*****SPAM***** PHA-Exchange> Boycott- please add UK products :::::::: + Re: IRAQ WAR

[pamzinkin]

People in UK and USA need to know that there is a boycott initiative from 
other countries. If you have friends from Bangladesh and other countries 
living here please let them know.
I think that all initiatives are worthwhile..expelling UK from the 
Commonwealth would have an impact..perhaps Australia as well..The other 
initiative is to invoke UN Security resolution 377..50% of remember 
countries recommend cessation of use of armed force for example..used 
against UK in Suez..and that time UK stopped.
Pam

t 04:18 PM 4/1/03 -0800, UNNIKRISHNAN PV (Dr) wrote:
>Dear Noumanbhai and team
>
>Congratulations for all your anti war efforts.
>
>It is important to add UK products along with the US products when calling 
>for the boycott. This is a common suggestion that has from many. 
>Strategically it is important that we take this up.
>
>Strategically you may consider using the following common slogan- "Drop 
>their shops and STOP THE WAR !- Boycott US and UK campaign". This may 
>strategically useful in branding the campaign as common global activity, 
>with specific activities at the national/ local level.
>
>Another demand that you may consider as a campaign point is to demand the 
>expulsion of Britain from Commonwealth. Britain, by deciding to invade a 
>country through an unilateral decision has :
>
>1) Violated the founding principles of Commonwealth- that is democratic 
>decision making
>2) Violated the UN's principles
>3) Pose a grave threat to other member countries.
>
>Some of us (this is NOT a PHM initiative) have been facilitating this 
>demand from Bangalore, India. Please find a press release that was issued 
>to this effect (after the signature of this mail).
>
>If you plan to take it up, please let us know. we could feed you more info 
>and campaign points.
>
>In solidarity
>
>Unni
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>Dr. Unnikrishnan PV , India
>E-mail: <mailto:unnikru at vsnl.com>unnikru at vsnl.com; Ph (m): +91 (0) 98450 91319
>
>Read the latest on the campaign to stop the war at :
><http://www.indiadisasters.org/iraq>www.indiadisasters.org/iraq
>
>Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 7:44 AM
>Subject: EXPEL BRITAIN FROM COMMONWEALTH, says Indian citizens. (PRESS 
>STATEMENT)
>
>
>
>EXPEL  BRITAIN  FROM  COMMONWEALTH <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 
>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
>
>
>
>
>
>----------
>
>Britain s presence in this international body is a grave threat to the 
>security of other member countries, say Indian citizens
>
>
>
>
>
>Press statement issued on behalf of several anti-war initiatives, civil 
>society organisations, individuals and mass movements.
>
>
>
>Bangalore, 
>India.                                                         22nd March 2003
>
>A large number of citizens from the south Indian city of Bangalore today 
>demanded that Britain be expelled from the Commonwealth immediately. A 
>group of citizens have been holding peaceful demonstrations (candle-light 
>vigils) in front of the British Trade Office and the British Council 
>Library this week in response to the aggressive and undemocratic decision 
>of Britain and the USA to wage a war on Iraq. Today, they sent an appeal 
>to the heads of nations of all Commonwealth countries to press this 
>demand. Excerpts of the letter, released to the press, stated four reasons 
>for Britain s expulsion.
>
>1)      The presence of Britain in the Commonwealth, an international 
>body, poses a grave threat to other member countries. The possibility of 
>retaliation against Britain because of its role in the aggression against 
>Iraq presents a threat for other member countries safety and security as 
>well. Britain must be expelled to ensure that other countries in 
>Commonwealth, who are not a party to this war, do not become targets for a 
>decision that they are not responsible for.
>
>2)      By going to war without consulting member countries, Britain has 
>violated a founding principle of the Commonwealth -- democratic process of 
>decision-making. There is no room for anyone to be a member who violates 
>the founding principles of this international body that must be democratic 
>in its decision-making.
>
>3)      Britain has violated the UN charter by deciding to go ahead, along 
>with the US, with this avoidable and immoral war. We appeal to all member 
>countries of the Commonwealth to understand this as an aggressive and 
>undemocratic process and condemn this. The UN has been a guiding principle 
>for maintaining global peace. The UN also has facilitated the liberation 
>of many of the countries from the clutches of the colonial powers in the 
>past and is respected in these countries. An aggression on the UN and 
>violation of its founding principles amount to an assault on the 
>collective conscience of the people of the member countries of 
>Commonwealth as well as other member countries of the UN.
>
>4)      This war will result in a global arms race. Countries will end up 
>spending more money to procure weapons. This arms race will divert the 
>limited resources available for health, education and other social sector 
>needs in the members countries, many of which have yet to recover from the 
>long and traumatising experience of decades of colonisation by Britain. 
>Many of them do not have enough resources for their basic minimum needs. 
>As it is a well-established fact that wars divert precious and limited 
>resources social sector expenditure like health care and education, we 
>feel that this immoral and avoidable war led by the USA and Britain will 
>destabilise the minimum development achievements in these 
>countries.
>
>To add strength for their appeal, the citizens have send their request 
>also to the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, to take up 
>their case.
>
>The signatories include a cross section of ordinary people, professionals, 
>human rights activists, women s movements, academicians, people-based mass 
>movements, science and literacy movements, health activists, NGOs, 
>students, media personalities, artists, social and legal activists among 
>others.
>
>The letter addressed to the heads of nations of members of the 
>commonwealth also adds that some of the reasons they have sited are the 
>same reasons that Britain have used in the past when they have called for 
>expulsion of certain member countries from commonwealth.
>
>This appeal by the citizens of Bangalore has also been endorsed by several 
>other people from the rest of the country and citizens of member countries 
>of commonwealth.
>
>The efforts and campaign to stop the war on Iraq will continue 
>relentlessly, said a spokesperson. The city will be witnessing series of 
>campaigns and demonstrations in the coming days, the spokesperson added.
>
>For media enquiries, please call:
>
>+91   (0) -   98450 91319 (mobile)     /    +91 (80)    3182 4947 (CDMA)
>
>+91 (80)-  546 2541 / 548 9108        /     +91 (80) - 548 9108
>
>+91 (80) - 394 2395                       /     +91 (80) 363 2964/ 363 3274
>
>+91 (80) 527 3439                     /     +91 (0) 98861 67758 (mobile)
>
>+91 (80) 846 5294
>
>
>---
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Pam Zinkin                              tel:44 (0)20 7609 1005
pamzinkin at gn.apc.org            fax:44 (0)20 7700 2699
45 Anson Road
London N7 OAR
UK
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