February 26, 2007

If I can't appeal to your inner sense of justice...

...then I am more than willing to appeal to your stomach. I just ordered some delicious food for our kickoff meeting and I hope you'll join us at Earthfare to enjoy it. We've got organic fruit & cheese platters, classic sandwich platters, a scrumptious crudite platter with Italian herb dip and Garlic Roasted Hummus with pita chips. Mmmmmm mmmmm....

Please help spread the word to anyone you think may be interested. The more the merrier!

February 23, 2007

You're Invited To Our Kickoff Meeting!

CodePink:Columbia is just stretching its legs and getting its feet off the ground...and we need your help! Please join us at our kickoff meeting to help us energize, organize and brainstorm!

What: CodePink:Columbia's Kickoff Meeting
When: Monday, March 5th at 5:45 pm
Where: The Community Room @ Earthfare
3312-B Devine St.Columbia, SC 29205

We plan to meet for 1-1.5 hours and EVERYONE is welcome- men and women, young and old, Democrats/ Republicans/ Libertarians...please join us to help define what we want to accomplish, brainstorm how to get there, and make plans to shake Columbia out of its complacent slumber. Hey, I'll even feed ya if you come. :) Questions? Contact Lela at 803.467.4997.

February 17, 2007

Barack Rocked the House



Barak Obama had a stellar tournout last night for his first Columbia appearance. More than 3,000 people came out to show their support and the energy inside the Convention Center was nothing short of electric! Sen. Obama had some terrific ideas and he certainly delivered an enthusiatic talk...my sincere hope is that Barak walks out what he said last night. That remains to be seen. Enjoy a few pics of the event, courtesy of Ira Cooper. Click here to read the USA Today article on Obama's visit to SC.

Special thank to Wade Fulmer, Elaine and Ira Cooper who had to work some magic to get a ticket to the event for me. I am in your debt!

Hillary Clinton's Coming To Columbia

Senator Clinton will be visiting Columbia on Monday, February 19th.

Conversation with South Carolinians

When: Monday, February 19, 2007 at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Where: Allen University, John Hurst Adams Gymnatorium (1530 Harden Street in Columbia)


Click here to view Hillary' latest videocast on her plans for the Iraq conflict. These presidential candidate visits are the perfect opportunity to make your voice heard...think the candidates on the mark with their views n the war? Show up and tell them so. Think they're not doing enough? Make a sign expressing your opinion and attend the event. Completely disagree with their thinking? Put in a call to their office letting them know where you stand. Better yet, make a banner and demonstrate outside the event. No matter where you stand, this is a critical time to make an impression on the people who stand a good shot at running this country soon. Please consider getting involved!

Code Pink Gallery

From Columbia, SC to Washington DC- CodePinker's are making their voices heard!










February 15, 2007

Peace Demonstration this Saturday

Join Code Pink and Military Families Speak Out this Saturday (the 17th) at the Five Points Fountain for a peace rally. The gathering begins at 1pm and wraps up around 2:30, with coffee following at Adriana's. Hope you can make it!

Barak Obama visits Columbia

Sen. Obama will be at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Friday afternoon (that's tomorrow!), with doors opening at 4:30pm. The supply of free tickets has been exhausted, but there will likely be extras available if you show up at the venue.

If you miss Barak on Friday, Sen. Obama will be at Claflin University in Orangeburg for a Town Hall Meeting. Doors at the Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center open at 10:00am.

February 12, 2007

Preparing For Non-Violent Political Action

It doesn’t matter if you’re attending a large national rally or a smaller, local event, here’s some valuable info on how to prepare:

1.Wear comfortable shoes. This is not the time to break in those new boots or show off those hot heels you’re madly in love with. Put comfort above all else.

2. Bring a sign. Your warm body at a rally is invaluable, but bringing a sign boosts the impact. Click here to visit our tutorial on creating effective signs.

3. Leave your valuables at home. If you can’t stand to lose it, please don’t bring it. Tuck some cash and your ID in your pocket and leave your purse at home or locked securely in your car.

4. Pack a snack. If you’ll be there for a while, bring along a granola bar, dried fruit or dry cereal to boost your energy.

5. Check the weather before you go. Make sure you’re aware of current conditions and dress appropriately. Bring a hat, scarf and gloves if you need it. If possible, dress in layers that you can peel and tie around your waist if things start to heat up.

6. Don’t forget your cell phone. It’s easy to get separated in large crowds and a fully-charged cell phone may be your saving grace.

7. Prepare your children. They can be an important part of the process of they’re adequately prepared. To learn more, visit our tutorial on preparing children for political action.

