Grannies wish toy execs a Happy Valentine’s day at fancy Toy of the Year Awards’ Dinner..

Saturday, February 12, 5 PM.  One by one, about 30 grannies and their friends snuck furtively into the Time-Warner Building at the corner of  Broadway and 60th Street . They had come to serenade and to hand out Valentine’s cards to executives attending the $350 a plate Toy Association’s Toy of The Year Award’s dinner.

The plan had been to meet on the corner outside, but it was much too windy and cold, so as if it had been pre-arranged (which it wasn’t), they all knew to go inside. They aroused no suspicion, this bunch of old ladies, and as they talked they decided that they would be much more comfortable singing inside and that was the place to distribute the valentine’s cards pleading with the toy industry to make toys of peace and to flaunt their banners saying WAR IS NOT A GAME and ALL WAR TOYS MUST GO.

They brought with them Hasbro’s Nerf Stampede Blaster, a gun Hasbro promises will make vigilantes of your children, and which was nominated for (and won) the BOY TOY OF THE YEAR AWARD Award.

For 45 minutes the grannies belted out their ballads targeting militaristic toys, particularly those made by Hasbro. Our very own Bev was assigned to schmooze with the guards and the police as Mercy led us all in song.  Mercy you can hear on the third floor of the Time-Warner Building.

After 45 minutes a combination of security and NYPD got it together to get us out of the building and for a while we sang outside.

The high point of the night was when a man, who seemed to be employed by Time-Warner and had been watching us intently as we did our thing, came outside and told us that he had listened to what we were saying and we were right.  The granny holding the Stampede Blaster informed him that it had been nominated for the Boy Toy of The Year award.  As he walked off, he told us that he had bought that gun for his son, and said “I DON’T WANT MY SON PLAYING WITH GUNS NOW AFTER LOOKING AT THIS.”

- Joan Pleune
for the Granny Peace Brigade
Photos 1, 2, 4 & 5: Bud Korotzer
Photo 3: Joan Pleune

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As the the wheel began to turn the twelve riders unfurled their banners and sang John Lennon’s “All we are saying is give peace a chance.”

The Raging Grannies in the lobby joined the riders in song — all of us there to encourage shoppers to choose toys that can help children become productive, compassionate adults.

The Toys R Us employees handled the folks on the Ferris wheel with courtesy and restraint. They asked the peace riders to put their banners away and allowed them complete their turn on the Ferris wheel. The riders put the banners away while their cars were down near the Ferris wheel entrance and unfurled them again when the cars were up on high.

There were a lot of thumbs up signs and two young men who were working in the store taking photographs began singing with us. But there were some negative responses. One man called out “Buy your kid a gun.” When asked to say it again for the camera he refused. A woman said “They are terrorizing the kids,” but we didn’t see any kids who looked remotely terrorized — just curious. I am heartsick that someone could attach the word terrorize to this action. Twelve people held signs saying “War is Not a Game” and No More War Toys.” Another dozen or so joined in quietly singing, “Give peace a chance.”

After a bit of amicable discussion with the security people we left the store and gathered outside to sing and distribute greeting cards asking shoppers to “Think before you buy.”

Season’s Greetings from the Granny Peace Brigade

In peace always,

- Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade
All Photos by Masahiro Hosoda

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Photo: Phyllis Cunningham

The currently marketed G.I. Joe, manufactured by Hasbro is the archetype of war toys.

Hasbro was nominated for awards in two different categories at the Toy Industry Association awards banquet on Saturday evening at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in NYC. The Granny Peace Brigade previously had written to Brian Goldner, CEO of Hasbro, requesting a meeting to discuss our concerns about G.I. Joe and war toys but had not received a reply. We, along with supporters including members of the Raging Grannies, went to Pier 60 to send a message: RETIRE G.I. JOE!

Hasbro Has Got To Know – G.I. Joe Must Go YouTube video

Initially, at the entrance to Pier 60, we held banners, sang, and distributed flyers to let the arriving attendees know we are troubled by the manufacture and distribution of war toys. In time, we marched through the Pier 60 garage in an attempt to get closer to the entrance of the banquet hall. This provided attendees greater exposure to our message as they disembarked from taxis and limousines to enter the gala! We were happy to be in, out of the wind and cold.

Photo: Phyllis Cunningham

Were we asked to leave? You bet! Several times and by several different people. “This is private property!” Who owns the property? “The owners” of course. Members discussed our right to be there and the rest of us kept on singing, “Hasbro’s got to know G.I. Joe must go.” (download songs sheets from the Granny Peace Brigade “Songs” page.

