Statement on Eighth Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

As we mark another anniversary of the tragic events that took our loved ones lives, the members of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows share our hopes for peace.

"Not
in our son's name," wrote Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez, founding
members of Peaceful Tomorrows, in a letter to President Bush postmarked
September 15, 2001. As the calls for war and revenge were heard all
around, Peaceful Tomorrows members spoke with one voice, imploring our
leaders to recognize that in this tragic moment in history, we as a
people held in our hands the unprecedented possibility of leading the
world to a peace never before realized.

Our nation, united
with peacemaking peoples all over the globe, was pregnant with the
possibility of that peace . . . . and now we may finally be in a
position to begin fulfilling that possibility. In 2006 Peaceful
Tomorrows founded the International Network for Peace [INP], a
partnership of organizations, from 17 countries around the world, of
individuals and families directly affected by political violence and
war who have chosen to respond by working for nonviolent solutions to
conflict. Today the members of the INP are seizing opportunities to
create new ways for nations to achieve true justice and lasting peace.
We are very excited that the INP has launched its own website: www.internationalnetworkforpeace.org

We
are all uplifted by this community of peacemakers who keep hope alive
that we will all share Peaceful Tomorrows. To nourish hope, here is a
summary of what the members of Peaceful Tomorrows have done in the past
year to support our mission:

Afghanistan

In November 2008, Peaceful Tomorrows published the report, "Afghanistan: Ending A Failed Military Strategy,"
created in collaboration with Afghan NGOs and our friends in the
international peace movement. In the report, we stress the need for
regional diplomacy to address issues of development, humanitarian aid,
and education for the people of Afghanistan. We emphasize the crucial
need to end the bombings and attacks with pilotless drones that are
causing tragically high numbers of civilian casualties. Above all, we
stake our hope in a long-term commitment to supporting NGOs and
peacemakers in Afghanistan as they rebuild their society and create
opportunities for their citizens to prosper.

Iraq

Iraqis
also say "No!" La'Onf ["No Violence," in Arabic] is a coalition of
Iraqi civil society organizations committed to ending war, sectarian
and political violence, and corruption in their country, so that Iraqis
can build a stable, peaceful and prosperous future. Since 2007,
Peaceful Tomorrows has worked to spread the hopeful message of this
growing network of Iraqi organizations dedicated to non-violence.
Peaceful Tomorrows nominated La'Onf
for two international honors this year. We are delighted that the
network has been awarded the 2009 Pfeffer Peace Prize given by the
Fellowship of Reconciliation to honor those around the world working
for peace with justice. La'Onf will also receive the 2009 John Humphrey
Freedom Award from the International Centre for Human Rights and
Democratic Development in Canada.

During October, November
and December, representatives of La'Onf will travel throughout the US
and Canada to share their inspiring story of working to build peace,
nonviolence, and a strong and democratic civil society in Iraq.
Peaceful Tomorrows is honored to be working with La'Onf and to see it
receive the recognition it so justly deserves.

Guantanamo Bay Prison and the Office of Military Commissions

President
Obama's Executive Orders detailing the closing of the notorious
Guantanamo prison also mandate a review of the case of each detainee,
along with options for improvements to the military tribunal process
set up under the controversial Military Commissions Act of 2006, which
was twice substantially altered by the Supreme Court.

Peaceful Tomorrows has dedicated resources to form and support a Guantanamo Committee
to work actively for a just outcome to the prison closing, to ensure
legal and fair trials for those charged, and to see that our nation
rejects all forms of torture and complies with international law
regarding the treatment of prisoners. We believe that the United States
can and must promote respect for the law and the rights our nation
holds dear as we work with the international community to bring those
responsible for terrorism to justice.

All of this work that
the members of Peaceful Tomorrows do honors the lives and memories of
the family members we lost eight years ago. It brings meaning to our
lives today.