Urgent Anti-War Action Alert!
From:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
http://www.internationalanswer.org
United for Peace and Justice
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
La Raza Anti-War Coalition
http://www.serve.com/Impacto/la_raza_awc.htm
Not in Our Name
http://www.notinourname.net
Reports now emanating from the White House and 10 Downing Street in London clearly indicate the dogged determination of the Bush administration with the strong backing of Tony Blair's Labor government, to wage war against Iraq as soon as possible. In complete defiance of global anti-war public opinion - that brought millions of people into the streets throughout the United States, Britain and every corner of the world - Washington and London are pressing forward.
The massive U.S. military buildup in the Gulf region is now driving the Iraq crisis diplomacy. The war hawks' message to the United Nations and the people of the world is, "To hell with you. We're waging war whether you like it or not!"
But there is still a chance to stop this war. We stand on the edge of a global catastrophe, and our response must be based on the needs of a world-wide
crisis-level mobilization. Over the next few weeks and months the antiwar movement must be on an emergency footing. We must surpass the determination of President Bush and the warmongers to wage war by escalating all of our efforts to prevent war. Our message to Bush, to Blair, to the governments around the facing massive U.S. pressure to join their crusade, is "The World Says No to War!"
The next weeks are critical for demonstrating continued widespread local, national and global opposition to the rapid war preparations underway by the U.S. Our challenge to the war drive comes in the form of cities saying no to war, of massive outpouring of people into the streets to demonstrate our opposition, of political pressure on our elected officials, of demonstrations of thanks to the United Nations and governments still standing defiant of the U.S. pressure for war.
Several activities are now planned in the coming weeks to show opposition to a war against Iraq. United for Peace and Justice urges everyone to actively participate in ALL of the various protest activities indicated below. We must double and triple all of our efforts to march in the streets, to lobby in the
suites, to go to jail as well as to write, e-mail and call the White House, our legislators and the media with one clear message, "THE WORLD SAYS NO TO WAR!"
Below are some priority days of action to focus on. We recognize that there are many, many other fabulous initiatives for peace activists to join and we encourage you to seek them out and share your events with the world by posting to; http://www.unitedforpeace.org
March 1: PILGRIMAGE OF PRAYER AND WITNESS FOR PEACE IN WASHINGTON,
DC People who are based in or near Washington, DC are encouraged to participate in this African-American led, faith-based, multi-racial event. Meet at the U.S. State Department, 2201 C Street, NW on March 1 at Noon. For more information, call Black Voices for Peace, 202-232-5690
March 5: ONE-DAY NATIONAL STUDENT STRIKE
Books Not Bombs! Stop The War Against Iraq! and the
NATIONAL MORATORIUM TO STOP THE WAR
The National Youth and Student Peace Coalition (NYSPC) calls upon students on campuses across the United States to join us in a one-day student strike on March 5th, 2003. For more information see the National Youth and Student Coalition Website. http://www.nyspc.net/home.html
Walk out of school (if you are a student) or cancel your classes (if you're a
professor). Show your determination to stop this war!
Call in sick or close your business. For ideas on the national moratorium, go to
http://www.notinourname.net/call_for_the_moratorium.html
MARCH 8: JOIN WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD TO CALL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
For 92 years women around the world have been marking International Women's Day with calls for a more peace and justice-centered world. We urge you to join in this rich tradition and
COME TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE WOMEN-LED ANTI-WAR MARCH ON
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2003 or to organize anInternational Women's Day Peace and Justice event inyour community. Post your events at http://www.unitedforpeace.org
United for Peace and Justice and other groups have made International Women's Day actions a priority both because of the impacts war has on women and children
and because this year's celebration falls on the day following Hans Blix's next report to the United Nations Security Council.
