Hey Portland, get to it!

In this time of national and global crisis, it only takes one person to make a difference. You can take action by clicking a link or picking up a phone! And come out to the events below to show your support for victims of war and economic injustice. 

Keep the Guard Home

The Campaign to Keep Oregon's Guard in Oregon is at a critical point. We have significant bi-partisan support for our measures: HB 2556-1 (the amendment was worked out between Democrat Chip Shields and Republican Dennis Richardson), HR4 and SR1. But, we can't push for a vote until we can identify 31 "yes" votes in the House.

Please click here to send an e-letter to your representatives, or call your state representative and senator and ask them to support these measures. Oregon could be the first state to pass "Guard Home" legislation--but we're running out of time, and we need your help!

April 29 - Long Time Passing:
Mothers Speak about War and Terror
An Evening with Susan Galleymore
Long Time Passing: Portland Book Launch & Celebration

 With Music, Art, and Refreshments!

Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00pm

Doors open 6:30pm
Event begins, 7:00 pm

This is a free event

First Unitarian Church of Portland
1011 SW 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
Directions

Susan Galleymore, the mother of a U.S. soldier, made international headlines by taking the extraordinary and dangerous step of traveling to Iraq to visit her son stationed on a military base in the so-called Sunni Triangle, north of Baghdad.

What she found in Iraq challenged her to continue her journey interviewing mothers in war zones including Iraq, Israel and the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Afghanistan—as well as in the U.S. These powerful first-person stories offer dramatic insight into the impact of war on mothers, families, communities, and cultures around the world. 

Portland Area Mothers and Others Sharing Their Stories

• Adele Kubein, mother of National Guardswoman and MFSO board member
• Maxine Fookson, a pediatric nurse practitioner, co-coordinator of No More Victims project to help a 6-year-old badly injured Iraqi boy get medical care in Portland
• Dr. Baher Butti, secretary general of the Iraqi Society of Oregon and a psychiatrist forced to flee Iraq in 2006, and Ula, his 12-year-old daughter - they were recently united in Oregon

Also:

• Special Musical Guest: Mona Warner, singer songwriter, guitarist
• Iraqi children's art sponsored by Iraqi Children's Art Exchange

May Day 2009 

March and Rally for Immigrant and Workers' Rights!
Economic Justice for All

May 1st, 2009
South Park Blocks
Downtown Portland

1:00pm - Posters and Party
4:00pm - Rally with speakers and entertainment
5:00pm - March

Things to bring: Yourself, your friends and family, your organization or union, posters, puppets, music, banners, information and inspiration

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PDX Peace Events Calendar 

For more events in support of Peace and Justice in the Portland area, don't forget to check the PDX Peace events calendar. And please feel free to post events on the calendar as well!

 

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 CALL TODAY:
 Tell Congress to Provide Aid, Not Fund Wars

  

The Obama administration has asked Congress for an additional $83.4 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for FY2009. On the table, too, is a request for $130 billion to fund the wars in 2010. This, despite the fact that 6 in 10 Americans believe the war in Iraq was a mistake and growing numbers fear escalating war in Afghanistan.

United For Peace and Justice is mobilizing organizations nationwide to oppose this supplemental request. We are urging you to call your Representatives and Senators today and tell them that you, too, oppose the FY2009 Supplemental and you want them to stand with constituents who want to redirect our funds to reconstruction and aid, not war.

To reach the Washington switchboard, call 202-224-3121.

And find more information and talking points at the UFPJ website.