Cross-posted at My Left Wing and Daily Kos.
This is a diary that calls you to action. It combines the efforts of a number of bloggers. It is the kind of idea that catches hold and helps bring change. It has already attracted some attention from the mainstream press (Tuesday and today), and is attracting participation from all over the world (Australia, Spain, Argentina, Italy, and a good number of states in the U.S.).
But ideas don’t win campaigns like this. People do. Without your help, this idea will fade away. Today marks the last day of this demonstration (though, with the success it has enjoyed, it will continue in the near future). You can take interest in this idea. Participate. Recommend this diary. And the idea will take root. Grow large. Or you can pass by. I’m encouraging you to read on.
How much cyber-ink has been wasted on why this war in Iraq must end? This is how to help. How you can help. Let your voice be heard.
Last month a local peace organization held a week-long picket at Rep. Mike Rogers’ (R-MI) district office in Lansing, Michigan. As part of the picket, members of the peace community started delivering single flowers to Rogers’ office, asking him to help stop the war. The idea was so popular and easy, passing citizens joined in. About 14 dozen flowers were delivered in a three day period. The deliveries were called “Petals for Peace.”
This week, the “Petals for Peace” campaign continued. With a little advanced planning, “Petals for Peace” has been expanded so that anyone, anywhere can participate. It’s easy. Here is what you need to do:
From Tuesday, April 18 through Friday, April 21, deliver a flower to Mike Rogers’ Lansing office. You can make the delivery by phone, fax, mail or in person. Here’s how:
By telephone — Call Bancroft Flowers at (517) 371-4120. Order a $1 carnation for delivery to Rogers’ office. They’ve agreed to waive the delivery charges.
By fax — Draw a picture of a flower (or if you don’t like drawing, you can print off the “Petals for Peace” image in this diary) and fax it to Rogers’ Lansing office at (517) 702-8642. If you can’t get through to the Lansing office (preferred), then you can fax it to the D.C. office at (202) 225-5820.
In person — Buy your $1 carnation at Bancroft Flowers (1417 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing) and deliver it to Rogers’ office (1327 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing), just one block away. This is the preferred method if you are in the greater Lansing area.
By mail — Draw your flower and mail it to: U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, 1327 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, Michigan 48912. Mailed flowers should be posted by Tuesday, if possible. (Though if this is your only way of participating, by all means, go ahead and send the flower this way)
While blogging about this action this week, someone suggested that those who are participating from outside Rep. Mike Rogers’ district, might also consider sending a flower to their own representative with an explanation that it is in solidarity with this protest. So that this message spreads. That sounds like a pretty effective idea. There is not reason that this protest could not spread nationally. It is somewhat like viral marketing. (Note: In both press interviews, I was asked if this will continue beyond this week. So I think even the MSM can see the potential of this idea to spread.)
Mares Hirchert, left, her husband and other activists are planning to flood the Lansing office of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, with flowers, photos of flowers and photos of children during their upcoming Petals For Peace protest. (coverage courtesy of the Livinston Daily Press & Argus)
Here are other ways you can help:
Recommend this diary so that it stays visible.
Cross-post to the blogs you visit.
Send a flower on both Thursday and Friday.
Tell your friends and family about this.
Comment below on your participation, so your efforts can be counted.
E-mail the protest organizer (me: tjayolson@hotmail.com), so that as this campaign continues in the future, you can be involved.
Other notes:
This is the buried lead. But I needed to get the basics in first. Yesterday, labor weighed-in on our little protest. Rank-and-file labor. I was contacted by a local UAW member. UAW members took up a collection and delivered 13 dozen flowers to Rogers’ office in one fell swoop. We’ve now delivered nearly 500 flowers (it is hard to count) since this started. And that’s just those we know about. As it grows, it is hard to know who is helping. The UAW call was very cool. (Okay, on to more important info).
Be kind. While Rogers has supported Bush and the war, his staff has been polite. We are trying to let Mr. Rogers understand that people are very tired of this war, and that he ought to consider representing the growing majority of the American public who want it to end.
Some have wanted to send other items. We’ve had commitments to send pies and cacti and literature with the words of Gandhi. Some have suggested weeds or wildflowers. Also, some have preferred to send bouquets rather than individual flowers. (Bancroft’s Flowers has also been very kind in this campaign, so rewarding them in some way is not a bad idea.) Whatever moves you. But please be respectful, whatever you decide to send.
In addition to much local support, this effort has grown with national and international support. That is the power of these blogs. So far in March and April we have had participation from Australia, Spain, Argentina, Italy, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, California, North Dakota, Missouri, Michigan, Washington, Arizona, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
For those who don’t like the idea of giving a gift to someone who has been a loyal supporter of Bush and the war, I can assure you that Mr. Rogers understands the context of these flowers from our ongoing campaign. I’ve delivered a letter (specifically, we are asking him to support legislation to stop the war) at the beginning of the action, explaining the protest. So rest assured, even if you say nothing with your delivery, your point will be made.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I also want to thank several bloggers who have participated in moving this idea forward. Maneegee, ejmw, blueneck, dada, poco, Damnit Janet, SallyCat, Wbythbay (and everyone else who has worked to promote and organize this — forgive me, I’ve run out of time to go back and scour the various threads for all of your contributions). And BooMan, Maryscott O’Connor and Kos, for hosting the sites that make these things possible. (Plus BooMan, MSOC, and MeteorBlades, for lending their big names to the recommended lists in trying to get this idea out). Thanks to CabinGirl, MSOC, RenaRF, teacherken, Steven D, supersoling, MLR, Duke, tampopo, salunga, DJ, and Militarytracy (and the others) who got me started down this pro-peace activist path back in D.C. Have a carload of picket signs, will travel. And have landed in the papers more times than I can count on one hand. Thanks to you guys being a kick in the arse. And thanks to you. For what you’ve done. And what you are about to do.
Anyway. Time to loose this idea on the wide world again today.