STANISLAUS CONNECTIONS

Working For Peace, Justice, and A Sustainable Environment

November, 2002

A Modesto Peace/Life Center Publication

Peace

The War Vote

Votes by area senators and congressional representatives on the resolution authorizing the use of military force against Iraq.

Against

In Favor

The Senate: 77 (favor) to 23
The House: 296 (favor) to 133.

Data submitted by Ken Schroeder

 

Joint Statement in Response to Threat of War with Iraq From the General and Executive Secretaries of Five Quaker Organizations Ninth Month, 24, 2002

“I told them that I lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars...I told them I was come into the covenant of peace which was before wars and strife were...”

                        — George Fox, Founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), 1651.

The United States government stands on the verge of launching a major war against Iraq. At the same time, U.S. political leaders are promulgating a doctrine that asserts the United States’ right to launch unilateral, preemptive military strikes on any nation or group to counter a perceived threat. The peace and security of all peoples are threatened by these developments.

If ever there were a time for Friends to take action based upon our historic peace testimony, that time is now. We call upon Friends to witness and work to prevent this war, to reverse this new military doctrine, to call upon our governments to implement multilateral, diplomatic responses to the threats posed by the government of Iraq, and to continue developing positive, nonviolent approaches to resolving international conflicts. We know that there are millions of people of good will with whom we can join in this work.

We find many compelling reasons for all people of faith and reason to oppose this war and this dangerous new military policy. Among them are:

We know from history that acts of violence only breed further violence.

We also know that the terrifying spiral of violence and hatred can be interrupted by acts of creative nonviolence, conflict resolution and courageous love. The real path to global security lies in a stronger global civil society based on increasing trust and respect, the rule of international law, and the removal of the roots of violence and war.

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.

By Thomas Jeavons, General Secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends; Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee; Bruce Birchard, General Secretary, Friends General Conference (organization listed for identification purposes only); Steven Baumgartner, Executive Director, Pendle Hill; Joe Volk, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Call and Answer

Tell me why it is we don't lift our voices these days
And cry over what is happening. Have you noticed
The plans are made for Iraq and the ice cap is melting.

I say to myself: "Go on, cry. What's the sense
Of being an adult and having no voice? Cry out!
See who will answer! This is Call and Answer!"

Some masters say our life lasts only seven days.
Where are we in the week? Is it Thursday yet?
Hurry, cry now! Soon Sunday night will come.

We will have to call especially loud to reach
Our angels, who are hard of hearing; they are hiding
In the jugs of silence filled during our wars.

If we don't lift our voices, we allow others--who are
Ourselves--to rob the house. Every day we steal from
Ourselves knowledge gained over a thousand years.

Robert, how come you've listened to the great criers
And now you are a sparrow quiet in the little bushes!
It's Saturday night, and you still haven't cried.

- Robert Bly

OPINION: The Opportunity Cost of War

By LEE RYAN MILLER, Ph.D.

The 1991 Gulf War cost the United States and its allies about $61 billion dollars. This staggering figure only includes the direct costs of war, such as weapons, transportation, fuel, etc. That war had more limited objectives than the conflict that President Bush currently proposes. In 1991, the goal was only to eject Iraqi forces from Kuwait, not take over all of Iraq. Analysts estimate that the war currently under consideration may cost as much as $100 billion.

There are other ways our government could spend $100 billion. Imagine the improvements we could make in health-care or education with a $100 billion dollar increase in spending. $100 billion is more than twice the combined annual budgets of the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.

One could argue that such comparisons are unfair. After all, the President claims that we may need to go to war against Iraq in order to protect national security. He claims that Iraq is dangerous because of its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.

If we take the President at his word, then there are an awful lot of other countries against which we should be considering war. We should include Iran and North Korea, two countries already singled out by the President for trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. We also could add India, Pakistan, Israel, China, Russia, Britain, and France to the list, since these countries already have succeeded in developing such weapons.

But the President also expressed concern about Iraq’s potential to destabilize the Middle East, a region crucial to our national security because it is where the majority of the world’s oil reserves are located. The United States economy is dependent on massive oil imports, and anything that threatens the supply of oil threatens our economy and, therefore, our national security.

Just over a decade ago, half a million American soldiers fought a war to protect our access to Middle Eastern oil, and now we are on the brink of another war for the same purpose. Perhaps we should consider a different approach to safeguarding the nation’s energy supply.

$100 billion dollars would go a long way toward eliminating the need for oil imports, were we to invest it in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. For example, that would be enough money to equip some 40 million US houses with 2-kilowatt rooftop solar panels which, together, could generate electricity equivalent to nearly thirty conventional power plants.

We could generate even more electricity, were the government to invest in solar power in the country’s sunniest regions, and spend the rest on wind power generation in the nation’s windiest regions. Were the US government to invest that $100 billion dollars in this fashion, plus tighten up vehicle fuel efficiency standards, and provide incentives for consumers to choose hybrid and electric vehicles over conventional gas-guzzlers, we would no longer need to import any oil at all from the Middle East. In fact, we probably would not need to import any oil at all. We might even find ourselves able to export surplus electricity to Canada and Mexico.

I am not sure whether or not the President is correct in his belief that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the entire Middle East, and by extension, to the world oil supply. If he is correct, then perhaps we should consider lessening our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Clearly the Gulf War did not provide any lasting security, or our government would not be considering a second war less than twelve years later.

10 questions Americans are asking from Yes! Magazine

Why not attack Iraq? from Sojourners Magazine

Tikkun's Resolution on the Middle East Conflict from Tikkun

Iraq and the New Great Game from AlterNet

Stop development of 'Usable' Nukes from California Peace Action

 

Christians being recruited for peacekeeping in Middle East

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) is recruiting Christians worldwide for peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East. The World Council of Churches (WCC), a fellowship of 342 Christian churches in 120 countries sponsors EAPPI.

EAPPI is looking for volunteers to travel to Israel and Palestine to monitor human rights violations and protect Palestinian and Israeli advocates of peace.

The Rev. Mark B. Brown, assistant director for international issues, Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA), Washington D.C., said the purpose of the program is to support those who are struggling to end the occupation peacefully.

“We hope the presence of international monitors will reduce the violence and encourage everyone to be on their best behavior,” said Brown. “Sometimes a spotlight and people writing reports help create a level of confidence for those who want to see nonviolent change.”

EAPPI is neither pro-Palestinian nor pro-Israeli, but rather “pro-peace and pro-justice,” said Catherine Gordon, associate for international issues, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The first group to go consisted of 25 Christians from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and the United States. Their training began with a five-day course starting Aug. 13 in Washington, D.C., and continued when they arrived in the Middle East a week later. EAPPI plans to send a new team every three months.

Participants must be at least 25 years old and stay in the Middle East for at least three months to one year. Participants should raise enough money for their food, housing, airfare and transportation, plus a donation to WCC to help pay for program administration.

ACTION: For information on the EAPPI visit www.loga.org, or call John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958.