May 1, 2010

Dear CODEPINKer,

Imagine you are a mother with a child in the military. Imagine your child is in Afghanistan, surrounded by constant danger and uncertainty. You have no idea when your child is coming home, or whether your child will come home safely at all. Of course some of you don't have to imagine this. Some of you are living it every single day.

Now imagine how it would feel if you were told your child is coming home. Wouldn't that be the greatest gift for Mother's Day, or any day? Let's make that gift a reality for thousands upon thousands of mothers (both American and Afghan) by calling on our representatives to stop funding war.

Call or email your Congressional reps today to urge them to co-sponsor the McGovern/Feingold bill (HR 5015, S.3197) requiring the President to provide a plan and timetable for "the safe, orderly and expeditious redeployment of US troops from Afghanistan." This is a very moderate bill, which a wide range of legislators should be able to support. With a large number of co-sponsors, it will hopefully generate a much needed Congressional debate on ending the war.

But what Congress really can do to end war is to stop funding it. President Obama is requesting another $33 billion for war at a time when our schools and community services are all starving for funds. Tell them to stop funding war and use those funds for the real needs of communities at home and in Afghanistan!

After you've made your call, you can give a more tangible (and delicious!) gift!  CODEPINK is proud to offer Peace Never Tasted So Sweet: Deliciously Sweet and Savory Pie Recipes from Women Around the World  for Mother's Day, 2010. Just as mothers nourish those they love, we at CODEPINK want to nourish your body and spirit and inspire you to bake and speak and dance for peace, crumbs of our recipes still on your lips. Order the book for the mamas in your life who are hungry for peace and justice here.

Let's make this Mother's Day the sweetest ever by working to bring our troops home and baking pies that will give us the energy and joy we need to stay on the path of peace.

With hopeful hearts and watering mouths,
Dana, Emily, Gael, Gayle, Janna, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Prerna, Rae and Whitney

End the War on Immigrants. Come out to March for Immigrant Rights on May 1. Find an action near you.

Signed by Arizona Governor Brewer last week, SB 1070 is a misguided invitation to racial profiling, community discord and clashes between the state and federal government that does nothing to fix the broken immigration system.

The legislation allows law enforcement officials to arrest people based on whether they look, sound or act undocumented. For people like Rep. Bilbray, it means recognizing people from the type of shoes they wear. Yes, shoes.  Moreover, it affects women disproportionately and increases crime.

Peace begins in our communities, and this new legislation is a war against our immigrant brothers and sisters. We must stand with them, stand up for Arizona and end the new era of apartheid confronting us here.

CODEPINK Phoenix has been demonstrating in opposition to this bill all week.  Will you join them and march this Saturday?