CONTENTS:
PHILLY AREA ACTION:
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:
Earth-friendly Cleaning Solutions:
COMMENTARY:
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PHILLY AREA ACTION:

Thursday 4/12: Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions against the Israeli Occupation


What will it take to implement BDS in Philadelphia? Join SUSTAIN for a panel discussion, Q&A and conversation:
Why divest? What is the divestment movement?

Temple University Divestment Campaign
Presbyterian Church Divestment initiative
Thursday, April 12, 7pm
International House, 2nd Floor
3701 Chestnut Street
sustainphilly.blogspot.com
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Liberty Week: Death Row Exonerees Speak Out

Death row exonerees will be touring the Philadelphia area telling their stories and spreading the word about innocence and the death penalty. 
I would like to invite you to attend a very special and pivotal event during Liberty Week!

WHO:             20 exonerated death row prisoners and their families
                  Barry Scheck, co-founder of The Innocence Project
                        Sam Millsap, former Texas prosecutor               
WHAT:           Launch of Pennsylvania Moratorium Coalition
WHEN:            Friday, April 13, 2:00 p.m.                                       
WHERE:         Lawn adjacent to Independence Visitors Center
                (north of Market Street between 5th & 6th streets)
Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty,  ashelton-barnes@padp.org, www.PADP.org

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UPCOMING GRANNY EVENTS:


Sunday, April 15, 2007:  Grannies are a co-sponsor of the Legs Against Arms walk/race.  This event hopes to rouse people to join together to address the epidemic of violence that affects our city.  The race starts from the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside Ave. at 9 AM.  Grannies Zonnie Moberg, Sylvia Metzler and Joan Lukas will be running.  Other Grannies will walk.  We will be singing on stage sometime between 11:30 AM and 1 PM.  Arrive at 10 AM.

Saturday, April 21, 2007:  The Delaware County Chapter of WILPF will have their Annual Luncheon and wishes to hear from the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia.

Monday, April 23, 2007:  Grannies present a program at Foulkeways Residence at 7 PM.

Sunday, April 22, 2007:  Opening and Reception to Elaine Wolfson-Cohen's Art Show 3-5 PM at the Watermarks, 2 Franklintown Blvd., 4th Floor.  Proceeds from the show go to the Watermarks chapter of Grandparents for Peace.  The Watermarks is located between 17th and 18th and between Callowhill and Vine.  From Logan Circle, looking North, you can see the Watermark sign on a tall building.

Thursday, April 26, 2007:  Grannies will be on a panel at Overbrook High School, sometime between 9 AM and 3 PM. 

Saturday, May 12, 2007:  WILPF will give their Dove Award to Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia at their Annual Luncheon.  The luncheon will be from 12 to 3 PM at the Aulenbach House, Tulpehocken and Germantown Ave.  Public transportation:  23 Bus. 


OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST:

Wednesday, April 11, 2007:  Grannies are invited to come to Stiffle Center, at 12:45 PM (Marshall and Porter in South Philadelphia) to learn knitting and talk about peace. 

Saturday, April 14, 2007:  Step it Up, an Environmental Group, at Independence Hall, 12 to 2 PM.  The focus of this event is on global warming.   While this is NOT a Granny event, it IS a good time for us to distribute leaflets and an event we thought some of you might want to attend.   For more information, click on:
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=316127132&url_num=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2Forganizations%2Fvfp%2Fshop%2Fcustom.jsp%3Fdonate_page_KEY%3D1355>  

Sunday, April 15, 2007:  2:00 to 4:00 P.M.   Near Senator Arlen Specter's home, West Schoolhouse Lane (between Gypsy Lane and Henry Ave.) in East Falls.   This is part of an ongoing vigil series.  Contact Chris Robinson 215 843 4256 and nwgreens@yahoo.com for more information.

Monday, April 16, 2007:  event on Penn campus with the students in Penn Against War.   Grannies have been given an open invitation to participate in this event. 

Tuesday, April 17, 2007:  Delaware Valley Vets for America will be at the Temple University Library from 11 AM to 2 PM.  They will be protesting military recruitment on campus.  They want Grannies to join them.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007:  Brandywine will be doing a Tax Day Demo at the Federal Court, 601 Market St. at Noon.  Grannies are invited. 

Saturday, April 21, 2007:  Memorial for Gold Star Mothers at Constitution Center (between 5th and 6th on Arch St.), 12:15 PM, cost $6.

