[Peace-discuss] a speech on Blackwater in Crystal Lake

[Barbara kessel]

CURRENT AMERICAN ISSUES--Fr. Harak to Expose Blackwater and the Rise
of Private Militaries

Oct. 17th, 2007 | 02:27 pm


G. Simon Harak, S.J


G. Simon Harak, S.J. will lead a discussion of War Profiteering and
Blackwater: the Rise of Private Militaries at the Conference Center at
McHenry County College in Crystal Lake on Tuesday, November 6 at 7
p.m.
            The private security firm Blackwater has been the focus of
international controversy recently after being accused by the Iraqi
government of the murder of civilians and has been the focus of
Congressional hearings.
            Fr. Harak is a former Director of the War Resisters League
in New York where he organized a National Speakers Bureau on war
profiteering and has traveled extensively speaking on this issue.  In
2006, he was awarded Pax Christi's New York City Peacemaker of the
Year
            The longtime peace activist helped found Voices in the
Wilderness which has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace
Prize.  He is currently director of the newly formed Marquette
University Center for Peacemaking.
            "Fr. Harak will address the issue of corporations that
sell war, then profit from the bloodshed," according to Peace Group
member Libby Pappalardo.  "Extensive research reveals who these
companies are, how much they make, and how they literally 'call the
shots, when it comes to selling war."
            He will also talk about Blackwater, which has opened a
training facility recently in northern Illinois's Joe Davies County,
and the rapid rise of corporate armies. Since 9-11, the Bush
administration has paid Blackwater more than one billion dollars for
its trained civilian soldiers, while granting full immunity from
prosecution in Iraq and allowing them to operate without oversight.
            The program is sponsored by the McHenry County Peace Group
and McHenry County Pax Christi as part of the Current American Issues
series.  It is free and open to the public.  For more information call
815-455-3683 or e-mail lib4paz at comcast.net

Tags: blackwater, current american issues series, g. simon harak, joe
davies county, libby pappalardo, marquette university center for
peacemak, mchenry county college, mchenry county peace group, pax
christis, voices in the wilderness, war profiteering, war risisters
league
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend