SUPPORT PANYS WHEN YOU SHOP ONLINE!

Now you can raise money for the Peace Action Fund of New York State when you shop any online retailer through GoodShop.com. Almost every online merchant can be accessed through GoodShop.com and each purchase results in a donation to PANYS of approximately 3% of the sale. Here’s how it works:

1. Decide what you want to buy off the internet. When you know exactly what you want and where you want to buy it, you are ready for www.goodshop.com

2. Go to www.goodshop.com, write “Peace Action Fund of New York State” or “PAFNYS” in the “Who do you Goodshop for?” box and click the yellow “verify” button.

3. Now you will see a list of different online merchants that participate in Goodshop. If the one you have chosen isn’t listed, search for it on the left. You can see what percentage of your purchase will be donated to PANYS.

4. Goodshop will automatically redirect you to the homepage of your selected online retailer. Find your item and buy it for the exact same price as you otherwise would have paid. Feel free to use coupons, discounts, gifts cards, etc.
Save the NY Guard
As the war in Iraq changes from an invasion to a long-term occupation, the President no longer has Congressional authorization for the war. That means that Gov. Paterson is not required to accept the federalization of members of the New York State National Guard to serve in Iraq. Please join PANYS and our allies in a campaign to keep the New York Guard at home where they belong!
For more information, click here.
To sign an on-line petition, click here. Or download a petition here.
To go to the Save the Guard campaign web site, click here. October Debate at Hofstra University
Members of PANYS joined approximately 400 peace activists at the third and final Presidential debate at Hofstra University on October 15th. We were there to demand a peace President and support events organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Long Islands Alliances for Peaceful Alternatives. What began as a peaceful, fun afternoon turned scary when 15 people were arrested and an IVAW member was left bloodied and nearly unconscious after being trampled by a police officer on horseback. Thanks for your Support!
The Peace Action Fund of New York State recently hosted a series of 4 cocktail parties, featuring Trita Parsi, Jonathan Schell, Frida Berrigan, Laura Flanders, and Amb. Thomas Graham. They all had different themes, but the same message: building a peace movement is critical today and your support is vital. All of our great speakers gave us the opportunity to ask questions and have an engaged, dynamic conversation. Thank you to all of the participants and our great hosts for making our Fall 2008 Event Series a success. Honoring the 63rd Anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings
Across New York State this August, local Peace Action chapters and their allies held twelve events in honor of the 63rd anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Over 1100 New Yorkers participated in these solemn, informative remembrances, ranging from lantern releases and film screenings to potlucks and lectures. Click here for a full report. PANYS’ Second-annual Film Festival a Huge Success
PANYS’ second-annual film festival, “Wastelands: The Environmental Casualties of War” was a huge success. Over 100 New Yorkers saw films and participated in discussions surrounding the link between environmental destruction and war. Thanks to all who came out, to our co-sponsors, the Sierra Club of NYC and the New York League of Conservation Voters, and to Cupcake Cafe for the beautiful space!

Dutchess Peace Coalition
Peace Action New York State welcomes its 15th Chapter: Dutchess Peace Coalition. Dr. King’s words “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice” are the motto of Duchess Peace Coalition. PANYS embraces this idea, just as it embraces its newest chapter, Dutchess Peace Coalition. The Coalition has been active in planning peace and justice events for years and PANYS is proud to welcome it into its family.

PANYS is now on Facebook!
Peace Action New York State now has a Group page on Facebook. Please join our group to get updates on upcoming events (like our summer film festival "Wastelands: Environmental Casualties of War") and help us recruit friends. 2 New Chapters Join the PANYS Family.
Bay Ridge Peace Action is a new group in Brooklyn, but they are already making themselves heard outside of Rep. Fossella's office every week. Peace Action International is new to PANYS, but has been doing amazing work at the United Nations for years. That expands the PANYS network to 14 chapters. Welcome to Bay Ridge and International! PANYS Chapters PANYS ED Speaks About Nuclear Weapons.
On March 25th Cheryl Wertz gave comments to the Dept. of Energy about the Bush administration’s plan for new nuclear weapons, Complex Transformation. For a copy of Cheryl’s testimony, click here. Three weeks later, Cheryl gave a presentation entitled “Current Struggles in Nuclear Disarmament” to a group of students, faculty and community members at SUNY Geneseo as part of the Contemporary Forum series. PANYS Membership Drive Begins
On Thursday, March 6th, Peace Action officially kicked off its 2008 membership drive with a student outreach event at Hunter College. If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2008, click here. Remember, as a grassroots non-profit organization we are depended on your support to grow the peace movement. We must be able to use every tool available to create a sane foreign policy! The Folly of Attacking Iran
Stephen Kinzer (author of All the Shah's Men) and Christopher Hedges (former NY Times writer) spoke to a packed house of Peace Action members and allies at Columbia University recently. Along with Ervand Abrahamian and Bill Berkeley, the speakers highlighted the lessons learned in Iraq about acting on false information and the need for dialogue. For more information, or to support HR 5056, legislation that would require US diplomatic relations with Iran, click here. Peace Voter Impact
On Super Tuesday and before, members of Peace Action around the state, distributed more than 8,000 Peace Voter guides. The guides outlined the candidates' positions on the war in Iraq, diplomacy with Iran, and nuclear abolition. We encouraged voters to make informed choices and let Congressional candidates know that we will hold them accountable in the fall.

Peace Action: Past, Present, and Future by Larry Wittner and Glen Harold Stassen.
More Info

Peace Action: Past present and Future is on sale now for $15.00 (plus shipping and handling)

Raise Congressional Pressure to End the War!
Peace Action of New York State will be giving members of congress report cards; showing the progress made/or not made on ending the war and establishing a saner U.S. foreign policy. For more information or to participate, e-mail or call the office at 646-723-1749, melissa@panys.org

Report Cards on each congressperson and their stance on Iraq:

Michael Arcuri	Michael McNulty
Vito Fossella	Charles Rangel
Nita Lowey
Nydia Velázquez