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Dear Friends,
The House of Representatives will vote as soon as tomorrow -- Thursday, May 8 -- on an additional $178 billion for the war and occupation in Iraq!

Amazingly, the bill includes $70 billion for fiscal year 2009. This means the funds for the occupation will keep flowing well into the next administration, allowing the new president a free hand to continue the war and occupation with little or no accountability to Congress until next spring. This is an appalling abdication of responsibility.
At a time when money is urgently needed in our communities, the new bill would bring the total for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to an unimaginable $874 billion. By including FY09 funding, the Democratic Party House leadership is effectively taking the war off the congressional agenda for the rest of this year. This might be our last opportunity to fight a war funding bill before the next president takes office and the new Congress is seated.

YOUR CALL TODAY IS CRUCIAL.
Call your representative NOW: 202-224-3121
Tell them to vote "No!" on this funding bill.
Tell them it's long past time to bring all the troops home and end the war.
Tell them to stop playing political games while lives are being lost.
Please let us know you called by clicking here.

Don't let the House Democratic leadership take us for granted. If this funding bill passes, Congress will have handed Bush $874 billion for the illegal war and occupation of Iraq. With this funding bill, they are laying the groundwork for the next president to continue the occupation. We must send them a message: The voters will remember in November!

Background
House leadership met behind closed doors on Monday evening to concoct a plan that will keep the war going into the next president's first term. They plan to bring a $178 billion war funding bill to the floor for a vote on Thursday, May 8. In addition to the funding bill, they will vote separately on two other measures. One will provide billions for unemployment benefits and veterans education benefits; the other measure addresses war policy, including a goal for troop withdrawal by December 2009, troop readiness requirements, and bans on permanent bases in Iraq and torture. It is an open secret that the Senate will drop the measure on war policy -- leaving only the war funding with no strings attached.

Impact of War on the Iraqi People
The U.S. war/occupation in Iraq has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, devastated families and ripped apart the infrastructure of Iraq. One striking fact is that more than 4.7 million Iraqis (in a nation of 27 million people) have been displaced by war and occupation. It is the world's fastest growing refugee crisis, and represents the largest refugee flow in the Middle East since the displacement of Palestinians in 1948. Click here for more information.
Peace,

Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ
________________________________________
UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
PO Box 607; Times Square Station; New York, NY 10108

Dear all,
We have moved up the release of petition. Attached and below is the final text for the peoples agenda for 2008 as agreed to at yesterday's stopwar meeting and through our drafting process. The next step is to make sure that listing for your name (drafting committee) and affiliation is correct. We ask also that we gather more names over the next few days so we have a good number of signers for early release on Tues. Feb. 19. To sign on reply to this email. Here's is an outline of next steps. 1. The petition will be ready for distribution and release on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Megan will find graphic and do print type etc. It will be presented to Rep. Israel by Sheila, PCLI. It will be delivered or faxed to other LI reps and NY senators in the afternoon. 2. Feb. 20 it will be posted on LIA website and others and posted on online petition site. LIA will send out press release. 3. Feb. 21 Signatures will be gathered at Ann Wright program - other meetings coming up etc. Please review and let me know if I omitted anything. I will forward final petition asap. Thanks for all your input into the drafting and planning process.RELEASE IN FEB.19 . Margaret and Megan Call at 516-538-0299

People's Agenda Next steps:
1. Gather signatures on petition - get organizations to sign on and endorese. Set up meetings to get orgs to endorse. Also contact locals officials to sign on
2. Recruit volunteers for outreach campaign to gather signatures and distribute text brochure. Recruit at LI colleges.
3. Complete agenda text draft for brochure(ready early March)
4. Draft fact sheet flyers for each agenda point making it local (get info from LI organizations)(April)
5. Do pilot project door to door/ community campaign (Huntinton, uniondale, Valley Stream, other) for signatures (April/May)
6. Assess online response and outreach success(June)
7. Develop plan for wider outreach for summer(July/Aug)
8. Assess/plan fall and winter (Sept.)
9. Present to presidential candidates at October Hofsra debates - deliver to local, state and federal officials

THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA for 2008

online

We the People want our country back.

As Americans, our heritage includes compassion, tolerance, and fairness. We believe all people must be treated with respect, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or economic class. Equal rights and equal opportunity have always been guiding principles of our society.

