Here are some spiritual and hopeful moments to fill up our souls this holiday season!
When I was teaching communications at University of Georgia, I had an alert for "teachable moments". Students got extra participation points if they spotted one, pointed it out and summarized what was learned. We called them ATMs. In today's society, we all go to the ATM to fill up our pocket books with cash. I think we could use some spiritual and intellectual ATMs for our souls after such an amazing but grueling year of activism.
So, I will start this out. Hillary (Not Clinton) sent a beautiful little blog about her caroling last night that I know will touch everyone's heart. I give it back to you again in peace and ask only that you share with us any teachable or soul filling moments you have had this holiday season. In turn, I will post them on the CodePINK Florida blog as a holiday resting place. You can reply here or send to codepinkorlando@ gmail.com I've also included Lydia's wonderful news!
Peace on Earth @ Lake Worth
Tonight a handful of us gathered in our full pink and went caroling along Lake Avenue in Lake Worth, FL singing the peace carols and passing out what flyers I had and as we were wishing there were more people out, a woman came up to us and thanked us. She had lost her son in Iraq earlier this year. We gathered her in our pink boa-ed arms and shared a moment. We asked her son's name-- Alex Fuller. So we told her we would dedicate our next song to him, and we sang "Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me..."
Our voices were cracking and tears were streaming down our faces and we remembered why we are doing what we are doing. The rest of the caroling was very wonderful response and we connected with several wonderful people.
Then on the way home I stopped at Cracker Barrel for some take out and picked up some blocs that spelled Peace on Earth--which led to an amazing conversation with the woman at the cash register whose son just came home from his second tour--she said all she wants for Christmas is Peace.
~~~ Hillary [Not Clinton] Keyes <spiderhill@usa. net> WP FL CodePINK
Adel Hamad is free from Guantanamo
Dear all,Sometimes we wonder if what we do is helping. Is dressing up and street theater going to make a difference? Are we wasting our time in thinking we can change things?I'm here to say that EVERYTHING we do is helping. I've been standing in orange jumpsuit and hood/chains for a Guantanamo detainee named Adel Hamad, #940, for some time now. After 5 years in GITMO he still had never been charged, never been tried and was going blind from looking thru chain link fence for so long.He was released from GITMO last Thursday. He is home with his family.Keep the faith and never stop. The joy Dave and I feel tonight is almost impossible to express.We will all feel this joy when our troops start coming home to stay. Peace, Lydia
~~~ From: Lydia Vickers
ATM ~ A thoughtful moment
OCT27
Oct 27, 2007, Channel 2Anti-War Rally Takes Over Lake Eola Saturday http://www.wesh.com/politics/14438472/detail.htmlhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21501841/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOlFQdki2MU
Oct 27, 2007, Channel 9Thousands Protest War Across U.S.'Day Of Action' Held In Cities Throughout Nation
http://www.wftv.com/news/14439779/detail.html
Oct 27, 2007, Channel 13Thousands Take Anti-War Protest To The Streets Sunday
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/10/27/antiwar_protest.html
*** NEWSPAPERS:
Oct 28, 2007, Orlando SentinelRaging against war by Susan Jacobson
http://orlandosentinel/. com/community/ news/deland/ orl-warprotest28 07oct28,0, 1998620.story
Photos: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-warmarch-pg,0,246775.photogallery
Oct 28, 2007, Sarasota's Herald Tribune
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071028/NEWS/710280631
Oct 17, 2007, Orlando Sentinel Bloghttp://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_military/2007/10/orlando-anti-wa.html
Oct 26, 2007, Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-march2607oct26,0,1049877.story
Oct 25, 2007, Orlando WeeklyThe Cost of War: Goverment spending is all about priorities
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=11914
PRIVATE VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6kp5Y1rq00
Orlando Peace march.
