WAND’s April Bulletin

Nuclear News
Fund Programs To Secure Loose Nukes

On April 5, 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic, President Obama outlined the steps needed to move toward a safer world, one without nuclear weapons. He made a specific commitment to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world within four years

Unfortunately, necessary funding for these nuclear nonproliferation programs has now been frozen with a series of Congressional stop-gap spending measures. In February 2010, President Obama requested a $550 million (26 percent) increase for these programs. Congress has yet to act on this proposal and is now drafting another “Continuing Resolution,” or stop-gap funding measure,  to fund the government through the end of this federal budget year (September 30, 2011).

On April 5, the anniversary of the President’s Prague speech, please join our nationwide effort by calling or writing your Senators and Representative. Ask Congress to restore money to NNSA’s Nonproliferation programs and assert that these funds should be directed only to programs that secure vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide.

CALL or E-MAIL YOUR MESSAGE on TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2011.

News on Afghanistan

WAND Advocates for Afghan Women

In early March, WAND Executive Director Susan Shaer, Public Policy Director Kathy Robinson, and Washington Associate Elizabeth Holland headed to the Hill to talk about Afghanistan with members of Congress, including Democratic leadership and freshman members. The WAND staff was joined by Patricia Cooper of the Women’s Regional Summit project, a conference aimed at bringing together women leaders in the region to discuss their role in the development of long-term security and stability. Using the new study “Afghan Women Speak”as a frame for the discussion, WAND asked for support for a drawdown in troops tied to a social compact that provides for long-term, sustainable investment in aid that supports and empowers Afghan women.

Members of Congress Call for Significant and Sizeable Troop Withdrawal
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) led a bipartisan group of members of Congress in sending a letter to President Obama that calls for a significant and sizeable reduction in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan beginning no later than July of this year. The letter was sent to the President on March 16 and was signed by 80 Representatives. Read it here.

Withdrawal Bill Fails, but Message Rings

On Thursday March 17, the House failed to pass a bill urging President Obama to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Dec. 31, but the debate leading up to the vote suggested that lawmakers are growing impatient with the White House’s war strategy. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), was not expected to pass after a similar vote received only 65 votes in the House last year. However, policymakers in the Administration and Congress watched closely as the resolution garnering 93 votes this year signaled waning support for the war among both parties. See how your Representative voted  here.

Get the latest news on our newly updated Afghanistan page!

On Libya

On March 18, 2011 the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize military action and the imposition of a no-fly zone in Libya (UN Security Council Resolution 1973).

On March 19, British, French, and American forces began the military campaign against Col. Muammar el Qaddafi to protect Libyan citizens. WAND released a statement on the events unfolding in Libya on March 22.  In the statement, WAND joins the voices that ask for official recognition that defines the goals of this operation.  WAND opposes another long, expensive and dangerous commitment of our military power and supports efforts for non-military solutions.  You can read the entire statement here.

Military Spending

WAND Budget Letter

Thank  you  to all the organizations that have signed on to our annual budget letter, which calls on Congress to cut excessive military spending and support smart budget priorities. The letter currently boasts over 150 signatories from national, state, and local organizations. In April, WAND will deliver the letter to members of Congress, demanding smarter budget priorities.

To learn more about our budget letter and what members of Congress are saying about our nation’s budget priorities, please check out our website here.

Deadline fast approaching for the WiLL budget letter!
The WiLL budget letter campaign is in full swing. We have over 250 signers but we want to add many more names! With heated debates over budget priorities raging in Washington, DC and state capitols, now is the time for state legislators to call on Congress to examine wasteful spending in the military budget. With lawmakers consider devastating cuts at the local, state and federal levels, military spending cannot be ignored. View the letter here and contact any women legislators who might be interested! For more information about WiLL and the budget letter, contact Maureen Campbell at 202-544-5055 or mcampbell@wand.org.

Chapter and Field News

Oregon WAND Stands Up for Budget Priorities

Oregon WAND continues to speak out about our nation’s unbalanced budget priorities! On February 24, WAND board member and Oregon WAND co-chair Susan Cundiff published a rousing op-ed about wasteful military spending. Members of Oregon WAND then met with Rep. Peter DeFazio’s (D-OR 4^th District) office on March 21 to advocate for ending the war in Afghanistan and reductions in defense spending. Many thanks to Oregon WAND and other chapters and members who continue to weigh in about budget priorities!

