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Thursday, March 01, 2007 9:14 AM
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Category: News and Politics
From an email from Peaceworks in COMO.Hello friends, We're going to make this very simple this week. There are just two things we're asking you to do (There is some other interesting info regarding Iran and a couple of other worthy items at the bottom, however, if interested, or just curious, please scroll down): 1) Join in "Peace Is Growing!" on March 18th and, with your presence, help make it the largest gathering for peace yet. 2) Become a recruiter for "Peace Is Growing!" Get your friends, family and associates to turn out as well. HELP MAKE "PEACE IS GROWING!" SUNDAY, MARCH 18th THE LARGEST END THE WAR DEMONSTRATION YET: The Iraq War has dragged on for four years. The cost in life, limb and treasure is totally unacceptable, for us and especially for the Iraqis. The war must be ended and a wider war with Iran averted (see below for details on the Iran situation). To achieve this we, the people, must lead, as it is clear that our elected "leaders" are not doing what is needed. One important way to up the ante is to turn out peace supporters in very large numbers all across the nation. Locally, the Columbia Peace Coalition aims to turn out at least 500 people for "Peace Is Growing!" a Rally, March and Tree Dedication. All details as to time and place are in the text below, as well as on our website www.midmopeaceworks.org. WE NEED YOU TO SIGN UP NOW: To date, 147 people have committed to be part of this event. Over the next two and one half weeks we aim, with your help, to get this number as close to 500 as we can. If we can demonstrate this momentum, even more folks will get on board and we will have a much better chance of getting the media, which has done its darnedest of late to ignore the peace movement, to come out to cover us. If you are not one of the 147 who've signed up, please do so today. You can do this by going to our website and filling out the form at http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/commitment.php, by sending an e-mail in response to this post, by stopping by the Peace Nook, or by calling the Nook at 573-875-0539. Please, GET ON BOARD TODAY! THE NEXT STEP, BECOME A RECRUITER: Each of us can reach out in our own way. What we've included below are some suggestions as to what you might do. Following this is a sample of a post you can e-mail to friends. Note that this has all the details about the event, so please scroll down to see these. SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING BUILD TURNOUT FOR "PEACE IS GROWING!" 1) Reach out to those you know. Come by the Peace Nook and pick up a stack of "Peace Is Growing!" handouts. Give these to friends, neighbors, family members, co-workers, etc. In all likelihood, most of the people you know are by now opposed to the Iraq War. Now is a great time to encourage them to commit an hour and a half to taking a stand for peace. 1a) Use your personal e-lists, any local listservs you are on and websites. E-mail is one way that some of us can reach lots of folks. It's less sure-fired than talking with folks, in that you never know how many of those you send it to read in full vs. skimming vs. not even reading it. But it's quick and easy and at least some folks are certainly reached this way. Likewise, if you have a personal website, a MySpace or a FaceBook page, a personal blog, etc. please post info about 3/18 there. 2) Work through your house of worship. Talk with the pastor/priest/rabbi/imam/etc. to see if it would be possible to do something official like set up a table in the lobby after services, put an announcement in the bulletin, organize a congregation contingent to march together on 3/18, etc. You could also try to make sure that they have a flyer about 3/18 on the bulletin board, see if they would allow you as an individual congregant to set up a table, etc. At the least, you can talk with the folks you know in the congregation, give them flyers, etc. If the congregation has a listserv that you can post to, you can post info about 3/18. If they have one that only the pastor or officials can post to, you can ask them to include the info in their posts. Be creative. We have one of our members who spends time Sunday mornings outside her church reminding fellow congregants of the congruence between Jesus' teachings and the message of those of us calling for ending the war. Do what you can keeping in mind that there is an essential peace teaching, or at the very least an opposition to unprovoked aggression, in all the major faith traditions. 3) Use the media to get the word out. Write a letter to the editor ASAP and send it off to at the very least the Tribune, the Missourian and the Maneater. Links for posting letters are at www.mosafeenergy.org/papers Write the letter about the need to end the Iraq War, to bring the troops home, to not go to war with Iran, etc., but include in the letter the fact that you are going to be part of "Peace is Growing" in March 18 and you encourage readers to do so as well. Include the link, www.midmopeaceworks.org where they can get more info. Remember the Trib has a cap of 250 words. Also, call in on radio talk shows and talk up peace and 3/18. Finally, you can also post info regarding 3/18 on interactive news blogs, political bulletin boards, etc. 4) Help with leafleting at public events. It is especially helpful to get out at events that draw likeminded folks. If you know of any events you think we should be at, please let us know. ****4a) MAJOR OPPORTUNITY The True/False Festival coming up this weekend (March 1-4) is clearly our most promising event during the run-up to 3/18. We have printed several thousand more leaflets just for the weekend. If you can help leaflet at T/F, please contact Mark Haim at Peaceworks ASAP.**** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE COPY THIS, EDIT IT TO YOUR LIKING & SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS & ASSOCIATES: Subject: Peace Is Growing! An Invitation to Participate Dear ______________, I'm planning to participate in this peace gathering on March 18 and thought you might be interested as well. Below are all the details: "PEACE IS GROWING"--MARCH 18 JOIN IN SAYING "NO" TO ONGOING WAR & OCCUPATION, WHILE SAYING "YES" TO LIFE & PEACE: The Columbia Peace Coalition invites you to join in "Peace Is Growing!" a major peace rally, march and tree dedication to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. We need you to add your voice and your presence to our call for an end to the war. As public sentiment has turned steadily against the Iraq War, we really hope that with your help we can make "Peace is Growing," our largest peace gathering to date. We have set a goal of gathering at least 500 of us. We are asking you to do two things: 1) Commit to attending (see response form below) and 2) Become a recruiter, encouraging family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, co-parishioners, etc. to also sign up to be part of this. PLEASE CONSIDER: As of today, 3,161 GIs have died in Iraq. More than 49,200 GIs have been what the military classifies as "non-mortal casualties," including more than 23,700 wounded in combat. The cumulative cost to the war to U.S. taxpayers through Sept. 30 of this year is now pegged at $457 billion, and this says nothing of future costs already obligated. And the war has only made us less secure. As mind boggling as these tragic losses and astronomical costs are to us in the U.S., just imagine, if you can, the impact of this criminal war of aggression on the Iraqi people. The entire fabric of their society has been torn asunder. While we lack precise numbers, best estimates indicate that it is likely that more than half a million Iraqis have died due to the invasion, occupation and war. Millions have been uprooted from their homes, living either in exile outside Iraq or internally displaced. The human costs in life and limb, the cultural destruction and the environmental devastation are really beyond most of our comprehension. It must be stopped. And the tragedy of a expanded war must be averted. Healing will only begin when the United States gives up its imperial ambitions in the Persian Gulf region. EVENT DETAILS: On Sunday, March 18 will will gather at Courthouse Sq. between 1:30-2:00 p.m. Universal Drum Appeal will play as we gather. There will be a short rally from 2-2:30 and then a march through downtown to Douglass Park, where at 3:15 there will be a short dedication ceremony for the Peace Tree we are sponsoring the planting of. Following this, there will be an opportunity for those who are so inclined to stick around for a potluck picnic. Note that in the event of rain or other inclement weather, we will gather in the Commission Chambers in the Boone Gov't Center, but the march at 2:30 p.m. is a rain or shine event, so if it's raining, please bring umbrellas &/or raingear. The general theme of the event is one of growing peace, growing new life, ending the war and the killing. The tree we are sponsoring (Columbia Parks and Rec. will do the actual planting) is a tree of life and of hope. Our message is positive and participatory. We want you to be part of making it happen. PLEASE E-MAIL THIS BACK TO PEACEWORKS AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE PART OF THIS IMPORTANT EVENT: ___Yes, I'll/We'll join in "Peace is Growing!" on Sunday, March 18 to participate in the rally. Please keep us posted on all the details and we will be there at Courthouse Sq. Sunday (arrive 1:30-2 p.m.). Name(s)___________________________________________________________________ E-mail_____________________________________________________________________ Phone_____________________ #Attending_______ Thanks for making a commitment to stand for peace. We will contact you by e-mail to confirm your reservation. NOTE: Please send this to mail@midmopeaceworks.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAN SITUATION CRITICAL: As you probably know, our government has been rattling sabers in Iran's direction for some time now. Many think that an attack on Iran is growing more likely by the day. We have posted information about the Iran situation on the News of Note blog on the Peaceworks website. To access this info, please go to http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/articles.php If the February 27 post "Turning Up the Heat on Iran--The Time to Act is NOW!" is no longer at the top of the page, just scroll down to it. Please make your voice heard on this today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PHONE HELP NEEDED: We will be holding a major phonebank on Saturday and Sunday, March 10 & 11, both to invite PW members to renew their memberships and to urge folks to turn out for "Peace Is Growing!" If you can help with calling, we would be so happy to hear from you. Please reply to this post or call Mark at 573-875-0539. Many thanks! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH": There will be a special screening of this Academy Award winning documentary this coming Monday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Blue Note. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for seating and pre-show information. All STUDENTS admitted FREE! General public $2 Presented by: The Blue Note, Columbia Coalition on Global Climate Change, MU Environmental Studies Program, Columbia College Recycle Program, Sierra Club, Democracy for Missouri, MU Environmental Sciences Club. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We thank you for whatever actions you can take to move forward the cause of peace and sanity. All the best, Your friends at Peaceworks Mid-Missouri Peaceworks 804-C E. Broadway Columbia, MO 65201 573-875-0539 "Acquiescence in Bush's monstrous war in Iraq has amply demonstrated the political elite's limited capacity for introspection, independent thought and civic courage." Stephen F. Cohen, The Nation, July 10, 2006
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