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.