As women embracing life and peace, we declare ourselves opposed to any military action, particularly a preemptive strike, against Iraq. As women, we have been the victims of many kinds of violence. We call on you, our Congress members, to oppose any military action. We make this demand for ourselves, our children, our parents, our brothers, husbands and friends. We make this demand because we understand that warfare creates endless cycles of violence, destruction and death, impoverishing us spiritually and economically. We make this demand because warfare destroys family life, throwing whole communities into exile and turning children into orphans. We make this demand because we cannot build happy lives on a ground polluted by violence.

We believe this is a defining moment in the life of our country. We will either take our place in the family of nations as seekers of peace and justice or we will start down a terrible road to war, unleashing the fury of generations to come on our land. We call upon you to act with integrity, to show courage and remember that you are guardians of the public trust and of the world we leave to our children.

We oppose a war against Iraq. We oppose all elected officials who support this war. There is no other issue greater than the cause of peace. No past stand or history can be called upon to overshadow the imperative to stand today for peace. We, as women acting to shape public life, dedicate our energy, resources, and hopes to those who establish peace.

There will be no war in our names. If you want our support and votes, stop this war! SIGN ON TO THIS PETITION

If you happen to be in New York City on October 3, check out “Not in our Name” – a discussion with folks who are consciously against war and repression. They also are doing a lot of really good public conscious raising, including a New York Times ad explaining their position, whereby Bush does not speak for all Americans (signed by lots of famous folks).

A new Florida law requires women who want to give their unborn up for adoption to publish their sexual histories in the local newspapers of the town in which the child was conceived.

“When women come into my office and find their whole lives have to be exposed in the newspaper, they are like, ‘Forget it.’ They can abort without consent, but they can’t give the child an opportunity to live without humiliating themselves.”