WAND Works for Real Security Through Heightened Awareness and Action By Elizabeth Chesnut WAND’s Women Take Action for Real Security campaign is playing an exciting and dynamic role in shaping the public debate about what real security means to each of us as an individual, a family member, and a citizen. In the months since the September 11 attacks, WAND’s staff and board have worked diligently to craft a response to the tragedy that will encompass not only our mission to reduce militarism, but also our commitment to meeting human and environmental needs and reducing violence. Every voice must be heard... it is our responsibility to let elected officials know that real security means more than spending $1 billion per day on the pentagon. Since October 2001, a remarkable number of people have added their names to WAND’s Real Security campaign and have begun participating in one or more of the four campaign action areas: engaging the media, raising our voices, holding high-level briefings, and providing federal expertise/guidance. Individuals from 23 states, Costa Rica, and Iran are actively engaged, receiving biweekly discussion guides regarding pertinent and timely campaign issues. So far, 90 partner organizations from around the country have signed on to the campaign as well, allowing us to post links on their websites, provide materials for dissemination to their constituents, and extensively broaden the reach of our campaign. Individual participation in the campaign has produced letters-to-the-editor, op-eds, appearances on talk shows, rallies, congressional briefings, budget workshops, and issue forums. This is just the beginning. Moving forward, we will work toward developing a living definition of what real security means to every community, town, state, and region of our country. As the global community becomes more and more interdependent, we will look critically at how our own national security affects the security of the rest of the world. Every voice must be heard. As Congress begins work on the President’s proposed FY03 budget, it is our responsibility to let elected officials know that real security means more than spending $1 billion per day on the pentagon. We will look at the current budget proposal through the lens of our campaign, analyze the values that our national budget reflects, and take steps to be sure that our security is not lost in excessive militarism and economic injustice. To learn more about the campaign, or to download discussion guides, receive updates on actions, or add your name to the growing list of individuals and organizations concerned with our nation’s real security, visit our campaign website: www.wand.org/9-11

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