To: Bill Ford, Jr. CEO Ford Motor Company

From: Cindy Sheehan
Mother of Spc. Casey A. Sheehan, Slain in Iraq
Founder of Gold Star Families for Peace: www.gsfp.org

Dear Mr. Ford,

My son, Casey, was killed in action in Iraq on 04 April 2004. He was an excellent human being and I am sure he would have contributed so much to our society if he wasn't sent to a needless war to make some evil people in the world richer. Casey was also very interested in the environment and in ecology ­ and very concerned about climate change. Well, he doesn't have to worry about anything, anymore, but I am writing this letter to you for him, the rest of our world's children, and future generations because as the manufacturer of the world's worst fleet when it comes to fuel efficiency, it's time for you to take immediate action to help break our oil addiction.

Mr. Ford, there are few things in this world that irritate me more than seeing a "Support our Troops" yellow ribbon magnet on the back of one of your huge SUV gas guzzlers. I believe one of the reasons that our greedy mis-leaders invaded Iraq was for control of the oil fields. What do your huge, gas-guzzling, polluting vehicles need to be able to run?: oil. I think it is very hypocritical for people to slap yellow "Support our Troops" magnets on these same monster cars. We have had hundreds of our children killed to gain control of the oil fields; guarding the oil fields and pipelines; and guarding the convoys of oil tankers. Our nation's insatiable thirst for oil is also ruining an innocent country and killing tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis.

Mr. Ford, invasions and occupations to steal another nations' resources are immoral. People, including my son, die to line the pockets of the already wealthy elite. Do you have children? If you do, do you have a child fighting in Iraq? Do you have a child guarding an oil field so his or her inheritance can be greater? My son died so you and yours can make more money.

Mr. Ford, I believe that you and your company have a huge stake in keeping this war going and in keeping the oil flowing. Where will this corrupt administration and it's policies of preemptive invasions for greed take us next? To the oil fields of Iran? To what lengths will companies like yours go to increase your bottom line? How many of other people's children are you willing to sacrifice to make your bank account grow? Mr. Ford, are you willing to have the blood of more fine young Americans on your hands? Are you willing to continue destroying the ecology of our planet?

It is simple Mr. Ford: we need to end the occupation now and bring our children home. You and your company need to take the lead in designing and manufacturing more fuel-efficient cars ­ and fast. Your company needs to begin today to help reduce our nations' dependence on foreign oil, which is bad for our children: they get killed in wars over such reliance on another country's resources. Your company also needs to take immediate action to reduce your fleet's greenhouse gas emissions to help prevent climate change. It is too late for you to do this for my son, but do it in Casey's memory. Do it for your children and for the sake of the world's children.

You and your family may be fabulously wealthy beyond my imagination. However, you are all connected to this planet and to humanity. You, or your descendants, will not be spared the coming wrath of Mother Nature. We are all in this together, I think it's about time you and your company and your family realized this fact. Start acting like you are part of humanity: not above it.

I would hope that at your Annual Shareholder's Meeting in Delaware, on May 12th, that you will not only discuss my concerns ­ but work to take immediate action to increase the fuel efficiency of Ford's fleet. They are not only my concerns. Almost 1600 men and women are dead for greed and millions in Iraq are still in harm's way. Your company's actions should, from now on, be life affirming, not life-taking.

In sorrow for my son's senseless murder,

Cindy Sheehan

Cindy Sheehan is the founder of Gold Star Families for Peace: http://www.gsfp.org and she has joined hundreds of mothers who've written to Bill Ford, Jr. urging him to take immediate action to help break our oil addiction via http://www.listentoyourmother.org

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