Help Al push Congress for the Environment

March 21, Al Gore will testify before Congress. Send a message to Ron Kind that he should not just vote the right way but be a leader in legislation that will immediately fight global warming.

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

Then click Read More.

Gore writes:

At the hearing, I will deliver the messages you signed, demonstrating that hundreds of thousands of people share my sense of urgency.

If additional people sign our message, it will be as though all of us are there at the hearing expressing our determination to convince Congress to act. Having served in the House and Senate, I can tell you that members of these committees would find this to be a meaningful and impressive show of support.

There are only a few days left before the hearings begin, so please do not pass up this opportunity to join in showing the broad public support we need in order to solve the climate crisis. I know you have friends or family who care deeply about this issue but have yet to sign our message to Congress..

Ask them to help fill that committee room with hundreds of thousands of messages by visiting:

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

The reason Congress has so far failed to act is not because there are no solutions to the problem. Nor is it because the majority doesn't believe that the climate crisis is real. They have failed to act, because they have not yet faced a sufficient expression of political will on the part of the American people demanding they confront our climate crisis head on. You and I know that political will is a renewable resource, and enough already exists to start solving this crisis. We just have to communicate that forcefully to the political leaders of our country.

In my testimony, of course, I will speak about the scientific evidence for global warming - just reiterated six weeks ago by the world's scientists in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. But frankly, the debate on the science has long been over - except for a diminishing number of skeptics and deniers.

At this point, it is far more important to deliver your message about the urgency with which this crisis must be faced. Political leaders need to know that you intend to reward those who do the right thing and that you will work to replace those who do not.

That's why it's vital we fill up the hearing room with 350,000 messages.

Please ask your friends to sign our message to Congress today by visiting:

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

Together we are building a movement that has the potential to translate your strong feelings into effective change for our country. And we all know that when the United States changes - and offers leadership - the entire world will follow.

Thank you,
Al Gore

STOP THIS WAR (and the next one, too)

March 17 is the fourth anniversary of "Shock and Awe," the military horror show that was supposed to be the ultimate Rumsfeldian conquista.

Well, here we are, four years later and the shock and awe have worn off. What we have here is a major mess, complete with thousands of dead and maimed; a country contaminated by depleted uranium; children faced with a bleak future of prostitution, drugs, missing limbs and more; a "new" army where women soldiers have as much to fear from their fellow soldiers as from the "enemy" and where veterans are getting a big one-finger salute from the "support the troops" crowd; a military budget that is soaring out of control, and a White House that doesn't give a flying fuck what the Congress, the American people, the Iraqis, the world or anyone thinks. By the way, the cost TO LA CROSSE for this debacle so far is just about $45,000,000.00. (That's Million with an M.)

Representative Ron Kind, fence-sitter esquire, has not helped. He voted for the war but then he signed a letter asking the Decider to "let the inspections work," he says he wouldn't have voted for it, he says we can't just leave, he says, says, says ... but no action.

We want action. So we will take action. Monday, March 19 at 4:00 p.m. at the Exchange Building, 205 Fifth Ave. S. (Fifth and Jay) please come to let Rep. Kind know that we want action now on ending the occupation of Iraq. No more money for war. Bring troops home. NOW.

Also, if you can sign up to stand at Kind's office ONE OR MORE HOURS PER WEEK at a regular time, please contact Cathy. We may put up an online sign up form but for now, please contact Cathy to reserve your one hour a week, every week, contribution to bringing an end to the Iraq occupation.

And, don't forget on Tuesday, March 20 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. visit the Eyes Wide Open exhibit at the Cartwright Center, UW-L. And at 7 p.m. there will be a Veterans' Forum on the True Cost of War. The public is invited; it's free.

There are several other actions planned for March 17. Read more below.

Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice has an extensive list of Wisconsin and other events.

There will be a march and vigil in Winona from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, on Gilmore Avenue at the entrance to the Winona Mall which is nearby the military recruiting station. Sponsored by Winona Area Peacemakers, the protest rally is part of a national mobilization to oppose a war that has lasted longer than the American Civil War or U.S. involvement in World War II. The theme of the protest rally is: "NOT ONE MORE DEATH - NOT ONE MORE DOLLAR".

There's also March on the Pentagon.

Rep. Obey's meltdown

David Obey has been the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 7th district since 1969. He's done a lot of good things, but the job doesn't let up because you are a 30+ year veteran.

Lately, he's been getting visits from members of The Occupation Project, non-violent peace activists who refuse to take no for an answer. Several activists have been arrested at Obey's Wausau office in the past few weeks, demanding that Obey vote to defund the Iraq occupation and start bringing troops home immediately.

This video shows an encounter in a House office building hallway between Rep. Obey and Tina Richards, a military mom member of Military Families Speak Out in Missouri.

Guess who calls Richards an "idiot liberal"?

Read David Swanson's article, "The War Money Can Be Stopped."

It CAN be stopped. Obey and Ron Kind, our 3rd district weathervane, can stop it. They can stop it. They can. We have to make them understand that.

Monday, March 19. 4 p.m. Exchange Building. Be there.

Non-Violence Training - March 8

Reminder: Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. two members of Anathoth Community will conduct non-violence training in Cartwright Center at UW-L FREE OF CHARGE. For more info, please email Guy.

Linda Clifford Needs Your Help!

Linda Clifford is a Madison attorney running against for Wisconsin State Supreme Court Judge. Clifford has been endorsed by four previous governors, Republicans and Democrats and by many progressive Wisconsin leaders.

Her opponent, Annette Ziegler, has been endorsed by Wisconsin "Right to Life and received a big boost in the primaries with unaccountable "issue ads" from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and the right-wing, Wisconsin Club for Growth.

Linda Clifford doesn't have rich Republicans spending money for her campaign. She needs us to write letters to the editor; talk to our friends, co-workers and relatives; and help with canvassing and leafletting.

This weekend, volunteers are needed to help with canvassing and leafletting. Remember, this is an open seat on a state Supreme Court that is already tilted to the right. This is important!

If you can help, please email the local coordinator to get more information.