Troops Out Now Coalition

July 23 : Impeach Bush & Cheney

2007-07-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Monday - July 23

Impeach Bush and Cheney for War Crimes!

in New York
Protest outside the offices of Rep. Jerry Nadler

201 Varick St.
(Varick & King St.)
4:30 - 6:30 pm

Join us in front of Jerry Nadler's office to demand the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney for crimes against peace and humanity and war crimes . Nadler is Chair of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, which has jurisdiction over impeachment.

This action, called in New York by the Troops Out Now Coalition, is part of a national day of action, called by After Downing Street.

In Washington, activists will be marching from Arlington Cemetery to the Capitol to demand the initiation of impeachment proceedings. for details, see AfterDowningStreet.org

Antiwar Unity Call

2007-07-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Take the fight to stop the war back into the streets -- this time our number can be bigger and more powerful than ever!

It's not too late to unite around a major antiwar mobilization in Washington this fall!

A Proposal for a September 29
Unity Coalition for an Antiwar March on Washington, D.C.

Endorse the S29 Call for Unity

Read the call online

Mass anger over the criminal war is at an all time high. People are not only steaming mad at Bush and Cheney, they are also outraged with Congress for betraying the antiwar mandate of the November 2006 elections and caving into Bush on war funding. It’s hard to find anyone who supports the war, and if antiwar pressure is big now, it will be even bigger in September. Yet, instead of a unified massive demonstration this fall, the time when it will have the most impact, the various antiwar coalitions have scheduled at least 4 or 5 separate dates in the fall for separate protest.

Under other circumstances, separate protests in the fall would not constitute a problem, and there are probably good reasons why the different protests should happen. However, it is imperative that everyone unite around one major date because it’s the only way that we can liberate the antiwar struggle from the halls of congress and help it to re-emerge as independent mass pressure from below instead of empty rhetoric from above.

If there’s ever been anything close to a critical tipping point in public outrage over the war, we have entered that period now. However, without the kind of powerful protest in Washington DC to give life and expression to this popular anger, antiwar rage will be reduced to opinion poll statistics used by politicians who are far more interested in using opposition to the war to win election than to end the war.

The central crises confronting all who want to end the war is that after the elections last November, the leadership of the antiwar movement was effectively taken over by politicians in Congress and mainstream presidential candidates. The politicians who have anointed themselves the substitute for all of us who have been working hard to get the people out into the streets, support most of Bush’s war but are weary of the war in Iraq because it has turned into a disaster. What’s more these politicians will continue to pass resolutions and give speeches, but not really stop the war or bring the troops home because the prize that their eye’s are really focused on is the 2008 elections. (This is not an argument against anyone who believes or hopes that the 2008 elections will be important. That's another issue. The issue right now is that we must not let an event that is 16 months away be a factor in taking the fight against the war out of the streets precisely when the people may be ready to get in to the streets right now, in marches bigger than the marches we’ve been to since the beginning of the war.)

The high jacking of the antiwar movement is not the fault of most grass roots activists who have been doing a lot of great things like occupying recruitment stations, or the offices of members of Congress, and organizing student strikes, and supporting the growing GI resistance movement. The mainstream media has played its role in the coup by deliberately suppressing coverage of much of the action in the streets and focusing their camera’s instead on the “war of words between Congress and the White House”.

The fragmentation within the antiwar movement has helped the politicians take over. More specifically, there are influential and well financed forces in the antiwar movement that are more invested in the Democratic party and the outcome of the 2008 presidential elections, than they are in keeping the antiwar heat in the streets. This fact has enabled the takeover.
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This fall, we need a united antiwar human tidal wave in the streets of Washington. We need it to send the message to the war makers in both the Republican and Democratic parties that the war is not an issue to exploit for electoral reasons; it’s a crime that must end completely and immediately! (At the moment that the movement is potentially at its greatest strength, let's make sure that the movement isn’t sidelined and diss-empowered, until after 2008. Unity this fall may be the key to keeping the movement alive.)

THE SOLUTION: A SEPTEMBER 29 UNITY COALTION The protest dates that have been announced (besides September 29) include and a national protest called by the ANSWER on Sept. 15, regional antiwar protests in late October called by United for Peace and Justice, and an antiwar moratorium scheduled for Sept. 21. There are also many other important local and national events planned in the fall, including a major anti war march in Newark N.J. called by POP, Peoples Organization for Progress .There is nothing magic about a particular date, however of all the dates that groups are organizing around in the fall, September 29 is the best date. It’s late enough in the fall to give every one, particularly students, time to organize mass participation (the huge D.C. protest on Sept.24, 2005 proved this), and it’s not so late in fall that it diminishes the sense of urgency for action that will be overwhelming by September. In addition, Sept. 29 has got a lot of momentum already, thousands of endorsers, and activists across the country have been organizing for S29 since it was announced 2 months ago (the September 29 mobilization will be preceded by a week long antiwar encampment in Washington DC starting on Sept.22).

Agreeing on the best date in the fall for a truly united and massive turnout solves one problem. The next problem is pulling the major antiwar coalitions together in support of it. When Unity is paramount, no one coalition should seek domination over a serious or decisive mass mobilization. Groups have critical political differences, but there are occasions when it necessary to reduce barriers to collaboration. Ultimately, the various antiwar coalitions should serve the needs of the movement and not merely their own organization. In order to facilitate the participation of other major coalitions on an equal basis in all aspects of mobilization, TONC proposes the formation of a September 29 Unity coalition for a national antiwar march on Wash. D.C. Through a coalition, all forces should be able to work out the basis for everyone making a serious commitment to the mobilization. No one or even two coalitions will "own" the march, the whole movement, from the grassroots up will have collective ownership of the mobilization. With respect to demands, the best policy is an understanding that all groups whether they are part of the coalition or not shall be free to bring there own signs and banners reflecting the demands and issues that they want. The demands for the lead banner and perhaps a certain number of additional signs will be determined by the coalition.

BROADEN THE MOVEMENT AND BE INCLUSIVE Unity between coalitions is a short term practical necessity, but it is not a substitute for the deeper, more fundamental, and decisive unity that will change the composition of the antiwar movement. Part of making the antiwar movement more inclusive with respect to class and race, necessitates connecting the struggle against the war, to the struggle against the war at home, the war against Black and Latino youth, immigrants, Hurricane Katrina survivors, women and LGBT people. We need to connect the billions spent on war to the needs of working people for health care, education, secure pensions and union jobs. Raising different demands is one way of achieving this. Moreover those of us who want to help transform a movement against the war into a movement that comes to understand that war is a symptom, and imperialism is the root cause, antiwar events are one of the main forums for expanding knowledge through demands, and rallies. It is only through expanding instead of limiting the messages, that mass opposition to the Pentagon's occupation of Iraq develops into opposition to the occupation of Afghanistan and Palestine, the Pentagon plans to attack Iran, the war against Latin America embodied in Plan Colombia and threats against Venezuela and Cuba; and includes calls to impeach Bush and Cheney for war crimes. Antiwar events must be a forum for sharing the information, ideas and analysis that are censored by the mainstream media.

It is not necessary for everyone to agree on all demands. But we do need to agree not to censure those raising progressive social demands and demands opposing war and occupation.

Within all of this lies the basis for uniting this fall, lets grab hold of it now so that no more time is wasted.

Endorse the S29 Call for Unity

Endorse
Endorse the call to unite for September 29

Volunteer
Help build a massive grassroots movement to shut down the war!

Donate
Help with organizing expenses for September 29

The war is SiCKO too!

2007-07-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

Another reason to March on September 29th...

HEALTHCARE & THE WAR ARE “SICKO”

Did you know?

One fourth of the Iraq war budget alone could fund healthcare for every uninsured person in this country.

Think what the trillions of dollars wasted on war,
occupation and destruction could do for the people:

• Provide free medicine for all of our seniors and chronically ill.

• Change the dismal statistics of infant mortality in major cities like Detroit, Baltimore and Washington D.C. where the mortality rates for African American and poor children rival impoverished countries abroad;

• Stop the epidemic of hospital closings;

• It could provide healthcare and treatment for the physical and psychological trauma that the survivors of Katrina and Rita are still suffering from;

• Make healthcare for low wage workers and immigrant families a priority.

While the war is bleeding us at home it is miniscule in comparison to the bloodshed, misery and pain that is being inflicted on the Iraqi people. The Lancet medical journal documented that 655,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed during the war (Oct, 2006). The health of the Iraqi people and the entire region has been destroyed. Solidarity demands that we act now to stop the war, end the occupation and bring the troops home now!

GET INVOLVED:

1) Endorse: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/healthnotwarendorse.shtml

2) Become a volunteer organizer:
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

3) Donate:
http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

4) Download "Healthcare and the War are Sicko" leaflets at: http://troopsoutnow.org/HWN.pdf

Or call or write us at:
Campaign for Healthcare, Not Warfare,
c/o TONC,
55 W. 17th St. 5C,
New York, NY 10011
212-633-6646

Unite to Shut Down the War!

2007-07-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

UNITE!

Take the Antiwar Struggle Back to the Streets in September

SEPT 29: Mass March on the White House

SEPT 22- 29: Encampment in front of Congress. Cut off the War funds

Stop the War at Home and Abroad!

All Troops Out Now!

Impeach Bush & Cheney for War Crimes!

Read the call | Endorse | Volunteer

Encampment to Stop the War blog

Encampment to Stop the War MySpace

Donate to help with organizing expenses

September: The next big confrontation over the war

According to the Washington calendar, September will see the next big political confrontation on the war. This is when the House and Senate debate war funding for 2008. And it is when General David Petraeus reports to Congress on the status of Bush's troop "surge."

We must make sure that the antiwar movement is in Washington to make our voice heard and demand an end to the criminal war and occupation of Iraq.

This is a time of great opportunity for the antiwar movement. The Bush plans to colonize Iraq have clearly failed and the overwhelming majority of the people are against the war. Now is a time when the people can have a real impact, if we act decisively and in a spirit of unity.

In April of this year, the Troops Out Now Coalition proposed that September 22-29 be a week of resistance, with an Encampment to Stop the War and a mass March on the White House on Saturday, March 29.

We believe that this is the necessary next step to take the struggle against the war to a new level of resistance. The encampment has the potential to ensure that another war vote does not go unchallenged. The proposal opens an opportunity for an independent intervention representing the people, who are overwhelmingly against the war.

The call for a National March and Encampment in Washington DC has already received wide support. In the past few weeks, activists and organizers from across the U.S. have contacted TONC, demonstrating a groundswell of enthusiasm for the call to go from protest to resistance. Some of the proposals we have heard in the past few days include:

* Student organizations in several cities are discussing plans for a student strike that would include protests and direct action on their campuses, before joining the Encampment and March in DC.

* Organizers are already planning car caravans and "peace trains" to Washington DC for the Encampment.

* Local organizations are planning to set up their own tents at the Encampment, with displays, teach-ins, literature, and protests to highlight various issues, including: immigrant rights, counter-recruiting, Katrina, Palestine, and more.

* A Peoples' Peace Congress to challenge to corporate war Congress in Washington. At such a gathering, different groups could put forth concrete proposals for desperately needed social, environmental and health programs that are gutted to pay for endless war. The Peoples Peace Congress can become a challenge to and an expose' of the present corporate-ruled war congress.

Only the people will stop the war: The Democratic Party bait & switch

Despite being elected to bring the troops home and end the criminal occupation, the Democrats in Congress have completely capitulated to Bush on the issue of continuing to fund the war. Even a determined congressional minority of Democrats could have blocked the funding for the war—if they had really decided to end the occupation. Instead, while posing as the “anti-war” majority party, the Democrats have completely capitulated to Bush and the Pentagon.

Building an independent movement is more important than ever, as pressure grows to abandon struggle on the streets and surrender the antiwar movement to the Democratic Party, a party that now completely shares in complicity for the criminal war and occupation in Iraq. Wall Street and their mouthpieces always want to divert the mass movement into safe channels—into lobbying and voting and trusting in the bought-and-paid-for politicians. Our challenge is to develop clear demands that move the struggle into the streets.

Back to the streets:
Unite to shut down the war

As we move forward in a period of great opportunities and challenges, we are compelled to frankly address the lack of unity in the antiwar movement.

During the last struggle over the issue of war funding in March, the movement had a real opportunity to intervene if it acted decisively. Instead, organizations and coalitions called competing events in different venues, deliberately timed to undermine participation in other actions. This sort of cynical maneuvering for organizational advantage weakens the movement, demoralizes activists, and only plays into the hands of Bush and the warmongers in Washington.

In conversations with activists across the country, we find that everyone wants unity in the movement to stop the war. It is clear that the division doesn't come from the grassroots activists who are actually building the movement, but from those who have other goals and agendas.

More than 600,000 Iraqi people and 3,500 U.S. soldiers have died in this brutal war -- petty divisiveness and sectarianism can no longer be tolerated. Activists want unity. The times demand unity. Progressives in the U.S. have a special responsibility to stop this war -- Now is the time for all coalitions and organizations, national and local, to find ways to work together in principled unity around the demand to stop the war immediately.

Building unity also means working to unite the struggle against the war abroad with the struggle against the war at home. Linking the fight against the war with the struggles against racism, LGBT oppresssion, immigrant bashing, and the struggles of working people will only strengthen our movement. Our movement becomes stronger as we widen the struggle against the war at home and abroad.

Together we can and must change the political agenda

The struggle to stop the war has made tremendous gains. The vast majority of the people are now opposed to the occupation. G.I. opposition is growing as soldiers increasingly oppose being sent to fight and die in this horrific war, in which they have no interest. The politicians in Washington are clearly on the defensive, as their dreams of Empire in the Middle East crumble, their lies about the war are exposed, and as the vast majority of people here and worldwide oppose their heinous war.

But we must do more. The war in Iraq is not a “failed policy;” it is a horrendous crime against the Iraqi people. It must be stopped. Every day the occupation brings more death and destruction to the Iraqi people. It brings more deaths and serious injuries to U.S. youth who are trapped in this war, and return home to find inadequate medical care and benefits.

It will take an independent movement to stop the war, a movement that takes an independent road geared to mobilizing people in this country to challenge all of the warmakers in Washington, that strongly demands the withdrawal of all U.S. troops NOW and calls for ending ALL war funding immediately.

This is a crucial time. What is needed now is an unprecedented outpouring of resistance. We must demonstrate to the politicians in Washington that we will not allow business as usual to continue.

The Troops Out Now Coalition encourages all of the antiwar coalitions on the local and national level to engage each other and where communication has broken down, to open new lines of communication so that our combined efforts will make us stronger.

Let us strengthen the anti-war movement and build unity by reaching out to and joining forces with movements struggling for:

- Stop the raids against immigrant workers -- Full rights for undocumented workers
- No War against Iran
- End all occupations now - from Iraq to Palestine, the Philippines, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Afghanistan
- Impeach Bush & Cheney for War Crimes
- No to U.S. intervention – Hands off Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the Sudan
- Justice for Katrina survivors
- End racist police terror
- Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners
- Money for health care, jobs and education, not endless war

We have less than 3 months until the Encampment, and we still have lots of work to do. Here are some ways you can help:

1) Help spread the word.

You can download a single page leaflet or the 4-page leaflet from the TONC website, and distribute them in your school, workplace, church or mosque, community center, union hall, and neighborhood.

2) Form a local organizing center.

Sign on at http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml. We can help you organize buses or vans from your area - contact us for more information.

3) Donate to help with organizing expenses.

We urgently need your help - please consider making a financial contribution to help us cover all of the vast expenses involved in this massive mobilization. Your donation will help organize buses

You can donate online at http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

4) Organize your campus to participate in the Student Strike during the week of the Encampment.

Student organizations are already planning for actions during the week of Sept 2-29. If you would like to become a student organizer, contact us at http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml.

5) Organize a tent for the Encampment.

If your organization would like to organize a tent during the Encampment to highlight an issue(s) that you are working on, contact us: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Endorsers include:* * Rep. Cynthia McKinney; Medea Benjamin, CoFounder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace; Fernando Suarez del Solar, founder of Proyecto Guerrero Azteca por la Paz; Bishop Filipe C Teixeira, OFSJC; Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General; Brenda Stokely of the NYC Solidarity Committee For Katrina / Rita Evacuees; Sarah "echo" Steiner, Green Party of the U.S. National Co-Chair; Ron Kovic, Vietnam veteran, author; Liz Arnone, Co-Chair, NJ Green Party; Abayomi Azikiwe, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice; Jack Balkwill, Chair, Liberty Underground of Virginia; Teresa Dawson, Coordinator, MFSO Central Ohio; Joan Gibbs, Jericho Movement; Efia Nwangaza, Founder/director, Afrikan Amerikan Institute for Policy Studies & Planning; Jose Luis Diaz, President, Casas las Americas; Leslie Feinberg, author and activist; Teresa Gutierrez, NY May 1 Coalition for Immigrant Rights; LeiLani Dowell, FIST (Fight Imperialism - Stand Together); Berna Ellorin, BAYAN USA; Ben Carroll, UNC SDS; and hundreds more. for an updated list, see TroopsOutNow.org
*organizations listed for ID purposes only

Bring your medical bills to Washington

2007-06-23T07:33:00.000-07:00

SEPT 29 - Massive National March on Washington
Buses from around the country!
SEPT 22 - 29 - A week long Encampment in front of Congress to Stop the War

Bring Your Medical Bills to Washington!

Stop the War at Home and Abroad!
Troops Out Now!
Impeach Bush & Cheney for War Crimes!
Fund People's Needs, Not War!

During the week of September 22-29, antiwar activists from across the U.S. will mass in front of Congress in Washington, DC to demand the complete cut off of war funding. On September 29, there will be a mass march from the Capitol to the White House.

Healthcare, Not Warfare will be at the Encampment all week. Please join us at the Healthcare, Not Warfare tent and bring your medical bills. During the week, health care workers, nurses, doctors, patients and patient advocates will be holding teach-ins, speakouts, and protests to demand: "Fund Healthcare, Not War!"

Join us and let's bring your medical bills to the floors of Congress to demand that they fund human needs, not war!

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

1) Endorse: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/healthnotwarendorse.shtml

2) Become a volunteer organizer:
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

3) Donate:
http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

4) Download "Healthcare and the War are SiCKO" leaflets at: http://troopsoutnow.org/HWN.pdf

Or call or write us at:
Campaign for Healthcare, Not Warfare,
c/o TONC,
55 W. 17th St. 5C,
New York, NY 10011
212-633-6646

Hundreds of Thousands March in Support of Chavez

2007-06-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Credit: Prensa Presidencial


Hundreds of Thousands March in Support of Chavez
Chavez Dismisses International Disapproval
of Venezuela's Media Policy Monday, 

By: Gregory Wilpert – Venezuelanalysis.com

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Chavez demonstrate in favor of
the government's decision to not renew RCTV's broadcast license .

As several hundred thousand Chavez supporters rallied in Venezuela's
largest avenue on Saturday, President Chavez rejected all international
interference with his decision not to renew a television station's
broadcast license. Referring to the Marxist theorist Antonio Gramsci,
Chavez also spoke at length about how private media maintains a
cultural hegemony that must be broken.

"Go to hell, representatives of the global oligarchy, we are a free
country!" said Chavez to wild applause, once marchers reached the
Avenida Bolivar in the center of Caracas. >> LINK

The truth behind the RCTV campaign

2007-06-05T08:31:00.001-07:00

The International Action Center stands with the people of Venezuela and their democratically-elected President Hugo Chavez and we condemn Washington's propaganda campaign against the Venezuelan government, carried out with the complicity of the U.S. corporate media.

We have included below a letter from Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez Herrera to Nancy Pelosi (in English and Spanish) responding to her attack on President Hugo Chavez.

Over the next few days, the International Action Center will be launching an campaign to challenge and expose Washington's campaign of lies and disinformation against the people of Venezuela.

Also see: Myths and Facts About the Radio Caracas Television Case at http://www.embavenez-us.org/RCTVFactSheetFinal_2007.pdf

May 30, 2007

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.

Madam Speaker Pelosi,

I am writing in the opportunity to respond to your May 30 statement on Venezuela’s decision not to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). In it, you accused President Hugo Chávez of engaging in efforts to “suppress the media.” I would like to assure you that the decision was made in full accordance with Venezuela’s laws and does not represent a threat to the country’s vibrant media or the ability of the Venezuelan people to receive information and opinion that is critical of the government. Equally, and as many observers have pointed out, since President Chavez came to power the government has tried to democratize the media to foster a diversity of voices to combat the historical monopoly on the broadcasting of information that causes so much harm to any democracy.

