| What's
been happening to the $87 billion supplemental appropriations? |
10/17/03 – Congress voted overwhelmingly in favor of President
Bush’s request for $87 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan. (House: 303 to
125; Senate: 87 to 12) Both chambers
trimmed nearly $2 billion for projects they considered excessive, and
the Senate voted to require Iraq to repay up to $10 billion in aid. (NYT,
10/18/03, A1)
10/21/03 - The White House threatened to veto the $87 billion
supplemental funding bill unless House-Senate conferees drop the Senate-passed
provision covering part of the reconstruction aid for Iraq into a loan.
(CQ Today Midday Update 10/21/03)
10/24/03 – At a donors meeting in Madrid, the US won commitments
of at least $13 billion over five years for reconstruction of Iraq.
Roughly two-thirds of the aid appeared to be in the form of loans
rather than grants. Most loans would come from the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund. This $13 billion (+ the $20 billion that
Congress is expected to approve) falls substantially short of the $55
billion that the World Bank and US assessed as Iraq’s need in the next
four years. (NYT, 10/25/03, A1)
10/25/03 - 10,000 to 15,000 antiwar demonstrators marched
in Washington, DC, demanding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Organizers put the count at 100,000 people
from more than 150 cities. Joint protests were held in several dozen cities
in the US, Mexico and Europe. (NYT,
10/26/03, p.21)
10/27/03 - House and Senate negotiators are expected to complete
the compromise agreement on the Iraq supplemental spending bill by Tuesday
morning (10/28). President Bush today reiterated his demand that all reconstruction
money in the $87 billion bill (HR 3289) be provided as a grant, not a
loan. Republican conferees are expected to go along with the president's
request. Republican aides said conferees appear to have worked out most
of their differences on the bill, but the fate of a Senate amendment to
add $1.3 billion for veterans' medical care is uncertain. (CQ Today Midday
Update 10/27/03)
REMARKS
BY U.S. SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD - 10/17/03
The
Emperor Has No Clothes | Excerpts
below. For full speech, click
here.
| …The
right to ask questions, debate, and dissent is under attack…Even
in the Senate, our history and tradition of being the world's greatest
deliberative body is being snubbed. This huge spending bill
has been rushed through this chamber in just one month. There
were just three open hearings by the Senate Appropriations Committee
on $87 billion, without a single outside witness called to challenge
the Administration's line.
…The
time has come for the sheep-like political correctness, which has
cowed members of this Senate, to come to an end. The Emperor has
no clothes. This entire adventure in Iraq has been based on
propaganda and manipulation. Eighty-seven billion dollars
is too much to pay for the continuation of a war based on falsehoods. |
NIXON-ERA
INFORMER ZOOMS IN ON PRESENT
The
Salt Lake Tribune, October 19, 2003 | Excerpt
below. For full text, click
here.
| At
a Washington awards banquet last week, Vietnam-era whistle-blower
Daniel Ellsberg met two people for whom he already felt a sense
of empathy: Joseph Wilson and his wife, Valerie Plame...the CIA
operative whose identity was allegedly made public by a White House
informant after Wilson, a State Department official, told the world
that Iraq had not gone to Africa looking for radioactive material,
contradicting a statement by President George W. Bush.
...More than 30 years after he angered the Nixon administration
and nearly went to jail for releasing the "Pentagon Papers"
-- full of secret and unflattering details about the Vietnam War
-- Ellsberg, now 71, believes Wilson's case is uncannily like his
own.
..."Starting in October, which by coincidence was when my book
came out, it was clear we were being lied into a war again . . .
being lied into what amounted to another Tonkin Gulf Resolution,
with the Congress signing a blank check. To see Congress sleepwalking
into another war was disheartening," Ellsberg said.
...Ellsberg doesn't shy away from unflattering portrayals of the
Bush administration, either, saying that Saddam Hussein was not
a threat to U.S. national security; that oil interests drive American
foreign policy; that the administration may be planning new offensives
to achieve imperialistic goals; that Bush himself likely was a party
in the Wilson scandal...He agrees that Saddam Hussein is a monster,
but says other nations the United States does not dare attack --
North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia -- are much more likely to help
organizations like al-Qaida…As a result of attacking Iraq, Bush
only gave radicals more reason to hate the U.S. -- and terrorists
would love to see him stay in office, Ellsberg said. "Osama
bin Laden couldn't dream of a better recruiting drive than we are
for him." |
FINISHING
UP THE BUDGET, NOW 4 WEEKS OVERDUE
The
new federal budget year begins each year on October 1, but rarely are
the 13 appropriations (spending) bills that make up the budget ready to
go on time. This year is no exception, and because the budget was not ready on
October 1, Congress passed a “Continuing Resolution” to keep the government
running at last year’s funding levels until Oct. 31. This week the House will likely take up a new Continuing Resolution
to fund the government past Oct. 31.
Five
of the 13 bills remain unfinished in the Senate: Agriculture (HR 2673,
S 1427), Commerce-Justice-State (HR 2799, S 1585), District of Columbia
(HR 2765, S 1583), Foreign Operations (HR 2800, S1426), and VA-HUD (HR
2861, S 1584).
