[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [SRRTAC-L:8669] LIBRARY ACTION TO PREVENT WAR ON IRAQ

[Al Kagan]

>Delivered-To: akagan at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
>Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2002 10:46:36 -0400
>To: SRRT Action Council <srrtac-l at ala.org>
>From: Mark Rosenzweig <iskra at earthlink.net>
>Subject: [SRRTAC-L:8669] LIBRARY ACTION TO PREVENT WAR ON  IRAQ
>Cc: jberry at reedbusiness.com, lkniffel at ala.org
>X-MailScanner: Found to be clean, Found to be clean
>Reply-To: srrtac-l at ala.org
>Sender: owner-srrtac-l at ala.org
>Status:  
>
>
>
>
>ACT NOW TO PREVENT WAR ON  IRAQ
>
>ALA Councilors, principal among them Jim Casey, have called for the 
>'proliferation of libraries' as a contribution to peace. Here is an 
>opportunity to test the sincerity of this idealistic notion, by 
>joining or supporting an actual already-organized campaign to send 
>"books, not bombs" to Iraq.
>
>We are on the verge of unleashing a particularly senseless war with 
>Iraq, the debate in this country being about when and how, not 
>whether or not.  This call for 'regime change' through war is openly 
>flouting international law, something which is becoming habitual in 
>US policy circles.
>
>Let us counterpose to this a positive, constructive campaign to 
>build bridges between peoples as the basis for real multilateral 
>develoipments towards international security based on a 'peoples' 
>peace' with Iraq, through which individuals and groups in the US and 
>elsewhere can demonstarte good will and lay the basis for mutual 
>work in seeking to address the conditions in which injustice and 
>inhumanity thrive.
>
>Please consider endorsing the campaign outlined below and perhaps 
>help in making ALA an official party to this campaign to use the 
>'proliferation of libraries' to  counter war, tyranny and to 
>ameliorate the sufferings of - in this case -- the Iraqi people who 
>bear the brunt of global political policies, dominated by the US, 
>which are clearly indifferent to the additional depradations and 
>destruction the pursuit of increasingly bellicose policies will 
>cause for them, ordinary Iraqis, under the present circumstances. 
>
>
>Mark Rosenzweig
>ALA Councilor at large
>
>
>   
>    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
>
>Join The Rebuilding of Baghdad Library  Campaign. 
>
>  Dear  Colleagues,
>
>  The  National Mobilization Committee for the Defense of Iraq 
>(NMCDI) in Jordan  has initiated an academic book  collection 
>Campaign for Iraq. The goal of this campaign, which has been dubbed 
>the 'rebuilding of the Baghdad Library', is to provide Iraqi 
>students, academics  and intellectuals with scientific and academic 
>books and references that have  been prohibited entry to Iraq for 
>the past ten years. The excuse used is that  these items are 
>considered to be 'double usage items'. Thus Iraqiís  have been 
>denied the right to learn  which is an internationally recognized 
>and protected  right.
>
>The NMCDI, which has initiated this campaign, is a Jordanian-based 
>popular  committee that includes political parties, many civil 
>society institutions,  unions, organizations and independent 
>personalities. This committee was  established for the sole aim of 
>raising local, regional and international public  opinion regarding 
>the need to lift the comprehensive economic sanctions that  have 
>been imposed on Iraq for since 1990.
>
>The NMCDI believes that the sanctions,  which according to he UN 
>have directly resulted in the death of at least 1.5  million Iraqi 
>civilians and have caused a near total breakdown in the economic, 
>social, educational and health sectors are a crimes against 
>humanity.  
>
>The book campaign is an attempt among many serious attempts  carried 
>out by the NMCDI to challenge the sanctions that have crippled a 
>nation  of 22 million.  THe NMCDI believes that they can succeed in 
>bringing people from all over the world together in solidarity to 
>stop this atrocity which, among other things, has denied ordinary 
>Iraqis from the right to live learn  and develop.
>
>Politics aside, supporters simply agree that it is immoral to deny 
>22  million Iraqis the gift of knowledge.   The Iraqís historical 
>legacy is that it is the cradle of civilization and it  gave 
>humanity the first form of script and the first legal doctrines. In 
>our  time, Iraq was able was able to offer free education from 
>kindergarten through  university. However, after the destruction of 
>the Iraqi economy as a result of  the sanctions and the severe UN 
>restrictions imposed on Iraq , its legacy and  achievements have 
>been reduced to   day to day survival.
>
>The NMCDI has already announced this campaign in Jordan and work 
>has begun in the book collection plan.   However, to achieve their 
>set goals, and to make this ambitious campaign a  global effort, the 
>NMCDI will be working with the Mariam Appeal organization  based in 
>London and led by British MP George Galloway.
>
>Information about the  campaign can also be found on the Mariam 
>Appeal Web Site: <www.mariamappeal.com>
>
>
>The major goal is to collect and forward to Iraq the 8000  academic 
>and scientific references needed by Iraqi universities and academic 
>institutions, in an effort to replenish the their empty  libraries. 
>Therefore, the committee is contacting as many institutions, 
>organizations and individuals as possible to participate in our 
>campaign.  
>
>The NMCDI would like to officially invite you, your  organization, 
>your company to participate in this humanitarian campaign and help 
>give back to Iraqis the gift of  knowledge.
>
>If you choose to contribute to the campaign, please send a return 
>email to <<iraqbook at yahoo.com> choosing one or more of the following 
>options for  participation:  
>*     I agree to purchase one or more of the needed books, 
>periodicals, CDís  and forward to their address.  
>*    I wish to contribute money to your campaign to go towards the 
>purchase of  one or more books, periodicals,  etc. 
>
>*    I wish to participate by organizing my mini book  campaign in 
>my area to collect academic references to forward to Iraq through 
>the  campaign  
>
>Once they receive a return email from you stating your selected 
>contribution, the campaign will contact you immediately with the 
>necessary details.   
>
>We US librarians should assist the NCDMI to succeed in it goals.This 
>is a way to say NO to war. Together we can make a difference in 
>making our world a better  place.  
>
>Contact person:  Mr.  Fawaz Zuriekat National Mobilization Committee 
>for the Defense of  Iraq
>
>International laison/ Rebuilding Baghdad Library Campaign  
>
>Tel:     962-6-5533166 Fax:    962-6-5533177 
>
>Email:  fawaz at measi.com.jo Email:  iraqbook at yahoo.com  
>
>Mr. Fawaz Zureikat International Campaign  Manager International 
>Campaign  Office P.O.Box 7373 Amman 11118 Jordan    
>
>Sent for your information and action by
>Mark Rosenzweig, ALA Councilor at large

-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/mailman/archive/peace-discuss/attachments/20020804/3762ab49/attachment.html