The decision not to renew RCTV’s broadcast license was a simple regulatory matter that was made according to the country’s constitution, laws and public interest standards. It was not made based on RCTV’s critical editorial stance against the government, nor was it directed at silencing criticism of the government. The Venezuelan media has enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy the right to report and offer opinions, whether or not they agree with President Chávez. This has also been recognized by numerous observers. As Bart Jones, a longtime correspondent for the Associated Press wrote in an op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times on May 30, “Radio, TV and newspapers remain uncensored, unfettered and unthreatened by the government. Most Venezuelan media are still controlled by the old oligarchy and are staunchly anti-Chávez.”

It is also important to note that while RCTV enjoyed access to the public spectrum, it far exceeded its prescribed role as a media outlet in a democracy. In April 2002, RCTV promoted a coup against the democratically elected government of President Chávez. After that, it participated and encouraged the sabotage of the oil industry of Venezuela, causing tremendous suffering on the Venezuelan people.

In both instances, RCTV went beyond taking a critical editorial stance against the government. It used its privileged position as a media outlet to help subvert Venezuela’s constitutional order. In no other country would a media outlet be allowed to play such an overtly undemocratic role, much less using a public broadcast spectrum. Again, in so doing, RCTV single-handedly subverted Venezuela’s democracy. I wonder how the FCC would have responded had such events taken place in the United States.

The decision to not renew RCTV’s license will not affect Venezuela’s longstanding commitment to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of information as your statement suggests. In fact, the majority of Venezuela’s media outlets remain in private hands – of the 81 television stations, 709 radio broadcasters and 118 newspapers throughout Venezuela, 79, 706 and 118, respectively, are privately owned and operated. More importantly, they all exercise their rights freely, often criticizing the government in strident terms reflecting the vitality of Venezuela’s democracy. Since the non renewal took effect, the great majority of media outlets in Venezuela have openly reported on and offered their opinions on the decision.

If you have any questions or concerns about Venezuela or the Venezuelan media, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss this matter. Most importantly, I invite you to visit Venezuela and judge for yourself the vibrant state of the media and freedom of thought and expression enjoyed by all Venezuelans.

Respectfully,

Bernardo Alvarez Herrera
Ambassador

30 de mayo de 2007

Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Presidenta
Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos
Washington, D.C.

Sra. Presidenta Pelosi,

Le escribo en la oportunidad de responder a su comunicado del 30 de mayo sobre la decisión de Venezuela de no renovar la licencia de transmisión de Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV). En ella, usted acusa al Presidente Hugo Chávez de participar en esfuerzos por “suprimir a los medios de comunicación”. Quiero asegurarle que la decisión fue tomada en plena concordancia con las leyes venezolanas y no representa una amenaza a los medios de comunicación vibrantes del país o la habilidad del pueblo venezolano de recibir información y opiniones que son críticas del gobierno. De la misma forma, y como muchos observadores han indicado, desde que el presidente Chávez llegó al poder ha tratado de democratizar los medios de comunicación para promover la diversidad de las voces para combatir el monopolio histórico sobre la transmisión de la información que causa tanto daño a cualquier democracia.

La decisión de no renovar la licencia de transmisión de RCTV, fue una simple medida regulatoria que fue hecha de acuerdo a la constitución del país, las leyes y los estándares del interés público. No fue tomada basándose en la línea editorial crítica de RCTV en contra del gobierno, y no fue dirigida a silenciar el criticismo del gobierno. Los medios de comunicación venezolanos han gozado, y continuarán gozando del derecho de reportar y ofrecer opiniones, así estén de acuerdo o no con el Presidente Chávez. Esto también ha sido reconocido por numerosos observadores. Como Bart Jones, un corresponsal de larga trayectoria en Associated Press, quien escribió en un editorial, publicado en “Los Angeles Times” el 30 de mayo, que “la radio, la televisión y los periódicos continúan trabajando sin censura, constricciones o amenazas por parte del gobierno. La mayoría de los medios de comunicación venezolanos todavía son controlados por una vieja oligarquía y siguen siendo incondicionalmente opositores a Chávez.”

Es también importante señalar, que mientras RCTV ha gozado del acceso al espectro público, excedió sobremanera su rol preescrito como un medio de comunicación dentro de una democracia. En abril de 2002, RCTV promovió un golpe de estado en contra del gobierno democráticamente elegido del Presidente Chávez. Luego de eso, participó y promovió el sabotaje de la industria petrolera en Venezuela, causando un tremendo sufrimiento al pueblo venezolano.

En ambas instancias, RCTV fue más allá de tomar una línea editorial crítica en contra del gobierno. Utilizó su posición privilegiada como un medio de comunicación, para ayudar a subvertir el orden constitucional venezolano. En ningún otro país se hubiera permitido que un medio de comunicación juegue un rol tan antidemocrático, ni mucho menos que utilice el espectro de transmisión público. Una vez más, al hacerlo, RCTV trastornó unilateralmente la democracia venezolana. Me pregunto cómo el FCC hubiese respondido si tales eventos se hubieran llevado a cabo en Estados Unidos.

La decisión de no renovar la licencia de RCTV, no afectará el largo compromiso de Venezuela con la libertad de expresión, la libertad de prensa y la libertad de información como su comunicado sugiere. De hecho la mayoría de los medios de comunicación venezolanos permanecen en manos privadas—de las 81 estaciones de televisión, 709 estaciones de radio y 118 diarios a lo largo de Venezuela, 79, 706 y 118, respectivamente, son controlados y operados por el sector privado. Lo que es más importante es que todos ejercen sus derechos libremente, a menudo criticando al gobierno en términos estridentes reflejando la vitalidad de la democracia de Venezuela. Desde que la no renovación entró en efecto, la gran mayoría de los medios de comunicación en Venezuela han ofrecido abiertamente sus opiniones sobre la decisión.

Si tuviera preguntas o preocupaciones sobre Venezuela, o los medios de comunicación venezolanos, por favor no dude en contactarme. Le daría la bienvenida a la oportunidad de reunirme con usted cuanto antes para discutir este asunto. Mejor aun, la invito a que visite Venezuela y juzgue por usted el vibrante estado de los medios de comunicación y la libertad de expresión disfrutada por todos los venezolanos.

Respetuosamente,

Bernardo Álvarez Herrera
Embajador

Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five

2007-06-05T08:23:00.001-07:00

Please sign on and circulate the call for Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five: http://www.freethefiveny.org/rainbow4the5.shtml

Please contact five to Free the Five!

The call for Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five has not received one word of big-business media coverage--print or electronic.

The call first went out in January, from a multi-national and multi-lingual group of U.S.-based lesbian, gay, bi and trans activists, to build solidarity with these five political prisoners—Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, and René González. They are serving long sentences in U.S. penitentiaries for the “crime” of infiltrating CIA-backed fascist commando groups in order to halt terror attacks against Cuba from U.S. soil.

The Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five call demands a new trial and freedom for these political prisoners, defense of Cuban sovereignty and self-determination and a halt to the illegal U.S. acts of war against Cuba—including the economic blockade and CIA-trained, funded and armed attacks by mercenary “contra” armies operating from this country.
Without any help from the monopoly media, the call has circled the globe. Individuals and organizations from more than 32 countries and 43 states in the U.S. have signed on. To see a list of signers or to sign on yourself, please visit www.freethefiveny.org. Look for the Rainbow!

Volunteers have translated the introduction to the initiative and the call itself, so that it is now available in Spanish, English, simplified and traditional Chinese, Farsi, Turkish, Greek, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, French and German. ASWAT—the Palestinian lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersexual organization—is translating the introduction and call into Arabic. LGBT and feminist activists in Croatia are translating and circulating the call.
But the arc of this Rainbow of Solidarity must widen.

You can make a great contribution. Take a moment now to send this email to at least five of your loved ones and friends, co-workers and neighbors, and ask them to help free the Five.

Contact five to Free the Five! Your help is decisive.

For more information about the Cuban Five visit www.freethefiveny.org or www.freethefive.org.

Free the Five!
Leslie Feinberg

The Legacy of Agent Orange in Viet Nam

2007-06-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

The Legacy of Agent Orange in Viet Nam

On Monday, June 11, 2007, - Join Ramsey Clark, Vinie Burrows,
the film producers, lawyers and veterans

See the new film
The Last Ghost of War
A compelling NEW 57 minute documentary film, narrated by Kevin Kline, shot in Viet Nam, France and the U.S. on the legacy of the largest chemical warfare operation in history and the continuing law suit seeking justice.

Meet the Producers - Pham Quoc Thai and Janet Gardner

Monday, JUNE 11 6:30 pm
Cantor Film Center.
36 East 8th Street, NY, NY 10003

Today 3 million Vietnamese suffer the effects of chemical defoliants used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers are also affected, along with hundreds of thousands of children of those exposed decades ago on both sides. The thousands of veterans and civilians disabled from depleted uranium weapons in present wars face similar long term consequences

Donate or purchase tickets at http://www.iacenter.org/agentorangetickets.html

A benefit for:
VAVA - Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin
$5 to $15 Film Donation suggested
Advance Ticket purchase is highly recommended
Even if you are not able to attend, please send a DONATION for:
VAVA - Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin

Hear from Constantine Kokkoris, part of the legal team representing the Vietnamese plaintiffs on the appeal of the civil suit in U.S. courts against the 37 U.S. chemical companies which produced the toxic chemicals during the war.

Hear update from: Viet Nam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign

June 11 Host Committee:
International Action Center,
National Lawyers Guild
Int?l Association of Democratic Lawyers
Women's Int?l Democratic Federation
Women's Fightback Network
National Writers Union ? NY Chapter,
Peoples Video Network,
Depleted Uranium DU Education Project,
Harlem Tenants Council
Jersey City Peace Movement,
WILPF - Women's Int?l League for Peace & Freedom ? NY
BAYAN - USA
Asia Pacific Action
Pakistan/USA Freedom Forum
Stop War On Iran Campaign
December 12th Movement
Workers World Party
Grannies Peace Brigade
Artists and Activists United for Peace
WESPAC Foundation

For more information: International Action Center,
55 West 17th St, #5C, NY, NY 10011
Call 212-633-6646, www.IACenter.org

Donate or purchase tickets at http://www.iacenter.org/agentorangetickets.html

Harlem Conference on Race, Glass & Gentrification in Harlem

2007-05-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

Harlem Conference on Race, Glass & Gentrification in Harlem

June 1 – 2, 2007 at St. Ambrose Church
9 West 130th St. (Between Fifth and Lenox Avenues)
June 1st: 4 PM – 8 PM June 2nd 9 AM to 6 PM

On June 1st and June 2nd at St. Ambrose Church located at 9 West 130th Street hundreds of tenants and activists from Harlem and throughout New York City convened for two days of plenary sessions and workshops at the 1st annual Harlem Ant-Gentrification Conference sponsored by the Harlem Tenants Council and the Delano Village Tenants Association.

The conference entitled “Race, Class and Gentrification in Harlem” addressed a number of issues that included rising evictions, luxury developments adversely impacting Harlem’s already inflated rental market and Columbia University’ expansion. According to Nellie Hester Bailey, Director of the Harlem Tenants, the conference critically examined public policies that facilitated an escalating housing crisis throughout New York City, and in particular Harlem. Bailey said, “The affordable crisis has moved us beyond shallow rhetoric of how bad landlords are when in fact what we need is a pro-active independent tenant movement addressing eminent domain abuse for private profit, legal representation for indigent tenants, vigorous state/city investigation of landlord abuse and accountability of elected officials starting with mayor Bloomberg.”

Valerie Orridge, President of the Delano Village Tenants Association, a seven building complex of 1,800 units stretching from 139th to 142nd from Fifth to Lenox Avenue said, “our new owners purchase the complex a year ago for $175 million only to refinance several months ago for $350 million! Some tenants upon lease renewal had increases upward to a thousand dollars! We are working people, where are we to go?”

On June 1st the conference kicks off at 6 PM with speakers, including renowned scholar on gentrification Professor Neil Smith, activist Daniel Goldstein of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn and Dr. Mindy Fullilove, author of “Root Shock: How Tearing Up City Neighborhoods Hurts America, and What We Can Do About It.” There were eight workshop on Saturday, June 2nd from 9 AM to 6 PM: Senior Citizen Protection, Know Your Housing Rights, Building Alliances that featured tenants activists from across the city sharing experiences fighting gentrification, and authors Deborah and Rod Wallace presented their carefully researched book, “A Plague on Your Houses” that looked at the City’s devastated policy of “planned shrinkage” that uprooted 2 million working poor people of color. Robert Fitch, author of “The Assassination of New York” traced the City’s ruling elite destruction of its manufacturing base replaced with finance, insurance and real estate as the growth engine of the city aimed at the depopulating of blue collar workers.

DEFEND CINDY SHEEHAN

2007-05-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

DEFEND CINDY SHEEHAN

5/30/2007--Cindy Sheehan made public two letters this weekend. The first letter announced her resignation from the Democratic Party over the agreement by the Democratically-controlled Congress to unconditionally fund the criminal and colonial war in Iraq that killed her son Casey and hundreds of thousands of others, mostly Iraqis.

In the second letter, coming a day after the first, Sheehan announced that she would no longer be active in the peace movement. The reason for her first letter is self-evident. Why did she feel compelled to write the second one?

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Sheehan has been the target of endless threats and attacks by pro-war groups, right-wing talk radio, and the corporate media. But they haven’t been the only attackers. As Sheehan has stepped up her criticism of the Congressional Democrats' complicity in the war, she has come under attack, some as venomous and personal as any right-wing Republican attack, by some who insist that the antiwar movement must be limited to protesting against Bush and the Republicans. Some of the same forces, who are closely tied to the Democrats, were happy to use Sheehan as long as she limited her criticism to Bush, but then viciously turned on her after she announced her resignation from the Democratic Party over the war.

Cindy Sheehan has come to the conclusion that she has been pushed out of the antiwar movement and it’s not hard to understand why she feels this way. She feels pushed out by the betrayal of the Democrats on the war funding. She feels pushed out by the isolation and hostility not only from the “right,” but also from many in the orbit of the Democratic Party that Sheehan had once considered allies. She feels pushed out be the failure of the various coalitions in the antiwar movement to put aside egos and narrow agendas in the interest of forging an independent and militant mass movement powerful enough to shut the war down.

Some good can come from this, if the antiwar movement takes this as a turning point. Many of us made a struggle to demand that Congress cut off all war funding and end the war a priority this spring. Some of us did this, not based on any expectation that Congress would actually end Bush’s war, but to clearly expose the Democratic Party and to demonstrate that they are as much of a pro-war party as the Republicans. If the antiwar movement can absorb this reality, as painful as it is, than it will be all the much harder for the movement to be pulled off the streets and made an appendage of the Democratic Party.

The movement owes a debt to Cindy Sheehan for striking a blow against those who plan to mislead the antiwar movement and tie it to the pro-war Democratic Party.

The rank and file of the antiwar movement stands in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan, not with those who are beholden to the Democratic Party. It takes courage for a mother, catapulted into the world spotlight after camping out in Crawford Texas two summers ago to protest the death of her son in Iraq, to stand up to and openly break with powerful politicians who would be all too willing to provide her a platform with all the perks if she simply toed the line.

It is our hope that after Cindy Sheehan had taken the time to re-unite with her family, and do whatever she feels necessary to repair the toll that all of this has taken on her family and herself, that she will once again be a leading voice against war, against empire, and for justice at home and abroad.

The Troops Out Now Coalition

PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRIAL

2007-05-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRIAL

4:00pm, on the steps of Bronx Supreme Court. Press release follows.

The Justice Committee, P.O. Box 1885, New York, New York 10159

Contacts: Gina Arias (Justice Committee): 646-321-5425

Kathie Cheng (October 22 Coalition): 917-414-4612

Esther Wang (Peoples' Justice): 512-769-1585

BRONX MOTHER OF POLICE SHOOTING VICTIM CALLS FOR HIGHER POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. BRONX SUPREME COURT JURY TO DECIDE CIVIL CASE

May 23rd, 2007 – Seven years after the death of her 23-year-oldson, Malcolm Ferguson, Juanita Young says too many questions remain unanswered. On Tuesday, May 29th at 4:30PM, The Justice Committee, Peoples' Justice and The October 22nd Coalition will join Ms. Young and attorney Seth Harris on the steps of Bronx Supreme Court (851 Grand Concourse, off of 161st St) in a press conference calling for stepped-up police accountability.

"When they killed Malcolm, they killed five people that month,” Young told journalists after the 2000 shooting, referring to the four other young black men who were killed by NYPD in the month following the verdict that exonerated the police who killed Amadou Diallo. "When they kill your child, there's a kind of pain you can never get relief from. You take that with you to the day you die.”

To deal with that pain, Juanita Young joined with other parents and organizations fighting police brutality. Still seeking justice in her son's case, Young says she understands that the culture and practices of community policing must change – an approach long held by The Justice Committee, which led the fight against the controversial 48-hour rule (allowing police officers to wait two full business days before having to have to answer questions from the Police Department about possible misconduct).

"We have to question how police are trained and what their mandate is," says Justice Committee Co-Coordinator Gina Arias. "It seems the more technology they get the more deaths we get in communities of color ... if anything, their position should demand a higher standard of accountability than ordinary citizens. They are supposed to serve the interests of the community – not cause suffering and death with impunity."

Malcolm Ferguson was killed on March 1, 2000, when plainclothes officer Louis Rivera – assigned to an Area Impact Team (AIT) – chased the unarmed man up the stairs of a Bronx building. Police say a struggle ensued, ending in the accidental discharge of Rivera's16-shot, 9mm Smith & Wesson automatic. The 23-year old died at the scene from a "single contact gunshot wound of the head with perforations of skull and brain." An examination of Rivera's firearm revealed "blood and/or tissue residue on the barrel of the weapon."

Ironically, this incident occurred only three blocks from the police killing of unarmed African immigrant, Amadou Diallo and five days after Ferguson had been singled out and detained during a community protest of the Diallo verdict exonerating all cops involved in that shooting. And, while the official police version of Ferguson's shooting claims the young man was a drug dealer, others say Malcolm ran because he was scared of the police. Juanita Young says her son had "had problems," but was "moving forward with his life." He was one month shy of completing parole for a drug-selling conviction and was filing a 5 million dollar brutality suit against the city charging police broke his hand during the 1999 arrest. "What they say about him is a barefaced lie, they abused him,” Young said, "and then they killed him."

-30-

2007-05-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

It's time to go
from Protest to RESISTANCE!

Endorse the call for Sept 22 - 29 : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207encampmentmarchonwashendorse.shtml

Volunteer : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Become an Organizing Center : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Donate : http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

NYC: June 16 -- Antiwar Strategy Meeting - Planning for the next "Surge" of Antiwar mass action - Summer and Fall

Mumia Abu Jamal Press Conference

2007-05-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PICKET AT CON ED’S STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO PROTEST CON ED RATE HIKE

2007-05-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release: May 18, 2007

COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PICKET AT
CON ED’S STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO
PROTEST CON ED RATE HIKE

Picketers will also demand full reimbursement of
unpaid losses and damages from July 2006 Queens power outage

WHEN: Monday, May 21, 2007
5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

WHERE: Con Ed’s Stockholder Meeting
4 Irving Place at 14th Street in Manhattan

WHAT: Picket Line to protest Con Ed’s rate hike

WHO: Women’s Fightback Network
Million Worker March (East coast)
Western Queens Power for the People Campaign

Sharon Black, an organizer with the Women’s Fightback Network, a national grassroots group that advocates for people’s rights, stated, “We will be picketing Con Ed’s stockholder’s meeting to say ‘no’ to Con Ed’s request for a 17% rate hike. Con Edison made over $12 billion dollars last year. Let them use that money to upgrade the infrastructure. Their top managers make big bucks off of our electric bills, while workers in this city and small businesses are suffering. We refuse to pay for their mismanagement and greed.”

Alice Tufel, a member of the Western Queens Power for the People Campaign, said, "The proposed rate hike is an insult to the immigrant and working class communities of Western Queens. Our communities endured a nine-day power outage last summer, and we could face another outage again this summer. Con Ed still hasn’t fully reimbursed us for losses and damages from last year's outage. We should not have to pay more to Con Ed given its negligence, especially since the PSC is still investigating the July 2006 Queens outage and whether the company prudently spent money it already had.”

Labor union activists from the Million Worker March will also participate in the protest.

-30-

Women’s International meets in Latin America

2007-05-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Women’s International meets in Latin America

By Berta Joubert-Ceci
Caracas, Venezuela

May 15, 2007--Under the theme “Women of the World: a vital force against neoliberal globalization, terrorism and imperialist wars; for equality, social and economic justice and for peace,” more than 1,000 women representing organizations from five continents met in Caracas, Venezuela, from April 9 through 14. They were joined by thousands of Venezuelan women who hosted the 14th Congress of the Women’s International Democratic Federation.

This congress, the WIDF’s first in Latin America, was of crucial importance in coalescing the political line and actions of anti-imperialist and revolutionary women who comprise the membership of the federation.