Senator Mike Gravel's radio interview during Peace Rally
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7702017515037979417&q=orlando+iraq&total=39&start=0&num=10&so=1&type=search&plindex=1
PHOTOS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bulius/sets/72157602747301746/
The interview about Oct 27th is about 3/4's of the way into the show. Hear it at: http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/show/4855
Thank you Lauren, of Code Pink Sarasota & Jesse Kearns, of Veterans for Peace for representing all of the Peace groups involved!
Senator Mike Gravel & George Crossley on People Power Hour
Marched Against the War in Orlando
Thousands gathered Saturday for the largest peace rally in Florida ’s history at Lake Eola in Orlando, outnumbering even the Florida Democratic convention being held simultaneously at Disney World. Senator Mike Gravel, a strong anti-war candidate for President kicked things off and declared that “our leadership has lost its moorings, we lack moral fiber, we lack moral judgment”. In regards to the rally, "This is America at its finest," one protester said. "We're going to march against the Iraq war, because it's an unjust war… and it's totally wrong," another protester said.
As Channel 13’s Jackie Shutack reported on CodePINK, “These ladies in pink, paired their voices with eye catching colors to spread a simple message”, “Time to end this war”. Protesters traveled to the Orlando Anti-war rally from all over state of Florida, and from all over the country, for that matter” said Jackie. Thousands of protesters participated, “Young and old, and they all spoke the same message” which was loud and clear— End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq & take war with Iran off the table!
Speakers included life long activists like Peg McIntyre, a 97 year old Floridian who is possibly the oldest living peace activist in the country. There were also religious leaders, students, community organizers, families of military and veterans from all three wars offering their unique takes on why the US must leave Iraq immediately.
“We've seen it all bef or e throughout hist or y, the countless times we've murdered each other by the thousands and the millions over nothing..... All of these things resulted from the same pointless and idiotic logic, the same greed for wealth and power and the same disregard for the sanctity and value for human life.” said Clifton Hicks, an Iraq veteran.
A handful of counter-protesters stood on the sidewalk in the pouring rain chanting “ USA ” and “God Bless America ”. The thousands of Anti-war protesters marching by chanted, “God Bless our troops, bring them home!” drowning out the small group. Orlando police said the rally was peaceful and no arrests were made. There were over ½ million participants in the eleven cities holding marches and rallies simultaneously on October 27, including Boston, Chicago, Jonesborough, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle.
Orlando Hosts Southeast Regional March to End the War in Iraq
Who: Thousands from all over the Southeast
What: Regional rally and march to end the War in Iraq that is part of national mobilization across the country.
When: Saturday, October 27, 2007 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Rally at Lake Eola (NE corner). 3 mile march from Robinson to Paramore to Church St to Orange Ave to Central and returning to Eola Drive & Robinson. Orlando hosts a regional march to End the War in Iraq tomorrow. The event in Orlando is part of a national mobilization to end the war that is taking place in 11 cities across the country. Spearheaded by United for Peace and Justice it is expected to be the largest peace rally ever held in Florida . Americans in Orlando and across the country will take to the streets to reiterate their message, loud and clear— End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq & take war with Iran off the table! Speakers will include life long activists, religious leaders, students, community organizers and veterans, all offering their unique takes on why we must leave Iraq immediately. Presidential candidate Mike Gravel is one of the speakers scheduled. “What’s so important about October 27 in Orlando is that it is a coming together of our regional movement,” said att De Vlieger, one of the local Orlando organizers. “As groups and individuals, we’ve held signs on street corners, spoke up in our classrooms, demanded answers at public forums, attended conferences and educated our neighbors across Florida about the U.S. led tragedy of Iraq for five years. We decided that the time has come for us to step it up and truly band together at home, as a statewide movement, to stop this war.”
Who: Enthusiastic college students, seasoned activists and concerned newcomers
What: Plan and organize a regional March to End the War in Iraq
When: Ongoing throughout the week culminating in the Oct27 March and Rally at 12:30pm
Where: Begins in NE (northeast) corner of Lake Eola Park at Robinson & Eola.
