[Peace-discuss] Academics Withdraw from Conference

[Paul King]

[Some academics have decided that they do not want to work with Americans
because of our hostilities towards Iraq. The Society of Community
Psychologists is having a conference soon and some researchers from New
Zealand have decided not to attend as an act of protest. Their post has
been receiving a lot of responses. This is a fantastic example of how we
can continue to resist in every aspect of our daily lives. --paul k.]


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 11:38:02 -0500 (CDT)
From: melinda sue merrick <mmerrick at students.uiuc.edu>
To: Paul King <pmking at uiuc.edu>
Subject: [SCRA-L] Withdrawal from biennial (fwd)

Dear Paul,

Here is an example of how the war has affected academic collaborations.
These people from New Zealand aren't come to the conference as a protest
to the war in Iraq and they give reasons why.

Love, Min

_______________________________________________________________________________

Melinda S. Merrick
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
1115 Plant Sciences Laboratory (MC-634)
1201 South Dorner Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
(217)333-4737 Lab/Office
mmerrick at uiuc.edu

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 17:57:59 +1200
From: Neville Robertson <scorpio at WAIKATO.AC.NZ>
To: SCRA-L at LISTS.APA.ORG
Subject: [SCRA-L] Withdrawal from biennial

Dear Jean.
In the light of the United States-led invasion of Iraq, we have
regretfully decided to withdraw our contributions from the biennial
conference.
We do not support the war and the subsequent occupation of Iraq by the
invading forces. We believe these actions to be both illegal and
inhuman. They are producing a humanitarian crisis.
As a mark of our protest against the war and the occupation, we have
decided not to visit the USA.
We do, however, recognize that many Americans do not support the war
either. In particular, we send our greetings to friends at the biennial
conference who have spoken out against the war. Kia Kaha (stand strong).
We would like those attending the conference to know that, in our view,
*       This is not a war about terrorism or weapons of mass destruction
(none of which have been found thus far).  It is about the US government
wanting to gain control of Iraq's oil reserves and to establish its
hegemonic control over the region.
*       The vast majority of other nations across our planet are
strongly opposed to a war and see it as unjustified. As citizens of a
small nation, we are particularly conscious of the need to ensure the
rule of international law to protect the small and relatively powerless
peoples of the world.
*       For the US to instigate a war on Iraq is a terrible hypocrisy.
Like the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council,
the US possesses massive armories of weapons of mass destruction, and
has consistently supplied arms to Iraq. As a US comic has said, "We know
they have the weapons, because we have the receipts."
*       We are truly alarmed at your president's tendency to equate
Islam with terrorism and to invoke the name of his God in his rhetoric
about the war. Even on this side of the globe, his words have had
repercussions for Muslims living in our communities.
*       We know your suffering from September 11 was terrible, but it
does not justify this apparently endless retaliation. Our fear is that
such actions as the invasion of Iraq will, ironically and tragically,
enhance the ability of the terrorists to recruit more people to their
cause. Where will it end?
We appreciate that the issues we raise are difficult ones for US
citizens. We wish you well as you gather to discuss these and other
issues facing your communities. Best wishes for a stimulating and
successful conference.
We would be grateful if this statement was read to a plenary session of
the conference.
Melanie Atkinson                        Rose Black              Heather
Hamerton
Neville Robertson                       Helen Wihongi.
University of Waikato, Hamilton, Aotearoa/New Zealand


-----------------------
Neville Robertson
Dept of Psychology
University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton
Aotearoa/New Zealand
voice +64 - 7 - 838 4466 ext 8300
fax +64 - 7 - 858 5132
mobile (025) 620 9132
email scorpio at waikato.ac.nz
http://psychology.waikato.ac.nz/staffprofile.cfm?ID=25