Eventually the police showed up but we continued to sing and negotiate our space. Finally, when most of the attendees had already arrived, we slowly moved to the entrance of Pier 60…singing and chanting along the way. We continued to display our banners and sing while standing on the sidewalk adjacent to the pier entrance. A gentleman, who we were told was a supervisor of the area, commanded us to move across the street as “…this sidewalk becomes private property after sundown…from sundown to sunup it is private property.” We were to understand that it is only public during daylight. You can imagine how we related to that. The police asked us to move so that they could leave. We complied and moved across the street with our banners unfurled.

The following Monday, we went to the Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Center to again get our message out.

Photos: Phyllis Cunningham

With banners and singing, members distributed flyers to attendees and passers-by. We had an opportunity to talk with attendees about war toys and how they may affect children: desensitization to fighting, violence, war and killing. There were many interesting conversations and much positive feedback concerning our toy campaign. We also heard, “I love G.I. Joe!” on occasion.

Please write to Brian Goldner and tell him to retire G.I. Joe.
Brian Goldner, President and CEO
Hasbro, Inc.
1027 Newport Avenue
Pawtucket, RI 02862

- Phyllis Cunningham
for the Granny Peace Brigade

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Granny, but it’s cold outside. Read our blue lips, G.I. Joe Must Go!

Champion banner handlers: Molly, Joe, Paula and Nydia with Pat

The Granny Peace Brigade and Raging Grannies come from near and far, Manhattan, Coney Island, and Queens to send their message to Hasbro and other toy manufacturers.  Edith, Caroline, Mercy, Betty, Lillian and Corinne and Molly!  wayyy over on the right!

Betty comes out into the cold with Caroline to sing to Hasbro, “No More War Toys.”

That’s Shirley Littman from Chelsea for Peace and the Raging Grannies! Talking to Joan P. and Carol and bringing us Raging Grannies song sheets so we can serenade the Toy Awards people. Shirley queries why we aren’t going inside to the entrance of the gala.

Inside, through the parking garage we go!

Ever Onward – We march toward the restaurant to bring the message ‘War is Not a Game’ closer to the toy fair guests.

Is that the guy from the restaurant? Telling us we have to go? But we’re not done yet!

He really means it. So do we. With the entrance to gala in the background, we negotiate the right to remain.

The Granny Peace Brigade stays put in the garage outside the restaurant where the Toy Show Awards dinner is taking place.

Security! We’re being attacked by Grannies with songs and funny hats!! Get that pregnant security woman in here with the walkie-talkie!

Amazing Bev Rice engages the cops, very polite, as we keep singing!

After leaving the garage to stand on sidewalk outside to Pier 60, we were told by police to move across the street as the adjacent sidewalk “becomes private property after sundown.”  Huh? The cops tell us to go stand in the bike path. We move. What else becomes private property after sundown?

Watch it on YouTube:  Hasbro Has Got To Know – G.I. Joe Must Go

Photos: Phyllis Cunningham
Captions: Mercy Van Vlack with Phyllis Cunningham, Eva-Lee Baird, Nydia Leaf and Barbara Harris

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Our children and grandchildren are special and their playthings should be special too – stuff that helps them blossom into smart, happy, positive kids. That’s why we pick out gifts with loving care.

On February 13th the Toy Industry Association will reveal the 2010 toy picks at their 10th annual “Toy of the Year Awards” Ceremony. We’re not sure kids will get loving care from these folks.

Hasbro, the maker of the G.I. Joe line of dolls and a multitude of murderous accessories is nominated for awards in two toy categories.

This will all happen at the Chelsea Piers (Pier 60) and we’ve got to be there as the attendees file into the awards ceremony. We’ll tell Hasbro and the rest that it’s time to…

RETIRE G.I. JOE – ALL WAR TOYS MUST GO!

Please join us:
5:15 PM
Saturday, February 13
Chelsea Pier 60
West side of 11th Avenue at 20th Street

We’ll have banners, songs, flyers. Bring your very welcome self and take a stand for “Smart Toys not War Toys.”

- Eva-Lee Baird, Caroline Chinlund, Edith Cresmer, Phyllis Cunningham, Barbara Harris, Joan Pleune, and Fran Sears
for the Granny Peace Brigade

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NO MORE WAR TOYS, NO MORE WARS An action-based reminder that our wonderful smart kids and grandkids need smart, not war-mongering, toys.  After our first wildly successful endeavor in Times Square on December 4th, we decided to take our message to a Target in Brooklyn.

