[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Stoking the Fires of Opposition

[Jay Mittenthal]

>To: mitten at life.uiuc.edu
>From: Campaign of Conscience <conscience at topica.email-publisher.com>
>Subject: Stoking the Fires of Opposition
>Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:23:39 -0700
>Reply-To: <conscience at afsc.org>
>X-Topica-Id: <1039717437.svc002.8319.1000112>
>X-MailScanner: Found to be clean
>
>
>Campaign Update
>  In This Issue: December 12, 2002
>•   Thousands Protest War Against Iraq
>•   Celebrities Voice Dissent on Iraq
>•   Stay Connected with Peace Pledge
>•   A Faith-based Initiative Against War
>•   Voices in the Wilderness Fined
>•   Collect Health Kits for Iraqi People
>  Thousands Protest War Against Iraq
>Nationally coordinated regional activities were a great success on Dec. 
>10. Antiwar activists participated in more than 150 events in 37 states to 
>show that many people in the United States oppose war on Iraq. The events 
>took place on the fifty-fourth anniversary of passage of the UN Universal 
>Declaration of Human Rights. From Georgia to Alaska, Vermont to 
>California, thousands gathered to get out the message.
>
>Some, working with the Iraq Pledge of Resistance, chose the day to launch 
>a campaign of civil disobedience. Dozens of activists opposing a war with 
>Iraq were arrested. In Washington, D.C., protesters were arrested for 
>blocking the entrance to a recruiting center. In New York City, 99 people 
>were arrested for blocking the entrance to the U.S. embassy at the United 
>Nations. Additional arrests took place in Oakland, California; Chicago, 
>Illinois; and Hartford, Connecticut.
>
>Communities across the country chose many different ways to raise 
>visibility of the antiwar sentiment. From Santa Fe to Des Moines to 
>Philadelphia, rallies and vigils and teach-ins drew hundreds of people.
>
><http://click.topica.com/maaaHIRaaUQx9a3FWSZe/>Read more about local events.
>  Stay Connected with Peace Pledge
>Want to learn more about peacemaking activities in your city? Interested 
>in lending your voice to peace? The Peace Pledge is your forum. With more 
>than 34,000 supporters, the pledge keeps you connected. You will receive 
>electronic updates, become informed about local activities, and get 
>introduced to venues for lobbying and media outreach. Keep taking the 
>Pledge sheet to your activities. Every name is important. Supporters of 
>the Peace Pledge were an integral part of the diverse activities that 
>happened around the country against a march towards war.
>
><http://click.topica.com/maaaHIRaaUQyha3FWSZe/>Sign the Peace Pledge.
>  Voices in the Wilderness Fined
>The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 
>sent a letter on November 6 to Voices in the Wilderness and cofounder 
>Kathy Kelly, imposing a fine of $20,000 for twice delivering medicine to 
>Iraq without a permit 1998. The OFAC is in charge of enforcing economic 
>sanctions against Iraq
>
>OFAC also sent a letter to activist Dan Handelman of Portland, Oregon, 
>imposing a fine of $10,000 for his part in a November 1997 Voices 
>delegation, also delivering medicine to Iraq. This notice was similar to 
>ones received in May and June of 2002 by other members of that delegation: 
>Bert Sacks, a retired engineer, and Rev. Randall Mullins, both of Seattle, 
>Washington. Both Bert and Randall refused to pay their fines, and instead 
>raised money for more medicine, which was delivered to Iraq in September.
>
><http://click.topica.com/maaaHIRaaUQx7a3FWSZe/>To learn how you can help
>  Celebrities Voice Dissent on Iraq
>More than 100 entertainers joined Artists United to Win Without War in 
>signing a letter urging President Bush to avoid war with Iraq. The letter 
>states that a war with Iraq will "increase the likelihood of terrorist 
>attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world."
>
>At the press conference on Dec. 10, Artists United cofounder Mike Farrell, 
>the "M*A*S*H" and "Providence" star, said the celebrities are speaking out 
>to show everyone that it is OK to voice dissent.
>
>Other signers include film stars Kim Basinger, Matt Damon, Ethan Hawke, 
>Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Hunt, Don Cheadle, and Susan Sarandon; television 
>stars Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, 
>and Tony Shaloub; and musicians Michael Stipe, Peter Yarrow, and Bonnie 
>Raitt; retired Admiral Eugene Carroll, Jr.; and Edward Peck, a former U.S. 
>ambassador to Iraq.
>
><http://click.topica.com/maaaHIRaaUQy8a3FWSZe/>To see more
>  A Faith-based Initiative Against War
>We have compiled statements from religious bodies and organizations of all 
>faiths—international, national, statewide, and local—who have voiced their 
>opposition to the war against Iraq. The statements are available below, 
>including links.
>
>Visit this site to see how you can become more involved with some of these 
>activities. Actions that are being planned include delegations to Iraq, 
>educational outreach forums, advocacy efforts, and material aid campaigns.
>
><http://click.topica.com/maaaHIRaaUQwha3FWSZe/>Read more about this.
>  Collect Health Kits for Iraqi People
>Join us in gathering critically needed health kits for the people of Iraq, 
>who face possible devastation from a U.S. military attack. Assembling kits 
>is a wonderful way to provide a connection, a bridge to Iraq, for your 
>school, association, church, meeting, or community.
>
>So far, we have received support from Eid Al-Fitr gatherings (breaking the 
>fast at the end of Ramadan), churches, Friends meetings, and schools from 
>across the country. But much more will be needed.
>
>We fear there will be a large number of internally displaced persons in 
>Iraq in addition to hundreds of thousands of refugees in neighboring 
>countries. Since June 2002, AFSC, in cooperation with other international 
>aid agencies, has made a contingency plan for Iraq, resulting in shipment 
>of three 40 foot containers to Jordan. The containers are filled with 
>health kits and blankets to be distributed by AFSC regional staff in 
>cooperation with other international and local organizations, if war erupts.
>
><http://click.topica.com/maaaHIRaaURlma3FWSZe/>How to make and donate 
>Health Kits.
>Campaign Updates are edited by Peter Lems and Melissa Elliott
>AFSC Iraq Peace Building Program
>1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
>phone: 215-241-7170; fax: 215-241-7177
>  <http://click.topica.com/maaaHIRaaUQv2a3FWSZe/>Join the Campaign of 
> Conscience on the web.
>
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