It turns out we’ve got something extra to celebrate this holiday season. And I want you to know how important you were in ratifying the first major disarmament treaty in decades, because this is a story that begins and ends with you.

It’s people like you who’ve known that the vision of a world without nuclear weapons takes great commitment, but it’s worth working for. You made phone calls, you sent letters and emails, and when it mattered the most, you gave.

And when you supported our efforts, you made it possible for us to bring together hundreds of organizations and thousands of activists in a national coalition to hone our plans for everything from lobbying strategy to media work, and of course, grassroots mobilizing. It’s a good thing, because we had to get two-thirds of the Senate on board to ratify the treaty. That meant getting every Democrat plus at least 8 Republicans – no mean feat in this political climate.

We went up against some pretty daunting opponents, including hard right senators like John Kyl. Also some very powerful and very right-wing organizations like the Heritage Foundation and Liberty Central went full tilt to undermine the treaty. But the amazing thing was, while they had the high-priced ad campaigns and unbelievably cozy relationships with policymakers, we had you, and our grassroots efforts outpaced theirs.

With your support we mounted a huge national phonebank, teaming up with over 50 organizations around the country. We’re still tallying the numbers, but it looks like we generated close to 10,000 phone calls to Republican senators that we knew were on the fence. Throughout the campaign, I heard about Senate Republicans complaining that their phones were ringing off the hook about New START. That sure made me smile.

But like Jon said last week, it was a real nail biter until the end. We needed 8 Republicans to swing our way, but the GOP track record for supporting arms control agreements authored by Democrats has not been great. In fact, the last two Democratic presidents to try to ratify a major arms control treaty were met with defeat. But this time, when the final votes were counted, we got 13 Republicans on board and ratified New START 71 to 26!

So what does all this mean? Russia and the US have 95% of the world’s nuclear weapons. The New START treaty will lead to a 15% reduction in the global arsenal, while building momentum towards deeper reductions. This move by the world’s two largest nuclear powers is a big step towards building a worldwide consensus on nuclear disarmament. Without US and Russian progress there would not have been any possibility of a true global effort on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Now, that dream is still alive.

And none of this would have happened without the support of people just like you. In all the press coverage of the New START treaty, that’s one thing that isn’t getting covered. Behind any victory for peace are people just like you who take action to make it happen.

Of course, our work is never done. The party that brought us two wars, record military spending and designs for new kinds of nuclear weapons will again control half of Congress next year. 98 percent of our work is possible only because people like you chip in at the right time. And this is one of those times. Please click here to give what you can. $40 or more will get you the beautiful 2011 Peace Builders calendar.

Thank you!

As we end 2010 with a major victory, help us start 2011 with the support we need to keep moving. Give $40 or more, and we'll send you the new 2011 Peace Builders calendar. Photo credit: Chris De Bruyn – http://chrisdebruyn.zenfolio.com/

It was touch and go until the end.

But just moments ago, the Senate voted to ratify the New START treaty, taking a major step towards a world safe from the threat of nuclear weapons!

I am not kidding, this was a real nail biter. We had to get 67 senators on board to ratify the treaty, and even after more than a year of organizing, a handful of hard-right Republicans with a lot of power were pulling every string to kill it.

But together we prevailed, and we just ratified the first major disarmament treaty this nation has seen in decades.

As we celebrate this victory, we’ve got to prepare for what comes next, because in 2011 we’ll face an even tougher Congress. Will you help us keep the momentum going into the new year by making a year-end contribution? For a gift of $40 or more, we’ll send you the 2011 Peace Builders calendar as thanks.

This wasn’t an easy fight, but it was worth it. Russia and the US have 95% of the world’s nuclear weapons, and it’s crucial we lead by example by making reductions. We aim to eliminate every last nuclear weapon on earth, and if we had let this treaty fall victim to the Senate’s partisan games, it would have killed prospects for bigger steps, like a comprehensive test ban.