Molly Klopot would prefer that children not play with this toy.

Jenny Heinz amassing despicable, child damaging war toys. “As we were leaving a police officer thanked us (for our beliefs/action or for leaving without resistance I know not)”

Caroline Chinlund adding to the collection. “We’re on a roll.”

Ann Shirazi adding the “Girl GI Joe” doll to the cart.

Ann holds a Navy Seal doll. There seems to be no end to the supply of war-mongering toys.

Carol Husten and Nydia Leaf look appalled because they are.

Judy Lear with banner preparing to leave the Target toy department.

Removing war toys from the toy floor. Barbara Harris and Edith Cresmer carrying the banner with Carol in the middle. Toys are on the cart escalator.

Police escorting Lillian Pollak -  followed by Mercy VanVlack – out of the store.

Joan Pleune and Jenny are escorted out of Target.

It took the police a while to get us out of the mall.

Once outside we sang and gave out our “Smart Toys for Smart Kids” flyers

Bev Rice getting vocal.

“We brought our particular form of education, elucidation and illumination to holiday shoppers at the Atlantic Shopping Center.”
- Fran Sears

“Good work – worth the effort and will soon be cloned elsewhere.”
- Barbara Harris

“At the close of the event, a police officer told a few of us that we could not/would not be arrested for carrying or displaying banners in a store.  Arrests can be made if/when people refuse to leave when ordered to do so by the police.  So, we must and will, carry-on!!!  Correct???”
- Phyllis Cunningham

RIGHT ON!! WE WILL DEFINITELY CARRY ON!! - Joan Pleune

“Let’s make 2010 a better year.” - Eva-Lee Baird

Photos by Phyllis Cunningham

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Part of our group gathered outside the recruiting station in Times Square. As soon as the police realized we were demonstrating they asked us to “move along.”

So we marched with our signs to Toys”R”Us.
Mean while….

…four groups of three or four people inside the store bought tickets to the Ferris wheel. Once we were in the air we unfurled our banners and began to sing, “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” People on all the balconies surrounding the atrium could see our banners. Most but not all agreed with us.

Below us on the entrance floor the Raging Grannies joined us in song.

Soon enough store personnel asked us to leave. Ferris wheel riders were refunded the price of our tickets so in effect our speech was free.

We continued to sing and hold our banners high as we were escorted out.

This is the beginning of our No War Toys campaign. Please join us. More info: www.grannypeacebrigade.org
YouTube No War Toys video

- Edith Cresmer
for the Granny Peace Brigade
Photos 1, 2, 4, 6 & 7 – Bud Korotzer
Photos 3 & 5 – Eva-Lee Baird

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If you need any further persuasion to get busy with peaceful, constructive and entertaining holiday gift ideas for the youngsters on your lists, these two reports, one from our own New York press and the other from London, should get you started.  According to the BBC, it is expected that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will break all other video game records — and the ecstatic press reports regarding the Union Square launch of this hunk of garbage are thru the roof.

Our own Joan Wile has proposed some great ideas for countering the proliferation of these kind of ‘games’, but we need more ideas for alternatives.  So c’mon folks, crank it up.  We have to fight fire with our own brand of excitement.

Peace,

- Fran Sears
for the Granny Peace Brigade

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Walking over to Union Square from the Legislative Committee meeting this afternoon, I spied a formidable tent city set up at the southern apron of the park.  Hollywood lighting, a phalanx of self-important young men in black suits with blue-tooth head sets — something is going on.  When I see  a big-time show biz catering truck nearby, I walk over to check things out and discover it is the launch of a new video game, CALL OF DUTY:  MODERN WARFARE 2. What is particularly knee-buckling is the sight of kids, straining against the velvet ropes, begging to be allowed into the tents — their yearning is palpable.  If anything underscores the need for all of us to be out there with peaceful alternatives during the holiday season, this is it.

So here is your assignment, dear brothers and sisters in peace: rack your brains and ask everyone you know for ideas for constructive, smart, entertaining alternatives to these horrible “games” — and pass your suggestions along to us ASAP at grannypeace@gmail.com.  We are currently building a web page with resources for our “Smart Toys for Smart Kids” initiative and we need all the help we can get.  Before you put this off, take a minute and a half to watch this.

Despicable doesn’t even begin to describe this trash, does it?  So what are you waiting for — get busy.  Your ideas are desperately needed.

In Peace,

- Fran Sears
for the Granny Peace Brigade

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