From a netfriend:

Here is something further to add to the discussion about the war. I attended one of the recent prayer vigils in the city and was handed this leaflet.

WHY AUSTRALIA SHOULD NOT GO TO WAR WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?

Why Australia should not go to war · It is illegal. “All member states shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of or political independence of any state. United Nations Charter, Article 1#4. · It is immoral. “The case for attacking Iraq has not been made. It fails to be a just cause and a last resort and may produce more harm than it hopes to remedy.” Revd Shaun Casey, United Methodist Church U.S.A · It will be a disaster for civilians. UN secretary-general Kofi Annan says that “.modern estimates show that civilians make up 75% of all war casualties.” · Sanctions are killing Iraq. In Iraq chronic malnutrition affects every fourth child under five years of age. Only 41% of the population have regular access to clean water. Campaign against sanctions in Iraq. UK · War promotes the arms race. “Should war break out in the Middle East again a nuclear escalation, once unthinkable except as a last resort, would now be a strong probability.” Leading Israeli defence writer Seymour Hersh · It is not about eliminating a dictator. Saudi Arabia’s dictatorship strongly supported the threat of weapons of mass destruction, North Korea a bigger threat but gets mild treatment. War on Iraq will likely spawn a new generation of terrorists. · Not in Australia’s interest. “.there are insufficient grounds for war, which is unnecessary and may lead to unpredictable and potentially disastrous consequences. It is not in Australia’s interests to take part in such a war. General Peter Gration Australian commander during the Gulf War · Weapons of Mass Destruction? “In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War and the subsequent weapons inspection regime, virtually any aggressive military potential by Iraq has been destroyed.” Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector · Who has them? “The US is at this moment developing advanced systems of “weapons of mass destruction” and is prepared to use them where it sees fit. It has walked away from international agreements on biological and chemical weapons, refusing to allow inspection of its own factories.” Harold Pinter, British Play write · Is it about oil? Iraq has the world’s second largest oil reserves. As far back as 1945 the US government described the region as: “a stupendous source of strategic power and one and one of the greatest material prizes in world history.” · “We do not understand this war. It is a threat to our children, our elderly, our sick, our young people, who for twelve years have known nothing about their future. Where is freedom? Where is Christian charity?” Shlemon Warduni Iraqi Bishop

What are the Alternatives to war? · An end to all sanctions against Iraq. · An international treaty to control and reduce arms sales. · Support the UN weapons inspectors and allow them to complete their work. · The addressing of the roots and causes of terrorism as well as the symptoms. · A sustained commitment to a fair and just settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation. · The closing off of the supply of fissile material to Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Iran and Libya. · The implementation of the biological and toxin weapons convention. · A new international council to control all weapons of mass destruction. · The five permanent members of the security council, US, UK, France, Russia & China to implement their undertaking of May 2000 to reduce their own stockpiles of nuclear weapons. · “Money overspent on weapons and military warfare is money that should be spent on the sheer survival of millions of people, including Iraqis and Afghans, whose outlook is otherwise hopeless in a world that is so good for us. To reduce poverty and despair is to reduce much of the cause of fanaticism and terrorism.” Ian George Archbishop of Adelaide

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