FW: Next Task Force Meeting- Monday, Nov 22, 6:30pm
Ira Harritt
Dear Peacemakers,
Hope you are all well. This is an invitation to / reminder for the next KC Iraq Task Force meeting- Monday, November 22 at 6:30pm at the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO. I know that this is a busy time of the year but there are some key opportunities to further our work to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and reduce the U.S. military budget.
As you are aware there has been much news about proposals by members of the Presidents deficit reduction commission. Now is a time when we could get information about the enormity of the military budget and its contribution to increasing the deficit. (It has been estimated that military spending is responsible for 65% of the increase in the deficit since 2001.)
The commission is due to issue its reports in early December. We have opportunities to organize a campaign to write letters to the editor about this, draft an op ed or sign on letter and take other actions. An AFSC program in MA is creating a "sacred cow" / military budget and will be used is for a press event / street theater where they break it up and redistribute it to other needs.
I also met with Hugh Merril, artist and KC Art Institute professor and he gave me some good advice and contacts re. possible venues for the Windows an Mirrors Afghan Mural exhibit.
And we can follow up on Cong. Cleaver's offer to hold a townhall meeting on the Afghanistan war and make plans re. other campaigns...
Please join us for the Monday, November 22 at 6:30pm.
Take Care,
Ira
"Not what we say about our blessings,
but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
~W. T. Purkiser
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the link for the Wage Peace newsletter that went out yesterday, pushing for more letters to the editor and calls regarding cutting the military budget and maintaining crucial human needs programs and calls to Senator supporting passage of the Unemployment Insurance extension http://support.afsc.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=11001.0&dlv_id=13861
---------------------------------------------------
Here is a link to an op ed written by an AFSC staffperson in New Hampshire on the deficit reduction proposal: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/224390/budget-advice-for-gregg
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan Mural Exhibit
Click this link to hear radio story on exhibit> http://player.warnewsradio.org/index.php?audio_location=http://audio2.warnewsradio.org/WNR101112-ALArt.mp3
(We are working to bring this powerful exhibit to Kansas City next year.
Contact us to help or for more information.)
Windows & Mirrors:
Windows and Mirrors is a traveling exhibit that provides an opportunity to see ourselves in depictions of the war in Afghanistan through the eyes of artists and children.
The exhibit is a collaboration by over 40 artists from around the world, including U.S. students. Forty-five 4-foot by 6-foot panels memorialize Afghan civilian casualties, with each panel uniquely designed by an artist or group of artists. The exhibit also includes images collected from Afghan high school students.
These "windows" on a war torn country also are "mirrors" reflecting our identity as a nation at war.
We are looking for additional cities to host this exhibit.
To see mural images and for more info go to: http://afsc.org/project/windows-and-mirrors
We hope to bring the exhibit to Kansas City in the coming year and organize accompanying educational and advocacy activities while it is here. Join us in planning this exciting project!
Ira Harritt
KC Program Coordinator
American Friends Service Committee
816 931-5256
ihar...@afsc.org