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25-Feb-2005

Get connected: peace across the Atlantic newsletter out now!

by: Peace Across The Atlantic

USA/International:

Issue No 1

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of Peace Across the Atlantic
Peace Across the Atlanticis one part of a networking project called Bridges of Encouragement, which seeks to build stronger ties between peace and human rights activists in the United States and activists in Europe and other parts of the world. Currently Bridges of Encouragement focuses on efforts that will offer encouragement and support to American activists as they struggle to change US military practices and government abuses of human rights and civil liberties. Such cooperative and collaborative activities will strengthen peace and human rights groups in Europe as well.
monthly reports will include short descriptions of US peace and human rights groups and their recent activities, with an emphasis on groups that are working at the local community level. The descriptive items will include an address or web page where you can learn more. One part of each issue will also focus on a theme, providing information about groups and campaigns that relate to that theme. For example, one issue will focus on anti-war organising among US soldiers, and another one will report on peace activism among retirees and older people.

A MOSAIC
This first issue of Peace Across the Atlantic presents a mosaic of organizations and networks that are active on a nation-wide level. Many of them have local affiliated groups and regional office in different parts of the US

IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR
A growing number of US soldiers and veterans who have served in Iraq are beginning to question the war. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) was created to give a voice to those who are opposed to the war and want to bring the troops home now. IVAW also supports Iraqi reconstruction, and campaigns for the rights of veterans and soldiers now and upon their return home. The group's membership includes anyone who has served in the military since September 11, 2001. IVAW began in July 2004 with eight members and by December, there were over 150, including some soldiers still in Iraq. Their activities include public speaking and reaching out to more veterans by leafleting near military bases, as well as raising funds to support projects that help civilian Iraqi war victims. For more information: http://www.ivaw.net.

RAGING GRANNIES
The Raging Grannies began in Canada 17 years ago and is now an international movement. Local Grannie groups now exist in many US cities, where they actively protest against the Iraq war and against globalization. The Grannies have high ideals - to promote global peace, justice, and social and economic equality. But it is their down-to-earth, humorous methods that give them their power and charm. Raging Grannies dress up in silly, extravagant hats and sing satirical songs, which they have created by giving new words to old popular tunes. They perform at demonstrations, protest marches, and in front of corporation headquarters. By dressing like harmless little old ladies, they are able to get close to their “target,” and with their songs, they can not only satirise the behavior of politicians and businessmen, but get their audience to join them in singing. According to one member, “Grannying is the least understood yet most powerful weapon we have.” For more information: http://www.Geocities.com/raginggrannies, http://www.raginggrannies.com, or http://www.peninsularaginggrannies.org

FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATON: IRAQ PHOTO PROJECT
The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) is a national faith-based pacifist organisation, which has local groups across the United States. They are the US Branch of the International FOR based in Alkmaar, Netherlands. In Fall 2004, FoR began the Iraq Photo Project to create a counterpoint to the violent photographic images taken in Abu Graib prison in Baghdad. FOR invited Americans to send a different picture of the U.S. to the Iraqi people, sharing their messages of peace and expressing their sadness and regret over the violence the Iraqis are experiencing from the U.S. military. People sent FOR digital photos of themselves with their families, churches, neighbors, or organizations, holding handwritten signs of peace and sorrow, some in Arabic and others in English. The FOR office then put the photos on CDs and distributed them to the Arab and international media. The goal is to get the pictures to media channels where ordinary Iraqi people are most likely to see them. A slide show of the photos can also be seen on the FOR web page. It conveys a powerful emotional message about ordinary American people in small and large towns, who see themselves as part of a world community. This is an image that the mainstream media rarely portrays. For more information: www.forusa.org

WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE: STOP THE MERCHANTS OF DEATH CAMPAIGN
War Resisters League (WRL) is a national pacifist organization with local groups across the United States; it is the U.S. Section of War Resisters\' International, which is based in London. In 2004, WRL\'s Disarmament Program embarked on a long-term campaign called Stop the Merchants of Death. Their goal is to build public awareness of the corporations and businesses that make a profit from war, and to develop nonviolent strategies for confronting and disarming them. This refers not only to the traditional arms manufacturers or the suspect oil companies, but also to those companies who contract to handle military services, and those contracted to rebuild war-torn regions after the conflict. The WRL campaign builds on the thesis that these corporations not only profit from the war, but play a direct role in influencing government decisions to wage war. The initial stage of the campaign has been a series of public speaking tours involving a roster of more than 34 speakers. Speaking in universities, churches, and community centers, they are providing their audiences with both factual details and political analysis to deepen people\'s understanding of U.S. militarism. For more information: www.warresisters.org/merchantsofdeath

