By KRISTA MARRS

Staff Writer

LACONIA — Karen Barker is using the art of quilting to stress the need for peace at a time when President Bush appears to be inching closer to a war with Iraq.

A founder of the Lakes Region Peace and Justice Group along with husband, Tom, Barker has been assembling pink fabric squares that will ultimately create a large banner which she will bring to the International Women’s Day Code Pink 4 Peace Rally in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, March 8.

The rally for peace, which is being held in conjunction with International Women’s Day, has events scheduled throughout the week of March 3-9, including plays, speeches and a banquet for hunger.

"I’m giving people squares and I’m having people send me squares of larger size that will be all pieced in," said Barker. "I was thinking about what am I going to take to D.C. with me because we’re flying and I didn’t just want to bring the typical banner. I originally thought I would ask people to give me pictures because I wanted to do something with fabric. This sort of brought me to this quilting idea."

Each pink square has a design or a name signed on it of people who want peace, not war. Some drew pictures of peace symbols, doves, hearts or wrote feelings like "Do no harm" on the squares.

Stitched in with the solid pink squares are squares with a floral pattern, which are pieced together to form a peace symbol. Barker said this main section, that is completed, will be the center portion of the banner.

Barker said she is hoping to collect squares from people all across the Granite State.

International Women’s Day dates back to 1917 when Russian women staged a non-violent protest against political leaders following a war that left some 2 million soldiers dead. The women chose the last Sunday in February to strike for "bread and peace" and while the historic event fell on Feb. 23 on the Julian calendar, which is used in Russia, the date was March 8 on the Gregorian calendar.

Since then, March 8 has been designated as International Women’s Day. The month of March also is Women’s History month.

Although Barker said she has never taken part in a feminist or women’s movement event, she feels strongly about Code Pink’s message and can align with the group’s feelings on the issue of war and how it impacts women.

"For some reason, it really caught me," said Barker. "The impact of war on women and children, it’s so huge."

Critics have said that Baker and others who speak out against war with Iraq are anti-American and are supporting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"I think there’s a big difference between supporting Saddam Hussein and supporting the Iraqi people. I think there’s a big difference between being anti-American and when you feel your country is about to make a huge mistake in the world," said Barker. "This anti-war movement is not pro-Saddam Hussein. It’s saying we don’t want war as our solution anymore."

Barker continued by saying "I think that intervention is required in many situations but I feel that war is not the only successful intervention we know of."

Barker said there is also a special significance to the quilted aspect of the banner.

"I chose quilting because it’s such a women’s thing and because of all the artforms, that is so uniquely women. It’s something that women would do together as a community thing," said Barker. "This will reflect all the people who couldn’t be there with us but are there in spirit. It’s another way that people can make a statement and have their voice recognized."

The banner will be assembled throughout the next week.