The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia is:
a group of activists, including grandmothers and others, who are dedicated to ending war. On June 28, 2006, 11 of us went to the Military Recruitment Center in Philadelphia to "enlist" in the United States military, so that our grandchildren would not kill or be killed in Iraq. When we refused to leave without enlisting, we were arrested and charged with "Defiant Trespass". On December 1, 2006, Judge Deborah Griffin dismissed the charges against us, affirming the legality of our non-violent protest. We continue to meet together and resist war-making in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.
Military Recruiters in High SchoolsHigh School Counselors
*Brochure:"Military Recruiters in High Schools? What Students Need to Know- Considerations for Counselors" front back web version Students Opportunities while in H.S. Alternative jobs,training, school resources in PA (pdf) Do you want to serve your country? Looking for Jobs/Training after H.S.? ¿Tienes suficiente information para registrate? Opt Out-student form Student Union link-opt out | Title Text.The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia meets: WHEN: Every other Thursday, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon NEXT MEETINGS: Thursday, Jan. 12th, 2012 Thursday, Jan. 26th, 2012 WHERE: Friends Center, 1515 Cherry Street ALL ARE WELCOME! |
Grannies after welcoming Celebrate Occupy parade at Rittenhouse Square with our Peace Doves on Dec. 31, 2011
Grannies formed a "Hot Flash Mob" at Christmas Village on Dec. 24th
Pictures will be coming soon!!
Demand an Afghanistan Exit Strategy:
the time is now to make a call 1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
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Please call your Senator and Congressperson and ask her/him to support:
The Senate and House bills--S. 3197 and HR 5015, respectively.
They would require President Obama to provide a plan and a timetable for withdrawal of all US forces
and military contractors, and identify any contingencies that might require changes to that timetable.
It would demand an exit strategy--long overdue--from a war that has already cost us too much in treasure and lives, and isn't in the interest of US
national security.
"Basically, what the bill is is a rejection of an open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan," said Rep. McGovern, on a conference call with
NGOs, activists, and media organized by Peace Action last week.
1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
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Grannies at a march from City Hall to Independence Mall, Philadelphia
the time is now to make a call 1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
**********************************************************************
Please call your Senator and Congressperson and ask her/him to support:
The Senate and House bills--S. 3197 and HR 5015, respectively.
They would require President Obama to provide a plan and a timetable for withdrawal of all US forces
and military contractors, and identify any contingencies that might require changes to that timetable.
It would demand an exit strategy--long overdue--from a war that has already cost us too much in treasure and lives, and isn't in the interest of US
national security.
"Basically, what the bill is is a rejection of an open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan," said Rep. McGovern, on a conference call with
NGOs, activists, and media organized by Peace Action last week.
1-866-338-1015 (toll free to the capitol)
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Grannies at a march from City Hall to Independence Mall, Philadelphia
Send a Holiday Greeting to Jailed Resisters:
From Courage to Resist:
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/748/119/
Write war resisters directly
Cliff Cornell
Bldg 1041
PSC Box #20140
Camp Lejeune NC 28542
David Travis Bishop
Box 339536
Fort Lewis, WA 98433
About directly corresponding with and supporting jailed military objectors
To see some of us at Anti-Gun Violence Rally at Philadelphia City Hall, click here
Click here for information about Philadelphia City Council.
Cluster Bomb Ban: Obama Will Review U.S. Decision Not to Sign Treaty
FCNL and the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs
have been urging Obama to make such a statement. Add your voice.
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23762/71436/
Keep Taking Action: The rest of the government needs to start supporting
the cluster
bomb treaty. Sign a petition to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging
the United States to renounce cluster bombs
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23763/71436/
Knit to Thank a Vet
Contact Lois Durso at: ldurso@mtholyoke.edu or call her at (215) 546-7467.
The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia is joining the Grannies of New York and Denver, Colorado (and others) in knitting "Stump Socks" for our Iraq war veterans. Three yarn shops in Granny areas have been contacted and have agreed to support the project: Rosie's Yarn Cellar at 2017 Locust Street here in Center City, The Tangled Web at 7900 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill, and The Ewe and I at 221 Haverford Ave. in Narbeth. All three have received a copy of the patterns and the information below and are looking forward to helping you when you come in. (Thanks to Granny Gloria Hoffman for speaking with The Tangled Web.)
After hearing about the New York Grannies working on this project, samples were made and sent to the Head of the Prosthetics Division at the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center to get their input on whether these would be useful and, if so, which sizes and colors would be most appreciated.
