KC Iraq Task Force- we encourage you to remember - 7th Anniversary of the Iraq war
Ira Harritt
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Dear Peacemakers,
On this day, seven years ago, March 19, 2003, the war began with U.S. bombing of Iraq after intense political debate within the U.S. and now proven manipulated intelligence to make the case for war.
On this 7th Anniversary of the Iraq war we encourage you to remember.
Remember what we could have accomplished with the 3 trillion dollars we will waste on this war; remember all those who have suffered and lost loved ones here in the U.S. and in Iraq; remember and dream and work for how you want the world to be!
Please recommit yourself to work to end this war, the war I Afghanistan and other current and future U.S. militarism.
Copied below is an alert from United for Peace and Justice calling you on this anniversary to advocate for the U.S. to hold to the withdrawal timeline. Every day the media interviews pundits questioning the wisdom of withdrawal.
Remind our elected officials that the bilateral agreement requires us to follow the time line. While there are some in Iraq and at home who will profit from continued U.S. presence and may even escalate the violence in Iraq to try and convince Obama to delay withdrawal of U.S. troops it is long past time that we leave.
Join us at the Remember Seven Years of War in Iraq Vigil, Rally, Theater and More event on marking the anniversary of 7 years of war! We are excited about the progress being made in rehearsals for the two readers theater scenes based upon listening projects with Iraqi mothers and U.S. vets and their family members; the Remembering The Iraq War Puppet Play; and all of the other activities planned for March 20. (See flyer above or Click here to download a flyer.)
Listen tonight, Thursday, for a live broadcast performance of Through Their Mother's Eyes and The Human Cost of War Readers Theater at 7:00pm on KKFI, 90.1 FM Community Radio!
In this alert we invite get involved in work for justice and peace: See Five things you can do for peace; and help plan activities to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
With the passing of the grim 1,000th death milestone we have begun our 1,000+ Postcards for Peace Campaign. We invite you help turn this tragic event into an impetus for a change in U.S. policy! See how you can be involved in the campaign below.
Thanks for your work for a just and peaceful world!
Peace and Blessings,
Ira Harritt
KC Iraq Task Force Co-Chair
KC American Friends Service Committee
816 931-5256
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Here Are 5 Things You Can Do For A More Just And Peaceful World
ÿ Host or organize a showing of ReThink Afghanistan documentary-.Rethink Afghanistan is a ground-breaking, full-length documentary which raises critical questions about Afghanistan which inform the public and challenge policymakers
ÿ Help plan the 2010 Festival for Justice and Peace -The Festival theme will be “Stories of Justice and Peace.” We are seeking collaborations with arts organizations and want to showcase artistic expressions and visions of peace and justice. Our next Festival planning meeting will take on Monday, February 22 at 6:30pm at the AFSC office
ÿ Organize a presentation on the Iraqi Refugee Crisis and What Can be Done to Help for your school or group– a 30 minute to one hour presentation can be scheduled for school, faith and community groups.
ÿ Bring the AFSC some old shoes to use in the new Afghanistan Eyes Wide Open exhibit to use in the new Afghanistan Eyes Wide Open exhibit
ÿ Volunteer to collect signatures for the 1,000+ Postcards for Peace in Afghanistan Campaign.
We welcome your help! Contact us at 816 931-5256 or ihar...@afsc.org
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Sadly we have surpassed 1,000 U.S. fatalities in the Afghanistan War and Operation Enduring Freedom.
With your support we can turn this
tragic milestone into an impetus for a change in U.S. policy!
Help Send a Message to Congress
1,000+ Postcards For Peace Campaign
We are now beginning a campaign to send 1,000+ postcards to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi each with the name of one of the U.S. service persons killed in Operation Enduring Freedom.
· Help us collect signed postcards.
· Contact us and let us know how many cards you want to borrow.
· All Cards need to be returned to AFSC by March 20th.
Contact us at 816 931-5256 or ihar...@afsc.org.
Monday, March 22,
We invited to
KC Iraq Task Force meeting – 6:30pm
Community Festival for Justice and Peace Planning meeting – 7:30pm
Fourth Monday of each month, 6:30pm
at American Friends Service Committee office,
4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO.
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Upcoming Peace and Justice Activities
Click on link or scroll down for more information about the peace and justice activity
March 18, Thursday, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Live Broadcast performance of Through Their Mother's Eyes and The Human Cost of War Readers Theater on KKFI, 90.1 FM Community Radio!
March 20, Saturday, Remembering Seven Years of War in Iraq: Peace Vigil Rally, Theater and More, 3:00-4:15 J.C. Nichols Fountain, 47 & Main, KCMO and 4:15-5:15pm Unity Temple, 707 W. 47 St., KCMO
March 22, Mondays, 6 p.m., Plan National Gatherings vs. KC Plant, which makes non-nuclear parts for nuclear weapons. Join the potluck at KC Central Library, 14 W. 10th St., KCMO For info, call Jane Stoever at 913-206-4088 and see www.kcnukeswatch.wordpress.com.
March 22, Monday, 6:30pm, KC Iraq Task Force Monthly Meeting, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO we will review recent activities and plan upcoming campaigns re. ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Join us in this important work!
March 22, Monday, 7:30pm, Planning Meeting for Festival for Justice and Peace, date and location to be determined. The proposed theme this year is “Stories of Justice and Peace.” At the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO. Call 816 931-5256 for more information.
