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Sharon Grimes, W A M M
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Support for War Eroding
Support for the war is eroding and is at its lowest level since the war began in March 2003, according to results of a USAToday/CNN/Gallup Poll released May 3.
* Only 41 percent of the people say the Iraq War was worth waging; 57 percent say it was not worth waging.
* When asked whether the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq in light of developments since the war began, 49 percent say it was a mistake and 48 percent say it was not.
In February 2005 polls
* 48 percent said the war had been worth waging; 50 percent said it had not.
* 45 percent said sending troops was a mistake;
55 percent said it was not.
Support peaked at 76 percent in 2003 when Saddam Hussein's regime fell.
Downward Trend in Recruitment Continues
Déja vu all over again, and again. In April, for the third month in a row, the Army missed its recruiting goal. For the first five months of the fiscal year it has met only 85 percent of its goal. The Army National Guard and Army Reserve have had even more trouble with recruiting. The Reserve, which signed up about half its goal, has not met a goal since December 2004.
Unocal Settles Human Rights Lawsuit
California-based Unocal Corporation agreed earlier this year to settle a long-running lawsuit charging that the oil company assisted with and encouraged the torture, murder, and rape of Burmese villagers by government soldiers so Unocal could build a gas pipeline. Although Unocal's denied that it knew about the abuse, its own documents showed that Unocal's consultants had repeatedly warned the corporation of the military's abuses and that "egregious human rights violations have occurred." The State Department and the United Nations had also denounced the Burmese regime's brutality. The settlement is particularly significant because corporations are now taking seriously lawsuits implicating them in international human rights abuses. "It puts companies on notice that their relationships with foreign governments, and in particular with foreign militaries, can become the subject of judicial review in the United States," says Elliot Schrage, who teaches business strategy and law at Columbia University and is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund Established
Good may come from bad. Marla Ruzicka, a humanitarian aid worker in Iraq, was killed in April by a car bomb. She had fought to get compensation and recognition for Iraqi casualties. Pentagon officials previously claimed they do not keep track of civilian casualties. Her death has led to a call by numerous organizations for the U.S. to account for the civilian casualties in Iraq and for the media to cover the issue. In addition, the Senate passed legislation introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy establishing a "Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund," with $30 million to help families and communities who have suffered losses in Iraq as a result of military operations, and $5 million for families in Afghanistan.
JP Morgan Chase Agrees to Support Environmental Measures
Because of pressure from environmentalists, JP Morgan Chase, the second-largest bank in the United States, has said it will introduce policies that promote "sustainable forestry and indigenous peoples' rights, and block funding that could be used for illegal logging." It also promised to reduce its own and its clients' carbon emissions. In addition, 30 major private banks have signed the Equator Principles to "promote responsible environmental stewardship and socially responsible development" by evaluating threats posed by projects to forests, natural habitats, and indigenous populations. According to Jon Williams, head of sustainability risk management at HSBC Bank, the guidelines cover about 80 percent of the world's projectfinancing market.
Protest Exposes Caterpillar Home Demolitions
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), along with groups all over the world, have called on the Caterpillar Corporation to stop selling the Israeli military "weaponized" bulldozers, which are used to demolish Palestinian homes. The resolution received 3 percent of the vote, which represents the support of investors with nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in CAT stock. Protests in 30 cities around the world called attention to CAT's role in "profiting from violating human rights and perpetuating the occupation," and dozens of media outlets throughout the world covered the issue.
250 Local Activists March for Peace on Mother's Day
Peace activists rallied May 7 at a Mother's Day Walk for Peace at the Lyndale Park Peace Garden in Minneapolis, and 250 people marched from the garden to Judson Memorial Baptist Church. The sponsors of the event included WAMM, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, and the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers.
Japan Apology Noted
Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologized April 22 for atrocities committed during WWII by the Japanese military, saying, "In the past, Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering for the people of many countries, particularly those of Asian nations." Although the apology is not new, it was made in a more public forum than previous apologies.
Ad Agency Campaign Educates about Violent Games
Minneapolis ad agency Martin/Williams is producing ads to educate parents about the harm done to children by violent video games. Research shows that the link between video games and violent behavior is "stronger than the link between second hand smoke and cancer," says David Walsh, president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, which is working with the ad agency. Several years ago Martin/Williams made a series of antiwar posters that they gave to WAMM, who then
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© 2005 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete June 2005 Index - click here
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