8. Get your head in the game. Understand that while some people you encounter will enthusiastically support your efforts, others you see may be less than thrilled. Take a moment before entering the rally/protest/march area to contemplate why you’re there and what you hope to accomplish. When you are faced with ugliness, the best technique is to smile gently, flash a peace sign, and silently reflect on your purpose for being there. You’re expressing your views and others will express theirs, but that’s the beauty of the system…

Creating Effective Protest Signs

Don’t worry if you’ve never before made a sign for a rally/march/protest. It’s actually quite easy to do if you follow the basic guidelines.

1. Choose the right material: Posterboard is fine, foamboard is better. Both are inexpensive and easy to find- check your local art supply and office stores. Foam board is less likely to crinkle and distort shape and less likely to send you flailing about in a strong breeze. Handles are optional…the easiest way to create a handle is to use a 36” wooden dowel, about ½” in diameter. Check Home Depot or Lowe’s…

2. Pay careful attention to your message: The fewer words, the better. Remember that cars will be zooming by, media cameras will pan quickly, etc. The fewer words you include, the bigger the impact you’re likely to make. Short quotes, large images and brief catchphrases are best. Remember to make 2 identical signs and attach them to one another to create a “front” and “back.” If you only letter one side of your sign, you’ll miss half of your audience!

3. Format is everything: The easiest way to make a bold, clear statement is to print out your message using a color or black & white printer and adhere it to your board. If you choose to hand-write your sign, be sure to use large block letters, and strong colors with a high level of contrast to your background. Try not to over-adorn the sign as it will detract from your message.

4. Assembling an effective sign: If you print out your message, adhere it to the poster or foamboard with rubber cement- you can remove the message later without harming the board itself (which means you can make one basic sign and continually change the message to suit the event!). After your message is complete, attach the two signs to each other, back-to-back, using foam tape or mounting tape and insert the optional handle between the two boards. This type of tape is ultra-sticky, double-sided and perfect for the job.

Need some inspiration? Click here for dozens of anti-war quotes. Remember…shorter is better!

Still unsure of how to design an effective sign? Click here for some great examples of various signs.

Bringing Children to Events

Children can play an invaluable role in the process of non-violent political action. In addition to the energy they contribute to the gathering, their presence at such events teaches them critical lessons about their role and responsibilities as citizens of a democracy. I've taken my children to large, national events and smaller, local gatherings and below you'll find a summarization of what I've learned. Many of the suggestions are tailored for events with huge crowds, but most are just as applicable to smaller gatherings.

1. Make sure you have a fully-charged cell phone on you at all times. It will likely become your most valuable tool if you become separated. Consider taking two-way radios if you’ll be in a large crowd.

2. Tuck your contact info into your children’s pockets. Take a moment to jot down your child’s full name, your name, address, home and cell phone numbers and slip it into your child’s pocket. Make sure they know it’s there and instruct them to approach a policeman immediately if they feel lost. They can present that piece of paper to a person of authority who can immediately connect the two of you.

3. Think creatively about how to stay close to your kids. Strollers and wagons can easily get tangled in crowds, so they’re not the best option in larger crowds. For smaller children, try using a baby carrier that straps to your body. Older children can stay close by with a child leash.

4. If riot police are present, introduce your children to them before the rally/march/protest begins. Horses and riot gear can frighten young children, but allowing your kids to meet the police (and possibly pet the horses) will help to de-stigmatize them. Explain that they’re there to help keep everyone safe. Riot police are usually only present at HUGE events.

5. Use the buddy system. If possible, attend the event with another family that includes children. Discuss before-hand how you’ll handle any disruptions or unforeseen events. Make a commitment to help watch each other’s children…the more eyes, the better.

6. Ensure they understand the context of the event. Explain the basic premise of the action, what you hope to achieve and why you feel compelled to participate. These concepts can be explained to even the youngest of children as long as you tailor the information to their age and level of understanding. Encourage your children to ask questions.

7. Prepare children for differing opinions and counter-protestors. The reasons that people attend rallies are as varied as the people who attend them. Some attendees have lost loved ones, some are scared of losing loved ones, others are angry at the current political powers and some just disagree with violence in general. Whatever your reasoning, explain (in the most basic terms possible) that people are there for different reasons and there may be some words, signs, etc. that you don’t agree with. Reiterate that all attendees are exercising important rights and that everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if you disagree. Model for them how to speak out responsibly.

8. Make them a part of the process. My children’s favorite part of the process is making the signs we’ll carry. Give them the materials for signs (posterboard, glue, glitter, ribbons, large markers, etc.) and let them decide what to say and how to say it.

9. Make sure they’re fed and warm! For more general information about preparing for rallies, please click here.

Welcome!

I am thrilled that you've discovered CodePink:Columbia as we begin to launch a new women's peace movement in the Columbia area. Watch this space for lots more news and updates...coming soon!