Dear TuneInTurnOnHelpOut fans,
See the below letter from Amnesty International reporting a recent success due directly to YOU and ME and EVERYONE ELSE who TAKES ACTION. Activism works if it’s ACTIVE. Good stuff.
sincerely,
The Ambassador

Dear Ed,
In the face of impossible odds, your thousands of letters made a huge impact last week.

On May 1st, Sami al Hajj was released from Guantánamo Bay prison after six and a half years in detention. Al Hajj was a focus of our write-a-thon in December and was adopted by Amnesty groups across the country.

Sami was a journalist for the television station al-Jazeera. In 2002, he was assigned to cover the conflict in Afghanistan. While traveling in Pakistan, Sami al Hajj was stopped by Pakistani police and detained.

He was handed over to U.S. forces, taken to Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, and ultimately to Guantánamo He was never charged with a crime, yet was held and allegedly tortured for six years.

Upon being released, Sami flew to Khartoum, Sudan. His health was in such bad condition that he had to be carried off on a stretcher.

Amnesty International won’t stop until everyone held at Guantánamo is given the chance to defend themselves in an impartial court of law or set free.

This week, Amnesty launches a massive new initiative to bring a life-sized replica (3D tour) of a maximum security Guantánamo Bay prison cell to cities across America.

RSVP to attend or volunteer at the Cell Tour events.

Starting in Miami with special events this Thursday and Saturday, we will show visitors what it’s like to experience the harsh realities of illegal detention and prolonged isolation. Visitors will be able to record 30 second videos protesting illegal detention from inside the cell.

Thank you again for your passion and hard work.

Sincerely,
Larry Cox
Executive Director

Dear friends of TuneInTurnOutHelpOut,

Please see this important message from our friends over at Avaaz regarding the current food crisis and what we can do to make a difference today.

Rocketing prices threaten to starve millions and make us all less secure — sign the emergency petition for action to stop the world food crisis
Sign the Petition and Watch the Video here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/world_food_crisis/10.php

Have you noticed food costing more when you shop? Here’s why — we’re plunging headlong into a world food crisis. Rocketing prices are squeezing billions and triggering food riots from Bangladesh to South Africa. Aid agencies say 100 million more people are at risk of starvation right now[1]. In Sierra Leone alone the price of a bag of rice has doubled, becoming unaffordable for 90% of citizens[2]. Fears of inflation stalk the whole world, and the worst could be yet to come.

We need to act now — before it’s too late. As Ban Ki-Moon holds a high-level UN meeting on the crisis, we’re launching an urgent campaign with African foreign minister and human rights campaigner Zainab Bangura. Click below to see Zainab’s video message and add your name to the food crisis petition — we need to raise 200,000 signatures by the end of this week to deliver a massive global outcry to leaders at the UN, G8 and EU:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/world_food_crisis/10.php

The prices of staple foods like wheat, corn and rice have almost doubled, and the crisis is slipping out of control — so we’re calling for immediate action on emergency food aid, speculation and biofuels policy, while asking forthcoming summits to tackle deeper problems of investment and trade.[3]

The global food crisis touches and connects us all, creating a tsunami of hunger for the poor and damaging economies and squeezing citizens in the rich world too. But solutions are on the horizon if leaders act fast [4] — sign the petition at the link below now, then forward this email and ask friends and family to do the same:

With hope,
Paul, Galit, Ricken, Graziela, Iain, Mark, Pascal and the whole Avaaz team

This just in from the British Times
April 15th, 2008

Well it’s tax day in the great blood-stained state of the USA again. The American people, the majority of whom have proved themselves to be as dumb as mules or oxes over the last five years — no offense to our fine furred friends — will stand in lines by the thousands to hand over great gobs of their own money to their “government” tomorrow. The world community has watched the United States government, if you can call it that at this point, spend more than half a trillion of the American people’s hard earned dollars on invading another country half way around the globe for a whole roster of reasons that turned out to be “lies” (900 plus at last count) by various “intelligence agencies,” at least so says the “White House” and yet they continue to occupy the other country, having killed now what some estimate between one to two million of the Iraqi people in what many are now calling the most atrocious mass gencoide since, well, the same damn thing they did to Vietnam thirty-years ago.

Meanwhile the Americans continue to lose their homes by the tens of thousands each day while their government continues to bankrupt their economy in the greatest economic downturn in American history, the value of their once all-powerful dollar now worth less than it’s ever been in the world community as foreign investors and other countries continue to sell it as fast as possible. Nothing new – the same news as yesterday unfortunately for the sad lot of poor old Yanks. The only thing that makes it newsworthy is that tomorrow is the last day that all three-hundred million of them have to gleefully hand over thier hard earned bread so the war-mongering theives and hatchetmen that invaded their own country seven years ago can continue to bring the once great state down to its knees in what promises to be one hell of a show. The degradation and destruction of America which started some say almost forty years ago as with all empires will not be one giant explosion but a slow erosion that most will miss. It is only now that the Americans themselves are starting to see it as the rest of the world celebrates their great fortune around them they continue to drown in one quagmire after another and can’t figure out how to get out of this mess, all but a few of them remembering that they are a democracy after all and can always vote to boot the whole lot of them in the White House at any time if they were in the right mind to. Problem is the Americans are so damn busy watching their dumbass not-funny tv that most of them are missing the biggest show on earth — the slow crumbling and collapse of the biggest empire on the planet in modern times. And they’re starring it. Poor slobs.

