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LOCAL Announcement :: Peace

Electricity Fast-Iraq War Protest

The Allium Collective, a Chicago living collective dedicated to activism and ethical living practices, is calling for a fast from electricity to call attention to the inequitable distribution of resources in the world. The protest is in conjunction with the Declaration of Peace.
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In the United States many of us have it pretty easy. Most of us have clean running water, access to rapid communication and grocery stores stocked with an abundance of food. Beyond that, we can generally assume that our homes are not in danger of being bombed and our families not in danger of being kidnapped or killed. A significant part of our lifestyle is made possible by taking these privileges from others both in our own country abroad.

If peace is possible, Americans need to take the step and say we will change so as not to take from others. The war in Iraq, once supported by large numbers of people in the United States, is now widely seen as a total failure. In this situation, though, we have the ability to change where the funding is going - from military funding to infrastructure development. The first step in this shift requires concrete plan for removal of troops and rebuilding of Iraqi infrastructure by Iraqis.

To show our willingness to change and to highlight the issue of the effect of our country’s levels of consumption The Allium Collective is calling concerned citizens across the country to support the Declaration of Peace by joining in a week long electricity fast in conjunction with the Declaration’s week of peaceful actions.

The Declaration of Peace is a pledge to take peaceful steps for the immediate end to the US War in Iraq and to engage in nonviolent protest if a plan to end the war is not established and begun by September 21, 2006 -- International Peace Day -- days before Congress adjourns.

Between now and September participants in The Declaration of Peace will engage in the following actions:

- Call on the Bush administration and Congress to end the war

- Ask candidates in the fall elections to support legislation that brings troops home and cuts off funding for the war

- Participate in activities leading up to September 21, including marches, vigils, and national phone-ins and email campaigns

- Prepare for September with public Declaration signings, events, and nonviolence trainings to be scheduled across the United States

If the September 21 deadline is not met, those who sign the Declaration will engage in peaceful action in Washington, DC, at Congressional offices and sites throughout the nation from September 21-28. In the spirit of Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, some signers will be led by conscience to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience and risk arrest as a way to signify their principled opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq.

By participating in the electricity fast we show our support for the Declaration of Peace as well as acknowledge the connection between our lifestyle and injustice.

For more information please visit the Declaration of Peace website (www.declarationofpeace.org) and the Allium Collective website (www.alliumcollectve.org) or e-mail alliumcollective (at) gmail.com

In Chicago, we are holding an informational meeting Saturday September 9th at 3:00. E-mail alliumcollective (at) gmail.com or call 773-293-0237 for more information.
 
 

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