Dear members and friends of DAN,

On behalf of Democrats Abroad in Norway, we are especially pleased and honored to have the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

We’ll do our best to keep the DAN website updated as information becomes available. To stay best informed, subscribe to be alerted by e-mail whenever the site is updated! See www.democratsabroad.no for more information or to subscribe.

What’s going on in Oslo in connection with the Nobel Peace prize? Here’s a quick recap of what we know so far. Please note that due to the extra security precautions, all plans are subject to change…

1. The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (Oslo City Hall, December 10, 1:00 p.m.) – http://www.democratsabroad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=66770&qid=7189264
This is the event with the least number of tickets available – ticket requests should be made directly in writing to the Nobel Institute.

2. CNN interview with the laureate (Oslo City Hall, December 10, 5:00 p.m.)
Each year CNN interviews the Nobel Peace Prize laureate live from city hall – ticket requests should be made directly in writing to the Nobel Institute.

3. Candlelight parade
There is usually a “fakkeltog” or candlelight parade with the Nobel winner immediately following the CNN interview that ends at the Grand Hotel. It is, however, uncertain if this will take place for security reasons.

4. The Nobel Banquet (December 10, evening)
No tickets are made available to the public for this event.

5. The Nobel Peace Prize Concert (Oslo Spektrum, December 11)
SOLD OUT

Democrats Abroad has announced the addition of Constituency and Issue Groups to its website. The Constituency Groups are included on your Profile page when you login to the Democrats Abroad site and are open to members of Democrats Abroad upon request. The new Constituency Groups are:

Democrats Abroad has always had a Women’s Group and a LGBT Group, and they are still there, but have been refreshed. You can find these groups in the New Groups section of the “My Groups” page.

One great new feature is that Democratic National Committee (DNC) members will post information to each of these groups after every DNC meeting. Information from the Austin Meeting last month is there currently. Please join these groups and start posting.

Democrats Abroad has also added some new Issue Groups. In addition to the Health Insurance Reform Group they have added Energy & Environment, Education, and Immigration. Democrats Abroad will add new Issue Groups as we move forward. This is just another step in our effort to support the President and his agenda. These Issue Groups can be found in the same location and are open to all members of Democrats Abroad.

(Yesterday) morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I’d been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize — men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I’ve said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won’t all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it’s recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award — and the call to action that comes with it — does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So we humbly recommit to the important work that we’ve begun together. I’m grateful that you’ve stood with me thus far, and I’m honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

It’s been awhile since we have all met up, and what a better time that now! The heat has been on Mr. President these past few months from the town hall meetings to the SNL Sketch last weekend. It has not been easy for Obama but he made it very clear in his Inaugural address speech that this was not going to be an easy task….he said, ‘’Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met’’!

No one can argue that he has met many of our problems heads on! Out of his 515 promises 47 have been kept and 107 are in the works. Not bad for his first year. Just like his work isn’t done, neither is ours. The White House has asked us to show our support for the President and his 8 Guarantees for Health Insurance Reform by writing our members of Congress to support the President’s principles on Health Insurance Reform.

So on October 28th at the Southern Kitchen Café in Malmö I would like to encourage all of our members to come share your opinion on how the President is doing and if you would like information on what you can do to help support the president while abroad there will be people at the meeting to help you. The event will start at 17:30 and will last until the last person leaves! Drop by even if it is for a few minutes!

If you can bring a letter that you have written to your representative or senator and we can help you find the right address to send it to. This will be a fun social event; Southern Kitchen Café has great food and good selection of beers.

Hope to see you all there!

Wed October 28th 17:30-????
Southern Kitchen Café
Östra Förstadsgatan 24
Malmö
040 230 830
info@southernkitchencafe.se
www.southernkitchencafe.se

5 simple things you can do to help pass health care reform:

1. write to your Representative and Senators,
2. write to your hometown U.S.A. newspaper,
3. sign the President’s petition,
4. forward the President’s comments on health care, and
5. let five friends know.

Click here for more details.