Today President Barack Obama was named as the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Recognized for his work to reduce nuclear arms, to ease tensions with the Muslim world, and stress diplomacy over unilateralism, we congratulate the President on this award. Yet with this great honor comes a great obligation to live up to the title of the “Peace President.”

Obama has much work to do. With two wars waging and the largest military
budget in history about to pass across his desk, Obama will need help in
living up to this award. CODEPINK has come up with a list of ways the
President can work for peace in the days to come:

• Donate the $1.4 million prize to organizations working to build peace;
• Establish aresponsible exit strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan;
• Close Bagram prison in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay;
• Recall the use of drones in military combat and follow international law;
• Establish a real climate change plan that would move us closer to ending resource wars based on our oil needs;
• Establish leadership by redirecting our financial resources from war spending to address human needs for healthcare, education, and jobs;
• Hold direct, unconditional talks with Iran;
• Accelerate the eradication of nuclear weapons.

Lasting peace will span a long road of dedicate work ahead. That road winds from Afghanistan to Iraq to Pakistan to Gaza – and onto the Main
Streets of our urban centers and rural towns across America. Obama’s
diplomatic talk is an excellent start that must be followed by real action
to redeem the merits that the Nobel prize holds.

http://www.remindobama.org