Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group
PO Box 42456
Portland, OR 97242
(503) 236-3065

CALENDAR ITEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               December 22, 2000

"Promoting Peace in Portland, the Persian Gulf, and Beyond:
The War on Iraq, Ten Years Later"
7 PM PSU Smith Ballroom; Tuesday, January 16, 2001
Analyze, synthesize, mobilize

 A coalition of social justice groups will present visions of the past, present and future of Portland's peace and anti-military intervention movement on January 16, 2001. That date marks exactly ten years since the U.S. (and a multinational coalition) began bombing the nation of Iraq in an action alternately known as "Operation Desert Storm" and "The Gulf War." The event will take place at 7 PM at the Smith Memorial Ballroom at Portland State University. The Ballroom will be open with displays on Iraq and other peace issues beginning at 6:30 PM. The event is being called "Promoting Peace in Portland, the Persian Gulf, and Beyond: The War on Iraq, Ten Years Later."

Groups who participated in the Coalition Against US Military Intervention in the Middle East (CAUSMIME) from 1990-1992 will be on hand to analyze the work that was done in the past. Those groups, as well as groups which have formed since that time, will synthesize the various aspects of U.S. policy which led to the "Gulf War" and are still a threat to our planet. Among these are military spending, environmental concerns, energy sources, and global economics. The ultimate goal will be to mobilize everyone attending the event to educate themselves and take action on their own or as part of one of the many organizations who will have literature tables and speakers there. Among these are military spending, environmental concerns, energy sources, and global economics. The ultimate goal will be to mobilize everyone attending the event to take action on their own or as part of one of the many organizations who will have literature tables and speakers there. Many of the groups focus on non-violent action and conflict prevention as alternatives to military intervention. At 8 PM, Aseel Nassir Dyck, a local American-Iraqi activist, will speak about the history of Iraq and the current situation there from a personal perspective. Following Aseel, John Linder, a significant figure in the 1991 anti-war efforts, will speak about the efforts of CAUSMIME and U.S. policy in Iraq. Currently, Iraq is still struggling under the U.S./U.N. sanctions that were imposed after its army invaded neighboring Kuwait in August, 1990. Estimates are that over one million Iraqis have died as a result of the sanctions, most of them children. The U.S. continues to bomb Iraq in the "no-fly zones" once every four to seven days. Water-borne diseases and cancer have become epidemics, and many Iraqis share symptoms with American and British veterans who have "Gulf War Syndrome."

During the 43-day "war" in 1991, the U.S. dropped more bombs on Iraq than were dropped in Europe during World War II. The nation's infrastructure--water and sewage treatment plants, electrical facilities, hospitals, schools--was destroyed. Iraq's size and population of 22 million make it roughly comparable to the size of California. Because of the sanctions, and despite an "oil- for-food" program begun in 1996, Iraq has never been able to restore its position as one of the most advanced countries in the Middle East.

Why should people come to this event? To hear more about the state of affairs in Iraq in the past and present; to meet local peace groups to see what they're doing locally and globally; and to find out how to join the local movement. Anyone who wants to be a part of this important event should come to Portland State University's Smith Center Ballroom on Tuesday, January 16.

Co-sponsors of the forum include the Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group (formed as a successor to CAUSMIME in 1992), the Oregon Peace Institute, the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Multnomah Meeting of Friends, PSU Students for Unity, and PSU Middle East Studies Center.

Other participating groups include the Metanoia Peace Community, NW Veterans for Peace, Voices in the Wilderness/ Portland, Flying Focus Video Collective, KBOO 90.7-FM Portland, American Friends Service Committee, the Peace in Colombia Action Group, East Timor Action Network of Portland, the Portland Alliance, Radical Women/Freedom Socialist Party, the War Resisters League of Portland, Portland Catholic Worker, and SOA Watch Oregon.

For more information or to get involved, call Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Friday, January 12, 2001 there will be a vigil to remember the victims of U.S. policy on Iraq held at the SW corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square, Yamhill and Broadway, from 4-6 PM. Peace and Justice Works and some of other organizations involved in the forum will distribute information about the January 16 event.