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Peace Action Fund of New York State

Peace Action New York State

Student Chapter Organizing Manual

Peace Action New York State • Church St. Station, P.O. Box 3357 New York, NY 10008-3357

646-723-1749 • www.panys.org • [email protected] twitter.com/PeaceActionNY • facebook.com/PeaceActionNY



Table of Contents

Welcome Letter 2

About PANYS 3 – 5

PANYS Staff and Board of Directors 6 – 7

Chapter Contact Info 8

Forming a PANYS Student Club – Constitution Outline 9 – 12

Fact Sheets

Nuclear Weapons 13 – 14

War in Iraq & Afghanistan 15

Military Recruitment 16

Student Organizing – Getting Started 17

Student Outreach 18

A Guide to Holding Your Interest Meeing 19

Sample Agenda 20 – 21

Capacity Mapping on Your Campus 22 – 23

What Makes an Effective Flyer 24 – 25

Club Meeting Exercises 26

Event Organizing & Fundraising 27 – 32

Important Films to Watch 33 – 34

How to Take Political Action 35 – 38

Petition Help 39 – 40

Know Your Media! 41

PANYS Merchandise Info 42

Useful Sites to Check Out! 43

Addendum 44

Shut Down Indian Point! 45

Cost of War Awareness Project 46

Peace Voter Campaign 47

Calendar of Events 48

Club Submission Form 49

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Welcome!

Hello Organizers and Student Activists!

This is the Peace Action New York State (PANYS) Student Organizing Manual to help you in your organizing adventures. We have included information about Nuclear Disarmament, Military Recruitment, and the Cost of War and ongoing conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. This information provides educational background on Peace Action’s views and will help you to be more informed when you are organizing. We have also included contact information for our current chapters as well as tips for how to start organizing. If you already have a group of people together, we hope the information on event planning and outreach will be useful. We have also included a piece on reflection, a very important but often forgotten component of any event. In order to grow, it is important to look at the work that has been done, celebrate the successes, and discuss what can be done in the future to continue to improve and address people’s concerns.

Finally, we have included information about legislative lobbying and current PANYS campaigns. These campaigns are a good platform for you to reflect, educate, and speak out about the kinds of issues you are passionate about. The last section of this guide is a list of upcoming events related to peace and nuclear-safe issues. Successful organizers and activists always know what’s going on around them in relation to their cause, and how to get involved in the actions and events of other like-minded organizations. We encourage you to stayed informed on local and regional events by working together and keeping in touch with your local Peace Action chapter.

Grassroots organizing is not an easy endeavor; however, when done right it can have immense effects. For examples of successful campaigns, just look at our Getting Started page. In grassroots organizing, it is important to remember that growing a movement and effecting change is a process (see p.16). Holding events makes people become more interested in the movement, more informed, and more likely to join and eventually become leaders. Sounds simple, but growing a movement is anything but.

A lot of hard work leads to sometimes seemingly small results. However, it is important to remember that every conversation you have, event you host, and person you reach out to is a step to reaching your goals. If you manage to reach out to just two people, and that person reaches two people, and so on, the organization and movement will grow exponentially.

Let’s Get Started!

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Broome County Peace Action Chenango Peace Action Dutchess Peace Coalition Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace Great Neck SANE/Peace Action No War

Westchester Peace Action Bay Ridge Peace Action of Central New York Peace Action & Education Peace Action International Peace Action Manhattan Peace Action of Staten Island Upper Hudson Peace Action Western New York

Peace Center



About Peace Action New York State (PANYS)

Who we are…

Peace Action of New York State and the Peace Action Fund of New York State are the New York affiliates of Peace Action, the largest grassroots peace organization in the country.

The Peace Action Fund of New York StatePeace Action is dedicated to promoting the non-violent resolution of conflict, the abolition of nuclear weapons, halting the global spread of conventional arms, building a human rights culture and supporting human needs instead of militarism. We pursue these goals through the production and dissemination of educational materials for the public, activists and policy makers, as well as through community organizing initiatives and public outreach. The Peace Action Fund of New York State is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

Peace Action New York StatePeace Action New York State is a 501(c)4 membership organization that uses lobbying and direct political action to complement the work of the Peace Action Fund of New York State. We currently have eighteen chapters and over 3000 members in New York State. As we are a grassroots organization, our local chapters take a large lead in determining our agenda. Each chapter works on local peace issues as well as state, national and global concerns. For more information about chapter projects, please refer to our chapters list (see p. 8) and visit their individual websites.

NY-SPAN (New York - Student Peace Action Network)NY-SPAN is a coalition of Peace Action student chapters throughout New York State dedicated to empowering student advocates to take action on issues of peace and justice. Through education, grassroots organizing, and action campaigns, we work to promote informed student activism on campus and build leadership among young people in the peace movement.

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Our history….

Ban the BombPeace Action has its roots in the “ban the bomb” movement of the 1950s. In 1957, citizens, alarmed by the spiraling nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, formed the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (aka SANE) “to develop public support for a boldly conceived and executed policy which will lead mankind away from war and toward peace and justice.”

SANE's co-founder and co-chair from 1957 to 1963, Norman Cousins, was an influential figure in launching and sustaining the organization in its early years. SANE made its debut on November 15, 1957, with a full page advertisement in The New York Times, signed by SANE spokespeople including Albert Schweitzer, Eleanor Roosevelt, Norman Thomas, Dr. Benjamin Spock, Bertrand Russell, Pablo Casals, Roger Baldwin, Paul Tillich and Erich Fromm. These well-known Americans helped SANE become an effective national voice for nuclear disarmament. From the beginning, SANE saw peace and justice as linked; supporters like Dr. Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis connected SANE with civil and human rights movements across the nation. As its reputation grew, artists and entertainers like Steve Allen, Marlon Brando, Henry Fonda, Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller joined Harry Belafonte and Ossie Davis to form Hollywood’s Stars for SANE. By the summer of 1958, SANE had 130 chapters and some 25,000 members, making it the largest peace group in the United States.

Our First Victory and Confronting the Vietnam WarIn 1963, members led the effort to our first major victory, the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. SANE was an early leader in the anti-Vietnam War movement. Benjamin Spock and Seymour Melman, as well as current Board members David Cortright, Marcus Raskin, Robert Schwartz and President Emeritus William Sloane Coffin were all deeply involved in this movement. SANE’s public education campaigns, such as its anti-ballistic-missile campaign slogan: “From the people who brought you Vietnam!,” linked Vietnam with nuclear spending. In 1978, SANE led the successful fight against MX mobile missile deployment that avoided massive environmental damage in Utah and Nevada. New alliances with labor were formed through work with the International Association of Machinists, whose President, William Winpisinger, served as Board Co-Chair.

The FreezeIn the early 1980s, President Ronald Reagan’s nuclear war-fighting policies reignited public outrage once again, and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign was born. Initiated by Randall Forsberg’s call to “freeze and reverse the nuclear arms race,” The Freeze was a grassroots-based confederation of groups with offices in St. Louis and Washington, D.C. Their 1982 ballot initiatives in towns and cities across the nation gave voice to a public desire for nuclear sanity–a voice that eventually attracted attention from the great nuclear warrior himself.

Throughout the 1980s Freeze leaders Randall Forsberg, Pam Solo and Randy Kehler worked tirelessly with SANE Director David Cortright to push for nuclear reductions. Elected officials such as Rep. Patricia Schroeder and Sen. Ted Kennedy joined us to lead the fight in Congress. And when the U.S. government began to hold the line on nuclear weapons, Vice President Bush felt compelled to remind voters that it was not “those Freeze folks” who brought about this change … handing us a backhanded (if thoroughly unintentional) compliment.In 1987, leadership from the two groups initiated negotiations for a merger. With great effort, in a political context dominated by neo-conservatives and increased militarism, SANE and The Freeze joined to become SANE/FREEZE, and in 1993, Peace Action.

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Peace Action today….Today, Peace Action has broadened its original nuclear disarmament mission to include the elimination of the trade in conventional weapons at home and abroad, support for a peace economy that funds human rather than corporate/military needs, and advocacy for peacemaking in local communities as well as foreign conflicts. Of course, we still work for the global abolition of nuclear weapons.

Peace Action has also launched the Peace Voter issue advocacy campaign that reaches millions of voters in Congressional Districts across the nation. Peace Action members have worked successfully for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the World Court Advisory Opinion against the legality nuclear weapons, military budget cuts, and landmine legislation. Peace Action members serve as NGO representatives at the United Nations, advocating for peace and justice with citizens from around the world. Coalitions with labor as well as with community anti-violence groups and the Congressional Black Caucus have strengthened the connections between disarmament and social justice.

After more than 50 years of struggle and success, Peace Action continues to educate, lobby, mobilize and act. We began with a call to help lead the world “away from war and toward peace and justice.” Now we are building a campaign for a new century. We know that people in communities around the world can help abolish nuclear and conventional war–just as they ended slavery in the United States and apartheid in South Africa. And we plan to do exactly that, with programs that honor our history, and build a future worthy of our children.

Our affiliates & allies…

Affiliates Peace Action (our national affiliate)

http://peace-action.org Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives

http://longislandpeace.org

Allies newamerica.net icasualties.org – fatalities in Iraq & Afghanistan National Priorities Project – see where your tax dollar goes. costofwar.com – breakdown the cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Brought to you by NPP.