We see our government losing sight of these values. We will no longer be silent.
We want an America that stands for peace and social justice.
We want a government that is truthful, transparent, and accountable.
We want a government that works for all the people.
We the People want our President and elected officials to:
• End the war in Iraq
• Reallocate war funds to housing, jobs, health care, the environment, and education
• Create a universal, single-payer health care system for all Americans
• Develop a sustainable energy policy that substantially reduces global warming
• Eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness
• Restore all Constitutional rights and human rights
• Implement a foreign policy based on the rule of law, justice, and human dignity
_________________________________________________________________________
NAME ADDRESS

_________________________________________________________________________

_
Return to: Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, 38 Old Country Road, Garden City NY 11530-1532 or e-mail lipeace@verizon.net

PEOPLE'S AGENDA DRAFTING COMMITTEE*: Ed Ciaccio, Moveon LI; Janet Egan, Huntington; Greg Maney, Hofstra University; Sue Donnelly, Code Pink LI; Ann Klaeysen, Ethical Humanist Society; Jay Grosmark, The Shelter Rock Forum; Norma Cohen, The Interfaith Alliance; Mary Beth Moore, Leadership Team, Sisters of Charitiy and Pax Christi LI; Martin Melkonian, Hofstra University; Michael D'Innocenzo, Center for Civic Engagement at Hofstra; Thomas Brinson, LI Veterans for Peace; Nancy Dwyer, Pax Christi LI; Vic DeVita, UU Shelter Rock; Andrea Libresco, Hofstra University; Stan & Shirley Romaine, Great Neck SANE/Peace Action; Margaret Melkonian, LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives; Sheila Croke, Pax Christi LI; Megan O'Handley, LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives; Peter Bronson, Veterans for Peace

* Affiliations for identification only

Protestors brave rain at Manhattan anti-war rally

Protestors brave rain at Manhattan anti-war rally

MATTHEW CHAYES

Despite a midday downpour, thousands of anti-war activists marched from Union Square to lower Manhattan Saturday in one of 11 coordinated protests from Orlando to Seattle to New Orleans

"Stop the war! Stop the rain!" said Sahai Hiwot, 42, of Jersey City, as she paraded down Broadway.

Saturday's crowds were smaller than those at previous anti-war rallies in the city, including marches held in the run-up to and shortly after the United States' 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Unlike some of those marches, at which city police made scores of arrests, no one had been arrested by the end of the event, according to a police spokesman. Late last night, police said they had no updated information.

Saturday's protesters largely focused on the war and withdrawing the U.S. military from Iraq, but marchers and their signs touted an assortment of causes, including supporting Palestinians, opposing the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, and expressing general disgust with President George W. Bush.

"Bush has done too much -- -- for me to fit on this sign," one placard said.

Long Island-based anti-war organizations rallied, too. Some two dozen people affiliated with the local chapter of CodePink, a women's group that opposes the war, rode the Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan and met up at Penn Station, said Cathy Fenton, 38, of Holbrook, a spokeswoman for the group.

The women, who wore matching pink outfits, had smeared their hands in fake blood to show solidarity with a fellow CodePink protester who was arrested last week as she accosted Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to protest the war, explained Loretta Gallion, 47, of Hauppauge.

CodePink has participated in anti-war marches since the beginning of the conflict in Iraq, said Judi Gardner, 60, of Huntington, a middle school teacher.

"Now we're focusing on trying to stop the imminent war in Iran," said Susan Donnelly, 48, an artist from Melville.

A pocket of counterprotesters who support Bush and the military action in Iraq offered an opposing view.

Desiree Bernstein of Brooklyn, who said she lost her brother-in-law in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, stood with about a dozen others on the corner of Broadway and Worth Street, waving American flags and shouting that the Iraq war is necessary to protect American lives.

A counterprotester added: "And we're winning in Iraq."

Staff writer Michael Amon contributed to this story.

LI CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS FOR PEACE: A CALL TO END THE WAR

We come together as LI Clergy and Religious for Peace to express our moral opposition to the war in Iraq.
We call for an end to the war in Iraq and the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
We seek to encourage a broad dialogue and a discernment process among Long Island clergy, congregations and communities that will promote a new U.S. foreign policy based on moral values, human dignity, nonviolence and the rule of law.