The congress was preceded by a two-day Encounter of Young Women—an attempt to involve younger women more actively in the federation.

Plenaries and workshops alternated with cultural presentations. Each day ended with an Anti-Imperialist Tribune in an outside tent. Some topics of the working sessions provide an idea of the discussions held: the impact of neoliberal globalization on women; women’s struggle and the impact of state terrorism, occupation and imperialist wars, and the struggle for national liberation; exploitation of women and children, with a special emphasis on immigrant and displaced women; building international solidarity against political repression and all forms of violence against women; defense of Indigenous and African-descendant women and their culture and for equality.

A detailed listing and information about the congress and the WIDF can be found at www.fdim-widf.com.br.

A special session for women holding government office was held in the National Assembly, hosted by Venezuelan socialist parliamentarians under the theme “International Meeting of Parliamentarians against Imperialism and for Solidarity and Peace in the World.”

History of the WIDF

It is not accidental that very little is known in the U.S. about this federation, which was born to fight against the same imperialism that the U.S. leads. On Dec. 1, 1945, right after World War II, women from 41 countries met in France to create the WIDF (FDIM in Spanish). Many of these women had suffered directly from the bloody effects of the war and many had struggled against fascism.

Yolanda Ferrer Gómez, general secretary of the Cuban Women’s Federation, gave a moving statement on the organization’s history: “They were widows, mothers who had lost their children, former prisoners from Nazi concentration camps, combatants who fought alongside men in the battlefields, members of the resistance and clandestine movements, guerrillas, workers who secured the rearguard and supplied the front, fighters all of them in uniform or civilian clothes.”

She continued: “With them, women who had fought in other latitudes against fascism also united, Spanish exiles, members from national organizations from the Americas and Asia, African women, from Arab countries, from Indigenous communities, all in solidarity.”

They pledged “To defend the economic, political, legal and social rights of women; to fight so that the indispensable conditions for the harmonic and happy development of our children and future generation are built; struggle tirelessly so that all forms of fascism are forever annihilated and establish worldwide a true democracy; fight without rest to assure a lasting peace in the world.”

The WIDF was also enriched by the membership of socialist women from the revolutions that later developed in Cuba and Vietnam. The federation has played a key role in support of national liberation, such as in Angola, and against apartheid in South Africa. It has worked in international forums trying to give a more militant direction and has given voice to those under the yoke of imperialism, from Palestinians to Iraqis.

The WIDF was especially hard-hit during the 1990s, when the disintegration of the USSR and the Eastern and Central European socialist countries meant that material support and great theoretical and practical contributions so instrumental for the functioning of the federation suddenly stopped.

Crucial role of Cuba

Vilma Espín—one of four WIDF vice presidents, a combatant in the Cuban Revolution, a member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party and president of the Cuban Women’s Federation—played a decisive role in the enormous task of assuring the survival and development of the WIDF. Thanks to Cuban action, the federation not only survived but thrived as a space of struggle and promotion of women.

During the WDIF’s 13th Congress held in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2002, Marcia Campos from Brazil was elected president. This was the first time a woman from Latin America held that post. She had founded the Confederation of Brazilian Women and is a member of the Central Committee and the National Secretariat of the October 8th Revolutionary Movement in Brazil.

The 14th Congress was held in Venezuela to show solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution. But a new phenomenon occurred. The fighting revolutionary masses who are transforming this region also came to the congress. Many of the organizations present were not yet affiliates of the WDIF, but infused the congress with their combative energy. Wanting to affiliate and move forward the federation, many representatives spoke at the regional work session of the Americas.

There were Indigenous women from the Bolivian Bartolina Sisa Peasant Union, Peruvian Indigenous parliamentarians, young women from Puerto Rico and Colombian women urging a humanitarian exchange of prisoners. Prominent was the participation of Venezuelan women who, as the hosts, worked tirelessly to assure the smooth development of the congress and in their presentations highlighted the important role and advances of women under the Bolivarian Revolution.

The overall experience was tremendous: meeting and sharing with revolutionary women from all over the world, listening to their countries’ struggles, and most important, experiencing the overwhelming solidarity among all the attendees and their great respect, admiration and gratitude for Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

Where else could you hear women from the Sahara thanking Chávez for his support of their cause in international forums? The congress gave the opportunity to interview many women from different struggles who offered their progressive views on crucial current events: women’s role in Angola’s MPLA, South Africa after apartheid, Zimbabwe’s land distribution, the political view of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the struggle against Plan Colombia and so much more.

Delegation from the U.S.

Many women went from the U.S. The largest delegation was organized by African-American artist Vinie Burrows, who is also the WDIF representative to the U.N., and the National Women’s Fightback Network (NWFN) of the International Action Center. The NWFN is now an affiliate of the WIDF.

The Burrows delegation included representatives of the Granny Peace Brigade and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The NWFN delegation included Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian writer and director of Playgrounds for Palestine; Brenda Stokely and Anna Wilson from the labor sector; Patricia Dahl, who works in solidarity with Colombia; Nellie Hester Bailey, co-founder and director of the Harlem Tenants Council; Sara Ann Mokuria, LeiLani Dowell, Liza Green, Jill Hill, Kris Hamel, Minnie Bruce Pratt and this writer, all from the NWFN.

The WIDF congress is not simply a “women’s issue.” As one participant said, “Everything and every struggle is of concern to women; we are half the world and give birth to the other half.” It was a Congress of Women in Struggle.

-- Women's FightBack Network

Soldier & Father Attacked by NYPD

2007-05-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Justice Committee
P.O. Box 1885, New York, New York 10159

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2007

Contact: David Galarza 917-573-9250

DAYBOOK ITEM/PHOTO DESK

U.S. Army Soldier, Father to Express Outrage Demand Justice After Brutal NYPD Arrests

A U.S. Army soldier and his 56-year-old father, who were brutally assaulted and arrested by NYPD officers in front of scores of people in Washington Heights on Wednesday, May 9th, will today express their outrage and demand justice at a press conference in front of the 34th Precinct at 4295 Broadway (183rd St.) on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 4:30 pm.

###

A Draft Proposal from the Troops Out Now Coalition--

2007-05-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

A Draft Proposal from the Troops Out Now Coalition--
From Protest to Resistance

Troops Out Now!
Put the Antiwar Movement
Back on the Streets

September 29 -- March on Washington D.C.
Assemble at the Capitol -- March on the White House

September 22 – 29 --Encampment in Washington D.C.

Stop the War Abroad and at Home

In the spirit of unity, and for the purposes of taking the movement away from politicians and putting it back into the streets, the Troops Out Now Coalition submits this proposal to all antiwar forces:

Our proposal is for an Encampment to Stop the War at Home & Abroad, starting on Saturday, September 22 in Washington D.C., culminating in a mass march in Washington on Saturday, September 29.

This proposal is open to change. TONC welcomes and encourages discussion and suggestions for modifying and improving this proposal. Please endorse the proposal if you are in agreement. All are invited to an Antiwar Strategy meeting in New York City on Saturday, June 16 where there will be more discussion of this proposal, as well as others.

In the fall, (and summer) we must all be focused on jump-starting the mass movement against the war again. Our movement will not be a factor unless we:

* demonstrate our independence from the major political parties;
* make every effort to connect the fight against the wars abroad with the war on the people here in the U.S.; and
* continue to shift from protest to resistance.

Can we not only have a march on Washington, but also occupy the occupiers for a week? The time has come to try it, and that is why our proposal is not only for a march but also for an encampment prior to the march.

It was always clear to some of us, and it’s becoming more and more clear to all of us that Congress is not going to stop the criminal war and occupation in Iraq. Congressional calls for phased withdrawals have done little more than provide a cover for Congress to continue funding the war.

The greater problem is that the political posturing between Bush and Congress has reduced the demand for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all troops from Iraq to arguing about establishing “benchmarks”. The phony antiwar politicking in Congress has to a large degree diverted and usurped the mass movement on the streets.

It’s absolutely critical that we take the struggle against the war out of the halls of Congress and put it where it needs to be -- back on the streets.

Congress is giving Bush and his generals until September to succeed in Iraq. The Pentagon should not be given another hour to wage their criminal, colonial war and occupation. The only significance that time should have for the movement is the time that it will take to organize so that the next phase of the antiwar struggle will be massive, militant and decisive.

It is essential that we acknowledge and fight Bush’s plans to expand the war into Iran. It’s also critical that we call for an end to the occupation of Afghanistan and an end to the Pentagon’s plans for endless war against the peoples of Asia, Africa, Caribbean and Latin America. We must demand an end to the occupation of Palestine, and support the Palestinian people -- including their right to return.

However, it is just as critical that our movement against the war fully embrace the struggle against racism right here in the U.S. Where undocumented immigrant workers are under attack, we must be with them fighting back. Whether fighting for the freedom of Mumia Abu-Jamal, or marching in New York City against the murder of Sean Bell, we must fight racist police and judicial terror.

The Troops Out Now Coalition encourages all of the antiwar coalitions on the local and national level to engage each other and where communication has broken down, to open new lines of communication so that our combined efforts will make us stronger.

Let us join forces with the movements struggling for:

* No War against Iran
* End all occupations now - from Iraq to Palestine, the Philippines, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Afghanistan
* No to U.S. intervention – Hands off Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the Sudan
* Stop the raids against immigrant workers -- Full rights for undocumented workers
* Justice for Katrina survivors – End racist police terror
* Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners
* Money for health care, jobs and education, not endless war

Together let’s unite to demand:

* Immediate withdrawal of all troops
* Cut off ALL war funding'

Endorse the call for Sept 22 - 29 : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207encampmentmarchonwashendorse.shtml

Volunteer : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Become an Organizing Center : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Donate : http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

Mumia Abu-Jamal interview on prisons

2007-05-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

Oil and social gains: WHY U.S. IS TARGETING IRAN

2007-05-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Oil and social gains
WHY U.S. IS TARGETING IRAN

By Sara Flounders
StopWarOnIran.org

“The forces opposing Washington’s policy of endless war--whether waged through sanctions, coups, invasions, bombings or sabotage--should stand with Iran, recognize its accomplishments, defend its gains and oppose imperialism’s efforts to re-colonize the country.”

Why is Iran increasingly a target of U.S. threats? Who in Iran will be affected if the Pentagon implements plans, already drawn up, to strike more than 10,000 targets in the first hours of a U.S. air barrage on Iran?

What changes in policy is Washington demanding of the Iranian government?

In the face of the debacle U.S. imperialism is facing in Iraq, U.S. threats against Iran are discussed daily. This is not a secret operation. They can't be considered idle threats.

Two aircraft carriers--USS Eisenhower and USS Stennis--are still off the coast of Iran, each one accompanied by a carrier strike group containing Hornet and Superhornet fighter-bombers, electronic warfare aircraft, anti-submarine and refueler planes, and airborne command-and-control planes. Six guided-missile destroyers are also part of the armada.

Besides this vast array of firepower, the Pentagon has bases throughout the Middle East able to attack Iran with cruise missiles and hundreds of warplanes.

In fact, the U.S. is already engaged in a war on Iran. Ever-tightening sanctions, from both the U.S. and U.N., restrict trade and the ordering of equipment, spare parts and supplies.

Seymour Hersh reported in the New Yorker magazine a year ago that U.S. special operations forces were already operating inside Iran in preparation for a possible attack. U.S.-backed covert operatives had entered Iran to organize sabotage, car bombings, kidnappings and attacks on civilians, to collect targeting data and to foment anti-government ethnic-minority groups.

News articles have reported in recent months that the Pentagon has drawn up plans for a military blitz that would strike 10,000 targets in the first day of attacks. The aim is to destroy not just military targets but also airports, rail lines, highways, bridges, ports, communication centers, power grids, industrial centers, hospitals and public buildings.

It is important to understand internal developments in Iran today in order to understand why this country is the focus of such continued hatred by U.S. corporate power.

Every leading U.S. political figure has weighed in on the issue, from George W. Bush, who has the power to order strikes, to Hillary Clinton, who has made her support for an attack on Iran clear, to John McCain, who answered a reporter's question on policy toward Iran by chanting "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys' song, "Barbara Ann." The media--from the New York Times to the Washington Post to banner headlines in the tabloid press to right-wing radio talk shows--are playing a role in preparing the public for an attack.

The significance of oil production and oil reserves in Iran is well known. Every news article, analysis or politician's threat makes mention of Iran’s oil. But the impact of Iran’s nationalization of its oil resources is not well known.

The corporate owners in the U.S. want to keep it a secret from the people here. They use all the power of their media to demonize the Iranian leadership and caricature and ridicule the entire population, their culture and religion.

What’s been achieved?

The focus of media coverage here is to describe Iran as medieval, backward and feudal while somehow becoming a nuclear power.

It is never mentioned that more than half the university students in Iran are women, or that more than a third of the doctors, 60 percent of civil servants and 80 percent of all teachers in Iran are women. At the time of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, 90 percent of rural women were illiterate; in towns the figure was over 45 percent.

Also ignored is the stunning achievement of full literacy for Iranian youth.

Even the World Bank, now headed by Bush's neocon appointee Paul Wolfowitz, in its development report on countries admits that Iran has exceeded the social gains of other countries in the Middle East.

According to that report, Iran has made the most progress in eliminating gender disparities in education. Large numbers of increasingly well-educated women have entered the work force.

Iran’s comprehensive social protection system includes the highest level of pensions, disability insurance, job training programs, unemployment insurance and disaster-relief programs. National subsidies make basic food, housing and energy affordable to all.

An extensive national network going from primary health and preventive care to sophisticated hospital care covers the entire population, both urban and rural. More than 16,000 "health houses" are the cornerstone of the health care system. Using simple technology, they provide vaccines, preventive care, care for respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, family planning and contraceptive information, and pre-natal care. And they monitor children’s nutrition and general health.

Since 1990, Iran nearly halved the infant mortality rate and increased life expectancy by 10 years.

Iran sets record in family planning

A national family planning program, delivered through the primary health care facilities and accompanied by a dramatic increase in contraceptive use, which is approved by Islamic law, has led to a world record demographic change in family size and maternal and child health. All forms of contraception are now available for free.

In addition promoting women’s education and employment, while extending social security and retirement benefits, has alleviated the pressure to have many children to protect security as parents grow older. The fertility rate between 1976 and 2000 declined from 8.1 births per woman to 2.4 births in rural areas and 1.8 births in urban areas.

These social programs, which cover the entire population of almost 70 million people, should be compared to conditions in countries in the region that remain under U.S. military and economic domination.

In Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, only a tiny part of the population has benefited from the vast profits generated by oil and gas resources. In each of these countries the bulk of the people are not even considered citizens. Millions are immigrant workers, usually the overwhelming majority of the population, who have no rights to any representation, participation or any social, health or educational programs or union protection.

Women in these countries face much more than religious restrictions on clothing. They are barred from jobs, equal education and the right to control their own bodies or their own funds. They cannot vote or even drive a car.

In Iraq, which before U.S. attacks began in 1991 had some of the best conditions in the region for women, plus a high level of education, health, nutrition and social services, the conditions of life have now deteriorated to the level of the very poorest countries in the world. Legislation passed by the U.S.-installed puppet government has stripped women of rights that were guaranteed earlier.

Revolution made it all possible

The social gains of millions of Iranians are based on the upsurge of the Iranian masses in the 1979 revolution. The overthrow of the U.S.-backed Shah and the Pahlavi dynasty broke the hold of U.S. corporate power in Iran.

The Iranian Revolution was not a socialist revolution. Bourgeois rights to own businesses, land, wealth and inheritance are still protected by law and by the state apparatus.

But the greatest source of wealth--Iran's oil and gas--was nationalized. Nationalization means the transfer of privately owned assets and operations into public ownership. The exploration, drilling, maintenance, transport, refining and shipping of oil and gas became the national property of the Iranian people. Formerly this entire process was controlled at every step by Western imperialists, particularly U.S. and British corporations.

Most of the administrators, executives, technicians and engineers who controlled the process used to be from the West. Through hundreds of thousands of contracts and sub-contracts, U.S. and British firms extracted a profit not just through the sale of oil on the world markets but at every step of its extraction and refining. The small portion of profit the Shah's government received, as in the Gulf States today, was spent on luxury items imported from Western corporations for the small ruling elite and on infrastructure and weapons systems purchased from U.S. military corporations, again at an enormous profit.

The 1979 Iranian revolution, even though it brought a religious group to power, was a profoundly radical and anti-imperialist revolution. Demonstrations of millions openly confronted the brutally repressive police apparatus called the Savak, who protected the small handful of corrupt U.S. collaborators. Religious fervor, demands for social justice and militant anti-imperialism were bound together in opposition to the U.S.-imposed Shah and the Pahlavi royal family, which was hated for its program of a glitzy modernization of the urban infrastructure alongside the growing impoverishment of both urban and rural workers, farmers and much of the middle class.

All classes of society were profoundly shaken as millions of revolutionary workers took to the streets. This was reflected not only in laws passed in Parliament but in the Iranian constitution itself. The constitution states that the government is required to provide every citizen with access to social security for retirement, unemployment, old age, disability, accidents, health and medical treatment--out of public revenue.

Prior to the revolution Iran had a shortage of medical staff and of trained personnel of every kind. During the upheaval of the revolution and the years of the Iran-Iraq war, many physicians, scientific and skilled personnel emigrated.

Having broken free of U.S. corporate domination and control of its resources, Iran was able to develop education, industry and infrastructure with unprecedented speed. By 2004 the number of university students had increased by six times over 1979. There are currently 2.2 million college students. The largest and most prestigious programs encompass 54 state universities and 42 state medical schools where tuition, room and board are totally free. In addition, 289 major private universities also receive substantial funding.

Millions of scientists, engineers, technicians, administrators, military officers, teachers, civil servants and doctors have been trained.

Today Iran boasts modern cities, a large auto industry, and miles of new roads, railroads and subways. Currently 55 Iranian pharmaceutical companies produce 96 percent of the medicines on the market in Iran. This allows a national insurance system to reimburse drug expenses.

Soon to become operational is the largest pharmaceutical complex in southwest Asia, which will produce compound drugs, making Iran a pioneer in biotechnology.

Years of U.S. sanctions and pressure on international financial institutions have had an unexpected result: Iran is free of the crippling debt that has strangled so many developing countries. According to World Bank figures, Iran’s external debt is one of the lowest for its size: $11.9 billion, or 8.8 percent of the GDP. From the point of view of the imperialist world bankers, this means the loss of many billions each year in interest payments to them.

Different approaches

Since 1979 there have been deep struggles inside Iran over how to deal with the unrelenting pressure of the imperialist powers. There are differing approaches on developments plans and who is favored or benefits most from these plans. But all of the present forces are committed to maintaining Iran's control of its resources.

Iran is not a monolithic state. No state is or could be. There are contending groups even within the Muslim clergy that reflect different economic interests and class forces. This is true also in the Iranian Parliament and among various political parties and leaders.

Under President Mohammed Khatami, from 1997 to 2005, a "Reform Movement" eased religious and social restrictions. But it also allowed the introduction of neo-liberal economic policies, structural reforms and the de-nationalizing or privatizing of some social programs along with the cutting of subsidies. More joint ventures were initiated with European and Japanese capital. Programs that benefited the "private sector" or the wealthy and the middle class grew. This was the core of Khatami’s base.

The current leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's first non-cleric president in 24 years, was elected in 2005 in a landslide victory after promising to extend social security and pensions, improve the subsidies for food and housing, deal with rising unemployment and guarantee a monthly stipend.

The Iranian people are determined to protect the substantial gains they have made since the revolution. They are not interested in any effort that turns the clock back.

A Wall Street Journal Commentary by Francis Fukuyama on Feb. 1 was unusually frank in explaining the growing problem faced by U.S. corporate power on a global scale:

“What is it that leaders like Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez have in common that vastly increases their local appeal? A foreign policy built around anti-Americanism is, of course, a core component. But what has allowed them to win elections and build support in their societies is less their foreign-policy stances than their ability to promise, and to a certain extent deliver on, social policy--things like education, health and other social services, particularly for the poor….

“The U.S. and the political groups that it tends to support around the world, by contrast, have relatively little to offer in this regard.”

Past and new threats

Iran's program for nuclear power was actually initiated by the U.S. when the Shah held dictatorial power. Nuclear energy is an important part of modern industrial development. It is important in science, medicine and research. Only after the overthrow of the Shah was Iran’s continued development of the same program branded a threat by Washington.

The U.S. government has made every effort to sabotage all Iranian infrastructure and industrial development, not only nuclear energy. Modern technology--from elevators to cars, ships, jet aircraft and oil refineries--needs constant upkeep. Parts for the re-supply and maintenance of equipment the Iranians had purchased over decades from U.S. corporations were halted.

