National Youth and Student Peace Coalition

Turn Up the Heat Week Guide

This week of action is focused on visibility and putting pressure on candidates and local officials to prioritize our needs over war! People should be out in the streets and their campuses being visible and making our voices heard that we demand Books Not Bombs!

Here is a list of activities that you could do to "turn up the heat:"

Table throughout the week in your school or college campus getting people to sign onto our petition and vote Books Not Bombs on Nov. 7th.
Turn in the petitions that you have been collecting to local candidates running for office to show that youth will be voting "Books Not Bombs" on November 7th.
Hold a call-in day to candidates demanding that the fund schools not war
Put up NYSPC fliers and stickers around your college campus and school
Put up candidate fliers highlighting their voting record on the war
Hold rallies, marches and demonstrations to highlight the impact the war has had on young people in the US and abroad
Hold vigils and rallies outside candidate offices to highlight their stances on the war
Attend candidate forums and ask candidates their stance on the war and what they are doing to do about the cuts to college financial aide, our public schools and veteran benefits
Hold a candidate forum at your school or university to address the needs of youth and students

Links to help you get started:

To identify local candidates in your area and their offices, go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov
For tips on asking questions at candidate forums and how to "bird-dog" visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3396
For information on how your Congressperson and Senators voted on issues around the Iraq War, see http://capwiz.com/fconl/home/

Tips on Setting Up A Visit to a Candidate

Step One: Register

Be sure to let us know if you visit your local candidates' offices! Go to www.nyspc.org and sign yourself up!

Step Two: Gather

Gather a group of people together who are going to do the visit. Ask your friends, family, fellow students and co-workers if they want to make their voices heard with you!

Step Three: Schedule a Visit

Call the local offices of the candidate and schedule a visit. If you are not able to meet with the candidate, ask to meet with the highest-ranking person in the office.

Step Four: Do your Homework on the Candidate

Research ahead of time the voting record of the candidate on the Iraq War. Go to http://capwiz.com/fconl/home/

Step Five: Planning

Plan ahead what you are going to say. Be short and concise.

Step Six: Choose the facilitator

During the visit, pick someone who will be the facilitator for the group and introduce the members of the group

Step Seven: Remember: Stay on Topic

During the visit, stay on topic and try to give local examples on how the war is impacting youth

Step Eight: Petition

Present the petitions and ask the candidate to work towards ending the war in Iraq in 2007

Step Nine: Contact Information

Be sure to get the contact information of the person you met with so you are able to follow up with them!