Monday, April 23, 2007:  Trial for people who did CD by occupying Rick Santorum's office, including Granny Silvia Metzler, at Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St., 10 AM.  Courtroom will be assigned on the day of the trial.  Go to the 2nd Floor to find out the location of the trial.

Friday, April 27, 2007:  Church of the Advocate, 19th and Diamond St., 7 PM Grannies attend a fundraiser for Art Sanctuary, after-school program for teens.  $25 donation.  Grannies come with hats, T-shirts and buttons.  Please dress nicely.  We will have a table.  We will socialize with Granny Parents (Grandmothers raising their grandchildren).

Saturday, May 5, 2007 (rain date May 6):  Mt. Airy Day, Clivedon and Johnston Streets in Clivedon Park, 11 AM to 5 PM.  We will share a table with WILPF. 

Sunday, May 13, 2007: Mother's Day Race for the Cure (of Breast Cancer).

Tuesday, May 15, 2007:  Primary Election.  On the ballot is the City Council Resolution to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home.  We need a Granny at every polling place to tell people coming to vote to VOTE YES to end the Iraq War and bring the troops home.

* Public Transportation info available at 215-580-7800
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Monday, April 16, 7:00-8:30 pm at Cecilian Center for Earth, Arts, and Spirit
Appalachian Treasures - help end mountaintop removal!
  A multi-media presentation intended to educate and activate citizens. Co-sponsored by Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.  Free will offering
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Wednesday, April 18, 7:00-8:30 and continuing on May 2, 9 Cecilian Center for Earth, Arts, and Spirit
Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream
- This symposium seeks to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on the planet.  Free will offering.
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Thursday, April 26, May 3, 10, 7:00-8:30 pm Cecilian Center for Earth, Arts, and Spirit
Politics of Food
- Buying food is an opportunity to choose peace and is also an act of conscience. Refreshments included. $25.
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ANTI-WAR APRIL '07 Continues...

April 17, Tax Day, Noon,  "!YES!" DEMONSTRATION FOR
JUSTICE & PEACE, Phila. Federal Building, 6th & Market Sts.

April 23, 7:30AM - Trial of the "PHILA. DECLARE PEACE 14"
Stand with the "PHILA. DECLARE PEACE 14" Support Vigil for
Peace, Broad St. & JFK Boulevard, Phila., PA

PEACE '07: Brandywine turns 30!
Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818 brandywine@juno.com  www.brandywinepeace.com
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The Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at Villanova University
Celebrates Egypt's Nobel Laureate this month with the following events :

 *  "Why Spain? Medieval Poetry in Arabic, Hebrew, and Mozárabe"

A Public Lecture by:
Dr. Walid Hamarneh, Tri-College Consortium of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and
Swarthmore Colleges
        Dr. Peter Brampton Koelle,  Bryn Mawr College
        Rabbi Dr. David Rabeeya,  Bryn Mawr College, retired

Monday, 23 April, at 4:15pm
Room 224, M. Carey Thomas Library, Bryn Mawr College
For more information, contact pkoelle@byrnmawr.edu
*****

"Women's Rights in the Arab World"
A Public Lecture by Dr. Hayat Alvi-Aziz, Program Director and Assistant
Professor of International Studies at Arcadia University
Sunday, April 22, at 3pm
Glenside  Free Library , 215 S. Keswick Avenue

Please go to http://www.cheltenhamlibraries.org/glenside/glenside.php for more information.
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 Join East and West Mt. Airy Neighbors at these upcoming Candidates' Nights:

Monday, April 23rd:  8th District, Court of Common Pleas and Sheriff Candidates
Monday, April 30th:  Council-at-Large Candidates


Both forums will be begin at 7:00 pm and will be held in the Brossman Center of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, 7301 Germantown Avenue.
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The Two-State Solution: Still Possible?

May 15, 2007 | 7 - 9 p.m.
Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia

As we near the 40th anniversary of the Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, there is still hope that a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be reached. For the past two decades the "two-state solution" has become and remains the international consensus framework for a solution to the conflict. Yet, in recent years questions have been raised as to whether this proposal is still feasible after 40 years of military occupation.

