CANADIAN GRASSROOTS COALITION IS FORMED TO OPPOSE
MILITARY AGGRESSION AGAINST IRAQ / Demonstration
in downtown Vancouver Art
Gallery in solidarity with the people of Iraq / Leaflet: Hands Off
Iraq! / Toronto 'Bombing"
VANCOUVER, March 3rd, 1998 -- A grassroots coalition representing dozens
of organized political, social justice, human rights and solidarity
groups, and many more individuals, has been formed to oppose military
aggression against Iraq.
The Hands Off Iraq Coalition of Vancouver came together formally three
weeks ago in response to the US-led military build-up in the Gulf region.
The Coalition has unified around the following demands:
No military aggression against Iraq.
US and Canadian troops out of the Gulf.
End the embargo against Iraq.
The Coalition holds open meetings every Monday at 7pm at the La Quena
Coffee House (1111 Commercial Drive) in East Vancouver. Anyone who agrees
to the above demands and wishes to raise awareness about the situation in
Iraq is welcome to attend the meetings.
The Hands Off Iraq Coalition facilitated a march through downtown
Vancouver last Saturday which attracted over 100 people. The march stopped
at the Vancouver Stock Exchange, the US Consulate and a Canadian Armed
Forces Recruiting Station, all while passing out close to two thousand
information leaflets (see below) to passers-by.
In the future, the Coalition will organize more demonstrations, produce
and distribute information on the situation in the Gulf, and facilitate
discussions about how ordinary residents of Vancouver can get involved in
opposing war policies against the people of Iraq.
For media interviews, speakers, more information, or to get involved,
please contact the Hands Off Iraq Coalition.
THE HANDS OFF IRAQ COALITION OF VANCOUVER
(604) 215-0671 * enough@vcn.bc.ca
-------------------
February 28, 1998
Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory
Today at noon, close to 200 people gathered at the downtown Vancouver Art
Gallery in solidarity with the people of Iraq. The demonstration,
organized by End the Arms Race, was protesting the prospect of US-led
bombing of Iraq as well as Canada's military and diplomatic support for
the effort. Speakers also urged an end to economic sanctions against Iraq.
After the official protest, approximately 100 demonstrators undertook a
march through the rain-soaked streets of downtown Vancouver. The ad hoc
march was facilitated by the Hands Off Iraq Coalition of Vancouver.
Chanting "Hey hey U-S-A, how many kids have you killed today," and
"1-2-3-4, we don't want your racist war," protesters took to the streets
and first marched to the Vancouver stock exchange on Granville Street. The
glass facade of the building was promptly scrawled with glass chalk with
slogans like "Greed Kills," "No Blood for Oil," and "End the
Sanctions."
Accompanied by a street band, the march proceeded to the US Consulate,
which was similarly covered in slogans, as well as a nearby Canadian Armed
Forces Recruiting Station and the British Consulate.
The march ended at the Vancouver Public Library where the demonstrators
dispersed. Below is the text of the flyer passed out in the hundreds by
members of the Hands off Iraq Coalition. The Coalition next meets at the
La Quena Coffee House at 1111 Commercial Drive on Monday, March 2nd at
7pm. To reach the Coalition, phone 215-0671 or e-mail enough@vcn.bc.ca
.
To contact End the Arms Race, phone 687-3223.
Jaggi Singh
for the Direct Action Media Network (DAMN)
------------------
[text of leaflet]
HANDS OFF IRAQ!
Despite recent diplomatic developments, the United States, Britain,
Canada and others continue to prepare another military attack on Iraq.
Just as in 1991, the US government and media are trying to convince the
world that military force is required to ensure Iraq does not have
weapons of mass destruction.
The 1991 Gulf War killed over 200,000 Iraqi people. The Allied forces
launched 109,876 raids and dropped 88,500 tons of bombs. For 7 years,
since the end of the war, the Iraqi people have suffered from the embargo.
-- What has been the impact of the embargo against Iraq?
UNICEF has reported that "More than 4,500 children under the age of 5 are
dying each month from hunger and disease ... 960,000 are chronically
malnourished, a rise of 72 percent since 1991." Last year, 134,000
children died due to malnutrition and a shortage of medicine. Since the
embargo was imposed, 1.2 million people have died. On the TV program "60
Minutes," Lesley Stahl asked US Secretary of State Madelaine Albright what
she thought about the fact that half a million Iraqi children have died,
more than in the bombing of Hiroshima. Albright replied, "We think it's
worth it."
-- Is this military action about eliminating weapons of mass destruction?
The Western countries sold weapons to Iraq during the Iran/Iraq war from
1980 to 1988. Until 1994, Britain sold chemical weapons to Iraq. Western
countries and their arms producers are only too happy to sell their goods
to "friendly nations." The first use of chemical weapons was by Britain,
on Iraq, in the 1920s.
The US has more weaponry than any other country on earth. It is the only
country ever to have used a nuclear weapon. The US has used its military
arsenal to kill millions in Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Grenada, to
name but a few. Britain tested the biological weapon Anthrax on the
Scottish island of Guinard, which is uninhabitable to this day.
-- Is Saddam Hussein a modern Hitler?
