"Bittersweet Days"


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Posted by Sadie from ? (160.129.27.22) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 at 3:35PM :

Dear Friends,

Bittersweet days have emerged again. It was bittersweet when the US
government began to threaten increased violence against Iraq and was
simultaneously met with the largest anti-war movement in history. It was
bittersweet when the US declared it was going to begin a military assault on
Iraq and member states of the United Nations with veto power declared that
they would veto any resolution calling for a military attack. It was bittersweet
when the US military dropped the first bombs on a defenseless nation of 26
million innocent people, and in return people all over the world engaged in
acts of civil disobedience and protest. With the passing of UN Resolution
1483 the removal of brutal, unjustifiable sanctions has taken place, which is
indeed sweet. However, outlined in 1483 is the direct control of Iraqi oil
revenues by the US government. A bitter reality.

Since the bombing ceased, our team in Baghdad along with various
humanitarian organizations, have witnessed the horror of war and
occupation. The information they have provided to us is endless but not
reported in most media outlets from the US. A brief look into what the Iraq
Peace Team and humanitarian groups have found creates the following
picture:

-Basic services remain inadequate.
- Countless children are at risk of diarrhea and other illnesses related to dirty water.

http://electroniciraq.net/news/815.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3037823.stm

- Many children are not attending school. We recently received a report that many teachers who have returned to their jobs do so without pay

http://electroniciraq.net/news/825.shtml

- Joblessness

http://electroniciraq.net/news/770.shtml

- Unexploded ordnance and ammunition, both US and Iraqi-delivered, continue to maim and kill unsuspecting people, particularly children.
http://electroniciraq.net/news/776.shtml

In the words of Senator Byrd, "What makes me cringe even more is the
continued claim that we are 'liberators.' The facts don't seem to support the
label we have so euphemistically attached to ourselves. True, we have
unseated a brutal, despicable despot, but 'liberation' implies the follow up of
freedom, self-determination and a better life for the common people. In fact,
if the situation in Iraq is the result of 'liberation,' we may have set the cause of
freedom back 200 years."

From our office in Chicago we remain steadfast in the principles of
nonviolence and the necessity to continue a call for the betterment of life in
Iraq. With the lifting of sanctions we enter a new phase in our work and hope
that you will join us.

CREATIVE RESISTANCE SUMMER CAMP

We are hosting a creative resistance summer camp in New York City using
traditional and emerging forms of activism. For a period of 30 days, artists,
media activists, and grassroots organizers will take part in creative forms of
direct action using NYC as their canvas. We will use methods of
nonviolence and alternative forms of communication as a means to counter
the massive US government-controlled propaganda campaigns.

Creative responses, satiric guerrilla theater, info-warfare, music, workshops,
video screenings, performances, debates, and talks coalesce into a
month-long laboratory and creative resistance camp to help kick off a new
direction of Resistance.

Interested in participating? Contact Joe Proulx joe@vitw.org


WHEELS OF JUSTICE TOUR

Nonviolent Resistance to War and Occupation in Iraq and Palestine

To continue to put a human face on the Iraq conflict and its aftermath, we're
heading out on the road again, starting this summer, on a national bus tour to
further education, organizing and action around war and occupation in Iraq
and Palestine. Working with Middle East Children's Alliance, affiliates of the
International Solidarity Movement and Al-Awda, we hope to:

- offer academic and eyewitness perspective to the conflicts in Iraq and
Palestine
- cultivate and promote nonviolent resistance in the US to war and
occupation
- promote solidarity with people, especially Iraqis and Palestinians, living
under war and occupation
- highlight the risks and effects of this war on members of the armed services
and veterans

Do you want to host an event? Would you like to participate? Contact Ceylon
Mooney at: ceylon@vitw.org


Both the Creative Resistance Summer Camp and the Wheels of Justice
Tour are parts of our on-going mission to Spotlight Iraq. You'll be hearing
from us soon again.


Be Well,

Bitta Mostofi
Stephanie Schaudel
John Farrell
Laurie Hasbrook, and
Angela Garcia,
for Voices in the Wilderness


-- Sadie
-- signature .



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