The samples were given to amputees at the Center who were asked to use them and then share their comments with staff. We knew from both the New York and the Denver Grannies that the socks had to be able to be machine washed and dried; after a careful check of available yarns, the samples were made in knitting worsted weight (Plymouth) Encore and (Berroco) Comfort yarns.
Response from people at the Prosthetics Department at the Veterans Medical Center indicated that these yarns were very comfortable and that the preferred colors would be brown, khaki, black, medium or dark blue, dark red, medium or dark green: basic sock colors. It was suggested that it would be best if knitters avoided using flamboyant colors. Subtle stripes are fine - if you feel up to it!
We are asking those of you who knit - and/or have friends who knit - to visit the yarn shops mentioned. You can bring the pattern and information below with you however the shops have received copies of the patterns.
Make your stump sock(s) and get them to me - I will collect them and get them to our contact at the Medical Center. They can be brought to a Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia meeting or sent to Lois Durso, 1326 Spruce Street #1803, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Patterns below are for three sizes - small, medium and large.
A. Small Size*
Yarn: Plymouth "Encore" and Berroco "Comfort" knitting worsted weight
Needles: 16" round needles in sizes 6 and 8 and you will need size 8 double pointed needles for the decrease rows.
With a 16" size 6 round (or double pointed needles), cast on 66 stitches and work in K2 P2
ribbing for 3 or 4". Switch to size 8 needle(s) and knit one row adding 6 stitches - 1 every 11 stitches. You will have 72 stitches. Then work in stockinette until piece measures 9" long,
including ribbing.
Decreases: 1. K6, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog around the row. 2. Knit one round. 3. K5, K2 tog, K5, K 2 tog across row. 4. K one round. Continue to decrease in like manner until 9 stitches remain. Weave stitches together. Weave in ends.
B. Medium Size
Same as for small but use size 8 needle(s) for the ribbing and size 10 needle (s) for the stockinette rows and decreases.
C. Large Size
Same as "Medium" above but start by casting on 72 stitches. In the first row on the larger needles, add 8 stitches evenly spaced across the row. Then continue to work with 80 stitches to decreases. Note: You will end up with 10 stitches to be woven together.
N.B. Please note that the important thing is to work in multiples of 8 stitches. You can make an XS size by starting with 58 stitches and following the instructions for the A small size above (using size 6 and 8 needles). Add 6 stitches evenly spaced across the first stockinette row. You will end up with 8 stitches to weave together.
Similarly, you can make an extra large by starting with 80 stitches and increasing 8 stitches evenly spaced in the first stockinette row. You will end up with 11 stitches to weave together. I was told that they would need twice as many in Medium, Large, and Extra large sizes than in the small size.
If you can, please do wash and dry the sock(s) before mailing.
*****It would be wonderful if you would enclose a note with each sock saying something like - "In thanks for the service you have given our country" or "Made with Love (or Made with Thanks) by Granny (your name) of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia" or something brief so the recipient will understand that you appreciate the sacrifice he or she made.
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Ongoing: Grannies work to ensure OPT OUT information reaches all parents of juniors and seniors in our public high schools : keep our students safe from military recruiters, Click here for more information.
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/748/119/
Write war resisters directly
Cliff Cornell
Bldg 1041
PSC Box #20140
Camp Lejeune NC 28542
- Cliff Cornell in currently jailed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
- Expected release: March 2010
David Travis Bishop
Box 339536
Fort Lewis, WA 98433
- Travis is currently jailed at Fort Lewis WA.
- Note that Travis is still in need of donations to cover his defense costs. Please see info below.
- Expected release: July 2010
- Note that the Army will reject your first letter, and maybe your second also. Please keep trying to send Travis mail as he really wants to hear from you. When your letter is rejected, sometimes Travis gets to see the envelope. If so, he is then able to add your name to his approved correspondence list.
- The Army command at Fort Lewis is not allowing Travis to receive books.
About directly corresponding with and supporting jailed military objectors
- Know that your correspondence will be read and reviewed by the military; however, general political content is not usually a basis for censorship.
- Do not send stamps, photos, magazines, newspapers, food items, toiletries, or anything of value. Photocopied articles and photocopied photos, when accompanied by a personal letter, are usually OK.
- Your name (not an organization) and return address should be printed in the outside of the envelope.
- Avoid using obscenity or plans for criminal activity.
- You may send a money order (payable to the jailed resister). This money will be deposited into their “safe keeping” fund administered by the stockade. From this fund, they may purchase postage stamps (to write you back) and phone cards (to call family and friends).
- You may send a book; however, you must order books from amazon.com (or bn.com) and have them shipped directly to the resister. Consider asking the jailed resister if they have any specific title requests, or general categories of interest (mystery, political history, sci-fi, etc.) prior to ordering.