Georgia WAND Hosts Anti-Nuclear Activists
On March 23 & 24, Georgia WAND hosted two accomplished anti-nuclear activists from Russia. Dr. Nataliya Mironova and Natalia Manzurova spoke about their experiences and work in the anti-nuclear movement. Dr. Mironova is a prominent leader in the human rights and anti-nuclear movement in Russia, and Manzurova, an expert in radiation ecology, was charged with the task of cleaning up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. To view pictures and learn more about Georgia WAND’s Voices from Chernobyl event, click here.

Arkansas WAND Represents at Ecumenical Advocacy Days
Over 700 people from faith communities across the United States came to DC on March 25-28 to participate in 2011 Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD), including Arkansas WAND members JoAnne Mills and Susan Sims! Focusing on the EAD theme Development, Security and Economic Justice: What’s Gender Got to Do with It?, JoAnne and Susan met with their Congressional representatives to urge them to consider cutting wasteful military spending instead of making deep cuts to  domestic and international programs that support women and children. Thank you to JoAnne and Susan for representing WAND at EAD, and for putting your faith into action!

Fern Katz to Receive Tikkun Olam Award
Our very own Fern Katz has been nominated as a 2011 Eight over Eighty Honoree by the Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit! A retired math teacher and professional volunteer, Fern is a longtime member of Southeast Michigan WAND. Fern is being honored for her life-long efforts in demonstrating the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam– Repairing the World. Along with seven other individuals, Fern will receive the 8 Over 80 Tikkun Olam Award on May 15 at the Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, MI. We at WAND are proud of Fern’s dedication and activism, and celebrate with her in this honor. To learn more about Fern, check out her WAND Inc. Board Treasurer biography.

Next Steps after Field Visits

In 5 months WAND Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey completed field visits and introduced herself to all 5 WAND chapters in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Oregon. Elaina had a wonderful time meeting hundreds of chapter leaders and members and learning about chapter activities. Now that field visits are completed, Elaina is focusing on strengthening communications/messaging and resources for WAND chapters and members. This conversation began on March 21 during the Chapter Leaders call, and will continue throughout the year as WAND seeks to grow its membership and chapters.

Upcoming Events

Georgia WAND Heads to DC in April
Georgia WAND will be taking 13 women to Washington, DC this month to participate in Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s DC Days (April 3-6). The participants will receive training before speaking with members of Congress about anti-nuclear issues. With the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan, this is the best time for Georgia WAND members to inform their congressional representatives about the dangers of nuclear power.

Mother’s Day Fashion Show Heads to Cambridge

WAND is thrilled to announce that Oregon WAND’s Fashion Resistance to Militarism fashion show will be featured during the Mother’s Day event in Cambridge, MA on May 6. Fashion Resistance to Militarism is a runway exposé of how militarism has seeped into our homes, our communities and our minds. This unique fashion show features eye-popping, one-of-a-kind designs that challenge some pervasive assumptions about war, and uncovers all the ways that war is made to seem normal. Tickets to this event include entry to the Mother's Day fashion show, appetizers, desserts, beverages, and a cash bar. To purchase tickets, please click here.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT
EDIE ALLEN

I first walked into the WAND national office in 1983, with a baby in my arms.  At that time, the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a terrifying nuclear arms race, and I despaired about my children’s future.  My minister had suggested that I volunteer for a peace group, so somewhat dubiously, I offered to help. WAND put me to work, not only stuffing envelopes and licking stamps but also phoning activists all over the country and writing profiles of the candidates that WAND PAC had endorsed.  Fortunately, I was able to donate money as well as time to WAND.  I have served on the board of WAND Education Fund for many years.

TAKE ACTION!

On April 5, join a nationwide day to call on  Congress to restore money to the NNSA’s Nonproliferation programs and assert that these funds should be directed only to programs that secure vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide. Secure loose nukes here!

Don’t forget to have your organization sign on to our budget priorities letter here!

Ask your state legislator if they have signed on to the WiLL budget letter. Learn more here.