March 8 in Washington, DC
11:00 a.m. - RALLY at Malcolm X Park (16th St. between U and Euclid NW)
1:00 p.m. - March to Encircle the White House
Join with Alice Walker, Vandana Shiva, comedian Janeane Garofalo, Dr. Helen Caldicott, Granny D, Susan Griffith, Barbara Ehrenreich, Amy Goodman, Rania Masri, Michelle Shocked, feminist theologian Chung Hyun Kyung, Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, Cheri Honkala, Maxine Hong Kingston, Inga Muscio, Terry Tempest Williams, Medea Benjamin, Starhawk, and many others to say no to war and yes to policies that reflect the values of peace, compassion, generosity, and the recognition of the interconnectedness of the whole human family.
For details on the march and the week of activities in Washington, see http://www.unitedforpeace.org/women or
http://www.codepink4peace.org or
call The Women?s Peace Vigil at 202-393-5016 or e-mail womens.vigil@verizon.net
Other ideas for International Women's day activities include The Women's Strike for Peace http://womenstrike8m.server101.com/English/stopthewar.htm
Sunday, March 15- EMERGENCY CONVERGENCE ON THE WHITE HOUSE
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and other organizations are calling for an Emergency National Anti-War Convergence to
TAKE IT TO THE WHITE HOUSE on Saturday, March 15.
There will be a parallel activities in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Go to
http://www.internationalanswer.org
MEDIA ALERT
CONTACT: KIRSTIN ROBERTS 773-227-7873 or MINOU ARJOMAND 631-838-1373
STUDENTS FORM NATIONAL ANTIWAR ORGANIZATION
MORE THAN 350 student delegates and supporters from 100 different campus antiwar and peace groups gathered at Loyola University in Chicago to hold the first national conference of the Campus Antiwar Network (CAN) on February 21-23.
The conference felt like history in the making as students collaborated in forging a democratic, grassroots, student-led network dedicated to opposing the impending war on Iraq.
United around opposition to war on Iraq-whether sanctioned by the United Nations or not-the students from elite universities, community colleges and high schools across the country pledged to ignite a firestorm of non violent protest and opposition to U.S. war preparations in the coming weeks.
Plans were laid for a nationwide day of campus protest and-on some campuses-student strikes on March 5, student walk-outs and mass demonstrations if war begins, and a national mobilization of students and all others opposed to war on April 5.
"We reject the idea that our peers will be sent to kill and die for an unjust and immoral war on the people of Iraq. We are the real future of this country and the future of empire and unending war that Bush envisions is not what we want," said Chris Roche, a high school senior from Chicago.
While the bulk of the weekend was dedicated to making, discussing and voting on proposals, organizers also wedged in a great opening session with Norman Solomon, media critic and author of the new book "Target Iraq: What the News
Media Didn't Tell You;" Tomomi Nakamura, a student from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo and a leader of the Japanese student antiwar movement; Jacob Park of the Center for Economic and Social Rights, and Charlie Jenks and Sunny Miller of the Traprock Peace Center.
There were also 11 workshops taking up everything from "The impact of Bush's war on the Middle East" with Middle East expert Rashid Khalidi to "Media strategies for the antiwar movement," "Israel and Palestine," "An Introduction to Non-Violent Civil Disobedience" and "After Iraq, Where is Bush headed next?"
"I think everyone was very encouraged by our accomplishments this weekend," said Kathleen Brown, a delegate from the University of Vermont, who was elected to CAN's national coordinating committee along with 11 other students. "People wanted to work through things constructively and get to the basics of organizing actions. Last year in building the movement against U.S. war in Afghanistan, the movement was much more embattled. But now there's a great upswing coming out of the huge national demonstrations in San Francisco, New York City and around the world."
CAN adopted a unique structure, ensuring that it is student owned and operated.
1) CAN will remain independent and is not affiliated with any other organization though it pledges to work with all forces in the antiwarmovement :
2) It is democratic so that each member campus can elect delegates through their local anti-war student coalitions and each affiliated campus group has an equal voice within CAN: and
3) CAN accepts affiliation from every campus or school antiwar organization and respects the right of its member committees to organize independent antiwar actions locally.
CAN adopted four points of unity: No war on Iraq, whether backed by the U.S. or the United Nations (U.N.); End the U.N. sanctions which have killed more than
1 million Iraqis; Oppose the attacks on civil liberties and racist scapegoating at home; Money for jobs, education, and healthcare-not war.
