{news} Fw: Upcoming CT events for peace and justice[AFSC]
edubrule
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Mon Jan 12 11:17:19 EST 2009
6-Story Newsletter Template + Images(Some of these already happened.)
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----- Original Message -----
From: AFSC Connecticut
To: edubrule at sbcglobal.net
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 10:45 PM
Subject: Upcoming Connecticut events for peace and justice
American Friends Service Committee Connecticut
In This Issue: Jan 8 2009
. Jan 9 New Haven: Let Gaza Live March and Rally
. CALL CONGRESS NOW! Demand an end to the siege of Gaza!
. Jan 12: Aiding Iraqi Refugees: the Prophetic Work of Healing and Reconciliation
Jan 9 New Haven: Let Gaza Live March and Rally
Let Gaza Live, a march and rally for an end to the violence in Gaza
Assemble 5 p.m.
Friday, January 9
Center Church on the Green,
250 Temple St. New Haven
(midway between Chapel and Elm Sts.)
March in downtown New Haven
Rally in the Center Church at 7 p.m.
.
Sponsors: Council on American Islamic Relations, the Palestinian American Congress, the Middle East Crisis Committee, ANSWER, People of Faith CT, Queers Without Borders, the CT Coalition for Peace and Justice, We Refuse to Be Enemies, International Socialist Organization-New Haven.
Call 203-934-2761 for information
thestruggle.org
CALL CONGRESS NOW! Demand an end to the siege of Gaza!
From United for Peace and Justice
CALL CONGRESS NOW!
DEMAND ACTION TO END THE SIEGE OF GAZA
Earlier today, Thursday, Jan 8th the Senate unanimously passed a one-sided resolution supporting Israel for 'defending itself' from Hamas. Outrageous as this is, the House of Representatives will most likely do the same tomorrow, Friday.
Call your Representative NOW! to tell them to vote 'NO' on any resolution that fails to call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire -- as well as for unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into Gaza and a lifting of Israel's illegal siege.
United For Peace and Justice -- working with member groups such as the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Peace Action, the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Progressive Democrats for America, and Code Pink -- is organizing this national Congressional call-in day. We must let our Congressional representatives know that we will not stand for an unfair and unbalanced resolution that supports Israel's continued assault on Gaza, with no clear path for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
There are several biased resolutions on the table, most of which applaud Israel for being a 'strong ally' in the 'War on Terror'; falsely blame Hamas for breaking the ceasefire; fail to recognize the legitimacy of Palestinian elections; and say nothing about Israel's responsibility for the killing and injuring of Palestinians and imposing collective punishment on them through a brutal siege -- all with U.S. weapons.
If you don't know who represents you in Congress, then you can find out at Congress.org http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ (enter your zip code in the upper right corner of the website). Once you know who represents you call 202-224-3121 and the operator will connect you to your Representative. You can also call this Congressional switchboard number at 1-800-828-0498.
When you are connected to your Representative's office, keep your message short and to the point. Tell them:
* Congress should be calling for an immediate, unconditional, comprehensive ceasefire. Israel has killed more than an estimated 700 Palestinians and injured more than 3,000 since December 27. Resolutions that condition a ceasefire will only lead to more needless death and destruction, and biased resolutions that enable Israel to continue killing and injuring Palestinians are unacceptable. We are also critical of Hamas for launching rockets aimed at and killing civilians in Israel.
* Congress should be calling for unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. Israel is allowing through only a trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza. As the Occupying Power of the Gaza Strip, Israel is legally obligated by the 4th Geneva Convention to ensure that Palestinians receive adequate supplies of food, medical supplies, and other necessities of life. Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip imposes an illegal collective punishment on 1.5 million civilians by denying them access to these vital supplies in violation of international law. Israel must lift its siege of the Gaza Strip to comply with its Geneva Convention obligations and humanitarian aid deliveries must be allowed to enter without restrictions.
