E-News: Take Our 100 Days Survey, Peace in Kenya, and More
April 28, 2009
What Do You Think?Obama's First 100 Days
Now Is the Time: Urge Obama to Investigate Torture
Quote of the Week: U.S. Vet Argues More Troops Won't Bring More Peace to Afghanistan
Nuclear Weapons Petition: Please Help Us Reach 10,000 Signatures
A Budget that Gives Us Hope: FCNL's March/April Washington Newsletter
Cluster Bombs: Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun Publish Opinion Pieces Urging Ban
Kenya: FCNL Urges Efforts to Promote Stability
Tax Refunds for Peace!
FCNL in the News: Comparing Cap and Trade and Carbon Tax
War Is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Snow Camp, North Carolina
What Do You Think? Obama's First 100 Days
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Your new president took office 100 days ago tomorrow. Has he met your expectations? Please take two minutes to answer our short survey and let us know what you think. We'll report on the results next week. |
Now Is the Time: Urge Obama to Investigate Torture
President Obama hasn't ruled out appointing an independent commission of inquiry to investigate torture. The Washington Post, along with FCNL and a number of national human rights organizations, is calling for a bipartisan commission composed of respected leaders to conduct a thorough review of the matter. Add your voice to the debate by urging the president to appoint an independent commission of inquiry.
Quote of the Week: U.S. Vet Argues More Troops Won't Bring More Peace to Afghanistan
"To some measurable degree, in places like Afghanistan, increasing the U.S. presence actually increases the dimensions of the problem."
~Colonel Andrew Bacevich (Ret.), in response to a question from Sen. Russ Feingold (WI) during Senate hearings last week. Read a partial transcript of these Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings, which feature the testimony of veterans. Find out more.
Nuclear Weapons Petition: Please Help Us Reach 10,000 Signatures
Time is running out! Though we are pleased with the incredible response we've gotten on our petition urging senators to speak out in favor of nuclear disarmament, we still have more signatures to collect. Help us reach our goal of 10,000 by the end of April; if you haven't done so already, sign the petition and ask three friends to sign also.
A Budget that Gives Us Hope: FCNL's March/April Washington Newsletter
We at FCNL have been analyzing federal budgets for decades, and we've never seen anything like the one President Barack Obama has proposed for 2010. It's a transformative budget. It challenges us all to change the way we think about the roles of government, industry, families, individuals, and our international partners. Take a peek at FCNL's March/April Washington Newsletter to learn all about the president's budget and why we're so excited.
Cluster Bombs: Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun Publish Opinion Pieces Urging Ban
Writing in the Boston Globe, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams urges the United States to put the same energy toward banning landmines and cluster bombs as it has toward banning nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Sun published an op-ed by International Crisis Group members Donald Steinberg and Karl F. Inderfurth calling for the creation of a nonpartisan commission to review this country's decision to abstain from the cluster bomb ban treaty.
Kenya: FCNL Urges Efforts to Promote Stability
Last year ethnic violence threatened to engulf Kenya. Fortunately, preventive diplomacy efforts led by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan helped secure a political settlement before the violence became entrenched. Read FCNL's letter to Congress that warns of the risk of renewed violence in Kenya and urges support for critical programs that will promote peace and stability in that country.
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While about 43 percent of your 2008 federal tax dollars went for war, 100 percent of your tax refund can go for peace! Donate your refund to FCNL to lobby Congress to shift budget priorities and reduce military spending. You'll also be eligible for a charitable tax deduction for the amount of the gift. |
FCNL in the News: Comparing Cap and Trade and Carbon Tax
FCNL's Energy and Environment lobbyist Devin Helfrich co-wrote this article that compares the cap-and-trade provisions of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 with a simple alternative: a carbon tax embodied in Rep. John Larson's America's Energy Security Trust Fund Act of 2009.
War Is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Snow Camp, North Carolina
 West Grove Friends Meeting in Snow Camp, North Carolina is happy to witness for peace in the surrounding community by placing this War Is Not the Answer sign in front of its meetinghouse. |
Order your own War Is Not the Answer sign and see where this movement is showing up across the country. Find out how to submit your own photo.