May 4, 2005

Julia Ward Howe, the initiator of Mother's Day as a call for peace in 1870, would be horrified to see what the Bush administration has wrought. And so are we. As a compelling reminder of the real-life consequences of Bush's policies, watch this flash video of images from the past two months in Iraq. Watch it and weep, like we did. Watch it and get angry, like we did. But most of all, watch it and pledge that you will join us to STOP THIS MADNESS.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=14093856&url_num=1&url=http://www.bushflash.com/y2.html

Here are three ideas to move us forward:

* Join us at our Mother's Day actions at recruiting stations on May 7.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=14093856&url_num=2&url=http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=47
We now have 15 cities committed to do vigils/rallies. Check our website to see the locations.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=14093856&url_num=3&url=http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=271
If your city is not listed, please consider organizing something yourself. If can be as small as you and a few friends. Click here for organizing ideas.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=14093856&url_num=4&url=http://www.codepinkalert.org//article.php?list=type&type=48

* Sign the Mother's day pledge
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=14093856&url_num=5&url=http://hq.demaction.org/dia/organizations/codepink/signUp.jsp?key=301

* Join or start or build a local CODEPINK group. Look on our website to see if there is an existing CODEPINK group in your community. If so, please get in touch with the convener to see how you can help. If no group exists, be the convener yourself. Click here for ideas on how to get started.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=14093856&url_num=6&url=http://www.codepinkalert.org//article.php?id=274

There are many more ideas in our new book Stop the Next War Now.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=14093856&url_num=7&url=http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=237

Now is the time to wake up the conscience of our nation. Now is the time to take seriously the words of Julia Ward Howe:

"We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says, 'Disarm, Disarm!'."

This Mother's Day, let's make Julia proud of us.

With a passion for peace,
Dana, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Rae and Tiffany