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http://longislandpeace.org/

http://peace-action.org/



Staff – Peace Action New York State & Peace Action Fund of New York State

Position Name Phone Email

Executive Director Elizabeth Turchi 646-723-1749 [email protected]

Student Outreach Coordinator Natia Bueno 347-483-9283 [email protected]

Administrator Sylvia Rodriguez Case (646) 344-9550 [email protected]

Board Members – Peace Action New York State

Position Name Email Affiliation

President Jim Anderson [email protected] WNY Peace Center

Upstate Co-Chair Arnie Matlin [email protected] Genesee Valley

Downstate Co-ChairMargaret Melkonian [email protected]

Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives

Treasurer Cheryl Wertz [email protected] PANYS

Secretary Elaine Klein [email protected] Schenectady

At Large Mary Beth Moore [email protected] Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives

At Large Jim Clune [email protected] Broome Country Peace Action

At Large Chris Brunner [email protected] Chenango Peace Action

At Large Vicki McFayden [email protected] Bay Ridge Peace Action

Nat’l Rep #1 Larry Wittner [email protected] Upper Hudson Peace Action

Nat’l Rep #2 Cheryl Wertz [email protected] PANYS

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mailto:[email protected]



Board Members – Peace Action Fund of New York State

Position Name Email

Chair Sally Jones [email protected]

Treasurer Bob Siegel (Interim) [email protected]

Secretary (Interim) Carol Price Husten [email protected]

Board Member At Large David Jones [email protected]

Board Member At Large Joanne Robinson [email protected]

Board Member At Large Stephen Chinlund [email protected]

Our PANYS and PAFNYS Board Members are not only supporters of Peace Action, but are also active members in their individual peace communities. If you have an idea for an action that concerns a particular local chapter, please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our Board. For more information on our Board of Directors, please visit the ‘About’ page of the PANYS website (www.panys.org)!

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http://www.panys.org/









Chapters

Our sixteen local chapters actively advocate for peace in their communities. State-wide actions are coordinated through the state office, and we bring the voice of New York to the national level.

National & Global Affiliate

Peace Action National1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1020Silver Spring, MD 20910tel: 301-565-4050fax: 301-565-0850web: www.peace-action.org

Peace Action International303 East 57 Street, Apt. 11DNew York, NY 10022web: www.pacommittee.org

New York City & Long Island Metro Area

New York State OfficePeace Action of New York Statetel: 646-723-1749fax: 646-723-0996email: [email protected] web: www.panys.org

Peace Action Bay RidgeP.O. Box 090-756Brooklyn, New York 11209email: [email protected] web: www.panys.org/BR

Peace Action of Staten IslandP.O. Box 201, St. George StationStaten Island, NY 10301

email: [email protected] web: www.peacesi.org

Peace Action ManhattanP.O. Box 10Planetarium StationWest 83rd StreetNew York, NY 10024email: [email protected] web: www.panys.org/PAM/

Great Neck SANE/Peace Action35 Arleigh RoadGreat Neck, NY 11021web: www.panys.org/GN

Upstate New York Area

Broome County Peace ActionP.O. Box 1611Binghamton, NY 13902web: www.bcpeaceaction.org Chenango Peace Action174 Warner RoadNorwich, NY 13815-3440web: www.panys.org/CPA/

Genesee Valley Citizens for PeaceP.O. BOX 363Geneseo, NY 14454tel: 585-768-6277

fax: 585-768-7311web: www.gvcp.org

No War Westchesterc/o P.O. Box 0012Maryknoll, NY 10545web: www.NoWarWestchester.org

Peace Action of Central New York2013 E. Genesee St.Syracuse, NY 13210web: www.peaceactioncny.org

Peace Action & Educationc/o Mike Connelly151 Cypress St.Rochester, NY 14620web: www.metrojustice.org/pae.htm

Rockland Peace ActionNyack, NYemail: [email protected]

Upper Hudson Peace Action33 Central Ave.Albany, NY 12210web: peaceact.net

Western New York Peace CenterNetwork of Religious Communities1272 Delaware AvenueBuffalo, NY 14209web: www.wnypeace.org

.

.

.

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http://www.wnypeace.org/

http://www.metrojustice.org/pae.htm

http://www.peaceactioncny.org/

http://www.NoWarWestchester.org/

http://www.gvcp.org/

http://www.panys.org/CPA/

http://www.bcpeaceaction.org/

http://www.panys.org/GN

http://www.panys.org/PAM/


http://www.peacesi.org/


http://www.panys.org/BR




http://www.pacommittee.org/

http://www.peace-action.org/



Forming a PANYS Student Club – Outline of Constitution

IMPORTANT: This constitutional outline should be used primarily as a guide to help with the club registration process. While it is not mandatory to follow this entire outline exactly, we ask that you please use Article I, Section 1,2,3 and Article II, Section 1 of our constitution in your registration process . We also ask that this be a no dues organization. Please contact the PANYS State Office for any questions. Thank you!

Article I. IntroductionSection 1: Name: Peace Action [school name].

Section 2: Purpose: Peace Action ______ is a non-partisan student group dedicated to empowering student advocates and take action on issues of peace and justice. Through education, grassroots organizing, and action campaigns, we work to promote informed student activism on campus and build leadership among young people in the peace movement.

Section 3:Goals:

1. TRAIN students to be effective social advocates and grassroots organizers. 2. EDUCATE young people on peace and justice issues, while keeping students informed on recent peace-

related news and events.3. EMPOWER students to campaign for action and policies that will help our communities and our world

become a safer, more peaceful place.4. CONNECT students to larger community of young and professional activists who share a similar interest

for peace and conflict resolution.

Objectives:1. Organize actions, events, and projects on issues of peace, education on the human and financial costs of

war, the abolition of nuclear weapons, and the funding of human needs over militarism. 2. Work with Peace Action activists in our local chapter and state affiliate to mobilize student ideas and

actions and help build leadership among young people in the peace movement.

Section 4:Affiliations: Peace Action _______ is affiliated with Peace Action New York State (PANYS) as part of an ongoing project of the Peace Action Fund of New York State (PAFNYS). PAFNYS is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting the non-violent resolution of conflict, the abolition of nuclear weapons, halting the global spread of conventional arms, building a human rights culture and supporting human needs instead of militarism.

Peace Action ______ works closely with PANYS and its local chapter, _______. PANYS is a 501(c)4 membership organization comprised of sixteen local chapters, all of which work with elected officials and candidates to generate legislative change for the public good. As the state affiliate of Peace Action National, PANYS and its local chapters operate independently but within the guiding principles of Peace Action National. Similarly, Peace

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Action _______’s affiliation with PAFNYS and PANYS enables us to operate under the guiding principles of Peace Action, while remaining a fundamentally student-driven group whose campaigns are decided upon and carried out by students.

Peace Action ______ is part of a larger state network of student chapters, called New York – Student Peace Action Network (NY-SPAN). As part of this network, we have access to educational materials, campaign resources, and organizational support provided by PAFNYS, PANYS, and Peace Action local chapters.

Article II. MembershipSection 1:Membership Eligibility: Membership is open for all interested students of [school name]. All members must be currently registered students of [ school name] .

Membership will not be restricted based upon age, national origin, race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, physical handicap, marital status, citizenship, and military or veteran status.

A person may become a voting member of the club at any time during the academic year by signing a written confirmation of his/her membership. A voting member must be able to commit to attending at least 5 scheduled meetings throughout the academic year.

Section 2:Executive Board Eligibility: The Executive Board is comprised of the elected officers holding said titles: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Club Representative (PR). Members on the Executive Board must be able to attend official club meetings and fulfill his/her stated duties.

Section 3:Executive Board Resignation: An officer will be asked to resign if he/she cannot fulfill his/her club duties to the best of his/her ability. Formal request to resign must be the result of a majority vote from the club officers not in question.

Article III. Organizational StructureSection 1:Executive Board: The officers of the club’s Executive Board shall consist of president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and club representative.

1. The President shall preside at all meetings, coordinate all activities of the organization, delegate club activity tasks to members, and serve as point person to the Student Government and the Office of Student Activities or Affairs.

2. The Vice-President shall manage club elections, assist the president with his/her duties and assume the duties of the president if he/she is unable to for good reason.

3. The Treasurer shall manage the research, handling, and recording of all present, past and future club expenditures and payables.

4. The Secretary shall take minutes during club meetings, maintain an up-to-date membership roster, and manage all internal correspondence.

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5. The Publicity Officer shall be held responsible for promoting the club among students and faculty, as well as coordinating the advertisement and promotion of chapter actions and events on campus.

6. The Event Coordinator shall be held responsible for coordinating with the school and/or outside vendors for securing event space, and ensuring event setup and break-down runs smoothly.

7. Interim Officer: See Article IV, Section 1.

Section 2: Advisor: The club Advisor shall be a full-time [school name] faculty member, staff member, or administrator. Responsibilities of the Advisor include: periodically attend club meetings and activities on campus, offer leadership and guidance, provide council in regards to the guidelines and procedures for student clubs/organizations, serve as a liaison between the club and [school name], supervise club travel, and assist with overseeing club budget.

Section 3:Committees: The club may establish ‘ad hoc committees’ through a majority vote any time as deemed necessary,

Article IV. Election StructureSection 1:Election Time: Elections are to be held in January. A member must be nominated by his/her peers within the club in order to be considered an official candidate for the upcoming election. The results of the election must be announced no later than the first day of February. [If elections are decided to be held at the beginning of the academic semester, please notify the Student Organizing Coordinator at the PANYS State Office]

Term Period: The elected officers of PANYS are required to serve at least one term and at most three terms. Each term is defined by one academic semester. An officer may serve his or her terms consecutively, but is not required to do so.

Vacancy: In the event of a vacancy (see Article II, Section 4), a club member may be elected to serve as an ‘Interim Officer’ through the result of a majority vote of all registered club members. The Interim Officer must be able to commit to the position for the rest of the academic school year. If the Interim Officer is elected before January 1st of the academic year, his/her term will be considered complete at the end of the academic year. If the Interim Officer is elected after January 1st of the academic year, his/her term will be considered complete at the end of the first semester of the following academic year.

Section 2:Nominations: Nominations should be held at least 3 weeks prior to announcing the election results. A student can be nominated for an elected officer position if he/she is presently a voting member of the organization.

Section 3: Election Procedures: All ballots should be handled and processed by a third party affiliated with [school name]. This third party should be in direct contact with current club president and/or vice president. Candidates are elected by a majority vote.

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Article V. MeetingsSection 1: Types & Times of Meetings: The club will hold regular meetings once a month for general purposes. The monthly meeting should be open to all members and invited guests. Elected officials are invited to hold more than one open meeting per month if deemed necessary.

Elected Officers (Executive Board) Meetings: Elected officers should meet at least once a month, in addition to the monthly meetings.

Article VI. Constitutional Amendments

Section 1:Amendment Process: Amendments to the PANYS Constitution should be proposed in writing by a group of voting members and/or elected officers who constitute in number at least 30% of the entire club member roster. All proposed amendments shall be reviewed by the Officers and placed on the following meeting’s agenda for discussion and voting. Amendments to the Constitution must receive a majority of member votes for ratification.