Legislative victories like this are often years in the making, and that takes organizations that can sustain campaigns over the long haul. Ninety-eight cents of every dollar we have to spend comes from people just like you pitching in when it matters most. We need your help to keep advancing the causes both you and I hold dear.

Please click here to give as large a gift as you can, and help us start 2011 off with the support we need. For $40, we’ll send you a thank you gift that will remind you throughout the year of your contribution to peace.

The Peace Builders calendar illustrates in full color what we stand for — peaceful alternatives to bombs and war. It highlights proven programs that, with the right resources, can help build a more safe and just world by addressing some of the root causes of war.

Thank you for sharing in this victory with us.

But Everyone, we won’t be able to keep this up without you! 98% of every bit of work we do is paid for by folks just like you. People who care enough about this world and yearn enough for peace to do something about it. Please click here to sponsor our national phonebank for just a buck a call. Your gift of $5 would help get 5 calls in to a key Republican senator, so give what you can today!

Thanks to all who wrote me sharing your excitement about the crucial step we took towards ratifying the first disarmament treaty in decades.

On Thursday we jumped a major hurdle by getting the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty out of committee, but now comes the biggest test of all. It takes 67 senators to ratify a treaty. So that means we need seven Republican senators to cross the aisle and vote for this treaty.

I can almost guess what you’re thinking. “It can’t be done, Katie! Bipartisanship is dead!” After all, we’ve all seen how ugly our political system has become.

But the thing is, we are already doing it.

Peace Action West pulled together 24 organizations in coalition to form a national phonebank, and we generated more than 4700 calls to key Republican Senators in just a few weeks. Our efforts are paying off, because two days ago, Republican Senators Corker (TN) and Isakson (GA) flipped and voted to support the treaty!

But we’re going to need your help to get the four more Republican votes that we need. It costs us about $1 for every call we get into a Republican Senator’s office. Will you sponsor 25, 40, or 100 calls into the Senate? We’ll make every dollar you give count!

Here’s why we’re giving this treaty everything we’ve got. We aim to eliminate every last nuclear weapon on earth, and this treaty lays the groundwork for taking much larger steps. Russia and the US have 95% of the world’s nuclear weapons, and it’s crucial we lead by example by making reductions. On the other hand, allowing this treaty to fall victim to the Senate’s partisan games will suck the oxygen out of efforts for bigger steps, like a comprehensive test ban.

We already know that together we can make a difference. Please lend us your support today, because we’re working every day, and every moment counts.

Yesterday, in the midst of the most vicious and partisan political season in ages, we moved the first disarmament treaty in decades another major step towards ratification. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 14 – 4 to approve sending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) to the full Senate for a vote.

And it’s all because of the support of people like you. About a month ago, Peace Action West launched a national phone bank, coordinating the efforts of 24 groups around the country to push key Republicans to support the treaty.

Our efforts are paying off.  We’ve been hearing from Senate offices that their phones have been ringing off the hook about the New START. In just a few weeks, we generated over 4000 phone calls to key Republicans, and flipped two crucial Republican votes on the committee to support the treaty, helping it pass with flying colors.

We’re going up against major odds. Very powerful and very right wing organizations like the Heritage Foundation and Liberty Central have been going full tilt to undermine the treaty. But the amazing fact is, while they have the high-priced ad campaigns and unbelievably cozy relationships with policymakers, our grassroots efforts are outpacing theirs. Our pressure on Republicans to stop playing politics with New START is working, and we are building momentum for other senators to do the right thing and ratify the treaty.

I hope you feel some ownership over this progress, because we truly couldn’t do it without you. Especially at a time when U.S. political culture seems completely crazy it is all the more sweet to see how skilled organizers and concerned citizens can move forward towards change. Even through an institution as mixed up as the U.S. Senate.

I want to take this opportunity to introduce Katie Heald, who joined our team this summer and has been leading the charge on this campaign. Please click here to read her post on what’s to come, and give her a big pat on the back for her incredible work.

She’ll be letting you know soon when your help can make a difference.