The most onerous sanctions were imposed in 1995 during the Clinton administration.

The Iranian people, despite many different political currents, are united in their determination not to lose their national sovereignty again. Washington's past use of sanctions, economic sabotage, political destabilization and regime change is well remembered in Iran today.

Sanctions, the freezing of assets and an embargo on the export of Iranian oil and all trade with Iran were first imposed in March 1951, after Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. Iran was the first country in the Middle East to take the bold step of reclaiming its national wealth in the post-colonial era.

In 1953 using internal destabilization and massive external pressure, the CIA orchestrated the overthrow of Mossadegh's popularly elected government and placed the Shah on the Peacock Throne. Oil was back under the control of the U.S. and Britain, and 26 years of brutal repression followed.

Ever since the 1979 revolution and the decisive overthrow of the U.S.-supported military dictatorship, Iran has had not a moment of peace from the Pentagon or Wall Street.

As Iran continues to grow and develop, U.S. imperialism is becoming increasingly desperate to reverse this revolutionary process, whether through sanctions, sabotage or bombing. But today it faces a population that is stronger, more conscious and more skilled. On a world scale U.S. imperialism is more isolated. Its hated occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan has left it overextended.

But the Pentagon is still capable of massive destruction. Its bases surround Iran and it has sent an armada of ships to the Gulf. U.S. government threats against Iran today must be taken as seriously as their devastating occupation of Iraq.

The forces opposing Washington’s policy of endless war--whether waged through sanctions, coups, invasions, bombings or sabotage--should stand with Iran, recognize its accomplishments, defend its gains and oppose imperialism’s efforts to re-colonize the country.

Sources of information about Iran's social development include: "Iran’s Family Planning Program: Responding to a Nation’s Needs," by Farzaneh Roudi-Fahimi, Population Reference Bureau, Washington, D.C., June 2002; "Tehran University Official Describes Iran Health Care System to Harvard School of Public Health," HSPH NOW, Jan. 24, 2003; World Bank.org--Iran--Country Brief; UNICEF--Info by Country; Food & Agriculture Organization of UN--Nutrition--Country Profiles; "Biggest Pharmaceutical Plant to Open Soon," Iran Daily, Feb. 4, 2007.

* Sign the Petition - http://stopwaroniran.org/petition.shtml
* Donate to help with organizing expenses - http://stopwaroniran.org/donate.shtml
* Sign up for updates - http://stopwaroniran.org/contact.shtml

Federal Judge Drops All Charges Against Posada!

2007-05-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

Federal Judge Drops All Charges Against Posada!

Jail Posada!
Free the Cuban Five!

Thursday - MAY 10th from 4:30-6:00pm
Government Center T Stop, Boston

Protests are being held all over the world on May 11^th, the opening day of Luis Posada Carriles’ trial. Posada is an ex-CIA terrorist and the mastermind behind the 1976 bombing of a Cuban commercial airliner killing all 73 people on board. Bail for this murderer and the attempt to try him solely for immigration crimes, is proof of the hypocrisy of the Bush administration. It confirms the double standards in its supposed crusade against terrorism.

Cuban exile Posada Carriles is known to have engineered the bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed 73 people in 1976, yet he was allowed to walk out of a New Mexico jail in April, free on bail. Posada was being held on immigration charges, but many were demanding that he be extradited to either Cuba or Venezuela and tried for terrorism.

Posada Carriles is known to have killed people - U.S. government records attest to this - yet he is free, while the Cuban 5 who killed no one are rotting in prison because they tried to protect their country and even the people in the USA from terrorists like Posada.

Posada Carriles was freed from jail where he was being held on charges of violating U.S. immigration laws yet ICE routinely raids workplaces, rounds up undocumented workers and deports them with no regard to the impact on their families, including young children born in the U.S.

Posada Carriles has openly advocated the murder of government officials in Cuba, yet U.S. courts released him on bail, while U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal still sits on Pennsylvania's death row over five years after his death sentence was lifted by a federal judge.

Just this week, a Cuban military police officer and a soldier were killed by prison escapees during a failed attempt to hijack a plane in Havana and fly to the U.S. Had these would-be hijackers and murderers of a Cuban police officer made it to the U.S. they would have been given safe haven because of the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Posada Carriles is not just a suspect. He was being tried, formally accused over twenty years ago by another Venezuelan government, and Venezuelan courts have been demanding him ever since the CIA helped him escape from a Venezuelan jail.

Free the CUBAN FIVE!

The media has been silent on the case of the Cuban Five. These heroic Cubans infiltrated criminal exile groups in Florida to prevent future terrorist actions that had already killed more than 3,000 innocent Cubans. They have been imprisoned in the U.S. since 1998 on the charge of “conspiracy” to commit espionage. Their Miami trial was plagued with irregularities. In August of 2005, a three judge panel of the Atlanta Circuit Court, calling the trial a "perfect storm" of judicial prejudice, reversed the convictions concluding that the Five did not receive a fair trial in Miami. Rather than ordering a new trial outside of Miami, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales called upon the full Circuit to review the decision. Perhaps succumbing to pressure from Washington, the 11^th Circuit Court in August, 2006 rejected the earlier decision and sent the matter back to the panel where further appeals are now pending. It is time these innocent men were released.

Please join us in this important protest.

Sponsors: July 26 Coalition of Boston and International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five.
Endorsed by: National Lawyers Guild, Massachusetts Chapter; Howard Zinn; Boston City Councilors Felix Arroyo and Chuck Turner; Melida Arredondo, El Pueblo Unido Para la Paz; Noam Chomsky; Michael Avery, Professor Suffolk Law School, past president National Lawyers Guild; International Action Center; Professor James Rowan; The Women's Fightback Network; Bolivarian Circle of Boston

For more information: write info@july26.org or call (617) 522-9478

www.freethefive.org www.antiterroristas.cu www.july26.org

Why Virginia Tech shootings happened

2007-04-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

A Statement from the International Action Center
Why Virginia Tech shootings happened

April 18, 2007--Yet another rampage has occurred at a school, this time leaving 33 people dead at Virginia Tech—the worst such incident ever at a U.S. college campus.

The news media seem stunned and surprised, yet their coverage sounds so similar to the stories about Columbine eight years ago. They dwell on the personality of the young man the police say did the shooting, before killing himself. They talk about him being a “loner,” depressed, perhaps angry at women.

But aren’t there lonely and depressed people all over the world? Many countries have high suicide rates. Why is it that here some become mass murderers?

The U.S. is the world leader in seemingly random acts of violence by individuals. Why?

President George W. Bush rushed to Virginia to speak at a large convocation the day after the killings and tried to set the tone for what could be said about them. “It’s impossible to make sense of such violence and suffering,” he said.

Don’t ask why, don’t try to understand. It makes no sense. “Have faith” instead, was Bush’s message.

But there ARE reasons these things happen here, and they are pretty clear to the rest of the world. It’s just in the United States that no one is supposed to talk about the reasons.

What distinguishes this country from the rest of the world? It is neither the most affluent nor the poorest. It is neither the most secular nor the most religious. It is not the most culturally homogeneous nor is it the most diverse.

But in one area, it stands virtually alone. It has the biggest arsenal of high-tech weaponry in the world, way surpassing every other country. It has military bases spread all over; most countries have no troops outside their borders.

It is conducting two hot wars at the moment, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has sent hundreds of thousands of troops abroad over the last few years. Every day, the public here is supposed to identify with soldiers who burst into homes in Baghdad, round up the people and take them away for “interrogation”—which everyone knows now can mean torture and indefinite detainment.

It also sends heavily armed “special ops” on secret missions to countless other countries, like the ones who just facilitated the invasion and bombing of Somalia, or the ones who have been trying to stir up opposition in Iran. This is documented in the news media.

The immense brutality of these colonial wars, as well as earlier ones, is praised from the White House on down as the best, the ONLY way to achieve what the political leaders and their influential, rich backers decide is necessary to protect their world empire. Do lots of people get killed? “Stuff happens,” said former war secretary Donald Rumsfeld. “Collateral damage,” says the Pentagon.

At home, the U.S. has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Over 2 million people are locked up in the prison system each year, most of them people of color. When commercial armed security guards are also taken into consideration, the U.S. has millions of employees who use guns and other coercive paraphernalia in their jobs.

In the final analysis, the military and the police exist to perpetuate and protect this present unjust system of capitalist inequality, where a few can claim personal ownership over a vast economy built by the sweat and blood of hundreds of millions of workers.

And the more divided, the more polarized the society becomes, the higher the level of coercion and violence. Assault weapons are now everywhere in this society, as are Tasers, handcuffs, clubs and tear gas. They most often start out in the hands of the police, the military and other agents of the state, and can then turn up anywhere.

Violence is a big money maker in the mass culture. Television, films, pulp novels, Internet sites, video games—all dwell on “sociopaths” while glorifying the state’s use of violence, often supplemented by a lone vigilante. By the time children reach their teens, they have already seen thousands of murders and killings on television. And these days even more suspense is added in countless programs that involve stalking and terror against women—and increasingly children.

As the Duke rape case and so many “escort service” ads show, women of color are particularly subject to exploitation and have little recourse to any justice. And as the murders along the border show, immigrants of color are fair game for racist killers.

The social soil of capitalism can alienate and enrage an unstable and miserable person who should be getting help but can’t find it. If, as reports are saying, the young man accused of these killings was on anti-depressant medication, it is all the more evidence that, at a time when hospitals are closing and health care is unavailable for tens of millions, treating mental health problems requires more from society than just prescribing dubious chemicals.

Many liberal commentators are taking this occasion to renew the demand for tougher gun laws. Yes, assault weapons are horrible, but so are bunker buster bombs, helicopters that fire thousands of rounds a minute, and the ultimate—nuclear weapons. Disarming the people is not the answer, especially when the government is armed to the teeth and uses brutality and coercion daily.

The best antidote to these tragedies is to build a movement for profound social change, a movement directed at solving the great problems depressing so much of humanity today, whether they be wars or global climate change or the loneliness of the dog-eat-dog society.

May 1 - Support the Struggle for Immigrant Workers' Rights

2007-04-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Dear sisters and brothers,

The struggle for immigrant workers’ rights needs your active participation and solidarity. Remember May 1, 2006? Millions of immigrant workers from coast to coast walked off their jobs and rallied in just about every major city to demand full rights for undocumented workers.

The same thing is planned for May 1, or “May Day” 2007. Many of you who are reading this appeal probably have a good idea of why it’s important for you as anti-war activists to be involved in the movement for immigrant workers’ rights. Even so it’s worth reviewing just a little.

To begin with, while we march against the war in Iraq, it’s absolutely critical that we march against the war on the people right here at home. The level of institutional racism on the part of the capitalist system and government that resulted in massive death and continued suffering in New Orleans is part of a “war at home.” So are the police murders of 23-year -old Sean Bell in New York City and 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in Atlanta several months ago.

When it comes to the government anti-immigrant raids that go on daily, calling it a war is no metaphor. No other word could describe it more accurately. Thousands of immigrant workers have been arrested over the past year alone. On the morning of March 6, an army of hundreds of heavily armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FBI agents raided a leather factory in New Bedford, Mass., arresting and terrorizing 350 workers, many of them women whose children were suddenly left stranded. It’s time that we UNITE and show by our actions that we are as angry about these raids as we are about the war in Iraq. When we do that, we are truly connecting the struggles against the war abroad and the war at home.

The main weapon that the government and the capitalist media are using to try to deter more people of all nationalities and races from demanding an end to these raids is anti-immigrant racism. When immigrants rally for their rights, and you look out at many of the big immigrant rights rallies and see a tremendous sea of people—including, however, very few people who are either white, or whom you usually might see at a big anti-war march—that’s a sign that the divide and conquer with racism strategy is being used.

On May Day 2007, it is up to us to make sure that the anti-war movement shows up to stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, with immigrant workers against these terrorist raids.

Another point is that it’s so important that immigrant workers have chosen May Day as the day to boycott work and rally for their rights across the country. May Day is the day the workers in every part of the world rally and march to show their solidarity with the struggle of all workers everywhere. Even though May Day was born in the working class struggles of the 19th century right here in the U.S., up until recently May Day has not been widely observed in this country. But all of that’s changing, in large part because immigrant workers are bringing May Day back to the U.S., along with its message of worldwide working-class unity and militancy and anti-racist, anti-imperialist and anti-war solidarity.

The anti-war movement must get behind May Day 2007 and build for it with the same passion and energy that we put into anti-war marches. If we do that, we will not only be solidarizing ourselves with immigrant workers, we will be helping to revive worldwide working-class solidarity in the country where it is most needed.

Anti-war movement—all out for May Day ’07!

Signed by,

LeiLani Dowell, Fight Imperialism-Stand Together (FIST)

Teresa Gutierrez, May 1 Coalition, New York City

Larry Holmes, Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC)

John Parker, March 25 Coalition, Los Angeles

U.S. Bases Out Now!

2007-03-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

Join the international campaign to say
U.S. Bases Out Now!

Tell Bush & Congress: NO U.S. Military bases in the Czech Republic and Poland!
We need funds for peoples needs, not for war and occupation.

Sign the Petition!

text of petition included below

Join the international campaign against the construction of new U.S. military bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. In recent polls a clear majority of the population of those countries is opposed to U.S. bases there. By an overwhelming majority, people are demanding the right to decide on this dangerous escalation in a national referendum.

Already, tens of thousands have signed names to petitions and participated in rallies and demonstrations demanding "No to the Bases." More than 40 organizations are part of the No to the Bases Campaign formed last July in the Czech Republic.

Sign the Petition
Donate (indicate "for Bases Out Now Project" in the comments field on the donation form)
BasesOutNow.org for more information
Citizens Initiative - No to Bases

NO! to U.S. Bases
Petition Text :
cc: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, members of the media

President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rice, Secretary Gates, and Congressional leaders:

NO U.S. Bases in the Czech Republic and Poland!
We need funds for Human Needs, not War and Occupation!

The Pentagon is planning to build U.S. missile bases and radar stations in the Czech Republic and Poland. A majority of the population in both countries is opposed to this dangerous military escalation. I stand in solidarity with them in opposing this reckless warlike move.

In both countries there is an effort to ram through the decision to allow the U.S. bases despite thousands of petitions, mass calls for a national referendum and wide protests. Millions of people are concerned about the opening of a new cold war and a new arms race.

President Bush has just submitted the largest military budget in history. U.S. military spending surpasses $1 million a minute – every day of the year. Desperately needed social programs for health, education, housing and the environment are being cut, to pay for a brutal war in Iraq, new bases and new threats of endless war.

I support the right of the people of the Czech Republic and Poland to oppose U.S. bases on their soil.

I support their just and democratic demand for a national referendum on this issue.

We need funds for peoples needs, not for war and occupation.

Sincerely,
(Your signature will be appended here based on the contact information you enter in the form above)

Join the campaign - sign the petition -- No to U.S. bases in the Czech Republic and Poland! We need funds for peoples needs, not for war and occupation.

see BasesOutNow.org for more information

Bases Out Now! Campaign
Sponsored by:
BasesOutNow.org
Solidarity Center - 5C
55 West 17th St
New York, NY 10011
For further information call: (212) 633-6646

Stop Bush's "Surge" --No War Against Iran!

2007-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Stop Bush's "Surge" --No War Against Iran!

Stop War On Iran .org

January 14, 2007--Join U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Bishop Thomas Gumbleton; Harold Pinter; historian Howard Zinn; George Galloway MP; former UN Assistant Secretary-General Dennis Halliday; Tony Benn, and 20,000 more signers to say No War on Iran!

The growing threat of military action against Iran was made very clear last week as President Bush used his prime time "surge" speech to issue threats against the people of Iran. This speech was immediately followed by a U.S. attack on the Iranian consulate in northern Iraq and the arrest of Iranian consular personnel.

As this time, the U.S. has deployed two full carrier groups to the Persian Gulf. Each carrier carries more than 80 combat aircraft including F/A-18 Hornets, F-14 Tomcats, SH-60 Seahawks, S-3B Vikings, E-2C Hawkeyes and EA-6B Prowlers, capable of flying more than 150 strikes a day. In addition, each carrier group includes guided missile cruisers, fast frigates, guided missile destroyers, and submarines, all equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

We know from reports last year that the Pentagon's Central Command and Strategic Command planners are already identifying targets, assessing weapon-loads and working on logistics for an attack and that the planned strikes could kill thousands of Iranian people. We must mobilize now to against the threat of a new war. Over the next few days and weeks, Stop War On Iran will be organizing meetings, rallies, and protests across the country to build a movement to stop another disastrous war.

So far, we've gotten more than 20,000 signatures on the Stop War On Iran petition, and we've sent nearly half a million petitions to Bush, Cheney, Congress, and Halliburton. But we must do more--the threat of an imminent attack is growing. We need your help. We cannot count on politicians (of either major party ) to stop the war--we must build a grassroots movement to stop another brutal war.

Here's how you can help:

- Sign the petition - Send a message to Bush, Cheney, Congress, and Halliburton -

- Tell a Friend - Help get the word out -

- Donate - Help with organizing meetings, teach-ins, protests -

- Put a link to Stop War On Iran on your website -

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Duplicity of the UN Security Council

January 11, 2007

In light of the imposition of new United Nations Security Council sanctions directed against Iran, and in the face of a massive U.S.- led military build-up in the Persian Gulf, StopWarOnIran.org campaign calls on all peace loving and justice-seeking people to endorse SWOI's demand for U.S. withdrawal of its naval forces from the Persian Gulf and for the annulment of U.N. Resolution 1737.

Under the ongoing pressure and probable offer of economic incentives from the United States and Britain, the United Nations Security Council on December 23, 2006 approved Resolution 1737 that:

Requires Iran to suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and to stop work on the construction of a heavy-water research reactor at Arak.

Prohibits all member states from supplying Iran with items including dual-use equipment and prohibits Iran from exporting any related equipment or technology to other countries.

Requires all states to avoid providing Iran with technical assistance, training or financial services that could contribute to a nuclear program advancement.

Requires all states to freeze the assets of a specified list of individuals and entities identified as having a key role in Iran's nuclear program, and requires all states to notify the sanctions committee of travel by those individuals outside of Iran.

Requires the suspension of Iran's uranium enrichment as a necessary pre-condition for the resumption of Iran-European Union (EU3) negotiation.

U.S. plans to strangle Iran go far beyond the formal UN Security Council decisions. Immediately after the Council vote, U.S. Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns said, "We're certainly not going to put all our eggs in the UN basket...We'd like to see countries stop doing business as usual with Iran...We would like countries to stop selling arms to Iran. We would like countries to try to limit export credits to Iran." He boasted that the U.S. already has had "full-scope sanctions on Iran in every conceivable area" in place since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Finally, Mr. Burns clearly stated that the U.S. differences with Iran go far beyond the nuclear issue. "Our beef with the Iranians is threefold," he said. First is their effort to attain a nuclear capability, second is their support for the Palestinian and Lebanese movements and their interference in Iraq, and third is the system of their governance domestically, according to Burns.

Washington recently called for "regime change" in Iran and began working towards that objective. Congress approved a more than $100 million budget to finance covert and overt activities to provoke insecurity and undermine the country's economic, social and political stability.

In each major nuclear issue confronting the United Nations nuclear non-proliferation regime, the United States and Britain have tried to replace the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the Security Council. In cases of disputes with the other Council members, as with Iraq, they feel free to by-pass the UN and begin a pre-emptive war without the consent of the international community that they are so fond of appealing to rhetorically.

Iran has consistently placed its entire nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards; furthermore, it adopted and fully implemented the Additional Protocol for over 2 years and announced its readiness for extension of its implementation, while permitting over 2,000 person-days of IAEA inspections of all its relevant and even unrelated facilities.

Iran has been singled out and charged unfairly with violations of the UN nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran signed onto the NPT and has fulfilled its commitments to the Treaty and has dutifully complied with the NPT governing rules and IAEA regulations. The UN nuclear energy agency (IAEA) has consistently declared that Iran has made no diversion of nuclear materials and equipment for purposes other than the use for civilian nuclear energy. Iran has the right to enjoy its legitimate and inalienable rights to research and development of a nuclear industry for peaceful use, as it is stipulated in Article Four of the Treaty.

To build confidence and eradicate any Western misconceptions regarding Iranian "intentions," the Iranian government had voluntarily suspended its nuclear enrichment and processing operations for a period as along as 15 months while holding marathon negotiations with EU3--Britain, France, and Germany--for nearly three years. Despite this Iranian display of good will and dialogue, the EU3 not only failed to provide a resolution entrusting Iran to produce its own nuclear fuel (in accord with the provisions of the NPT), but collaborated with the U.S. behind the scenes and accused Iran of the "intention" of building nuclear weapons.

