Tue, 10 Nov 1998 IRAQ ACTION DIGEST __________________________________________________________ A Project of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) Box 271 Nyack, New York 10960 (914) 358-4601 forbsp@igc.org __________________________________________________________ This digest contains more local events around the nation, a press release from Kathy Kelly, a new sample letter to the editor by Perry Keidel of Veterans for Peace, and a new web site in the UK with sanctions information. Please continue to post events and actions. Those cities, with large representation on this list-serve, and without planned events, are especially encouraged to schedule protests and mail me information. Nick Arons FOR __________________________ Local events: ANN ARBOR, MI Demonstrate the "day after" a military attack, at 5 pm at the Liberty and 5th Federal Building, if the "day after" is a weekday, or at 12 noon, if the "day after" is a weekend. HARTORD, CONNECTICUT The day after attack 11:30-12:30 at the Federal Building 457 Main Street, Hartford Tim Craine, Committee to Oppose Gulf War II tcraine@hotmail.com SAN JOSE, CA Day after attack 5pm Federal Bldg (San Carlos & 2nd St) Coalition to Lift Iraq Sanctions 408-297-2299, 650-493-9044, 408-428-7379 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Day after attack 5pm at Market & Powell 415-821-6545 International Action Center BURLINGTON, VERMONT Day of attack (Day after if attack occurs in the afternoon) 12 noon Federal Bldg (Pearl St & Elmwood) Instant Anti-War Coalition If you live near UVM, meet at the Royall Tyler steps at 11:15 to walk to Fed Bldg. WASHINGTON DC Day of/Day after attack first 5pm after U.S. attack at the White House (16th St & Pennsylvania Ave NW--on the sidewalk) International Action Center 202-588-1205 TUCSON, ARIZONA Day of attack (Day after if news breaks after 12 noon) 4:30 pm Tucson Federal Bldg (also weekly vigils to end the sanctions every Thurs 4:30-5:30 at Fed Bldg) 520-323-8697 Nuclear Resister CHICAGO Day of attack 4:30 pm Federal Bldg, Adams & Dearborn 312-641-5151 8th Day Center for Justice NEW YORK organizing meeting Nov 16, 6:30 pm at A.J. Muste Institute 339 Lafayette, 3rd Floor (East Village at Bleeker & Lafayette) BOSTON Day after attack 4:30 pm at Park Street T-Stop The Campaign for the Iraqi People SEATTLE Day AFTER attack 5pm Federal Bldg (2nd & Marion) Citizens Concerned for the People of Iraq, Communities Against U.S. Military Aggression 206-789-5565 GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA Day of Attack 4:30 pm at 13th & University bring signs & black arm bands ORLANDO, FLORIDA emergency response meetings every Wed at 10pm front lawn of Rollins College (1000 Holt Ave) 407-987-6943 CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE Day of/Day after attack 6pm at State House Plaza (weekly vigils against the sanctions at same location every Wed at noon) 603-228-0559 PORTLAND, OREGON Demonstrate 4:00 pm-6:00 pm on the day of the attack (the next day if bombing begins after 4:00 p.m.) Federal Building, SW 3rd and Jefferson. Contact: Peace and Justice Works, (503) 236-3065. (503) 236-3065 (Office) pjw@agora.rdrop.com http://www.rdrop.com/~pjw/Iraq.html ------------------- PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Voices in the Wilderness November 9, 1998 773-784-8065 Voices in the Wilderness Members, Opposed to Military Strikes and Sanctions Against Iraq to Hold Press Conference, Risk Arrest at Federal Building Chicago --- As the U.S. again threatens military strikes against Iraq, five Voices in the Wilderness members who have recently traveled to Iraq will hold a 10:00 a.m. press conference on Tuesday, November 10, at the Federal Building. Members who returned from Iraq as recently as November 2 will report on their interviews with UN officials in Iraq and the effect of eight years of sanctions imposed on Iraqi civilians. Joined by supporters, members of the group will risk arrest in a nonviolent effort to communicate that Iraqi civilians endure lethal use of force every day as a result of US/UN economic warfare against Iraq. While proclaiming that no Middle East country will be allowed the "capacity" to develop weapons of mass destruction, the US and the UK threaten to use their vast arsenal of such weapons against a country already suffering the consequences of brutal economic sanctions and previous bombardments. Voices in the Wilderness member Mike Bremer, of Chicago, IL, said, "As tensions escalate, we call for diplomatic solutions and condemn any further military strikes against the people of Iraq. We urge the leaders of all parties involved in the current crisis to work toward immediate lifting of the economic sanctions as the only way to solve the most pressing crisis in Iraq, the suffering of the Iraqi people." "The real weapons of mass destruction in Iraq are the economic sanctions which have already killed hundreds of thousands," said Henry Williamson, a paramedic and Viet Nam veteran, recently returned from Iraq, who lives at a local Catholic Worker House. ---------------------- sample letter to the editor Dear Editor US public opinion is no less disoriented and misinformed since the last time U.S. war drums approached a crescendo in regards to further bombing of Iraq. And thoughtful Congressional debate or critical inquiry in the U.S. mass media is mysteriously quiescent whenever the President mobilizes the U.S. military to wield his way. Never mind that an attack on Iraq is not about the bellicose behavior of Saddam Hussein (a U.S. pawn) but about larger U.S. strategic and economic interests: control of oil, a mid-east base of operations... Never mind that since 1990 the U.S. led embargo on Iraq has reduced a modern and developed society to a level of misery and dysfunction comparable to that recently left by hurricane Mitch in Central America. Never mind that, contrary to Albright's statement at Ohio State in February, the U.S. created this problem. Private U.S. corporations and Kissinger Associates profited tremendously building Iraq's war machine, but the costs were public. Iraq received $4.98 billion in "farm loan guarantees" through BNL/Atlanta during the Reagan and Bush administrations, revenues largely diverted to purchase dual use machine tool and computer technologies, ballistic missile technologies, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons research and development technologies. Never mind that no rival approaches U.S. weapons of mass destruction arsenals in variety, quality or quantity (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical weapons; indiscriminate land mines, cluster bombs, etc.) Never mind that fighting a periodic war somewhere is essential to field test new weapons systems and to rationalize the maintenance of the most advanced military apparatus in the world. Just never mind. Iraq, East Timor, Burma, Chiapas, Angola...what do they matter? Its profit that matters. Perry Keidel Veterans For Peace Gainesville Chapter ----- Cambridge, UK-based campaign's website: http://linux.clare.cam.ac.uk/~saw27/casi/ In particular it has a fully searchable archive of 300 articles which have been sent out on their email list.