Mothers Change the World-- And You Can, Too!

This is a letter from CODEPINK organizers Jody, Gael and Medea
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Dear friend,

This Mother's Day weekend, you're invited to join The Saartjie Project, CODEPINK Women for Peace, and friends for a 24-hour vigil in front of the White House, where we will celebrate all mothers and women, honoring the original Mother's Day Proclamation of 1870 - a call for an end to war. Bring your mom, bring your kids & celebrate peace! You are also especially invited to a happy hour fundraiser to benefit the children of Gaza, and a panel discussion with women from war zones this Friday evening, May 8, at Andy Shallal's new restaurant, Eatonville, across the street from Bus Boys & Poets at 14th and V. Will you join us to celebrate Mother's Day, hear powerful stories and beautiful music, and take part in making history with the largest quilting bee ever outside the White House? Let us know that you'll join us for this inspiring weekend!Friday Night, May 8: Voices of Peace Fundraiser and Women's Panel6pm - 7pm Happy Hour Fundraiser for the children of GazaAn intimate private gathering with our Women's Voices panelists.

Light refreshments will be served.

$25 donation. Reserve your space today!

7-8:30pm Women's Voices PanelPanel discussion with women from war zones & countries under occupation. FREE event!Details at: www.codepinkalert.org/mothersdaypanel

Here is your invitation to this wonderful night, which will open our Mother's Day weekend:

Be the first to see Andy Shallal's newest restaurant, Eatonville! Andy has opened a fabulous new restaurant just across from his famous Busboys & Poets restaurant at 14th & V. Help us christen the new Zora Neale Hurston-inspired Eatonville with our Mother's Day kickoff event.Mother's Day Weekend, May 9-10, 1pm to 1pm at Lafayette Park, across from the White HouseHighlights to include: radical acts of knitting, film screenings, Saturday night Women's Voices Concert, activities for kids, pajama party, free Ben & Jerry's ice cream, a peace picnic and more! + We will be joined by many talented special guests for 24 hours of fun, peaceful, Mother's Day festivities!

For more info (including our line up and 24 hour vigil schedule), visit our site: http://www.mothersdayforpeace.com/

Let's make this Mother's Day a special one! You'll be in the best of company as we co-create a positive, powerful, compassionate (and pink!) community. And maybe the 3 generations of powerful women in the White House will come out and join us!!Here is your invitation to Mother's Day weekend:

We hope to see you this Friday night and at our 24-hour vigil outside the White House this weekend! Check out the full schedule of activities, buy dinner in the park in advance, and let us know you're coming at www.codepinkalert.org/mothersday. Bring your family and be prepared to have a joyful and inspiring time! Mother's Day can be seen at The Real News starting Saturday at 1pm. Visit http://www.therealnews.com/ to take part in the vigil virtually.And even if you can't join us in DC, you can send a rose to honor a mother whose life has been profoundly affected by war. For just $3, you can let a mother who has suffered know that you are standing with her in opposing the madness of war. On Mother's Day, we will present the roses to the mothers and tie others to the fence outside the White House as a memorial to the dead and a moving call for peace. Click here to buy a rose in honor of the mamas.
As President Obama said, "And so sometimes I think that if you just put the mothers in charge for a while, that things would get resolved."

In peace,

Jodie Evans, Gael Murphy, and Medea Benjamin
CODEPINK Co-founders

Mother's Day Weekend is cosponsored by: Action Center for Justice, American Muslim Voice, American Palestinian Women's Association (APWA), Beatitudes Society, Brave New Films, Breast Not Bombs, Congo Global Action, CREDO, Equality Now, Feminist Peace Network, Gabriela Network-Mariposa Alliance, GirleGirlArmy, Global Exchange, Granny Peace Brigade, Institute for Policy Studies, Just Foreign Policy, Little Friends for Peace, Lower East Side Girls Club, MADRE, Mamapalooza, Mothers Acting Up, Mujeres, Inc., Philippines, National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW), National Organization for Women (NOW), Office of the Americas, Peace Action, Peace is Loud, PeaceRoots Alliance, People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), The Real News, The Saartje Project, SeeJaneDo, September Eleventh Families for a Peaceful Tomorrow, United for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace, DC, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, Washington Peace Center, Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER), Women for Women International Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Women of Color Resource Center, World's Earth Alliance

On another Note...

Check out Liberated Muse members noon:30's press in online articles from the Washingtonian and the City Paper

Congrats ladies! We can't wait for you to rock out at the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest on July 25, 2009!

Join Novelist Ananda Leeke & Bloggers Around the World on World AIDS Day 2008

On December 1st, bloggers from around the world will unite for World AIDS Day 2008. Worldwide an estimated 33 million people are living with HIV. In the United States, an estimated one million Americans are living with HIV. In response, both the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy’s AIDS.gov have come together to share HIV/AIDS information with the blogging community for World AIDS Day 2008.

On December 1st in recognition of World AIDS Day 2008, Liberated Muse Productions will take part in this historic day of awareness. We encourage you to take part by adding your voice through your own blog on our Liberated Muse social network and by commenting on our blog post for that day. Together, we can reduce the stigma of this pandemic through our words, voices and actions.

Other Ways To Participate

As a blogger, you can help lead this mission. Some of you may already be doing this, so tell your story. Write about it and share it with NIDA, AIDS.gov and the Bloggers Unite community. Even if you are not a blogger, you can be involved. Here are five ways you can further the cause and elevate the voice of HIV/AIDS awareness online:

(1) 'Be-Friend' NIDA and AIDS.gov on MySpace to stay connected to the issue and those working within it. Learn the link about HIV/AIDS and drug abuse by viewing NIDA’s online Webisodes, a video series about how non-injection drug use can lead to increased risk behavior, and can change lives forever. Once you learn the link, be sure to send the link to friends and family.

(2) Visit the AIDS.gov blog and read how people are using new media tools in the response to HIV/AIDS.

(3) Join the AIDS.gov Facing AIDS World AIDS Day Campaign and take a picture of yourself wearing a red ribbon and use that photo on your social network, blog, or Web site to help eliminate stigma and recognize World AIDS Day online. Also, add a badge to your website or blog.

(4)Blog and read about the issue. Then be sure to share your posts with Bloggers Unite or on Twitter using the tag #WAD08.

(5) If you are on Facebook, add links to your Facebook status where people can read information on this day on how they too can get involved.

If you plan to take part in this day, make sure you click on the event link started on the Liberated Muse social network by novelist Ananda Kiamasha Leeke (in photo above).