afsc.org, 816 931-5256
P.S. Click this link to read editorial by Peter Lems, AFSC staff, on Huffington Post, “Finding an End to a Costly War”
PPS. Click here to View video of former Foreign Officer Mathew Hoh talking about resignation also go the their site to sign a petition calling for no escalation of troops.
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Peace On Earth
Candle Light Vigil
to End the Afghan War
On the day after
Obama announces
his new plans for Afghanistan
6:30-7:30pm
Program and Speakers at 6:00pm
J.C. Nichols Fountain,
47th and Main, KCMO
We hope that President Obama will see the light and recognize that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. We hope he will announce an exit plan for our troops; increase diplomacy with all parties to the conflict; and increase development aid for civilian aid groups in Afghanistan.
The decision President Obama makes now will have a great impact on the people of the Afghanistan and the United States. More troops will likely lead to many more years of war; many more Afghan and U.S. casualties; many more billions of U.S. dollars wasted-decreasing our ability to rebuild our economy. More war will only enrich war profiteers.
Too few recognize that the U.S. is siding with the corrupt central Afghan government in a civil war against and rural Pashtun peoples.
Call, fax or email the President at 202-456-1111 (Comment Line 9am to 5pm Eastern) email the President at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact or fax at 202-456-2461 and join us the day after the new Afghan policy is announced.
Please forward, post and otherwise tell others about this vigil
For information about how to get involved in work to promote peace and end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq contact the American Friends Service Committee at 816 931-5256 or afs...@afsc.org
Ira Harritt
KC Program Coordinator
American Friends Service Committee