Planning is heating up as a group of Orlando activists prepare to host a regional march to end the War in Iraq. Orlando is one of 11 cities planning an event on October 27. The march is part of a National Mobilization to End the War in Iraq. Thousands from throughout the Southeast are expected to attend the Orlando March. This will make it the largest peace event ever held in Florida.
The host committee represents a coming together of a variety of activists from a number of different causes. Activists from organizations including: CodePINK Orlando, Project: Darfur, ACLU, Orlando Progressive, Veteran’s for Peace and the Farmworkers Association are all taking the lead in creating an event where people can make their statement, that they want the War in Iraq to End.
“What’s so important about October 27 in Orlando is that it is a coming together of our regional movement,” said maTT De Vlieger, one of the local Orlando organizers. “As groups and individuals, we’ve held signs on street corners, spoken up in our classrooms, demanded answers at public forums, attended conferences and educated our neighbors across Florida about the U.S. led tragedy of Iraq for five years. We decided that the time has come for us to step it up and truly band together at home, as a statewide movement, to stop this war.”
October 27 has been an incredible opportunity for young college students to channel their ideals and passion for ending the war and for more experienced activists to mentor a new generation in some of the tactics of making social change.
Presidential candidate Mike Gravel is one of the speakers scheduled. As a US Senator he led a one man filibuster to help end the Vietnam War. He has proven to be an unequivocal opponent of the war on Iraq. Other speakers will include life long activists, religious leaders, students, community organizers and veterans, to offer their unique takes on why we much leave Iraq immediately
Anti-war sentiment has grown significantly, especially since the 2006 elections, as Congress fails to take any decisive measures against the US Occupation of Iraq.
Today, approximately 70% of Americans agree that we should bring our troops home. With each passing month, the Iraq disaster claims the lives of nearly 100 soldiers and countless Iraqis as it drains another 12 billion dollars from our budget.
The national action called for by United for Peace and Justice reflects the increasing lack of faith Americans have in the current political leadership to fulfill their pledges and to explore every option in ending the American quagmire in Iraq, such as cutting the war funding.
Mobilizing to End the War in Iraq
Who: Thousands of people from across the southeast will converge in Orlando simultaneously with thousands more in 10 cities across the US
What: Massive Mobilization of faith-based, student, peace and political organizations joining together in Regional marches to STOP the War Now being spearheaded by United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)
When: Saturday, October 27, 2007 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Lake Eola NE corner of Robinson and Eola. Three mile march from Robinson to Paramore to Church St to Orange Ave to Central and returning to Eola Drive & Robinson.
Thousands of people, from all walks of life, will take to the streets on October 27 as Orlando and 10 other cities host regional marches and rallies to end the War in Iraq and prevent new wars. The event in Orlando is expected to be the largest peace event ever held in Florida. Local organizers from a variety of groups are working together to host the October 27 march which is welcoming participants from throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.
Americans in Orlando and across the country will take to the streets to reiterate their message, loud and clear—End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq and take war with Iran off the table! The Orlando Host Committee has forged alliances with scores of diverse groups and organizations to promote the October 27 March. Speakers will include life long activists, religious leaders, students, community organizers and veterans, to offer their unique takes on why we much leave Iraq immediately
Presidential candidate Mike Gravel is one of the speakers scheduled. As a US Senator he lead a one man filibuster to help end the Vietnam War. He has proven to be an unequivocal opponent of the war on Iraq.
Anti-war sentiment has grown significantly, especially since the 2006 elections, as Congress fails to take any decisive measures against the US Occupation of Iraq.
Today, approximately 70% of Americans agree that we should bring our troops home. With each passing month, the Iraq disaster claims the lives of nearly 100 soldiers and countless Iraqis as it drains another 12 billion dollars from our budget.
The action called for by United for Peace and Justice reflects the increasing lack of faith Americans have in the current political leadership to fulfill their pledges and to explore every option in ending the American quagmire in Iraq, such as cutting the war funding.
