September 11: the peace campaigner

Rita's brother has become a national hero

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The terrible attacks of September 11 have united the American people as never before.

This is a country at war.

But some of those most directly affected have started to say: not in my name.

To have an airplane fly into your brother's or your son's building - changes the whole world

Rita Lasar

When she can face it, Rita Lasar comes to St Paul's Church, right next to ground zero.

This is where tributes have been left for the victims of September 11.

Rita comes to remember her brother Abe Zalmanowitz. She tells me: "There's an ache in my heart that hasn't gone away - it gets stronger when I come here - much stronger."

Abe was on the 27th floor of the World Trade Centre. He could easily have escaped. But he decided to stay with his friend Ed who couldn't make it down the stairs - he was in a wheelchair. They died together as the first tower collapsed.

Rita told me: "To have an airplane fly into your brother's or your son's building - changes the whole world."

And Rita's world has changed completely in the last year. September 11 started it - but almost as important for her is September 14.

Rita: not in my name

On that day, President Bush made a speech which singled out her brother's heroism.

Rita explains: "I said to myself 'oh of course they're going to use my brother's death and act to justify killing people in Afghanistan'. And that horrified me almost as much as his dying."

Rita was so distressed by the thought of innocent Afghans being killed, that she decided to go there.

In village after village she found homes destroyed, relatives distraught.

She tried to give a letter to the US embassy, but she was turned away.

Since she's come back Rita has become a passionate critic of the war on terror.

She tells me: "Americans want to believe that we're the best, kindest freest most generous people in the world. But all the aid and all the money that we provide is done in our self- interest. "What are we accomplishing? we're just sowing the seeds of hatred for us and we're good people."

Rita's life has been turned upside down in the last year. At the age of 70, she's become an activist.

She is still consumed by grief at the loss of her brother - but there is also a sense of foreboding for the future of her country.