Demand Peace

"Before the terrifying prospects now available to humanity, we see even more clearly that peace is the only goal worth struggling for. This is no longer a prayer but a demand to be made by all peoples to their government -- a demand to choose definitively between hell and reason."

Albert Camus (French Resistance Newspaper Combat, August 8, 1945)

Fall 2002 ... Iraq. Fall 2007 ... Iran.

Don't let it happen again, America!

Shifting Targets: The Administration’s Plan for Iran
by Seymour M. Hersh
The New Yorker
October 8, 2007

“They’re moving everybody to the Iran desk,” one recently retired C.I.A. official said. “They’re dragging in a lot of analysts and ramping up everything. It’s just like the fall of 2002”—the months before the invasion of Iraq, when the Iraqi Operations Group became the most important in the agency. He added, “The guys now running the Iranian program have limited direct experience with Iran. In the event of an attack, how will the Iranians react? They will react, and the Administration has not thought it all the way through.”
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/08/071008fa_fact_hersh

Say "No" To War With Iran

Speak Up, America ... NOW! Exercise your prerogative as citizens. Yell, shout, scream at Congress that war with Iran is not the answer. Your silence is your assent.

From Physicians for Social Responsibility:
http://www.psr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=NoWarOnIran

Promoting a Diplomatic Solution to the Iran Crisis
Remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, aggressive posturing by the Bush Administration, and provocative legislation from Senators Kyl and Lieberman have again drawn the world’s attention to tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

The absence of communication between the two grows more dangerous every day.

Instead of speaking at each other from the podium, U.S. and Iranian leaders should seize the opportunity to talk to each other. During the past year PSR has promoted diplomacy with Iran as the most responsible approach to this difficult situation.

PSR is working to use its medical voice to educate the public about the likely human consequences of a war with Iran. PSR produced a report entitled War is Not the Answer: The Medical and Public Health Consequences of Attacking Iran, which is being used by PSR chapters to educate Congressional representatives, the media and the public about the consequences of a military strike and the need for a diplomatic solution. Click here to view PSR’s work on Iran.

Al Gore, UN Panel Share Nobel for Peace - Technology on The Huffington Post

 This will be interesting over the next couple of weeks.  An immense amount of pressure will be put on Al Gore to run for the presidency.  Will he bite?

OSLO, Norway — Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change jointly won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Friday for their efforts to spread awareness of man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for fighting it.

Gore, who won an Academy Award earlier this year for his film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," had been widely tipped to win the prize.

He said that global warming was not a political issue but a worldwide crisis.

"We face a true planetary emergency. ... It is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity," he said. "It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level."

The win is also likely add further fuel to a burgeoning movement in the United States for Gore to run for president in 2008, which he has so far said he does not plan to do.

Al Gore, UN Panel Share Nobel for Peace - Technology on The Huffington Post

The Seattle Times: Postman on Politics

The S-CHIP fiasco:

I applaud the Governor for showing moral leadership on this issue.  Since Hillary was riotously dismissed in the  mid-90's over her health care proposal, no one--and I repeat NO ONE -- in a leadership position has been willing to take on the issue of accessible and affordable health care.  It's a disgrace to the country.

The beef I have about the republicans supporting the Bush veto is that they have had 10 years to put something on the table to get at least our nation's children access to health care--for most, it hasn't even crossed their minds to work the issue.  They had their chance, now it's time to do something.  Anything.  And get results.

As usual, I pose the question to Congressional Democratic Leadership:  Do you have what it takes to make something happen?  Is it finally time to take a stand and make something happen? 

At least our Governor has drawn a line in the sand -- I thank you!

Working across the aisle

Posted by David Postman at 03:52 PM

"This is not a political issue. This is an issue of getting children health care. We have to work together in order to make that happen in this country."
Gov. Christine Gregoire, Oct. 1, announcing a lawsuit against the federal government over implementation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

"The Republican party's opposition to children's health care is shameful and represents the fundamental difference in values that our next election will be fought over."
Gregoire, from a Sept. 18 fundraising appeal

The Seattle Times: Postman on Politics

Drinking Liberally Monday, October 8th....

Will be held at Warren Tryk's house, and not at the Tumwater Valley Bar and Grill. The time is 7:00 pm and is a BYOB and Bring your own food (appetizer recommended).

We will return to the TVB&G on October 22nd.

For directions, visit the Drinking Liberally meeting notification blog.

Solar Energy / Green Building Tour This Saturday

National Solar Energy & Green  Building Tour

Real Places for Real People

Self-Guided Tour in Thurston County

This Saturday, October 6^th

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

For Locations & Map Visit: http://www.solarwashington.org/tour/2007/OlympiaTour.htm

What is a Green Home?

• They use less energy and are more comfortable to live in.
• They use less water for every day use
• They have healthy, superior, indoor air quality
• They use our natural resources efficiently, by reducing waste, reusing products, and using products that contain recycled content, and
• Their landscapes requires less watering and chemicals, and a landscape that minimizes water run-off problems down stream.

A Green Built Home is Simply a Quality Built Home
That Will Retain Value into the Future !!!

The tour is sponsored locally by
SunSet Air, Scott Homes & Merrill Lynch