Mother’s Day 2007

Posted on May 12, 2007 by admin

Thank you to all who attended our Stand in the Park for Peace event on Saturday, May 12th!

Grannies, Mothers, & Daughters joined together in a silent vigil at Albany’s Washington Park Tulip Festival. The group continued to expand until there were between 70 and 80 women. We did wonderfully at maintaining a strong and moving silence.

This silent vigil took place in a number of cities & towns across the US, as well as in 70 countries throughout the world! It was inspired by the book,
The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering, by Sharon Mehdi

But Silence is Not Enough: For all our children’s sake, wage peace…
Express your desire for peace in the world…
Voice your outrage that we continue to wage war in foreign lands…
Show your community and government that you stand for peaceful solutions…
Gather with like-minded individuals in a spirit of love and harmony…

Following the hour-long silent vigil, women spread out in pairs throughout the park, distributing leaflets about the event.

Click here to see more Mother’s Day pictures.

Silent Vigil

As we Stand in the Park for Peace from 1-2 PM, we are part of a Standing Women’s Global Village in 70 countries, on every continent, this weekend. We stand as a positive demonstration of our deep impulse to do what we can toward a better future for our children, grandchildren and the seven generations beyond.

As we stand, we can acknowledge that we are the ones who can create the positive future we seek.
In silence, we can invite our own deep wisdom, so that we may model the kind and gentle world that we seek for our children.
We can notice how it feels to be with all those who stand with us.
In follow-up conversations, we can take note of the visions and actions that arise for us and others.

To learn about Grannies for Peace: write info@womenagainstwar.org

Mother’s Day 2007 Gallery

Gallery

Posted on May 1, 2007 by admin

This gallery contains 15 photos.

No More Taxes for Iraq

Posted on April 18, 2007 by admin

On Wednesday, April 18th, 2007, Grannies for Peace, a project of Women Against war, joined with Peace Action and Albany Friends Meeting in sponsoring this special vigil and leafleting campaign that brought attention to the link between tax day and the need to cut off funds for the Iraq War. Our Albany Vigil was part of a network of actions coordinated across the country by Bay Area Grandmothers Against the War. We are pleased that Code Pink, of whichwe are a local affiliate, also organized events nationwide to link Iraq and taxes.

War is Warming

Posted on April 14, 2007 by admin

Women Against War co-sponsored a global warming event on Saturday, April 14, 2007 at the Lake House in Albany’s Washington Park, as part of Step It Up 2007, one of many events held in the area and around the country calling for changes in US climate policies.

The event included speakers, music, food, and discussion sessions, followed by a rally and march to the Capitol. Other sponsors included the Honest Weight Food Coop and many local environmental and peace and justice groups.

Grannies for Peace, a project of Women Against War, has created a flier linking war and global warming, that was handed out at the event. Several grannies copied the fliers for distribution in their communities or churches. There’s a lot of attention right now on global warming, so feel free to download the flier and distribute it in your office, neighborhood, faith community or at a global warming event in your area.

Mother’s Day 2006

Posted on May 1, 2006 by admin

Leafleting to Prevent War against Iran

A dozen Women Against War members celebrated Mother’s Day 2006 by handing out fliers at the annual Tulip Festival celebration in Albany’s Washington Park.

Decked out in pink and wearing signs saying No Attack on Iranian Mothers and Children and Mothers’ Day for Peace, the leafleters were warmly received by almost all. Friendly “Happy Mother’s Day” greetings seemed to lower barriers, reaching many new people.

1000 fliers were distributed in the first 45 minutes, with a Mothers’ Day Quiz about Iran on one side and a statement of concern about the moral tragedy of war on the other.

The event’s success led to a leafleting campaign at community festivals throughout the summer of 2006.

Mother’s Day 2005
Op-Ed in the Albany Times Union

On Saturday, May 7.2005, the Albany Times Union carried an eloquent Op-Ed piece by Judith Fetterley, Women Against War activist and professor emeritus of English and Women’s Studies at the University at Albany: War is Not the Answer for Mothers.

Another useful resource: Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation, 1870