House-Senate
conference committees are currently working on five other bills: Transportation-Treasury
(HR 2989 S 1589), Military Construction (HR 2559), Energy and Water Development
(HR 2754), Interior (HR 2691) and Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education (HR 2660).
Congress
may at some point soon toss any unfinished bills into one “omnibus” spending
package to be passed all at once if they cannot be passed individually.
(CQ Today Midday Update 10/22/03; CQ Today 10-27-03)
| Rules
Circumvented on Huge Boeing Defense Contract
|
By
R. Jeffrey Smith and Renae Merle | Washington Post Staff Writers, 10/27/03,
Page A01
Excerpts
below. For full text, click
here.
| The Pentagon has approved an Air Force plan to lease
100 modified 767 jetliners from Boeing Co. …Vehement objections raised by OMB and Pentagon budget
analysts -- that the planes were too expensive and that leasing
would set a bad precedent -- were muted or withdrawn…Under the contract,
Boeing would produce 100 refueling tankers…a deal [Washington state
Democratic Rep. Norm] Dicks predicts would be expanded and eventually
bring the giant weapons manufacturer $100 billion. That would make
it one of the most expensive military programs this decade.
Leasing,
rather than buying, is the key to the deal: The Air Force, under
current budgeting, cannot afford to buy so many aircraft at once.
Leasing would permit it to pay less up front, although it would
ultimately pay as much as $5.7 billion more overall. And Boeing
would be able to keep its 767 production line active despite a decrease
in commercial orders for the plane.
…In
getting this far, the Air Force never conducted a formal study of
alternatives to leasing new tankers, as is standard, and it did
not formally study the degree of age-related damage to its existing
tankers. It never conducted a formal competition before signing
the contract, or arranged to test the new tankers before committing
to lease all of them. |
ACTION.
If your Senator is a Member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, please urge him/her to reject the Boeing leasing deal until
a study of alternatives is complete. (Three Congressional committees have
already approved the proposal.)
SENATE
ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
AL: Sessions (R); AR: Pryor (D); AZ: McCain (R); CO:
Allard (R); CT: Lieberman (D); FL: Nelson (D); GA:
Chambliss (R); HI: Akaka (D); IN: Bayh; KS: Roberts
(R); MA: Kennedy (D); ME: Collins (R); MI: Levin
(D); MN: Dayton (D); MO: Talent (R); NE: Nelson
(D); NC: Dole (R); NV: Ensign (R); NY: Clinton
(D); OK: Inhofe (R); RI: Reed (D); SC: Graham (R);
TX: Cornyn (R); VA: Warner (R); WV: Byrd (D)
HOUSE
TO VOTE ON DOUBLING “Death Gratuity” |
This
week the House is considering legislation that would double the “death
gratuity” paid to families of military personnel killed in the line of
duty, and make the payments tax-free. The death benefit is currently $6,000
and only half of the benefit is exempt from taxation. (CQ Today, 10/27/03)
 |
Women
Legislators' Lobby (WiLL) Alumnae Initiative is Launched!
More than twenty WiLL
members and WiLL alumnae met during the WiLL/WAND National Conference
to officially launch the WiLL Trailblazers (Alumnae) network. If
you are a former state legislator, we want to re-connect with you
-- but we need your current contact information! Please help
us by emailing Erica Swanson at will@wand.org
or calling 202-544-5055 x192. |
Global
Women’s Scorecard on Bush Administration Released
(or: Actions Speaker Louder than Words, Mr. President!)
The
Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), the Feminist Majority Foundation,
and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization have released
the Global Women’s Issues Scorecard, evaluating the Bush Administration
policies on women worldwide.
The Administration received: a B for
its rhetoric on global AIDS policies, and an F for the
reality of such policies that ignore the needs of women; a B
for rhetoric in support of the rights of women in Afghanistan, and an
F for failing to act to increase security, expand girls
access to schools, and address the resurgence of fundamental restrictions
on women’s daily lives in Afghanistan; a D for rhetoric
on international family planning, and an F for its actions
to generally restrict funding for essential reproductive health services
worldwide.
The Administration received an incomplete for its performance on the Millennium
Challenge Account, H.R. 1950, a bill that would provide global assistance
to women and girls, and the International Treaty for the Rights of Women
(CEDAW).
To see a full copy of the Global Scorecard click
here.
TWO
CRITICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS DECISIONS STILL PENDING
(1)
Cutting funding for the Nuclear Bunker Buster
(2) Maintaining the Ban on Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons
ACTION: Call, email or fax your member of Congress if he or she is
on a conferee list below. Capitol switchboard:
202/225-3121; OR
click here for a directory online. For more information, contact
WAND Public Policy Director Marie Rietmann: 202.544.5055 x 195 or rietmann@wand.org
Cutting
funding for the Nuclear Bunker Buster
|
Fiscal Year 2004 Energy & Water
Development Appropriations Act
(S. 1424/H.R. 2754)
Conference Committee Report - This conference committee is
meeting now and should complete its work
this week or next.
ACTION. If
you live in one of the states or congressional districts of the conferees
listed below, please contact your Member of Congress. It will make
a real difference for them to hear from their constituent (you) and it
will help us as we face these same battles next year.
