October 9

Lobby Day to Oppose War on Iraq, co-sponsored by NETWORK (a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby), Leadership Conference of Women Religious and Pax Christi USA.  Participants are asked to make their own appointments with their members of Congress (call the Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121), then come to the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave. N.E., Room #3, where NETWORK will provide packets for lobby visits and answer any questions.  Concurrent with the visits, and as members of Congress are debating, a vigil will be held all day near the House and Senate office buildings.   The day will conclude with a 6 p.m. "Evening Prayer Vigil for Peace" at Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th Street.  If you are coming to Washington, D.C., for the Lobby Day, please RSVP to NETWORK at 202-547-5556 x 12.   For more information, see www.networklobby.org

Noon Thursday, October 10, First Amendment Room, National Press Club, 14th and "F" Streets, Washington, D.C. - Luncheon news conference opposing a U.S.-led preemptive strike against Iraq, featuring speakers from many U.S. sectors.

Contacts: Martha Honey, Erik Leaver or Miriam Pemberton, Foreign Policy in Focus, 202-234-9382, and Chris Toensing, Middle East Research and Information Project, 202-223-3677.

Details: Co-sponsors of this event are Foreign Policy in Focus, a project of the Institute for Policy Studies; the Middle East Research and Information Project; Fourth Freedom Forum; Global Exchange; National Organization for Women; Global Security Institute, National Council of Churches; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Women's Action for New Directions.

Speakers and attendees will include leading members of religious, labor, academic, business and minority communities; former military leaders; activists from the women’s and student movements, and family members of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Robert Borosage, Co-Director of the Campaign for America’s Future, will analyze the politics behind the Congressional resolutions and the ongoing maneuvering in the U.N. Security Council. Other speakers will include: the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches; Ben Cohen of Ben&Jerry’s and Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities; Ambassador Jonathan Dean of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Olga Vivas of the National Organization for Women. Thirty college newspaper editors from around the country will be attending.

Also available at the event will be: Richard Falk, professor of international law, Princeton University; Bill Fletcher, president TransAfrica; Anas Shallal, Iraqi-American businessman; Jonathan Granoff, president, Global Security Institute; Ben McKean, student, Harvard University and president, United Students Against Sweatshops; Linda Fuller, co-founder, Habitat for Humanity; Ambassador James Goodby, U.S. negotiator of 30 arms control agreements.

All the participants share common concerns and will present a united voice in asking questions the American public needs answers to: Why the rush to war? Will attacking Iraq increase the likelihood of more terrorism against the United States? Is unilateral action and "regime change" consistent with a responsible foreign policy and long-term international security? How will war affect an already sagging U.S. economy?

Contacts: Communication Department, National Council of Churches, 212-870-2252/2227.

Details: Leaders will include the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches; Jim Wallis, Executive Director, Sojourners; Jim Winkler, Executive Director, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, and Linda Fuller, Co-Founder, Habitat for Humanity. Program 7-8 p.m. will move inside the building if it’s raining.

Contact: J.E. McNeil, Center on Conscience and War, 202-483-2220, or the NCC Communication Department, 212-870-2252/2227.

Details: The hearing has been called by Rep. Davis, the National Council of Churches, the Center on Conscience and War, EPIC (Education for Peace in Iraq Center), the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the United Methodist Church, Pax Christi, the Church of the Brethren Washington, D.C., Office, and others.

Persons offering testimony will include Peter Lems, American Friends Service Committee; United Methodist Bishops C. Joseph Sprague and Beverly J. Shamana; the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches; Mahdi Bray, Executive Director, Muslim American Freedom Foundation; Arun Gandhi, Director, Gandhi Institute, Christian Brothers University, Nashville, Tenn.; Liliane Baxter, Chair, Fellowship of Reconciliation National Council, and member of the Jewish Peace Fellowship; William G. Sinkford, President, Unitarian Universalist Association; Shaun Casey, Christian ethicist from Wesley Theological Seminary; the Rev. John Thomas, President, United Church of Christ; Ibrahim Ramey, Fellowship of Reconciliation, and others.

Their focus will be on the morality of a U.S. attack on Iraq, and on the effects on the citizens of the United States.

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