LPF is highlighting two advocacy issues now: Ukraine, and Climate Change. Here’s a brief summary of each followed by links to especially useful and insightful sources of information and advocacy options.
1. The war in Ukraine is destructive and brutal, often targeting civilians and crucial resources like housing, food, and energy (as weather is becoming much colder).
LPF supports a new faith-based sign-on effort that recalls a remarkable one that German and English soldiers declared at Christmas in 1914!
It calls for a Christmas truce in Ukraine this year. It is gaining wide support of faith groups around the nation. It calls on the US government to work for a truce and begin negotiations now to end this war. Here is a link to see this statement and/or sign it: forusa.org/ukraine
We also lift up links to efforts to support Russian conscientious objectors, info on and ways to support Ukrainian groups committed to non-violence. There are many nonviolent ways we and elected officials can support peace in Ukraine.
Links for more information and advocacy options:
- Call for Christmas Truce: forusa.org/ukraine
- Six Nonviolent Ways Congress Can Help Ukraine: www.fcnl.org/updates/2022-04/six-nonviolent-ways-congress-can-help-ukraine
Amplifying stories of nonviolent struggle from Ukraine, Russia and the world at large
- Statement of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement: peacenews.info/node/10389/peace-agenda-ukraine-and-world
2. We also support efforts to push our government to act decisively and soon on Climate Change. See links to activist groups like the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, etc., government programs, UN action, and notably, efforts of young climate activists:
- 2022 Federal Organizing Toolkit | Sierra Club
- Climate and Energy | Sierra Club
- The biggest thing Congress has ever done to address climate change | Environmental Defense Fund
- UN: Climate Plans Remain Insufficient: More Ambitious Action Needed Now
- How Young Climate Activists built a Mass Movement to be Reckoned With: www.juancole.com/2022/11/activists-movement-reckoned.html
- LPF Advocacy update on Climate Change, with links (PDF)
3. Our top priority for strengthening LPF is for our members to think of people who would make good candidates to serve on LPF’s board and contact us by email, phone, or mail to share their names and strengths. Share with our coordinator: ggersmehl@hotmail.com; 206.349.2501; LPF, 1710 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122. See our 1-page outline of board member functions, activities, and commitments (PDF).