Amy has given me the wonderful opportunity to keep Tazza D’Oro patrons up to date on what’s happening in the political arena by posting to the Tazza Doro Political Site. I will attempt to report what’s happening on a local and national level with issues relating to the war in Iraq, peace and social justice issues, and upcoming political events in and around the Pittsburgh area. I will also give suggestions on how the average person who frequents Amy’s coffee shop with paper and/or computer in hand can make a difference speaking out when government doesn’t “serve the people”. I am the coordinator of COEDEPINK PITTSBURGH WOMEN FOR PEACE, a women’s initiated peace and social justice group, as well as an active member of the anti-war committee of the Thomas Merton Center in Garfield. Please feel free to contact me at codepinkpgh@aol.com with questions, concerns, or comments. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STOP THE WAR?

In the struggle, Francine Porter

FUNDING ENDLESS WAR

The American people spoke out in November 2006, by voting in a Democratic Congress, hopeful that the war and occupation of Iraq would come to an end. The Bush administration responded to that vote by asking Congress for $100 billion more in war spending. The Republicans are marketing the proposed increase in funds for war as supporting the troops in Iraq. What would really be helpful to US soldiers would be to bring them home now out of harms way. The United States has one of the largest military budgets in the world. In order to allocate additional funds for war, at least 13 billion dollars will be cut from programs here at home. Money to fund human and economic development programs to provide universal healthcare, quality education and public transportation and living wage jobs and rebuilding our communities from Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will be given up for war. For a breakdown of what this increase in war funding will cost our Congressional District, log onto www.nationalpriorities.org, hit state level fact sheets, and highlight the state of PA. What can you do as a concerned citizen? Call or write your congressional leaders to remind them why we voted them into power last November. Tell them NO MORE MONEY FOR WAR, and BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!!!

Keep the Heat on Congress - Call, Write, Visit, Picket, Pray, and March

Keep the Heat on Congress - Call Write, Visit, Picket, Pray & March

Toll Free Phone Number: 1-888-851-1879, or regular Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

U.S House of Representatives:
Address letters to: The Honorable ___ U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515
Mike Doyle, 14th Cong. District: Pittsburgh Office (412-261-5091); rep.doyle@mail.house.gov
Jason Altmire, 4th CD: Aliquippa (724-378-0928); rep.altmire@mail.house.gov
Tim Murphy, 18th CD; Pittsburgh (412-344-5583); Greensburg (724-850-7312); rep.murphy@mail.house.gov
John Murtha, 12th CD; Johnstown (814-535-2642); rep.murtha@mail.house.gov

U.S. Senate: The Honorable ___ U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
Arlen Specter, Pittsburgh office (412-644-3400); Use form on web: http://specter.senate.gov/
Robert Casey, No Pittsburgh Office; http://casey.senate.gov/

Information on Congress and Pennsylvania Media Listings: www.congress.org

National & Local Organizations:
United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ): www.unitedforpeace.org
Code Pink – Women for Peace: http://www.codepink4peace.org; Pittsburgh - email: codepinkpgh@aol.com
National Priorities Project – Domestic cost of the war: www.natioanlpriorities.org
The Thomas Merton Center (TMC) – Pittsburgh’s Peace & Justice Center; www.thomasmertoncenter.org

TMC Anti-War Committee: www.PittsburghEndTheWar.org