NRCAT report - April 2010

Report from Patti Muldoon

During the 2009 Sessions, New England Yearly Meeting made the decision to officially join the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. We endorsed the "Torture is a Moral Issue" statement. I was appointed to be our representative and have been participating in the monthly strategy sessions for interfaith organizations.  Many Quaker Meetings from around the country are also represented.

I am very pleased that the NRCAT Board of Directors voted to expand NRCAT's mission to include two new areas of work. The decision, made at the Board's December 2009 meeting, followed a 6-month planning process.

NRCAT will now have three areas of work as we carry out our mission to end forever torture that is sponsored or enabled by the United States:

1. Continuing our efforts to secure permanent changes in U.S. policy to prohibit - without exception - all U.S-sponsored torture and cruel,inhuman, or degrading treatment of detainees;
2. Working to end torture in U.S. prisons, including the use of longterm isolation and devices of torture; and
3. Advocating for U.S. policies and practices that will help endtorture by other countries.

We will continue to focus much of our energy this year on efforts to secure a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the use of torture since 9/11 and recommend measures needed to ensure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again.

The reports on each of the two new areas presented to the Board in December are available on the NRCAT website, www.tortureisamoralissue.org.  The website also has this year's work within each of these areas in our new 2010 Agenda and a new edition of the NRCAT brochure.

You can also find a webpage highlighting our initial work to end torture in U.S. prisons, including our active support of an ongoing legislative campaign to limit the use of solitary confinement in Maine's state prisons.

I will soon be sharing with you new opportunities for local action as we prepare for Torture Awareness Month in June. In the meantime, please share this news of our expanded mission with your Meeting -order some new brochures to distribute locally.

Questions? Please email campaign@nrcat.org or contact me .

January News

I'm including NRCAT's info. The exciting part is that the mission is about to be expanded to include torture in US prisons, including solitary confinement. I'm very very pleased with this which was just made a few days ago by the board. I've been encouraging this path for a while.

Here are the January actions.

All my best to you,
Patti Muldoon

TORTURE IS A MORAL ISSUE

Dear NRCAT Supporters:

Please join NRCAT and other organizations in urging Congress and the Obama Administration to move quickly in closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, a prominent symbol of our nation's use of torture.

January brings two important anniversaries that offer good opportunities for local organizing - January 11 and January 22.

Monday, January 11 - 8th Anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo

* Mark this day with an interfaith prayer service or candlelight vigil.
* Gather signatures on NRCAT's Guantanamo petition.

MLK Weekend (January 15-18) - Highlight Guantanamo during religious services

* Use NRCAT's interfaith prayer and bulletin insert during services.
* Gather petition signatures or signed letters after services.

Friday, January 22 - Anniversary of executive order calling for Guantanamo's closure

* Hand deliver petitions and signed letters to local congressional offices.
* Consider organizing a press conference with religious leaders immediately before or after delivering the petitions and letters.

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