To portray Iran as a threat to peace in the Middle East or in the continents of Europe and America is slander. Contrary to the history of the U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan, France, Russia and Italy, Iran has not initiated a single war against any nation on earth in the last 250 years.

StopWarOnIran believes the U.S. has targeted Iran for reasons other than its nuclear energy program. The U.S. anti-Iran foreign policy has its deep roots not in Iran's future plans for proliferation of military nuclear technology, but in Washington's insatiable thirst for controlling Iran's present and tangible flow of gas and oil. By extension, it is the U.S. and EU's craving to control Iraq's oil reserves has attracted hundreds of thousands of Western troops and armaments to the region (not for the non-existent presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction or terrorists ready to invade Europe and the United States)

No government in the Middle East, with the exception of Israel's, considers Iran's civilian nuclear energy program a threat to its national security. The only country in the Middle East that is armed with nuclear weapons---most likely more than 200 of them---is Israel, as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acknowledged recently. This state has been at war with all its neighbors for the entirety of its existence. Yet the IAEA has made no demand to receive an entry permit to visit Israel's nuclear stockpiles and the UNSC has issued no resolution of sanctions against it.

The menacing presence of the U.S.S. Enterprise, which includes all the warships that compose Carrier Strike Group 12 (CGS12) Destroyer Squadron 2 and Carrier Air Wing1 (CVW1) in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, is a clear sign of U.S. plans of intimidation and hostility. And now the U.S has sent a second carrier group to the Gulf. It is not Iran, but the U.S. and the UK that are a serious threat to peace, security and progress in Iran and the entire Middle East region.

International Campaign to Stop Bush's Drive to War Against Iran: Half a million signers say "Stop War on Iran"

2007-01-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

International Campaign to Stop Bush's Drive to War Against Iran: Half a million signers say "Stop War on Iran"

In response to the growing threat of military action against Iran, activists across the globe have launched "Stop War on Iran," an international campaign against a new war. Prominent initial signers on the statement (available online at http://stopwaroniran.org/statement.shtml ) include: former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Bishop Thomas Gumbleton; Harold Pinter; historian Howard Zinn; George Galloway MP; former UN Assistant Secretary-General Dennis Halliday; Tony Benn, MP; former First Lady of Greece Margarita Papandreou; Ardeshir Ommani, co-founder of American-Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC); author Michael Parenti; and many others.

Since the launch of the campaign, the online statement has garnered more than 21,000 signatures, and nearly half a million petitions saying "Stop War on Iran" have been sent to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, and the board of directors of Halliburton.

Organizers with the Stop War on Iran campaign note that Bush's recent "surge" speech indicated a real danger of an imminent military strike against Iran."Bush's speech, rather than indicating that he was heeding the will of the people and ending the war, indicated that he plans to widen the war including attacks against Iran," said Sara Flounders, an organizer with Stop War on Iran."Yesterday the U.S., in clear violation of international law, raided the Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, illegally detaining five people and seizing computers and documents.This action, which is an act of war itself, immediately followed Bush's 'surge' speech and was the first step in his plans to prolong, escalate, and expand the war."

Navy Veteran Dustin Langley, an organizer with Stop War on Iran, said, “Bush has ordered two aircraft carrier groups to the Persian Gulf.Each aircraft carrier carries three squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and one squadron of F-14 Tomcats.In addition, each carrier group includes several guided missile cruisers, guided missile destroyers, fast frigates, and submarines, all capable of launching cruise missiles.We know from reports last year that the Pentagon has drawn up a list of targets in Iran and that the planned strikes could kill thousands of Iranian people.Over the next few days and weeks we will be organizing meetings, rallies, and protests across the country to build a movement to stop another disastrous war."

Ardeshir Ommani, co-founder of American-Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) and an organizer with Stop War On Iran, said, “We've already seen Bush push the UN to levy sanctions against Iran.U.S. plans to strangle Iran go far beyond the formal UN Security Council decisions--they're also trying to force other countries to cut off trade credits and We know from recent experience that sanctions using 'weapons of mass destruction' as a pretense, can very easily be the prelude to military action.Washington recently called for “regime change” in Iran and began working towards that objective. Congress approved a more than $100 million budget to finance covert and overt activities to provoke insecurity and undermine the country’s economic, social and political stability."

Media Contact:Dustin Langley 646-354-8056

Stop War on Iran
55 W. 17th St. 5th Fl.
NY NY 10011 212.
633.6646 www.StopWarOnIran.org

Poison Dust - the Pentagon's illegal weapons

2006-11-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

Poison Dust - the Pentagon's illegal weapons

Poison DUst http://poisondust.org/ A NEW LOOK AT U.S. RADIOACTIVE WEAPONS

Join us in a campaign to expose and stop the use of these illegal weapons

On November 1, the BBC reported that the U.S. and British governments have continued to use radioactive and chemically toxic Depleted Uranium weapons in Iraq, disregarding warnings that these weapons pose a cancer risk and are linked to numerous other health issues.

According to the article, a report by a senior UN scientist said research showing how depleted uranium could cause cancer and other health problems was suppressed in a recent World Health Organization report:

But Dr Keith Baverstock, who worked on the project, ...described a process known as genotoxicity, which begins when depleted uranium dust is inhaled. "The particles that dissolve pose a risk - part radioactive - and part from the chemical toxicity in the lung," he said. Later, he said, the material enters the body and the blood stream, potentially affecting bone marrow, the lymphatic system and the kidneys. The research was not included in the WHO report, and Dr Baverstock believes it was blocked.

During the current Iraq War the U.S. use of radioactive DU weapons increased from 375 tons used in 1991 to 2200 tons. Geiger counter readings at sites in downtown Baghdad record radiation levels 1,000 and 2,000 times higher than background radiation. The Pentagon has bombed, occupied, tortured and contaminated Iraq. Millions of Iraqis are affected. Over one million U.S. soldiers have rotated into Iraq. Today, half of the 697,000 U.S. Gulf War troops from the 1991 war have reported serious medical problems and a significant increase in birth defects among their newborn children.

The effects on the Iraqi population are far greater. Many other countries and U.S. communities near DU weapons plants, testing facilities, bases and arsenals have also been exposed to this radioactive material which has a half-life of 4.4 billions years.

http://poisondust.org/

From: The Queens Tribune, 4/21/2005:

Queens veterans of the War in Iraq share military stories, pay tribute to their fallen comrades and talk to each other about their experiences -- and one element keeps ringing true to many of the soldiers. Depleted uranium.

On Tuesday night, in the basement of All Saint's Episcopal Church in Sunnyside, there was a screening of Poison DUst, a documentary that chronicles the United States government's use of depleted Uranium. ...

The movie makes a convincing case for its argument that depleted uranium is being used rampantly in Iraq, among other places, and that wherever it is used it causes terrible health problems. The audience was clearly disturbed by the film.

"Isn't there some crime being committed?" Bill Hagel, who attended, asked in the question and answer session that followed. "Shouldn't someone be in jail?"

You thought they came home safely from the war. They didn't.

Poison DUst tells the story of three young men from New York who could not get answers for their mysterious ailments after their National Guard unit's 2003 tour of duty in Iraq. A mother reveals her fears about the extent of her child's birth defects and the growing disability of her young husband -- a vet.

Filmmaker Sue Harris skillfully weaves, through interviews, their journey from personal trauma, to 'positive' test results for uranium poisoning, to learning the truth about radioactive Depleted Uranium weapons. Their frustrations in dealing with the Veterans Administration's silence becomes outrage as they realize that thousands of other GI's have the same symptoms.

Veterans, anti-war organizers, environmentalists and health care providers will find this wake-up call to today's GIs invaluable.

Today more than 1/3 of all 1991 Gulf war vets are on VA Disability Benefits. Meanwhile U.S. use of radioactive DU weapons has increased six-fold from 1991 to Gulf War II!

Scientists expose the Pentagon Cover-Up!

http://PoisonDUst.org includes a powerful indictment of past U.S. use of radioactive weapons....

The U.S. military now admits that it deliberately radiated its own soldiers, known as the "Atomic Veterans," during the Cold War. This documentary exposes U.S. use of radioactive weapons on peoples in not only Iraq, but the Marshall Islands; Vieques, Puerto Rico; Meihyang-Ri, South Korea; and Yugoslavia.

Poison DUst mixes interviews with soldiers with experts such as Dr. Helen Caldicott, Dr. Michio Kaku, and Dr. Rosalie Bertell explaining how DU contamination spreads and how residue from exploded DU shells radiates people.

A growing global resistance is expressed by former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, scientists and activists from Vieques, Puerto Rico, by New York Daily News reporter Juan Gonzalez, Sara Flounders of the International Action Center's DU Education Project and Major Doug Rokke - the former U.S. Army DU Project head.

http://PoisonDUst.orgis an important educational tool in building the movement to stop this horror.

Help us get the word out--this important film is already being shown in schools, churches, community centers, and in a Coffee House set up for GIs outside of Fort Drum.

Join the campaign to stop the use of these illegal weapons.

How you can help:

Order the video from http://poisondust.org - arrange showings in your community

Donate - You can make a difference! Funds are urgently needed to publicize and distribute Poison DUst. Send donations to the Depleted Uranium Education Project; 55W. 17 St., Rm. 5C, New York, NY 10011. Or donate on-line: http://iacenter.org/iacdonate.shtml

For more information, additional resources, bibliography, and more, see: http://PoisonDUst.org

Call 212-633-6646 for information

Campaign for Accountability for U.S./Israeli War Crimes is building

2006-08-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

August 28, 2006

Join us
Wednesday 6 - 9 pm
United Nations Church Center
777 UN Plaza -
44th St. & 1st Ave, NYC

Momentum for the Campaign for Accountability for U.S./Israeli War Crimes is building. The campaign has received thousands of endorsements from across the globe over the past weeks as the world learns more and more about the horrific crimes committed by the U.S. and Israel in Lebanon and Palestine.

A recently released report from Amnesty International accuses the Israeli Army of deliberately attacking civilian targets -- a crime under international law. Even the U.S. has been forced to respond to global outrage by announcing an "investigation" of Israeli use of cluster bombs against civilians. However, the U.S. has been pressured into conducting several investigations of this sort in previous decades, but this never stopped the flow of arms and military aid to Israel. And it never stopped the brutal crimes against the people of Palestine and Lebanon. The only force that will stop the U.S./Israeli crimes against humanity is a global peoples movement to demand justice.

We need your help to build launch this Campaign for Accountability. In just a few days, we will hold our initial session in New York City's U.N. Church Center. Over the next few months, we plan to assist and organize similar sessions across the U.S.--in schools, community centers, churches and mosques--to expose U.S./Israeli War Crimes. We need your help to do this. Please consider joining us in our initial session on August 30 in NYC. If you are unable to do so, contact us about organizing a local meeting. We also need help with the enormous costs of this campaign--renting meeting spaces, printing literature, producing multimedia presentations, etc. Please consider making a donation to help build this campaign.

A message from Ramsey Clark:

Dear Friends,

On August 30, 2006 the International Action Center will launch a major campaign to require accountability by the United States and Israel for their wars of aggression and assaults on the equal sovereignty of nations, which are crimes against peace, and their war crimes which include excessive force,

AUGUST 30
Wednesday 6 - 9 pm
United Nations Church Center
777 UN Plaza -
44th St. & 1st Ave, NYC

indiscriminate bombing, targeting civilians and civilian facilities and collective punishments of entire populations.

Reparations are required for more than a thousands deaths, many thousands of injures and an estimated $10 billion for destruction of civilian facilities in Lebanon in one month alone; and thousands of deaths and injuries in Palestine since the Oslo Accords, the systematic destruction of the government of Palestine, the kidnapping of half the cabinet and the speaker of the Palestinian Parliament, the assassination of leaders and indiscriminate killing of others, and the destruction of the offices of President Arafat, the Foreign Ministry and civilian facilities throughout Gaza and the West Bank.

If the present ceasefire does not hold, bolder action must be taken. There must be absolute assurance from the U.S. and Israel that they will honor the equal sovereignty of Lebanon, Syria, and Iran and recognize and honor the sovereignty of the State of Palestine, cruelly delayed for 58 years.

Individuals in the U.S. and Israeli governments must be held accountable by prosecution for their criminal acts, and responsible leaders must be removed from office by impeachment in the U.S. and appropriate legal action in Israel.

The new tragedy of Lebanon has brought death to hundreds of civilians, children, women and men. Hundreds of thousands, approaching one-fourth the population of four million, are fugitives from their homes within and outside of their country. Destruction of the infrastructure will require decades to rebuild, if and when peace comes. Rage at Israel and the U.S. dominate all other emotions in Lebanon and throughout the Muslim world. New anger is spreading over every continent.

If the capture of two soldiers, or one in the case of Palestine, justifies assaults against whole nations and peoples, as Israel has done, then there is no law, no alternative to war, no hope for peace. Only a person with a memory no longer than three weeks could believe the capture of three Israeli soldiers began the present violence. Was not cross-border violence between Israel and Lebanon commonplace for decades? Had not Israel kidnapped half the Palestinian cabinet, destroyed its Foreign Ministry offices and other government buildings and engaged in summary executions throughout Palestine, the West Bank and Gaza, since the elections this year of the Hamas majority in the Palestinian parliament? Was there not a continuum of assaults at will against the Palestinian people over decades?

We must ask whether the forced withdrawal of Syrian peacekeepers from Lebanon earlier this year by the U.S., and Israeli political pressure after the murder of former Lebanon Prime Minister Hariri, were the preludes of a plan for Israel to assault Lebanon and reoccupy territories up to the Litani river in Southern Lebanon. While Syrian forces were present in Lebanon, such an assault did not occur.

And we must ask whether the fierce assault on Lebanon and Palestine are the prelude to broader actions against Syria and Iran. President Bush has made it abundantly clear that he would like nothing better than regime change in Iran and Syria and has attempted to lay responsibility for violence in Lebanon and Palestine at their door.

As Iraq descends into uncontrollable sectarian war, President Bush needs new threats to distract the attention of people in the U.S. from what his Shock and Awe policy has brought for Iraq, for us, and for the world. War in Lebanon helps divert attention temporarily and may serve to widen the conflict to include Syria and/or Iran. If not, there are always Cuba, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela and others to act against.

As with Iraq, in Lebanon we have seen a war of aggression, the supreme international crime; an attack on the equal sovereignty of Lebanon, violating the First Principle of the United Nations Charter; excessive force of a major magnitude, with Israeli planes striking a nation defenseless against aerial assaults; indiscriminate bombing; targeting of civilians; and collective punishment, in which everyone in Lebanon suffers.

The future of Palestine remains the central issue for peace in the Middle East. That future is more endangered than at any time since the Oslo Accords. Everyone in Palestine suffers from the violence unleashed on its people by Israel’s renewed Roadmap to War.

President George Bush supports every act of Israel, every strike against Lebanon and Palestine, alone among international heads of government. And Condoleezza Rice congratulates the Prime Minister of Lebanon for his courage while telling him there must be further destruction of his nation and government--an insult to every human being who cares about peace and understands that the world cannot be made safe for hypocrisy.

By permitting President Bush to pursue his policy of domination through threat and lawless force, we risk ever widening international violence.

I hope to see you at the UN Church Center on August 30th . This historic meeting will be the first in a series of national and international mass public gatherings in a Campaign for Accountability for U.S./Israeli war crimes in Palestine and Lebanon. We need your support, participation, and donations.

I hope that you will lend a hand to this campaign as best you can. We must persevere until peace prevails.

Sincerely,
Ramsey Clark

P.S. By making a donation, you will support the August 30th event and the ongoing work of the Campaign of Accountability, including videos and podcasts, international dissemination of testimony given at that event and other information giving the truth about U.S./Israeli war crimes.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Donate: http://www.iacenter.org/acctabilitydonate.shtml

Download Fliers and help get the word out: http://peoplejudgebush.org/files/30aug06Flyer.pdf

Endorse: http://www.peoplejudgebush.org/acctabilityendorse.shtml

U.S. HANDS OFF CUBA!

2006-08-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

August 12, 2006

Join the campaign to say, "Hands Off Cuba!"

U.S. HANDS OFF CUBA!

Please join our campaign to demand U.S. Hands Off Cuba, by signing on to the online message to the Bush Administration on the current declarations make by President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in response to recent developments in Cuba and and sending emails to President Bush, your senators, your congressperson, key congressional leaders and the media telling them you want the U.S. to end its warmongering campaign against Cuba NOW! A copy of the letter and the list of signers will be forwarded to the Instituto Cubano de Amistad con Los Pueblos in Cuba.

Complete the following easy steps:

* Step 1: Go to http://www.iacenter.org/cubacampaign.shtml and enter your contact/signature information
* Step 2: Edit/tailor our sample letter to send
* Step 3: Preview the mail that will be sent and approve the recipients, and
* Step 4: Send the message!

Sample Text

MESSAGE TO THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ON THE CURRENT DECLARATIONS MADE BY PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AND SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZA RICE IN RESPONSE TO RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CUBA

* U.S. HANDS OFF OF CUBA
* RESPECT CUBA'S SOVEREIGNTY
* NO PRETEXT FOR U.S. INTERVENTION
* FREE THE CUBAN 5

When the President of Cuba Fidel Castro had to undergo surgery recently, the U.S. government immediately issued ominous declarations. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and White House Spokesperson Thomas Snow began to talk about “transition” and the need for “democracy” and not another “dictator” in Cuba, all code words meant to lay the basis for a dangerous intervention.

In Florida, the beat of intervention increased as millions of dollars robbed from badly needed social services were instead pumped into T.V. and Radio Marti in order to incite chaos in Cuba. These attempts to provoke instability failed just as they have failed for almost 50 years.

Around the world, thousands of voices including from Nobel Peace Prize winners, leaders of governments, authors, union leaders and others from around the world signed on to a call against U.S. intervention, recognizing the danger for Cuba. (Visit www.porcuba.org to sign on to this international letter.

The voices of solidarity and against intervention must be strong from the U.S.

We, the undersigned who represent community and student organizations, trade unionists, civil rights and peace activists, seniors and every day people in the United States, want the people of Cuba and its leadership to know that President Bush does not speak for us.

We therefore declare the following:

We call on the Bush administration to end the hostilities against Cuba including the end of the blockade.
We demand that Washington respect the right of the Cuban people to determine their own destiny, free of any form of intervention.
We proclaim our support for the Cuban Five political prisoners, who continue to remain unjustly locked up in U.S. prisons for opposing terrorism and defending their people. These brave Cubans have not been allowed to see their families or exercise the most elementary of democratic rights.
We demand the immediate release of the Cuban Five and remind the powers that be that justice delayed is justice denied.
We also wish to send our sincere and deepest wishes to President Fidel Castro for good health and strength and for a speedy recovery.
We want to express our warmest birthday greeting to President Fidel on the occasion of his 80th Birthday, August 13th.

OUR HEART FELT WISHES FOR THE HEALTH AND STRENGTH OF PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO.

Sincerely,
(Your signature will be appended here based on the contact information you enter )

Sign this statement online and send it to Pres. Bush, members of Congress, and the media.

STOP the U.S./Israeli War Against Lebanon and Palestine

2006-08-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

Organizers Meeting

STOP the U.S./Israeli War Against Lebanon and Palestine

Tuesday,
August 1
7:00 pm
IAC
in our new office at
55 West 17th St, 5th Floor
(between 5th & 6th Ave)

As the U.S./Israeli bombs and destruction continues and the crisis continues to grow for Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq we need to come together to plan a major united action this Saturday - August 5. This past Sunday saw yet another brutal war crime, as U.S.-made bombs, dropped by the IDF, killed 54 refugees in Qana, Lebanon, including 37 children.

A World response is developing. There will be emergency demonstrations across the U.S. and around the world on Saturday, August 5th. In NYC we will gather at TIMES SQUARE at 4pm, followed by a march to the offices of G.E., a leading military contractor.

So on TUESDAY at 7:pm please attend an Organizers Meeting to be part of the plans. We need the broadest possible unity.

The Meeting will be at the NEW IAC Office - 55 West 17th St, 5th Floor (between 5th & 6th Ave)

For more information, call 212.633.6646

Legal Update and Latest Brief on Mumia from Attorney Robert Bryan

2006-07-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

Legal Update and Latest Brief on Mumia from Attorney Robert Bryan

Dear Friends:

On July 20, 2006 we filed the Brief of Appellee and Cross Appellant, Mumia Abu-Jamal, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia. (Abu-Jamal v. Horn, U.S. Ct. of Appeals Nos. 01-9014, 02-9001.) This brief is of great significance concerning my client's right to a fair trial, due process of law, not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, and equal protection of the law, guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The issues the court is hearing are:

Claim 14 Whether Mr. Abu-Jamal was denied the right to due process of law and a fair trial because of the prosecutor's “appeal-after-appeal” argument which encouraged the jury to disregard the presumption of innocence and reasonable doubt, and err on the side of guilt.