Speakers:
Diane Balser is Chair of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom's Advocacy Committee and past Executive Director.
Nadia Hijab is Senior Fellow at the DC-based office of the Institute for Palestine Studies, and co-     director of its Washington, D.C. office.
Phyllis Bennis has been a writer, analyst and activist on Middle East and UN issues for many years.     In 2001 she helped found and currently co-chairs the U.S. Campaign to End Israeli Occupation &          She works closely with the United for Peace and Justice anti-war coalition.
Rafi Dajani is the executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP),

For more information please contact: Adam Horowitz, AFSC Middle East Peacebuilding Program
(215) 241-7874, ahorowitz@afsc.org
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The citizens of Casino-Free Philadelphia have never sent an urgent 
                action alert before. We are now.


Late  on Apr 5th, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board filed a 
lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia to stop the citizen-
initiated ballot question to be voted on May 15th. That question 
would provide a standard for how casinos are built in Philadelphia, 
restricting them from being built within 1,500 feet of homes, 
schools, and places of worship.

Whatever your position on casinos, citizens should have their say. 
The PA Gaming Control Board is an unelected body. They cannot trump 
the word of the people. And while we are confident their attempt is 
completely illegal and meritless, this attempt cannot go unchallenged.

We are therefore calling on all citizens of Pennsylvania to send a 
letter to Governor Rendell. He appointed several members of that 
gaming control board and needs to show some leadership to this out of 
control board.

We need you to take just a second to send a letter.  You can do so 
very easily from our website: www.CasinoFreePhila.org

Please send a letter immediately: .
- Daniel Hunter, on behalf of Casino-Free Philadelphia
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        On Primary Election Day, May 15th,
Philadelphia voters will have a chance to tell
        Washington to bring the troops home.


    Vote YES on this ballot question:
Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be
amended to state the citizens' views regarding
 the mission served by U.S. troops in Iraq and
 that the citizens of Philadelphia urge the United
States to make 2007 the time to redeploy U.S.
 troops out of harm's way in Iraq?

200 U.S. cities and towns have already passed
referenda to end the war and bring the troops home.

With your YES vote on May 15th Philadelphia
will be next.

www.Grannypeacebrigadephiladelphia.org

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

 Alert: THE SENATE IS BACK IN SESSION


The Congress is due shortly to be fully back in session.  We need to continue our push for active participation!  Please feel free to forward this action email to your lists.  And as always, we thank you.  Here's what to do...

        Senator Feingold just introduced his bill to effectively end U.S. military involvement in Iraq . Call your senators and urge them to support this bill and make no further compromises about involvement in Iraq.
* The bill requires the President to begin safely redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq 120 days from enactment. In addition to Reid, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Pat Leahy (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/feingoldbill

The House of Representatives will be on recess until April 16, however call your congress person's local office and tell them you support the impeachment of George Bush. Next week make a note to call their office in Washington.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: 
When you call a legislator's office, make sure you ask if your call is being logged.

Call your members of Congress now toll free at 800-828-0498, 800-459-1887 or 800-614-2803 to tell them it's time to END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ.
Congressional Switchboard
        Use this toll-free number 888-851-1879, or the regular Capitol
        Switchboard number, 202-224-3121, to make your call(s).
- Legislative Committee, Granny Peace Brigade NYC/Philadelphia
                        WE WILL NOT BE SILENT!
ACTION PAGE: http://www.millionphonemarch.com/end_iraq_occupation.php
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Defend open discussion of important issues in academia (and everywhere!) Harvard-Oaxaca-Ffinklestein
Oaxaca, Monday 9 April 2007

Friends,
      I'm briefly interrupting my attention to the Harvard-Oaxaca connection for an urgent call. Professor Norman G. Finkelstein, an important historian whose tenure is to be decided shortly, has been targetted by Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, who is trying to get him fired. This highly unusual intervention by a prominent defender of the state of Israel should be opposed, regardless of whether one is aligned with one or the other of these two academic combatants. This attempt by Dershowitz to prevent open debate deserves to be repudiated, as was his attempt to prevent the University of California Press from publishing a recent book by Finkelstein. The call for De Paul University to reject Dershowitz's improper intervention is at
http://site.www.umb.edu/faculty/salzman_g/S2/2007-04-08.htm . My note, which follows the call, says in conclusion,
      In Norman Finkelstein's tenure review, the intervention of Alan Dershowitz is particularly egregious. Finkelstein has shown, with meticulous care, irrefutably, that in his book The Case for Israel Dershowitz plagairized substantial material from Joan Peters' book, From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine. As it happens, Peters' book is well known to be a total fraud. Finkelstein has been relentless in pursuing the propagandistic misrepresentation of the history of the conflict. The false, pro-Israel version held sway from 1948 until it began to be challenged in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon. Dershowitz used Peters' material to help meet his apparent psychological need to justify Israel's actions. That he knowingly claimed the material taken from Peters' book was his own historical research was, independently of its fraudulent nature, surely grounds for Harvard to have revoked his tenure and fired him. Lying, as a faculty member, on work he claimed was his own research, is unacceptable academic conduct, tenure notwithstanding.
...... All comments and criticisms are welcome.  george.salzman@umb.edu>
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Wash his mouth out with soap!

