[Peace-discuss] Support a Normal Resolution for Peace

[Geoff Ower]

***Sorry for cross posting--please forward widely. Thanks.***

The Normal town council is being asked to approve the following proposed
resolution. To support the resolution, you do not have to be a citizen
of Normal. To indicate your support, please visit:
http://span.pabn.org/resolution

Also, please contact the Normal town council to express your support and
join us for the February 14th Peace Rally and March at 11am on the north
end of the Illinois State University quad. 

==
Proposed Peace Resolution

WHEREAS, the issues between Iraq and the world community have not proven
to be irresolvable by traditional diplomatic efforts and weapons
inspections; 

WHEREAS, the United States is obligated, legally and ethically, to deal
with international problems in accordance with international law; 

WHEREAS, a war with Iraq will jeopardize the lives of American soldiers
and will kill many innocent Iraqi civilians, without guaranteeing the
safety and security of U.S. citizens; 

WHEREAS, a war with Iraq may jeopardize the lives of U.S. civilians, as
the means and methods of warfare have advanced to a stage in which
boundaries and borders no longer provide a reliable obstacle for
terrorist/war activities; 

WHEREAS, past military conflict in the region resulted in widespread and
severe environmental destruction and long term health problems for
Iraqis and U.S. soldiers, the effects of which have not yet been fully
understood; 

WHEREAS, the Congressional Budget Office estimates a military invasion
of Iraq will cost our nation between $9 and $13 billion a month,
resulting in further cuts in federally funded programs that benefit our
town and its residents; 

WHEREAS, the costs of war and the accompanying ballooning deficits could
have significant impact on the residents of the State of Illinois, which
is facing the 4th worst budget crisis in the country, and the billions
of dollars to be spent on this war could much better be spent on
schools, healthcare, housing, infrastructure improvements, and generally
bettering the quality of life for all citizens; 

WHEREAS, there is growing opposition to war against Iraq given that:
nearly fifty cities to date of enacted anti-war resolutions; an
estimated 250,000 rallied in Washington recently to prevent war; the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, World Council of Churches,
NAACP and numerous unions oppose this war. 

WHEREAS, the citizens of Normal and its local elected officials have the
constitutional right to petition the national government on this matter
of grave concern to our community as part of the national and
international debate now underway; 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Town Council
of the Town of Normal, oppose a U.S. invasion of Iraq; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the U.S. to work through the U.N.
Security Council and reaffirm our nation's commitment to the role of law
in all international relationships; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, duly adopted,
shall be sent to President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick
Cheney, Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Senators Peter
Fitzgerald and Richard Durbin, U.S. Representative Tim Johnson, and
local members of the Illinois House and Senate.

==
To support the resolution online, please visit:
http://span.pabn.org/resolution

Student Peace Action Network
Illinois State University
http://span.pabn.org