Will Congress Disrupt Diplomacy With Iran?

E-News: Will Congress Disrupt Diplomacy with Iran?

November 9, 2011

Quote of the Week: Will Congress Disrupt Diplomacy with Iran?
What Can Your Meeting or Church Do to Cut the Pentagon?
How Much Are You Paying for War?
Faithful Action in a Time of Conflict: A Report from Annual Meeting
Jim McGovern, Walter Jones Receive Snyder Peace Award
It’s All about the Lobbying: Annual Meeting Lobby Day
Praying for a Compassionate Budget
War is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Washington, DC

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Quote of the Week: Will Congress Disrupt Diplomacy with Iran?

“The United States has paid a serious price by not maintaining diplomatic contact with Iran for more than four decades. Iran's actions have been irksome, but the inability to even talk with Iranian officials has deepened misunderstanding.”

~ William O. Beeman, an Iran expert who published an op-ed in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on 11/6/11. Beeman criticizes legislation that would restrict the president’s ability to pursue diplomacy with Iran.

Send this postcard to your members of Congress to express your support for diplomacy, not war, with Iran.

 

What Can Your Meeting or Church Do to Cut the Pentagon?

As Congress continues to dismantle programs to protect the poor and to heal the sick, Clear Creek Meeting in Richmond, IN is speaking out against the bloated Pentagon budget and for a compassionate one.  Could your meeting or church approve a minute similar to this one? If you do, please take a copy to the local offices of your members of Congress and send a copy to FCNL as well.  As a group, your voices can be powerful.

 

How Much Are You Paying for War?

39 cents of every dollar you pay in income taxes in 2011 goes to war. Find out more about how your tax dollars are being spent.

 

 

 

 

Faithful Action in a Time of Conflict: A Report from FCNL’s Annual Meeting

This past week, more than 200 Quakers from 34 states gathered in Washington, DC to lobby Congress to cut the Pentagon and invest in preventing war, discuss strategies and tactics for advancing our legislative priorities and worship.

In her keynote speech, Executive Secretary Diane Randall challenged us to be bold, strategic, and relentless to realize the world we seek. She called on us to imagine the possibilities for our work with young adults, with seasoned Friends, and with our network across the country.

Watch a video of Diane’s speech and read the full transcript.

 

Jim McGovern, Walter Jones Receive Snyder Peace Award

Reps. Jim McGovern (MA) and Walter Jones (NC) were this year’s recipients of the Edward F. Snyder Award for National Legislative Leadership in Advancing Disarmament and Building Peace. They received this award for their leadership in promoting a sensible strategy to end the war in Afghanistan.

Watch a video of Rep. McGovern's acceptance speech and see past recipients of the Snyder Award.

It’s All About the Lobbying: Annual Meeting Lobby Day

More than 90 Annual Meeting attenders began their weekend by lobbying their members of Congress in support of the Complex Crises Fund, preventing genocide, and cutting Pentagon spending. Following training from FCNL staff and issue briefings from USAID official (and Earlham College graduate!) Neil Levine, delegations fanned out across the Hill for their meetings—including eleven in-person meetings with their member of Congress.

But you don’t necessarily need to come to Washington to lobby. Write your member of Congress and advocate for the Complex Crises fund, a program that helps to prevent armed conflict before it starts.

Caption: Program Assistant Lena Garretson and Megan Connolly on their way to visit Rep. Gerlach.  Listen to Megan’s story about lobbying Rep. Gerlach on our YouTube channel.

 

Praying for a Compassionate Budget

On November 20, people of faith from around the country will unite in prayer during a national “Super Vigil” to ask God to move the hearts of policy makers. Organized by an FCNL partner, the Faithful Budget Campaign, these vigils will take place in Washington, DC and across the country. Find out more about how you can organize a vigil in your area.

 

War Is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Washington, DC

War Is Not the Answer at a gathering of current and former FCNL program assistants this past week during FCNL’s Annual Meeting.

 

Order your own War Is Not the Answer sign and see where this movement is showing up across the country. Find out how to submit your photo.