Rice For Peace (and Other Ways to Oppose War)

Here are a few of the many ways to protest the impending war with Iraq. Thanks to my friend at Pax Christi, the Catholic peace movement, for providing this information.

Join United For Peace and Justice anti-war march in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 15, a world-wide day of action against the Bush Administration's proposed war on Iraq. Protests are already being planned in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Bern, Brussels, Cairo, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, Helsinki, Istanbul, Jakarta, London, Manila, Oslo, Paris, Ramallah, Rome, San Francisco, San Juan, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tokyo, Vienna, and Warsaw. Confirmed speakers in New York include Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. For more information go to: UnitedForPeace.org.

Contact members of the UN Security Council directly, both permanent members (France, Russian Federation, People's Republic of China, United Kingdom and the United States) and non-permanent member states (Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico, Syrian Arab Republic, Angola, Chile, Germany, Pakistan, Spain). Ask them to oppose war on Iraq. Hearing from thousands of people will send a clear message that Americans do not support war with Iraq, and will help Security Council members resist the enormous pressure being applied by the Bush administration.

To pass a resolution, the UN Security Council must generate nine "Yes" votes and no vetoes. Russia is sending conflicting messages about its possible support of a war against Iraq. Please contact the Russian Mission and ask them to hold firm against war. Also contact the French Mission, thank them for their leadership, and ask them to continue to oppose the war.

-Russian Federation: Ambassador Sergey Lavrov: rusun@un.int; Phone: 212-861-4900; 4901 and 4902; Fax: 212-628-0252

-France: Ambassador S.E.M. Jean-David Levitte: france-presse@un.int; Phone: 212-308-5700; Fax:212-421-6889.

-People's Republic of China: Ambassador Wang Yingfan: chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn; Phone;212-655-6100; Fax: 212-634-7626.

-United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Ambassador Sir Jeremy Quentin Greenstock, KCMG: uk@un.int; Phone: 212-745-9200; Fax: 212-745-9316.

-United States: Ambassador John D. Negroponte: usa@un.int; Phone: 212-415-4000; Fax: 212-415-4443.

-Republic of Bulgaria: Ambassador H.E. Mr. Stefan Tafrov: bulgaria@un.int; Phone: 212-737-4790; 4791; Fax: 212-472-9865.

-Republic of Cameroon: Ambassador Son Excellence Martin Belinga Eboutou: info@cameroonmission.org; Phone: 212-794-2295, -2296, -2297, -2298, or -2299; Fax: 212-249-0533.

-Republic of Guinea: Ambassador Mamady Traore: guinea@un.int; Phone: 212-687-8115, -8116, or -8117; Fax: 212-687-8248.

-Mexico: Ambassador Alfonso Aquilar Zinser: mexico@un.int; Phone: 212-752-0220; Fax: 212-688-8862.

-Syrian Arab Republic: Ambassador Mikhail Wahba: syria@un.int; Phone: 212-661-1313; Fax: 212-983-4439.

-Republic of Angola: Ambassador S.E. Dr. Ismael Gaspar Martins: ang-un@angolamissionun.org; Phone: 212-861-5656; Fax: 212-861-9295.

-Chile Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdes: chile@un.int; Phone: 212-832-3323; Fax: 212-832-8714.

-Germany: Ambassador Dr. Gunter Pleuger: contact@germany-un.org; Phone: 212-940-0400; Fax: 212-940-0402.

-Pakistan: Ambassador Munir Akram: Pakistan@un.int; Phone: 212-879-8600; Fax: 212-744-7348.

-Spain: Ambassador H. E. Mr. Inocencio F. Arias: spain@spainun.org; Phone: 212-661-1050; 212-949-7247.

Here is a simple action plan from Hands Across the Globe to help stop war: 1. Outline the hands of your children or grandchildren and write a message of peace on each hand. 2. Mail one handprint to President Bush at The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500 (Fax: 202-456-2461) 3. Mail the other handprint to the Iraq Mission to the UN, c/o Ambassador Mohammed Aldouri, Mission of Iraq to the UN, 14 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021 (Fax: 212-772-1794)