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by Sharon Grimes, W A M M
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Opening Doors for Peace
In a show of support for the peace movement, Million Doors for Peace planned to organize 25,000 volunteers who would each visit 40 of their neighbors Sept. 20 to collect a million signatures on a petition asking every member of Congress to end the war. More online.
Guantánamo Prisoners Freed
Three more Guantánamo prisoners were released in August, two to Afghanistan and one to Pakistan, bringing the total held to “approximately 255” according to the Department of Defense. This is down from more than 600 at its height. Dozens more will be eligible for transfer or release after security reviews. (Star Tribune, 9/3/08)
Planting Peace at the RNC
The Planting Peace brigade held rallies, street protests, and teach-ins at the Republican National Convention, along with tens of thousands of other participants throughout the week. The Organic Consumers Association contingent handed out organic food and literature and held a march Sept. 2. Despite tear gas and police intimidation, staff and volunteers emphasized that a local, energy-efficient, and Fair Trade system of organic food and farming represents a lifesaving cure for America’s crisis of food, health, climate, and energy. The Planting Peace effort is “designed to bring about cooperation and synergy between the peace movement, the climate crisis movement, and the organic community.” (Organic Bytes #144, 9/10/08)
Resource Center for the Americas Reopens
The Resource Center for the Americas (RCTA) reopened in April after reorganizing, consolidating its debt, and selling its building. The office and meeting space is in the Romero Room of the same building under a five-year rent-free agreement negotiated with the sale of the building. RCTA will continue its mission “to inform, educate, and organize to promote human rights, economic justice, democratic participation, and cultural understanding in the context of globalization in the Americas.”
(July 2008 RCTA update: www.americas.org)
Wells Fargo Paves Way for WAMM
Wells Fargo included Women Against Military Madness in its Community Support and United Way Campaign (October 6–10). Anyone who works for Wells Fargo can donate to WAMM no matter where they live.
Our Brains Are Wired to Care
Despite the discouraging times we live in, the human brain is hard-wired to care. Humans reward caring, cooperation, and service, according to scientists who use advanced imaging technology to study brain function. The research shows that merely thinking about a person who is experiencing harm triggers the same reaction in our brain as when a mother sees distress in her baby’s face. And the act of helping another person triggers the brain’s pleasure center and benefits our health by boosting our immune system, reducing our heart rate, and preparing us to approach and soothe. Positive emotions like compassion produce similar benefits. (Yes! Magazine, Fall 2008)
Doctors Begin Returning to Iraq
Iraq’s Health Ministry inspector general says that about 650 of the country’s physicians returned to hospitals in the past few months because of improved security. This brings the total who have returned over the summer to about 800. The Health Ministry had appealed earlier for the doctors to return. Iraq needs 100,000 doctors and has only 15,500, said Adel Muhsin, a top Health Ministry official. An estimated 8,000 had fled since 2003 because of the violence. (Multiple sources and USA Today, 8/25/08). |
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© 2008 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete October 2008 Index - click here
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