These organizations endorsed Oct27 in Orlando. Amnesty International @ VCC East
AWAKENING/Art & Culture
Brevard Patriots For Peace
Central Florida Jobs Committee
Central Florida Movement for a Democratic Society
Central Florida Vets for Peace
CodePINK Florida
CodePINK Orlando
CodePINK South Florida
CodePINK SW Florida Ft Myers
CodePINK Tallahassee
CodePINK Volusia/Flagler
Eco-Action
Environmental and Peace Education Center (EPEC)
Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice
Florida For Peace/Focus on Nelson
Florida Immigrant Coalition
Florida Peace Action Network
Gainesville Area SDS
Green Party of the U.S.
Movement for a Democratic Society
Orlando4Obama
Veterans For Peace Chapter 032, South Florida
Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Tallahassee
Notes on Nelson Meeting 8/11/07
Florida For Peace Meets Senator Bill Nelson
Boasts, Prevarications, and a Rattlesnake
On Tuesday August 7th ten members of Florida For Peace traveled to Kissimmee, FL to meet with Senator Bill Nelson at the public library. They represented over fifty groups from from all parts of Florida.
When the group arrived a staff member directed us to a conference room where the senator was waiting. A local news crew had a camera set up. After shaking hands and sitting down, Senator Nelson mentioned how he was having town meetings, three just yesterday in Jefferson, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
Lydia Vickers - CODEPINK Tallahassee, Co-Founder/Florida For Peace - began by stating she had traveled to all eight of his offices around the state and had meetings with his staff and thanked the Senator for meeting with us.
Senator Nelson began by thanking us for coming from all over the state to see him. He then talked about what he termed as townhall meetings, two of which he had the previous day in the Tampa Bay area. He said that 150 people had attended one meeting and 130 had attended the other one and that no one had brought up the issue of the Iraq War... MORE
http://tnjp.org/Florida-For-Peace-Meets-Senator-Bill-Nelson
No Nelson Town Hall meetings in South Florida!!
FROM Hillary (Not Clinton)
Today I called Senator Nelson's offices in West Palm and in Davie to ask when and where Senator Nelson would be having Town Hall meetings in our area, and both told me that he would be having NO town hall meetings "this far south this time around." Josh in West Palm told me that their office covers SEVEN counties, and they "do not get him at all this time."
The folks in both offices were quite apologetic, so please be nice, but we need them to pass along to the Senator and his schedulers that he needs to listen to constituents in ALL areas of the state. Please call the offices and ask why we in South Florida don't rate town hall meetings...
Miami-Dade 2925 Salzedo Street Coral Gables, FL 33134
Phone: 305-536-5999 Telephone Fax: 305-536-5991
West Palm Beach 500 Australian Avenue Suite 125 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Phone: 561-514-0189 Fax: 561-514-4078
Broward 3416 South University Drive Davie, FL 33328
Phone: 954-693-4851 Fax: 954-693-4862
Action Ideas!
NELSON BALLOT BOXES
These can be left at your local alternative video stores, coffee houses, book stores, vegetarian restaurants and any small business with a progressive owner along with a stack of “Focus on Nelson” post Cards. Contact Hillary (not Clinton) for Nelson post cards!
From CODEPINK Sarasota:
Just wanted to send these pics of our ballot boxes. We purchased "touch up kits" from Sherwin Williams paint co. They are in the shape of a home. So we just primed them & painted them up.
We went to our Downtown farmers market yesterday and received 84 signatures! We also passed out flyers with information about the war in Iraq and the phone numbers to call Congress.
(that's 202 224-3121)
Toy Soldier Project
In her column today, Ana Menendez brings to light a quiet anti-war campaign, called the Toy Soldier Project, that's being waged by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in South Miami.
You may have seen them somewhere around Miami -- tiny plastic toy soldiers enlisted in the war against the war.
''Bring them home!'' says the front of the tag wrapped around the soldier's leg. On the back, the numbers for Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez.