To see some of us at Anti-Gun Violence Rally at Philadelphia City Hall, click here
Click here for information about Philadelphia City Council.
Cluster Bomb Ban: Obama Will Review U.S. Decision Not to Sign Treaty
FCNL and the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs
have been urging Obama to make such a statement. Add your voice.
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23762/71436/
Keep Taking Action: The rest of the government needs to start supporting
the cluster
bomb treaty. Sign a petition to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging
the United States to renounce cluster bombs
http://action.fcnl.org/r/23763/71436/
Knit to Thank a Vet
Contact Lois Durso at: ldurso@mtholyoke.edu or call her at (215) 546-7467.
The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia is joining the Grannies of New York and Denver, Colorado (and others) in knitting "Stump Socks" for our Iraq war veterans. Three yarn shops in Granny areas have been contacted and have agreed to support the project: Rosie's Yarn Cellar at 2017 Locust Street here in Center City, The Tangled Web at 7900 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill, and The Ewe and I at 221 Haverford Ave. in Narbeth. All three have received a copy of the patterns and the information below and are looking forward to helping you when you come in. (Thanks to Granny Gloria Hoffman for speaking with The Tangled Web.)
After hearing about the New York Grannies working on this project, samples were made and sent to the Head of the Prosthetics Division at the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center to get their input on whether these would be useful and, if so, which sizes and colors would be most appreciated.
The samples were given to amputees at the Center who were asked to use them and then share their comments with staff. We knew from both the New York and the Denver Grannies that the socks had to be able to be machine washed and dried; after a careful check of available yarns, the samples were made in knitting worsted weight (Plymouth) Encore and (Berroco) Comfort yarns.
Response from people at the Prosthetics Department at the Veterans Medical Center indicated that these yarns were very comfortable and that the preferred colors would be brown, khaki, black, medium or dark blue, dark red, medium or dark green: basic sock colors. It was suggested that it would be best if knitters avoided using flamboyant colors. Subtle stripes are fine - if you feel up to it!
We are asking those of you who knit - and/or have friends who knit - to visit the yarn shops mentioned. You can bring the pattern and information below with you however the shops have received copies of the patterns.
Make your stump sock(s) and get them to me - I will collect them and get them to our contact at the Medical Center. They can be brought to a Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia meeting or sent to Lois Durso, 1326 Spruce Street #1803, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Patterns below are for three sizes - small, medium and large.
A. Small Size*
Yarn: Plymouth "Encore" and Berroco "Comfort" knitting worsted weight
Needles: 16" round needles in sizes 6 and 8 and you will need size 8 double pointed needles for the decrease rows.
With a 16" size 6 round (or double pointed needles), cast on 66 stitches and work in K2 P2
ribbing for 3 or 4". Switch to size 8 needle(s) and knit one row adding 6 stitches - 1 every 11 stitches. You will have 72 stitches. Then work in stockinette until piece measures 9" long,
including ribbing.
Decreases: 1. K6, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog around the row. 2. Knit one round. 3. K5, K2 tog, K5, K 2 tog across row. 4. K one round. Continue to decrease in like manner until 9 stitches remain. Weave stitches together. Weave in ends.
B. Medium Size
Same as for small but use size 8 needle(s) for the ribbing and size 10 needle (s) for the stockinette rows and decreases.
C. Large Size
Same as "Medium" above but start by casting on 72 stitches. In the first row on the larger needles, add 8 stitches evenly spaced across the row. Then continue to work with 80 stitches to decreases. Note: You will end up with 10 stitches to be woven together.
N.B. Please note that the important thing is to work in multiples of 8 stitches. You can make an XS size by starting with 58 stitches and following the instructions for the A small size above (using size 6 and 8 needles). Add 6 stitches evenly spaced across the first stockinette row. You will end up with 8 stitches to weave together.
Similarly, you can make an extra large by starting with 80 stitches and increasing 8 stitches evenly spaced in the first stockinette row. You will end up with 11 stitches to weave together. I was told that they would need twice as many in Medium, Large, and Extra large sizes than in the small size.
If you can, please do wash and dry the sock(s) before mailing.
*****It would be wonderful if you would enclose a note with each sock saying something like - "In thanks for the service you have given our country" or "Made with Love (or Made with Thanks) by Granny (your name) of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia" or something brief so the recipient will understand that you appreciate the sacrifice he or she made.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongoing: Grannies work to ensure OPT OUT information reaches all parents of juniors and seniors in our public high schools : keep our students safe from military recruiters, Click here for more information.