Please send a copy of your communication to the field office
(membership@wand.org, fax: 404-524-7593, mail:
464 Cherokee Ave. SE, Ste. 201, Atlanta, GA 30312). It is helpful in our advocacy work for us to know what Members
of Congress are hearing from their constituents.
MESSAGE. I urge you to accept the House position on nuclear
weapons funding in the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2004
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act.
When
the House passed its version of this bill, it took the courageous
step of cutting $10 million of the $15 million requested for the
Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator and all of the $6 million requested
for Advanced Nuclear Weapons Concepts, the account to be used for
researching new types of nuclear weapons.
The
House also eliminated the $24.8 million requested for Enhanced Test
Readiness (for shortening the preparation period required for a
nuclear test) and reduced funding for the Modern Pit Facility (for
making plutonium pits for replacement warheads and new types of
nuclear weapons) from $22.8 million to $10.8 million.
The Senate bill maintains full funding for these categories
of spending.
U.S.
credibility with the international community will erode if we seek
to upgrade U.S. nuclear weapons while demanding that Iran and North
Korea disarm. If we are concerned about halting nuclear proliferation,
the Administration should not be considering developing or using
new nuclear weapons. |
CONFEREES
SENATE
- AK: Stevens; CA: Feinstein (D); ID: Craig
(R); KY: McConnell (R); MO: Bond (R); MS: Cochran
(R); MT: Burns (R); ND: Dorgan (D); NM: Domenici
(R); NV: Reid (D); SC: Hollings (D); UT: Bennett
(R); WA: Murray (D); WV: Byrd (D)
HOUSE - AR: Berry (D); AZ: Pastor (D); CA: Doolittle
(R); FL: Young (R); IA: Latham (R); ID: Simpson
(R); IN: Viscloskey (D); MO: Emerson (R); NJ: Frelinghuysen
(R); OH: Hobson (R); PA: Peterson (R); SC: Clyburn
(D); TN: Wamp (R); TX: Edwards (D); WI: (Obey (D)
Maintaining
the Ban on Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons
|
Fiscal
Year 2004 Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1050/H.R. 1588) Conference
This
conference committee could go until mid-November or later.
ACTION.
If you live in one of these states or congressional
districts, please contact your Member of Congress. It will make
a real difference for them to hear from their constituent (you) and it
will help us as we face these same battles next year.
Please send a copy of your communication to the field
office (membership@wand.org, fax: 404-524-7593, mail:
464 Cherokee Ave. SE, Ste. 201, Atlanta, GA 30312). It is helpful in our advocacy work for us to know
what Members of Congress are hearing from their constituents.
|
MESSAGE. I
urge you to accept the House position on maintaining the ban on
low-yield nuclear weapons. The House position allows research but
maintains the ban on development activities that could lead to the
production of a destabilizing and unnecessary new low-yield nuclear
weapon. The Senate bill
also allows research but eliminates the ban.
Producing
a new generation of low-yield nuclear weapons increases the likelihood
they will be used in conflict, breaking a taboo that has been in
place since their use during World War II.
Developing new types of nuclear weapons sends the wrong message
to other nations who may also view them as desirable.
We should lead by example.
|
CONFEREES
SENATE - AL: Sessions (R); AR: Pryor (D); AZ: McCain
(R); CO: Allard (R); CT: Lieberman (D); FL: Nelson
(D); GA: Chambliss (R); HI: Akaka (D); IN: Bayh;
KS: Roberts (R); MA: Kennedy (D); ME: Collins (R);
MI: Levin (D); MN: Dayton (D); MO: Talent (R);
NE: Nelson (D); NC: Dole (R); NV: Ensign (R); NY:
Clinton (D); OK: Inhofe (R); RI: Reed (D); SC:
Graham (R); TX: Cornyn (R); VA: Warner (R); WV:
Byrd (D)
HOUSE - AL: Everett (R); AR: Snyder (D): CA: Calvert (R), Hunter
(R), McKeon (R), Loretta Sanchez (D); CO: Hefley (R); HI:
Abercrombie; IL: Evans (D); IN: Hostettler (R); KS: Ryun
(R); MA: Meehan (D); MD: Bartlett (R); MO: Skelton
(D); MS: Taylor (D); NC: Hayes (R), Jones (R); NJ:
Saxton (R); NM: Wilson (R); NV: Gibbons (R); NY:
McHugh (R); PA: Weldon (R); SC: Spratt (D); TN:
Cooper (D); TX: Ortiz (D), Reyes (D), Thornberry (R), Turner
(D)
Warning
of Corrosion and Leaks in Energy Department Design for Burying Nuclear
Waste
The
Department of Energy (DoE) is thinking of spacing nuclear waste containers
closely at the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste burial site to take
advantage of heat given off by the waste that would heat tunnels to nearly
300 degrees Fahrenheit and thus keep the metal dry and prevent corrosion.
The
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, a panel created by Congress, is
saying in a draft letter that DoE’s plan would cause corrosion that would
perforate the waste containers and allow leaks.