CAN also decided to call for an April 5 national mobilization in a few major cities following on the heels of the student-labor week of action already being organized from March 31 to April 4.
CAN hopes that this event will mark a major contribution to the national antiwar movement by forging collaboration between existing national antiwar formations such as United for Peace and Justice, International ANSWER, Not in Our Name, and U.S. Labor Against War and all other antiwar and peace organizations.
CAN is launching a website at which students from around the country can post their antiwar actions and connect with other students from around the country, projected to launch later this week. Plans for a newsletter, regional antiwar conferences, international student networking and teleconference meetings with students in Baghdad are also being laid.
Photos from the CAN conference and a history of CAN actions can be found at:
http://traprockpeace.org
CAN contacts:
Midwest
Kirstin Roberts, University of Illinois
773-227-7873
Kirstin68@hotmail.com
Kya Kim, Antioch College
937-769-1772
redsilvermoon@yahoo.com
Northeast
Kathleen Brown, University of Vermont
802-363-4699 (cell: 802-864-9678)
angel5396@yahoo.com
Lauren Slowik, Ithaca College
412-585-3841
twiningheart@yahoo.com
MidAtlantic
Minou Arjomand, Columbia University
631-838-1373
mca2011@columbia.edu
Jessica Jones, George Washington University
202-425-1053
soulmatejj@hotmail.com
South
Phil Dow, University of Oklahoma
405-329-4131
phildow@ou.edu
Warren Craig, University of Texas
512-659-6915
warrenc36@yahoo.com
West
Katrina Yeaw, San Francisco State University
916-716-9817 (415-406-4085)
kyeaw@sfsu.edu
Travis Elder, Chico State
530-828-1133
telder@mail.csuchico.edu
High School
Mat Hanson, Woodrow Wilson HS, Washington DC
202-625-0455
pinko1387@yahoo.com
Samuel Swenson, Evanston Township HS, Illinois
847-328-9515
sd_swenson@hotmail.com
Please continue for some background information...
From:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
http://www.internationalanswer.org
United for Peace and Justice
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
La Raza Anti-War Coalition
http://www.serve.com/Impacto/la_raza_awc.htm
Not in Our Name
http://www.notinourname.net
Reports now emanating from the White House and 10 Downing Street in London clearly indicate the dogged determination of the Bush administration with the strong backing of Tony Blair's Labor government, to wage war against Iraq as soon as possible. In complete defiance of global anti-war public opinion - that brought millions of people into the streets throughout the United States, Britain and every corner of the world - Washington and London are pressing forward.
The massive U.S. military buildup in the Gulf region is now driving the Iraq crisis diplomacy. The war hawks' message to the United Nations and the people of the world is, "To hell with you. We're waging war whether you like it or not!"
But there is still a chance to stop this war. We stand on the edge of a global catastrophe, and our response must be based on the needs of a world-wide
crisis-level mobilization. Over the next few weeks and months the antiwar movement must be on an emergency footing. We must surpass the determination of President Bush and the warmongers to wage war by escalating all of our efforts to prevent war. Our message to Bush, to Blair, to the governments around the facing massive U.S. pressure to join their crusade, is "The World Says No to War!"
The next weeks are critical for demonstrating continued widespread local, national and global opposition to the rapid war preparations underway by the U.S. Our challenge to the war drive comes in the form of cities saying no to war, of massive outpouring of people into the streets to demonstrate our opposition, of political pressure on our elected officials, of demonstrations of thanks to the United Nations and governments still standing defiant of the U.S. pressure for war.
Several activities are now planned in the coming weeks to show opposition to a war against Iraq. United for Peace and Justice urges everyone to actively participate in ALL of the various protest activities indicated below. We must double and triple all of our efforts to march in the streets, to lobby in the
suites, to go to jail as well as to write, e-mail and call the White House, our legislators and the media with one clear message, "THE WORLD SAYS NO TO WAR!"
