Announcements:

A World Free of Nuclear Weapons

We now have a rare opportunity to make significant progress in reducing and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons in our world. Over seventy percent of the American people want the U.S. to take a leadership role in reducing and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons. Four former high ranking U.S. statesmen have publicly recommended that the President take a leadership role in this effort. Fourteen former senior U.S. diplomats have endorsed their recommendations. Within the past month a similar call, published in the London Times, came from four prominent British statesmen. In addition, both presidential candidates have expressed a desire to reduce nuclear weapons, one even going so far as promising to take a lead in eliminating them.

But we all know that change, particularly on such an important issue as this, does not come from the top down, but from the bottom up. Now is the time for concerned citizens all across the country to get involved, raise their collective voices, and demand U.S. leadership on this issue. NSPI believes that “When people lead, leaders follow.”

Please sign the following two initiatives. Together we can help bring about a World Free of Nuclear Weapons.

Sign the Petition

Sign E-Letter

Posted on 7/13/08 by North Suburban Peace Initiative

Global Warming Pollution in Illinois and Recommended Actions to Reduce in Illinois and Nationally

Global warming pollution in Illinois increased by 22% between 1990 and 2004, according to an analysis of state fossil fuel consumption data released by Environment Illinois. Using data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy, Environment Illinois's report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption between 1990 and 2004, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are available. more... http://nspipeace.org/issues/energyglobalwarming.php

A Common Sense Stimulus Package: Ending the War and Occupation of Iraq.

President Bush and Congress are now scrambling to pull together some kind of a stimulus package for the ailing U.S. economy that will add another $150 to $200 billion to our national debt of over 9 trillion dollars. In the meanwhile they continue to ignore the most obvious stimulus package we could give our economy and that is ending the war and occupation of Iraq. We are spending $720 million a day or $500,000 a minute in Iraq. Imagine what we could do with those dollars!

Take two minutes to view a video that has been produced by our friends at AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) detailing some of the critical human needs that could be funded here in the United States after we provide aid for the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and an eventual Iraqi-led repair and reconstruction if we end this war now.



Now please sign our e-letter urging Congressional representatives, leaders and the Presidential candidates to take immediate action to end this war and occupation of Iraq and provide for these critical domestic humanitarian needs. http://nspipeace.org/eletters/index.php?eid=4

Recent modest security gains in sections of Iraq do not justify extending the U.S. occupation, especially when five years of occupation have not produced the political reconciliation within Iraq necessary for real security and stability. The fragile security improvements are not sustainable without a political solution, which is not forthcoming. And without a clear path to political progress, we will simply see more of the same failed strategy in the midst of bloody sectarian warfare with no end in sight.

In December, Congress provided $70 billion more in unconditional supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, representing 40 percent of the administration's nearly $200 billion war funding request for 2008.We now spend almost 4 billion dollars a week in Iraq while U.S. military casualties will soon reach 4,000, with another 30,000 wounded. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died since the U.S. invasion and 4 million have fled their homes.

Further compounding this very concerning situation, Congress could also face a new Iraq policy challenge in the spring. The Bush administration seems determined to establish what in effect would be permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq before it leaves office. A cooperation agreement that the administration intends to negotiate with the Iraqi government by July 31 could include a U.S. commitment to station some 50,000 troops in Iraq indefinitely, preempting the ability of both Congress and the next president to carry out a larger draw down or a complete U.S. withdrawal.

Our first objective continues to be to gain additional support from senators and representatives who are calling for legislation mandating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq and calling for cutting off war funding.

Short of that, Congress must be persuaded to include three key provisions to any future supplementary funding for Iraq. They are:

ï Approval of any future supplementary funding must include a specific timetable for withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq and bring them home

ï Approval of any future supplementary funding must include a provision that would stop the Bush Administration from establishing formal agreements with the Iraqi Government for permanent bases and long term troop commitments.

President Bush is rushing to complete a deal with the Iraqi government before he leaves office in January 2009 that would establish permanent bases in Iraq and govern the deployment of American troops in Iraq for years to come. George Bush must not be allowed to tie the hands of his successor to a continued commitment to an open-ended war. Americaís interest demands that his successor have maximum flexibility to plot a course, which we hope includes a quick and orderly withdrawal. Congress should amend the supplemental to require congressional approval of any U.S.-Iraq agreement and prohibit the expenditure of funds to implement any agreement without congressional approval.

ï Finally, future supplementary funding must include a mandate for inclusive regional diplomacy with Iran and Syria and other neighboring countries to Iraq.

NSPI believes in-depth discussions and agreements with these neighboring countries are key to ending the war and withdrawing all U.S. troops from Iraq.

We also ask each of you to send this information on to five or ten of your friends urging them to take similar action. Thank you

To send your letter click here http://nspipeace.org/eletters/sign.php?eid=4#form

Action Alerts

We ask you to take action on the following issues. These are issues that will be debated in Congress and legislative action will be taken on each of them during the next four weeks. Please take a few minutes to review the NSPI positions on each of these issues and voice your opinions to our elected representatives. Time is of the essence, please act now.

Action on Iran

Over the past several months the Bush administration has taken a number of aggressive foreign policy actions that could lead to war with Iran. Some of these actions include imposing sweeping new sanctions against more than half of the current members of the Iranian cabinet and nearly 30 percent of the parliament. Recent statements by Vice President Dick Cheney that threatened Iran with "serious consequences" for defying the U.S. and similar comments by President Bush warning that a confrontation with Iran could lead to "World War III."

Late in 2007, the U.S. Intelligence Agencies issued a startling report stating with "high confidence" that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. Yet since that time President Bush and members of his senior staff have stated that this new information does not in any way change their aggressive foreign policy towards Iran. Congress must send a strong message to President Bush on this issue as soon as possible.

http://nspipeace.org/eletters/sign.php?eid=2#form