Section 2:Ratification: This Constitution shall become effective upon a majority vote of the initial membership, and chartering of the organization by the [School Student Senate/Student Affairs Office].

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Nuclear Weapons Fact Sheet

On July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico and the world entered the Atomic Age. Ever since, mankind has had the unbridled power to bring about his own demise by hellish inferno. To date, we have seen that the hands of men are simply not ready or ever will be ready to handle such an immense capacity to destroy. Throughout their relatively short existence, nuclear weapons have been used to annihilate two entire cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing 110,000 people seconds after impact and 230,000 by protracted radiation poisoning. Despite the destruction, it was not the end.

On November 1st, 1952, the United States, followed by the USSR, developed the hydrogen bomb, a weapon capable of being thousands of times more powerful than the atomic bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The vast majority of today’s nuclear arsenals are filled with these more destructive types of nuclear warheads. For nearly fifty years, B-52 bombers laden with nuclear warheads were ready to take off to drop their payloads against pre-selected Soviet targets within fifteen minutes, and Minuteman and Peacemaker ICBMs were ready to launch at a moment’s notice.

In 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War came to an end, but nuclear weapons still threaten every one of us every day. Today the United States, Russia, Great Britain, France, and China are recognized as nuclear weapon states by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, while India, Pakistan, and Israel have never signed the Treaty but still possess nuclear weapons. North Korea withdrew from the Treaty in 2003 and now also has a few crude nuclear devices. Combined the world still is threatened by more than 20,000 nuclear warheads and bombs, enough to destroy civilization hundreds of times over. While the dangers of nuclear weapons are well known

and small steps in the reduction of deployed warheads are slowly taking place, nuclear weapon states at the same time are spending billions of dollars to modernize their nuclear arsenals into the indefinite future instead of working to irreversibly work for their elimination.

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U.S. Nuclear Forces• 450 Minuteman III ICBMs with 500

warheads (300 kiloton yield each)• 288 Trident II D5 submarine-launched

missiles with 1, 152 warheads (2/3 have 100 kiloton yield, 1/3 have 455 kiloton yield)

• 408 Trident I & II missiles with 8 warheads each launched by submarine

60 Nuclear Bombers (B-52H, B-2) and 200 nuclear air launched cruise missiles with 316 warheads (0.3-170 kilotons yield)

2, 150 total deployed warheads

Source: http://bos.sagepub.com/ - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists March/April 2011 vol. 67 no. 2 66-76

Some Near Misses!! In 1980 a faulty computer chip prompted messages that a varying number of nuclear missiles were headed toward

the U.S.; this happened again three days later. Both incidents prompted the U.S. to ready its nuclear arsenal for launch.

In 2007, six nuclear armed cruise missiles were flown from Minot to Barksdale U.S. Air Force bases without authorization and without the knowledge of those involved. For 36 hours the nuclear missiles remained unaccounted for, showing that nuclear accidents are not yet a thing of the past.

http://bos.sagepub.com/



Nuclear Weapons Fact Sheet Cont.

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Nuclear Treaties: A Timeline

1963-Limited Test Ban Treaty: Prohibited the detonation of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space, and under water. Note: does not prohibit underground tests unless radioactive debris falls on territory outside of the state conducting the test.

1967-Outer Space Treaty: Guarantees outer space as an area free from armed conflict and strictly for scientific exploration only; no nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction can be lawfully deployed in space.

1968-Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: All countries except for three (India, Pakistan, Israel) have ratified this Treaty, which prevents new countries from acquiring nuclear weapons, and obligates nuclear weapon states to eliminate their nuclear weapons. N. Korea withdrew from the Treaty in 2003.

1972-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty I (SALT I): The Soviet Union and the United States agreed to freeze their nuclear arsenal numbers at 1972 levels.

1979- Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II (SALT II): This is the first long-term, comprehensive arms reduction treaty. Signed by Brezhnev and Ford, it cut a substantial slice off of the nuclear stockpiles of the U.S. and Russia.

1987-Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF): Eliminated a whole class of nuclear weapons: missiles with a range between 500 and 5500 kilometers.

1991-Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START): U.S. and USSR signed in ‘93, cutting stockpiles by 2/3. Entered into force in ’94.

1996-Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): An international treaty to ban all forms of nuclear testing. So far 182 states have signed; 155 have ratified. The treaty will not enter into force until all states listed in Annex II to the Treaty ratify it – 9 such states have yet to ratify, including the U.S.! The Treaty’s monitoring system is already operating in 337 facilities worldwide.

2010-New START: U.S. and Russia set new limits on deployed warheads as well as delivery systems. Entered into force in 2011.



The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

On October 7, 2001 after the Afghan government refused to expel Osama Bin Laden, founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the United States invaded Afghanistan. October 7, 2011 was the 10th anniversary of that invasion, making the war in Afghanistan the longest war in American history. Progress since has been painfully slow.

To make matters worse, on March 20, 2003, American and British forces invaded Iraq under the pretenses that Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction and that he was aiding the Taliban. However, it was later discovered that these charges were false. In 2004, the U.S. Military captured Saddam Hussein and in on December 30, 2006, he was executed on the charge of committing crimes against humanity.

A few months after U.S. Special Forces killed Osama Bin Laden in May 2011; President Obama announced the U.S. military will begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, promising the removal of 10,000 troops by the end of 2011 and another 23,000 by the summer of 2012. In a new mission dubbed by the U.S. military as "Operation New Dawn," U.S. soldiers will remain in Iraq until the end of 2011 to provide training and support for Iraqi forces. Yet despite the promises for the end of U.S. military combat, American soldiers are being killed and wounded every day in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We have spent over a trillion dollars and caused the deaths of at least 108,700 Iraqi and Afghan civilians, with untold numbers of unreported deaths. Here are some quick facts that might prove useful in conversations on the subject.

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DID YOU KNOW?Over $474 Billion has been spent over just the past three years in Iraq and Afghanistan

THAT’S ENOUGH TO….Give every person in Manhattan a:

Brand- new Ferrari 458 Italia A Manhattan studio apartment in cash

Give every child in NYC:4 years of college at any Ivy League school

Give every American adult:Basic health insurance for a year

Give every American: A field-side box seat at a Yankee game Groceries to feed a family of 4 for a month

Give every human being:Hepatitis A & B vaccination

Over 6,000 US troops have died, as have 2,300 Pentagon contractors

Using the Pentagon's deflators, war appropriations total $1,313 billion in 2011 constant dollars (from ‘01)

Rate of suicide bombings is 3 per week

At least 108 such people have died in detention in the first four years of the war, and at least 80 more have died in subsequent years

The future medical and disability costs for Iraq and Afghan vets will be between $600 billion and $1 trillion



Military Counter-Recruitment

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) was signed into law on January 8, 2002. It is the current name for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) passed in 1965.

What You Need to Know...NCLB Section 9528, US Department of Education Policy Guidance* and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002:

Allows military recruiters access to secondary school students names, addresses, and telephone listings (Section 9528)

• Gives the students or parents the right to request that this information not be released to military recruiters without prior written parental consent (Section 9528)

• Requires that the local education agency or private school shall notify parents of their option to make this request (Section 9528)

• The notification must advise the parent on how to opt out, including a timeline in which to do so (Policy Guidance). Parents must be notified of this option through a letter, within a student handbook, or by any means that is "reasonably calculated" enough to inform them (Policy Guidance)

• The local education agency (LEA) or private school shall comply with any request (Section 9528)

• The same information that is generally provided to post secondary educational institutions or to prospective employers can be shared with military recruiters, and must be if the LEA is receiving any assistance under the NCLB Act (Section 9528)

• Schools that do not comply with Section 9528 of the NCLB Act could jeopardize their receipt of the NCLB Act funds. In addition, a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 requires a senior military officer to visit the school district within 120 days of the denial of recruiter access. If the problem is not resolved, the US Department of Defense then notifies the Governor of the district's sate. Unresolved problems over one year old are reported to Congress. (Policy Guidance and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002)

• Schools that maintain a verifiable religious objection to service in the Armed Forces are an exception to the Section 9528 requirements (Section 9528)

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What does ‘OPT OUT’ mean?"Opt Out" refers to the process defined in the No Child Left Behind Act that allows secondary students to withhold their contact information from automatically being released to military recruiters by the school district or school.

The law says that if a student has a letter or form signed by his/her parent the school does NOT have permission to give out their child’s contact info to recruiters, and the school must respect the parent’s decision. The law also allows a student to directly opt out without parent permission, regardless of age.

What’s your local school’s policy? Do they have one? If not, help create

one!

*Policy Guidance is not binding and does not have the force of law

(Source: National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth, www.nnomy.org)

http://www.nnomy.org/



Getting Started: Capacity Mapping Your Community

Understand your student body. Is your campus apolitical or is it very charged (and if so, in what direction)? What are the dominant ethnicities among your fellow students? What is the minority ethnic group? Is your campus a community of mainly commuters? More boys than girls? Academic-focused or sports-focused? Finding out who is your audience will be critical to how you will frame your action campaigns and marketing strategies.

Experts at your fingertips. Colleges and universities are known to staff distinguished professors and notable experts in their fields. Use your school’s website and faculty directory to find out who is connected with your school – your club advisor or future guest speaker may be right under your nose!

Recognize and reach out to community members. It’s important to also understand the culture of your community – is it a college town? Is it a low, middle, or high-income community? How will that affect your relationship with the community? And don’t forget to show some solidarity with your local peace activist groups – they may be having exciting events right outside your campus!

Once you have students’ interest: Get to know them! Find out the skills and interests of your members. A member who also contributes to

your school’s newspaper can help with promoting events, or write a piece about one of your recent action campaigns. Are your members involved in other student groups? Ask them to pass out flyers of your meeting/event at their club’s next meeting. Maybe a member is studying graphic design and can help you with branding and postering; or a member who loves photography can serve as your official paparazzi at meetings and events. The list of examples is endless so get creative!

MAP OUT YOUR AUDIENCE.

