Dear Friends,
Poets Against War has signed on to two important campaigns for peace: a petition to cut off funding for the Iraq war and VotersForPeace's "Cancelled Check" House Party campaign. Details about both are below. We urge you to join us -- together we can turn this country around! In peace,
Sarah Browning and Sam Hamill, for the Poets Against War Board of Directors
1. Petition to End Funding for the Iraq War: http://pdamerica.org/petition/mcgovern-petition.php Progressive Democrats of America is sponsoring a petition in support of HR 4232, a resolution in Congress to cut off funding for the war in Iraq. Poets Against War urges you to sign the petition and to vote for candidates in November who will commit to ending the war in Iraq. Sign the petition here: http://pdamerica.org/petition/mcgovern-petition.php
As the petition organizers write:
Congress has appropriated more than $300 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq. Simply stated in monetary terms, we are spending $8 billion per month in Iraq with no end in sight. That's $2 billion per week , or $267 million per day , or $11 million per hour .
Listen to the bill's sponsor, Rep Jim McGovern, live from Camp Democracy: Click here.
H.R. 4232 would end all funding for the deployment of U.S. troops in Iraq.
HR 4232 would in no way prohibit nor interrupt U.S. non-defense funding in support of Iraq's social and economic reconstruction, including support for democratic institution-building, elections, and the restoration of Iraq's infrastructure.
HR 4232 provides for the safe, orderly, and honorable withdrawal of the United States from military operations in Iraq. By continuing U.S. support for the economic and social reconstruction of Iraqi society and the financial and material needs of Iraqi security, it maintains our moral and political obligations to the Iraqi people, while concretely promoting, supporting, and providing for greater multilateral engagement in these serious tasks.
Read the full bill here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.4232.IH :
Sign the petition here: http://pdamerica.org/petition/mcgovern-petition.php
2. "Cancelled Check" House Party Campaign:
VotersForPeace is launching a campaign is to divert votes and dollars from pro-war candidates. They want to send a message to candidates and incumbents that peace voters will not be taken for granted. At the same time, they want those dollars that could have gone to a pro-war candidate to instead go to a person or organization that is working for peace - including Poets Against War!
VotersForPeace supporters will invite friends, colleagues, and fellow activists to their home or community space for a Cancelled Check Party. Each attendee writes a brief note to the pro-war candidate or incumbent in his/her district explaining that they are losing his/her vote and donation due to their position on the occupation of Iraq. The attendee writes a check to the pro-war candidate or incumbent with VOID clearly written over the check. He or she then writes a second check for the same amount to his/her favorite peace cause. (Check out our list of peace groups which are part of the VotersForPeace effort in case you'd like to support one of them!)
Parties can be as small as 3 people or as big as several hundred people. Consider doubling this party as a film showing of "Why We Fight" or "Iraq For Sale" , two great films that talk about the power and might of the military-industrial complex.
Please visit VotersForPeace for more information and for links to sign up to host or find an event in your area.
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