Below are some priority days of action to focus on. We recognize that there are many, many other fabulous initiatives for peace activists to join and we encourage you to seek them out and share your events with the world by posting to; http://www.unitedforpeace.org
March 1: PILGRIMAGE OF PRAYER AND WITNESS FOR PEACE IN WASHINGTON,
DC People who are based in or near Washington, DC are encouraged to participate in this African-American led, faith-based, multi-racial event. Meet at the U.S. State Department, 2201 C Street, NW on March 1 at Noon. For more information, call Black Voices for Peace, 202-232-5690
March 5: ONE-DAY NATIONAL STUDENT STRIKE
Books Not Bombs! Stop The War Against Iraq! and the
NATIONAL MORATORIUM TO STOP THE WAR
The National Youth and Student Peace Coalition (NYSPC) calls upon students on campuses across the United States to join us in a one-day student strike on March 5th, 2003. For more information see the National Youth and Student Coalition Website. http://www.nyspc.net/home.html
Walk out of school (if you are a student) or cancel your classes (if you're a
professor). Show your determination to stop this war!
Call in sick or close your business. For ideas on the national moratorium, go to
http://www.notinourname.net/call_for_the_moratorium.html
MARCH 8: JOIN WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD TO CALL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
For 92 years women around the world have been marking International Women's Day with calls for a more peace and justice-centered world. We urge you to join in this rich tradition and
COME TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE WOMEN-LED ANTI-WAR MARCH ON
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2003 or to organize anInternational Women's Day Peace and Justice event inyour community. Post your events at http://www.unitedforpeace.org
United for Peace and Justice and other groups have made International Women's Day actions a priority both because of the impacts war has on women and children
and because this year's celebration falls on the day following Hans Blix's next report to the United Nations Security Council.
March 8 in Washington, DC
11:00 a.m. - RALLY at Malcolm X Park (16th St. between U and Euclid NW)
1:00 p.m. - March to Encircle the White House
Join with Alice Walker, Vandana Shiva, comedian Janeane Garofalo, Dr. Helen Caldicott, Granny D, Susan Griffith, Barbara Ehrenreich, Amy Goodman, Rania Masri, Michelle Shocked, feminist theologian Chung Hyun Kyung, Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, Cheri Honkala, Maxine Hong Kingston, Inga Muscio, Terry Tempest Williams, Medea Benjamin, Starhawk, and many others to say no to war and yes to policies that reflect the values of peace, compassion, generosity, and the recognition of the interconnectedness of the whole human family.
For details on the march and the week of activities in Washington, see http://www.unitedforpeace.org/women or
http://www.codepink4peace.org or
call The Women?s Peace Vigil at 202-393-5016 or e-mail womens.vigil@verizon.net
Other ideas for International Women's day activities include The Women's Strike for Peace http://womenstrike8m.server101.com/English/stopthewar.htm
Sunday, March 15- EMERGENCY CONVERGENCE ON THE WHITE HOUSE
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and other organizations are calling for an Emergency National Anti-War Convergence to
TAKE IT TO THE WHITE HOUSE on Saturday, March 15.
There will be a parallel activities in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Go to
http://www.internationalanswer.org
MEDIA ALERT
CONTACT: KIRSTIN ROBERTS 773-227-7873 or MINOU ARJOMAND 631-838-1373
STUDENTS FORM NATIONAL ANTIWAR ORGANIZATION
MORE THAN 350 student delegates and supporters from 100 different campus antiwar and peace groups gathered at Loyola University in Chicago to hold the first national conference of the Campus Antiwar Network (CAN) on February 21-23.
The conference felt like history in the making as students collaborated in forging a democratic, grassroots, student-led network dedicated to opposing the impending war on Iraq.
United around opposition to war on Iraq-whether sanctioned by the United Nations or not-the students from elite universities, community colleges and high schools across the country pledged to ignite a firestorm of non violent protest and opposition to U.S. war preparations in the coming weeks.
Plans were laid for a nationwide day of campus protest and-on some campuses-student strikes on March 5, student walk-outs and mass demonstrations if war begins, and a national mobilization of students and all others opposed to war on April 5.