The depiction of Saddam Hussein as a modern day Hitler served to justify
the slaughter of innocent Iraqis in 1991, and is once again being used to
mobilize public opinion in support of a military strike on Iraq. The
comparasion with Nazi Germany is not accurate. Iraq is an impoverished
nation. It was unable to defend itself during the Gulf War. It is much
less able to defend itself today, after the bombing of 1991 and seven
years of the trade embargo.
The US armed and supported Saddam Hussein while he was committing human
rights violations and Western leaders are actively seeking new trade
relations with other human rights violators, such as President Suharto of
Indonesia.
-- Can modern military technology minimize the loss of life in an attack?
The US military admitted after the 1991 Gulf War that 70 percent of the
bombs missed their targets. Only 7 percent of the bombs dropped were
"smart" bombs. Even when "smart" bombs were used, their targets are
usually infrastructure, such as water filtration plants and transportation
systems. One of the consequences after the 1991 Gulf War was a malaria
epidemic that killed 100,000 Iraqi civilians.
-- What would be the environmental impact of bombing Iraq?
During the Gulf War, the US "fired 900 tons of depleted
uranium into Iraq,
drenching it with permanent, radioactive contamination" ("Bombing the
cradle of civilization," David Orchard). If there are chemical weapons in
Iraq, the consequences of bombing them could be catastrophic. In 1991, the
US blew up a warehouse of chemical weapons without informing their
soldiers about the contents of the building. Since the end of the war,
many soldiers who served have suffered debilitating illness known as "gulf
war syndrome."
The US military will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if they see fit.
The New York Times editorial writer, William Safire, said, "If Mr.
Hussein turned totally suicidal and tried germ warfare, he would invite a
nuclear response."
-- How can we stop the suffering of the Iraqi people?
Governments cannot continue a war which the majority of the citizens do
not support. The Vietnam War could not continue when the masses of people
protested against it. During the last Gulf War, millions of people
protested to end the war. In US cities, hundreds of thousands
protested.
Today, many governments who supported the last Gulf War, do not support
another one.
Join in! Demonstrate! Write letters! Sign petitions! Together we can
compel Chretien to realize that Canadians do not want to participate in
this war!
No military aggression against Iraq.
US and Canadian troops out of the Gulf.
End the embargo against Iraq.
Join the Hands off Iraq Coalition: 215-0671 or enough@vcn.bc.ca
.
[end]
"BOMBING" CAMPAIGN CONTINUES IN TORONTO (continued from Cities Demonstrating)
The heretofore unknown Ministry of the Environment -- Toronto Faction
(MOE-TF) claimed responsibility for the spray-painting in red of "No Blood
for Oil" on both buildings located on University Avenue in downtown
Toronto. This marks the first time that MOE activities, in any form, have
extended past Vancouver.
According to Mr. Blue, formerly a senior deputy of MOE and believed to be
the mastermind of MOE-TF, yesterday's action is the first in a series of
non-violent "bombings" and direct actions aimed at opposing the criminal
activities of the United States, Great Britain, Canada and others.
"Spray-painting is just a symbolic first step. If the madness of Operation
Desert Storm is repeated again, MOE-TF and its friends will use every
peaceful means at its disposal to hamper and resist the ability of the
Canadian and American military apparatus to properly function in our
community," wrote Mr. Blue in a communique (Communique #1, MOE-TF,
02/12/98) sent to the Toronto Star newspaper. He added, "I strongly
encourage motivated groups and individuals to do the same in *their*
communities."
In addititon to the fortress-like US Consulate, MOE-TF targetted the RCMI
which is conveniently located just three doors away. The RCMI is
self-described as "Toronto's long-established club for business and
professional people." According to a brochure obtained by MOE-TF cadres
inside the guarded stately Edwardian building:
"The RCMI provides a unique blend of a distinguished private club and an
officers' mess. Founded in 1890, the Institute provides a home away from
home for members, serving officers and visitors."
Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Minister of Defence Art Eggleton (a
former mayor of Toronto) recently promised Canadian military support for
the upcoming American offensive against Iraq in the form of a frigate,
transport planes and accompanying soldiers and personnel.
The emergence of MOE-TF is of great concern to officials of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security and Intelligence
Service (CSIS), who have thus far considered the activities of MOE to be
harmless and limited to Vancouver.
Yesterday's bombing was the second in as many days, with officials of the
original MOE targetting the US Consulate and a Canadian Armed Forces
recruiting office in Vancouver. Senior bureaucrats of MOE painted slogans
like "No Blood for Blowjobs" as well as drawing a heart with the words
"Bill + Saddam, Forever in Hell" inside.
---------- end of forwarded message ----------
The US Consulate in Toronto is located near the corner of University and
Queen. The Royal Canadian Military Institute is located at 426 University
Avenue.
The US Consulate in Vancouver is located at 1095 West Pender. A Canadian
Armed Forces Recruiting Office is just across the street.
Back to: Actions and Statements by Groups Opposing Sanctions
Back to: Cities Demonstrating Against the War on Iraq
Back to: 5000 March in NYC
International Action Center
39 West 14 Street #206
New York, New York 10011
email: iacenter@iacenter.org
phone: (212) 633-6646
fax: (212) 633-2889