Sponsor |  amerpie | May 7, 2005 9:58pm | I received the following email from MFSO Member and Gold Star Families for
Peace co-founder Celeste Zappala. Celeste's son Sgt. Sherwood Baker was
killed in Baghdad on April 26, 2004. Celeste's email is about a nation-wide
activity happening on May 15th called "Counting the Costs" that will focus
on and protest the rising death toll and the on-going military occupation of
Iraq. For more information and to find out how to participate, read on.
Dear Friends
I am sending this information about
"count the costs" a day of protest and observance on
May 15 sponsored by the women's international league
for peace and freedom, (wilpf) hope you will support
it too.
On May 15, 2005, in protest of the rising death toll
and the on-going military occupation of Iraq, people
around the country will wear numbers symbolizing the
100,000+ civilians and soldiers who have died since
the beginning of the war. We hope that you will
join us in this action that is both a protest
against the war and a memorial to those who have
died in Iraq. We have reserved the numbers between
1 and 1,700 for those who lost family members in
Iraq, and we will provide these numbers free of
charge to family members. Please contact me as soon
as possible if you would like to wear a specific
number representing your loved one who died in this
war. SIGN-UP NOW at annie@countingthecost.org so we
can send you your number right away.
Increasingly, many Americans believe that the war is
over. They think that relatively few civilians and
soldiers have died. They think that U.S. interests
and Iraqi interests are best served by the continued
occupation of Iraq.
The reality is that a war of occupation continues in
Iraq. We now know that over 100,000 Iraqi citizens
have been killed since the beginning of the war.
Over 1,500 U.S. soldiers have died. Countless
others have been wounded and maimed. And, although
the pictures are not shown on TV, large numbers of
Iraqi citizens and U.S. soldiers continue to die.
Let's tell the truth about the war and continuing
occupation in Iraq.
On May 15, wear a number representing one of the
Iraqi citizens, U.S. soldiers, coalition soldiers,
and other international civilians who have been
killed in Iraq. Join one of the local actions being
planned in Philadelphia, Boston, and other
locations. See our website for a complete list of
locations where actions are now planned:
countingthecost.org [countingthecost.org] Organize an event of your
own, such as candlelight vigil at a local war
memorial or a demonstration in your town square.
Or, simply spend the day wearing your number and
talking to your neighbors about it.
Together we can show that the cost of this war is
too high. Together we can convey to our communities
that NOW is the time for a rapid withdrawal of U.S.
troops, the establishment of a transitional force
not dominated by U.S. interests, and a commitment on
the part of the U.S. to provide financial assistance
for rebuilding Iraq.
Ask your friends to SIGN UP NOW! at
countingthecost.org [countingthecost.org] and we will send them their
number to wear on May 15. We will provide without
charge number placards to the family members of
those who died in Iraq. For others who would like to
ware a number on May 15, we will ask them to donate
$10 to cover minimal administrative costs, and to
make sure that everyone who wants to can
participate, even if they can't pay. The remainder
of these donations will help fund humanitarian aid
in Iraq and continued anti-war work.
At countingthecost.org [countingthecost.org] you will also find
detailed information about the death toll in Iraq, a
list of local actions already being planned, and
ideas to help you and your group plan an action of
your own.
Don't forget to send this email on to a friend who
can join us.
CountingTheCost.org
c/o Women's International League for Peace and
Freedom
1213 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-563-7110
annie@countingthecost.org
CountingtheCost.org is a volunteer initiative begun
in Philadelphia, with assistance from the Women's
International League for Peace and Freedom.
Current Sponsors: Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom, Veterans For Peace, Gold Star
Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against War,
National Lawyers Guild, Global Exchange, The Shalom
Center, Brandywine Peace Community, Catholic Peace
Fellowship Philadelphia Chapter, Delaware County
Wage Peace and Justice, Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia
Regional Antiwar Network, A Quaker Action Group II,
House of Grace Catholic Workers. |
|
Anti-War Movement → Discussion