"We reject the idea that our peers will be sent to kill and die for an unjust and immoral war on the people of Iraq. We are the real future of this country and the future of empire and unending war that Bush envisions is not what we want," said Chris Roche, a high school senior from Chicago.
While the bulk of the weekend was dedicated to making, discussing and voting on proposals, organizers also wedged in a great opening session with Norman Solomon, media critic and author of the new book "Target Iraq: What the News
Media Didn't Tell You;" Tomomi Nakamura, a student from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo and a leader of the Japanese student antiwar movement; Jacob Park of the Center for Economic and Social Rights, and Charlie Jenks and Sunny Miller of the Traprock Peace Center.
There were also 11 workshops taking up everything from "The impact of Bush's war on the Middle East" with Middle East expert Rashid Khalidi to "Media strategies for the antiwar movement," "Israel and Palestine," "An Introduction to Non-Violent Civil Disobedience" and "After Iraq, Where is Bush headed next?"
"I think everyone was very encouraged by our accomplishments this weekend," said Kathleen Brown, a delegate from the University of Vermont, who was elected to CAN's national coordinating committee along with 11 other students. "People wanted to work through things constructively and get to the basics of organizing actions. Last year in building the movement against U.S. war in Afghanistan, the movement was much more embattled. But now there's a great upswing coming out of the huge national demonstrations in San Francisco, New York City and around the world."
CAN adopted a unique structure, ensuring that it is student owned and operated.
1) CAN will remain independent and is not affiliated with any other organization though it pledges to work with all forces in the antiwarmovement :
2) It is democratic so that each member campus can elect delegates through their local anti-war student coalitions and each affiliated campus group has an equal voice within CAN: and
3) CAN accepts affiliation from every campus or school antiwar organization and respects the right of its member committees to organize independent antiwar actions locally.
CAN adopted four points of unity: No war on Iraq, whether backed by the U.S. or the United Nations (U.N.); End the U.N. sanctions which have killed more than
1 million Iraqis; Oppose the attacks on civil liberties and racist scapegoating at home; Money for jobs, education, and healthcare-not war.
CAN also decided to call for an April 5 national mobilization in a few major cities following on the heels of the student-labor week of action already being organized from March 31 to April 4.
CAN hopes that this event will mark a major contribution to the national antiwar movement by forging collaboration between existing national antiwar formations such as United for Peace and Justice, International ANSWER, Not in Our Name, and U.S. Labor Against War and all other antiwar and peace organizations.
CAN is launching a website at which students from around the country can post their antiwar actions and connect with other students from around the country, projected to launch later this week. Plans for a newsletter, regional antiwar conferences, international student networking and teleconference meetings with students in Baghdad are also being laid.
Photos from the CAN conference and a history of CAN actions can be found at:
http://traprockpeace.org
CAN contacts:
Midwest
Kirstin Roberts, University of Illinois
773-227-7873
Kirstin68@hotmail.com
Kya Kim, Antioch College
937-769-1772
redsilvermoon@yahoo.com
Northeast
Kathleen Brown, University of Vermont
802-363-4699 (cell: 802-864-9678)
angel5396@yahoo.com
Lauren Slowik, Ithaca College
412-585-3841
twiningheart@yahoo.com
MidAtlantic
Minou Arjomand, Columbia University
631-838-1373
mca2011@columbia.edu
Jessica Jones, George Washington University
202-425-1053
soulmatejj@hotmail.com
South
Phil Dow, University of Oklahoma
405-329-4131
phildow@ou.edu
Warren Craig, University of Texas
512-659-6915
warrenc36@yahoo.com
West
Katrina Yeaw, San Francisco State University
916-716-9817 (415-406-4085)
kyeaw@sfsu.edu
Travis Elder, Chico State
530-828-1133
telder@mail.csuchico.edu
High School
Mat Hanson, Woodrow Wilson HS, Washington DC
202-625-0455
pinko1387@yahoo.com
Samuel Swenson, Evanston Township HS, Illinois
847-328-9515
sd_swenson@hotmail.com
Please continue for some background information...