When we heard about Don Imus' racist and sexist remarks against the Rutgers University women's basketball players, our mama hackles were raised. We want to raise our children with media that's intelligent and sane, not pandering to the lowest common denominator. Imus' comments were just plain wrong and unacceptable. As mothers of all colors, we need to call him out on that, for our children's sake and our own.  One fundamental lesson we want to instill in our children is respect for every person's humanity. The media is so influential in creating culture. Let's make sure that the media knows where moms and all caregivers stand--no more trash talk!

SIGN THE PETITION: "Mothers of all colors must come together to build a culture that is respectful to our children, girls and boys. The comments that Imus made on the radio about Rutgers University Women's basketball team were horrifyingly inappropriate, and he should be fired."

*Click here to sign the petition now (and don't forget to forward this email to friends!): http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/momsrising/signUp.jsp?key=2202
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 26 US National Groups Push Public Impeachment Events

April 28, National Impeachment Protest Day
Spell out Impeach everywhere with human bodies. Organize local people on the beach, in the park, on campuses, and spell out the words Impeach. Send a message to Nancy Pelosi to put impeachment back on the table and support Dennis Kucinich in helping bring impeachment back to Congress.
http://www.a28.org/

Over Twenty-five national groups have endorsed a Spring 2007 impeach Bush and Cheney drive that includes the following activities;
 National Corporate Shopping Boycott April 15 (Tax Day) to April 22 (Earth Day) is set with over 1,000 community organizers signed up and local groups formed in cities all over the US and in many foreign countries. Supporters of ending the Iraq War and Impeaching Bush and Cheney will forgo major purchases and shopping in corporate chain stores and shopping malls for seven days, and instead find locally owned community markets, coffee shops and 2 nd hand shops. For down loadable posters and flyers to support this effort see: http://www.wearenotbuyingit.org/

The Show It Off! Campaign Launched! April 23-27, 2007
Wear impeachment T-shirts, armbands, buttons, stickers, ties, scarves, and become the millions all over this country - on the beach, in the valley, on the plains, in the mountains, on the farms, in school, at work, in the stores, on the sidewalks, in the parks, on the buses, subways and trains of America saying no to Bush's war and yes to Impeachment.
http://showitoffnow.blogspot.com/
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Ban the Bombs that Keep on Killing/CNL Legislative Action Message - April 5, 2007

Read this alert online at: http://www.fcnl.org/action/2007/lam0405.htm

In the last 15 years, the U.S. has used cluster bombs in
civilian-populated areas of the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and
Iraq. These deadly bombs disperse smaller "bomblets" that are
designed to kill all living creatures within a specific area that is
often as large as several football fields. The U.S. still has an
arsenal that includes nearly 1 billion of the deadly bomblets.

This type of bomb keeps on killing for decades because bomblets that
fail to detonate on impact become explosive "duds" that are
akin to landmines. Since the last U.S. cluster bomb was dropped on Laos
in 1973, 12,000 Laotian civilians, many of whom were not born when the
bombs were dropped, have been killed or injured by an unexploded cluster dud.

The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007 (S. 594),
introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Patrick Leahy (VT),
would ban the use of cluster bombs in or near civilian areas and ban
the use, sale, and transfer of almost the entire existing U.S. arsenalof cluster bombs.

As of April 5, the legislation has six cosponsors. In order for the
Senate to move forward on this bill, it needs much more public support
from members of Congress.

*Take Action:Please contact your senators today -
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9396921&type=CO - and
urge them to cosponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of
2007 (S. 594). If your senators are already cosponsors, thank them, and
urge them to work to bring this bill to a vote in this session of Congress.

