May 31: A United for Peace & Justice National Teach-in on Iraq, Preemptive War and Democracy

Join United for Peace and Justice for a national day of education and action on Saturday, May 31 in Washington, DC. Events in the world and the nation are unfolding quickly and people from all walks of life are asking questions, looking for reliable information. Now is the time to speak boldly and honestly about the alternatives we face as a country.

As millions of peace and justice activists around the globe tried to prevent the United States from launching an attack on Iraq, a new movement was born. While the Bush Administration and mainstream U.S. media declare the war on Iraq a "success," we know that an unprovoked attack remains just as wrong after the bombing has stopped as it was before the war started. We must speak out loudly and clearly to demand that the U.S. government account for the thousands of civilian deaths that were inflicted by our bombs.

We oppose any U.S. military occupation of Iraq, and especially one in which corporations with close ties to the Bush Administration will reap huge profits from the post-war, post-sanctions reconstruction. We say "no!" to a huge and growing $400 billion military budget while veterans' benefits are being slashed, public schools are crumbling and millions go without healthcare. We must articulate our vision for achieving a better society and world through international cooperation and peaceful means.

TAKE ACTION

Now is the time to nurture the movement, to help us grow into the next phases of our work. On May 31, United for Peace and Justice will hold a mass teach-in on the Iraq crisis in Washington, DC. We invite people from throughout the region to join us to learn about and discuss issues in three major areas:

--The domestic consequences of occupation and empire-building: attacks on people from the Middle East and other immigrants, erosion of basic Constitutional rights and civil liberties, the need to stand up to a climate of fear and intimidation, the implications of ignoring huge state and local budget deficits all over the country, opposing cutbacks in needed social programs, a positive economic program to get us out of recession.

--A U.S. occupation of Iraq: the "second invasion" by profit-seeking U.S. corporations, what occupation will mean for the Iraqi people, how it will be seen by the rest of the world, the role of the United Nations, and what real liberation and democracy would look like.

--The ongoing drive for empire and a militarized foreign policy: the new U.S. doctrine of "preemptive war," who is next: Syria, Iran, North Korea, Cuba?, the need for a rapid shift to clean, renewable energy sources rather than greater dependence on polluting oil, an alternative foreign policy based on international law, cooperation and economic and social justice.

Teach-in speakers and other information will be available soon at on this website. We are working on plans to broadcast the event on television, radio and the Internet.

This teach-in will be a springboard for ongoing grassroots organizing and educational work continuing throughout the summer all over the country. We must deepen and broaden our movement, talking with our neighbors, co-workers and fellow students about the urgent need for a peace and justice alternative and how they can help to build it.

Even if you cannot make the trip to Washington, DC, you can participate in this national day of action in one of the following ways:

--Sponsor a viewing party so that people in your community can watch and participate in the teach-in from wherever you are.

--Organize your own teach-in with speakers from your community.

--Hold another type of peace and justice event that will educate members of your community about the future of Iraq and why we must continue to push for alternatives to war-a peace rally, community meeting, vigil, outreach day, nonviolent civil disobedience, or whatever activity makes sense to you.

Please list your events on this site so we can publicize nationwide local events and the teach-in as a unified national day of action and education. For more information, call the UFPJ office at 212-603-3700.

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United for Peace and Justice
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

To become a member group of UFPJ:
United for Peace & Justice welcomes the participation of any and all national, regional and local groups who share our goals and wish to work with others. Email andrea@globalexchange.org

To receive email updates, go to
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email.php

Contact us at:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/contactus.php
New York City 212-603-3700

To make a tax-deductible donation, go to
http://unitedforpeace.org/donate

Posted by Brian Stefans at May 03, 2003 02:58 AM | TrackBack