* Israel is misusing U.S. weapons to attack a civilian population. Instead of placing blame for Israel's war on and siege of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on the victims, Members of Congress should join with Rep. Dennis Kucinich in demanding from the Secretary of State an investigation into Israel's violations of the Arms Export Control Act. Members of Congress must hold Israel accountable for its misuse of U.S. weapons to kill Palestinian civilians in violation of U.S. and international law, not vote for resolutions which justify these illegal killings.
It is vitally important to make sure Congress hears from us! As few as 20 phone calls from their constituents can prevent Representatives from supporting these atrocious resolutions cheerleading Israel. Your call WILL make a difference -- call 202.224.3121 NOW to join our national movement.
After calling your Representatives and urging them to vote NO on any one-sided, biased resolution, we hope you will also call your Senators and let them know how upset you are with their vote today blaming Gazans for the current crisis. Call 202-234-3121 to be connected to the offices of your elected officials in Washington, D.C.
Don't forget to amplify your voice in Congress by having your friends call-in. Be sure to forward this message as widely as you can and encourage others to make these calls.
For more background information, organizing resources, ideas for action and a calendar that lists public protests all around the country, check the website of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. http://www.endtheoccupation.org/
UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
PO Box 607; Times Square Station; New York, NY 10108
www.unitedforpeace.org
Jan 12: Aiding Iraqi Refugees: the Prophetic Work of Healing and Reconciliation
Aiding Iraqi Refugees: the Prophetic Work of Healing and Reconciliation
Presentation by Noah Baker Merrill of Direct Aid Iraq
Monday, January 12 at 7:30pm
Quaker Meeting House
144 S. Quaker Lane
West Hartford
As 2009 begins, and without much fanfare, all three major US news networks have withdrawn their full-time correspondents from Iraq in the belief that events in Iraq no longer warrant this commitment of resources. On the day this story appeared in the New York Times, more than 30 people were killed in a car bombing in Iraq. As many as 5.2 million Iraqis remain displaced from their homes, more than 900,000 Iraqi children are orphans, and there are 1.5 million widows. The situation in Iraq remains desperate. This is a time to remember what has happened and is happening in Iraq, and to recommit ourselves to the cause of peace, even when many in the world and in our country are turning away.
----
Noah Baker Merrill, a member of Putney Friends Meeting in Vermont, will give a presentation on the work of Direct Aid Iraq (DAI), an Iraqi-American aid, advocacy, and peacebuilding organization for which he is the program manager. Direct Aid Iraq's work in the Middle East is conducted by Iraqis who are refugees themselves, in partnership with Americans who see support for direct humanitarian assistance as an act of reparations with the Iraqi people.
The presentation will include a description of how Direct Aid Iraq works, the current humanitarian and political context for Iraqis (in brief), and stories of some of the Iraqi partners and aid recipients involved in DAI's work. A discussion following the presentation will offer opportunities for more in-depth exploration of specific aspects of DAI's work and how we as Americans can help transform the Iraqi-American relationship toward healing, peace, and reconciliation.
Noah has served as staff with the American Friends Service Committee, as a consultant to AFSC and other nongovernmental organizations on the Iraqi displacement crisis, and frequently speaks in both secular and religious contexts around the United States on the Iraqi-American relationship, the Iraqi displacement crisis, and the connection between religious experience and prophetic service.
He travels regularly in the Middle East among Iraqi refugees, and is in daily contact with Iraqis and others in the region.
----
Here is a link to video of a ten-minute presentation Noah gave in Des Moines, Iowa in October of 2008.http://www.directaidiraq.org/new-video-of-dai-event-in-des-moines-iowa/
For more information about the work of Direct Aid Iraq, visit www.directaidiraq.org, or call 802.659.4281.
For information on the event:
John Humphries
Hartford Friends Meeting
Quaker Peacebuilder Camp
860/236-5175; jhumphries at igc.org
www.directaidirag.org
American Friends Service Committee
Connecticut Area Office
56 Arbor Street, Suite 213
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860.523.1534
Fax: 860.523.1705
Email: connecticut at afsc.org Visit AFSC CT Online
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