The pacifist toy soldiers are popping up in supermarkets, drug stores and other public places.
Ana accompanied 64-year-old Judy Homer on a "drop" at the Dadeland Mall.
Stealth protesting is not for the shy. Even the most experienced agitator can find herself suddenly caught in a crisis of nerve when, for example, sitting in a parking garage with a paper bag full of mission-bound soldiers.
''I do get nervous, but I won't let it deter me,'' said Homer, 64. ``I like that it's a protest and that it's a peaceful one. I'm an old hippie.''
Within minutes, she was through the doors of Macy's and tucking a soldier between the athletic shoes at a Skechers display.
''We'll see if it's still there when we get back,'' she said, delighted.
Ha! This is great. And Judy wasn't done.
Homer headed out of Macy's and toward J.C. Penney. On the way, she propped a soldier on a marble tabletop and another on the counter at a smoothie cart.
Ana laments that there should be some deeper message attached to the soldiers. I disagree. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation' s efforts reminds Americans that soldiers are fighting and dying as we go about our mundane, and very safe, lives right here in the good 'ole US of A.
That's good enough for me.
Ft Meyers NEEDS HELP! Call today please
PLEASE CALL Senator Nelson's district office in Fort Myers. (239) 334-7760 and ask him to do a Town Hall meeting!
Friends,
Last Tuesday Holley Rauen, of EPEC and CODEPINK, and I were part of a delegation of ten peace activists from around the state who met with Senator Bill Nelson to discuss Iraq. The meeting was arranged through CODEPINK's Florida for Peace Campaign, which is designed to focus on Senator Nelson and urge him to vote to end the war. Nelson voted for President Bush's war resolution in 2002, and has voted to fund the Iraq war every year since. You can imagine that the ten of us did what we could to sway the senator to get him to come out strongly against the war, to vote against funding the war and to vote to bring the troops home now.
Nelson responded that his position on Iraq was "evolving". He stunned us by saying he held a town hall meeting with 187 people in Pinellas County (St. Petersburg) the day before, and not one person asked him about Iraq. ??? Not one question about the issue that is upper most in people's minds? And the Tampa-St. Pete area has active peace and anti-war organizations. ??? This didn't seem right to us. Here is the answer from Deidra Lynch of Code Pink Orlando: ..... "Florida's Senator Bill Nelson's office is falsely reporting that he is touring the state doing 'Town Hall' meetings, yet his meetings are not being announced publicly until just hours before he arrives. Most of the meetings have been with city and county officials, not the public. These 'invitation--only' audiences with selected press are lulling Floridians into believing that he is concerned about public sentiment. His office has even refused to announce his travel schedule or place any requested alternative press members on the pre-notification list. This is open government? NO, this is public relations spin!" ..... Deidra is right.
It appears Senator Nelson is trying to evade and avoid his constituents who want to talk to him about Iraq. Apparently hebelieves that one hour with ten people is sufficient to discuss the number one issue of concern in the minds of his constituents across the state. WE NEED TO LET HIM KNOW THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE! I spoke to his staffer in the Fort Myers district office on Friday and asked about his Southwest Florida schedule. She said he would only be in Fort Myers briefly, he was not holding office hours or any town hall meetings. When I asked about 'supposed' Nelson town hall meetings actually being closed to the public, she said [paraphrasing] We want as many people as possible to come to the meetings. We give the public plenty of notice. WE CANNOT LET SENATOR NELSON COME INTO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND LEAVE WITHOUT SPEAKING TO HIS CONSTITUENTS ABOUT IRAQ. WE MUST INSIST THAT HE MEET WITH US ON THIS NUMBER ONE ISSUE OF IMPORTANCE.
