Have a question? ASK!!
Current mood: stressed

Friends,

Who was it who said that Democracy is a verb?

You can't sit down for a minute these days!

A rider to a U.S. Senate bill would, if passed, make a mockery of the
Senate's past efforts on Campaign Finance Reform.

Friend John Parker sent along an alert that just came out a few minutes
ago from the League of Women Voters.  I pasted it below and hope you
will take a minute to click on the link to give your Senators a rattle.

Love,

Doris a.k.a. Granny D.

http://capwiz.com/lwv/issues/alert/?alertid=8019476

10:36 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

It only takes a minute!
Current mood: hopeful

Seven minutes to change the world Here's seven 1 minute actions you can take at your school to make peace happen, and realize that "Peace begins with me". Please let us know of your efforts as we will feature them on our website. 1. Proclaim "World Peace Day" at your school September 11 should always be remembered not as the day that more conflicts were born, but as the day individuals initiated 'Peace Begins With Me'. Proclaiming 'World Peace Day' at your school will be a poignant reminder of your schools commitment to peace. Click here for a sample letter students can print out, sign and give to their Principal.
2. Join in the "World's Biggest Hug for Peace" Students can 'Pledge-A-Hug' now: How many people can you hug?! Teachers to hold a 'Hug' is very simple. Click here for a sample lesson plan.
3. Join the 'Peace Begins with Me' program It's so easy for students to participate! The "Peace Begins with Me" program is built around the simple notion that lasting peace begins in the hearts and minds of us all. It is simple mathematics to realize that peace in our thoughts, prayers and meditations translates into peace in the world. While there is still anger and hate within and between us, then somewhere it will have to be vented, and so there is conflict and war. If you click here you can add your own 'Peace Begins with Me' moments  - we would love your suggestions 4. One minute's silence Still the most potent method of reflecting upon peace is the simplest. A calming, silent peace meditation where students contemplate peace in their own lives and perhaps those of their ancestors remains a lasting experience of peace. 5. Plant a "Peace Tree" or "Garden" A simple gesture that lasts for years is to plant a tree for peace. The olive tree or the peace lily are both very powerful symbols, but any tree or garden will suffice to encourage reflection on the noble goal of lasting peace. Email schools@worldpeace.org.au or snail-mail your photos. 6. Email world leaders Click here to send email messages of peace to international world leaders. This process will demonstrate to the students democratic values and their ability to participate in the process of government. 7. Get Creative for Peace Write a poem or create some artwork for peace and we will feature it on the World Peace website - its that easy! Click here to read some peace poems already submitted, and click here to see some peace art. Email schools@worldpeace.org.au or snail mail photos of artworks.

5:34 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Debacle in New Orleans
Current mood: disappointed

Dear Friends,

I have attached the main editorial from today's New Orleans newspaper,
the Times Picayune.  In it, they call for the resignation of all FEMA
officials.

Isn't the debacle in New Orleans, and what it implies for the security
of our nation, not a bigger issue facing Congress than the "business as
usual" confirmation of Mr. Bush's appointments?

Shouldn't we demand that a full Congressional investigation be
commenced before any other such business is conducted?

Many of you are connected with various political action groups. Perhaps
some of them could move fast enough to do some good in this moment.

Sincerely,

Doris "Granny D" Haddock



For a pdf of this mail editorial: 
http://www.nola.com/hurricane/katrina/pdf/090405/a15.pdf

Open Letter to Bush from the Times Picayune


Sun Sep 4th, 2005 at 12:24:33 PDT



The Times-Picayune Letter:

We heard you loud and clear Friday when you visited our devastated city
and the Gulf Coast and said, "What is not working, we're going to make
it right."

Please forgive us if we wait to see proof of your promise before
believing you. But we have good reason for our skepticism.

Bienville built New Orleans where he built it for one main reason: It's
accessible. The city between the Mississippi River and Lake
Pontchartrain was easy to reach in 1718.

How much easier it is to access in 2005 now that there are interstates
and bridges, airports and helipads, cruise ships, barges, buses and
diesel-powered trucks.

Despite the city's multiple points of entry, our nation's bureaucrats
spent days after last week's hurricane wringing their hands, lamenting
the fact that they could neither rescue the city's stranded victims nor
bring them food, water and medical supplies.

Meanwhile there were journalists, including some who work for The
Times-Picayune, going in and out of the city via the Crescent City
Connection. On Thursday morning, that crew saw a caravan of 13 Wal-Mart tractor
trailers headed into town to bring food, water and supplies to a dying
city.

Television reporters were doing live reports from downtown New Orleans
streets. Harry Connick Jr. brought in some aid Thursday, and his
efforts were the focus of a "Today" show story Friday morning.

Yet, the people trained to protect our nation, the people whose job it
is to quickly bring in aid were absent. Those who should have been
deploying troops were singing a sad song about how our city was impossible
to reach.

We're angry, Mr. President, and we'll be angry long after our beloved
city and surrounding parishes have been pumped dry. Our people deserved
rescuing. Many who could have been were not. That's to the government's
shame.

Mayor Ray Nagin did the right thing Sunday when he allowed those with
no other alternative to seek shelter from the storm inside the Louisiana
Superdome. We still don't know what the death toll is, but one thing is
certain: Had the Superdome not been opened, the city's death toll would
have been higher. The toll may even have been exponentially higher.

It was clear to us by late morning Monday that many people inside the
Superdome would not be returning home. It should have been clear to our
government, Mr. President. So why weren't they evacuated out of the
city immediately? We learned seven years ago, when Hurricane Georges
threatened, that the Dome isn't suitable as a long-term shelter. So what did
state and national officials think would happen to tens of thousands of
people trapped inside with no air conditioning, overflowing toilets and
dwindling amounts of food, water and other essentials?

State Rep. Karen Carter was right Friday when she said the city didn't
have but two urgent needs: "Buses! And gas!" Every official at the
Federal Emergency Management Agency should be fired, Director Michael Brown
especially.

In a nationally televised interview Thursday night, he said his agency
hadn't known until that day that thousands of storm victims were
stranded at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. He gave another
nationally televised interview the next morning and said, "We've provided food
to the people at the Convention Center so that they've gotten at least
one, if not two meals, every single day."

Lies don't get more bald-faced than that, Mr. President.

Yet, when you met with Mr. Brown Friday morning, you told him, "You're
doing a heck of a job."

That's unbelievable.

There were thousands of people at the Convention Center because the
riverfront is high ground. The fact that so many people had reached there
on foot is proof that rescue vehicles could have gotten there, too.

We, who are from New Orleans, are no less American than those who live
on the Great Plains or along the Atlantic Seaboard. We're no less
important than those from the Pacific Northwest or Appalachia. Our people
deserved to be rescued.

No expense should have been spared. No excuses should have been voiced.
Especially not one as preposterous as the claim that New Orleans
couldn't be reached.

Mr. President, we sincerely hope you fulfill your promise to make our
beloved communities work right once again.

When you do, we will be the first to applaud.


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11:48 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment