November 30


Dear CODEPINK Activist,
 
Last week we urged you to help make this holiday season one of peace and nonviolence by teaching our children and their parents that war is not a game. This message struck a chord with many of you and as a result several local CODEPINK groups have already taken action against war toys. Building on your efforts, we are calling for December 4th to be a National Day of Action Against War Toys.

Local groups in San Francisco, Los Angeles and various other cities will be participating. To contact groups in your area go to:  http://www.codepinkalert.org/groups.php

But don't wait for someone else to do it, create your own action! Below are six ideas you can do on your own, or with your local CODEPINK group.  Don't forget to let us know what you're planning (tiffany@codepinkalert.org) so we can post it on our site and let others know. If you have children, whatever you decide to do, take them with you! It's a great way to get them into the true holiday spirit!
 
Take Action for a Peaceful Holiday:
 
1. Stand outside stores that sell war toys, giving shoppers flyers about why they shouldn't buy them. Get in awesome pink camouflage gear or dress like an elf. Make sure you call your local media!
 
2. Place "surgeon general-type" warning labels on war toys in the stores that say things like: violent toys = violent boys, war is not a game, war is not healthy for children, etc. 

3. Talk directly to store owners and managers and ask them to stop selling war toys. Tell them you and your friends are considering no longer shopping at the store if war toys continue to be sold. Make buttons that say, "Say No to War Toys" or "War is Not a Game" and offer them to the employees.
 
4. Get a bunch of friends to go with you to each buy a war toy, and then go back to the store later to return them. Create long complaint lines, showing other customers (and hopefully you've called the media) why war toys are bad.
 
5. Create flyers that promote stores that are not selling war toys and give those stores certificates to put in their windows.
 
6. Go to schools. Ask teachers to talk about the negative impact of war toys. Ask schools to ban war toys and not allow kids to have them on the playground. Perhaps you could set up toy exchange, where children turn in their war toys and get some cool, peaceful toy like a hot pink frisbee.
 
Thanks for your help in making this a safer and more peaceful holiday season for all of us,
Andrea, Carol, Claire, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Tiffany, Sue