*Background:
Download FCNL's Cluster Bomb Fact Sheet and distribute it in your
        community: http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/weapons/clusterbombs_fs07.pdf
* See a short video on how one particular type of cluster bomb works and
        its effects on the people of Iraq:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/world/gcluster/flash.htm
* +ind out more about cluster bombs: http://www.fcnl.org/weapons/
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Tell Verizon: Respect Workers' Rights

Verizon Business workers want a union! A clear majority of
technicians at Verizon Business in New York and New England have
signed authorization cards showing they want to be represented
by CWA and IBEW.

But Verizon management refuses to recognize the majority's
choice. Instead, they have launched an anti-union campaign,
spreading misinformation about unions and holding
"captive-audience" meetings. Tell Verizon to stop union-busting!
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/verizon_business/5663e2ltwn58n?
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Talking about Global Warming Isn't Enough!

The fact is the earth is getting warmer year by year. But not enough action is being taken to stop global warming. Take action to support meaningful global warming legislation in Congress>>
 Tell Congress to adopt a national strategy to end global climate change>>
 http://www.pennenvironment.org/PE.asp?id=2206&id4=ES
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*Resource: Interfaith Power and Light

The Interfaith Power and Light campaign is mobilizing a national
religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy,
energy efficiency and conservation. Local chapters provide energy
efficient light bulbs, resources on energy conservation, and other
resources. Find your local chapter:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ELCCGYQRRO/NYPFGYQUYI/1136546826/

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Four Earth-friendly Cleaning Solutions - From Dr Weil

An entire industry has been built on developing natural cleaning products - everything from nontoxic bathroom cleaners to environmentally friendly dish soaps. If you want to save money, are feeling creative, or don't have access to commercial natural cleaning products, try some of these non-toxic cleaning suggestions:

Baking soda: An all-purpose cleaner; especially effective on glass coffee pots and glassware; removes red-wine stains from carpeting. A paste (made with water) can shine stainless steel and silver; the paste also can remove tea stains from cups and saucers. Make a paste with a Castile- or vegetable-based liquid soap and a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender) to clean sinks, countertops, toilets and tubs.

Coarse salt: Cleans copper pans and scours cookware. Sprinkle salt on fresh spills in the oven, and then wipe off. Sprinkle salt on rust stains and squeeze a lime or lemon over them, let sit for several hours and wipe off.

Grapefruit-seed extract: Add to water in a spray bottle for an odorless way to kill mold and mildew.

Lemon juice: Use as a bleaching agent on clothing, and to remove grease from your stove and countertops. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice to 10 drops of (real) lemon oil and a few drops of jojoba oil to clean and polish wood furniture.

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COMMENTARY:
 
MY GRANNY IS A DISTANCE  RUNNER:  PRESS RELEASE, Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia

                                                        
"My Granny is a distance runner!" or " My Granny is a roller blader!" may well be the hue and cry of several grandchildren on Sunday, April 15th when four members of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia join hundreds of much younger runners for the Legs Against Arms 5k Run/Walk at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts at 52nd and Parkside Avenue. 

The race will kick off at 9 am and will be followed by a Celebration of Youth featuring music, dance, and poetry, and a Peace Festival, offering educational venues for families, friends, and all participants. Running the 5K race will be four grandmothers: Zondra Moberg, Joan Lucas, and Dr. Gertrude Copperman, of Center City, and Sylvia Metzler of North Philadelphia.  They range in age from mid-60s to 85,

The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia, formed a year ago when Grandmother Zondra Moberg become outraged at the senseless deaths, both American and Iraqi, that were happening in Iraq, called some of her friends to a meeting, and a new peace action group was born.  Recent actions include demonstrations and leafleting in Rittenhouse Square and at Market Street East, and a massive lobbying effort (100 Grandmothers!) in Washington. Several satellite groups have sprung up in senior living centers around the city and suburbs.

Moberg, and Sylvia Metzler were among 11 Grandmothers arrested for "defiant trespass" when they attempted to enlist in the military on June 28th, 2006, saying "take us, not our grandchildren-we've lived our lives, they have a right to live theirs."

Legs Against Arms, sponsored by the Physicians for Social Responsibility, seeks to begin to change the social norms in Philadelphia that perpetuate violence. The race encourages youth and adults to come together to strengthen their legs as they send a clear message opposing arms in Philadelphia.