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Once you have mapped out all the people and groups you can think of, focus on who you are going to reach out to, how you are going to reach out to them, and what you are going to ask of them

Focus on moving each group of people one box over. Turn Passive Allies into active allies and Oblivious Neutrals into at least Friendly Neutrals. Active opponents are not likely to come to an event, but friendly neutrals might engage in a conversation.



Getting Started: Student Outreach

1. If you are reaching out for a specific event, be creative! Think about the people in your life that you could potentially invite:

• Fellow students• Other organizations or clubs• Current and former co-workers• Professors, teachers, mentors• Friends & family members• Neighbors• Local activists Send emails to any listservs you are a part of; create an event for Facebook; create an e-vite; post the

event on Twitter and other social networking sites

2. Tips for Sending E-mails• Make the subject line brief but descriptive.

o Questions can be interesting subject lines.• DON’T ABUSE CAPITAL LETTERS! Nobody likes to be screamed at. • In the first line of your e-mail, tell people exactly what this e-mail is going to be about and what you are

asking them to do.• Use fun colors!• Don’t write long blocks of text, use dashes and bullets

3. Follow-up! Reminder call or emails are the most critical factor in the success of any meeting event. Generally, only one out of four people who are invited will attend your event. Send out a reminder message BOTH two weeks AND the day before your event. The more methods you use to promote your event, the more likely you are to get a commitment.

• Invitations should include the date, time, and address of the event.• Include good directions to the location (a map can be very useful).• Include your phone number and e-mail so people can reach you if they have questions.• Ask guests to RSVP so you have an estimate of how many are attending.• Be direct in mentioning that the event is a fundraiser (if it is) in your invitation so that people know they

will be asked to contribute.• Also, if it is a fundraiser, make it clear people who cannot attend can still send a donation.• Tip!

5. Tips for Fliers• For fliers, sometimes less is best. You want people to see the important information and not be overwhelmed by so many details.• Print your fliers on different colored paper—this will make them stand out from the crowd.• A map of your event location on the back of a flier is a great visual and a good way to help people remember your event.

A Guide to Holding Your Interest Meeting!18



BEFORE YOU BEGIN:Ask Someone to Take Notes! Make sure you have someone at your meeting who is willing to take detailed notes throughout the meeting. After the meeting, this person should send you to notes to edit, finalize, and send out to your group’s listserv. Taking minutes during your meeting will be useful for your student chapter for several reasons:

1.) Students who could not attend the meeting will be able to stay informed on what was discussed and what were the meeting outcomes.

2.) What decisions were made when?? Who was supposed to do what??? Maintaining a record of what occurred during the meeting helps to clarify how, when, why, and by whom decisions are made. You and your chapter members will be able to look back and see what were the ideas presented, decisions made, duties assigned, problems solved, and items placed on the backburner.

3.) Meeting minutes are also important to record next steps for action. By writing these action steps down and sending them out to your chapter members, responsibilities are less likely to be forgotten and work gets done!

4.) Keeping a public record of your minutes also promotes transparency within your student chapter!

Have an Agenda!Creating a meeting agenda is a great idea for several reasons. An agenda maintains the direction of the meeting and helps prevent your chapter members from getting side-tracked. It is okay to allow the meeting to occasionally explore a tangent, however, when your meeting gets too far off track, ask the group to ‘get back to the agenda.’ You will find that a written agenda makes it easier (and more likely) to cover all the items that need addressing!

People get bored easily. If the meeting seems to be dragging on forever and has no end in sight, your peers will most likely lose attention. On the contrary, if your chapter members have an idea of where the meeting stands (“OK, we’re more than halfway through the agenda, I can do this!”), they are more likely to follow along and participate.

Try emailing out the agenda before each meeting. You save yourself the printing costs of making copies for your group, and you give your chapter members a preview of what the meeting will be about prior to the scheduled day. Creating an agenda before the meeting will help organize your thoughts, and will help chapter members come more prepared. Note: Don’t forget to tell chapter members to bring the agenda with them so they can refer to it during the meeting.

Get Organized and Get a Binder!This is huge. Record, print, and save everything – you will love yourself later for it (and so will the next chapter

leader!). Get a binder to store: student organizing manual, meeting minutes, Officer list, members’ contact info, copy of club constitution, usernames and passwords, important forms, samples of flyers you’ve used, clippings of newspaper mentions, important emails, interesting articles, and anything else you think is worth saving

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SAMPLE AGENDA

1.) About [student chapter name]Use your first interest meeting to get to the heart of why you’re starting a peace club on campus.

Start with an introduction of yourself and how you came to be involved in your Peace Action student chapter.

Explain the mission of Peace Action, of your student chapter, and the goals that you wish to accomplish through this student chapter. Refer to your club’s constitution for this information.

Tip: it might be useful to have a handout ready with the description and contact information of your student chapter, especially if your meeting has a few late-comers!

Have one or two goals that you want to get out of this meeting and tell your group what those goals are! Make it clear why you invited them to this meeting. e.g. “My goals for today’s meeting are to tell you more about what we’re trying to do here and find out who is interested in joining us.”

2.) Who’s Who?This is a GREAT chance to learn more about the students interested in your peace club and what kind of resources they can contribute to your student chapter.

Have everyone state their name, year, and why they decided to come to the meeting. Get creative and make an ice-breaker activity out of it!

Ask meeting attendees to fill out the ‘Know Your Chapter Members” form (find the form under ‘Tools and Resources’ on panys.org/student-network). It is important to not only know who your chapter members are, but also the amount of commitment you have among members, and what kind of resources exist within your group.

Note: you may only have to repeat this section of the agenda in the first, second, or third meeting. Afterwards, we suggest keeping a few copies of this form handy for future members!

3.) Brainstorm!You might not be able to dig deep into all the different kinds of actions and events your student chapter can do over the course of the semester, but this is a great opportunity to lay the groundwork for future strategy meetings.

Brainstorm about the all the different kinds of issues your chapter might tackle and actions you might take together. We call this Divergent thinking.

Create a list of all the ideas presented at the meeting. This meeting is about exploring! Stay open to everyone’s ideas and consider all the possibilities. At the end of your brainstorming session, cast a vote among your peers to find out which issues

and actions resonate the most with your group. Record the results! Note: depending on the level of attendance for your first meeting, this list is not meant to be

exhaustive and should be flexible for future input. Nevertheless, it is useful to get a sense of how your chapter members and potential-members see [student chapter name] taking root on campus.

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http://www.panys.org/student-network



4.) Recap & Next Steps This may be the most important part of your meeting’s agenda! A lot was talked about during your time together – go over your meeting outcomes and plan for what happens next. You will also be helping out your Secretary taking notes!

What decisions were made? Were responsibilities delegated out? Identify clear and measurable steps for action; label these actions as Next Steps. The more

details, the better! Does a certain action have a deadline? Is your next step a goal, and if yes, is it measurable? (e.g. increase our chapter membership interest by 50% over the next month).

Note: refer back to these ‘next steps’ in the first few items of next meeting’s agenda. This will be useful to track your progress, ensure any necessary follow-up, and maintain the direction of your chapter. For example: Was ‘x’ goal accomplished? ‘Did we pull off a ‘x’ tabling event last week?’ Has our membership increased?

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Capacity Mapping on Your Campus

What is capacity mapping?

Capacity mapping on your campus involves assessing the capacities, skills, and assets already available in your school community and developing your strategy and action campaigns based on those resources. Having a capacity map of your campus can be very useful when you’re planning an event, promoting an activity, or trying to grow your chapter membership! Below are a few examples of the different aspects and questions you should consider when assessing your campus resources!

Space What kind of venue spaces does your school have to offer? Which rooms cost money to

reserve and which ones do not? How big is your campus – can you organize a 5k run to support “x” campaign? Is your school campus mainly made up of buildings or does it include a lot of greens? Does your campus house many students or is your school more conducive to commuters? How will your answers affect the kind of actions you want to take? Will they have an effect on the way you advertise?

Institutes & Centers Many schools are connected with institutes and/or centers that specialize in a particular field.

Find out what these centers have to offer and how you can make better use of their services. Some offer educational training sessions, or disseminate free educational materials. They also may be linked with other like-minded organizations that can help co-sponsor your event, promote your campaign, or provide an expert speaker to present at one of your meetings.

People Colleges and universities are known to host distinguished professors and notable experts in

their fields. Use your school’s website and faculty directory to find out who is connected with your school – your guest speaker may be right under your nose!

Know who your members are! Find out the skills and interests of your members. A member who also contributes to your school’s newspaper can help with promoting events, or write a piece about one of your recent action campaigns. Are your members involved in other student groups? Ask them to pass out flyers of your event at their club’s next meeting. Maybe a member is studying graphic design and can help you with branding and postering; or a member who loves photography can serve as your official paparazzi at meetings and events. A student

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majoring in Journalism may want to manage your chapter’s blog and/or social media sites. The list of examples is endless so get creative!

Understand your student body. Is your campus apolitical or is it very charged (and if so, in what direction)? What are the dominant ethnicities among your fellow students? What is the minority ethnic group? Is your campus a community of mainly commuters? More boys than girls? Academic-focused or sports-focused? Finding out who is your audience will be critical to how you frame your action campaigns and marketing strategies.

Recognize and reach out to community members. Get your local pizza joint to sponsor one free pie per month in return for free advertising on campus. Ask your nearby nail salon to offer a discount as a prize for one of your events. It’s important to also understand the culture of your community – is it a college town? Is it a low, middle, or high-income community? How will that affect your relationship with the community? And don’t forget to show some solidarity with your local peace activist groups – they may be having exciting events right outside your campus!

Technology & Print Check out what your school’s media department has to offer. Can you rent out video cameras?

Do they offer free photo or video software? Thinking of showing a movie? Save some costs and check out your school’s film library to see if

they have the movie you need. Find out campus hotspots – make sure you know where you get internet and where you don’t Does your school offer free printing? Some schools offer free poster-making supplies!

Media Outside media is great but campus media is one of the best ways to reach the eyes and ears of

your fellow students! Find out the different kinds of student newspapers, journals, radio stations, and TV channels your school has to offer.

Maintain close connections with the members of these campus media outlets as they will be very helpful to your marketing strategies.