Board member Thure Cerling said, “most reactions take place faster
at higher temperatures,” and that this included rust. (NYT, 10-21-03,
A20)
60
Minutes Tour of Yucca Mountain - October 26, 2003
For
nearly 50 years, the U.S. government and the nuclear industry have been
trying to figure out what to do with massive quantities of deadly radioactive
waste piling up at nuclear power plants and munitions factories since
the dawn of the atomic age. Yucca Mountain sits on federal land in Nevada,
not far from Death Valley, in a remote stretch of desert, 90 miles northwest
of Las Vegas. If the U.S. government has its way, this will be the
final resting place for 70,000 tons of highly radioactive nuclear waste.
Mike Voegele, the chief scientist at Yucca Mountain, gave 60 Minutes a
tour on October 26, 2003.
For
correspondent Steve Kroft's report, click
here. For tapes and transcripts, contact CBS:
60
Minutes | 524
West 57th St. | New
York, NY 10019 | (212)
975-3247
Transcripts:
1-800-777-TEXT; Videotapes: 1-800-848-3256
STAND
-- Students Take Action for New Directions -- is
WAND’s dynamic program for young women. STAND’s mission is to empower
young women to act politically, to promote peace, equality, and progressive
social change. For information on how you can join or support STAND, contact
STAND director Cicley Gay at stand@wand.org or 404-524-5999.
MN
STAND HOSTS 34 MILLION FRIENDS
On Monday, October 27, STAND
members at the College of Saint Benedict in MN hosted Jane Roberts, 34 Million
Friends founder. Jane spoke on global women's rights and health and
the power of grassroots organizing and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
To contact the MN chapter of STAND, e-mail Johanna at jjhatch@csbsju.edu.
FLUNK
THE WAR MACHINE (10/26-31)
Join the
SPAN (Student Peace Action Network) Week of Action Against the Militarization
of Our Schools! October 26th - 31st | span@peace-action.org * www.StudentPeaceAction.org
STAND
AND WILL IN MARYLAND! (11/21-23)
STAND Director Cicley Gay will
travel to Maryland for the 5th Annual Youth & College Leadership Summit,
Nov. 21-23. The Summit is sponsored by New Light Leadership Coalition
and includes workshops, inspirational speakers, networking and enlightening
entertainment. This annual 100% youth-organized conference brings youth
leaders together from around the nation to discuss issues facing youth,
learn about leadership, and make valuable contacts with other young leaders.
INFO: http://www.nllc.org/
While
in Maryland, Cicley and WiLL member Salima Siler Marriott will meet with
students in a local high school and university.
STAND
PARTNERS WITH YOUTH VOTE
WAND Ed Fund is working with the Youth Vote Coalition for the 2004 Presidential
Election.
Youth Vote is the nation's largest non-partisan coalition working to increase
the political involvement of 50 million Americans, 18-30 years old. The
Youth Vote coalition consists of over
one hundred diverse national organizations representing millions
of young people.
INFO:
www.youthvote.org
STAND
FALL NEWSLETTER
Make sure you receive the STAND fall newsletter. This issue will feature
a post-conference report and info on how to start a STAND chapter. Send
your current address to Cicley at stand@wand.org.
FIND
OUT HOW TO GET $1,000 TO CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY -- AND SHAPE YOUR WORLD!
Want to help your community or change the world? Need some funds and
support to help get things going? Youth Venture can help! Youth
Venture is a national nonprofit organization that helps teams of young people
(ages 12-20) by providing the tools necessary to start their own clubs,
organizations, or businesses that give back to their communities.
Youth Venture will give your group a seed grant of up to $1,000. INFO:
www.youthventure.org.
NEW
WEBSITE TOUTS ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN 2004 ELECTION
Youth04, a new website, seeks to synthesize the best of the political
Internet and traditional grassroots organizing to transform the role 18-25
year olds will play in the 2004 election. Youth04 aims to create a
relationship between young voters and candidates for political office from
president on down. INFO: www.youth04.org.
STAND
AND URGENT CALL YOUTH
STAND is a founding sponsor of Urgent Call Youth. Our goals are
to educate mainstream America about nuclear dangers and make disarmament
a key issue in the 2004 elections, to pressure the U.S. to halt plans to
develop new nuclear weapons and engage in serious efforts for disarmament. INFO/Speakers
Bureau.
THE
PEOPLE SPEAK: America Debates Its Role in the World
The People Speak is "a
public education effort to stimulate a national dialogue about the future
of US foreign policy. Our goal is to engage as many Americans as possible
in debates across the US..." INFO:
www.jointhedebate.org.
It's not too late to organize a debate event! The project has been extended
through November.
See
Field Events below for details of these events by WAND Chapters
and Partner Organizations:
AUGUSTA WAND (10/18)
ARKANSAS WAND (10/28)
NC COUNCIL FOR WOMEN (11/13)
GREATER NEWBURYPORT WAND (11/18, tentative)
INFO/To
Participate: Diane Jones at 978-525-3371 or dianejones14@juno.com.