PLEASE, on Monday call Senator Nelson's district office in Fort Myers. (239) 334-7760. Be polite, but firm. In your own words tell the staffer that you would like Senator Nelson to hold a town hall meeting for his constituents in Southwest Florida this month, or that you would like him to hold a special meeting to discuss the war in Iraq. Remind them this is the most important issue facing our country today. Americans are continuing to die in Iraq everyday. We want to discuss with him what he can do to end the war and restore peace to the MiddleEast. ETC. The staffer should ask your name and phone number so they can get backto you whenever Senator Nelson is going to hold a town hall meeting here. Tell them you hope it will be this month during his congressionalbreak.
IF WE CAN GET A FEW DOZEN CALLS INTO HIS FORT MYERS OFFICE (334-7760)THAT WILL SERVE NOTICE THAT HE CANNOT GO BACK TO WASHINGTON WITHOUT TALKING TO US ABOUT IRAQ. If we do nothing, nothing will happen. The Florida for Peace Campaign has opened the way for dialogue with Senator Nelson on Iraq. This was just a beginning. We must continue this process for peace here in Southwest Florida. If you've written, emailed and called before, you know how important it is. If you have not done so yet, please do it now. 334-7760
Thank you,
Tom Guelcher
Environmental & Peace Education Center
Florida for Peace
Senator Nelson’s PR spin on “Town Hall” meetings
by Deidra Lynch -- Orlando, FL August 10, 2007 -- Florida’s Senator Bill Nelson's office is falsely reporting that he is touring the state doing "Town Hall" meetings yet his meetings are not being announced publicly until just hours before he arrives and most of them have only been with city and county officials, not the public. These "invitation-only" audiences with selected press only are costing Florida taxpayers and lulling them into believing the he is concerned about public sentiment. His office has refused to even announce his travel schedule or place any requested alternative press members on the pre-notification list. This is open government? NO, this is a PR spin!
Senator Nelson, who is on vacation from Congress was pressured in June by leaders in the Peace communities across the state to hold true "Town Hall" meetings in August to meet with his constitutents about the 25 billion dollars of the Iraq debt that Florida now owns. Enough is enough, it’s time to come up with a plan to get us out of this endless war and the only way that's going to happen is to stop the funding. Florida For Peace members said they feel like Senator Nelson has been supporting the war sine the beginning and they want him to be one of 67 senators to override a presidential veto and bring the troops home now.
After occupying all eight of his offices with representatives of over 50 different peace organizations including Vets for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Grannies for Peace and CODEPINK to name a few, Senator Nelson finally agreed to meet with Florida for Peace, "We were ecstatic about the opportunity to speak with him and discuss the costs of war, the needs of Floridians, the treatment of our returning veterans and the horrendous rate of female soldiers returning as victims of sexual and physical assault by their own comrades which is 20% to 2/3 depending on the source" said Lydia Vickers of Florida for Peace. We had hoped for true “Town Hall” meetings in August but apparently Senator Nelson doesn’t understand the true meaning of the term.
Originating in New England when everybody in town showed up to speak their piece and then vote on an issue, today's "Town Hall" meetings are now held so people can influence elected officials in their decision-making process, often in large conference centers where people from every part of the community attend to express their opinions. No point of view is excluded or censored which is the very “Essence of Democracy” in action.
When Governor Schwarzenegger made this mistake, he was called on the carpet in "Governor corrupts 'town hall' " by Dennis M. Clausen:
"In his classic essay, "Politics and the English Language," George Orwell warns us that such abuses of language involve more than just semantic differences. "If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought," Orwell writes. "A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation even among people who should and do know better."I know it's hurricane season and we face this with half of our disaster equipment still in Iraq with many of our national guard but Senator Nelson's corruption of the "Town Hall" meeting strikes deeply into the center of my heart and raises my radar even more. This week’s PR spin by Nelson gives me even more to worry about then what’s brewing over our very warm waters right now.
According to Orwell, politicians corrupt language, and then a corrupted language corrupts the culture ---- which in turn makes it easier for politicians to further corrupt the language. The vicious cycle feeds off itself like a hurricane gathering strength over warm tropical waters.
