September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows [*]

"Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows" Martin Luther King, Jr.

Statement on the 8th Anniversary: September 11th, 2009

As we mark another anniversary of the tragic events that took our loved ones lives, the members of September 11th Families for Peaceful 
Tomorrows share our hopes for peace.

"Not in our son's name," wrote Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez, founding members of Peaceful Tomorrows, in a letter to President Bush 
postmarked September 15, 2001. As the calls for war and revenge were heard all around, Peaceful Tomorrows members spoke with one voice, 
imploring our leaders to recognize that in this tragic moment in history, we as a people held in our hands the unprecedented 
possibility of leading the world to a peace never before realized.

Our nation, united with peacemaking peoples all over the globe, was pregnant with the possibility of that peace . . . . and now we may 
finally be in a position to begin fulfilling that possibility. 
In 2006 Peaceful Tomorrows founded the International Network for Peace [INP], a partnership of organizations, from 17 countries around the 
world, of individuals and families directly affected by political violence and war who have chosen to respond by working for nonviolent 
solutions to conflict. Today the members of the INP are seizing opportunities to create new ways for nations to achieve true justice 
and lasting peace. We are very excited that the INP has launched its own website: www.internationalnetworkforpeace.org

We are all uplifted by this community of peacemakers who keep hope alive that we will all share Peaceful Tomorrows. To nourish hope, 
here is a summary of what the members of Peaceful Tomorrows have done in the past year to support our mission:

Afghanistan

In November 2008, Peaceful Tomorrows published the report, "Afghanistan: Ending A Failed Military Strategy," created in 
collaboration with Afghan NGOs and our friends in the international peace movement. In the report, we stress the need for regional 
diplomacy to address issues of development, humanitarian aid, and education for the people of Afghanistan. We emphasize the crucial 
need to end the bombings and attacks with pilotless drones that are causing tragically high numbers of civilian casualties. Above all, we 
stake our hope in a long-term commitment to supporting NGOs and peacemakers in Afghanistan as they rebuild their society and create 
opportunities for their citizens to prosper.

Iraq

Iraqis also say "No!" La'Onf ["No Violence," in Arabic] is a coalition of Iraqi civil society organizations committed to ending 
war, sectarian and political violence, and corruption in their country, so that Iraqis can build a stable, peaceful and prosperous 
future. Since 2007, Peaceful Tomorrows has worked to spread the hopeful message of this growing network of Iraqi organizations 
dedicated to non-violence. Peaceful Tomorrows nominated La'Onf for two international honors this year. We are delighted that the network 
has been awarded the 2009 Pfeffer Peace Prize given by the Fellowship of Reconciliation to honor those around the world working for peace 
with justice. La'Onf will also receive the 2009 John Humphrey Freedom Award from the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic 
Development in Canada.

During October, November and December, representatives of La'Onf will travel throughout the US and Canada to share their inspiring story of 
working to build peace, nonviolence, and a strong and democratic civil society in Iraq. Peaceful Tomorrows is honored to be working 
with La'Onf and to see it receive the recognition it so justly deserves.

Guantanamo Bay Prison and the Office of Military Commissions

President Obama's Executive Orders detailing the closing of the notorious Guantanamo prison also mandate a review of the case of each 
detainee, along with options for improvements to the military tribunal process set up under the controversial Military Commissions 
Act of 2006, which was twice substantially altered by the Supreme Court.

Peaceful Tomorrows has dedicated resources to form and support a Guantanamo Committee to work actively for a just outcome to the 
prison closing, to ensure legal and fair trials for those charged, and to see that our nation rejects all forms of torture and complies 
with international law regarding the treatment of prisoners. We believe that the United States can and must promote respect for the 
law and the rights our nation holds dear as we work with the international community to bring those responsible for terrorism to justice.

All of this work that the members of Peaceful Tomorrows do honors the lives and memories of the family members we lost eight years ago. It 
brings meaning to our lives today.

[*] September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows is an organization founded by family members of those killed on September 11th who have 
united to turn our grief into action for peace. By developing and advocating nonviolent options and actions in the pursuit of justice, 
we hope to break the cycles of violence engendered by war and terrorism. Acknowledging our common experience with all people 
affected by violence throughout the world, we work to create a safer and more peaceful world for everyone. 
http://www.peacefultomorrows.org - http://peacefultomorrows.org

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