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October 9, 2009
Dear CODEPINKer,
Today President Barack Obama was named as the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Recognized for his work to reduce nuclear arms, to ease tensions with the Muslim world, and stress diplomacy over unilateralism, we congratulate the President on this award. Yet with this great honor comes a great obligation to live up to the titel of the "Peace President."
Obama has much work to do. With two wars waging and the largest military budget in history about to pass across his desk, Obama will need help in living up to this award. CODEPINK has come up with a list of ways the President can work for peace in the days to come:
 Donate the $1.4 million prize to organizations working to build peace;
Establish a responsible exit strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan;
Close Bagram prison in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay;
Recall the use of drones in military combat and follow international law;
Establish a real climate change plan that would move us closer to ending resource wars based on our oil needs;
Establish leadership by redirecting our financial resources from war spending to address human needs for healthcare, education, and jobs;
Hold direct, unconditional talks with Iran;
Accelerate the eradication of nuclear weapons.
Lasting peace will span a long road of dedicate work ahead. That road winds from Afghanistan to Iraq to Pakistan to Gaza - and onto the Main Streets of our urban centers and rural towns across America. Obama's diplomatic talk is an excellent start that must be followed by real action to redeem the merits that the Nobel prize holds.
Join us by signing this Twitter Petition to remind Obama that we are here to support his work towards peace and push him to take action.
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Sincerely,
Dana, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janet, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Paris, Rae, Suzanne, and Whitney
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