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EVERY Sunday: Iraq Peace Vigil, 4pm, JC Nichols Fountain, 47th & Main, Streets, Kansas City, MO http://www.kciraqtaskforce.org/
EVERY Tuesday, JOIN THIS Peace Demonstration Every Tuesday between 5PM - 6 PM in the median strip on the south corner of the intersection at 63rd & Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. For more information email '63rd Street Patriots' at schwar...@sbcglobal.net
Afraid that President Obama has been taken over
by the military industrial complex?
Hold a house party to show the documentary film
to help educate your family and friends!
Simply invite ten, fifteen or more people to a viewing party in your home or for your school or religious group. We will provide a DVD, informational handouts and a volunteer to help facilitate discussion if desired.
Contact us to find out how to organize a Rethink Afghanistan House Party or to get more information!
Contact American Friends Service Committee
at ihar...@afsc.org or 816 931-5256.
RETHINK Afghanistan is a ground-breaking, full-length documentary focusing on the key issues surrounding this war. The film raises critical questions regarding Afghanistan which inform the public and challenge policymakers.
The film is broken into six segments (Afghanistan Catastrophe, Pakistan, Cost of War, Women of Afghanistan, Civilian Casualties and Security / Solutions) which can be shown in parts so that the length of the showing can vary in length.
To preview the film go to http://rethinkafghanistan.com/videos.php
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News and Alerts
From United for Peace and Justice
Commemorate SEVEN Years of War and Occupation in Iraq
Take action in your community and in the nation's capitol!
March 19, 2010 marks the end of seven years of war and occupation in Iraq. After a year of Democratic control of the House, Senate and White House the Obama Administration and Congress are wavering in their commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq. The Administration has escalated the war in Afghanistan and extended military operations into Pakistan. Despite its lofty nuclear disarmament rhetoric, the Administration has asked for the largest nuclear weapons budget ever. This is not what we worked for. It is not what we bargained for. It is not what we voted for. But it is the reality of our world today. So in honor of Howard Zinn and his unwavering commitment to action, UFPJ is calling on this great network of peace and justice groups to take action demanding an end to the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan during the 7th commemoration of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Commemorate the Iraq War Through Action:
- Call President Obama at the White House. Read him the names of the people who have died this year in Iraq and Afghanistan. Demand he bring the troops home now. Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414
- Organize or attend a protest, vigil, march or rally in your community, add it to our online calendar.
- Write a Letter to Your Editor about the cost of war and the impact on your community. Check out the National Priorities Project It's a great resource on the cost of the wars to our communities.
- Participate in or start a Brown Bag Vigil to gather on the third Wednesday of every month in front of-and inside-Congressional offices in districts across the country and in DC. Or call: (202) 224-3121. Find your Rep here: http://www.house.gov/. Let them know that you are opposed to the President's request for a $33 billion Supplemental to fund the accelerating war in Afghanistan.
- Travel to the Washington DC for a week of protests to end the war. There are many ways to take action: Cindy Sheehan's Piece of the Action initiative, a mass mobilization A.N.S.W.E.R. march on Sat. March 20 and other activities on the Washington Peace Center's website. Stay over to March 21and participate in the immigration reform demonstration March for America.
Every day another mother awaits a knock on her door, or a young person who needs a job decides to become a recruit. Each day female soldiers must defend themselves from sexual assault and gay troops must keep it a secret. Each day young soldiers risk their lives for lies, oil and corporations in the name of freedom. Yet the Patriot Act has now been extended and Guantanamo is still open. Our cities continue to deteriorate, the jobless rate is soaring and the changes in our climate can no longer be denied. Untold numbers of civilian Iraqis, Afghans and Pakistanis have lost their lives and continue to die as a result of these occupations and wars.
President Obama is not moving us in the right direction, so we must keep the pressure on whether it is a phone call, a protest, a march, a letter to the editor or making a donation. Whatever you do, do something.
United for Peace and Justice, founded in 2002, continues to serve as a network of hundreds of peace and justice organizations around the country committed to ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, abolishing nuclear weapons, and redirecting military spending to fund jobs, health care, housing, education, and a clean energy economy built with green, union jobs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Link to Recording Informative Teleconference Briefing
with Iraqi political analyst, Raed Jarrar.
Iraq: Elections, Occupation and the Withdrawal of US Forces
http://www.afsc.org/middleeast/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/86820
Raed Jarrar | Wednesday 10 March
In addition to learning more about the three largest parties and their key positions, you will hear about the major challenges that lie ahead, the new campaign for grassroots oversight and how to connect with the Countdown to withdrawal.
The call ran for an hour and a half with lots of questions ranging from the role of Iran to the status of the displaced and refugees.
Most of all you will be inspired by the call to action and ways that people to help to insure that the United States honors their obligations to remove combat forces by August and all forces by December 31, 2011.
Story Behind the Headlines (Conference Call Archive Link)
http://www.afsc.org/middleeast/ht/d/Articles
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Peter Lems
Program Director, Education and Advocacy for Iraq and Afghanistan
American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, 19102
Tel: 215/241-7170 | Fax: 215/241-7177
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Ira Harritt
KC Program Coordinator
American Friends Service Committee
816 931-5256