The Bush-Cheney administration seem casually intent to launch a horrific military strike upon Iran. Nuclear weapons are clearly “on the table” as if they are a simple tool in the U.S. empire’s deadly militaristic arsenal, according to White House officials. People the world over—especially in the United States, including Mid-Missouri-- need  to stand up and speak out forcefully, nonviolently to let U.S. elected officials residing in seats of power in our democracy, hear our collective call: “Wage No War Upon Iran!”

More than 100,000 Iraqis and at least 2300 U.S. military personnel have been killed so far in the U.S.-led attack upon Iraq. White House officials have remarked that the occupation and war there could go on for several more years.  In recent weeks, President Bush and other officials have boldly hinted, like a schoolyard bully, our government’s military could strike out at any time.  Now, is the time for committed people in this nation to stand nonviolently against the continuation of this violence in the name of empire. In 1945, U.S. warplanes dropped nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing more than 200,000 people; more continue to die to this day as a direct result of the radioactive fallout. For decades, U.S. peace activists have said “Hiroshima/Nagasaki Never Again!” We must be willing to take greater risks for peace for the benefit of peoples the world over, in Iran, Iraq and including those in this land. We must redirect U.S. resources to help meet real human needs here and globally, instead of stuffing the gluttonous national war machine.

In solidarity, peace and hope in nonviolent people power,

Jeff Stack

Mid-MO Fellowship of Reconciliation, coordinator

 

 

Toward that end, the Mid-MO FOR encourages you to participate in the following:

1) Join Anti-War Games   Monday 8 May  12 Noon

At one of three Congressional offices in mid-Missouri (contact one of the numbers below to get specifics by April's end). A legal demonstration including a “rehearsal” of civil disobedience for a future date-- should the Bush-Cheney administration launch an invasion or attack (a nuclear or other missile attack) upon Iran.

You're welcome to attend:

Thursday 4 May,

6:00 pm. Planning meeting for May 8 event

7:00-9:00 pm. Nonviolence training (anyone participating in a possible future civil disobedient action will be required to have completed such training).

A & S (Arts & Sciences) Bldg. Room 113   UMC Campus

Call Jeff at 573-449-4585 or Steve at 573-875-4913/875-7878 for more information.  

--Following the next announcement, you’ll find more local ways to work for peace and just international relations (and under point #6 you’ll find other concrete actions/means to resist a possible war on Iran)…

 

2) “Africa Conference: Crossing Borders, Connecting People,” Saturday, 29 April  10 am- 3:30 pm   Rock Bridge High School, 4303 S. Providence Rd., Columbia. The conference will feature speakers, music, showing of the documentary “God Sleeps in Rwanda” and food. Free and open to the public, best to RSVP at globalissuesclub@yahoo.com.  Coordinated by the school’s Global Issues Club.  Their brochure notes, “Africa is 6000 miles away. Let’s bring it closer to Columbia;”

3) Attend the next monthly meeting of the Columbia Peace Coalition  Monday, 1 May  6:00 pm, in the Peace Nook,  804C E. Broadway, downtown Columbia. We need you to join in local efforts to resist the help prevent a war upon Iran and to end the occupation of Iraq;   

4) Attend any of the several regularly-scheduled peace vigils taking place in Mid-Missouri….

 Columbia

Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 am., Columbia Post Office

Tuesdays, 12 Noon-1:00 pm. at MU's Speakers' Circle

Wednesdays, 4:15- 5:45 pm., Broadway & Providence

Jefferson City

Wednesdays, 12 Noon-1:00 Post Office on High St.

Fulton

Tuesdays 4:30-5:30, market & 5^th St., Callaway County courthouse;

 

5) Attend the next monthly “Prayer for Peace for All People”

next time at the Unitarian Universalist Church 2615 Shepard Blvd.,  Saturday, May 13 , 9:00-9:45 a.m.

 

6) ACTION ALERT:  ACT NOW TO PREVENT A U.S. ATTACK ON IRAN:

-- Thanks to our friend Mark and Mid-MO Peaceworks for forwarding these action suggestions….  

 

We'd like to ask you to do the following:

 

A)  Make four phone calls today. Call the offices of Rep. Kenny Hulshof (or your rep if you live in a different district) 449-5111 or 202-225-2956, Sen. Kit Bond 202-224-5721, Sen. Jim Talent 202-224-6154 and the White House comment line 202-456-1111. We urge you to share whatever your sentiments are on this critical issue.

 

Our message includes: 1) Attacking Iran would be illegal and immoral. It would also be profoundly counter to our national security interests; 2) A nuclear attack, which apparently is being contemplated, would legitimate the use of these hellish weapons and would lead inexorably to their wider use, ultimately reducing dramatically our prospects for survival as a species; 3) Even a conventional attack is both completely unjustified and would do horrific harm all the way around; and 4) The only way we will ever be successful in dealing with nuclear proliferation is to transcend the hypocrisy that has us telling other countries to "do as I say, not as I do." If we want to eliminate the threat of nukes in the hands of so-called "evil" countries, we need to recognize that others see us as "evil." Only through guaranteed, mutual, verifiable and universal nuclear disarmament will we have any chance to eliminate this threat to our survival

 

B)  Write a letter to the editor and send it to each of the local papers with a "No War on Iran" message. Send them to:  Columbia Tribune:  editor@tribmail.com;  Columbia Missourian:  editor@digmo.com;  Maneater:   forum@themaneater.com;  Post-Dispatch:   letters@post-dispatch.com;  K.C. Star:   letters@kcstar.com   and as many others as you can. 

 

C)  Stop by the Peace Nook to pick up "Attack Iran? NO!" bumperstickers (no charge, donations welcome). Display this, share them with friends, make the message visible.

 

D)  Become well informed and talk this issue up with friends, family and associates. In addition to the links we posted last week (contact us if you don't have these and would like us to re-send them), we would suggest checking out:

 

Sy Hersh on Democracy Now!

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/04/12/1359254

 

"The Human Costs of Bombing Iran"--Matthew Rothschild:

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0411-27.htm

 

"If You Liked the Iraq War, You'll Love the Iran War"--Cenk Uygur

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0414-31.htm

 

"Playacting Diplomacy Again on Road to War"--Norman Solomon

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0418-23.htm