CODE PINK
CODE PINK is a women-initiated grassroots network of peace and justice activists who carry out creative protests and nonviolent direct action. They have over 100 chapters, with many energetic local actions, but they have attracted US media attention mostly because of high-profile actions carried out by their leaders and by well-known media personalities who are members. CODE PINK formed in 2002, and adopted the name Code Pink as a form of wordplay on the color-coded warnings issued by the US Department of Homeland Security. Pink is their signature colour, which can be seen in all the costumes, signs and campaign slogans they use. Everything is pink. In 2003, for example, they began giving out pink slips (lingerie) to politicians and media reporters who were “not doing their job properly.” - In the US the term, “pink slip” also refers to the paper given to an employee when he or she is fired. CODE PINK works from the premise that women should be taking a leading and dramatic role in demanding an end to the war in Iraq and other Bush policies. The group provides activists, women in particular, with both encouragement and creative tools to speak out loudly, and to have fun doing it. For more information: http://www.codepinkalert.org

POETS AGAINST THE WAR
Poets Against the War (PAW)is a national effort, spearheaded by a well-known US poet, Sam Hamill, to encourage and empower poets to use their words as a force for peace. PAW's primary activity is the maintenance of a web site and the publication of poem anthologies. Poets submit their poems about war and peace issues, which are reviewed and then posted on the web site by volunteer editors. Thousands of poems are now available to read at the site. Poets Against the War got its start when Laura Bush, the President's wife, invited poets to a Day of Poetry at the White House, just as the US administration announced its plans for “Shock and Awe” attacks in Iraq. In protest, Hamill decided not to attend the event, but instead he asked other poets to send him poems of protest that he could send to the White House. 1500 poems arrived in four days, and the web site was born. Poets Against the War has inspired the creation of anti-war poets groups in Washington DC and Portland, Oregon. In these local groups, poets support each other's work, organize poetry readings and present their poems at protest actions. For more information: http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org or http://dcpaw.mahost.org

NO WAR / TIEMPO DE GUERRAS
NO WAR / Tiempo de Guerras is an organization dedicated to addressing war and human rights issues as they affect the working class, immigrants and communities of colour, such as African-Americans, Hispanics, and Arab-Americans. Their initial project has been the production of a weekly newspaper, in both Spanish and English. Unfortunately they had to stop publication in late 2004. They are continuing their work by using other formats. Part of their purpose is to highlight the links between international, national and local policies, and to examine the real agenda behind the “war on terror”. NO WAR / Tiempo de Guerras distributes its material through a network of community groups and labor unions. While they are no longer be producing a newspaper, the articles from all the issues are available on their web site. They continue to use the web site for posting documents, brochures, and flyers, which community groups can use. For more information: http://www.war-times.org

IF YOU WANT TO DO MORE
If one of the articles triggers your interest or inspires you, you may want to follow up on what you read. What can you do? Here are a few suggestions:
Learn more: You can start by looking at the group's web site and following links to other web sites and organizations.
Share the information: Does one of the groups you read about have a similar focus and interest to a group or individuals you work with? Please pass the information on to them. You can also let us know about these groups – we may be able to provide them with additional information and US contacts.
Write a “fan letter”: If you read about a particular US group in these pages, and you find their work inspiring, send them an email and tell them so! Write your message in English if you can. Even a very short and simple letter will carry a powerful message of encouragement. If a group's postal or email address is not included in the description, you will find it on their website.

A QUESTION FOR YOU
Your feedback and suggestions are both welcome and important. Are there particular types of peace or human rights groups that you would like to learn more about? You can email us your thoughts at transnationalbridges@gmx.net

WHO WE ARE
Peace Across the Atlantic is researched and edited by the Coordinators of Bridges of Encouragement, Dorie Wilsnack and Eric Bachman. Dorie and Eric are US Americans with extensive experience in the German, US and international peace movements.

DONATIONS WELCOME
There is no subscription fee for Peace Across the Atlantic, but we welcome donations. Contact us for the details.

Peace Across the Atlantic A project of Bridges of Encouragement Dorie Wilsnack and Eric Bachman, Milchstr 83, D-32120 Hiddenhausen, Germany (+49 5221 689 708; fax 689 741; email transnationalbridges@gmx.org).

Source: Peace Across the Atlantic: A project of Bridges of Encouragement