Please give this one a few kicks. Please.
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This is a weekly roundup of upcoming IVAW events and happenings. Thank you for your continued support of and interest in the veteran's movement to end the war.
1. The Iraq Study Group Report has been making international headlines. Touted as a step forward, this report instead paves the way for an indeterminate continuation of the violence and unrest in Iraq. Read the IVAW response to the ISG report at www.ivaw.org/node/391.
2. As this holiday season quickly approaches, thousands of veterans are recuperating in Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals across the country. Many times these men and women are far from family and friends and drastically under-funded VA budgets mean that long-distance calls for patients aren't covered. This December, Iraq Veterans Against the War is going to show our support for our veterans by giving them phone cards so they can call their loved ones over the holidays. This is a joint project of Working Assets, IVAW, Vets for Peace, Gold Star Families for Peace, and Code Pink.
You can help us get phone cards to veterans this holiday season:
a) Donate to help buy the cards. $5, $10, or $20 will make a big difference; a $20 contribution will mean that six veterans each get two hours of long-distance calls to their families. Please visit
http://www.workingassets.com/phonecardsforveterans to contribute.
b) Help us deliver the cards in person. We're setting up visits to VA hospitals all over the country on December 18th to deliver the donated phone cards in person. Click here to find the VA facility nearest you and sign up to help with delivery:
http://www.workingassets.com/phonecarddeliveryvisits. 3. We at IVAW know that reaching out to active-duty men and women is one of the most crucial steps to ending the war in Iraq. IVAW will be working with members from the Appeal for Redress, www.appealforredress.org, Veterans for Peace, and Military Families Speak Out to show our support for our troops by handing out care packages to them outside the gates of active-duty bases just before Christmas (Dec 18-20). Besides treats like cookies and candy, these care packages will include information on the anti-war movement and resources so that they can become directly involved in ending the war and caring for their brothers and sisters as they return home.
Suggested items for the care packages include: the Appeal for Redress, Iraq Veterans Against the War flyers, "Iraq for Sale," and "Sir, No Sir!" postcards telling soldiers how to get their free copy, information on Vets for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Courage to Resist, and the GI Rights Hotline, as well as cookies, candy, and other holiday treats.
To make this work, we need teams of at least six people to go and stand in front of the gates (on the public right of way) of active duty bases prior to the Christmas holiday. Team members can hold signs such as, "Happy Holidays" and "Free Care Package for Active Duty" while they hand out the packages. This is a great way that you can help support our troops and bridge the gap between the peace movement and those serving in the military. If you are interested in participating with compiling and/or delivering the care packages, please email
[email protected] with your name, organization, and the military base nearest you.
Peace and Joy over the holiday season and into the New Year,
Kelly Dougherty, Executive Director IVAW
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