The House of Representatives will vote as soon as tomorrow -- Thursday, May 8 -- on an additional 2.6 billion for the war and occupation in Iraq!
Amazingly, the bill includes billion for fiscal year 2009. This means the funds for the occupation will keep flowing well into the next administration, allowing the new president a free hand to continue the war and occupation with little or no accountability to Congress until next spring. This is an appalling abdication of responsibility.
YOUR CALL IS CRUCIAL.
Call your representative NOW: 202-224-3121
-Tell them to vote "No!" on this funding bill. -Tell them it's long past time to bring all the troops home and end the war. -Tell them to stop playing political games while lives are being lost.
Mother's Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester Corner of Dorchester Ave and Park Street, 8:00 A.M.
This walk is organized by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute,
which assists and supports the families of homicide victims in Boston;
has developed a fully integrated curriculum for all elementary, middle
and high school students that prepares them to deal with trauma and
grief, build nonviolence and conflict resolution skills; and is
committed to restorative justice and building sustainable peace through
helping young people commit themselves to peace work in their families
and their communities.
The walk is a fundraiser ....
If you would like to travel from Cambridge, Brian Corr, Cambridge Peace Commission, writes:
Please join me and members of the Cambridge Peace Commission on the morning of Sunday, May 11 as we participate in the annual Mothers Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester.
Many of us will go as a group from Cambridge and will be LEAVING from the Cambridge Friends meetinghouse at 7:00 a.m. and traveling together on public transportation to Townsfield Park in Dorchester. The Friends Meetinghouse is located at 5 Longfellow Park, just off Brattle St.
Welcoming Massachusetts A statewide immigrant rights' initiative
The Welcoming Massachusetts initiative is collecting 100,000 individual and 1,000 organizational pledges 'affirming Massachusetts as a commonwealth that welcomes and respects the dignity of all people'.
Welcoming Massachusetts is now gathering pledges from each legislative district in the commonwealth, building new partnerships among and across communities and constituencies, and layint the groundwork for a range of legislative victories. Welcoming Massachusetts will bring all of its petitions to the state legislature in the beginning of Jue so our state senators and representatives can affirm it principles too.
Sign the pledge and get everyone you know to sign too!! You may sign the pledge online at http://welcomingma.org, or sign a petition (e-mail swlees@earthlink.net for petitions.
Get any groups to which you belong or with which you work to endorse the pledge as well--neighborhood and religious organizations, unions, social clubs, teams, and so on.
Send or take signed pledges to Centro Presente, 64 Essex Street, Cambridge 02139, Attn Patrica Montes.
2) Call your representatives and Senators at CONGRESSIONAL SWITCHBOARD: 202-224-3121
Tell them to vote no on more funding for the war and occupation in Iraq, and to support HR 5507
3. Urge a filibuster!
Call Senators Barack Obama 202-224-2854 and Hillary Clinton 202-224-4451.
Senate Switchboard -- (800) 828-0498
Urge them to use the power of the filibuster to block any bill that
continues to fund the war in Iraq rather than funding the swift and
safe return of our troops. See http://www.mfso.org for more information on Senate filibuster action
Stop the March to War with Iran Oppose Mass House Bill 4270!
CALL Rep. Robert DeLeo, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and Speaker of the House, Sal DiMasi. Tell them you do not want them to support a bill which adds fuel to the calls for an attack on Iran! Ask where they stand on the legislation.
If you are a state employee let them know that you understand the transaction fees on this bill will be more than million, and you are concerned that this is negatively affecting your retirement fund.
Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2990
Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi: 617-722-2500
Please click on 'more' for full information about the bill and talking points!
'Not Our Country To Return To'
Inter Press Service <http://ipsnews.net/>
By Maki al-Nazzal and Dahr Jamail*
DAMASCUS, Mar 3 (IPS) - More Iraqis continue to flee their country than
the numbers returning, despite official claims to the contrary.
Thousands fleeing say security is as bad as ever, and that to return would be to accept death.
"Return to Iraq?" asks 35-year-old Ahmed Alwan, an Iraqi engineer now
working at a restaurant in Damascus. "There is no Iraq to return to, my
friend. Iraq only exists in our dreams and memories."
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported
September last year that there are between 1.2 and 1.4 million Iraqi
refugees in Syria alone.
Most, like Alwan, do not intend to return.
"I shall never return to Iraq until the last American soldier and
Iranian mullah leaves," Alwan says. "It is their country now, not ours.
The only thing that might take me back is when I decide to fight for
Iraq's real liberty." ..........
