Minute
on Sanctions Against Iraq
University Friends Meeting, Seattle, Washington, May 12, 2000
Friends
in the US have long been concerned that economic sanctions against
Iraq cause untold hardship and death to powerless people including
thousands of young children. We note that the two most recent
UN coordinators of Humanitarian Relief Operations in Iraq -
Dennis Halliday and Hans von Sponeck - those most knowledgeable
about the humanitarian crisis, have resigned in protest of the
inadequacy of the relief effort and to call for the lifting
of the economic sanctions. We have been challenged by Mairead
Corrigan Maquire, Nobel Peace Laureate. She said "In 50 years,
the next generation will ask: 'What were you doing when the
children of Iraq were dying?'"
As residents
of the United States, we at University Friends Meeting wish
to act upon our sense of unity with the people of Iraq. We are,
therefore, heartened by the Campaign of Conscience for the Iraqi
People launched by the American Friends Service Committee and
the Fellowship of Reconciliation. This campaign intends to involve
thousands of Americans in an effort to send aid to the Iraqi
people with or without governmental approval in a non-violent
effort to end the economic sanctions against the people of Iraq.
People are asked to donate funds and to sign a statement making
public their action which if government approval is not forthcoming
will involve civil disobedience.
1) University
Friends Meeting calls for an end to the economic sanctions against
Iraq and endorses the Campaign for Conscience.
2) University
Friends Meeting urges individual Friends to seek light on this
matter and to act as they feel led. Some ways to act include:
- using
Campaign of Conscience presentations, videos, and printed
materials in educational efforts.
- helping
to help raise money for the Campaign of Conscience to buy
water purification machinery to be delivered by the Mennonite
Central Committee in Iraq.
- Sending
out the Campaign of Conscience flyer and briefing materials
to friends and relatives inviting them to join this effort.
OTHER
QUAKER STATEMENTS & LETTERS
Reviewed:
09/06/2005
More
on Iraq
|