Zondra Moberg, an experienced half-marathon runner, has been running races for twenty plus years.  She boasts a number of trophies, most recently for first place in her age group in the Philadelphia Distance Run.  "I was never very athletic," says Moberg, "but I was always a big hiker".  About 20 years ago, an athletic trainer turned her onto running, which had recently become a popular sport for women.  A grandmother of two, she has run in cities all over the world and loves running in Philadelphia where she can see the sights and sounds of the city.

Dr. Copperman  a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Women's Medical College, practiced medicine in the Wynnefield and Bala Cynwyd areas from 1952 until she retired in 1998.  A lifelong athlete, she continues to ride her bike, play tennis, ski, roller blade and practice yoga.  She is the mother of two daughters and an honorary Great Grandmother of one child.

Sylvia Metzler has been running three miles every other day for 30 years, however, a recent knee injury has kept her away from the sport for almost a year.  "The opportunity to run against violence, both in Philadelphia and Iraq, as well as around the world, is a real incentive for me to push myself extra-hard," she says.  Metzler has 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Joan Lukas calls herself an "on and off runner" even though she has run several 5 and 10K races over the last few years. Having just moved to Center City she has not practiced enough, she claims, but was motivated to run in the Legs Against Arms Race by some of the other Grannies. Her one grandchild lives with her and attends college.
Contact: http://GrannyPeaceBrigadePhiladelphia.org
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Number 3,291 by Cindy Sheehan

I met the aunt of number 3291 today. I was sitting in seat 11E and a flight attendant gave me a note from a woman in seat 33C: "My nephew was killed in Iraq yesterday. I would like to meet you."

Seat belt light or not, I headed back toward the rear of the airplane. We held each other and she said: "What can I do? My brother was in the Army and he initially supported the effort. Yesterday, he made a sign with a picture of his son saying: 'Murdered by George Bush.'" I prayed for the Universe to give the families strength yesterday as I do everyday our soldiers are killed, as I pray for the Iraqis and their families who are also murdered unnecessarily. I don't often get to meet the people I pray for in such a timely manner.

Four of our brave and abused troops were killed in King George's escalation of the conflict in Iraq. Ten over the Easter weekend while George was hiding out at his ranch in Crawford. George Bush and his bloody gang of war-bandits have caused so much pain and heartache in the world without so much as a blink of the eye. Number 3291's aunt recounted how she heard her sister 'screaming for her son," on the other end of the phone. Number 3291's family is just beginning to realize the true meaning of broken heart and betrayals.

Number 3291 has a name: Brian. The only thing I know for sure about Brian was that he was in the army, he was probably blown up by an IED (which could have been avoided with an IED detector in his vehicle), and he has a loving aunt named Sheryl. His family lives in North Carolina and that's where his body will be returning to under the cover of darkness to hide the shame of the Bush Regime.

Brian will never be a number to his family or friends. To the few people in this country who still incredibly support this horror and his war, Brian's sacrifice will be noted as "freedom isn't free," or "he volunteered."  To the anti-war movement, Brian will be commemorated in a candlelight vigil when the 4000th troop is killed in Iraq. To the man sitting next to me in seat 11D, Brian is a non-entity because he: has no opinion on the occupation one way or the other because he has no "time to worry about it." Trust me though, that's all Brian's mom did for the entire time he was in Iraq and there are 160,000 moms who lie awake at night worried about their child and Iraqi moms who never know when the last "I love you," is the last one forever.

To me Brian represents a failure. I have been struggling with all my energy and resources to insure that Brian's mom never had to fall on the floor screaming in agony or so that Aunt Sheryl would never have to take a sad and lonely trip across the country to be with her family in this terrible occasion for mourning. Every death since Casey's has hit me with a fresh assault of suffering. How can my wounds heal when so many new ones are being opened up on a daily basis in three countries that are being devastated by the Bush doctrine of inflicting immeasurable damage with his war for profit being masqueraded as a war on terror?

The anti-war movement is failing in many areas. First of all, like the man sitting next to me, there are too many apathetic people in this country. How can anyone still be so indifferent to so much death and destruction? Even the people who are still confused and support the war have an opinion. The anti-war movement is also failing in its lack of influence on the policy makers. When such pro-occupation entities as MoveOn are being hailed as the "anti-war left" and our Congressional leadership are listening to them and using their corrupt polls as tools to hammer theoretically anti-war Reps into voting for a bill that would extend our troop presence in Iraq indefinitely, then the true anti-war movement has not been effective in getting our message out.

