On December 12-14, 2008, Declaration of Peace National Coordinating Body members Christine Glaser and Timothy Baer participated in the United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ) National Assembly in Chicago.
It was great to interact with organizers and activists from across the country. We strengthened existing relationships and initiated some new working relationships that we hope will benefit the Peace for Iraq movement and the people of Iraq for a long time to come. We talked with several people whose organizations are providing direct medical aid to Iraqis. We considered how we could partner with these organizations to more tangibly support the Iraqi people for the long run.
Aid for Iraqis
The most important information we have for you is that The Declaration of Peace has agreed to partner with two organizations providing desperately needed medical aid and materials to Iraqis: Direct Aid Iraq and Iraqi Health Now.
We want to make you aware of the great work of these organizations and give you the opportunity to join with us in supporting their work. While more detailed information about the work of Direct Aid Iraq and Iraqi Health Now will be sent out soon, we encourage you to visit their websites and consider supporting their work with your donation now.
We have other exciting news to share with you:
January 2009
Nonviolent actions for Peace are being organized for January 2009 in Washington, D.C. as the 111th Congress convenes on January 6th, and the Inauguration of Barack Obama takes place on January 20th. Congress and the new Administration must hear from the people about the continuing need to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
• January 6th: March of the Dead to the halls of Congress
(sponsored by The Critical Voice
• January 20th: A Peace presence at the Inauguration (see the Washington Peace Center website
March 2009
Local nonviolent actions and events will take place across the country on or around March 19, 2009, the 6th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, calling for a real change in U.S. policy in Iraq.
On March 21, 2009, a mass mobilization calling for an end to the U.S. occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan will take place in Washington, D.C.
While UFPJ is not organizing for or promoting the March 21st mobilization in D.C., they are organizing a 3-month “Yes We Can: End the War” campaign, including calling for local actions on March 19th, and culminating with a mass march in New York City on April 4th under the banner: “Jobs Not War!” (See their campaign timeline here and their 6th Anniversary Call here.
Organizing Locally & Coordinating Nationally for March 2009
The Declaration of Peace will be organizing for and encouraging participation in local actions (March 19th) and the mass mobilization in D.C. (March 21st).
It is critical that the U.S. Congress and the Obama-Biden Administration hear from the people through words and actions.
And there is no more appropriate time to remind the government of their responsibility to the Iraqi people and to bring U.S. soldiers home alive and intact, than on the anniversary of the devastating “Shock & Awe” assault on Iraq.
The people of Iraq and of the world will be watching.
All eyes will be on the U.S.A. and particularly on Washington, D.C. • To see the level of support for Peace for Iraq • To see the level of opposition to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Let’s turn out massively both locally and in D.C. in March 2009!
More information about all of these opportunities for involvement will be forthcoming very soon.
We greatly appreciate your participation in this work and look forward to continuing our efforts together for Peace for Iraq.
Peace and blessings,
Timothy Baer & Christine Glaser