From: "Eli Pariser" <bulletin@9-11peace.org>
To: <9-11peace@complete.org>
Subject: 9-11Peace Bulletin
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 08:25:39 -0400
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9-11PEACE.ORG BULLETIN, Issue 1

Available online at http://www.9-11peace.org/bulletin.php3

NOTE: If you find this bulletin useful, please forward it to others and
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CONTENTS
---------
Response to the Bombing of Afghanistan

Featured Actions

Ways to Give

Events

Alternative News

Get Involved

About the Bulletin


RESPONSE TO THE BOMBING OF AFGHANISTAN
---------------------------------------
by Eli Pariser, 9-11peace.org Founder

Afghanistan is being bombed.  Although this is hardly unexpected, it is
nonetheless shocking -- shocking if only because the waiting is over and the
"battle" has begun.

My natural response is to worry.  I am worried for the people of
Afghanistan, whose situation grows ever more dire each day.  Now that the
bombing has started, many relief organizations have stopped their
operations, and the 37,000 1-day rations dropped on Sunday will hardly leave
the estimated 4 million Afghan refugees well fed -- if it reaches them at
all.  I am worried that this bombing will kill more innocent civilians
because, as we found out in the Gulf war, smart weapons are not smart
enough.  And, yes, I am worried for the thousands of young men and women in
the American military who may be killed in yet another unwinnable war.

But there is still work to be done.  We are at a turning point in history.
Down one road lies bloodshed, fear, and cultural and political upheaval.
Down the other lies a world in which social justice is finally fully
realized, where international structures allow nations to democratically
respond to crises, and where racism and hatred are eliminated through
education and attention.  The experience I have had with 9-11peace.org has
demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are literally millions of
people around the world dedicated to blazing the latter path.  The resources
on the website and in this bulletin are intended to support these generous
people in continuing the long trek towards social justice and global peace.

Together, let's continue to help eliminate the states of fear, ignorance,
hunger, and poverty -- the states that truly harbor terrorism -- through a
sustained campaign of action, love, and hope.


FEATURED ACTIONS
-----------------
We have been inundated with suggestions for actions that people can take in
response to the events of September 11.  Below are a few of the actions most
often suggested; you can look at the whole list at
http://www.9-11peace.org/action.php3.

* Call world leaders and ask them to call off the bombing and bring bin
Laden to justice through international law.  Talking points that respond to
common pro-war sentiments can be found at
http://www.zmag.org/poduranswers.htm.  A list of world leaders' telephone
numbers is available at http://www.9-11peace.org/reps.php3#phone.

* Fly the UN Flag as a symbol of global unity and support for international
law.  You can buy a UN Flag at
http://www.progressiveportal.org/resources/flags.html and a portion of the
cost will support the Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan and
other organizations.

* ActForChange (http://www.actforchange.org) has a list of actions, mostly
geared at people in the United States, that people can take online.


WAYS TO GIVE
-------------
We have had many requests from people looking for a way to donate to an
organization that will support long-term peace, justice, and stability world
wide.  Here are a few of our favorite picks:

* The Tides 9/11 Fund (http://www.tides.org) is a fund set up to support
relief efforts for the working poor affected by the incidents of September
11, encourage alternative media voices, fund those engaged in building
relationships between people of different ethnic, racial and religious
backgrounds, and promote the civil liberties in this dire and dangerous
time.

* UNICEF, the United Nation's Children's Fund (http://www.unicef.org), does
work worldwide to ensure that both boys and girls are healthy, educated, and
that their rights are protected.  They are currently providing aid to Afghan
refugees in Pakistan and to children within Afghanistan.  Support them by
donating or buying a card at http://www.supportunicef.org.


EVENTS
-------
9-11peace.org has turned over our events calendar to http://pax.protest.net.
We encourage everyone who knows of a public event to post it on that site,
which is a central directory for political action worldwide.

Incidentally, if you will be in New York City at 4pm this Friday, please
join us in presenting the International Youth Declaration featured on the
website at http://www.9-11peace.org/youth.php3.  You can find out more about
this event at http://www.9-11peace.org/globalyouth.php3.


ALTERNATIVE NEWS
-----------------
Especially in the United States, good news these days is increasingly hard
to come by.  Luckily, there exist a number of independent media sources that
have provided a steady stream of intelligent, informed analysis and opinion
in the weeks since September 11.  Below are our favorite news sources; in
future Bulletins we'll be sharing with you the best of the articles we've
seen dealing with the aftermath of September 11.

* The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk), a newspaper from the UK, is one
of the very best news sources we've seen.  Their reporting in the past few
weeks has been involved and intelligent, and they do a great job of
explaining and analyzing the history and international relations landscape
surrounding these events and the US response.

* Alternet (http://www.alternet.org) is an online magazine and digest that
mixes articles and editorials from other news sources with original work.
We particularly liked 10 Things to Know About Terrorism, by Mark LeVine
(http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11647).

* Znet (http://www.zmag.org) is the online version of Z Magazine, a
political commentary journal based in Massachusetts, USA.  They've posted a
number of responses to September 11 by folks on the left and the events that
have followed.


GET INVOLVED
-------------
If you would like us to include an action, giving idea, or news article or
source in the Bulletin, please write to bulletin@9-11peace.org and describe
your item in the subject line.

The 9-11Peace.org Bulletin is also looking for an editor to work on a
pro-bono basis on these weekly email blasts.  Over 14,000 people currently
subscribe to the 9-11Peace Bulletin, and the editor will be in a key
position to get needed information, action alerts, and donation ideas to
this large group of people.  If you think you've got the time, know-how, and
energy to do this well, please write to editor@9-11peace.org with a brief
paragraph summarizing your experience and interest.


ABOUT THE BULLETIN
-------------------
The 9-11Peace.org Bulletin is a weekly newsletter providing resources, news,
and action ideas to over 14,000 people around the world.  The full text of
the Bulletin is online at http://www.9-11peace.org/bulletin.php3; users can
subscribe to the Bulletin at that address also.  The Bulletin is a project
of 9-11peace.org.  Contact bulletin@9-11peace.org for more information.