Food Your school’s Food Service Companies (e.g. Sodexco Inc, Guest Services, Inc., Centerplate)

usually have a generous charity giving allowance, so don’t be shy to ask if they can provide some free catering from time to time. (check with your Student Affairs office first to see if there’s a formal process involved). Some ideas can be free coffee at your morning tabling event, free popcorn at your film screening, or free desserts at your ice cream social!

What Makes an Effective Flyer?23



There are a few tricks to the trade that are very helpful in producing an effective and attractive flyer. Below is a list of some useful tips that will help you make the most out of your advertising efforts. These tips won’t always work if all used together; what’s good for one flyer may not apply for a flyer that’s aimed at a different purpose. So get creative and become a flyer-extraordinaire!

K.I.S.S Rule = Keep it Simple Stupid!o Your fellow students are busy people; they don’t have time to read a novel! Avoid

cluttering your ad with lots of content that may deter a student from reading. Less is more.

o Present your information in a CLEAR and CONCISE way. Bold or use CAPS LOCK if you need to, but no need to go overboard.

o Keep them guessing. Maybe you don’t provide all the information but you provide just enough to get students’ attention. For example, check out this Mad Men ad to the left Fortunately for AMC, the TV show Mad Men has enough popularity that most people will understand what the ad is referring to. Nevertheless, this is a great example of using your brand (Peace Action!) identity to convey a simple but strong message.

Be consistent! When disseminating and posting your flyers, it’s helpful to be consistent in how they look. Make one smart and attractive flyer and disperse it widely. Or make a few different flyers that all share a common theme (i.e. each flyer has the exact same information on it but each begins with a different thought-provoking question). Let’s quickly refer back to the Mad Man ad - if you saw that same ad posted everywhere but had no idea what it meant, wouldn’t you want to find out?

Appeal to Emotion AND/OR Intellect. Different goals cause for different flyers. Both methods are great strategies for when making flyers. Appealing to emotion such as sadness, surprise, humor, anger, encouragement, joy, and fear can be useful in getting a quick reaction. Appealing to intellect and reason gives your flyer credibility and begs the reader to think more critically.

Use technology! Link your flyer’s call to action to your social media sites. Use the icons to make it easy for the reader to go online and find out more. If you have a tech-savvy member in your chapter, put a URL code on your poster that will link the user to your chapter or event’s web address.

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Use eye-catchers. A flyer can be just one large graphic, or one large data figure, or an enticing question or quote. Follow up the eye-catcher with an informational sentence underneath.

o E.g. 85 billion = 12 new submarines with nukes85 billion = college tuition for 3 million students

When it comes to government spending, the math is clearly not on our side.(info sentence to follow)

o E.G.

Go outside the box! Flyers do not always have to be 1-dimensional leaflets. Spend a meeting making peace cranes with your message inside of them and spread them out around campus. Write your message on balloons and pass them out to your student body. Order pencils engraved with your chapter name and action slogan (catch-phrase) and disperse them in all your classrooms. The more unique your ads and flyers are, the more likely people will remember and respond to them.

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Does this look like a better option than oil?

We don’t think so either.Find out what you can do.

Peace Action XX Meeting this Thursday, December 15th.



Educational Exercises for Club Meetings

Please visit these sites to locate and download interesting and engaging group exercises:

Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation – UN Cyberschoolbus

http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/dnp/

Demilitarizing the Federal Budget – National Priorities Project

http://nationalpriorities.org/en/resources/educational-materials/

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Resources & Activities! Perception Reflection Feelings Barometer Widening Circles Opinion Continuum Open Sentences Letters To Future Microlab Fishbowl Hummingbird Photo Toolkit

Available Resources & Activities! Downloadable Lesson Plan - Analyzing our Federal Budget A Glossary of Federal Budget Terms: from Mandatory to Discretionary Spending and Beyond Why Should We Care About the Federal Budget: an overview of the local impact of federal spending Making Sense of the Federal Budget NPP's Tax Day: an overview of where your tax dollars went in the previous year. Don't forget to use

NPP's individual tax calculator Presidents Budget Analysis 2011: NPP's analysis of the full FY2011 budget. Activity: Slicing Up The Discretionary Pie: How do we begin to understand budget priorities? Activity: Counting Pennies: How would we divide our nation's resources?

Educational Retreat Venue

Taking your retreat on the road encourages student bonding and helps your group to stay focused!

Contact your school’s Student Affairs office to locate potential retreat venues, or contact the PANYS state office for other options!

http://nationalpriorities.org/en/resources/educational-materials/

http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/dnp/



Event and Fundraising Ideas

1. Organize a guest speaker. Contact your local PA chapter and the PANYS office to see what kind of connections we can provide to bring an activist to your campus. You probably also have a lot of fascinating speakers at your school already – check out the achievements of your professors and school staff to see if any of their work relates to your issue! (i.e. Did they give a presentation at a conference recently? Are they involved in thire local Occupy movement? Have then written a book on one of your campaign’s issue?)

2. Create a petition: Get your voice heard! Refer to our petition guide to learn how to draft a petition in support of your cause.

3. Organize a student conference: Bring your fellow students and/or professors together to talk about key issues through panels and workshops over the course of a day or a weekend. Your school will probably love (and sponsor) the idea, and we can help you with resources and speakers!

4. Organize a lobby day: Gather your peers, wear clothes that are uniform and recognizable, make signs and banners, develop short and clever chants, lay some ground-rules for non-violence, and go lobby! Remember not to instigate any opponents or police!

5. Screen a film on campus: Set up an event for a free film screening and host a discussion hour afterwards. Refer to our “Important films to watch” page for a list of exciting and relevant films to show! Many of these films also have a website where you can gather more information to lead an effective and engaging discussion group or Q&A session after the screening. Or screen multiple movies and have a film festival!

6. Hold a Town Hall Meeting on Campus: Many members of Congress hold Town Hall meetings in their district (when Congress is out of session or in recess) that are open to the public – try to get a group together and voice your opinion! Don’t forget to network while you’re there! Or maybe hold your own ‘Speak-Out’ on campus and invite your Congress member to come!

7. Plan a fundraising dinner: See if you can get local restaurants to cater a free dinner for students in return for restaurant publicity on campus! Your school’s catering service (food supplier) will also most likely be able to provide a dinner at no cost. While your students are eating their delicious food, your group can present on a particular issue or ongoing campaign!

8. Hold a benefits concert: Help student bands and/or solo artists gain some publicity while raising funds for your club! Organize an open-mic night, or put on a concert of various student bands. Charge audience a cover fee and the proceeds can go towards your cause!

9. Serenades: Recruit talented members to sing or your school’s singing group. Advertise around school that they can be hired for singing telegrams for birthdays, holidays, etc.

10. Host an art event: Invite student artists to express their opinion on a particular issue through their work (photographs, paintings, poetry, rap, etc.). Hold a contest and display the winning work on campus! Or get a prize donated from a local store/restaurant/bar.

11. Happy hour: Have a networking event at a local bar (please keep attendees to students age 21+).

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12. Auction/Raffle: Solicit donations from the community, then auction or raffle off items.

13. Have a debate: Invite professors, students and experts to have a one-on-one or panel debate a particular peace issue.

14. Write a letter to the editor: Send letters to your local newspaper as well as your school’spublications.

15. Guessing Game: Fill a bucket or water jug with candy and charge for a guess related to one of your campaigns—the winner can win the candy and the losers find out an eye-opening fact!

Organizing an Event - CHECKLIST

Before the event: Set goals for the number of attendees, and if applicable, amount of money to raise Decide who should host the meeting Plan agenda and program carefully Send out invitations individually to particular members of the community who will be interested If applicable, reach out to Peace Action organizers for contact information of individuals

in your area Decide on a speaker—you, another member of your organization, a participant, etc. Find cosponsors—look to other organizations or groups who might share your cause Set venue—Find a suitable place to hold the event and speak with the manager/owner to define all

restrictions, regulations, and “perks” you may get from using the space

At the Event: Have brochures and other information out and easily accessible If you are collecting money at this event, give a soft pitch at the beginning, pass around a physical hat or

box and a sign-up sheet and make a hard pitch mid-way through the event (before the question and answer period)

Follow-up after each Event (this is the most important part of the event!): Send out thank you notes (include information about Peace Action and your group)—thank all

volunteers/helpers Send update notes to those who couldn’t attend; if it was a fundraising event, ask them to contribute

anyway to help meet your fundraising goal Follow-up with those that attended who might be interested in getting more involved (this will be

immensely helpful in growing membership) Contact Peace Action and let us know how your event went Follow up with the venue—thank them

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Sample Planning Timeline

6-8 Weeks before the event: Set goals for the event (# of attendees, etc.) Decide on date, venue/location, speakers, and presenters if any (most important step!!) Contact PANYS so we can get materials to you and let you know of Peace Action contacts in the area Find cosponsors; look for other groups on campus or other organizations off campus who might be

interested in being part of the event

3-4 Weeks before the event: Send out invitations, set up a Facebook event, create and distribute fliers, send fliers to cosponsors, and

ask cosponsors to inform members about the event*Remember to mention cosponsors on the flier*When reaching out, remember Facebook & E-mail are not the only forms of communication. Call too!

Reach out to any major donors who may be able to underwrite the cost of the event Put together an agenda for the event and decide on additional logistics for the party (food,

entertainment, etc.)

2 Weeks before the event: Call to follow-up on invitations Call key stakeholders to make sure they’re coming—and that they’re inviting others from their networks

(stakeholders may include good friends, community leaders, chairs of peace and justice orgs., etc.) Reach out to the publications on campus and, if it is a larger event, media off campus to see if they will

cover the event (very important!!) Confirm with the venue

1 Week before the event: 5-7 days before the event call those who have not responded 3-5 days before the event call/e-mail/text/facebook to remind those that have RSVPed

Week of the event: Put together any items or materials you need for the event

Day of the event: Set out a sign-in sheet, money basket, name tags (optional) and group materials Set out chairs, refreshments, additional set-up Send out a final reminder e-mail/ text to all participants Take photos, video blog, and Tweet! Be at the venue at least an hour before the scheduled event

Week after the event: Send out thank you notes and additional follow-ups! Send out any photos/video of your event and e-mail sign-ups you receive to Peace Action

Tips Specifically for a Fundraiser

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Set goals for your fundraiser, including… What do you want to use the funds for? How much money do you need to raise in order to achieve this goal? When do you need the funds by? What role do you want the chapter members to play?