Claim 16 Whether the prosecution's exclusion of African Americans from sitting on the jury violated Mr. Abu-Jamal's rights to due process and equal protection of the law , and contravened Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986).

Claim 25 Whether the verdict form and jury instructions that resulted in the death penalty deprived Mr. Abu-Jamal of the right to due process of law, equal protection of the law, and not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, and violated Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367 (1988), since the judge precluded the jurors from considering any mitigating evidence unless they all agreed on the existence of a particular circumstance.

Claim 29 Whether Mr. Abu-Jamal was denied due process and equal protection of the law during post-conviction hearings as the result of the bias and racism of Judge Albert F. Sabo which included the comment that he was “going to help'em fry the nigger."

The National Lawyers Guild, and, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., will be filing separate amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in the near future. This should strengthen our quest to see justice done.

It is a is a remarkable accomplishment that the court is hearing issues that go to the very essence of Mr. Abu-Jamal's right to a fair trial. This is the first time that any court has made a ruling that could lead to a new trial and freedom. Nevertheless, he remains on Pennsylvania's death row and in great danger.

Mr. Abu-Jamal, the "voice of the voiceless," is a powerful symbol in the international campaign against the death penalty and for human rights. The goal of Professor Judith L. Ritter, associate counsel, and I is to see that the many wrongs which have occurred in this case are righted and that this brave man is freed.

Your support and concern is appreciated

With best wishes,

Robert R. Bryan

PS To download the brief, which is 124 pages, go to www.iacenter.org or www.millions4mumia.org

Darfur: an open discussion on intervention, regime change & the politics of genocide

2006-07-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Special Coverage - Audio and Photos

Darfur: an open discussion on intervention, regime change & the politics of genocide

On Thursday, July 7th, about 80 people gathered at Smith College for this open forum on Darfur.

Following on the recent "Witnessing Darfur" fundraising event, where different points of view were not presented, panelists offered diverse and challenging perspectives on the crises, exploring the many ethical, moral and political questions behind popular calls for 'humanitarian' intervention and regime change in Sudan.

Panelists:
• Sara Flounders, Co-Director of the International Action Center, NYC, who traveled to Sudan on a fact-finding mission after the bombing of the El Shifa pharmaceutical plant in 1998;
• Dr. Elliot Fratkin, Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at Smith College and co-director of Smith's African Studies Program;
• keith harmon snow, independent photojournalist, and human rights and genocide investigator in Africa, with Genocide Watch and Survivor's Rights International in 2004, and the United Nations in 2005;
• Dimitri Oram, writer & researcher on war crimes and the politics of genocide;
• Dr. Enoch Page, Associate Professor of Anthropology at UMass, expert on race theory and the anthropology of genocide.

Hear each speaker - see link to audio below photo. All audio downloads are mp3 files with a bit rate of 64 kbps mono. Audio may be downloaded for radio airplay with notice to Traprock Peace Center and attribution to panelists and program sponsors, and to Traprock Peace Center as producer of the audio program.

Hear the panelists (mp3 files, except as indicated):

Sara Flounders - 19:38 minutes; 9 MB download

Dr. Elliot Fratkin - 16:24 minutes; 7.6 MB - Dr. Fratkin's prepared remarks (doc)

Keith Harmon Snow (presenting a slide show) - 17:38 minutes; 8.1 MB

Dimitri Oram - 16:57 minutes; 7.8 mb

Enoch Page - 17:10 minutes; 7.9 MB

Panel's response to questions - 26:20 minutes; 12.1 MB

Program introduction by Doug Wight - 4:40 minutes; 2.2 MB

Hour long edited version - 59:59; 27.4 MB - (recorded and edited by Ed Russell of Active Ingredients Media)

About 80 people filled the room at Smith College (more of the audience was seated to the right and rear of this section.)

For more information, visit:
http://www.allthingspass.com
http://www.iacenter.org
http://www.traprockpeace.org

Sponsored by:
The International Action Center of Western MA, The Northampton
Committee to Stop the War In Iraq, Traprock Peace Center and
Touchstone Farm & Yoga Center

Qana Massacre: Made in the U.S.A.

2006-07-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

No Justice - No Peace
U.S. Out of the Middle East!

August 5

Support the Palestinian and Lebanese Peoples' Right to Resist!
End the Occupation of IRAQ, PALESTINE and LEBANON
Support the Palestinian People's Right to Return
U.S./Israeli Troops Out Now
No More Fighting and Dying for Oil Profits
STOP U.S. Aid to Israel

DONATE to help with organizing expenses

In the past few days, the horrific crimes committed against the people of Lebanon and Palestine by the U.S.-backed Israeli regime have inspired outrage and protest across the globe. What has become clear to many watching the criminal invasion of Lebanon and the ongoing brutality against the people of Palestine is the role of the U.S. as the initiator, supplier, and funder of Israel's crimes.

The Qana Massacre: Made in the U.S.

-Ever since Israel launched its criminal attack against the people of Lebanon, the U.S. government has been rushing shipments of precision missiles to Israel--the same sort of weapons that were used against Qana.

-From 2001-2005, Israel received $10.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing -- the Pentagon's biggest military aid program -- and $6.3 billion in U.S. arms deliveries

-The U.S. has resisted and blocked every call for a ceasefire in order to allow the Israeli Defense Forces time to complete its campaign of terror against the people of Lebanon.

There would be no occupation, no bombs dropping on Lebanese and Palestinian children, no tanks destroying homes, no artillery to rain destruction on hospitals without billions of dollars each year that the U.S. government gives to the Israeli government. Since 1949 the U.S. has given Israel a total of $84,854,827,200. We must expose, challenge, and struggle to end the U.S. support for Israel's crimes.

Immediately after the criminal invasion of Lebanon, the International Action Center issued a call to action for August 5, under the slogan, "No justice, no peace--U.S. Out of the Middle East!" Across the U.S., activists are organizing pickets, protests, teach-ins, informational leafleting, and public forums, all directed against the U.S. role in the crimes of war and occupation. Now, more than 200 organizations worldwide have signed on to the call, and protests will take place across the globe, from London to Cairo to Tel Aviv and throughout Latin America.

It is not enough to just say "Bring the troops home from Iraq." We must challenge the Empire everywhere that it is attempting to carve up and recolonize the area, from Afghanistan to Iran to the West Bank. We can no longer look at these struggles as isolated crises--we must unite on the streets to say "U.S. Out of the Middle East!"

Next Step: August 12, Washington DC

Join us this weekend on the streets for emergency international protests. Then, join us for the next step, the August 12th National March on Washington, called by the National Council of Arab Americans, the Answer Coalition, and the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation. Contact us at 212-633-6646 for buses from New York to Washington.

Read Call Endorse List Activity Download Flyer Donate

No Justice, No Peace- U.S. OUT of the Middle East

2006-07-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

Make the Weekend of August 5th National Days of Actions to Say:

No Justice, No Peace- U.S. OUT of the Middle East

Over the weekend of Saturday, August 5th, the International Action Center is proposing that activists across the country organize demonstrations, teach-ins and other events around the theme: “No Justice, No Peace, U.S. Out of the Middle East.”

Stand with the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance

End the Occupation of Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon

Support the Palestinian People's Right to Return

U.S./Israeli Troops Out Now

No More Fighting and Dying for Oil Profits

STOP U.S. Aid to Israel

The expansion of U.S.-backed Israeli aggression in the Middle East and the widespread campaign of demonization against Hezbollah and Hamas, the movements of national resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, makes it urgent for those of us opposed to war and injustice to clarify for the people of the U.S. the reality--that the problems of the Middle East are not rooted in a struggle between religions, but in the drive by greedy imperialist policymakers in the U.S., like Bush and his super rich friends, to dominate, colonize, exploit and rob the natural resources (especially oil) of the people of the Middle East.
We must explain that the obstacles to peace in the Middle East are not Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria or Iran, but the U.S. government and its client, the Israeli settler state.

Republicans and Democrats alike have united to back the expansionist Israeli war against Palestine and Lebanon, a war that is really an extension of the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq. The Bush administration has given the Zionist rulers in Tel Aviv the green light to wage all-out war in Lebanon and Palestine, with full diplomatic, political and military support of Washington. Israeli soldiers and bomber pilots may be doing the killing in Lebanon, but this is fundamentally a U.S. war, and the Israeli army is a criminal surrogate for the Pentagon. Furthermore, Bush and Co. are dangerously laying the basis for a wider war against Syria and Iran and are ready to crush--by war, shock and awe, torture, mass murder, repression and terror--the dreams of the masses of the Middle East for self-determination and freedom from occupation and colonialism.

Together, we must intensify the struggle to get U.S. imperialism out of the Middle East and to free the thousands of Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi prisoners held in U.S. and Israeli jails, because this would serve the cause of peace and justice in that region and worldwide. We join with all the peace-loving people and organizations that are organizing locally, nationally and internationally around this struggle. Along with all the other important protests, we encourage everyone to make the weekend of August 5th days of action around the theme “No Justice, No Peace: U.S. Out of the Middle East.” We must support all local and emergency actions against this criminal war, along with the August 12 mobilization in Washington, D.C.

In organizing around the issue of justice and peace in the Middle East, we encourage activists to make the connections to other struggles. The racist nature of the U.S. war in the Middle East is part of the same racism behind the treatment of the primarily African American victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and the racism behind the attacks on immigrant rights.

Now, more than ever, it’s vitally necessary for all of us in the U.S. who genuinely believe in peace and justice--whether we be Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Atheist, Black, Latin@, Native, Arab, Asian or White--to fully embrace the Palestinian freedom struggle and to forge new bonds of solidarity with all the peoples of the Middle East, so that all the world will know that Bush’s war is not our war. No justice no peace- U.S. out of the Middle East!

Please endorse the August 5th weekend of actions and plan local actions focusing on the U.S. role in the Middle East and full solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

What you can do:

Endorse - http://iacenter.org/aug5endorse.shtml

List your local ativity - http://www.iacenter.org/aug5endorsede.shtml

Download flyers and help get the word out - http://iacenter.org/aug5flyer.pdf

Donate - http://www.iacenter.org/iacdonate.shtmlMake the Weekend of August 5th National Days of Actions to Say:

No Justice, No Peace- U.S. OUT of the Middle East

Over the weekend of Saturday, August 5th, the International Action Center is proposing that activists across the country organize demonstrations, teach-ins and other events around the theme: “No Justice, No Peace, U.S. Out of the Middle East.”

Stand with the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance

End the Occupation of Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon

Support the Palestinian People's Right to Return

U.S./Israeli Troops Out Now

No More Fighting and Dying for Oil Profits

STOP U.S. Aid to Israel

The expansion of U.S.-backed Israeli aggression in the Middle East and the widespread campaign of demonization against Hezbollah and Hamas, the movements of national resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, makes it urgent for those of us opposed to war and injustice to clarify for the people of the U.S. the reality--that the problems of the Middle East are not rooted in a struggle between religions, but in the drive by greedy imperialist policymakers in the U.S., like Bush and his super rich friends, to dominate, colonize, exploit and rob the natural resources (especially oil) of the people of the Middle East.
We must explain that the obstacles to peace in the Middle East are not Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria or Iran, but the U.S. government and its client, the Israeli settler state.

Republicans and Democrats alike have united to back the expansionist Israeli war against Palestine and Lebanon, a war that is really an extension of the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq. The Bush administration has given the Zionist rulers in Tel Aviv the green light to wage all-out war in Lebanon and Palestine, with full diplomatic, political and military support of Washington. Israeli soldiers and bomber pilots may be doing the killing in Lebanon, but this is fundamentally a U.S. war, and the Israeli army is a criminal surrogate for the Pentagon. Furthermore, Bush and Co. are dangerously laying the basis for a wider war against Syria and Iran and are ready to crush--by war, shock and awe, torture, mass murder, repression and terror--the dreams of the masses of the Middle East for self-determination and freedom from occupation and colonialism.

Together, we must intensify the struggle to get U.S. imperialism out of the Middle East and to free the thousands of Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi prisoners held in U.S. and Israeli jails, because this would serve the cause of peace and justice in that region and worldwide. We join with all the peace-loving people and organizations that are organizing locally, nationally and internationally around this struggle. Along with all the other important protests, we encourage everyone to make the weekend of August 5th days of action around the theme “No Justice, No Peace: U.S. Out of the Middle East.” We must support all local and emergency actions against this criminal war, along with the August 12 mobilization in Washington, D.C.

In organizing around the issue of justice and peace in the Middle East, we encourage activists to make the connections to other struggles. The racist nature of the U.S. war in the Middle East is part of the same racism behind the treatment of the primarily African American victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and the racism behind the attacks on immigrant rights.

Now, more than ever, it’s vitally necessary for all of us in the U.S. who genuinely believe in peace and justice--whether we be Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Atheist, Black, Latin@, Native, Arab, Asian or White--to fully embrace the Palestinian freedom struggle and to forge new bonds of solidarity with all the peoples of the Middle East, so that all the world will know that Bush’s war is not our war. No justice no peace- U.S. out of the Middle East!

Please endorse the August 5th weekend of actions and plan local actions focusing on the U.S. role in the Middle East and full solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

What you can do:

Endorse - http://iacenter.org/aug5endorse.shtml

List your local ativity - http://www.iacenter.org/aug5endorsede.shtml

Download flyers and help get the word out - http://iacenter.org/aug5flyer.pdf

Donate - http://www.iacenter.org/iacdonate.shtml

Protest Israeli Massacres Of Palestinians

2006-06-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

June 16 - Emergency National Action- Protest Israeli Massacres Of Palestinians
6:00pm at Union Square Park South

4 DAYS, 6 ATTACKS, 18 PALESTINIANS SLAUGHTERED, SCORES INJURED...THIS IS ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL.......

(see below for details of the murders)

Force it into the headlines, call your local media, complain, inform and demand coverage...

Rally in anger, in memory, in support of the Palestinian struggle to survive.........

Friends and supporters of Justice in Palestine: join Chicago, New York, Toronto, Montreal, San Francisco, Boston, and dozens of other cities in North America, calling for a Day of Action in solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle against the Genocidal Apartheid Israeli State.

WHEN: Friday, June 16th, 2006, at 5:00 PM.
WHERE: Union Square South

**PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY**

EMERGENCY RESPONSE:
PROTEST ISRAEL'S MURDER OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS!
END THE SIEGE ON PALESTINE!
RESPOND TO HODA CRIES FOR JUSTICE!

11 Palestinians, Including a Man, His Two Children and Two paramedics, Killed and 30 Others Wounded in an IOF Air Strike on a Civilian Car in Gaza

On Tuesday noon, 13 June 2006, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) committed a new extra-judicial execution in Gaza City, which killed 11 Palestinians, including 9 civilian bystanders. A man, his two children and two paramedics were among the victims. The targeted person in this attack was a member of the Islamic Jihad. Investigations conducted by PCHR indicate that IOF aircrafts launched a missile at dozens of civilians, including paramedics, who gathered near a civilian car shortly after IOF aircrafts attacked it, targeting a member of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad. Thus, the number of extra-judicial executions committed by IOF in the past 4 days has mounted to 6, which have killed 18 Palestinians and have wounded at least 40 others. This latest attack and other similar attacks have come as an implementation of a series of decisions taken by the Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz to escalate extra-judicial executions against Palestinian militants to stop launching locally made rockets at Israeli towns. Peretz has been also considering intensifying military operations in the Gaza Strip, whose victims are often unarmed civilians.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 11:45 on Tuesday, 13 June 2006, an IOF aircraft launched one missile at a civilian vehicle (Voks Wagen) that was traveling near Martyr Mohammed al-Durra Hospital in al-Tuffah neighborhood in the northeast of Gaza City. Two members of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, were traveling in the car. The missile directly hit the car, killing the two members of the al-Quds Brigades: Hammouda al-Wadiya; and Shawqi al-Saiqali. Palestinian civilians living in the area gathered around the car and two paramedics from the nearby hospital came to provide first medical aid. Immediately, IOF aircrafts launched another missile at the car, killing 10 civilians, including a man, his two children and the two paramedics:

1. Hussam Hamad, a paramedic;
2. 'Adnan Daoud Taleb, 35;
3. Ashraf Farouq al-Mughrabi;
4. Hisham Ashraf al-Mughrabi, 7;
5. Maher Ashraf al-Mughrabi;
6. 'Ali al-'Omari;
7. Ibrahim al-Da'lees;
8. Rafeeq al-Mubayed; and
9. Mousa Nasrallah.

In addition, at least 30 other civilians, including a number of children, were wounded; the wounds of 12 of them have been described by medical sources as serious.

PCHR strongly condemns this latest attack. PCHR is gravely concerned over the Israeli escalation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). PCHR asserts that such crimes serve to escalate tension in the region and threaten the lives of Palestinians. PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to stop such crimes, and reiterates its calls for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to meet their obligations to ensure protection for Palestinian civilians in the OPT.

On Friday evening, June 9th, 2006, at least seven Palestinian civilians were killed when Israel Navy gunboats firing artillery shells hit a beach in the northern Gaza Strip. Some 40 others were wounded. Among the dead were three children, three women and one man. Many of those wounded in the attack were also children, Palestinian sources said. Hoda came back to the beach to find her family murdered in cold blood by Israeli bombing.

This horrifying escalation of violations by the Israeli occupation forces, coupled with the prolonged humanitarian crisis that the Palestinian people are already enduring, is fueling rising tensions and instability on the ground. As the European and U.S. governments demand the freezing of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine, Israel has continued its military attacks against the Palestinians, arresting hundreds more civilians, destroying countless homes and property, expanding its illegal settlements and its Apartheid Wall, and imposing more than five hundred checkpoints and roadblocks throughout the territories, including in and around East Jerusalem, seriously restricting freedom of movement and suffocating the economic and social life of the Palestinian people.

In the past week, Israeli forces have launched missile air strikes against "targets" in densely populated civilian areas of the occupied Palestinian territories, directly intended to kill Palestinian civilians, a policy of extra-judicial executions that has continued unabated even though the democratically-elected Hamas-led Palestinian government, and the vast majority of resistance organizations, have complied with a self-imposed, unilateral truce against the Israelis for over a year.

On June 5th, Israel launched an air strike against a car in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, killing Mr. Imad Mohammad Assaliya and Mr. Majdi Tayseer Hammad, and wounding three other people. And on June 7th, the occupation forces, using artillery bombardment, attacked a national security post east of Gaza City, killing four Palestinian men.

Moreover, Israeli continues to raid Palestinian cities and villages, carrying out military and arrest operations. On May 31st, Israeli soldiers stormed the Balata refugee camp east of the city of Nablus, shooting and wounding two Palestinian children in an "operation" to arrest six other Palestinians in the camp, including two women. A series of arrests have also been carried out in the Qalqilya, Jenin, Al-Khalil (Hebron), Bethlehem and Ramallah areas, typically with no information given to the families of those detained as to their whereabouts or conditions. Israel's army also continues to restrict the movement of ambulances treating wounded or sick civilians, and has even fired upon ambulances during the recent period, including the shooting at one, which was carrying a woman in labor, on May 27th, destroying the vehicle's engine, terrorizing the woman, and delaying her arrival at the hospital.

END THE SIEGE ON PALESTINE NOW!
END ISRAELI OCCUPATION NOW!

STOP THE KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES!

2006-06-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

STOP THE KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES!
Filipino & US Human Rights Advocates Speak Out
Against US-Arroyo Death Squads in the Philippines

Date & Time: Wednesday, June 14th, 4pm
Where: In front of Philippine Consulate in Manhattan, located on 5th Avenue between 45th and 46th streets

Background:

In 2001, Gloria MAcapagal-Arroyo, an unelected president, arose to power in the Philippines.

By 2002, Arroyo became the first Asian leader to fully-embrace the so-called War on Terror, and secured a blood military compact with the US government to bring thousands of US troops back to the Philippines under the auspices of anti-terrorist measures--- to train Philippine troops.

While no single known-terrorist has been caught, instead over 680 Filipino people's leaders, all active in the movement against intensified US intervention and US puppetry have been assassinated under the US-Arroyo regime.

To date, US troops in the Philippines outnumber the number of troops that were once stationed in the US bases in Olongapo before they were ousted by the people's movement in 1992.

To date, Arroyo has used US tax dollars, weaponry, and troops to reinstate Marcosian Martial Law back to the Philippines.

Over 80 Filipino critics of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime have been assassinated by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants since January 2006 alone. All victims are members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), or BAYAN-allied party-lists. BAYAN has played an integral role in the current popular people's movement for an Arroyo ouster.

But this rise in death squad hits attack not only activists and party-list representatives, but priests, trade unionists, journalists. students, and youth as well.

The killings have recently caught the attention of Amnesty International, who put an report earlier in April.

