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TFLAC - Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean |
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Vieques
Alert - September 3, 2002 Vieques - Action Alert The following material was assembled by Dr. Deborah Santana, tireless Vieques activist and member of the FOR Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean. Here are tools for taking action to resist the Navy's continued bombing of Vieques, scheduled to begin again on Tuesday. Please read, respond, and forward to others. -John Lindsay-Poland Note: There will be demonstrations, fasts, and non-violent civil disobedience against renewed Navy bombing throughout Vieques, Puerto Rico, the US, and the world. US protests include New York City on September 3, the day the Navy plans to resume bombing Vieques for 23 days. Please check out http://www.viequeslibre.org for listings of actions, events, news, documents and photos in many places, updated regularly. Also included below are various other websites. The following documents are below: 1. Peace for Vieques demonstrations letter to be held next September 23, 2002 in front of the US Embassies 3. Call, fax, email the white house; sample letter 4. Slogans for banners or posters ***************************************************** PEACE FOR VIEQUES SEPTEMBER 23, 2002 IN FRONT OF U.S. EMBASSIES During the last tri-annual meeting (August 3-9, 2002) of the War Resisters International, held in Dublin, Ireland, the organization agreed to support the cause for peace and justice in Vieques, Puerto Rico by demonstrating in front of the United States Embassies around the world, to reject the U.S. Navy military practices and experiments in the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico which have been jeopardizing the health and life of its inhabitants for more than 60 years. The demonstrations will be organized by all the affiliated and participants of the War Resisters International last meeting in their respective countries; and many other organizatiions in solidarity with the cause of Vieques and it's struggle for peace. The demonstrations will be peaceful and in the form of a picketing line or sit ins in front of the U.S. embassies around the world this September 23, 2002. A letter will be delivered to the US embassies demanding the immediate cessation of the military practices and activities in Vieques. All members may contact their respective local and international press in order to disseminate their respective activities. The details of the activities and photos should be notified also to the following press e-mails in Puerto Rico: eferedac1@etbyte.net elpais@elnuevodia.com, editor@estrelladepr.com gaud_estrella@altavista.com, primerahora@elnuevodia.com sjstar@sanjuanstar.net, amarrero@raycommedia.com enrique.cruz@lintv.com, redaccion@elvocero.com wkaq580@yahoo.com, claridad@coqui.net aspropr@yahoogroups.com sjubureau@ap.org HRamos@cprdp.gov.pr AAlvarez@cprdp.gov.pr Rosa@cprdp.gov.pr For further information you can contact Dr. Luis Nieves Falcón, Puerto Rican Human Rights Committee on the following e-mail: nazysant@caribe.net. Tels. 1-787-725-1463, 1-787-727-4561, 1-787-723-9829 (Fax) Tels. 1-787-758-0315, 1-787-759-0315, 1-787-756-0315 (Fax) For more information about Vieques' struggle for Peace, visit the following web-sites: http://www.redbetances.com
(in Spanish) ***************************************************** September 23rd, 2002 TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT: The War Resisters International, individuals and organizations in solidarity with Vieques, Puerto Rico, herein request from the United States Government to stop immediately the gross violations of human rights inflicted on the people of Vieques for more than 60 years by the U.S. Navy throught its military practices and war games. The undersigned organization firmly demand the immediate cessation of all kind of military activities, and inhuman experiments with depleted uranium and other non-conventional weapons in the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico; the decontamination of the lands; and the return of the lands to the civilian population for their economic, social and cultural development. Peace and Justice for Vieques and its children, NOW! Friends, There is an ongoing campaign to get Bush to put his words about ending miltiary use of Vieques Puerto Rico IN WRITING, through an executive order. More than 30 congressmembers have recently written him to do just that. The Navy has announced it will bomb Vieques from Sept 3-26. There is a serious health and environmental crisis in the island which the bombing only makes worse. There is no better time than now to call, email and fax the White House. Please do so, and urge others to do so as well. I include below a sample letter, which I have faxed to the White House. Fax numbers: White House: 202-456-2461 Chief of Staff Andrew Card: 202-456-1907 Asst Chief of Staff Joshua Bolton: 202-456-6703 White House Comment line (telephone): 202-456-1111 White House Switchboard (telephone): 202-456-1414 Yours for peace and justice, Deborah August 31, 2002 President George W. Bush The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: I am writing to you on an issue of utmost importance to me and many other people in Puerto Rico, the United States, and worldwide: the use of Vieques, Puerto Rico by the United States Navy for bombing and other military training. Since World War II, the people of Vieques have lived in fear of the bombing that takes place only eight miles from their homes while enduring the social, environmental, economic and health impacts of these military exercises. I applaud you for your public statements that the Navy should cease training in Vieques by May 2003. Yet continued bombing - even for a short time - will exacerbate the serious health and environmental problems and have a negative political impact. The Navy is planning to bomb Vieques for nearly the whole month of September, as part of exercises that it can and does already carry out in other, less risky locations. Radiation levels in the civilian area of Vieques more than double during bombings - an extremely dangerous situation which you should address. Therefore, I urge you to issue an Executive Order for an immediate and permanent cessation of bombing and other military training exercises on this island. An Executive Order concerning Vieques follows the procedures used under President Ford in terminating training on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico in 1975 and President Bush Sr. in ending bombing practices in Kaho'olawe, Hawai'i in 1990. Your action on this matter would be a positive and constructive step forward for the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico, and would have a positive political impact without harming military readiness. Sincerely, ************************************************************************ MESSAGES FOR BANNERS, FLYERS, ETC. 1) STOP BOMBING VIEQUES NOW! MENSAJES en Español 1) ALTO AL BOMBARDEOS EN VIEQUES, AHORA! ***************************************************** Nazario & Santiago Associates Attorneys at law Edif. Alma Mater 867 D. Cabrera Urb. Santa Rita San Juan, PR 00925-2412 Tels. 1-787- 758-0315, 759-0315 Fax 756-0315 correo electrónico: nazysant@caribe.net página electrónica: http://netdial.caribe.net/~nazysant/_nazysant/nazysant.index.html
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