World Peace Day
September 21, 2006
The US war in Iraq is a horrible quagmire with tragic consequences for both the Iraqi and American people. Instead of quenching this fire, the US occupation intensifies it.
The Nebraska Coalition for Peace joined with communities across the United States to take action International Day of Peace, September 21, 2006.
Activities in Lincoln, Nebraska included for speakers at a kick-off event on September 21.
Susan Emanuel, mother of a National Guardsman serving in Iraq
I am here because I believe that the most meaningful way to honor our soldiers in Iraq is to speak up about the mounting evidence that this administration misled us into this war and sent Americans to fight and die with a flawed plan. I believe we honor our soldiers when we speak out against this administration’s insistence on following a failed policy in Iraq, a policy which many see as undermining the broader fight against terrorism, and I believe that when citizens insist on accountability from their elected representatives, they are showing great respect towards our men and women in uniform. Read more.
Bob Boyce, father of a U.S. Marine temporarily back from serving in Iraq
I never thought I would see the day when the United States would invade a country without just cause, when torture would be justified as necessary and proper, when the United States would ignore the Geneva Conventions. Read more.
Lela Shanks, Lincoln peace activist
As a member of the Nebraska Coalition for Peace, I’m here today to call upon all peace-loving Nebraskans to contact your senators and representatives and ask them to vote for peace, and to take action now to end the U. S. occupation and the U. S. war in Iraq... The Declaration of Peace is a commitment to take nonviolent steps for a comprehensive, concrete and rapid end to the U. S. war in Iraq. Read more.
David Orr, faith community representative
The war has accomplished nothing, but has brought about great loss of American lives, an untold number of Iraqi deaths, and enormous suffering. Our children and our grandchildren will be paying the financial and moral bills for this war for years to come. Read more.
Read or view the September 20, KOLN/KGIN report of the kick-off activities.
Hundreds of Lincoln residents participated in a one-day water-only fast.
The weather was wet for the all-day peace vigil at the Federal Building at 15th and O but spirits were high and attendance was good.
In the evening a presentation on War and the Environment sponsored by UNL Nebraskans for Peace and UNL Ecology Now was offered at the Nebraska Union. Presentations included:
Steve Larrick, President of the Lincoln Chapter of the United Nations Association - USA and Co-chair of the Nebraska Green Party spoke on "Depleted Uranium Weapons and the Growing Toxicity of Modern Warfare."
Tyler White, PhD candidate in the UNL Department of Political Science, spoke on the history of war and it's growing environmental threat.
Professor Andrew Jameton of the UNMC Department of Preventive and Societal Medicine spoke about how reduction of global warming should be a guiding factor in the personal and societal choices we make. The more Green and localized we can become, the less stress we put on the environment and the less we contribute to the demand for war over diminishing natural resources like oil.
David Dingman described his experiences in the community of Gaviotas, Columbia. It's an experimental community that is restoring a degraded environment while providing for a variety of models for sustainable community development of the future.
The day closed with a vigil featuring additional speakers and the Unitarian Church Choir.
Coalition for Peace
contact:
402-499-6672
Page hosting for CFP courtesy of First Mennonite Church.