Join us as BAYAN representatives in the US and US-based human rights advocates unite to speak out against the systematic killings, the Arroyo regime's role, and return of Martial Law.

Haditha: a call to action

2006-06-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

My Lai, Vietnam, 1968. Haditha, Iraq, 2005

Say No to U.S. War Crimes!

The Troops Out Now Coalition calls on all youth and rank and file GI’s to…

RESIST! Don’t Enlist! Don’t Go!

Don’t fight, die, or massacre for big oil!

Our fight is at home against poverty, war and racism!

My Lai, Vietnam, 1968. Haditha, Iraq, 2005. Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush hate it when anyone mentions these two events—these two war crimes—in the same breath. All the more reason to examine them closely, to see that they have the same basis that they spell out the same lesson.

Thirteen-year-old Safa Yunis was the family’s only survivor. She says U.S. Marines slaughtered her father and mother, Khafif and Aeda Yasin Ahmed, her four sisters aged 14, 10, 5 and 3, her 8-year-old brother, and a 1-year-old girl staying with the family. Neighbors said the family members were shot at close range or killed by grenades. The children died screaming. Safa survived because she was covered in her mother’s blood when she fell to the floor. The Marines thought she was dead.

Pentagon officers are expected to announce a judgment on the Haditha war crime. Will they call it murder? Will they instead excuse the young Marines who killed the Iraqi children, women and men that day last November? What they won’t do is put the blame where it belongs first of all: on those who conspired to invade Iraq, on those who lied to justify this conspiracy, on those who put U.S. young men and women in the horrible position where they kill babies. For if there were really justice not only the Marines would be put on trial but Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and their whole gang who sent these Marines to kill for power, for “strategic interests”, for oil profits.

What is the lesson of My Lai and of Haditha? It’s that when an occupation army is ordered to suppress a resistance movement (in Iraq this is called the “insurgency”) that has popular support, then it commits war crimes. The young Marines know that all the Iraqis hate them, including the civilians, including the children. So when they attack, they kill civilians. They kill children. When this is done with bombs from airplanes, it is called “collateral damage” in Pentagon newspeak.

It is ridiculous to think that a “refresher course” in military ethics will change the situation. The Marines are ordered to go in and win a battle. Rep. John Murtha saw this happen in Vietnam and has exposed this latest war crime in Haditha. But we have to go further than Murtha in our conclusions from these facts. There is no longer a way to hide the criminal nature of the war. It is out there before the world. And there are very few “ethical” or honorable choices before the young Marines, soldiers and other U.S. combat troops if they want to avoid being war criminals. Their only choice is to refuse to take part in these military operations in Iraq. This is a heroic choice but it is also the only honorable choice. And it is up to the anti-war movement to give every support possible to those who refuse.

The movement should bring this same message to recruiting offices around the country. Appeal to the youths to refuse to sign up for the Marines, the Navy, the Air Force, the Army and the National Guard. Otherwise they may be placed in the position of being war criminals. Not signing up is an easier choice than refusing to fight once in Iraq, but it is still a sacrifice to those without jobs or future in civilian life. So the anti-war movement should also be dedicated to fighting for jobs for all and for education for all.

Organize Emergency Protests at Recruiting Centers…

In New York City…Fri., June 9^th, 5 P.M.- 6 P.M. at the Chambers St. Recruiting Station (address & subway info)

For more information contact the Troops Out Now Coalition at 212-633-6646 or www.troopsoutnow.org

STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF LEBANON AND PALESTINE

2006-06-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF LEBANON AND PALESTINE
AGAINST U.S.-ISRAELI TERROR AND WAR CRIMES

Wednesday, July 26 Friday, July 28

6:00 P.M. 3:30 to 6:30 P.M.
Union Sq. South Israeli government offices
14 Street and Broadway 801 Second Avenue (42 and 43 Sts.)
Called by the Arab Community of Brooklyn

With the full backing of the U.S. government, Israel continues to unleash its U.S. funded military might on the civilian and refugee populations of Lebanon and Palestine. Israel has killed hundreds, wounded thousands and displaced over half a million people, while intentionally targeting the infrastructure of Lebanon and Gaza with missiles and bombs. With their propaganda, the U.S. and Israel also demonize Iran and Syria, in a bloodthirsty attempt to expand their war crimes further throughout the region. All the while the U.S. continues to occupy Iraq. The onslaught against the Arab world expands and continues, and we stand up to say no more!

Join Al-Awda New York on Wednesday, July 26th at 6:00 p.m. in Union Square at 14th St. to rally against the war crimes in Palestine and Lebanon!

Stop the War on Lebanon and Palestine!!

Freedom for All Arab Political Prisoners in Zionist and U.S. Jails!!
End US Aid to Israel Now!!
The People of Palestine Have the Right to Return!!

Download and distribute flyers:

http://www.al-awdany.org/flyers/20060726/Awda_UnionSq726Arabic.pdf
http://www.al-awdany.org/flyers/20060726/Awda_UnionSq726Arabic.jpg
http://www.al-awdany.org/flyers/20060726/Awda_UnionSq726.pdf

Join Awda NY and other Arab and community organizations again on Friday, July 28th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 at the Zionist Consulate at 42nd St. and 2nd Ave.

STOP U.S. Aggression Against Venezuela

2006-06-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

STOP U.S. Aggression Against Venezuela

Sign the petition online:
English: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgn.shtml
Spanish: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgnsp.shtml

Donate to help with organizing expenses. http://iacenter.org/iacdonate.shtml

[go to petition in Spanish]

International Action Center
Founded by Ramsey Clark
5C - Solidarity Center
55 West 17th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
212-633-6646
iacenter@action-mail.org
ww.IACenter.org

The United States government and its corporate media's belligerent campaign against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and its leaders must cease at once. Several incidents that occurred during the session of the United Nations in New York City clearly expose the campaign's escalation.

On Saturday, September 23, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, who was part of the delegation from Venezuela attending the UN meetings, was detained for 90 minutes in the JFK International Airport as he was ready to board a plane to return to his homeland. Charging that a code in his airplane ticket identified him as "almost a terrorist," U.S. authorities held him. Mr. Maduro told CNN that he was confined to a small room and told to remove his clothes; he added that when he showed his diplomatic passport, the harassment increased. Then he was threatened, pushed and yelled at by immigration and police officials. He was also stripped of his travel documents.

Venezuelan General Consul in Chicago Martin Sanchez was also searched at LaGuardia airport. "After passing the X-ray control, they told me to open my bags. I showed them my diplomatic card, but they insisted on searching my hand baggage, because they thought it might contain a banned object. I wasn't able to board my flight and had to wait three more hours for another plane."

President Hugo Chavez' personal physician and his chief of security had to remain aboard the plane that brought the delegation to the UN event since their visas were denied, therefore their legal entrance to the country was forbidden.

These incidents are clear violations of international law, the Vienna Convention and the obligation of the U.S. government, as the U.S. is the site where the headquarters of the UN is located.

The UN is supposed to be a neutral place where nations can debate in a safe environment, without external interference. The U.S. government has the obligation to protect and safeguard that environment and all the heads of state, representatives, diplomats and accompanying staff. The U.S. has failed to do this in this case.

This unreasonable hostility from the George W. Bush administration towards the Venezuelan leaders only validates the name "devil" by which President Chavez referred to U.S. President Bush during the Venezuelan president's address in the UN.

The U.S. media and even some personalities have shown their hypocrisy by attacking President Chavez for using that word. But actions speak louder than words. Those personalities and the media circus gave little thought or consideration to the countless victims, among them many children and civilians, of Bush's military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon in the name of "democracy": the destruction of infrastructure, the loss of thousands of lives, the contamination of the world environment, the destabilization of the world through the "antiterrorist" military campaign and threats to countries like Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela. They forget the crimes perpetrated against the victims of Katrina, many of who are still without housing or resources to rebuild their lives. Is it not reasonable that many would view the head of this administration as the personification of evil? It is time to face the danger that the United States represents here and abroad in order to stop the destruction that otherwise will occur.

Signed,
Ramsey Clark

Teresa Gutierrez & Sara Flounders,
Co-Directors IAC

Chris Silvera, Chair
National Teamsters Black Caucus
Sec/Treas. Teamsters Local 808

James Petras
Writer, Professor

Peter Coyote
Actor

Dr. James D. Cockcroft
Writer, Professor

Padre Luis Barrios, PhD
Iglesia San Romero de Las Américas

Judy Wicks Founder/President White Dog Enterprises, Inc.

Charles Barron
NYC Councilmember

Felipe C. Teixeira
Most Reverend OFSJC Bishop
Northeastern Diocese
St Francis of Assisi, CCA

Frantz Mendes, President
USW Local 8751
Boston School Bus Drivers

Leslie Feinberg,
Writer, co-chair LGBT Caucus, National Writers Union/UAW

David Sole,
President UAW Local 2334, Detroit

Berta Joubert-Ceci, MD
Physician

Dorotea Manuela and Tony Vandermeer
Co-Chairs, Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee

Larry Holmes
Troops Out Now Coalition

Pepe Abola, ROSA 7053, Youth Group of Boston Rosa Parks Committee

LeiLani Dowell
Fight Imperialism Stand Together - FIST

Sue Harris
People's Video Network

Ardeshir Ommani
Stop War On Iran
Iranian American Friendship Committee

John Parker
LeftBooks

Jesse Lokahi Heiwa
Asia Pacific Action

Women's Fightback Network

Steve Gillis, Vice-President
USW Local 8751
Boston School Bus Drivers

Susan E. Davis, Delegate
National Writers Union
UAW Local 1981

Sign the petition online: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgn.shtml

Donate to help with organizing expenses. http://iacenter.org/iacdonate.shtml

------------------------------------------------------------------------

International Action Center / Centro de Acción Internacional
Founded by / Fundado por Ramsey Clark
5C - Solidarity Center - 55 West 17th Street -
New York, N.Y. 10011
212-633-6646 -
iacenter@action-mail.org;
En Español: IAC-CAI@action-mail.org
www.IACenter.org

Miércoles, 27 de septiembre de 2006

La campaña beligerante del gobierno de los Estados Unidos y sus medios de comunicación corporativos contra la república Bolivariana de Venezuela y sus líderes debe cesar inmediatamente. Varios incidentes que ocurrieron durante la sesión de los Naciones Unidas en la ciudad de Nueva York exponen claramente el escalamiento de la campaña.

El sábado 23 de septiembre, el Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores venezolano Nicolás Maduro, quien formaba parte de la delegación de Venezuela que asistía a las reuniones de la ONU, fue detenido por 90 minutos en el aeropuerto internacional de JFK cuando estaba listo para subir a un avión para regresar a su patria. Aduciendo que un código en su billete de avión lo identificaba como "casi terrorista," las autoridades estadounidenses lo detuvieron. El Sr. Maduro dijo a CNN en Español que lo condujeron a un cuarto pequeño y le dijeron que se quitara sus ropas; él agregó que cuando él mostró su pasaporte diplomático, el hostigamiento creció. Entonces los funcionarios de inmigración y la policía lo amenazaron, empujándole y gritándole. También lo despojaron de sus documentos de viaje.

El cónsul general venezolano en Chicago, Martín Sánchez también fue registrado en el aeropuerto de La Guardia. "Después de pasar el control de rayos X, me dijeron que abriera mis maletas. Les mostré mis papeles de diplomático, pero insistieron en buscar en mi maletín de mano, porque pensaron que contenía un objeto prohibido. No pude abordar mi vuelo y tuve que esperar tres horas más por otro avión."

El médico personal del presidente Hugo Chávez y su jefe de seguridad tuvieron que permanecer a bordo del avión que trajo a la delegación al evento de la ONU puesto que sus visas fueron negadas, prohibiéndose de esta manera su entrada legal al país.

Estos incidentes son crasas violaciones al derecho internacional, a la Convención de Viena y a la obligación que tiene el gobierno de los EEUU, al ser el país donde se encuentra la sede de la ONU.

La ONU se supone que sea un lugar neutral en donde las naciones pueden discutir en un ambiente seguro, sin interferencia externa. El gobierno de los EEUU tiene la obligación de proteger y salvaguardar ese ambiente y a todos los jefes de estado, representantes, diplomáticos y personal acompañante. EEUU no ha cumplido con sus obligaciones en este caso.

Esta irracional hostilidad por parte de la administración de George W Bush hacia los líderes venezolanos simplemente valida el nombre de "diablo" que el presidente Chávez usó al referirse al presidente Bush durante su alocución en la ONU.

Los medios estadounidenses e incluso algunas personalidades han demostrado su hipocresía atacando al presidente Chávez por usar esa palabra. Pero las acciones hablan más fuertemente que las palabras. Esas personalidades y el circo de los medios poco pensaron o consideraron a las innumerables víctimas, entre ellas muchos niños y civiles, víctimas de las intervenciones militares de Bush en Irak, Afganistán y el Líbano en nombre de la "democracia": la destrucción de la infraestructura, la pérdida de millares de vidas, la contaminación ambiental mundial, la desestabilización del mundo con la campaña militar "antiterrorista" y las amenazas para los países como Irán, Siria, Sudán, Corea del norte, Cuba y Venezuela. Se olvidan de los crímenes perpetrados contra las víctimas de Katrina, muchas de las cuales están aún sin hogar o sin los recursos para reconstruir sus vidas. ¿No es razonable entonces que muchos vean la cabeza de esta administración como la personificación del mal?

Es hora de hacer frente al peligro que Estados Unidos representa tanto aquí como en el exterior para así poder detener la destrucción que de otro modo ocurriría.

Firmado,

Ramsey Clark

Teresa Gutierrez & Sara Flounders,
Codirectoras IAC-CAI

Chris Silvera, Director
Caucus Negro Nacional de los Teamsters
Sec/Tesorero Teamsters Local 808

James Petras
Escritor, Profesor

Peter Coyote
Actor

Dr. James D. Cockcroft
Escritor, Profesor

Padre Luis Barrios, PhD
Iglesia San Romero de Las Américas

Judy Wicks
Fundadora/Presidenta
Empresas White Dog, Inc.

Charles Barron
Concejal NYC

Felipe C. Teixeira
Obispo Muy Reverendo OFSJC
Diócesis del Noreste
San Francisco de Asís, CCA

Ardeshir Ommani
Alto a la Guerra Contra Irán
Comité de Amistad Americana-Iraní

John Parker
LeftBooks

Jesse Lokahi Heiwa
Asia Pacific Action

Women's Fightback Network

Frantz Mendes, President
USW Local 8751
Unión Conductores Buses Escolares

Leslie Feinberg,
Escritor, codirector Caucus LGBT,
Unión Nacional de Escritores/UAW

David Sole,
Presidente UAW Local 2334, Detroit

Dra. Berta Joubert-Ceci
Médico

Dorotea Manuela y Tony Vandermeer
Codirectores, Comité Día DDHH/ Rosa Parks de Boston

Larry Holmes
Coalición Tropas Fuera Ya

Pepe Abola, ROSA 7053,
Grupo de Jóvenes del
Comité Día DDHH/ Rosa Parks de Boston

LeiLani Dowell
Combatamos el Imperialismo, Unámonos -- FIST

Sue Harris
Red Popular de Video

Ardeshir Ommani
Stop War On Iran
Iranian American Friendship Committee

John Parker
LeftBooks

Jesse Lakahi Hiawa
Asia Pacific Action

Steve Gillis, Vice-President
USW Local 8751
Boston School Bus Drivers

Susan E. Davis, Delegate
National Writers Union
UAW Local 1981

Sign the petition online:
Spanish: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgnsp.shtml

Donate to help with organizing expenses.
http://iacenter.org/iacdonate.shtml

Tell Bush, Cheney, and Congress: U.S. HANDS OFF KOREA! Online petition

2006-04-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

http://iacenter.org/koreacampaign.shtml

The U.S. has an interest in a civil war in Iraq and the murder of Iraqi leaders

2006-04-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

The U.S. has an interest in a civil war in Iraq and the murder of Iraqi leaders

John Catalinotto of the IAC made this address to the Seminar in Madrid, April 22, 2006, on the assassinations of intellectuals, academics and medical professionals in Iraq.

In the name of the International Action Center of the United States and of former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, I would like to thank the other sponsoring organizations, the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), the Escuela Julián Besteiro and the National Library, and salute the international guests, especially the representatives of the Iraqi people and also the peoples of the Spanish state who have given us an opportunity to participate part in today’s seminar.

Three years ago today, on May 1, 2003, U.S. President George Bush made his famous landing on the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln in a secret flight and sent his congratulations to the sailors and pilots while standing under a banner that read: "Mission Accomplished." At that same time, when Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld still believed he could “shock and awe” all of Iraq into accepting these plans, the U.S. leaders might have believed they could set up a single weak and submissive Iraqi puppet government.

Within months of the April 2003 Pentagon takeover of Baghdad, however, the Iraqi resistance made it clear that the U.S. occupation would not be easy.

By now the generals have spent almost $300 billion. They have carried out merciless offensives, killed over 100,000 Iraqis, destroyed cities, towns, and villages and imprisoned and tortured tens of thousands of Iraqis. And the result has been to widen and deepen the resistance.

In other words, the U.S. commanders are telling Bush openly that this is not a misión accomplished, but that they have been sent to carry out a Mission Impossible--to subjugate the Iraqi people and force them back into a colonial relationship.

I would like to show that once the U.S. plan for a rapid conquest of Iraq fell apart, Washington began to search for other means to dominate that country. The U.S. rulers have a motive to carry out the worst atrocities against the Iraqi people, including the systematic assassination of all types of Iraqi leaders and representatives. They also have the experience of have used such tactics in Vietnam and El Salvador.

The strategists began to propose other methods.

Washington ignored its legal responsibility for protecting the shrine.

U.S. imperialism’s responsibility, however, goes far beyond the mere breaking of the rules of occupation. The Bush administration consciously spread lies in an attempt to justify the illegal invasion of Iraq. The U.S. then set up an occupation regime to seize Iraqi oil and to establish permanent military bases and a center of operations to control the Middle East and Central Asia.

By November 2003, U.S. think tanks were already proposing that Iraq be split into three parts. Leslie H. Gelb, president emeritus of the powerful Council on Foreign Relations, wrote, “The only viable strategy, then, may be to correct [Iraq’s] historical defect and move in stages to ward a three-state solution: Kurds in the north, Sunnis in the center and Shiites in the south.” (New York Times, Nov. 25, 2003)

Toward the end of 2004, the Rand Corporation conducted a study on behalf of the U.S. Air Force. One of the primary objectives of the study was to “identify the key cleavages and fault lines among sectarian, ethnic, regional and national lines, and to assess how these cleavages generate challenges and opportunities for the United States.”

U.S. allies in the region, especially the British, have their own experience in using “divide and rule” against colonial nations. The British instilled hostilities by encouraging the partition of colonial India into India and Pakistan in 1948. In the northern part of Ireland, the British colonialists provoked sectarian violence to justify their occupation and repression of the mostly Catholic community that was for freedom from British rule. The U.S. and European imperialists used differences among the peoples of Yugoslavia to break up that socialist federal republic into a half-dozen more easily ruled mini-states

Some U.S. strategists began at the end of 2004 to suggest the U.S. occupation adopt the “Salvador option.” The headline in a Jan. 14, 2005, Newsweek article was: “The Pentagon may put Special-Forces-led assassination or kidnapping teams in Iraq,” just as it did in El Salvador to kill Salvadoran progressives, unionists and any civilians in the way. The U.S. also supported and trained the “death squads” to carry out those assassinations, and U.S. diplomatic personnel helped members of these “Death Squads” escape justice.

U.S. agents carried out similar assassinations on even a larger scale in Vietnam. There it was called the “Phoenix Program.” another death-squad venture in Vietnam set up by the CIA from Saigon in 1966. Phoenix was a program aimed at "neutralizing"—through assassination, kidnapping, and systematic torture—the civilian infrastructure that supported the Vietnamese resistance fighters in South Vietnam. Tens of thousands of village leaders were killed, tortured and/or jailed.

In Iraq, Washington’s agents don’t have only the motive to carry out these assassinations, they also have the means. The Iraq puppet government’s interior minister, up to now someone who cooperated with the U.S. occupation, has admitted that death squads and unauthorized armed groups have been carrying out sectarian killings in the country. In a BBC interview on April 11, Bayan Jabr denied these groups were his responsibility. He added that there are non-governmental armed groups called the Facility Protection Service, set up in 2003 by the U.S. occupation, that number 150,000 effectives. Jabr said these 150,000 hired guns are “out of order, not under our control,” along with another 30,000 private security guards.