Americans are some of the last people on earth who should be paying their government any taxes on their incomes at this point with how run amok things have been for the poor bastards lately. No matter how hard they try they cannot get their government to tell them why they went to Iraq, are still in Iraq, or when they are getting out if ever and what’s worse, polls show that the majority of the American people don’t even want their country to be in Iraq at all, and yet as that sallow and pitiable clown of a president they have continues to wave the banner of “democracy” around the world in that clumsy annoying backwoods southern drawl of his like a braindead three year old, the American people themselves can’t seem to actually do anything “democratic” to get themselves out of Iraq or any of their other messes. And yet tomorrow the United States government will collect billions upon billions of dollars from this same group of disgruntled Americans who claim to be so uptight and upset about the sorry state of affairs in thier once great state. Doesn’t make much sense on these shores over here that’s for sure. But that Simon Cowell is still one funny bastard. What’s that ya say? Oh yeah, he’s a Brit. Sorry ’bout that. Ok so the Americans indeed are truly fucked afterall.

And now an important news break — an announcement from the son of the former president of the United States 

“Dear Fellow Americans. We know the rest of the world must be laughing at and crying for us at the same time. Tax day is upon us. And though we’re now the only country in the “civilized world” that doesn’t have enough money for health care, and we don’t have enough money for “good schools” or “good edumacation,” and we don’t have enough money to ”get us out of this economic crisis that we’re in,” and God bless ya for believing us (he laughs here), WE HAVE FIVE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS!!!! DADDY TOLD ME SO! WE BORROWED IT FROM THE SAUDIS AND FROM CHINA. EVIDENTLY THAT’S WHY WE DON’T CARE THAT THE CHINESE ARE KILLING ALL THOSE TIBETAN PEOPLES. Well i never met any Tibetan people so i guess it don’t matter that much to you and me anyway…. But the good news is WE HAVE FIVE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS!!! AND GUESS WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO WITH IT? Feed the hungry? House the homeless? Improve education? Improve medical sciences? Increase spending on environmental science to prevent global crises? Hell no! What are you some kind of a morons? (O.K. well some of you did actually vote for me, G.W. so we know the answer to that one… “Ma can you believe some of those people really did vote for me? For real?” “Yes Georgie Boy. Your father says a few of them actually did. And you make us real proud by that son. Real proud. Now go back to your blog while your father continues his meeting with Osama.”) So what was I saying there???? Oh yeah, so you know what we’re gonna do with all that money you guys give us for taxes? We’re gonna blow the hell out of some other country, you know that one.. “Iraq” (i know, you don’t know anything about it, and never heard of it till we told you about it) and then after we blow it all up and kill most of fhe people there, we’re gonna spend more of your money to rebuild it.”

“Why? Well why didn’t you ask why five years ago you big dummies? It’s too late to ask “why” now. So shut up, pay your taxes like we tell you to so we can keep on with our killing. And for God’s sake shut the hell up about “your constitutional rights.” Those days are long gone. (in case you haven’t noticed.) Yours truly, Uncle Sam, Big Bad Bushy, Mean DickHead Cheney, and Condi “Don’t mind me, I’m just that scowling whore in the corner that does whatever those two jugheads ask me to do” Rice “I made that one up myself. I hope Condi doesn’t get too mad at me for it.”

“PS — Just because we are your “elected officials” and thus are your “employees” and in effect “work for you,” don’t get any ideas about telling us ”what to do” or “firing us.” I think you have figured that out by now. Those days are over. Happy tax day you morons! And thanks for voting me in!” 

And Yet All is Not Lost…

Dear Friend of United for Peace and Justice,

Tomorrow is Tax Day! People all around the country will be calling attention to how our tax dollars are used, and making the connection between our country’s current financial troubles and the more than $505 billion that has already been spent on the occupation of Iraq.

Ideas for taking action and educating others on April 15th:

• Hand out leaflets making the connections between the war and our growing economic crisis here at home. (See below for resources.) You can distribute this material at your local post office, at busy transportation hubs during rush hour, and in other locations where you can talk with people, including where you work or go to school.
  
• Sign our open letter to Rep. John Murtha, and encourage others to do so as well.
  
• Call in to local radio talk shows, or write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
• Call your representatives and your senators in Congress and urge them to use their power to bring all of the troops home!

Resources you can use, created by UFPJ and a few of our member groups:

1) The War Resisters League’s federal pie chart illustrates how much of our tax dollars really go toward military spending.3) This new UFPJ leaflet urges people to pressure Congress to stop funding the war! The leaflet has a box for you to add local contact information — just click inside that box and type. 4) “Healthcare Not Warfare” is a new campaign initiated by PDA.5) The National Priorities Project’s website has up-to-date breakdowns of what the war in Iraq is costing your state and your community!And if you’re receiving a refund this year, please consider dedicating some or all of it to peace! Click here to donate to UFPJ.

