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

I notice that everyone talks about voicing opposition and becoming impassioned. But, while we are all being so passionate, can we form coalitions to clean up our own neighborhoods. Can we form coalitions to get solar panels in poor neighborhoods. We certainlty can raise money for speaking out, or huge costly rallies. Those things are good, they're like advertising. Can we make capitalism work for the good, we could, if we had enough people willing to take less profit slower so that environmental issues could be adressed. Is there money to be made here? You can create an entire class of responsible consumerism, and have all the freedom you want. First off we have to get people to spend where it counts, spend with companies that are committed to human rights, if they exist, and if they don't, let's start new ones. We need to join together to build our own, not buy from overseas, we have to get Americans to stop thinking that quantity is better than quality, like costco, we have to get people to realize that they save money but it costs more later. We can't kill all cheap people or all the rich ones that drive the market of cheap stuff, we just have to get people to understand that earth friendly is cool, and absolutely necessary. We need our teachers to bombard our kids with ideas of how to fix the world, not how to bomb it. This stuff has to be done as fast as you can organize 100,000 people to go to Washington, can we do it?

The Peace Movement is growing daily. The movement finds its strength in the many coalitions and individuals striving for justice. Stopping the war is a big step, success will require many others.

Im not one for hyperbole, but I don't think you should be either BA. Who really knows what America thinks, but if you are to trust recent Washington Post polls, your man with the plan aint looking so good right now. Slipping numbers and all.

Of course, we should never rest on our laurels. Numbers are always fickle. There is an incredibly repressive agenda from a man in the office, only building at the grassroots through participation in local politics and activism will secure democratic change we want to see. Growing distrust against a war is one thing, an actual "movement" for real change (health care reform?) is quite another beast.

No, making a change means making democracy happen like it should. Working with neighborhood groups, community groups, being involved. Calling a senator is just one small act. If the shithouse isn't gonna collapse, we have to work with the system at the grassroots to make a swell of people-centered politics.

Make my day.

Or B. A. for that matter.

Not Growing? Read a Newspaper.

PS very cool Anti-Troll

No, making a change means making democracy happen like it should. Working with neighborhood groups, community groups, being involved. Calling a senator is just one small act. If the shithouse isn't gonna collapse, we have to work with the system at the grassroots to make a swell of people-centered politics.

Make my day.