Since Feb. 27, almost two months after the explosion, no organization or state had publicly accepted responsibility for the bombing. This alone shows that whoever carried out the bombing intended to throw the blame for it on other forces. The bombing was certain to incite battles between the two major Arab communities in Iraq—Shiite and Sunni. If such warfare broke out on a large scale, it could lead to fragmenting Iraq into multiple mini-states more easily manipulated by imperialism.

I believe we have shown that it is reasonable to believe that the occupation forces had the motive, means and incentive to carry out the assassinations, that Bush and his gang really want a civil war in Iraq to split the people apart. But even without knowing who has pulled the triggers that murdered the intellectuals or set the explosions that blew up the mosque in Samarra, it is clear that the occupation forces led by the United States are responsible for these additional assaults against the Iraqi population.

I would like to finish by saying something about the progressive movement inside the United States. The next major anti-war and anti-occupation demonstration is scheduled for the 29th of April and it will say “U.S. out of Iraq now.” Two days later is May 1. You probably know that usually, in the U.S., there is no big May 1 march of workers as there is in many other countries. But this year, because of a new struggle that rose up quickly – one of immigrant workers – May 1 could be an enormous outpouring of workers.

We in the International Action Center will be at both demonstrations. It is important that some protests be clearly anti-war. But the best way the people of the United States can help the people of Iraq end the occupation is if we can carry out the class struggle inside the United States, and that is what the immigrants—those without papers—are doing.

Long live the struggle of the Iraq people against the occupation.

Stop the assassinations of Iraqi professionals.

Let’s find out the truth about the killings in Iraq.

International Campaign Launched to Stop Attack on Iran

2006-04-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

International Campaign Launched to Stop Attack on Iran
250,000 Petitions say "Stop War On Iran"

April 12, 2006--In response to the growing threat of a U.S. attack on Iran, an international campaign, initiated by clergy, academics, and activists, has drawn world-wide support.

Since the online campaign was launched, nearly 250,000 petitions have been sent to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, and the Board of Directors of Halliburton calling for "an immediate end to Washington's campaign of sanctions, hostility, and falsehood against the people of Iran."

Initial signers included historian Howard Zinn, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, author Ervand Abrahamian, Tony Benn MP, and playwright Harold Pinter.

Response to the StopWarOnIran has skyrocketed in the past several days in response to reports from Seymour Hersh, the Assocaited Press, the Washington Post, and other major media sources that the U.S. is preparing for an imminent attack against Iran, possibly using nuclear "bunker-busting" bombs.

Organizers with StopWarOnIran note that Washington is using the same public relations strategy to market the war on Iran that they used in the leadup to the invasion of Iran.

Dustin Langley, a Navy veteran and organizer with Stop War On Iran, said, "Once again, Bush is using outright lies about 'weapons of mass destruction' to justify an attack as part of a long-term strategy to establish U.S. control over the oil-rich Middle East. He lied in order to lead the U.S. into a war with Iraq that has cost the lives of more than 100,000 Iraqi people. Now he's using the same lies to demonize the people of Iran and justify a war that may be much more destructive."

StopWarOnIran organizers are planning a series of nationwide educational events and have created tens of thousands of leaflets and placards for use in protests and forums.

Stop War On Iran
www.StopWarOnIran.org
212-633-6646

Media Contact:
Sara Flounders, Dustin Langley
212-633-6646

Join Howard Zinn, Ramsey Clark, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Ervand Abrahamian, Tony Benn, Harold Pinter and thousands more in a growing movement to stop Bush's plans to attack Iran

STOP U.S. nuclear threats against Iran!

Nearly 250,000 petitions have been sent to Bush, Cheney, Congress, and Halliburton via Stop War on Iran.

Once again, Bush is using outright lies about "weapons of mass destruction" to justify an attack as part of a long-term strategy to establish U.S. control over the oil-rich Middle East. He lied in order to lead the U.S. into a war with Iraq that has cost the lives of more than 100,000 Iraqi people. Now he's using the same lies to demonize the people of Iran and justify a war that may be much more destructive.

The time to act is now. President Bush, with the support of politicians from both parties, is already preparing for an attack on hundreds of sites in Iran, most of them located near major population centers. These strikes will kill tens of thousands if Iranian civilians. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh, who broke the story last year of US plans for an attack on Iran, and who has a decades-long record of investigative journalism, including exposes of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam and the U.S. torture chambers of Abu Ghraib, wrote in the April 17 New Yorker:

"The Bush Administration, while publicly advocating diplomacy in order to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, has increased clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack. Current and former American military and intelligence officials said that Air Force planning groups are drawing up lists of targets, and teams of American combat troops have been ordered into Iran, under cover, to collect targeting data and to establish contact with anti-government ethnic-minority groups." (read the full article h ere)

This article and similar articles in the Associated Press, Agence France Press, Washington Post (reprinted at the StopWarOnIran blog) and other major media outlets, attest to the very real threat of an imminent attack on Iran. Furthermore, there is evidence that the Pentagon is preparing for a possible nuclear strike against Iran. U.S. Navy aircraft, operating from carriers in the Arabian Sea, are flying simulated nuclear attack missions in preparation for such a strike. According to Hersh,

"One of the military’s initial option plans, as presented to the White House by the Pentagon this winter, calls for the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites."

After all of Washington's talk about weapons of mass destruction, it is the Pentagon that possesses the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and is threatening to use them against civilian targets. Whether these threats are real or are just a tool of psychological warfare to intimidate and destabilize the Iranian government, it is clear that the real international danger is from Washington, not Tehran.

A global movement against a global empire

In the few weeks since StopWarOnIran was launched, nearly a quarter of a million petitions have been sent from all over the globe voicing growing opposition to the war. We've printed tens of thousands of leaflets and placards for distribution at protests, speak outs, and educational forums. Much more needs to be done in the next few weeks to alert the world to the growing danger of a new war.

We know that we cannot trust the politicians of either party to stop this drive to war. The only way to stop the war is by mobilizing a massive international grassroots campaign against a new war. The whole world knows that Bush and Congress lied in order to justify their war against Iraq, and everyone know that they are lying now. Opposition to Washington's agenda of endless war is growing--Bush's poll numbers are at an all time low and they continue to drop. But this growing opposition will only be a force for change to the degree that it becomes a massive movement determined to stop this new war.

How you can help:

2) Donate

3) Link to us from your website

4) Keep informed - check out the StopWarOnIran blog for news updates. And don't forget to sign up for updates.

5) Carry Stop War on Iran placards and banners at the April 29 antiwar protest in New York City and in other progressive and antiwar actions.

Urgent Appeal to Save Iraq's Academics

2006-01-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

Urgent Appeal to Save Iraq's Academics

Sign the petition online

A little known aspect of the tragedy engulfing Iraq is the systematic liquidation of the country's academics. Even according to conservative estimates, over 250 educators have been assassinated, and many hundreds more have disappeared. With thousands fleeing the country in fear for their lives, not only is Iraq undergoing a major brain drain, the secular middle class - which has refused to be co-opted by the US occupation - is being decimated, with far-reaching consequences for the future of Iraq.

Already on July 14, 2004, veteran correspondent Robert Fisk reported from Iraq that: "University staff suspect that there is a campaign to strip Iraq of its academics, to complete the destruction of Iraq's cultural identity which began when the American army entered Baghdad."

The wave of assassinations appears non-partisan and non-sectarian, targeting women as well as men, and is countrywide. It is indiscriminate of expertise: professors of geography, history and Arabic literature as well as science are among the dead. Not one individual has been apprehended in connection with these assassinations.

According to the United Nations University, some 84 per cent of Iraq's institutions of higher education have already been burnt, looted or destroyed. Iraq's educational system used to be among the best in the region; one of the country's most important assets was its well-educated people.

This situation is a mirror of the occupation as a whole: a catastrophe of staggering proportions unfolding in a climate of criminal disregard. As an occupying power, and under international humanitarian law, final responsibility for protecting Iraqi citizens, including academics, lies with the United States.

With this petition we want to break the silence.

1. We appeal to organisations which work to enforce or defend international humanitarian law to put these crimes on the agenda.

2. We request that an independent international investigation be launched immediately to probe these extrajudicial killings. This investigation should also examine the issue of responsibility to clearly identify who is accountable for this state of affairs. We appeal to the special rapporteur on summary executions at UNHCHR in Geneva.

You can sign this petition online or write to info@brusselstribunal.org if you want to support the campaign.

This petition was launched by the BRussells Tribunal and is already endorsed by CEOSI (Spain), the Portuguese hearing of the WTI, Iraktribunal.de (Germany), the Swedish Antiwar committee, the IAC (USA), the International Association of Middle East Studies (IAMES), the German Middle East Studies Association (DAVO) and the European Association for Middle Eastern Studies (EURAMES), and several personalities, like Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Tony Benn, Harold Pinter, Eduardo Galeano, John Pilger and Michael Parenti. See the list of principal endorsers.

See also the call for action underneath and more information on www.brusselstribunal.org/Academics.htm

Other languages: Dutch - Arabic - Spanish - Portuguese - Japanese:

Read the petition

Call for action to save Iraq's Academics

1. We call upon all people, especially academics and students, to help end the silence that surrounds the ongoing crime of the assassination of Iraqi academics and the destruction of Iraqi's educational infrastructure, and support Iraqi academics' right and hope to live in an independent, democratic Iraq, free of foreign occupation and hegemony.

2. We urge that academic institutions and organisations declare solidarity with their Iraqi colleagues.

3. We urge that academics forge links between Iraqi educators, both in exile and in Iraq, and universities worldwide.

4. We urge that student organisations link with Iraqi student organisations.

5. We urge that educators mobilise colleagues and concerned citizens to take up the cause of the salvation of Iraq's intellectual wealth, by organising seminars, teach-ins and forums on the plight of Iraq's academics.

The world's academics and intellectuals must act now to save the lives of their colleagues in Iraq. [The BRussells Tribunal, in cooperation with other organisations, has started to build a network of contacts and raise public awareness and can provide information and support to individuals and groups who wish to mobilise on this issue. We are able to act as a depository and hub for this campaign] http://www.brusselstribunal.org/Academics.htm

Other languages: NL - Spanish - Arabic - Japanese - Portuguese: Read the petition

ACADEMICS AND ARTISTS FOR PEACE -Stop the Killing of Iraq's Academics.

Principal endorsers, Patronizing this campaign

Noam Chomsky, Professor of Linguistics, Philosophy of Language, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Linguistics & Philosophy, USA

Tony Benn, President of the STOP THE WAR COALITION, Former MP, Cabinet Minister and Chairman of the British Labour Party, UK

John M. Coetzee, Nobel Prize in Literature 2003, South Africa

Harold Pinter, Nobel Prize in Literature 2005, UK

Eduardo Galeano, essayist, journalist, historian, and activist, Uruguay.

Denis J. Halliday, former UN Assistant Secretary-General 1994-98

Hans von Sponeck, former UN Assistant Secretary General, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq 1998-2000, Germany

Howard Zinn, professor, writer, educator, and leader in nonviolent social protest, USA

John Pilger, journalist and documentary film-maker, UK/Australia

Michael Parenti, author, USA

Antonio Negri, moral and political philosopher, Italy

Robert A. Dahl, Political Theorist, Yale University

Curtis F.J. Doebbler, Dr., International Human Rights Lawyer.

François Houtart, Prof. Em., Director of the Tricontinental Center - Cetri, Belgium

Immanuel Wallerstein, Prof. Yale University, USA.

Richard Falk, Prof. Em. of International Law and Practice at Princeton University and Visiting Distinguished Professor of Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Chair of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, recipient of the UNESCO Peace Education Prize, USA

Craig Calhoun, president of the Social Science Research Council and university professor of social sciences, New York University, USA

Naomi Klein, award-winning journalist and author, Canada

Susan George, author of A Fate Worse Than Debt and Another World Is
Possible If ..., France

Bianca Jagger, member of the Executive Director's Leadership Council for Amnesty International USA, member of the Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch -America. Member Advisory Board of the Coalition for International Justice, USA

Gabriel Kolko, author and historian.

Dennis Brutus, professor emeritus dept of Africana Studies Univ of Pittsburgh, USA

Norman Paech, Prof. Dr., Professor für öffentliches Recht an der Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik, member Deutscher Bundestag, Germany

Juan R. I. Cole, Professor of Modern Middle East and South Asian History at the History Department of the University of Michigan, USA

Michael Mann, Professor of Sociology, UCLA, USA

Jean Bricmont, scientist, Prof. specialist in theoretical physics, U.C. Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium

Pierre Klein, Professor International Law, U.L. Bruxelles, Belgium

Paul Kennedy, professor of history, Yale University, author of The Rise and Decline of Great Powers, USA

Saskia Sassen, Professor of Sociology, The University of Chicago, USA

Tareq Ismael, Prof. of Political Science, University of Calgary.

Mohammed Aref, Science writer based in Surrey, UK Former advisor toArab Science and Technology Foundation in United Arab Emirates (2000-2003) and science editor for Al Hayat newspaper in London (1988-2000).

Raymond William Baker, President of IAMES (International Association of Middle East Studies) and President of the Administrative Board of a transnational initiative to build an international university in Iraq, Global Partners for the International University of Iraq GP-IUI).

Guenter Meyer, Prof. Dr., Centre for Research on the Arab World (CERAW), University of Mainz , Germany

Helen Caldicott, president, Nuclear Policy Research Institute

Francis A. Boyle, professor of law, University of Illinois

Mark Lewis Taylor, Professor of Theology & Culture, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA

David Cromwell, editor Medialens, researcher University of Southampton UK

Michel Chossudovsky, Professor of Economics, University of Ottawa, director Centre for Research on Globalization, Canada

Jean Leca, Professor (emeritus) at the Institut d' Etudes Politiques de Paris

Lieven De Cauter, philosopher, Prof. Dr. K.U. Leuven / Rits, initiator of the Brussells Tribunal

Anthony Arnove, editor, writer, USA

Jim Harding, Dr., Past Director and retired Professor, School of Human Justice, University of Regina, Canada

Saadalla Al Fathi, former head of the Energy Studies' Department at the OPEC secretariat

Azmi Ashour, managing editor of Al Ahram Al Democratia magazine in Egypt

Michael J. Shapiro, political theorist, University of Hawai'i, USA

Paul Patton, professor of philosophy, University of New South Wales

Stephen Eric Bronner, professor of political science, Rutgers University

Raymond Bradley, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, New Zealand

Ian Douglas, Dr., Visiting Professor Political Science Department An-Najah National University Nablus, Palestine

Abdul Ilah Al-Bayaty (Writer - Iraq / France)

Leslie Sklair, emeritus professor of sociology, London School of Economics, UK

Olle Josephson, Professor in Scandinavian Languages, Director of Swedish language Council, Co-editor of the Swedish Socialist Quarterly
Clarté

Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Ph.D., Prof. Dr., Institute of Political Science, Philipps-University, Marburg/Germany

Haifa Zangana (Novelist - Iraq / UK)

Sabah Al-Mukhtar (President of the Arab Lawyers Association - Iraq / UK)

Mujbil Al-Marsumi, University professor, IRAQ, Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan

Imad Khadduri (Nuclear scientist - Iraq / Canada)

Sami Ramadani (Senior lecturer in sociology at London Metropolitan University - Iraq / UK)

Truth Teller, Doctor, Directorate of health, Ninevah, Iraq

N.D.Kharrufa, Physician, Ministry of health, Iraq

Talat al Mukhtar, academic doctor, Baghdad University College of Medicine, Iraq

Mundher Al-Adhami (Research Fellow at Kings College London - Iraq / UK)

Amir Al Ani (Sociologist - Iraq / France)

Ghali Hassan (Science and Mathematics Education Centre, Curtin
University - Perth, Australia)

Niloufer Bhagwat (Vice President of Indian Lawyers Association - Mumbai / India)

Karen Parker (Attorney , Association of Humanitarian Lawyers, partners of the BRussells Tribunal - USA)

Thomas McCarthy, professor of philosophy, Northwestern University, USA

Haideh Moghissi, Ph.D, Professor, Director, MCRI Diaspora, Islam, Gender Project, Atkinson Faculty, York University, UK

Jan Fermon (Lawyer of Court case against General Tommy Franks in Brussels, Progress Lawyers Network - Belgium)

Amy Bartholomew (Law professor - Canada)

James C. Faris, Prof., Director Emeritus, University of Connecticut Program in Middle East Languages and Area Studies, USA

Ayse Gul Altinay , Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Sabanci University, Turkey

Dr Martha Mundy, Reader in Anthropology, London School of Economics

Michael Hardt, Professor of Literature, Duke University, USA, co-author of Empire

Arturo Escobar, Professor of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, USA

Thomas Fasy, Associate Professor of Pathology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA

William E. Connolly, Political Theorist and Krieger-Eisenhower Professor, Johns Hopkins University, USA

Diana Judit Milstein . Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Argentina

Habib Ajroud, University of Manouba, Tunesia

Gabriele Zamparini (independent filmmaker - Italy/UK)

Paola Pisi, professor religious sciences, Italy

Jeffrey Blankfort (Former editor of the Middle East Labor Bulletin and currently hosts radio programs - USA)

Jeff Archer/Malcom Lagauche (Journalist - USA)

Corinne Kumar (Secretary General of El Taller International - Tunesia / India)

Dahr Jamail, independent journalist, USA.

Carlos Varea (coordinator of SCOSI - Spanish Campaign against Occupation and for the Sovereignty of Iraq - Spain)

Joachim Guilliard (Journalist, Anti-war movement - Germany)

Sigyn Meder (Anti-war movement - Sweden)

Manuel Raposo (Anti-war movement - Portugal)

John Catalinotto (International Action Center - USA)

Charles Jenks (Chair of Advisory Board and Web Manager, Traprock Peace Center, USA)

Dahlia Wasfi M.D. (Anti-war activist, speaker, Global Exchange, Iraq / USA)

Larry Everest (Author / Journalist - USA)

Patrick Deboosere, demographer, VUB, Belgium

Hana Al Bayaty, filmmaker / journalist - Iraq / Egypt / France

Dirk Adriaensens, coordinator SOS Iraq, executive committee BRussells Tribunal

Inge Van De Merlen, Brussells Tribunal, Belgium

Bernard Genet (Comaguer, Anti-war Committee Marseille - France)

Bert De Belder M.D. (Coordinator Intal & Medical Aid For The Third World - Belgium)

Pol De Vos (Stop USA - Belgium)

Ludo De Brabander (Vrede - Belgium)

Dr. Nada M. Shabout, Assistant Professor of Art History, School of Visual Arts, University of North Texas, USA

Paola Manduca, Prof. Genetics, University of Genua, Italy

Ayse Berktay, World Tribunal Organiser, Turkey

Salah Almukhtar, Author , journalist and Chairman Of friendship, peace and solidarity Organisation, Iraq

Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Prof. U.K., Spokesman and Deputy General Secretary, The People's Struggle Movement - IRAQ

Fouad Elhage, Dr., Editor in Chief, Al-Moharer

Ibrahim Ebeid, Co-Editor , Al-Moharer

Amir Alfarge, president of l'Association of Iraqi of France

Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, mathematician, Erlangen, Germany,

Siegrun Dewald-Rührnschopf, Erlangen, Germany.

Hashim Al-Tawil, Ph.D. Art History, Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn, MI, USA

Andy Griggs, Board Member, United Teachers Los Angeles; Steering Committee Member, US Labor Against the War; Executive Ctte Member, National Education, Association Peace and Justice Caucus, USA

Dan Kaplan, Executive Secretary San Mateo (CA) Community College Federation of Teachers, USA

Barzan Ali A. Aziz, Senior Process Engineer, UAE

Natasa Tucev, PhD candidate, English Department, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Nis, Serbia, Yugoslavia

Garbis Altinoglu, writer and activist, Turkey

Yildiz Aydin, Prof. Dr., Turkey

Analia Diana Matas Lic. en Ciencias de la Educación Docente Universitaria Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Argentina

Chana Bloch, Professor Emerita, poet and translator Mills College USA

Karen Brodkin, Professor UCLA USA

Michael McKinley, Senior Lecturer, International Relations and Strategy, Australian National University, Australia

Dr Ismail Jalili, Consultant Surgeon, Chairman National Association of British Arabs, Past President British Arab Medical Association UK

Sherna Berger Gluck, Professor Emerita, USA

Daizo Kutsuzawa, secretary general ICTI (Internatiomal Criminal Tribunal for Iraq), Japan

May Muzaffar, poet-writer, Iraq

S. Subramanian, Professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies, India

Ruth Laila Schmidt, Professor, University of Oslo, Norway

Radwa Ashour, Writer and Academic, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian Association against Torture, Egyptian NGO, Egypt

El Nadim Center, Egyptian NGO, Egypt

Aida Seif El Dawla, Professor of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Thora Reynolds, Artist, Academic & Activist, National Writer's Union (USA)

Daniel J Guilfoil, Professor of Philosophy-Emeritus, USA

posted January 10, 2006