Yours, for peace and justice,

Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ

Dear Friends, I can think of many causes today that are worth our attention and effort. That’s the thing about living today’s world… and truly it’s a shame. I, like you I’m sure, would much rather be spending my time enjoying this precious gift of a life we have than be spending every waking hour protesting, marching, signing petitions, or calling congress or the White House… Why must our greatest battles be currently with our own elected leaders and government officials? But times are as they are. This cause is as worthy as any other that we have been called to serve. Please take a moment and read the issue at hand below. Chances are you might be as shocked as I was — the idea that “we the people” can no longer assemble at the National Mall in our Nation’s capital is, well, shocking. Tune in, turn on, and take action. As always, I am confident you will know what to do. Sincerely, Ed Hale

~ Please circulate this urgent update widely ~

The ANSWER Coalition is vigorously supporting the campaign launched by the Partnership for Civil Justice to defend free speech rights on the National Mall. We thank all the ANSWER Coalition supporters who have joined this campaign and we urge everyone to do so. What follows is an urgent message from the Partnership for Civil Justice about the campaign.

Oppose the Bush administration’s assault on free speech! Save the National Mall as a place of protest! Also an important message to those who have signed the Statement in Defense of Free Speech on the National Mall - please read

The struggle to preserve Free Speech in Washington D.C. has entered a new phase. We are writing to you so that you can help in the next step of this critical struggle. If he gets his way, Bush will leave office having shredded fundamental rights to redress grievances and engage in dissent on the National Mall in the nation’s capital. But we can stop this plan.

Because of the participation of you and so many other people around the country, the Bush Administration has been pushed on the defensive. Due to immense public pressure that has been mobilized in the last months the government is now resorting to a smoke and mirror campaign to derail those who are fighting to preserve cherished rights. The people can stop them.

We need you to take action right now:

We are planning on sending the Statement in Defense of Free Speech Rights on the National Mall – with a list of its thousands of signers — to the National Park Service and want to further publish the statement. Showing just how many people have already taken action will be an important part of the campaign to defend the National Mall and the First Amendment.

Before we send or publish the statement and signers, we want to confirm with you that we can include you as a signer. We value your privacy. Please take 30 seconds to fill out the form here if you have already signed the statement.

Please take a moment and help this Free Speech movement take the next step. title=”http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=kGMnA9vcJg50NFf1hFqZMA..”>If you signed the Statement in Defense of Free Speech on the National Mall before it is crucial that you take the next step by clicking this link. You can also let us know on this same link if you do not want your name included publicly. Initial signers include, Howard Zinn, Cindy Sheehan, Ed Asner, Malik Rahim, Ramsey Clark, Kathy Kelly, Ron Kovic, Dennis Banks and many others.

1) The Partnership for Civil Justice has set up an easy-to-use mechanism that will allow you to send a message directly to the National Park Service about their National Mall Plan. Click this link to send your message.

2) Sign the Statement in Defense of Free Speech Rights on the National Mall.

3) If you have already signed this statement, click this link right now to let us know if we can publicize you as a signer of this important statement.

4) If you are unsure whether you have already signed, you can sign the statement again, and all duplicate names will be eliminated.

Sincerely,

Mara Verheyden-Hillard and Carl Messineo, co-founders of Partnership for Civil Justice

Good video to watch

Tom ridge was outside the Crown Plaza Hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire rallying the people while they waited for John McCain, Gary Franchi was there to ask Ridge about a host of topics including the Amero, the NAU, 9/11, membership in the CFR and if he had ever gone to Bohemian Grove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuls3SiqGU0

http://www.restoretherepublic.com/content/view/808/71/

[PLEASE FORWARD]

>From your friends at:

RestoreTheRepublic.com, 3149 Dundee Rd #176, Northbrook, Illinois 60062, USA

 

A new Photo Slideshow by singer/songwriter Ed Hale shows NYC tourists that it’s not all Sex and the City in the Big Apple

“On March 19th, 2008 people all over the world took actions of all shapes and kinds to protest the fifth anniversary of the United States Government’s illegal invasion of the country of Iraq. There were protest marches, candle-light vigils, lobbying and petitions in Washington DC, and of course thousands of telephone calls and emails to the US Congress and the White House. Our idea was a simple one, and coincided with an observation I had made that disturbed me a few weeks prior while taking a shower . We live on a very busy street in a very busy city — New York City to be exact. And two or three times a day those BIG RED NEW YORK DOUBLE DECKER TOUR BUSES drive tourists from all over the world around the beautiful city of Manhattan. It bothered me greatly to realize that your average visitor to NYC would not see much anti-war sentiment in this very progressive and otherwise intelligent city. So what to do? Simple: hang a giant flag outside an apartment building for tourists from all nations to see as they drove by and snapped photos for their scrapbooks that had a simple message: WORLD WE’RE SORRY! As long as the US stays in Iraq, the flag will remain. The hope is that at least a few foriegners can go home and report to friends and family that there are at least some Americans who are aware and truly sorry for all the innocent bloodshed and lives lost.”

View Slideshow here