Another goal that the anti-war movement should have would be to move the overwhelming majority of Americans who are against the occupation of Iraq off of their couches and into the streets. The leaders of our country are in the obscenely deep pockets of the war machine and are exceedingly comfortable there. Only a massive electoral revolt will be able to pick the pockets of the war profiteers and force our elected officials to represent us and not the wealthy.

Brian's family, my family, 3293 other families, our military families who are financially and emotionally strapped by the constant deployments and getting ready for deployments are sacrificing too much on the altar of greed. The Iraqi people who did not ask for Bush's help are sacrificing horribly on this imperial altar. The rest of this nation is not sacrificing the way that so many others have. I am working so you don't have to.

But if we, as a nation, want to end the farce of false patriotism to justify wars for profit and empire, we will have to sacrifice until it hurts. In this cleansing act will come redemption, because we can be assured that all of the children of the world are safe and sound. If we don't work to end the absolute stranglehold of violence we are clutched in, then we deserve what we get.

Our movement has to move toward peace.at all costs.
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* The Inside Story of the Forged Iraq-Niger Docs That Helped Build the Case for War *

In his January 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush declared the
infamous sixteen words: ³The British Government has learned that Saddam
Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.² The
claim was central to the administration¹s claims that Saddam Hussein was
seeking weapons of mass destruction and served as a basis for launching the
Iraq invasion less than two months later. Bush¹s declaration was based on an
intelligence document that provided evidence about Iraq¹s purchase of
uranium from the African country of Niger. But there was one problem: the
document was a fake. In a Democracy Now! broadcast exclusive, we speak with
the authors of two explosive new books. Carlo Bonini is the Italian reporter
who broke the Niger story. His new book is called ³Collusion: International
Espionage and the War on Terror.² Peter Eisner is a veteran foreign
correspondent and is currently an editor at the Washington Post. His new
book is ³The Italian Letter: How the Bush Administration Used a Fake Letter
to Build the Case for War in Iraq.²
Listen/Watch/Read http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/10/1321236

Conyers Sends Gonzales Document Subpoenas http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041007R.shtml
The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed new documents Tuesday from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as part of its investigation into the firings of federal prosecutors, with the panel chairman saying he had run out of patience.

Shia Leader Calls for More Attacks on US Troops http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040907A.shtml
Thousands of Shia protesters converged on the Iraqi city of Najaf last night for an anti-US rally on the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad. In a statement distributed throughout the city, the Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqi police and army to stop cooperating with the US and urged his militia to step up attacks and force the US to withdraw.
   
Guantanamo Detainees Stage Hunger Strike http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040907G.shtml
A long-term hunger strike has broken out at the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with more than a dozen prisoners subjecting themselves to daily force-feedings in protest of their treatment, military officials and lawyers for the detainees say.

FOCUS | Thousands in LA Demand Immigrant Rights http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040807Y.shtml
Thousands of people marched through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, demanding a way for the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to become citizens and condemning President Bush's latest proposal.

VIDEO | The GOP's Quiet Revolution
By Geoffrey Millard and Scott Galindez http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040207B.shtml
Sen. Ted Kennedy addressed a gathering organized by the Alliance for Justice. Kennedy spoke about the Bush administration's lack of respect for the rule of law. Following his remarks, a documentary film titled "Quiet Revolution" was screened. The film chronicles 30 years of Republican efforts to turn back the clock on civil liberties.

* Watching the Watchdogs: Wal-Mart Critic Monitored by Retail Giant *
We look at Wal-Mart's newly-exposed surveillance operation with a Wal-Mart
critic who ended up on its watch list. Nu Wexler is a spokesperson for the
group Wal-Mart Watch. According to the Wall Street Journal expose, Wal-Mart
used pictures found on the Internet to track Nu's plans to attend Wal-Mart's annual meeting.
Listen/Watch/Read  http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/06/142242

Congressional Report: Gross Mismanagement of Iraq Funds
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041107J.shtml
A damning report issued last month by the nonpartisan research arm of Congress says the Department of Defense continues to overstate its financial needs - by tens of billions of dollars - to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The agency also casts serious doubt on President Bush's statements that money to fund the war will dry up by the end of the month if his budgetary demands are not immediately met.

Democrats May Block Bush Nominees  http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041107L.shtml
Angry Senate Democrats are mulling a two-pronged strategy to retaliate against the Bush administration for appointing three controversial figures to key executive branch posts during last week's recess, including possibly shortening the August recess to no more than 10 days and blocking all future White House nominations.