I am ready to stand with the women of Iraq by signing a statement of solidarity,
joining my sisters on Silent Saturdays,
and taking other actions.
I will stand with the women of Iraq by signing the statement Hands of Friendship,
Hands That Help or taking action in other ways:
- I will sign the statement, take the actions it
commits me to, and encourage people I know to sign it too.
- I will pray/meditate/sit in peace and hold the Iraqi women in my heart for five
minutes at noon on Saturday from Nov. 17, 2007, until peace is restored.
- I will take symbolic action to remember my Iraqi sisters. For one day this year
I will fast, keep silence, avoid driving my car, or do without electricity (going
to bed when the sun goes down or reading with a candle) so I can feel what life
is like for women in Iraq.
- I will support my Iraqi sisters by taking symbolic action. For one day this year,
I will fast from food, refrain from using gasoline (not driving my car), or not
use electricity (going to bed when the sun goes down or reading with a candle) so
I experience what life is like for women in Iraq.
- I will make a presentation about how we can help Iraq to a group of friends, neighbors,
or colleagues.
- I will read a book about the region that helps me relate better to people there,
and share it with others.
- I will pray/meditate/sit contemplatively and hold the women of Iraq in my heart
every day once a week for a year.
- I will write to my elected representatives about the ways I and other members of
my community are connecting locally to support women globally, and invite them to
join, too.
- I will plant a flowering plant or tree in honor of the women in Iraq that I am learning
about and connected to.
- I will donate food to a local women’s shelter, thinking about all those who don’t
have regular access to resources and the support they need – especially my sisters
in Iraq. I will encourage my friends to do likewise.
- I will volunteer my services (tutoring, cooking, laundry, mentor) during a certain
time each week/month to benefit those in my community who are in need, thinking
about those in other places who need those services. I will encourage my colleagues
to do likewise in the name of people suffering, especially the women of Iraq.
- I will tell other women (friends, family, neighbors) about how important they are
to me, how they make a difference in my life, and how we can make a difference in
lives of women everywhere by connecting across cultures.
