Tweeting a good FORusa.org blog link

Think USA should attack Syria? Plz read: On United States Intervention in Syria! | Fellowship of Reconciliation: http://t.co/1g12Yjwoi7

— Kate Anne (@PeaceHugs) September 5, 2013

Peace -- Million Doors, a Festival, and Rest-In

This weekend I got to meet and re-meet some of my neighbors as I knocked on doors for the multi-group sponsored non-partisan Million Doors for Peace campaign. While anyone can sign the petition (do so at the website), it is aimed at getting more people a little more invested in the waging of peace. The petition scheduled to be given to senators and representatives on Thursday is a request for a date-certain to leave Iraq within a year. We're wasting 3 trillion dollars for an unnecessary war (While thanks to Fox, about half of America still believes Iraq had something to to with 9-11, it didn't, so why are we there?), killed or maimed 35,000 American troops and well over a hundred thousand, perhaps two hundred thousand, Iraqis have died as a result of the war and occupation. And we've lost our standing in the world, thanks to this illegal war and occupation. Oh, peace, please, now, or soon....

Meanwhile, Johnny Sonneborn and I joined Sarah Schindler and her husband in trekking to Shadowcliff in Nyack for national Fellowship of Reconciliation's Fourth Annual Peace Festival last weekend. There were booths, music, food, and awards -- but my favorite was Peace Troubadour Celia St. King whose new CD Your Word Is Magic I just had to purchase and whose shirt I wore while taking part in the Million Doors for Peace campaign: Inspiring songs and great peace logo -- modified musically. (Pictures will be posted on Flickr.com soon!)

As for Peace, Rest-In....we've got Wall Street doing strange stuff. It is pretty dire, or not-so-pretty dire. As for corporate bailouts -- they must not be allowed to come without strings. Please read Senator Bernie Sanders' press release and David Sirota's article in In These Times. 

Grannies' Teach-In: Close Gitmo, others

My weekend was full of peace and political action: a newsletter, our vigil and the Granny Peace Brigade teach-in (along with dog-sitting Munchkin and Barney Bear).

Sam Oast was on duty at our little Union Square peace vigil. He handed out a bunch of the flyers for the Grannies' event. I had my DontAttackIran.org sign [which has a new petition to sign - on my to-do list -- put it on yours] and we got plenty of attention and affirmation (Who says 52% of Americans want to attack Iran??).

Dr. Sam Oast
On Sunday, I tabled with Fellowship of Reconciliation's Fellowship magazine editor, Ethan Vesely-Flad at the Granny Peace Brigade event which stressed closing Guantanamo and all U.S. military bases on foreign soil. Vinnie Burrows moderated and Lynne Kates from the Center for Constitutional Rights gave an eye-opener (for some I am sure) on Guantanimo. She said there are now 786 prisoners there who endure 23 hours of daily isolation -- that in itself is cruel and inhumane! Talk about torture OTHER than water boarding! Elsa Rassbach from American Voices Abroad spoke about how the illegal Iraq war (and possible illegal Iran war) violate(s) the German constitution, "Only peace may come from German soil." She also said though the majority of Germans are pacifists they fear the growth of militarization. There were some other good speakers and the Raging Grannies sang.

Afterwards, Ethan and I spoke with people. There was good energy and the event was not only very informative but also well-attended: a good sign that American people want to know the facts. That said, the event let me to a post a QuickTAKE. And now doggy-duty calls me. Hope your weekend was productive and peaceful.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Out for Peace Today, Tomorrow, Every Day

It is 55 degrees in NYC and a bit grey and bleak but we are determined to get out for peace tomorrow for United for Peace and Justice's big eleven city demonstration. See www.Oct27.org for more info. I plan to be there in NYC with my friend Gail Harper with the Fellowship of Reconciliation contingent. Despite the stormy forecast, please try to join us. Now, I gotta get out and hand out a few more flyers on the way to work.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

PS As an FOR member, I wish the UFPJ would have emphasized the positive, coming out FOR peace rather than "antiwar":

"This coming Saturday, October 27, people from all walks of life will gather in 11 cities around the country in a national expression of the breadth and depth of antiwar sentiment in this nation. For many people, it will be their first step in transforming their antiwar feelings into antiwar action...."

I prefer asking people to join a peace demonstration. Besides, UFPJ, it is an OCCUPATION, not a war. And God knows we have to speak out for a peaceful resolution of the rather contrived Iran mess as well. Let's make the world a bit sunnier and safer -- come out for peace October 27th -- and every day. MORE HUGS!

FOR's Festival of Peace

Mel Duncan, Pfeffer Peace Prize recipient

The Fellowship of Reconciliation honored the vibrant executive director of the Nonviolent Peaceforce USA Mel Duncan recently at Shadowcliff in Nyack at the Third Annual Festival of Peace. I was pleased to meet him and give him a check for his wonderful work. (More is needed, please send tax deductible $$ to them at 425 Oak Grove St., Minneapolis, MN 55403.) Others honored were Samina Faheed Sundas, recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award and Phil & Fran Greenspan, the Festival of Peace Award [more pictures]. It was a beautiful day and it was great to reunite with Carmel & Frank Fee, whose daughter Anita Fee is the FOR Development Director. Joan Pagan and I drove Anita's friend Marianne back home to Queens (She lives a block away from me: small world!).

I once heard Gloria Steinem ask, "What will your checkbook say about you and your priorities?" Today we might add, "and your credit card statement". I don't have lots to give, but I believing in giving at least the grass widow's mite. At the festival, I bid on and "won" several objects (one of which I plan to send the enthusiastic Matthew Zeltzer with whom I had the pleasure to speak). But if you believe in peace, justice and nonviolence, please consider donating to the interfaith Fellowship of Reconciliation: www.forusa.org. I love that FOR USA is a peace group -- and a good one. What does your checkbook and credit card statements say about you?

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

How to be a Better Peacemaker

> Pay attention to events on local, national and global levels.

> Educate yourself on issues you are unfamiliar with -- and act!

> Think globally: how does something you do here affect people/places in other parts of the world?

> National ego disarmament: the U.S. is neither the cultural nor the moral superior to other countries.

> Make career choices that foster peace. Help young people with their choices.

> Give emotional and/or financial support to those who give up jobs or careers for reasons of conscience.

> Reach out to neighbors, strangers, people in need. Build community wherever possible.

> Stand on the side of the poor, disabled and victims of society.

> Work to make changes to government policy -- both domestic and foreign.

> Pray or meditate with love for those in power.

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With thanks to the Forum of Concerned Religious Leaders -- and to Sam Oast who inspired its reprinting for our work with the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Other suggested websites: WarResisters.org, CommonDreams.org, TruthOut.org, FreePress.net and OpEdNew.com.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

PS (KA must check out how these Mac symbols read on other PCs: ☮, , and ●. It is still not a very Mac friendly web.)