December 8, 2005

PHILADELPHIA – As our thoughts turn to peace on earth and goodwill to all this holiday season, here are 10 things you can do to support peace and justice around the globe, instead of ongoing war, violence and retaliation:

1. CALL OR WRITE YOUR CONGRESSPERSON and tell him or her how you feel about the ongoing military operations in Iraq. Urge them to support H.R. 4232, a bill introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts that calls for an end to funding for the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq. Take a Stand. "Wage Peace" and encourage political leaders to seek diplomatic international solutions to the conflict Å\ not continuing U.S. occupation and the escalating violence. To find out how, visit afsc.org/iraq.

2. VOICE YOUR OPINION. Write letters to the editor and send them to your local paper. Call for a change in Iraq policy. E-mail elected officials and local or national media and tell them ‘Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar.' Support U.S. political leaders Å\ such as Rep. John Murtha whose Iraq Plan pushes to bring U.S. troops home. Wear your feelings on your wrist by sporting a new, blue Wage Peace bracelet. Don't forget to call radio talk shows and attend public forums and tell others what you think. If you participate in opinion polls, be sure to suggest diplomacy or other peaceful alternatives to war as an option, since those categories are usually not available. Remember you are not alone in your opinion.

3. Young children NEED AN OUTLET TOO. Youngsters can draw pictures to express their feelings, if they are too small to write.

4. ATTEND PUBLIC EVENTS. Organize a vigil for peace with faith-based or other groups in your community. Visit afsc.org to learn about upcoming events and activities.

5. LEARN ALL YOU CAN about the Islamic faith, particularly Islam's positive stand on peace and nonviolence.

6. WORK AGAINST VIOLENCE aimed at others because of race, creed, color, gender, religion or nation of origin Å\ especially those perceived as Muslim or Arab. Contact a local mosque or civic organization to express your support and identify ways you can help.

7. LEARN ABOUT THOSE COUNTRIES that the U.S. government holds accountable for terrorist acts. Knowing the history, the geography, accomplishments, and problems facing countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq will help us let others see the peaceful majorities that live in these countries.

8. HOLD THE MEDIA ACCOUNTABLE for biased reporting. Don't hesitate to call a local media outlet if you see evidence of unfair or slanted reporting.

9. INSIST ON MAINTAINING AND PROTECTING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES that citizens in the United States have worked so hard to create; you have the right to speak freely, to associate freely, to assemble in lawful groups to express opinions, and, at the same time, you have the right to privacy. Working in your communities to use and protect these rights in the weeks ahead will guarantee that terrorism has not destroyed the fabric of liberty or undercut our Constitution.

10. EDUCATE YOURSELF ON ALTERNATIVES TO WAR. Order a copy of A Declaration of Peace, a dialogue on the morality of war, grounded in a vision common to all Christian communions. This publication is available from AFSC's on-line store, afscstore.org.

Backed by an 87-year history working for peace, justice and reconciliation in troubled areas of the world, the American Friends Service Committee is a faith-based organization grounded in Quaker beliefs respecting the dignity and worth of every person. Best known for organizing massive programs to feed millions of starving children in post-war Germany, the Service Committee has offices across the United States and in 22 countries of the world.

The search for regional peace has been a major focus of AFSC's work for peace and reconciliation in an atmosphere of war. During World War II, the Service Committee provided temporary aid, housing and other assistance to Japanese-Americans in efforts to get them out of internment camps. On behalf of the United Nations, AFSC administered relief for over 200,000 refugees in the Gaza Strip in the 1940s. In 1947, the AFSC and the British Friends Service Council received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Religious Society of Friends for humanitarian service, work for reconciliation and the spirit in which these were carried out.

AFSC conducted relief work inside Iraq for more than a decade, helping rehabilitate a water treatment plant, northeast of Baghdad that served thousands of people in several villages before the war.

For more information or to learn about other activities that highlight peaceful alternatives to violent conflict visit the AFSC web site at http://www.afsc.org/.

The American Friends Service Committee