When we reverse the meanings of certain bedrock democratic institutions and traditions like town hall meetings, and these corruptions of language go unchallenged, we are well on our way to a total corruption of our political culture."
*Dennis M. Clausen is a professor of American literature at the University of San Diego .
dclausen@SanDiego.edu
Original commentary...
THIS WEEK IN FLORIDA -- Bill Nelson Fri 8/10/07
Fri 8/10/07 TODAY IN FLORIDA
8:30 a.m.
- coffee with holmes county elected officials
Thu 8/9/07 TODAY IN FLORIDA
8:30 a.m. EDT
- franklin county town hall
10:30 a.m. EDT
- gulf county town hall
12:00 p.m. EDT
- meeting with gulf county elected officials
1:30 p.m. CDT
- tour tyndall air force base (panama city)
4:30 p.m. CDT
- bay county town hall
Wed 8/8/07 TODAY IN FLORIDA
12 p.m.
- lunch with jefferson county elected officials in monticello
2 p.m.
- tallahassee media availability
4 p.m.
- meet with wakulla county elected officials in crawfordville
Tue 8/7/07 TODAY IN FLORIDA
11 a.m.
- meet with code pink and florida for peace representatives in kissimmee
12 p.m.
- lunch with osceola county elected officials
2 p.m.
- orlando office hours
Mon 8/6/07 TODAY IN FLORIDA
* 11:00 a.m. - pinellas county town hall meeting
* 12:00 p.m. - lunch with pinellas county elected officials
* 2:00 p.m. - pasco county town hall meeting
* 5:00 p.m. - meet with florida citrus growers
CH2 WESH News report
Florida Groups Push For End To War
POSTED: 3:03 pm EDT August 7, 2007
UPDATED: 3:51 pm EDT August 7, 2007
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Florida For Peace pushed for a meeting with Sen. Bill Nelson at the Kissimmee library on Tuesday. Members said they want Nelson to stand against President George W. Bush and end the war in Iraq. Many groups congregated at the library to meet with Nelson, including Code Pink: Women For Peace.
Members said they feel Nelson has been supporting the war and want him to be one of 67 senators to override a presidential veto and bring troops home.
"I think he needs to realize he's hurting these troops more by not saying, 'Enough is enough' it's time to come home, and let's come up with a plan,' so the only way that's going to happen is to stop funding," Deidra Lynch of Florida For Peace said.
"We need to start phasing down, but keeping troops there to train the Iraqi army, to go after al Qaida and to provide protection for our troops there, but start removing our troops," Nelson said.
Nelson will meet with Osceola County leaders next, one of more than a dozen town hall meetings being held in Central Florida in the coming days.
Video: Code Pink War Protest
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Kendra Oestreich.
Radio Interview about Nelson
You ROCK Lydia!
http://www.clickcaster.%20com/sarasotanews%20events
Very good interview (about 1/3 into the newscast) and great idea Monica! We should all be contacting our radio stations and tv stations to offer interviews about this campaign. Go for it folks! peace, deidra
From: Monica CODEPINK Sarasota
Fri, 10 Aug 2007
Subject: FFP radio interview (with Lydia)
Hi Peace People,
Lydia was interviewed on WSLR lp fm (Sarasota) by Alex Newberry concerning Focus on Nelson campaign, and the recent meeting with him in Kissimmee. (You rocked Sista)!
You can go to this link to hear it! (News for August 10). Just hit "Click to Play" at: http://www.clickcaster.%20com/sarasotanews%20events
The interview is about 1/3 into the newscast.
WSLR is a great supporter of what we do: http://www.wslr.org/
and so is WMNF fm (Tampa) http://www.wmnf.org/
Both stations are community supported and can be listened to via internet. I am thinking that someone should contact "The Women's Show" on WMNF (every Saturday at 10:00am) for an interview about your meeting and on going actions etc. They love CODEPINK!
Let me know if I can help. (both stations will announce events, meetings etc).
Peace,
Monica
CODEPINK, Sarasota
