Portland City Council highlights water needs

This Just In

Mainers off to Denver

Peace talks

By DEIRDRE FULTON | August 20, 2008

Two well-known Mainers will take a peace petition to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this weekend, aimed specifically at opposing military action, flat-out war, and economic sanctions against Iran.

While local NAACP president Rachel Talbot Ross and Portland Democratic state representative Jon Hinck will travel to the Mile High City to deliver the petition, Peace Action Maine will also send copies to Maine’s congressional delegation and to citizens around the state. The petition is based on signs of a slow march to war with Iran, including news reports that naval blockades of that country are in the works.

The main attraction in Denver, one Barack Obama, advocates a diplomatic strategy for dealing with Iran: “Obama believes that we have not exhausted our non-military options in confronting this threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them,” his Web site reads. “Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions.”

Of course, Mainers won’t be the only ones activizing about Iran in Denver. Myriad peace and justice organizations are planning protests and rallies over the weekend (and the local police officials are prepping a place to put them: the detention center already being called "Gitmo on the Platte"). Atlanta-based author, activist, and attorney Melody Moezzi will also be present, hula-hooping for two days as the organizer of Hooping for Peace (hoopingforpeace.com). Hey, everyone’s got their own strategies.