Peace Action of Staten Island: Actions

P.O. Box 201 St. George Station, Staten Island NY 10301
pasi.eblast@gmail.com
718-989-2881

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Three Basic Processes

     Membership in Peace Action involves three basic processes - learning, acting, and organizing.

Learning
     This is the first and most important process. We must all become educated on the issues. Everyone already has gut feelings about nuclear weapons and war, but emotional reactions aren't convincing arguments when discussing foreign policy. Neither are the issues and context of the eighties. Things have changed. The new threats - an American foriegn policy of imperial domination of the globe though the militarization and nuclearization of space, the proliferation of more nuclear weapons in a new arms race, a Congress, almost completely in thrall to global corporate interests, that has long since surrendered its Consitutional prerogative to declare war to the Executive Branch, public opinion increasingly in the grip of jingoistic media beholden to corporate interests - we must first understood all this clearly.
     The information is out there. Helen Caldicott's new book, The New Nuclear Danger, George W. Bush's Military-Industrial Complex, is an excellent place to start. Buy this book and read it. The Links list at left provides a good start to the wealth of information on the internet. The important thing is to take the time to learn. That's the first, most important, and constant requirement of membership in this group. .

Acting
     Learning empowers us and gives us the confidence for to speak out instead of holding our tongues when the opportunity arises. Essentially,action is simply the age-old process of speaking out. Taking a stand publicly, getting a serious conversation going. It can be one-on-one, in a group, with friends or total strangers, informal or as formal as a speaking engagement. It can be as simple as showing up at a tabling booth, going to a march or vigil. The column at right lists our basic committees and activities. Pick one. Invest your energy. Get involved. Pass it on. "Pay it forward."

Organizing
    . This final stage supports the first two. Become a member or leader of the Committees - Education, Membership, Media, Events and Action, Fundraising. Join the phone tree, tell people about meetings and other activities. Help produce handbills and leaflets. Take responsibility for Peace Action, keeping it alive and connected to the wider movement.

Committees and Activities

Education
   • This is an activity we must all do, keeping ourselves up to date on the issues.
   • Read, discuss, and become informed about the issues: nuclear weapons and disarmament, Star Wars, and effects of U.S. foreign policy.
   • Prepare to become a member of the Speakers Bureau

Outreach/Membership
   • Tell your friends, co-workers, and church or group members about Peace Action
   • Write Letters to the Editor

   • Call or write legislators

   • Staff the the Peace Action table (e.g., the Waterfront Festival on August 24 and September 14.
   • Recruit new members, welcome them, get to know them, work with them.
   • Create and operate a telephone tree to contact members for upcoming events, meetings, and other activities.
   • Contact civic groups and get invitations for our Speakers Bureau to talk to them.

Speakers Bureau
• Meet to develop, critique, and rehearses effective group prresentations
• Address civic groups, churches, and other organizations.

Events & Action
• Keep tabs on legislators and conduct call-in and write-in campaigns and petition drives.
• Plan, organize, and produce forums, rallies, vigils, parties, etc.

Media
• Produce fliers, pamphlets, sample letters to the editor, petitions, press releases, and informational pieces.
• Maintain the website.

Fundraising
• Raise funds to support our activities.
• Collect membership dues.