Rev. Mark Lukens, Bethany Congregational Church, LI Chapter of The Interfaith Alliance*
Sister Jeanne Clark, O.P.
Sister Margaret Galiardi, O.P.
Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue, United Methodist, Amityville
Rev. William Brisotti, Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Wyandanch
Pastor Mark Greiner
Dr. Anne Klaeysen, Ethical Humanist Society of Garden City
Rev. Alan Bentz-Letts
Richard K. Goodman, Westbury Quakers Meeting
Habeeb Uddin Ahmed, Islamic Center of Long Island
Deacon Don Zirkel, Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Wyandanch
Ghazi Y. Khankan
Sister Mary Beth Moore, Sisters of Charity
Dr. Hafiz Ur Rehman, Masjid Darul Quran Mosque
Rev. Ben Bortin, Membership Coordinator, Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
The. Rev. Noelle Damico, University of the Poor, School of Theology
Father Andrew P. Connolly (retired), Our Lady of Fatima RC Church, Manorhaven
Rev. Henry J. Benack, St. Patrick’s Church, Glen Cove and Pax Christi LI
Sister Margaret Mace, O.P.
Rev. Thomas J. Philipp, Old South Haven Presbyterian Church, Brookhaven
Cal Torpey, South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Freeport
Gretchen Haynes, Westbury Friends Meeting
Sister Eileen Corcoran, O.P.
Sister Camille D’Arienzo, Sisters of Mercy
Rev. Richard Parker, United Methodist, Retired, Babylon
Rev. Robert B. Lepley
Mary Dewar, Garden City Community Church, Chair of Public Issues Committee of LICC
Sister Patricia Kollmer, O.P., Sisters of St. Dominic, Bay Shore
Sister Lillian de Lorme, O.P. Pastoral Minister, Church of Good Shepherd, Holbrook NY
Rev. James W. Adelman, Pastor, Garden City Community Church
Imitiaz A. Rahi, LIVETOGETHER-US, New Hyde Park
Abdul Basir Kazi, Hillside Islamic Center, New Hyde Park
Sister Jean Amore, Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood
Sister Rosemary Bellantoni, CSJ
Rev. Dr. Timothy Hoyt Duncan, First Presbyterian, Northport
Rabbi Dr. Janet Liss, North Country Reform Temple, Glen Cove
Sister Marie Danaher, O.P. Sacred Heart Church, Merrick
Sister Chris Koellhoffer, IHM, Christ the King
Rev. Dr. Barry Andrews, Minister of Religious Education, Unitarian Universalist Congregation
at Shelter Rock
Sister Jeanne McGorry, CSJ, Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood
Sister Eugenia C. Calabrese, CSJ, North Merrick
Sister Patricia Turley, CSJ, North Merrick
Deacon Heriberto Nelson Daza, St. Mary of the Isle
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Y. Gyamfi, St. Raymond's
Rev. Thomas G. Gallagher, Sacred Heart, North Merrick
Mary Hughes, O.P., Sisters St. Dominic, Amityville

Rev. Michael Sehler, SJ, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Point Lookout
Sister Kathleen Quinn, Sister of Mercy
Sister Janet Kinney, CSJ
Margaret Mary Bickar, SC, East Islip
Betty Toohig, SC, East Islip
Father Bob Splittgerber, St. John’s Lutheran Church by the Sea, Long Beach
The Rev. Debra Low-Skinner, Rector, Christ Episcopal Church, Garden City
Rev. Harold Lay, Parkway Community Church (R.C.A.), Hicksville
Rev. Dr. Ledyard Baxter, Old Steeple Community Church, United Church of Christ, Aquebogue
Rev. Michael W. Caine, N.Y. Conference, United Church of Christ
Rev. Kenneth W. Prill, Pastor, Center Moriches United Methodist Church
Sister Rose Sheridan, CSJ, Blue Point
Sister Anne Lorraine Hanna, Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood
Rabbi Dr. Steven Moss, B’nai Israel Reform Temple
Rev. Janet Porcher, First United Methodist Church, Oceanside
Sister Ann Gray, Daughters of Wisdom, Islip
Sister Lucy Blyskal, CSJ, Brentwood
The Rev. Rose Ann Vita, Pastor, Incarnation Lutheran Church, Watermill
Rev. Jack Moore, Associate Pastor, St. Mary’s R.C. Church, East Islip
The Rev. Jill M. Bowden
Donna M. Strong, St. Margaret of Scotland–Parish Social Ministry, Selden
The Rev. Gerardo Ramirez-Miller, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
Rev. Peter J. Kelly, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Frederick A. Smith, M.D., communicant, Christ Episcopal Church, Garden City
The Rev. Paul Ratzlaff, UU Fellowship of Huntington
The Rev. Paul Johnson, UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset
Arthur B. Dobrin, Westbury
The Rev. Hope Johnson, UU Congregation of Central Nassau, Garden City
Sister Mairead Barrett, OSU
Rev. Lorraine De Armitt, Southold United Methodist Church
M. Riad Khawan, Islamic Center of Melville
Nayyar Imam, President-Elect, Selden Mosque
Rabbi Renni S. Altman, Temple Beth-El of Great Neck
The Very Rev’d David B. Lowry, Christ Church, Manhasset
Riad Khawam, Islamic Center of Melville
Deacon George Reich, St. John Nepomucene RC Parish, Bohemia
Rabbi Jerome Davidson, Temple Beth-El of Great Neck
Rabbi Paul J. Joseph, Long Beach
Joseph Hassan, retired married priest, Albertson
Rev. Dianne Rodriguez, First Parish Chruch, UCC, Northville
Rev. Larry Duncklee, Our Lady of Good Counsel, R.C. Church, Inwood
Rev. Andrew P. Blake

