The Declaration of Peace website homepage from November 26, 2008 to December 10, 2008.
We are thankful!
As the end of 2008 approaches, we in The Declaration of Peace National Coordinating Body are thankful for much.
We are grateful for the participation of thousands of you in ongoing efforts for Peace for Iraq. We greatly appreciate all those who generously support The Declaration of Peace.
We are thankful for a new President and Congress. However, we know that real change will only come as the people inform and pressure the government to do the right thing.
Did you know that:
1. We will have a full-page ad, promoting Peace for Iraq and participation in The Declaration of Peace, in the February 2009 issue of Sojourners magazine. Thank you to all who donated to this effort and to Sojourners for giving us a great ad rate.
2. The Declaration of Peace will participate in the United for Peace & Justice National Assembly in Chicago on December 12 – 14, to make plans for the coming year with other Peace organizations, coalitions, and campaigns.
3. Organizing is beginning for massive nationwide nonviolent resistance to the war and occupation in Iraq during March 2009, the 6th anniversary of the U.S. invasion. Watch this website for developments or sign up for e-mails.
Peace for Iraq is Possible!
Our efforts for Peace must continue in 2009 with diligence, ‘laser-like’ focus, and creativity. This will only be possible with increased involvement by you and everyone else.
When the 111th Congress convenes in January 2009, make sure Peace for Iraq is a priority with your Senators and Representative.
The Declaration of Peace calls on everyone to recommit to take actions to move U.S. policy-makers to bring U.S. troops and contractors out of Iraq and to work for Peace in Iraq.
Join us!
For resources and tips on meeting with your members of Congress, click here.
Read about and download the 65-page Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq and the 6-page Talking Points.
Help get the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq to every member of Congress in 2009.
Please take the following simple, yet important action steps: Download the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq and the Congressional Declaration of Peace.
Then hand-deliver these documents to your Senators and Representatives in their home district offices, or at Town Hall Meetings or other forums.
Ask them to commit to supporting a Peace Plan for Iraq.
Thank you for your diligence and inspiring hard work!
Learn more about The Declaration of Peace campaign here.
Organizing Locally ~ Coordinating Nationally
“We The People Declare Peace!”
The Declaration of Peace website from September to November 26, 2008.
Make Peace for Iraq A Priority
Keep Peace for Iraq in the forefront of the 2008 Election Campaign.
Throughout the election season (now through November 4, 2008):
- Question all candidates for federal offices on ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
- Make the public aware of the war funding voting records of your members of Congress.
- Speak out, write about, and take action for Peace in Iraq.
For tips and resources on meeting with your members of Congress, click here.
Stay up to date and engaged with the campaign with Campaign Updates.
After spending hundreds of billions of dollars for devastating war and military occupation in Iraq, the U.S. Congress, on June 26, 2008, approved an astonishing $161.8 billion to continue the occupation of Iraq into the next presidential administration!
The Declaration of Peace calls on everyone to recommit, regroup, and redouble our efforts to move U.S. policy-makers to bring U.S. troops and contractors out of Iraq and to work for Peace in Iraq.
Join us!
Read about and download the 65-page Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq and the 6-page Talking Points.
During the 2008 election season, help get the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq to every member of Congress.
Please take the following simple, yet important action steps: Download the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq and the Congressional Declaration of Peace.
Then hand-deliver these documents to your Senators and Representatives in their home district offices, or at Town Hall Meetings or other forums.
Ask them to commit to supporting a Peace Plan for Iraq.
Thank you for your diligence and inspiring hard work!
Learn more about The Declaration of Peace campaign here.
Organizing Locally ~ Coordinating Nationally
“We The People Declare Peace!”
Tips & Resources: Move Your Congressional Representative and Candidates Towards Peace for Iraq
(from September to November 26, 2008)
We acknowledge and thank our colleagues at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) for providing much of the following excellent resources and information.
Move Your Congressional Representative and Candidates Towards Peace for Iraq: Tips & Resources
From September 29th until the November 4th Election, your members of Congress will be back in their home districts campaigning for re-election. This election season is a great opportunity for you to meet with Congressional candidates, including your Representative and Senators. Most members of Congress and other Congressional candidates will hold public meetings and forums during this period. Take advantage of these gatherings, or schedule a face-to-face meeting with your Congressperson or other candidates to talk about Peace for Iraq.
Click on the links below to utilize the resources to help make your meetings with your members of Congress successful.
1. Find out who your members of Congress are and where their offices are. (After choosing your Senator or Representative, click on the “Contact” tab to find the location of their local offices.)
2. FCNL has prepared guides for scheduling Congressional meetings and meeting with Congress members.
Grassroots Toolkit: How to Schedule a Meeting with Your Member of Congress
Grassroots Toolkit: Meeting with Members of Congress
3. Eight Tips for a Successful Lobby Visit
4. Raising Questions about Peace with the Candidates
As the November election approaches, you’ll have an increasing number of opportunities to interact with candidates. You might attend town hall meetings, be invited to participate in telephone conference calls, or see candidates at other public events. FCNL has put together some tips for questioning congressional and presidential candidates about peace, including suggestions for raising these issues if you can’t get to a public forum.
Click here to see several questions from FCNL to ask the candidates that touch on Iraq, nuclear weapons, the environment, and other topics.
5. Congressional Bird-dogging Guide
For some tips on asking questions, be sure to check out FCNL’s bird-dogging guide as well.
6. Tips for finding Congressional meetings during the August recess. Click here for suggestions on finding the town hall meetings and forums that your members of Congress may schedule, and not publicize widely.
7. Other Congressional candidates (besides the incumbent)
Don’t know who the candidates are? Want to contact the candidates? Not sure where to find their websites? FCNL has up-to-date and accurate election information for every state.
8. Make Peace an Election-Year Issue In Your Community
How can you encourage people in your community to raise peace issues in this year’s election? One simple way is to give a presentation for your local organizations using the “War Is Not the Answer” toolkit. It has everything you need to start a thoughtful dialogue with candidates this campaign season. You can download the pieces to make the toolkit from FCNL’s website.
9. Find lots of other great tips and resources on the FCNL page: Make Peace an Election Issue in 2008
10. Find FCNL resources on Iraq here.
11. Find more information and resources on Iraq here.
12. “Quickly, Carefully, and Generously: The Necessary Steps for a Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq” published in June 2008
13. Keep Peace for Iraq in the Media
Click here to see DoP’s “Working the Media for Peace”
14. Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq
Utilize the Talking Points during your Congressional visits and give a copy of the full Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq to your members of Congress to read and support.
15. Congressional Declaration of Peace
Ask your Representatives and Senators to commit to Peace for Iraq by signing the Congressional Declaration of Peace
16. 7 Suggested Questions to Congress Members and Congressional Candidates