APRIL 13, 2010
"No Nukes for Iran" Visits Washington
Danielle Bari Flaum, of Short Hills, N.J., is founder and chair of the No Nukes for Iran Teen Advocacy Program. 
I looked around the room and it really hit me. I was sitting with Israeli Ambassador Michel Oren in his private study at the Israeli Embassy, Washington D.C. Now, the gift of memory allows me to fully realize the truly amazing day I had along with other members of the No Nukes for Iran Teen Advocacy Program.Meeting with Ambassador Oren in his study, we discussed the successes and struggles of our No Nukes
for Iran campaign. He thanked us for our passionate efforts and
congratulated us on creating excitement in bringing together many
Jewish and non-Jewish groups around the issue. He stressed that
a nuclear Iran poses a monumental security threat, sharing memories
of growing up after the Holocaust and recalling the promises that his generation made to "never again" let a Holocaust happen. The thought
of Iran gaining nuclear weapons, he said, causes him to have sleepless
nights. We presented the Ambassador with a "No Nukes for Iran"
banner and lapel pin - which, he told us, he loved.
Ambassador Oren informed us that members of the Israeli Consulate
were meeting with Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious
Action Center, downstairs at the Israeli Embassy. Next thing we knew,
we were downstairs speaking to the members of the Israeli consulate and Rabbi Saperstein, informing them about our project. Ambassador Oren
passed out our No Nukes for Iran car magnets, urging the members of the
Consulates to take this project back to their communities. We were deeply grateful to Ambassador Oren and Benjamin Sack, Director of National Initiatives and State Government Relations, for an incredible morning.
Next we headed to the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill to meet with
Robert Marcus, staff member for the House of Representatives
Committee on Foreign Affairs, who gave us a crash course in
government and politics. We also met with Jonathan Moore, legislative assistant to Representative Steven R Rothman (D-NJ09), and told
them about our missionincluding what we have been doing and what
we wanted from them: to learn about the Iran Petroleum Sanctions Act
and if - and when - the legislation would become law. At first I did not
think they would really take us seriously, considering that we were only teenagers, but they kindly informed us that we knew more about politics
and the legislative system than many lobbyists and adults they had meet
with before. We left the meeting feeling good.
Next stop was AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where we met with Leadership Development Director Jonathan Kessler and National Field Organizer Suzy Goldenkranz and learned firsthand from some of the experts about strategies on foreign policy lobbying. AIPAC's staff reminded us that it's not what we have already accomplished that is so imperative but rather our next course of action that will keep people interested in the project. It was an inspiring and challenging meeting.
In our meeting with Rachel Hillman, program associate at the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, we discussed how to tap into BBYO's energy and encourage its members to join our mission of a nuclear weapons-free Iran. Joining with an international youth movement was another highlight of our day.
Finally, we joined the RAC's L'Taken Social Justice Seminar, a gathering
of more than 300 teens, for a lively Shabbat service where I had the honor
of delivering our message to the gathering. I loved looking out at my peers
and challenging them to stand up, speak out, and declare that this generation of youth wants to live in a world free of terrorists threatening Israel and our safety. I hope I inspired them to lobby their elected officials not only about
the importance of Iran remaining free of nuclear weapons but on any issue
that speaks to them. As I addressed the teens, I realized the meaning of the saying "Everybody can make a difference;" before this moment, I had not realized that I really did how the power to enact change. .
Ambassador Oren, AIPAC, staff members on Capitol Hill. They all asked us the same question: "What is your next step?" The answer is that No Nukes for Iran has just launched a national petition with a goal of 100,000 signatures, thus creating a powerful lobbying tool.
There are several things you can do right now to stand up and speak out on this issue!
- Sign the petition at www.nonukesforiran.org.
- Post this message on your Facebook and Twitter.
- Send this blog post to your rabbi, youth leader, club members and other groups to let them know this is important to you and to our generation.
- Print out the petition and have all your friends, family and classmates sign it. Then scan the signed petition and mail it to nonukesforiran@gmail.com.
Photo 1: Nancy Kislin, Michelle Bauer, Robert Marcus, Danielle Flaum, and Jonathan Moore gather for a lobbying session in the Rayburn Building Photo 2: Organizers from No Nukes for Iran meet with Ambassador Michael Oren Photo 3: No Nukes for Iran founder Danielle Flaum speaks to participants at the RAC's L'Taken Social Justice Seminar