THE
INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S POLICY RESEARCH
Philadelphia
Panel (10/31)
"Where
We Are Now and Future Possibilities" | Mommies
on the Fast Track: New Thoughts on Old Ideas Conference | Heidi
Hartmann, Panelist
11:15
am, October 31, 2003
The
Alice Paul Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
www.iwpr.org
MARKETING
VIOLENT ENTERTAINMENT TO CHILDREN
Workshop,
Washington, DC (10/29)
If you are frustrated by the
relentless marketing of violent movies, video games and music to children,
you now have an opportunity to express your concerns to members of Congress,
FTC Commissioners and staff, as well as marketing and industry executives.
On Wednesday, October 29, 2003 the Federal Trade Commission will hold a
workshop on Marketing Violent Entertainment to Children, 9 am to 5 pm, 601
New Jersey Ave., NW, 2 blocks from Union Station.
INFO/Agenda: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/09/violence.htm
If you cannot attend, please contact the FTC to express your concerns.
E-mail your concerns to violenceworkshop@ftc.gov.
From: Lion & Lamb Links
INDIGO
GIRLS NOVEMBER TOUR - A Call for WAND Tablers
Please let us know if you are
interested in working the WAND table, sharing information and action alerts,
and spreading the word about peace and the empowerment of women!
11/1/2003 - Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
11/3/2003 - Pikes Peak Center, Colorado Springs, CO
11/6/2003 - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
11/7/2003 - Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA
11/8/2003 - Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA
11/10/2003- Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
11/11/2003 - Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
11/12/2003 - Hult Center, Eugene, OR
11/13/2003 - The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
11/14/2003 - The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
INFO / To table: Contact WAND IG Volunteer Coordinator Laura Beavers
at LBeavers@aecf.org.
EMILY's
List Political Opportunity Program's Campaign Trainings (Nov. 21-22)
Florida
Training | November
21-22 (Ft. Lauderdale) Radisson Bahia Mar Beach Resort
INFO:
Cindy Smalls at 202-419-3062 or csmalls@emilyslist.org
FELLOWSHIP
OF RECONCILIATION - Nonviolence Training Courses
From
Violence to Wholeness: The spirituality and practice of nonviolence
Nov 6-9, 2003, Kirkridge, PA,
www.kirkridge.org
Nov
20-23, 2003, Houston, TX, cbialock@rscj.org
FOR
Info: http://www.forusa.org
SisterSong
Women of Color Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights
National
Conference (11/13-16) | Spelman
College, Atlanta, Georgia Participation
open to all. To register: SisterSong Conference, National Center
for Human Rights Education, P.O. Box 311020, Atlanta, GA 31131. Registration
- $55.
CENTER FOR
POLICY ALTERNATIVES
CPA's 7th Annual
Summit on the States (12/6-7)
Capital
Hilton (Washington, DC) Innovative
model policies to advance civil rights, health care, jobs, education. Skills-building,
and networking opportunities. Reserve
hotel room before 11/14 for special conference rate.
INFO/Registration:
Kirsten Lindquist at (202) 956-5134.
MARCH
FOR FREEDOM OF CHOICE (4/25/04)
Save
Women’s Lives
On
April 25, 2004, pro-choice Americans will convene on the Mall in Washington,
DC for the largest march for reproductive freedom in history. Mark your calendar now, visit www.marchforchoice.org
to learn more, and please help spread the word.
IDEAS,
VISIONS, RESOURCES FOR A BETTER WORLD |
NPAction
- An Online Resource for Nonprofit Advocacy
Announcing
NPAction, an online resource for nonprofit advocacy, designed to break
down knowledge barriers and help organizations quickly and effectively
locate the information they need.
Learn
the basics of nonprofit advocacy; connect to policymakers and the media;
discuss and voice opinions on advocacy issues; test advocacy knowledge;
and access one of the largest online directories of advocacy resources
-- focused on, and edited by, the nonprofit sector itself.
INFO:
(202) 234-8494 * npaction@npaction.org * http://www.npaction.org
Make
Every Home A Safe Home: NCADV and THE BODY SHOP "CALL TO PROTECT"
PROGRAM
The National Coalition Against
Domestic Violence has partnered with The Body Shop again this year to collect
deactivated cell phones for the “Call To Protect” program. Phones will be
refurbished and reprogrammed for emergency use by victims of domestic violence,
refurbished and resold to raise funds for NCADV, or recycled according to
EPA standards if no longer usable.
The Body Shop stores, which have received 31,000 phones in local stores
nationwide, have revised their goal from 30,000 to 50,000. Take any
phones you no longer use or need to any The Body Shop by Oct. 31, 2003.
You may just save a life in the process.
INFO: 202-745-1211 * jfulcher@ncadv.org *
www.ncadv.org
SONGS
IN THE KEY OF PEACE Amaze
Me: Songs in the key of peace is a compilation CD of songs for peace.
The CD features songs by independent female musicians from across the
country. These artists care deeply about their country and want to see
the US become a leader for peace. The album issues a challenge for America
to "amaze us" while also raising money for organizations working
for peace. 100% of the album proceeds will be donated.
Beneficiaries
include:
Women
Against Military Madness
DemocracyNow
Veterans
for Peace (Twin Cities Chapter)
CodePINK
To
listen to cuts from the CD or to order go to http://www.peacecd.com/
MOTHERS
ACTING UP 2004 ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR
Preview: www.mothersactingup.org/calendar.htm.
