The Chaldean Church
has a strong presence in the United States, with most of its
members centered in the Detroit, Michigan, area. The Chaldean
community here shares Patriarch Raphael's concerns for the
suffering Iraqi people.
Nations, and the United States in particular, view
the embargo as a necessary response to Iraq's refusal
to cooperate with the conditions of the cease-fire agreement
that ended the Gulf War in 1991. Channel
One, the news program broadcast to member high
schools, offers a summary of the events surrounding the
Gulf War in an archived September 1999 story. The United
States Department of State explains U.S. policy
regarding Iraq, and provides background information on
the United Nations position.
Search a major
newspaper such as The New
York Times for a list of recent articles explaining
how Iraq has repeatedly said no to U.N. arms inspectors and
rejected new arms inspection plans.
In spite of the
United States' firm stance, there are strong voices crying out
against the embargo. Many question the policy's failure to stop
weapons development in Iraq. The National Conference of Catholic
Bishops has spoken out against the economic sanctions. Pope
John Paul II calls the embargo "pitiless."
Still others contend
that the sanctions violate U.N. treaties such as the Convention
on the Rights of the Child. This international human rights
treaty, dating from November 20, 1989, outlines just what rights
a child is entitled to, no matter where on this earth he or
she may live. Read the UNICEF
Web site for information on the treaty, for UNICEF's commitment
to children's rights and for advice on what you can do to support
the treaty. Only two of the world's 191 countries have not ratified
the treaty, the United States ironically being one.
of other nations have suffered from the horrors of war. See
The New York Times
for information and teacher lesson
plans on the role of civilians in armed conflict. The lessons
include the results of war in Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo and the
Associated Press, in a release of December 16, 1999, offers
information on the position taken by this administration on
the embargoes the United States presently has in place: Cuba,
Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan and Libya.
Discuss what makes
this economic sanction different from what occurred in other
countries following the cessation of war. Research, for example,
how and why the United States put the Marshall
Plan together to assist post-World War II Europe. In spite
of the heinous war crimes of the Holocaust, the victorious countries
of World War II poured many millions of dollars in aid into
helping the aggressor nations get back on their economic feet.
is accused of developing and stockpiling chemical and biological
weapons unheard of in earlier global conflicts. Does this justify
the U.N.'s long and harsh sanctions? Should Iraq's civilian
population suffer greatly because of this threat? What are the
effects of war as opposed to economic sanctions? Is there any
real difference for the civilian population?
aid to the people of Iraq is punishable under law because of
the economic sanctions. Saddam Hussein has refused to welcome
Pope John Paul to visit Iraq. The United States government has
pressured Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York not to go to
Iraq. Every other day U. S. and British jets continue to bomb
Without Borders, the Nobel Prize-winning international
medical relief organization, reports on the 10 top underreported
emergencies in the world. Iraq is not one of them.
In fact, Iraq is unfortunately not among the 80 countries
benefiting from Doctors Without Borders' assistance.
and direct humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq is nearly
impossible at this time. However, working to change government
policies is always an option.
At the Web site
for Close Up, a Washington,
D.C.-based foundation, you can find the names and addresses
of your senators and representative. If you believe the embargo
is unfairly punishing the population of Iraq, you can argue
for dropping the embargo. You can also recommend that the United
States ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
voices to support the rights of others can take many forms.
UNICEF sponsors an annual International
Children's Day of Broadcasting, the next one being
December 9, 2001. On this day the world's children call
on international leaders to put the rights of children
at the center of their work. Children are the producers,
reporters and hosts on this day. Find out more about the
program at UNICEF. Or put together your own local version,
offering children and adults the chance to carry their
message to local and regional politicians.
National Conference of Catholic Bishops has spoken out against
the Iraqi sanctions. Their Web site offers information supporting
ways to find help for the people of Iraq. You may wish to know
more about Voices
in the Wilderness (VitW), a U. S. citizen-action group.
VitW sponsors prayer vigils, walks for peace and fasts in support
of ending the sanctions against Iraq. In spite of the threat
of fines and prison, members of the group have made a number
of trips to Iraq to deliver medicine and other relief. Voices
in the Wilderness considers the economic sanctions to in fact
be a form of genocidal violence against the Iraqi people.