Past actions & petitions
Attend or Host a Film Screening
Media critic Norman Soloman has just released "War Made Easy," a film based on his important book analyzing how the U.S. media passes along presidential spin on war to the American public. The film, narrated by actor Sean Penn, uses dramatic video clips from the past 50 years to make its case. Find or host a film screening»
Sign the petition against war with Iran
The November 2006 elections were a clear signal that the American public is fed up with war, but analyists believe that the Bush Administration may still attack Iran militarily.
Stop Vulture Fund from Preying on Zambia's Money
A group of wealthy investors at Donegal International is trying to use U.S. courts to make the impoverished country of Zambia pay them tens of millions of dollars. Help stop the seizure of Zambia’s money by calling and emailing Michael Sheehan and Debt Advisory International (DAI), who run Donegal International. You can also write the White House asking the President to use the power he has to prevent the seizure of Zambia’s money. Take Action»
Congress Needs to Stop Escalation in Iraq
President Bush defied the wishes of the American people, expressed November 2006 at the polls, for an end to the war in Iraq. Instead, he announced plans to send over 20,000 more young men and women.
The new Congressional leadership expressed opposition to this escalation, but needs to do more. We presented a petition asking the leadership to block the troop surge: View the petition »
Ask Senator Edwards to oppose threatening Iran
Former Senator John Edwards has stood up against escalation in Iraq, but in statements in early 2007, he seemed to support threats to attack Iran. In February 2007, we presented a petition to ask Senator Edwards, whose national stature means he has a considerable impact on the debate, to clarify his position and rule out attacking Iran. View the petition»
Tell Congress no more blank checks to continue occupation of Iraq.
USA Today and Congressional Quarterly report that the administration will ask for a record amount of emergency war money in 2007 - perhaps as high as $160 billion. That would be in addition to the $435 billion in military spending Congress already authorized for 2007. Together, those sums represent over one-fifth of the 2007 budget, money that could be spent on saving lives at home rather than destroying them abroad.
Write your senators and representatives asking them not to support more funding to continue the occupation of Iraq. Take Action»
Support open debate on a political resolution in Afghanistan.
Senate Majority Leader Frist said the U.S. needs a political, rather than a military, solution to deal with Taliban fighters. Democrats attacked Frist as a coward. Tell your local paper you support his comments.
Oppose President Bush's weakening of the War Crimes Act
The Bush Administration successfully tried to weaken the War Crimes Act so that it won't enforce the Geneva conventions and won't protect those in U.S. custody
As reported in the Nation, the New York Times and the Washington Post, the Bush Administration sought to weaken the War Crimes Act so that the abuses such as sexual humiliation of prisoners that were practiced at Abu Ghraib would no longer be illegal.
Despite an outpouring of public comment , just before the November 2006 elections, Congress voted to pass the Military Commissions Act, which severely undermined the War Crimes Act and the Geneva Conventions. Learn More »
Praise/Protest your Senator's vote on cluster bombs
In response to Israel’s use of American-made cluster bombs in heavily populated areas of Lebanon, Senators Feinstein and Leahy introduced legislation that would require recipients of such munitions not to use them in or near civilian centers. The Cluster Munitions Amendment failed 30-70, with the majority of Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed. The roll call showing how Senators voted is here.
Please thank your Senator if he or she voted for this legislation, and encourage them to continue to press for its passage. Praise your Senator
If your Senator opposed the legislation, please express your opposition to their vote and encourage them to support such legislation in the future. Protest your Senator
Sign the petition for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
In July 2006, we released the following appeal.
Tell President Bush: "We urgently appeal to you to change your position and to do everything in your power to bring about an immediate ceasefire, including the cessation of Israeli bombing, the cessation of Hizbullah and Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns, the release of prisoners held by the Israeli government and armed militias, and international assistance to the governments in Lebanon and Gaza to secure their borders with Israel and to reconstruct from the Israeli bombing campaign." Take Action»
Ask your representative to cosponsor the Kucinich resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
In July 2006, we released the following appeal.
On Wednesday Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced a resolution (H. Con. Res. 450) "calling upon the President to appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence and to commit United States diplomats to multi-party negotiations with no preconditions." The text is here (or for a printable version, here.) Current list of cosponsors is here. Ask your representative to cosponsor. Take Action»
Call on the UN General Assembly to "Unite for Peace" in Lebanon
In July 2006, we released the following appeal.
The UN Security Council is supposed to act to stop crimes against peace, but cannot do so in this case because it is paralyzed by the veto of the Bush Administration, backed by Britain. However, under Resolution 377, "Uniting for Peace," the UN General Assembly can act when the Security Council fails to do so (see Brecher/Smith, "A Road to Peace in Lebanon?")
Please join us in signing and circulating the following petition, calling for the UN General Assembly to act. Movement towards the convening of the General Assembly to consider an immediate cease-fire will put significant pressure on the United States. TAKE ACTION: Go to petition for individuals, organizations