Dedicated to the personal, daily steps mothers* will make in 2004
to protect the world's children, the Mothers Acting Up (MAU) engagement
calendar is an inspirational, full color, 8 ½ x 8 ½ calendar featuring weekly
portraits and quotes from mothers* around the world.
Also included is the “Handbook for Spirited Social Action” divided in four
sections - WHISPER, SING, YELL, and DECLARE - containing websites, contacts
and information to aid mothers* in becoming a positive, political force
to be reckoned with! Buy 10 for friends and family, support a movement
to mobilize the gigantic political strength of mothers* and be done with
your holiday shopping for $150.00! INFO:
www.mothersactingup.org
*mothers and others, on stilts or off, who are powerful and impressive and
exercise protective care over someone smaller
IN
THE FIELD: WAND CHAPTER AND PARTNER EVENTS
|
ARKANSAS
WAND COMMUNITY FORUM (11/13)
THE PEOPLE SPEAK: America Debates Its Role in the World
Sponsors: Arkansas WAND, League of Women Voters, University
of AR at Little Rock
Debaters: UALR Professor John DiPippa and Ark. Democrat Gazette Editor
Paul Greenberg
Moderator: Peggy Scranton
Location: Darragh Center, Central Arkansas Library System
October 28, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Free and open to the Public.
INFO: Jean Gordon, jgordon@igc.apc.org *
www.jointhedebate.org.
ARKANSAS
BUDGET PUMPKIN PIES
WAND Board member Jo Carson
is launching a new WAND chapter in Arkansas. The new chapter plans
to use pumpkin pies to illustrate federal budget priorities. A local
baker has agreed to make the pies and help with decorating. He is
setting up a table at the bakery to let students in the peace movement do
the honors. Then, he will box them in his commercial white boxes to
sell. INFO: attorneyjocarson@aol.com
Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Western Regional Conference (11/15)
Public Health, the Environment, and Global Security: Post
War Perspectives
Saturday, November 15, University of CA - San Francisco School of Medicine.
The
morning sessions are presented in conjunction with the Collaborative on
Health and the Environment (CHE). PSR and CHE will have separate afternoon
sessions. If you wish to attend the PSR afternoon sessions, please register
for the whole day through SF Bay Area PSR, and if you wish to attend the
CHE afternoon sessions, please register for the whole day at www.cheforhealth.org.
The cost of the PSR conference, including lunch, is $100. Three CME hours
for the morning sessions are available for an additional $25. Scholarships available for students. To register
go to www.sfbaypsr.org.
INFO: PSR-LA at (213) 386-4901 x125.
Every
Church A Peace Church TV with John Carmody (10/28)
Guest
John Carmody, a former US Marine Captain, recipient of the Silver Star
and two Purple Heart medals as a platoon Captain in Vietnam, and director
for the Center for Christian Non-violence, 9:30 P.M. Tuesday, October
28, AIB Cable Network, Comcast Ch 5. Will describe his "conversion"
from war hero to peace activist. Program will be rebroadcast on
Friday, 1:00 AM and again on Saturday, November 1, 8:30 AM.
Coming
in November, “A Dialogue Between Prophets” with C.T. Vivian and Fr. Emmanuel
Charles McCarthy
Every
Church A Peace Church airs on the AIB Cable Channel: Comcast Ch 5: BellSouth
Americast Ch. 14: Charter Roswell Ch 22: Charter Smyrna Ch. 14.
Unprecedented:
The 2000 Presidential Election (10/29)
According to the U.S. Census and the Southern Regional Council, young
Georgians comprise a larger voting bloc than those ages 65 and older, yet
fewer than one-third of young Georgians vote! WAND Member Sonali Sadequee
will be leading GA States Power of Women (POW) in changing this statistic
as POW sponsors a screening of the provocative film Unprecedented,
a documentary telling the truth about what really happened in the FL 2000
Presidential Election!
Wednesday,
Oct 29, 6:30 pm
The Speakers Auditorium, Student Center, GA State University (FREE)
Intersection of Gilmer & Courtland
INFO: http://unprecedented.org/UnprecedentedFirstPage.html
Preview: http://unprecedented.org/UnprecedentedPreview.htm
THE
ATLANTA WOMEN'S FOUNDATION ANNUAL LUNCHEON (10/30)
“NUMBERS
TOO BIG TO IGNORE”
Thursday,
October 30, 12:00-1:30 p.m. | Georgia
World Congress Center, $100 per ticket
Special
Guest Speaker BARBARA EHRENREICH, author of NYT bestseller Nickeled and
Dimed
39%
of all working women - or 16 million women - are in low-wage jobs.
Women
and children make up 75% of the nation's poor. Women
earn only 74 cents for every dollar earned by men.
RSVP@atlantawomen.org
| INFO:
404-577-5000 ext. 7, rmoody@atlantawomen.org
Hillside International
Truth Center Voter Empowerment Meeting (10/30) 7:00pm
Keynote
- Cynthia McKinney; music / dance by YAHU! (Youth Against HIV/AIDS Unite)
Hillside
International Truth Center, 2450 Cascade Rd SW
PEACE
VIGIL AT COLONY SQUARE (11/7)
Stand for peace, justice and an end to the Iraqi conflict at the corner
of Peachtree and 14th Streets. Noon to 1. This will be our 55 rally! INFO:
WAND at 404-524-5999
CHARIS CIRCLE
Celebration of Women, Music & Art (11/9)
Featuring Fat Chance and Deidre McCalla
Sunday, Nov.
