Iraq - What Now? IJPC Issue Paper, September 2003

We noted:
“On May 1, 2003 President Bush, in a televised speech from an aircraft carrier announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq. Now, more than four months later . . . People are still dying and being wounded, Basic Services and humanitarian relief are lacking and aid workers are leaving, Occupation and reconstruction costs are rising U.S. Corporations are Profiting and The Administration’s original reasons for war are collapsing”

We echoed the call by Voices in the Wilderness for Ethical Next Steps In Iraq and at Home:
“Meet Immediate Humanitarian Needs, End Occupation, Recognize that Iraq’s Natural, Cultural, and Economic Resources Belong to Iraqis, Endorse the Call to Stop War Profiteers, Clean up all Cluster Bombs, DU, etc.,Pay Reparations, Cancel Debt and Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil”

Now in May, 2006, more than 3 years later...
Read the Iraq - What Now? Issue Paper

Our Nonviolence Guidelines: adapted from the School of America Watch’s Nonviolence Guidelines

“Our goal is to end the war in Iraq and resist the oppressive policies and systems that it represents. We act in solidarity with people around the world whose lives are impacted by these policies, as one part of an international struggle for human rights and global justice. “

Download the entire IJPC Nonviolence Guidelines pd

The Fellowship of Reconciliation: Defusing Iran’s Nuclear Crisis Without War, April 2006

“In the final analysis, the United States remains the owner of the biggest stockpile of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons worldwide. As such, it has no moral authority to force other nations to eschew nuclear power for fear they might develop nuclear weapons of their own. The FOR believes all nations, including the United States, should move toward a safer world by getting rid of their arsenals of weapons of mass destruction. Only then will they have the moral right to encourage non-nuclear nations not to acquire them in the first place.”

Read the entire defusing Iran’s Nuclear Crisis Article

 

 

Our Peace Committee meets on the Third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM to facilitate these efforts:

Days of Dialogue

February 4, 2006 was the initial Day of Dialogue sponsored by a IJPC and other groups to: create, offer, and facilitate ongoing experiences of learning how to really listen to others whose opinions differ on significant social issues. The dialogue process differs from that of debate by emphasizing listening, cooperation and collaboration. The success of the Day of Dialogue on Iraq featuring Ray McGovern and Adeed Dawisha has lead to ongoing planning sessions for a late July/early August Day of Dialogue on Immigration featuring participants with widely varying positions. We will announce details soon. for more information please contact: kristen@ijpc-cincinnati.org
download the handout from Day of Dialogue on Iraq / read the Xavier press release

End the War in Iraq & Stop the Next War Now

IJPC continues to organize and support nonviolent activities directed at immediately ending the Occupation of Iraq and discrediting the currently implemented U.S. National Security Strategy of September 2002 which legitimizes the use of preemptive military force.

We have (and continue to) organize mass rallies and marches, distributed leaflets, initiated letter writing and petition campaigns, held vigils, forums and prayed all to further these goals. We work with many like minded groups and coalitions. We are members of Women in Black, United for Peace & Justice, Pax Christi, The Fellowship of Reconciliation and the School of the America’s Watch.

Before You Enlist: Truth in Recruiting

The Truth in Recruiting Campaign seeks to limit the influence of military recruiters on middle and high school kids, to help these kids make well reflected career choices, and to provide information on jobs and training and nonviolent ways to financing college. A particular emphasis is placed on bringing awareness of possible dangers of joining the military and false promises made by recruiters. We interact with students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors and administrators both in local schools and in our community.


Nuclear Disarmament

We support the call for disarmament by the Fellowship of Reconciliation:

“FOR's disarmament program seeks to create a world free of weapons, and to abolish all institutions that conduct, support, and profit from warmaking. We envision a time when nuclear weapons (and all weapons of mass destruction) are abolished from the earth, landmines are outlawed, and armies no longer march.