Evaluate your resources first, assessing… How many chapter members can/will participate? How much money can you spend on up-front expenses? What materials can you get donated? What transportation is available, if needed? What locations are available?

When brainstorming ideas for your fundraiser… Brainstorm as many ideas as possible. Check your ideas against your resources (with our resources, is this fundraiser possible?). Agree that everyone is excited about the idea.

Delegate responsibilities to make sure that… Every task was covered. Everyone was clear about what was expected of them. Specific deadlines were set for each task. Specific dates/times were set to reconvene to report on progress. The full manpower of your chapter has been utilized. Everyone feels included and informed.

Follow up on your fundraiser by… Sending thank you letters for donated items and participation. Informing all the participants of the results.

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Sample Event Agenda

Here’s a sample agenda for you to use. As always be creative! Feel free to modify this sample tofit your event.

Informal Greetings (15-30 Minutes): People arrive, have them come in and fill in the sign-up sheet,handout information about your group.

If you have petitions, leave them out on a table near the entrance, but not right next to the sign-in sheet. If there are too many things to sign at once and a line at the door, people are less likely to sign the petitions.

Welcome (5 Minutes): Short welcome by the host, who will explain the agenda for the party, possiblyfacilitate and introduce the whole group (if small), and (if applicable) reinforce the fact that thisis a fundraising event.

Refreshments (10 Minutes): Give attendees a little more time for refreshments.(Optional, especially good if there are still late arrivals showing up)

Speaker (10-20): Have a main speaker or artist perform and tie-in to Peace Action’s mission—this iswhen a PowerPoint or another type of media could be shown.

The Pitch (5 Minutes): Thank the speaker and make your pitch (e.g. recruit more members, call for action, etc.)

Q and A (10-15 Minutes): Allow people to ask questions about Peace Action or the speaker.

Final Thank You (5 Minutes): Within your closing remarks mention additional ways people cansupport your group after the meeting, including:

• Becoming part of the student coalition or another chapter• Inviting Peace Action to speak at one of their events• Hosting a house party or event of their own to spread the word to new networks

Mingle/Closure (20 Minutes): Allow people to continue to talk to each other and ask the speaker andhost questions.

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Event Reflection

Reflection is an important part of any event. Even if it is only for 5 minutes it is good for volunteers and organizers alike to sit down and talk about the event.

One excellent reflection model is the What? So What? Now What?

1. What?—(Report what happened objectively.) Without judgment or interpretation, participants describe in detail the facts of the event.

2. So What?—(What did you learn? What difference did the event make?) Participants discuss their feelings, ideas, and analysis of the event.

3. Now What?—(How will volunteers, organizers, and participants think and act in the future as a result of this experience?)

Participants consider broader implications of the event and apply learning. Be aware to strike a balance between realistic, reachable goals and openness to spontaneity and change.)

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DO• Use open-ended questions• Ask for specifics & examples• Paraphrase and summarize• Acknowledge contributions• Redirect questions to group• Pose challenging questions

DON’T• Disregard people’s ideas• Put people on the spot• Downplay thoughts, feelings• Force people to speak

Facilitation Tips• Be honest & genuine• Maintain a neutral stance• Don’t pretend to be an expert• Be open to learning from others in

the group• Don’t be too formal• Maintain a sense of humor• Promote equality & active listening• Encourage participation by all• Create a safe space• Manage disagreements• Provide opportunities for closure and

evaluation• Be mindful of power dynamics

Reflection Ideas:• Pose a question• Read a quote• Study an image• Have each person draw an image• Yarn Web— Stand in a circle with a

ball of yarn. Each person throws it to another and says one word that explains what they will bring to the next project, something they appreciated in the person they are throwing it to, what they learned, etc. The yarn forms a web supported by the group.

• Put a big piece of paper on the wall and have participants write/draw whatever they want and then share



Great Films to Watch or Screen on Campus

Contact the PANYS State office for select copies of the films below. If we do not have a film you are interested in viewing, most of these films are also available on iTunes and Amazon. You can also search the extensive film library of ‘Americans for Informed Democracy’ by visiting www.aidemocracy.org/build-skills/film-library/.

Soldiers Speak Out! (2006)http://www.empowermentproject.org/sso.htmlRunning Time: 28 min. plus 2.5 hours of bonus material.Availability: Available to purchase. Inquire about special rates for high school students and quantity discounts. (919) 928-0382.Description: A powerful, first-hand testament to the reality of the military experience told entirely in the words of American veterans who have been to war and are now opposing it. It provides a sober view of the occupation in Iraq and an important counterpoint to the 'stay-the-course' rhetoric of the previous Bush administration.

Before You Enlist (2011)http://www.beforeyouenlist.org/Running Time: 14:20Availability: DVD copies are now available from the AFSC Store – $5 each (including shipping & handling!) or $30 for 10 copies. Available in English and Spanish. Contact: (609) 430-3004, [email protected]: Provides a rational voice to counter the seductive and often deceptive recruiting practices of the U.S. military. The message is not “don’t enlist” but rather to provide young people and their families a more complete picture of the life-altering consequences of joining the military – especially in wartime.

Back From Iraq: The U.S. Soldier Speaks (2005)Running Time: 1 hour and 27 minutesAvailability: Available on iTunes and Amazon.comDescription: This documentary chronicles the eyewitness accounts of four courageous U.S. soldiers returned from their tour of duty in Iraq. Their stories from Iraq, perceptions of the war, insights into the media and concerns about U.S. national security will leave you at once horrified, entertained and informed about U.S. involvement in Iraq.

Sir! No Sir! (2005)http://www.sirnosir.com/Running Time: 90 minutesAvailability: We recommend screening the film on DVD, but 35 mm and all video formats are available for rental as well. Please email [email protected] for inquiries on screening formats.Description: The film is about the GO resistance against the Vietnam War

More on the next page!The Ground Truth (2006)

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http://www.aidemocracy.org/build-skills/film-library/



http://thegroundtruth.net/focusfeatures/film/the_ground_truthRunning Time: 72 minutesAvailability: Available on iTunes and Amazon.comDescription: Hailed as “powerful” and “quietly unflinching,” Patricia Foulkrod’s searing documentary feature includes exclusive footage of what returning troops have to say about the war in Iraq.

Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers (2006) http://iraqforsale.org/Running Time: 75 minutesAvailability: Host a screening by going to http://iraqforsale.org/screenings.php Description: Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so.

Countdown to Zero (2010) http://www.takepart.com/zero Running Time: 91 minutesAvailability: Contact PANYS for the DVD. Countdown to Zero Discussion Guide, event posters, and digital resources packet also available!Description: Written and directed by acclaimed documentarian Lucy Walker, Countdown to Zero traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs: nine nations possess nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join them, with the world held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident.

Nuclear Tipping Point (2010) http://nucleartippingpoint.org/Running Time: 56 minutesAvailability: Order a free DVD and/or get free streaming on their website!Description: Nuclear Tipping Point is a conversation with four men intimately involved in American diplomacy and national security over the last four decades. Former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry and former Senator Sam Nunn share the personal experiences that led them to write two Wall Street Journal op-eds, in support of a world free of nuclear weapons and the steps needed to get there.

Doctor Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)Running Time: 95 minutesAvailability: Contact PANYS for the DVD; also available on iTunes and Amazon.com Description: Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film tells the chilling story of psychotic Air Force General who unleashes an ingenious foolproof and irrevocable scheme sending bombers to attack Russia. U.S. President works with Soviet premier in a desperate effort to save the world.

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Take Political Action!

Find your Congressional Representative by visiting peace-action.org, or by going to this website! www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd

Find out Congressional Voting Records through the Peace Action website:http://clients.confluencecorp.com/peaceaction/voting-records

Schedule a Lobby VisitHere are some steps that will increase your chance of getting a meeting:

1. Call your senators’ or representative’s local office(s). Ask for the scheduler’s name and his or her fax number.

2. Put together a written request for a meeting with the senator or representative. Nearly all verbal requests are rejected. Send the written request to the scheduler and copy any other staff members you know in the office (the original must go to the scheduler). The request should be less than a page long and should include

o who is in your delegation, with their titles or affiliations;o what you want: a 30-minute meeting with the senator/representative;o when you want to meet: specify the days and times your delegation can meet;o where you want to meet: give the location of the district office closest to you ; ando why you want to meet.

3. Fax in the written request as soon as you can, even if you don’t have the full delegation.

4. Follow up with a phone call to the scheduler one day after you fax the written request. Don’t ask if they have an answer; just ask if they've received the request.

5. Follow up again two to three days later to see if there is an answer.

Addressing CorrespondenceContact the PANYS office to receive our official letterhead on which to write your letters!

To a County Supervisor: To a City Council Representative:The Honorable FULL NAME The Honorable FULL NAMECOUNTY NAME Board of Supervisors CITY NAME City CouncilSTREET ADDRESS STREET ADDRESSCITY, STATE ZIP CODE CITY, STATE ZIP CODE[2 spaces] [2 spaces]Dear Supervisor LAST NAME: Dear Councilman/Councilwoman LAST NAME:

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http://clients.confluencecorp.com/peaceaction/voting-records

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd




(Source: Friends Committee on National Legislation, www.fcnl.org, & The National Priorities Project, www.nationalpriorities.org)

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http://www.fcnl.org/



Meeting with Elected Officials:

Before the Meetingo Request a meeting in writing or on the phone with specific times and dates. After the meeting is

set, be sure to call the scheduler or secretary to confirm the meeting.o Let the scheduler/secretary know what issue or bill you would like to discuss.o Select a scribe for the meeting. It’s a good idea so assign someone to take notes during your

mission. This can also be helpful for writing your thank you note after the meeting (reference points made/shared ideas).

o Create a detailed plan. Get clear on your talking points so you're sure to convey your most important ideas. Figure out who is going to say what at the meeting, and think of some possible arguments you might be presented with so you can present a clear and concise rebuttal.

o Make sure your talking points are backed up by credible data.o Create a document that states who you are and outlines your talking points. Include some

numbers and statistics for your elected official to refer back to. o Decide on your desired outcome.

