Citizens should speak out against an attack
on the people of Iraq because:
It will lead to a major humanitarian
disaster. The UN estimates 1.5 million people in Iraq have
already died as a result of the first Gulf War and the
sanctions imposed on Iraq. It will be the innocent civilians
and the poor in Iraq who will bear the brunt of this new attack
both directly, and indirectly through disease and
starvation.
It is mobilizing racism against people of
Arab and Islamic backgrounds around the world. It is portraying
them as the "enemy" and is fomenting hatred and prejudice
against them. All forms of racism and prejudice need to be
opposed. Islam is not the enemy. War is not the answer.
A war will be a transfusion of blood for oil.
An occupation of a country by foreign forces can never lead to
democracy and social justice. The real intent is to gain
western control over the Arab world and for control over Iraq's
oil reserves.
There is no evidence that Iraq currently has
"weapons of mass destruction." When the Iraqi regime did
actually use such weapons against the Kurds in the north and
people in Iran the American government said nothing because
Iraq was then a western ally. It is actually the Americans that
have far more weapons of mass destruction than any other
power.
Money will be diverted from crucial social
spending on housing, health care, ending poverty, education,
and other social needs to war and militarism.
The Canadian government has been showing
signs that it will support this unjust war whether it has UN
Security Council support or not.
Write your MPs and the prime minister
outlining why you oppose Canadian participation in an attack on
innocent civilians with or without Security Council sanction.
Let your representatives know that you do not want your taxes
to pay for the murder of innocent people in an unjust
attack
Join the Sudbury Anti-War Mobilization. We
are a group of students, trade unionists, people in the faith
community, community activists, mothers, fathers and many
others who stand for: peace; opposition to war; an end to
racism; and for civil liberties.
Gary Kinsman
Sudbury Anti-War Mobilization