BRINGING THE WAR BACK HOME

The Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock,
Shelter Rock Forum, and the Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives

Present

BRINGING THE WAR BACK HOME

Kristofer Goldsmith
Iraq Veterans Against the War

Sunday, June 22, 2008, 1 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset

Suggested contribution: $5
Contributions will be donated to Iraq Veterans Against the War

LI native Kristofer Goldsmith enlisted in the army at 18, six months after graduating from high school. He wanted to be a soldier all his life and was motivated to enlist by the attacks of September 11th. Eager to serve his country, he became an artillery forward observer stationed in Sadr City, a northern suburb of Baghdad.

“I quickly learned it wasn’t at all how I thought it would be,” said Kris. “It was brutal and dehumanizing.”

At the end of his term of service he expected to return to civilian life and go to college. After President Bush announced the surge, the military initiated the stop-loss policy. Kris was told he would have to serve another 12 months in Iraq. In desperation, not wanting to return, he tried to take his own life. This resulted in his being diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. As a result his educational benefits were rescinded upon his discharge. Kris has been sharing his story of personal transformation from warrior to active member of the growing numbers of Iraq Veterans Against the War. It is a powerful and moving story. During the program clips from the March 2008 Winter Soldier hearings, at which Kris testified, will be shown.

For more information: LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, 516-741-4360, www.longislandpeace.org
UUCSR Shelter Rock Forum 516-627-6560, ext 122, www.uucsr.org

Directions to UUCSR: From LIE, exit 35 north (from east) or 36 (from west). North 1-1/2 miles on Shelter Rock Rd. Entrance on left by white fence. From Northern Blvd. Go South 1/2 mile on Shelter Rock Rd. Entrance on right.

You can make a difference!

In July, leaders of eight of the world’s wealthiest and most
powerful nations – the G8 – will meet in Hokkaido, Japan for their
annual meeting.

Civil society around the world is calling on these leaders to take
urgent action to meet their promises, and do far more, to fight poverty
and inequality.

Every year on July 7, the people of Japan celebrate Tanabata by
making their wishes for the coming year, and tying them to a bamboo
tree. This year, people across the globe are invited to make their wish
for immediate action from the G8 on education, health and HIV/AIDS,
climate change and international aid.

Your wish, along with millions of others will be handed to the
Japanese Prime Minister on July 6, the day before the meetings begin.
Join the growing Global Call to Action Against Poverty, as civil
society everywhere calls for change, and an end to the injustices of
poverty and inequality.

Take action now.

G8 Action!

At the 2005 G8 summit – the annual meeting of leaders from the
world’s wealthiest countries – the G8 made a historic commitment to
fight extreme global poverty and disease. World Vision, the ONE
Campaign, and several other organizations played a pivotal role in
prompting the G8 to make this unprecedented pledge.

Since then, some progress has been made in the fight against poverty, but the G8 is not on track to meet the goals set in 2005.

Fulfilling these promises will truly change lives. The tragic truth
is that more than 26,000 children under the age of 5 die every day due
to preventable poverty, disease, and hunger. In 2006 alone, AIDS killed
an estimated 380,000 children under the age of 15. By 2010, an
estimated 15.7 million children will be orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan
Africa.

This summer, the G8 will meet in Japan on July 7-9. At the time of
the G8 Summit, Japan will be observing the Tanabata festival that
celebrates the meeting of two stars. This day is marked by people in
Japan writing wishes for the future on paper and hanging them on bamboo
trees.

By signing this petition, you will be joining with
thousands of others around the world sending a wish for better health
for children, which will be presented to the G8 leaders ahead of their
meeting.

SIGN NOW

For more information on G8 CLICK HERE

Giorgio Armani for our Troops

This is real and these are our Troops, watch this video and make some calls.

Tell everyone you know… our Troops/Heros deserve free rooms at the Giorgio Armani in the least!

Barracks for Charlie CO 2/508 82n Airborne

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Child welfare professionals are especially well-suited to identify safety concerns for both children and animals. Caseworkers can frequently gain critical insight into potential child and family safety concerns by simply asking about the family pet. A new effort, called “cross-reporting,” is being introduced in some communities across the country. Cross-reporting requires child protection professionals and animal protection professionals to report suspected animal abuse and child abuse, respectively, to each other.

Currently before the New York Assembly are two landmark bills, Assembly Bills 1900 and 9439, that support cross-reporting. These bills would require child welfare professionals, who are already obligated to report suspected child abuse, to also report suspected animal abuse to local societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals or to local police departments.

The cross-reporting language in these bills is identical, but the bills sit in different committees. A9439 was inspired by the horrific incident in Suffolk County, where a man was convicted in January of setting on fire and killing his pit bull, Maximus. Because it includes provisions relating to the state’s animal welfare law — such as requiring convicted animal abusers to enter into and successfully complete a behavioral treatment program — A9439 has been assigned to the Agriculture Committee. A1900 sits in the Social Services Committee because it seeks to change the law related to child protective services workers.

Both bills need your support! They are steps in the right direction toward protecting both children and animals from domestic abuse.

Please ask Assembly Social Services Committee Chairman Keith L.T. Wright to schedule A1900 for a committee vote and to vote for its passage.

Please also ask Assembly Agriculture Committee Chairman William Magee to schedule A9439 for a committee vote and to vote for its passage.

ASPCA Day! April 10th 08

We all met up at Starbucks in Smithtown at 8pm wearing orange to show our support for the ASPCA! Besides getting yelled at for taking pics in Starbucks, ha! it was great!!

Music Charity!!

These are the two charities WE (BWC) will be donation the money raised from (the battle) to… check them out!!!

Music Charity

Music Foundation

(the battle)

The Dash

Check this great video >>> CLICK HERE <<<

For Change

This week we at FCNL joined with peacemakers all over the world to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S. war and military occupation in Iraq. We mourn anew the tens of thousands who have died and the millions wounded or displaced from their homes because of the war.

At the same time we see signs of hope this spring. Our lobbyists on the Hill have doubled support in Congress for legislation for a diplomatic “surge” that would end the killing and get the U.S. out of Iraq (H.R. 3797).You and thousands of others have reinforced FCNL’s lobbying. We need your support now to continue FCNL’s effective lobbying.

In the media, on the election trail, and in cities and towns across the United States, we’ve helped to build a growing recognition that talking with Iran will be better than warring with Iran. Broad inclusive diplomacy in the Middle East is essential to ending the war in Iraq.

Give now to support FCNL’s Iraq Peace Campaign

We can create the conditions now for a U.S. withdrawal, so that the next president will bring U.S. forces home. We’re training young adult lobbyists, providing resources for grassroots activists, and walking the halls of Congress every day.

Change is possible and legislative action through FCNL is one of the best ways to achieve it. We remain determined to make our country whole again. Please join us through taking action and by donating for change.