During the Meetingo Be on time.o Be patient and flexible. Due to the often crowded schedules of legislators, be prepared for your

meeting to be brief, delayed, or even interrupted. Remember to always stay polite and patient!o Be brief and make sure to use your talking points. Provide accurate information!o Thank the elected official for past votes you have supported.o Be personal where appropriate.o Leave your contact information (name, address, email, phone) so that your legislators can easily

follow-up with you personally.o If you're waiting for a response, set a time line for receiving it.

After the Meetingo Thank the legislator in writing for taking the time to meet. Use the thank you note to also

remind your elected official why he/she should take notice of your concern.o Follow-up with any promised materials or information.o Call when the determined time line deems it appropriate. Call again if the time line has not been

met.

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Tactical Tips for Student Advocates

(Source: National Priorities Network, http://nationalpriorities.org/en/resources/take-action/guide-to-improving-democratic-dialogue/)

1. Develop a relationship! Relationships are critical to influencing change. While tactics such as bird-dogging are useful to get the legislators’ attention, it is also important to build respect and rapport with your elected officials and their staffers. Also, do not underestimate the importance of your relationship with the staffers – they work very closely with their elected officials and may often be your most important (and maybe your only) entry point for getting your voice heard.

2. While it may be tempting to express your position on legislation to many government representatives, most members of Congress only acknowledge communication from those they represent. For that reason, sending many letters might not be any more effective than sending just one. Also keep in mind, it is vital that you include your address in any correspondence, especially emails or faxes, to prove that you are their constituent.

3. Know your issue! Keep in mind that each Chamber has their own jurisdiction and that they only address national issues, not state or local issues. Do your research so you know whom you are contacting and what they are responsible for; this includes their membership in distinct Congressional committees. If you want to address a local issue, this guide will offer useful tips you can use when contacting your State Legislature, your Mayor, town officials, etc.

4. Be as concise as possible. Legislators have several issues they are presented with or concerned about at any given time – and they often have very little time! That means, your message should address only one issue or bill and it should not exceed a few paragraphs. Congressional staff receive thousands of messages and do not have time to read overly lengthy communications.

5. Avoid the rant or ramble. Be as polite as possible. Do not be a know-it-all, and don't tell your legislator what to do, ask. And it is very important that you listen to your legislators and not just talk – you need to also understand what their position is and why. As passionate as you might be, avoid making angry or rude comments. You'd be surprised how persuasive please and thank you truly are.

6. Congress and their staff take particular interest in a good story, if you will. If possible, when commenting on an issue, make it personal. Individualized messages, as opposed to generic form or mass-produced messages, are always more effective. Even if you don't have any personal experience with the issues important to you, just citing a local paper or news story can really make a difference.

7. Since the anthrax attacks in 2001, Capitol Hill has been even more careful about screening correspondence. That means that traditional letters can be delayed up to five weeks. If the issue is pertinent, email and fax is definitely more suitable. But if there is not an approaching vote on your issue, then a letter is more effective than almost any other form of communication save an in-person meeting (see below).

8. TIMING is very important. Make your message to timely and topical. If you know Congress is voting on a bill in coming weeks, making a phone call, or sending an email or fax one to two weeks in advance is a good idea. However, if you have the time, take advantage of other influential tactics, such as writing a letter, attending a city or county council meeting, or meeting directly with your selected leaders.

9. Apply the same guidelines to email correspondence.

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http://nationalpriorities.org/en/resources/take-action/guide-to-improving-democratic-dialogue/

http://nationalpriorities.org/en/resources/take-action/guide-to-improving-democratic-dialogue/



Bird-Dogging

I. What is Bird-dogging?Bird-dogging is a tactic that many organizations and concerned citizens use to pressure candidates or electedrepresentatives to take a public stance on an issue, or to question a stance that they have already taken. It usually consists of one or more bird-doggers who go to a public event where a candidate or elected representative will appear. Bird-doggers ask pointed questions about issues they care about in order to elicit a response and educate the media and voters. Bird-dogging plays an important role in getting candidates’ positions “on record.”

II. How to Bird-dogHere are some tips to help you get started on a successful bird-dogging campaign. Many of these tips come fromwww.birddogger.org.

A) Find out where the candidate will be.One of the easiest ways to find out where a candidate will be is to join his or her email list, or to check the website of the candidate or the candidate’s party. If you have good contacts with the media, you might be able to get information from friendly journalists, or those with a progressive point of view. Stay up-to-date with local newspapers and news websites, as they often publish calendars of candidate events.

B) Prepare your questions ahead of time.You’ll need to have your questions ready before the event. That way, while everyone else is thinking of what they want to ask, you’ll already be prepared. If there is an open question and answer period, your pre-planning will pay off. Most people don’t raise their hands immediately. But as a well-prepared bird-dogger you can express immediate interest in asking a question - so get your hand up early and often, and sit up front.

III. Bird-dogging TipsA) Sometimes only members of the media are allowed to ask questions. In this case, see if you can get a journalist to ask some of the questions you’ve prepared.

B) Work in teams of two or more people and disperse. Bird-dogging can sometimes make people nervous so it’s best to go in teams of two or more for support. Also, if you have two people in a team, one can ask the question while another writes down the response.

C) When you ask a question, be prepared with a follow up question - you might just get the opportunity to ask it. And this way, if someone else asks your question you’ll have a backup. If you have a group of people at the event, split them up. Dispersing at the event might allow everyone in the group to ask a question.

D) Keep it cordial. You are likely to get more of a response from candidates, and make a positive impression on the media, if you are calm and respectful in your demeanor.

(Source: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, www.wagingpeace.org)

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You could also consider organizing your own issue forum or candidate debate. This might be easier to do if you co-host the event with other organizations, or with a prominent coalition. One advantage to this kind of event is that you can invite candidates to speak only on the issues you choose.



Tips on Gathering Petition Signatures

Gathering petition signatures can be a fun and simple way to take your activism a step further. The below tips are great for petition gathering, and some of them are key to any kind of organizing.

PANYS and its local chapters often have ongoing petitions that you can bring to your campus. Just contact the state office and we’ll tell you how! Or get creative, and start your own

What to say:1. The "Hook." Grab a pen and paper and come up with 3-5 short, snappy one-sentence "hooks" to grab

people's attention. The idea is to ask a question that would 1) serve as an opening to a conversation, 2) convey the essence of an issue, and 3) let folks know that supporting your cause is really easy.

Here are a couple examples:"Hi there, can you sign a petition telling President Obama to leave no soldier behind in Iraq?""Do you have a minute to change our country's spending priorities?""Have a minute? I have a petition to end the war in Afghanistan."

Come up with a bunch and experiment with which ones work best. See if humor works.2. Cater your message to your audience. What worked great at a peace march may not fly at a Fourth of

July parade.3. Prepare talking points ahead of time. They'll be helpful when folks ask you questions.

Make it fun!Sure, some people will say "no," or they'll walk right by you, or they'll try and pull you into a debate about how wrong you are. Here are some tips on how to find the right people and come away from the experience with a strong sense of accomplishment.

1. Bring a friend! It can be really fun to work together and develop a 'routine.' Or you can play some fun games:* See who can get the most people to laugh while they sign the petition.* Make it fun by wearing a costume or a funny hat (but always remember: know your audience!).

2. Enjoy humanity. You can bet that while doing this, you will meet some pretty great people along the way.

3. If you hit a losing streak. Remember, the folks who ended segregation and expanded voting rights built their cause partly by using tactics like these. Isn't that inspiring?

What to bring: Clipboards Pens Friends Comfy shoes And of course, lots of petitions Continued on next page…

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Location, Location, LocationFinding the right spot can make all the difference. Here are just a few ideas:

Casual gatherings The park The grocery store At work Farmer's markets Appropriately themed public gatherings (Parades, Rallies, Outdoor concerts.) The library Riding public transit Outside a movie that relates to the issue. (Body of War, Stop-Loss, Rendition, are all perfect, but any

progressive politically themed movie can work.)

Double Your Impact! Send us your SignaturesDouble the impact of your petition by sending PANYS a copy of the signatures! We will be happy to type them up for you and add them to our e-blast members.

Simply send copies of your petitions to the mailing address below, or scan & email them in!

Peace Action New York StateChurch St. StationP.O. Box 3357New York, NY 10008-3357

(Source: Peace Action National, www.peace-action.org)

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Contact the Media!

1. Writing a Letter to the Editor Keep your message short, 200 words or less. Due to the limited space, it's wise to focus only on

one issue or respond to only one article. Make sure your message is topical. Open with specific references to recent news article, recent

as in no more than a few days old. Explain how the issue your addressing affects you or what kind of impact it has locally,

nationally, or internationally. Using local statistics captures readers’ attention. If possible, provide facts, quotes, and statistics, briefly. While writing to major local and national papers is ambitious and has the ability to reach many,

they are harder to get published in. There are many local, regional and/or on-line publications to consider

2. Publish an Op-Ed and/or Blog piece Opinion-Editorial and/or Blog pieces are much like writing a letter to the editor yet are

substantially longer. Check the publications' submission requirements. Many media outlets require email submission

and have length and format restrictions. If possible, begin with a short story or anecdote to illustrate the impact of your issue. You may want to consider co-signer and/or co-authors on your Op-Ed or Blog. Make sure you follow up on your submission. Even if you are not successful in getting published,

speaking to staff can open the door for future articles.3. Calling Radio Talk Shows

Speak clearly and simply Stay calm, cool, and collected even if the host argues with you don't let them get a rise out of

you

(Source: The National Priorities Network, http://nationalpriorities.org/en/resources/take-action/guide-contacting-media/)

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PANYS Merchandise

Visit our website, www.panys.org, to place your order!

Awesome Tote Bag!

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100% cotton Hanes tees,White lettering on Deep Royal. Available in Women and Men sizes!

Colors: Blue, BlackSizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL 1 shirt - $20.00*

Peace Action Button!

Peace Action: Past, Present and Future

Apparel

2.5″ diameter.

