Dear Families and Friends,

VOICES has received a steady stream of registrations from our families for the September 10th Information Forum and September 11th Commemorative Luncheon in New York City. Click here to see a copy of the invitation to this year’s event. The 2005 Information Forum will feature support groups, panel discussions on important topics like the World Trade Center Memorial, and opportunites for families to meet with service providers. In addition, a full day of programs for children will be available on the 10th. We hope all of you can attend the event to renew old friendships, make new ones, and share your strength with this remarkable group of families.

All family members should have received a letter from Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg outlining the official commemorative events to be held at Ground Zero on September 11th. For those who have not yet received their letter, a copy is available here. This year, siblings will play a large part in the ceremony by reading the names of the victims at Ground Zero. While the names are being read, family members will be able to descend to the lowest level of the site to leave flowers. For more information, or for siblings who want to register to read names, please email cferer@cityhall.nyc.gov or call
(212) 442-8953. VOICES Commemorative Luncheon will begin promptly at noon after the conclusion of the Memorial events.

This week’s e-Newsletter features I.C.E., a program that makes it easier for rescue workers to contact a victim’s family in case of an emergency for medical information and identification. Also, we have a summary of this week’s 9/11 Public Discourse Project hearing on America's foreign policy. We are encouraging everyone to learn more about the issue of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction through “Last Best Chance” a short film that illustrates how al-Qaeda might acquire nuclear weapons from unsecured sites in the former Soviet Union and Africa. The film is produced by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) founded by former Sen. Sam Nunn to raise awareness about the threat of WMD's in the hands of terrorists.

We hope this e-Newsletter finds you all well. We know that the approach of the anniversary can be difficult for our families. As always, please don’t hesitate to call the VOICES office if we can be of any assistance or if you would like to speak to one of our mental health professionals.

Warm Regards,

Summary of Panel on Foreign Policy
Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia

The 9/11 Public Discourse Project held its seventh public panel Tuesday in Washington, D.C. to continue assessing the progress of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations for reform. The panel focused specifically on America’s foreign policy toward three nations directly involved with the events of September 11th, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The panel was moderated by 9/11 Commissioner Lee Hamilton and featured two career diplomats, Dennis Ross, former U.S. special Middle East coordinator for the Clinton administration and Elizabeth Jones, former U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan. Discussion focused on how the U.S. can work with these nations as regional partners against terrorism while gently pushing for democratic reforms. In its report, the 9/11 Commission recommended that the U.S. step up its diplomatic activity in the area to make sure these nations do not become terrorist sanctuaries like Afghanistan under the Taliban. Though America’s foreign policy has helped these nations make progress since 9/11, they still face many challenges on the road to peaceful stability and functioning democracy...MORE

Featured Memorial Event
Kevin N. Colbert Scholarship Fundraiser

When: Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 9:00 pm
Where: Patty & Johnny's, Nassau Blvd, West Hempstead, NY
Tickets: $10.00

Join the friends and family of Kevin N. Colbert for a night of food, great raffle prizes, karaoke and music. All proceeds will be given to the Kevin N. Colbert Memorial Scholarship. Please view a flyer for the event.

"Last Best Chance"

“Last Best Chance” depicts a fictitious, but realistic scenario in which al Qaeda acquires nuclear weapons to attack the United States and Britain. The film, produced by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), advances the NTI’s goal of educating the American people on the real possibility of an attack which could take hundreds of thousands of lives and devastate the economy. While sobering in its descriptions of an attack, the film intends not to discourage, but to motivate. Perhaps the most dangerous enemy in this fight is our own sense of complacency, according to Fmr. Senator and current NTI President Sam Nunn. “The terrorists are racing and we are somewhere between a walk and a crawl,” Nunn said in a recent 9/11 Public Discourse Project panel on Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction.

There is a very real threat, but there is also a real solution. As the film explains, there is a finite amount of weapons-usable nuclear material in the world; if all the material is secured, there is no longer a threat. Experts widely agree this is a plausible solution - but how can we help? The first step is to become aware, and “Last Best Chance” presents the information in an easy, understandable format. A free DVD copy of the 45 minute film can be ordered from the movie's website. While the idea of a nuclear terrorist attack is a frightening thought, we have the opportunity to prevent this nightmare from becoming a reality.