Please sign on and return to: LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, 38 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY 11530 - (516) 741-4360 or email

Name:_________________________Affliation Affiliation (optional)______________________

LI CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS FOR PEACE:
A CALL TO END THE WAR

We come together as LI Clergy and Religious for Peace to express our moral opposition to the war in Iraq.

We call for an end to the war in Iraq and the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

We seek to encourage a broad dialogue and a discernment process among Long Island clergy, congregations and communities that will promote a new U.S. foreign policy based on moral values, human dignity, nonviolence and the rule of law.

Rev. Mark Lukens, Bethany Congregational Church, LI Chapter of The Interfaith Alliance*
Sr. Jeanne Clark, O.P.
Sr. Margaret Galiardi, O.P.
Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue, United Methodist, Amityville
Rev. William Brisotti, Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Wyndanch
Pastor Mark Greiner
Anne Klaeysen, Ethical Humanist Society of Garden City
Rev. Alan Bentz-Letts
Richard K. Goodman, Westbury Quakers Meeting
Habeeb Uddin Ahmed, Islamic Center of Long Island
Deacon Don Zirkel, Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Wyndanch
Ghazi Y. Khankan
Sister Mary Beth Moore, Sisters of Charity
Dr. Hafiz Ur Rehman, Masjid Darul Quran Mosque
Rev. Ben Bortin, Membership Coordinator, Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
The. Rev. Noelle Damico, Associate for Fair Food, Presbyterian Church USA
Father Andrew P. Connolly (retired), Our Lady of Fatima RC Church, Manorhaven
Rev. Henry J. Benack, St. Patrick’s Church, Glen Cove and Pax Christi LI

(August 2007)

*Affiliations for Identification Purposes

Please sign on and return to:
LI Alliance, 38 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY 11530 - (516)741-4360/lipeace@broadview.net

JUNE 2007 ACTION ALERT: KEEP THE PRESSURE ON CONGRESS-

On May 23, Congress voted to give President Bush another $100 billion for the war and occupation in Iraq. Representatives Ackerman, Bishop, Israel, and McCarthy and Senator Clinton all voted against the supplemental funding. Their “No” votes are a clear sign of the persistent efforts of the peace community on Long Island to push our representatives to do what we elected them to do: End the war and bring the troops home.

NOW WE MUST KEEP UP THE PRESSURE. For every month that the war continues, 100 American soldiers and 1000 Iraqis will be killed. How many more US soldiers will we be honoring next Memorial Day for making the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq?

CALL, WRITE, OR DROP-BY YOUR CONGRESSPERSON’S OFFICE TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE: “It is time for YOU to truly represent the people who elected you and use your power to end this war.

NOT ONE MORE DEATH. NOT ONE MORE DOLLAR. BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121, Toll free: 1-800-594-1015

Click on Congressional Contact List on the left sidebar for a complete list of addresses and phone numbers for LI’s Congressional delegation.

SAMPLE LETTER

June 2007

Dear

Over 3,400 U.S. soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died since the war began in March 2003. Tens of thousands have been wounded. It is time to end the war in Iraq and to begin the orderly withdrawal of our troops.

I urge you to stay strong and to vote to set a deadline for withdrawal and for a cut-off of war funding. You must do what the American people voted for in November: end the war and bring the troops home.

Every month that this war continues means another 100 U.S. soldiers and thousands of Iraqis will die and more wounded. This is wrong. The war is wrong. It is not about a new course or a new strategy. It is about ending an immoral, illegal war that should never have been started.

Continuing this tragic war is unconscionable. We cannot wait until September or until 2008. We need to decide now and to begin the withdrawal as soon as possible.

I want to hear from you about what you will do to end this war—and end it soon.

Sincerely,