1 button - $2.00

3 buttons - $5.00

7 buttons - $10.00*

Taupe with navy lettering1 bag - $12.00

Peace Action Tote Bag

By: Glen Harold Stassen (Editor), Lawrence S. Wittner (Editor), Barbara Lee (Foreword)

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Useful Sites to Check Out!

peace-action.org - Peace Action National

costofwar.com - obtain by-the-second updates on the financial cost of war (state-specific or national) to the U.S. since 2001. Part of the National Priorities Project

nnomy.org - National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth

ananuclear.org - Alliance for Nuclear Accountability: a national network of organizations working to address issues of nuclear weapons production and waste cleanup.

nationalpriorities.org - National Priorities Project: a non-profit research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent.

fcnl.org - lots of great resources for grassroots organizing, petition-building, and issue-education

icasualties.org - keeps track of the causalities from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

newamerica.net - The New America Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institute that invests in new thinkers and new ideas to address the next generation of challenges facing the United States.

cyberschoolbus.un.org/dnp - contains great resources for students to learn and take action on nuclear issues

wagingpeace.org - Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, contains great info on bird-dogging, prepared questions on nuclear issues, how-to’s, media guides, etc.

aidemocracy.org- Americans for Informed Democracy

democracynow.org - a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 900 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the United States

govtrack.us - Contains pending and enacted congressional legislation, congressional committee composition, and upcoming committee hearings.

CQ.com - Congressional Quarterly, provides profiles of Congressional Members and their voting history, and legislative tracking.

senate.gov - get information on current and past Senators, Committees, legislation & records, upcoming hearings and meetings, and more

www.gracelinks.org - Global Resource Action Center for the Environment44

* prices can be negotiated for bulk orders, please contact the State Office at (646) 723-1749, or by email [email protected].

http://www.democracynow.org/




www.miltoxproj.org - Military Toxics ProjectAddendum

Current PANYS CampaignsShut Down Indian Point!

Cost of War Awareness Project

Peace Voter

Events Calendar

PANYS Club Submission Form

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Shut down Indian Point Campaign

The Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) is a nuclear power station with two operating nuclear reactors in Buchanan, New York. The reactors are built on top of the intersections of two earthquake fault lines, 35 miles from New York City.

The two reactors have been operating for almost 40 years, and their licenses are up for renewal in 2013 and 2015.

Indian Point has a history of radiation1 and water2 leaks, and its #3 reactor was

rated the least likely of all 104 operating reactors in the U.S. to survive an earthquake with its core undamaged.3

A 2003 study commissioned by then New York Governor E. George Pataki showed that New York City cannot be properly evacuated in the case of a serious accident, natural disaster, or terrorist attack on the Indian Point power plants.4 Indian Point has a documented history of accidental leakage of radioactivity into the environment in violation of federal safety guidelines.5 According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer rates are 66% above the U.S. average in the communities surrounding Indian Point.6 Even Governor Cuomo wants to shut Indian Point! We MUST shut it down.

Be a part of PANYS’s effort to help shut down Indian Point by ensuring that your elected officials hear your voices! Contact your federal, state and local officials through letter-writing, phone, and email. To learn more about how to get involved in this campaign, contact PANYS’s Executive Director, Alicia Godsberg, at [email protected], and visit the PANYS website, www.panys.org.

To find out more information on the Indian Point Energy Center, visit the website of the new activist group organizing in New York http://www.shutdownindianpointnow.org/

1“Radioactive Waste and Pollution.” Riverkeeper. http://www.riverkeeper.org/campaigns/stop-polluters/indian-point/radioactive-waste/ 2“Indian Point had smaller leak in the past.” Lohud.com. March 27, 2011. http://www.lohud.com/article/20110327/NEWS02/103270363/Indian-Point-had-smaller-leak-past and Matthew L. Wald. “At the Indian Point Nuclear Plant, a Pipe Leak Raises Concerns.” The New York Times. May 1, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/nyregion/02nuke.html?pagewanted=all 3Dedman, Bill. “What are the odds? US nuke plants ranked by quake risk.” Msnbc.com. March 17, 2011. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42103936/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/what-are-odds-us-nuke-plants-ranked-quake-risk/ 4Applebome, Peter. “Fukushima, Indian Point, and Fantasy.” The New York Times. March 20, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/nyregion/21towns.html 5Lochbaum, Dave. “Fission Stories #1: Surfs Up!” All Things Nuclear. July 6, 2010. http://allthingsnuclear.org/post/775389866/fission-stories-1-surfs-up 6Barish, Stephanie. “Report: Link Found Between Cancer and Residents’ Proximity From Indian Point.” WPIX 11. November 16, 2009. http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-thyroid-cancer,0,1553237.story

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http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-thyroid-cancer,0,1553237.story

http://allthingsnuclear.org/post/775389866/fission-stories-1-surfs-up

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/nyregion/21towns.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42103936/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/what-are-odds-us-nuke-plants-ranked-quake-risk/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/nyregion/02nuke.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110327/NEWS02/103270363/Indian-Point-had-smaller-leak-past

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110327/NEWS02/103270363/Indian-Point-had-smaller-leak-past

http://www.riverkeeper.org/campaigns/stop-polluters/indian-point/radioactive-waste/



Cost of War Awareness Project

The Cost of War Awareness Project is an effort to inform the public on the constantly escalating cost of funding two wars. Peace Action of New York State has used an electronic counter to expose the cost of war to the public. By raising awareness of the cost of war, we will provoke discussions about our nation’s military spending habits and allocation of tax dollars.

In 2011 PANYS received a generous grant from the Ploughshares Fund to connect the grassroots Cost of War Awareness Project work throughout the state to preventing federal funding of two nuclear weapon systems: a new nuclear capable submarine the Navy is designing and a new nuclear capable aircraft for the Air Force. PANYS will be lobbying our elected officials in both houses of Congress to prevent the appropriation of funds to these unnecessary, expensive, and aggressive nuclear weapon systems, and working to change federal spending priorities in the long term to fund human needs and our communities instead of war and the military.

Join in the effort! Lead a student campaign to help prevent the funding of these new nuclear delivery systems. Contact the PANYS office to receive campaign materials, research and outreach help, and event planning info!

For more information on the Cost of War sign, visit the Peace Action New York State website, panys.org.

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How to Host the Sign at Your School

Please send an email to [email protected] with the subject “Hosting the COW Sign” and include the following information:

• When would you like to host the sign (start and end dates)? In order to maximize impact, plan to display the sign from 2 – 4 weeks. If possible, please give at least one alternative set of dates in case the sign is unavailable for the original dates.

• What are you planning to do with the sign? Will it be in a storefront or hung on a building? Will you be taking it to events? We strongly suggest that you find a visible place to leave the sign as opposed to taking it to rallies or protests – experience has shown us that a stationary sign is more effective than one taken from place to place.

• What type of organizing around the sign have you done or will you be doing to prepare to maximize the impact of the sign’s messages? PANYS can help you with your messaging and organizing, providing fact sheets, advice on events, and help with media work and press releases – we are here to help!




Peace Voter Campaign

Peace Voter is a nonpartisan campaign that educates concern citizens about the foreign policy decisions of their elected officials. Our voter guide brings critical foreign policy issues to the election-year debate!Peace Voter helps inform and give voice to the many Americans concerned about the wars and the direction of U.S. foreign policy in general. We are actively urging candidates to articulate a better path for our country; one that will increase our security and reflect our nation’s values.

Who are Peace Voters?Peace Voters are everyday people willing to take a stand for a more responsible U.S. foreign policy. By exercising your right to vote and taking the pledge to become a Peace Voter, you can make a real impact on elections. Peace Voters are also your friends, neighbors, and fellow classmates! As student organizers and activists, PANYS need your help to find them, register them to vote, and help them get to the polls in November!

Get the word out! Contact the State office and ask us to mail you a bulk shipment of our Peace Voter Guide postcards for FREE! Our postcards are an easy and attractive way to educate your campus on how they can vote for peace! Postcards measure 4” x 6” and are pictured below.

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Events Calendar

We strongly encourage you to frequently check out PANYS.org and its local chapters’ websites to learn about additional events in your area. Peace Action local chapters are particularly active in their community and often hold weekly and monthly events, so make sure you subscribe to your local chapter’s e-alerts to get the latest news and event info! Don’t miss out!

Peace Action New York State; http://panys.org/WordPress/getinvolved/events/

Peace Action Bay Ridge: http://www.panys.org/BR/whatsnew.htm

Peace Action Staten Island: http://www.peacesi.org/Recent_Events.html

Rockland Peace Action: http://www.meetup.com/Rockland-Peace-Action/

Upper Hudson Peace Action: http://peaceact.net/events/

Broome County Peace Action: http://bcpeaceaction.org/?page_id=15

Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace: http://www.gvcp.org/

No War Westchester: http://www.nowarwestchester.org/?page_id=80

Peace Action of Central New York: http://www.peaceactioncny.org/Events.html

Western New York Peace Center: http://wnypeace.org/WeeklyNewsFolder/WeeklyNews.php

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http://wnypeace.org/WeeklyNewsFolder/WeeklyNews.php

http://www.peaceactioncny.org/Events.html

http://www.nowarwestchester.org/?page_id=80

http://www.gvcp.org/

http://bcpeaceaction.org/?page_id=15

http://peaceact.net/events/

http://www.meetup.com/Rockland-Peace-Action/

http://www.peacesi.org/Recent_Events.html

http://www.panys.org/BR/whatsnew.htm

http://panys.org/WordPress/getinvolved/events/



PANYS Student Chapter - Submission Form

Please fill this page out and mail to: Peace Action Fund of New York Statec/o Student Organizing Church St. Station, P.O. Box 3357New York, NY 10008-3357

School: _________________________________________________________________

Student Chapter Name: _________________________________________________________________

Student Organizer: _________________________________________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

Elected Officers (if ‘Other’, include title with name)

President: _______________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Vice President: ___________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Secretary: _______________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Treasurer: _______________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Publicity Officer: __________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Event Coordinator: ________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Other: __________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Other: __________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Other: __________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Faculty/Staff Advisor: _____________________________ Email: ___________________________________(include person’s school title)

Signature: _______________________________________ Date: ___________________________________(Chapter President)

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