
| For more than 90 years, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has been in the vanguard of national and international protests against war, supporters of struggles for justice and freedom, and advocates of women's rights. This organization was founded in 1915, during World War I. Jane Addams of the United States was a founder and its first president. Ms. Addams and Emily Greene Balche, a co-founder, are the only United States women ever to be honored as Nobel Laureates of Peace. While we have been obliged to spend an inordinate amount of time and energy in anti-war protests during the past 75 years, the major thrust of our work is in fostering and nurturing friendship among people of all nations, the successful achievement of equal rights for minorities and abused majorities, and support of all programs that seek as their end a world of peace, freedom and justice. Our goals and our membership transcend race and sex, skip across borders, oceans, and continents. WE WORK IN THE PRESENT TO INSURE THE FUTURE Local Tucson Branch The Tucson Branch conducts monthly public meetings the third Saturday of each month September through May. Well- informed speakers bring new information about subjects that are of current interest because of political, social, economic or environmental concern. We maintain an Action Team of branch members (by e-mail or phone) who are willing to respond to legislative alerts when phone calls are needed to encourage our elected officials to support or oppose proposed legislation. We have study groups concerned with issues of globalization; the military-corporation-connection; and how girls and women both affect and are affected by the local-to-global economy. Our branch works cooperatively with other peace and justice groups in the area, and helped found the ongoing weekly (Thursday afternoon) presence at the Federal Building, protesting U. S. intervention. Each Tax Day we distribute leaflets at a U.S. Post Office telling customers how our tax money is spent, and how it should be spent. Our Steering Committee meets each month to plan programs and share outreach about current events. Meetings of the Tucson Branch are held the third Saturday of the month, at 2:00 p.m. Please call one of the numbers below to confirm if planning to attend as occasionally meetings are changed. Are you on our e-list? If not, contact us at Pat Birnie to join our weekly reminders of meetings, action alerts and legislation that need our participation. Contact these Tucson Branch leaders with your ideas or questions: President/Co-Chair Mary MacEwan 622-5743 Co-Chair Alma Berkowitz 791-9535 Legislative Rep Pat Birnie 661-9671 Treasurer Anne Brenner 299-6386 Newsletter Pat Pecoraro 885-3908 Webmistress Karen Thompson 906-5005 Check our Web Sites: National: www.wilpf.org International: http://www.wilpf.int.ch CALL or E-MAIL! HALT THE ILLEGAL INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ! BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW! Contact elected officials (OFTEN) Congress: TOLL-FREE: 1-800-459-1887 White House: Phone (pay): 202-456-1111; Fax: 202-456-2461; E-mail: comments@whitehouse.gov Senator Jon Kyl: local Ph.: 575-8633; E-mail: www.kyl.senate.gov; click on “contact online form”. Senator John McCain: local Ph.: 670-6334; Web Page (click on contact us) :www.mccain.senate.gov. Rep. Raul Grijalva: local Ph.: 629-0050; Web Page (click on contact us): www.house.gov/writerep/Grijavla/ (Dist. 7) Rep. Gabriella Giffords: local Ph.: 881-3588 ________________________________________ |