[psych-hr] Re: Efforts Locally While Focusing Globally

Hello Steve,

Thanks for your message.  I have been hearing about a number of
things that people are doing.   There is also a list of things that
people can do on PsySR's website:  www.psysr.com.

A)  In some places people are providing accompaniment for vulnerable
populations in their local communities.  This is a good way to reach
out, across cultures, and reduce fear.  Interfaith efforts can use their
staff to help organize volunteers to do that.

B)  An art therapist in New York, who was right outside the WTC when
the first plane hit, works in the NY public schools and saw children
drawing the twin towers over and over again.  She has organized a
project of a mural, 70' by 20', that will be displayed in a public place,
that will be made of self-portraits of children who send them in.  People
around the country and around the world have expressed interest in
contributing to this effort to help children express themselves with hope
for the future.  You can get a copy of the protocol from PsySR at
psysrusa@cs.com, to use in your area, by sending me an email that
includes a fax number so I can fax you a copy of the flyer being used in
NY public schools.  You can adapt it to your area.

C)  People are creating open forums in their area, with mental health
professionals available, to facilitate people talking about their reactions.
So far, from my reports, they have not been well-attended, probably
because people are still in shock and too raw to risk coming to a
public meeting about this.  However, it seems to me that a continuing
process of offering good information about people's normal reactions,
good information about the issues of tolerance and celebration of
diversity, and opportunities for people to share their grief and hope for the
future can only be useful to the building and rebuilding of peaceful
communities.

D)  There may be some use for the PsySR "Trauma and Recovery" brochure.
I provided copies to someone who had to give a speech on the increased
tensions of the current situation and who did not know about trauma issues.
Those brochures are available from the PsySR office.  Just send me an
email message with your postal address and I will send you a copy that
you may copy as often as needed.  The only requirement is that the
brochure be copied in its entirety, since it needs to be read as a whole.

E)  Many people are very concerned about threats to our civil liberties.
There is a website that has been created by a coalition that you can go
to and add your name to the statement:  www.indefenseoffreedom.org.
The coalition is working to slow down the rush to legislation now occurring
in Congress to change the laws on wiretapping, etc.

F)  Many people are also very concerned about having this whole crisis
take over everyone's attention when many critical issues are still needing
to be addressed--unemployment, living wage, inadequate health coverage,
prescription drug coverage for seniors, missile defense and other nuclear
weapons development, environmental issues, etc.  I understand from some
reports from Capitol Hill that members of Congress are wanting to hear
from their constituents about these other issues and how important they
are to people so that they will have some evidence to use to go slow on
the rush to war.  This also goes for contacting your Congressional
representatives directly about this issue, letting them know your concerns
about the policies being pursued in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

I am sure there are many more things to do.

All the best, Anne

Anne Anderson
National Coordinator
Psychologists for Social Responsibility
2604 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 745-7084
(202) 745-0051 f
psysrusa@cs.com or psysripn@aol.com
www.psysr.com




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