Deeds Not Words, President Obama!

PLEASE WATCH and CONSIDER. In this GRITtv video, Laura Flanders reminds us that President Obama needs to follow through on the great words he used this past week, before more needlessly die at Guantanamo. Deeds not Words, President Obama.



Perhaps you will be moved to contact President Obama by form: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ or by phone, 202-456-1111.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Catching up -- Peace, Torture, Susan, David, AIDS Walk

I've been quiet here but spring has been been beautiful and busy and I've been more vocal on Facebook and Twitter -- such is the evolving social media stream. Peace work involves calls to the White House comment line: 202-456-1111. And in the related end torture/shut down Guantanamo work, I wish I could join Matt Daloisio in Washington for the 100 Days Campaign but I can't get arrested and I have much stuff here that I must accomplish for personal peace, which aids world peace in its own way. There's that but yes, I have been enjoying cheering on Susan Boyle and checking out more Britain's Got Talent stuff on YouTube. In the forefront of much of my spring, however, is my participation in AIDS Walk NY in memory of my big brother -- David J. Pfister. I thank my sponsors and urge you to join them in memory of David and/or another to benefit this good cause.

AIDS Walk New York, the world’s largest AIDS fundraising event, benefits GMHC and over 30 other tri-state area AIDS service organizations. GMHC is the nation’s oldest and most comprehensive AIDS service organization, serving approximately 15,000 people living with HIV and AIDS and their families each year, and countless more through its prevention and advocacy work locally and nationally.

To donate, click here or the scrolling gadget in my sidebar.

Thank you so much, and

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Kate Anne and David, circa 1989

MNYRCAT: End Torture, Close Gitmo

New York Fellowship of Reconciliation members joined with Amnesty International, Center for Constitutional Rights, World Can't Wait, ACLU and others in attending the Metro New York Religious Coalition Against Torture's prayer vigil to end torture and close Guantanamo, one of the January 11th events held worldwide on the sixth anniversary of the Guantanamo detention camp. As the vigil began, so did the rain, torrential at times -- but what is rain compared to waterboarding? It curtailed the length of the vigil, but didn't dampen our spirits. Check out additional photos on Flickr.com but please continue to contact Congress -- 202-224-3121 --and the White House comment line -- 202-456-1111 on this. And ask your friends to do likewise. Prayer and action together make a positive difference. Thanks!!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne


Center: Sam Oast and Gail Harper, with 2 CCR staff

Tearing down Misinformation

December Dawn

"May we be free of torture. May there be peace in hearts and minds as our kindness spreads around the world."
-- chant of pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar [Burma] in recent weeks, quoted in Amnesty International contribution request letter [I gave.]

Torture -- a biggy in today's news, if one is listening to something other than infotainment. Need to understand it more? Visit WitnessTorture.org  Want to end it and restore some of the lost integrity of the United States, our reputation in the World Community? Go to Tearitdown.org -- And a psychologically blind army vet verbally attacked me and called me a fool for wearing my Shut down Guantanamo button yesterday. Obviously I pushed his button but I was calm in stating I have the facts on my side. "They want to kill you." "They killed us on 9-11!!"  Another man in my company's building's elevator also noticed it (yet I have been wearing it for weeks!) but calmly asked, "But they're guilty, aren't they?" Maybe he visited WitnessTorture.org after I suggested it.

Meanwhile Bush is informed only recently that Iran has no nuclear program yet they are still a problem and a danger to world peace? BUSH is a problem and a danger to world peace. So much to do. But it will be done. A new day will dawn, with God's help, and ours.

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

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