E-News: “Can” the New Bomb Plant, Job Openings at FCNL, & More

www.fcnl.org * Support FCNL* Sign up for weekly updates from Washington * Update your email address March 20, 2007 Grassroots Action: You Can Tell Congress to ‘Can’ the New Bomb Plant FCNL in the News: U.S. Presses For New Nuclear Weapons (Chemical and Engineering News) Iraq: Tell Congress Four Years Is Enough Grassroots Action: 41% of Your Taxes Go to War – Pass It On From the Hill: Call in Day on Habeas Corpus Job Openings at FCNL: Receptionist, Business Assistant, Strategic Campaigns Resource: Redefining Quaker Simplicity Quote of the Week: Evangelical Statement on Torture Photo of the Week: War is Not the Answer To read this newsletter online visit www.fcnl.org/email/e-newsletter/20mar07.htm Grassroots Action: You Can Tell Congress to ‘Can’ the New Bomb Plant The Bush administration has launched a $150 billion program to rebuild the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and return production capacity to Cold War levels. The plan includes a proposal to develop the first new nuclear warhead in nearly two decades. A key element in this proposal is a plan for a new bomb plant. Let your members of Congress know that you oppose this new bomb plant. Send them empty soup cans wrapped in FCNL’s “Can the New Bomb Plant” label. FCNL has prepared everything you need to make and send your own "Can the New Bomb Plant" can. Download can labels (PDF) and invite your friends to a can-making party! Find out more. FCNL in the News: U.S. Presses For New Nuclear Weapons (Chemical and Engineering News) “There is more public opposition to this program today than on anything I have seen in a decade. Please go back and come up with a program that really addresses national security needs and is something we can support." ~ FCNL Quaker Nuclear Disarmament Program lobbyist David Culp, testifying at an Energy Department hearing about the administration’s plans to transform the nuclear weapons complex and produce a new generation of nuclear weapons. Quoted in Chemical and Engineering News, 3/17/07 Iraq: Tell Congress Four Years Is Enough As the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq entered its fifth year this week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the president’s request for another $100 billion to support the failed U.S. strategy in Iraq (read an update on congressional actions). We at FCNL are opposed to any new funding for war. If a majority in Congress is not willing to stop the supplemental, tell your representative not to approve one more dollar for the Iraq war without also insisting on a date certain for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. Grassroots Action: 41% of Your Taxes Go to War – Pass It On The U.S. spent a staggering $835 billion in 2006 on the military. As a result, 41 cents out of every dollar you're paying in federal income taxes this year is going to the military. FCNL has developed a flyer illustrating how the taxes you must pay by April 17, 2007, are being spent. Write your members of Congress. Tell them that next year's budget should put more money into housing, health care, diplomacy, and efforts to peacefully prevent deadly conflicts. Find out more. From the Hill: Call in Day on Habeas Corpus The Friends Committee on National Legislation joins Amnesty International, the ACLU, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, and other groups this week urging constituents to telephone their senators to act against the use of torture. The national call-in week (March 19 to March 23) is focused on building support for legislation that would restore habeas corpus rights for all detainees. Call the Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121, ask for your senators by name and ask them to cosponsor the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. Job Openings at FCNL: Receptionist, Business Assistant, Strategic Campaigns Do you know someone who might want to work for FCNL? Help FCNL build our team of dedicated, hard working staff in Washington. Please pass these job descriptions along to people who might be qualified and interested. Resource: Redefining Quaker Simplicity The current clerk of FCNL’s General Committee Marge Abbot and her husband, Carl Abbott, use FCNL’s renovated green building as an example to explore the meanings of architectural simplicity as one way that contemporary Quakers express their faith. Quote of the Week: Evangelical Statement on Torture “Our military and intelligence forces have worked diligently to prevent further attacks. But such efforts must not include measures that violate our own core values… The United States historically has been a leader in supporting international human rights efforts, but our moral vision has blurred since 9/11." An Evangelical Declaration Against Torture: Protecting Human Rights in an Age of Terror endorsed by the board of the National Association of Evangelicals. Photo of the Week: War is Not the Answer FCNL staff at a recent demonstration against the Iraq War. Order your War is Not the Answer sign today! ________________________________________ Contact Congress and the Administration Subscribe to other FCNL legislative, policy, and action alert lists. ________________________________________ Friends Committee on National Legislation 245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795 fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330 We seek a world free of war and the threat of war We seek a society with equity and justice for all We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled We seek an earth restored.