Activist Amy: May 2017

Support Diplomacy This Mother's Day: Dear WAND Activist,

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe -- a social justice warrior of her time -- issued a “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” calling on women, no matter their nationality, to convene a “general congress… to promote....the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.” In other words, she called for women to organize and ardently promote diplomacy over war.

While conflict and strife persist, so do our efforts to achieve diplomatic solutions to stubborn conflicts, one shining example being the historic 2015 agreement between six countries and Iran. That diplomatic agreement prevented Iran from becoming a nuclear power while lifting international sanctions on Iran.

Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled Congress is putting the Iran nuclear agreement in jeopardy.

On this Mother’s Day, we ask that you honor mothers everywhere, especially those who have personally and painfully been affected by war, by emailing your Senators in support of the nuclear agreement with Iran!

It is very likely that at end of the month, the Senate will vote on legislation that will weaken the nuclear agreement unless significant changes are made to it. The bill, S. 722, the “Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act,” would undermine the agreement by enacting overly broad sanctions on Iran, move the goalposts for conditions to lift sanctions, and potentially put US troops in harm’s way by making an unnecessary, provocative terrorist designation of Iran’s military unit.

We need your help in calling for changes to S. 722. Will you write your Senators today, in honor of Julia Ward Howe’s “Mother’s Day Proclamation”?

Without fixing this legislation, the Iran nuclear agreement could be in major jeopardy. Without the agreement, Iran would not be constrained from rebuilding its nuclear program, giving hawks and hardliners on our side the excuse they need to call for military conflict with Iran.

Upholding the Iran nuclear agreement is one of the most important things we can do for peace and security. Call on your Senators today to oppose S. 722, unless the bill is significantly amended.

Thank you for your dedication to peace! And to all mothers out there, including my own, Happy Mother's Day!

In solidarity,

Erica Fein

P.S. For more information, check out 'BACKGROUND PAPER: According to the Experts: S. 722 (https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.congressweb.com%2Fassets%2FBackgroundDocuments%2F00E87FA0-AE83-61EF-155BD5459B40CF1B%2FExperts%2520quotes%2520on%2520S.722.docx%3Fframed_parent_url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.wand.org%2Ftakeaction%2F%26frame_is_responsive%3Dtrue)'