9, 2003, 5:30 - 9:30 PM, Academy of Medicine
INFO:
404-524-0304 * www.charisbooksandmore.com
TOWN
HALL MEETING: “Striving to Create a More Perfect Union” (11/11)
November 11, 7:00-9:00 PM
WAND joins with Rainbow/PUSH Coalition for this program.
Seating in the lovely Atlanta Life Building auditorium, 100 Auburn Ave.
Free parking in adjacent lot. INFO: 404-654-8894.
WOMEN’S
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP (11/14)
Understanding the federal budget and learning to talk about it
Friday, November 14, 9:00-5:00 PM
Led by WAND field director Bobbie Wrenn Banks, this workshop offers a wealth
of material, discussion, games, exercises and hands-on training in a small
group setting that promotes trust and builds confidence.
Despite the fact that
women are the majority of US citizens and have the most at stake in federal
budget priorities, women are under-represented in Congress and leadership
positions. Too often, women’s voices are silent during discussions
affecting their own lives. WAND’s Women’s Leadership Workshop
is changing that, one voice at a time.
Space is limited to
15 participants so please reserve your place today. Workshop fee, including
materials and lunch, is $25. Scholarships are available upon request.
INFO: WAND
at 404-524-5999
Silent
Prayer for Peace, Sixth of Each Month 7:30- 8:15 pm
MLK Jr.
Chapel, Morehouse College.
THE
PEOPLE SPEAK: America Debates Its Role in the World
See Notable National Events Above.
Augusta
WAND Debate was October 18th
INFO:
Judith Stocker at: quentalex@yahoo.com
WAND
OF NORTHERN INDIANA NEWS
PERDUE
EXTENSION LEADERS HAVE THEIR SLICE OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND EAT IT, TOO.
Seeking
a way to help 33 Perdue Extension leaders from 8 counties in northern
Indiana digest facts about the federal budget, Doloris Cogan came up with
a deliciously creative solution.
At
the beginning of the meeting, she passed around envelopes numbered from
1 to 8 with descriptions of each Department's functions tucked inside.
At the end of the meeting she announced that she was going to leave them
with a description of the federal budget that they wouldn't soon forget
-- and that's when she brought out the pumpkin pies!
"I
took one pumpkin pie to illustrate the entire $2.2 trillion federal budget...with
34% for the discretionary budget and the rest for Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid,
interest on the debt, etc. Then I took another pumpkin pie that
I had cut for the discretionary budget and began to dish the pieces out.
A colleague delivered them one by one to those who had the envelopes,
with the Pentagon (54%) coming last. Each read what he or she had
to administer with the little bit of money allowed. Of course,
the one holding National Defense got more than half the pie, delivered
right in the pie pan."
And
with Thanksgiving just around the corner, they'll have other pies…er,
opportunities to remind them of what they learned!
Northern
Indiana WAND Info: Karen Jacob, lovekaren55@msn.com
Iowa
Commission on the Status of Women, Legislative Committee Meeting (11/6)
10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Lucas
State Office Building
INFO: 800/558-4427, 515/281-4461 or dhr.icsw@iowa.gov
Coffee
with Chrysalis: Follow Your Dream - Going Into Business for Yourself (11/7)
7:30-8:30 a.m., Plymouth Congregational
United Church of Christ, Des Moines
Free.
RSVP to Chrysalis Foundation, 515/255-1853, info@chrysalisfdn.org
Iowa
Caucus Workshop: How to Participate in the Iowa Caucuses (11/8)
3:30 p.m., Memorial Union,
Iowa State University, Ames
INFO:
www.lectures.iastate.edu
Winona
LaDuke: Global Environmental Justice, Native Peoples and Women (11/17)
8 p.m., Memorial Union, Iowa State University, Ames.
INFO:
www.lectures.iastate.edu
| Source:
IoWoman, November/December 2003
Formatted
verson online at: http://www.state.ia.us/dhr/sw/pubs.html.
Web: www.state.ia.us/dhr/sw
Cambridge
WAND Member Celebrates UN Accomplishments in Lincoln Article
Joanna
Hopkins wrote a marvelous and thoughtful article for the Lincoln paper,
celebrating the many accomplishments of the U.N. in promoting non-violent
conflict resolution, disarmament, human rights, economic development,
health and environmental protections around the world.
"The
U.N. system has made many important positive contributions. In recognition,
it has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize six times, most recently in
2001. It deserves our full support as
our best hope for promoting global peace, justice, health, prosperity,
and a sustainable environment."
To
read the article full article, click
here.
CAMBRIDGE
WAND COMMUNITY FORUM (11/11) 2004:
The Most Important Election of Our Lifetime - Action Starts Now
Cambridge WAND and Massachusetts
WiLL members invite you to attend a community forum to consider the importance
of next year's election and how each of us can play an important role.
The evening will include a brief "Back from the Hill" report
from the 2003 WiLL/WAND national conference.
