DEPARTMENTS
ANTI-WAR
DEATH PENALTY
ELECTIONS
ENVIRONMENT
GLBT ISSUES
HEMP
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
REVIEWS
|
Departments Ohio Open letter calling on Ohio House of Representatives to vote on Iraqi refugee resolution The AFSC believes Ohio’s reputation in the eyes of the world can be enhanced by agreeing to accept people who have fled from the violence and destruction of their nation following 4 years of US military occupation. We believe it is, indeed, the responsibility of our nation to accept the responsibility for our actions. Therefore, the Northeast Ohio AFSC calls for the Ohio House of Representatives to pass the Ohio Senate resolution – but only after adding the following “Whereas” clauses. “WHEREAS, The original invasion, war and occupation was based on supposed ‘facts’ that Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein had a working relationship, that Hussein and the Iraqi government had connections to the September 11, 2001 US attacks, that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), and that Iraqi WMD’s posed an imminent threat to the US. All these ‘facts’ turned out to be fiction, untruths, lies.” “WHEREAS, the US ‘shock and awe’ attack, invasion, and occupation has resulted over 4 years in the deaths of 655,000 Iraqis, and destruction of their economy and environment.” “WHEREAS, most Iraqis would prefer to live in Iraq, not relocate to Ohio, Oklahoma or Ontario – however the illegal invasion, unwinnable war and unending occupation has made their country unstable and, in many ways, unlivable – forcing people who can afford so to leave. The UN estimates that up to 2 million Iraqis have fled to other countries and another 1.8 million have been internally displaced.” “WHEREAS, the Iraq war, invasion and occupation has resulted, to date, in the deaths of 156 Ohio troops and injuries to at least 1100 Ohio troops.” “WHEREAS, 14.2 billion tax dollars from Ohio alone, to date, has been spent on the Iraq war and occupation – money that could have been used for education, health care, infrastructure improvements, housing, jobs and other services enhancing the social and economic security of all Ohioans.” AFSC also calls on the Ohio House of Representatives to add the following “THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED” sections to the resolution: “THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the state of Ohio believes the best means in the long run to prevent further refugees from leaving Iraq is to call on the federal government to bring all Ohio and US troops home now and end the illegal war and occupation.” “THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the state of Ohio calls on the federal government to pay for the cost of any relocation of Iraqi refugees to Ohio and to pay reparations to the Iraqi people for launching an illegal war against their nation.” “THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the state of Ohio calls on the federal government to oppose further funding of the war and occupation and redirect those funds toward meeting the social and economic security needs of Ohioans.” AFSC believes the Ohio Senate resolution with these additions, if passed by the Ohio House of Representatives, would represent a full understanding of the Iraqi refugee issue and the sincerity of all Ohioans in accepting responsibility for the impact of US military actions in Iraq. Ohio’s reputation in the eyes of the world would surely be enhanced. For more information, feel free to contact us: Greg Coleridge Director, Economic Justice & Empowerment Program Phone: 330-928-2301 Email: GColeridge@afsc.org Dana Williams Co-Clerk, Economic Justice & Empowerment Program Phone: 330-253-5847 Email: dana@riseup.net --- The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker social action organization and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 for its post-WWII relief and reconstruction work. |
|
Tim Kettler endorsed as Green Party candidate for Ohio Senate District 20 Columbus janitors win contract John Judge talk Mayoral Candidate Bill Todd files lawsuit accusing State of Ohio and Columbus Public Schools of maintaining an unfair and inequitable system of education Fall farm & nature volunteer guides needed at Stratford Ecological Center Joseph Stephen Zoretic The New Revolutionaries are at work in Ohio Comfest Satuday ends in radical street demo Farm & nature guides needed at Stratford Ecological Center Volunteer opportunity at Stratford Ecological Center Lavender festival seeks volunteers We're making history in Duncan Falls Volunteers needed at Stratford Ecological Center Volunteer opportunities at Stratford Ecological Center Easy way to help Open letter calling on Ohio House of Representatives to vote on Iraqi refugee resolution Nancy Tobi Rocks! Democracy for New Hampshire comes to Ohio! Cost of Iraq war trickles down to Ohio, Ohio's Senate fiddles while Baghdad Burns Former President of Mexico gives speech for fundraiser An urgent appeal on behalf of Carol Fisher Stop the unity of hate in Columbus, Ohio Read Ohio Articles by Year: |
FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE
Donate to the Free Press Election Protection Fund to help us investigate and monitor election fraud in this year's election.
FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook
SEARCH THE FREEPRESS
1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer