[Peace] National Grassroots Organizing Conference on Iraq

[Julia Bernd]

Hello Chambanites,

I don't know if you've already been sent this announcement, but in case
you haven't... We'd love you see you!

-Julia Bernd
 National Grassroots Peace Network/
 National Network to End the War Against Iraq

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Attention Peace Activists!

 
The National Grassroots Peace Network invites you to attend

The Fifth National Grassroots Organizing Conference on Iraq

>From Humanitarian Disaster to Quagmire: The Failure of the ‘War on Terror’

May 28th-31st, 2004 (Memorial Day Weekend), Bloomington, Indiana

 
Summary: The March 2003 US invasion destabilized Iraq.  Thousands of
innocent Iraqis and hundreds of US and coalition forces have died, and
continue to die.  Pre-invasion Iraq was a already devastated by decades
of war and an international embargo far more lethal than conventional
warfare.  Destabilization has stalled urgent humanitarian relief. 
Increasing sectarian violence indicates the threat of an impending Iraqi
civil war.  Officially launched in 2001 as the National Network to End
the War Against Iraq, the now renamed National Grassroots Peace Network
has grown from 60 to over 300 groups in all 50 states and DC.  Iraq
remains the focus, but the name change reflects a broadening of scope. 
By now It is clear that the Pentagon is carrying through on the
neoconservatives’ plan to create a vast US protectorate from Central
Asia to the Red Sea.  The level of conflict is already spreading or
increasing: to Syria, in Israel-Palestine, and in southern Afghanistan
and northern Pakistan.  Join us for an assessment of the war in Iraq in
its broader context.  Help us plan campaigns to ‘end the war’, to
eliminate the use of depleted uranium, and to build  a movement for
peace from the grassroots.

 
Conference Topics and Sessions Being Planned:
       History of US/Iraq Relations 
       Humanitarian Needs / Situation in Iraq Today 
       The True Motives and Goals of US policy in Iraq and beyond 
       Current Social, Political and Religious Aspects of Iraq 
       Building a campaign to abolish the use of depleted uranium 
       weapons 
       Establishing a Federal ‘Department of Peace’ 
       Building State-Wide Peace / Anti-War Coalitions 
       The Work of Peace Centers: How they’re founded and sustained 
       Strategies for Networking at the Neighborhood level 
       Educating and Reaching out to the Public 

You can help!
       write / review proposals 
       plan the agenda 
       invite speakers 
       as a fundraiser or conference organizer 

The National Grassroots Peace Network is a non-hierarchical organization
brought into being by community-based activists.  Decisions are made
from the bottom-up in the spirit of true democracy.  Networking means
horizontal sharing of ideas and opinions.  Your creative ideas and
energy matter!  Bring your ideas to the Bloomington, or submit them
online at: www.endthewar.org/proposals.php.

Download the flyer for this conference at: 
http://www.endthewar.org/Conferences/2004confflyer2.pdf  


PREVIOUS NETWORK CONFERENCES:
            1999:    First:      Ann Arbor, MI    University of Michigan
            2001:    Second: Denver, CO       University of Colorado
            2002:    Third:    Stanford, CA       Stanford University
            2003:    Fourth: College Park, MD University of Maryland

 
For more information or to volunteer, call:  

1-888-END-A-WAR   (888-363-2927, toll free)

National Grassroots Peace Network
(National Network to End the War Against Iraq)

http://www.endthewar.org 

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Since that announcement went out, we've confirmed some speakers: Anthony
Arnove, editor Iraq Under Siege; Larry Everest, author: Oil, Power &
Empire: Iraq and the US Global Agenda; Diane Henshel, IU School for
Public & Environmental Affairs; Charlie Jackson, Texans for Peace; Kathy
Kelly, Voices in the Wilderness (by phone from prison); Ramzi Kysia,
Voices in the Wilderness / Education for Peace in Iraq Center; Sunny
Miller, Traprock Peace Center; Bert Sacks, Interfaith Network of
Concern; Charles Sheehan-Miles, Nuclear Policy Research Institute; Rev.
Geri Solomon, Aurora We the People for Peace Coalition; and the Wheels
of Justice Bus Tour.