The global abolition of nuclear weapons, first through the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty by the U.S. Senate, and then through U.S. leadership and support for a Nuclear Weapons Convention to conclude an international treaty for total nuclear disarmament.”

As part of this effort we conduct an annual Vigil for Victims of Nuclear Attacks on Hiroshima & Nagasaki on the anniversary of the bombings.

Peace Camp

For the past 10 years IJPC with members from the Center for Peace Education has organized and operated a Peace Camp for diverse groups Cincinnati children, ages 6-12.
In 2006, sessions will be held in the Over The Rhine, Walnut hills and Northside neighborhoods. The sessions are free, led by trained staff with volunteer assistance and focus on Conflict Management, Diversity Appreciation, Cooperation, Effective Communication and Envisioning Peace.

 

 

Thousands in Cincinnati protest Bush's call for war in Iraq
by Dan La Botz October 8, 2002

"At the center of the organization of the demonstration was the Inter-Community Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) that reached out to churches and schools in the area. ‘IJPC was involved because people asked us to help find a way for them to express their opinions. People called to say, 'What are we going to do? We have to do something.' What I thought was wonderful was that the opinions that were expressed were a whole variety of concerns, but the one thing in common was: no war. But the reasons and how people came to that came from many different places. Some people came because of their religious convictions. Others were concerned about the economy. Others worried about Iraq and the human issues of suffering. Some people concerned about new 'preemptive war.' There were people concerned about the whole Middle Eastern situation and the escalation of violence that might come from such a war. And then there were the pacifists who always oppose war, said Sister Alice Gerdeman, IJPC coordinator.”

read the entire Free Press article

Civil Disobedience Against War Gets Day in Federal Court
by Catherine Komp, Binghamton, NY; Sept. 21, 2005

“Anti-war activists are on trial in a federal court here this week for a controversial protest at a military recruitment center, charged with conspiracy to impede a federal officer. Attorneys working on the case believe it is the first federal conspiracy charge against civilians protesting the war in Iraq, and the first such indictment against anti-war protesters since the Vietnam War era. Well known in the small town of Ithaca for their anti-war organizing and dedication to social justice issues, the St. Patrick’s Four – all members of the Catholic Worker movement – say they are part of a long history of nonviolent civil resistance to "government injustice," like the many abolitionists, suffragists and civil rights activists who came before them.

"We see ourselves continuing in that tradition," said defendant Peter Demott, "that we’re speaking out against genocide, against war-making, against the slaughter of the innocents, against the destruction and pollution and environmental degradation of the Iraqi landscape and of whole world really."

read the entire NewStandard article

From Despair to Hope
by Cindy Sheehan, Friday, October 7, 2005

“Then in August 2005, I was sitting at home watching TV (a very rare occurrence) and I saw that 14 Marines from Ohio had been killed in one incident. If that weren't heartbreaking and sickening enough, George Bush came on the TV and said that the loved ones of fallen soldiers can rest assured that their loved ones died for "a noble cause." That enraged me, and inflamed my sense of failure. I did not believe before Casey was killed, after he was killed, nor on August 3, 2005, that invading a country that was about as much threat to the USA as Switzerland, killing tens of thousands of innocent people all for greed for power and money is a noble cause. I decided to go to Crawford to ask him what the "noble cause" is.

The rest is history. The more that people came to Camp Casey; the more letters, cards, emails, phone calls, and packages of support we received; the happier we were.”

read the entire Common Dreams article

Won't Get Fooled Again: Teaching kids to beware the military's allure
by Steve Carter-Novotni, February 1, 2006

“Cincinnati Public Schools students will soon be told all the things military recruiters don't want them to hear.

The Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) is launching its "Truth in Recruiting" campaign in area schools next month. The organization plans to present high school students with alternatives to enlistment and to let them know that recruiters sometimes lie to kids while trying to restock America's war machine, according to IJPC staffer Kristen Barker.”

read the entire CityBeat article