Cambridge Friends Meeting, Friends Room, 5 Longfellow Park, off Brattle
Street
Tuesday,
November 11, 5:15 - 7:15 p.m
Gathering and Refreshments will begin at 5:00 * Program 5:45
INFO: Judy King at 617-876-5485.
Greater
Newburyport WAND Retreat (11/8)
Saturday
Nov. 8, 2003, 9:30 A.M. -3:30 P.M.
Amesbury
Friends Meetinghouse
Spend
an up-lifting day with WAND women peace activists and Bobbie Wrenn Banks,
former
WAND president and national field director. Gain
knowledge, skills, and friendship.
RSVP/Directions/INFO:
Barbara - 978 388-3647
THE
PEOPLE SPEAK: America Debates Its Role in the World
See Notable National Events above
Sponsors:
Greater Newburyport WAND, Salem State College, League of Women Voters
(tentative
date, Tuesday, November 18)
INFO:
Diane Jones, dianejones14@juno.com * www.jointhedebate.org.
WAND
Michigan October Membership Meeting - “Back from the Hill”
WAND
Michigan held the first of what will be ongoing general membership
meetings, this one was tagged to a "Back from DC Report" and
a welcome to our new national President, Patricia Ann "Pan"
Godchaux, the second Michigan woman to lead the national board (after
the late beloved Arlene Victor) and our very first Republican president
of WAND! Pan and others who attended the unforgettably great 2003
WAND/WiLL conference spoke animatedly about the WiLL,
WAND and STAND segments of the conference. Pan shared fascinating
news of conference decisions and plans for the future. Brandi Fulton,
head of STAND in Michigan and a sophomore at U Michigan in Ann Arbor,
took down the house with a replay of her fabulous "I'm Ticked Off"
spiel in Washington. Lorraine Lerner and Fern Katz added rich, glowing
detail about the
WAND segment that left us all salivating to BE THERE ourselves in 2005!
WAND
MICHIGAN HOSTS CLARE SHORT
WAND
Michigan joined with other Detroit area groups on October 9, 2003 to sponsor
a program featuring the Right Honorable Clare Short, who has been a British
Member of Parliament since 1983. Ms. Short held a cabinet-level position
as Secretary of State for International Development until she resigned this
position on May 12th in protest of Prime Minister Tony Blair's policy of
supporting the US-led war on Iraq.
INFO / Full Report / Photos:
"Kim Joy Bergier" kimbergier@comcast.net
ELECTION
2004
Members
of WAND Michigan gathered on October 26 to watch the Detroit Democratic
Debate. Everyone followed up by going to the Working
Assets web to help register people to vote.
November
is WAND Michigan Membership Month. Please join us! Contact
Clare Mead Rosen, MeadRosen@comcast.net, for information.
BOOK
SIGNING IN LAS VEGAS (11/6)
Politics,
Nuclear Waste, and Terrorism, a novel about terrorists attacking a train
carrying nuclear waste, by Stan Barnett
Barnes
and Noble Booksellers, 8915 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas
7:00
PM, Thursday, November 6
Info:
702-248-1127
Nevada
Nuclear Waste Task Force * http://www.nvantinuclear.org/
WESTERN
NEW YORK PEACE CENTER (10/30)
Annual
Benefit Dinner at the Buffalo Convention Center
Thursday,
October 30, 2003, 5:30 - 9:00 PM
Kevin
Martin, Peace Action national director will be with us this year.
Please
join us! Consider buying ad space or selling an ad.
INFO:
716-894-2013, www.wnypeace.org
THE
PEOPLE SPEAK: America Debates Its Role in the World (11/13)
See Notable National Events Above.
Sponsors:
NC Council for Women, League of Women Voters
Central
YMCA, Downtown Greensboro * November 13, 7:00 p.m.
INFO:
Kathy Harrelson, nwcncl@infionline.net * www.jointhedebate.org.
Lane
County WAND
LANE COUNTY WAND ON TV!
Lane County WAND members Leslie Brockelbank and Susan Cundiff appeared
on KVAL Noon News with Shelley Kurtz on Friday, October 24 to discuss
their recent trip to the WAND National Conference. Leslie and Susan,
wearing Minute Women aprons, shared highlights including meeting journalist
Helen Thomas and lobbying Congress against the nuclear bunker buster.
MEMBERSHIP
MONTH!
October is membership month
- the best time to join or renew your WAND membership. Please join us! Lane County
WAND INFO: rcundiff@rio.com
The
WAND Bulletin Board is an announcement service of WAND. The purpose of
the WAND Bulletin is to share news and ideas, and to offer the support
of a national network of active WAND, WiLL and STAND members and partner
organizations.
WAND / STAND
chapters and partner organizations are encouraged to submit news for the
Bulletin Board. Please send text in a form that is ready to be published
without further editing. Email submissions to:
membership@wand.org.
To add or
remove names from the Bulletin list, please email your request to:
membership@wand.org.
Statements
posted on WAND’s Bulletin Board do not necessarily reflect the position
of WAND.
To join WAND,
go to www.wand.org. Your membership
makes this work possible.
Thank you
for your support!
© 2003
WAND.
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