Five simple things you can do to prevent war with Iraq . . . and one difficult thing

by builder123 Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003 at 3:33 AM

Got this in my inbox and wanted to share.

From: Jonathan Parfrey psrsm@psr.org> Add to Address Book

Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 17:28:30 -0800

To: psrsm@psr.org

Subject: Five simple things you can do to prevent war with Iraq . . . and one difficult thing



Dear PSR Supporter:

At this very moment in history simple acts of courage -- some things as simple as a phone call, standing on a street corner, writing a letter -- you doing these things, and then these acts compounded many times over, perhaps millions of times over, could prevent a terrible and globally destabilizing war in the Persian Gulf.

We suggest five simple easy-to-accomplish yet highly important things you can do:

1. Call the White House Opinion Line: (202) 456-1111

* The line only accepts calls from 9:00am-5:00pm EST, Monday through Friday. A machine will detain you for only a moment, then a pleasant live operator will thank you for saying "I oppose" or "I approve."

2. Call your local federal representative, especially those "liberal Democrats" who voted for the war resolution. Simply say that you are aghast that a Democrat would support a position that so destabilizes US relations and threatens to boomerang and place Americans in greater danger . . . let alone harm innocent people in Iraq. These congressmembers include:

Rep. Henry A. Waxman | 323 651 1040 | 202 225 3979 (Santa Monica, West LA, Hollywood)

Rep. Jane Harman | 310 372 1600 | 202 225 8220 (Venice, San Pedro, South Bay)

Rep. Howard Berman | 818 981 0543 | 202 225 4695 (Hollywood Hills, East San Fernando Valley)

Rep. Brad Sherman | 818 999-1990 | 202 225 5911 (West San Fernando Valley, Thousand Oaks)

3. "Americans Against War with Iraq" have placed advertisements in major US newspapers both as a means to pressure lawmakers and second, to recruit names and email addresses of those opposing the war. You may wish to add your name to this effort: http://www.aawwi.org/. And you may also wish to financially support PSR-LA's on-going peace efforts at: http://www.psrla.org/contribute.html

4. Fax the Security Council. President Bush is moving so quickly to war . . . and pushing US allies to support this ill-conceived effort that other nations need to hear that the American opposes such action.

Please write an impassioned (typed) letter and fax or mail it to:

- Ambassador to the United Nations from France: 212 355 2763 (fax); 245 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017

- Ambassador to the United Nations from Russia: 212 628-0252 (fax); 136 East 67 Street, New York, N.Y. 10021

5. Join a weekly vigil . Interfaith Communities United offers two weekly wonderful, respectful and inspiring vigils

- In the Fairfax District | Saturday evenings | 6:00 to 7:30 pm | Fairfax & Third near Farmer's Market | info call 626-683-9004

- In the West San Fernando Valley | Sunday evenings | 5:00 to 6:00 pm | Victory & Topanga Canyon Boulevards | info call 818-225-0410

- vigils all about LA, go to http://www.icujp.org/vigils.html

. . . . . . . and now the labor-intensive "hard things-to-do" . . . . . . .

6. Volunteer at a local peace organization

a. Physicians for Social Responsibility (Mid-City) call 213 386 4901 x113 (ask for Kim Zanti); kzanti@psr.org

b. Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (Pasadena) call 626 683 9004 (ask for Sheila); icujp@earthlink.net

c. California Peace Action (beverlywood area) call 310 652 6572 (ask for Danielle); danielle@californiapeaceaction.org

d. Coalition for World Peace (west hollywood) call 323 852 9808 (ask for Lisa); ooa@igc.org

7. Consider civil disobedience. As Henry David Thoreau observed, when a government acts criminally, the just place to be is in jail. Contact Shady Hakim at American Friends Service Committee for more information: 626 791 1978



Jonathan Parfrey

Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles

3250 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1400

Los Angeles, CA 90010-1604

213 386 4901-work | 310 261 0832-cell | 213 386 4184-fax



Original: Five simple things you can do to prevent war with Iraq . . . and one difficult thing