Mother's Day: A Call for Peace

By Delphine Cuomo

A mother's heart is full when her family is happy and safe.

She can't help herself.

She's biologically and emotionally set up to care for her loved ones.

When we look at our global family today, we can see much suffering. There are hot spots shouting for our attention. Darfur, Sri Lanka, Tibet, and Iraq are but a few places stirring our hearts, motivating us to take action.

Women around the world are gathering, holding prayer circles, sharing personal stories. As we take time to listen to one another, we are hearing the same plea and cry of the heart.

Mothers want an end to wars, homelessness, starvation and exploitation.

Times haven't changed the heart of mothers. The origin of Mother's Day began with one woman who wanted peace and an end to war.

Social activist Julia Ward Howe first suggested a day be set aside to honor mothers – but its primary mission was to mobilize mothers for peace. In 1870 Julia wrote The Mother's Day Proclamation - a call for peace and disarmament. She suggested June 2 be observed as a day dedicated to peace.

Times haven't changed the heart of mothers.

No matter what income bracket, political party or religious faith, women from all nations desire peace and love on the planet. From a committed group of grandmothers called The Raging Grannies singing against wars, to 13 Indigenous grandmothers speaking from their hearts in the film trailer Meet The Grandmothers, to peace activist, Cindy Sheehan whose son died in the Iraq war, a growing collective of women across North America and the world are banding together for peace.

For Mother's Day, what better way to touch your mother's heart by taking action.

The Peace Alliance is asking for public support in joining with them in their Fourth annual Mother's Day - Peace of the Pie National Action Day. On behalf of mothers everywhere, Friday, May 9, 2008 is the day put aside to take pies to local congressional offices, letting your member of Congress know that Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie. Action: Send a pie to your member of congress on Friday, May 9, 2008 and let them know how you feel about the peace budget.

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities. With over 250 local groups around the world, CODEPINK is making peace a priority on Mother's Day. CODEPINK's Online Store supports sustainable and socially responsible products, services and businesses -- all pink, of course! Action: Join the march and 24-hour peace vigil in D.C. or with your local Code Pink. Learn more .

"For The Next 7 Generations: The Grandmother's Speak" is a movie in which 13 indigenous Grandmothers from all around the globe come together because their ancestral ways of prayer, peace-making and healing are vitally needed in the world today. Take Action: Host a viewing of the movie with friends and associates; and donate to help produce and distribute copies. Learn more.

Whether you deliver pies to the powerful, march with Code Pink, write a poem for Poets Against The War, donate money to help displaced people in Darfur, contribute to For The Next 7 Generations: The Grandmothers Speak, or join Cindy Sheehan and other mothers in Washington, make this day more powerful by supporting the collective voices of women.

Learn More:

Code Pink | www.codepinkalert.org

Save Darfur | www.savedarfur.org

The Peace Alliance | www.thepeacealliance.org

Poets Against The War | www.poetsagainstthewar.org

For The Next 7 Generations: The Grandmother's Speak