Leeds
students Corinne Fowler and Sally Entwistle set out today to walk from
John O'Groats to Lands End for a 1,0mile, 2 month long protest. They will
be challenging the new US-backed British proposed changes to the Iraqi
sanctions regime. They aim to bring the reality of the new so called "Smart"
sanctions to the public's attention.In
addition they will be raising money for humanitarian projects in Iraq.
The
press has reported this new initiative as the `end of sanctions'. We wish
to inform the public of the words of Colin Powel, US Secretary of State,
that the new Iraq policy "wasn't an effort to ease sanctions [but] an attempt
to rescue the sanctions policy that was collapsing" (8th March, 01) They
are aiming to raise thousands of pounds for the Human Relief foundation
[2], the only registered British charity active in Iraq.The
HRF carry out vital humanitarian projects such as rebuilding schools, hospitals
and water treatment plants "When
we learned what Britain was doing in Iraq, we were overwhelmed by a tremendous
sense of shame", explained Corinne.Unicef
has estimated that an additional half million children under the age of
five have died due to sanctions. Sally and Corinne got involved in the
campaign after watching John Pilger's documentary `Paying the Price - Killing
the children of Iraq' RWe felt so ashamed of the genocide being committed
in our name that we decided to do something there and then to combat it
in some small way". Sally
and Corinne will walk miles a day for 2 months without the help of a back-up
vehicle, stopping in towns, cities and villages along the way. They will
be alerting local media, informing and urging locals including MP's to
voice their opposition by sending personal messages of condemnation, addressed
to 10 Downing street, on balloons symbolising the desperate need to re-INFLATE
the Iraqi economy. This
is the first walk of its kind in the growing anti-sanctions campaign.It
is unique in that it has a very up-to-the-minute political edge as the
UN Security Council votes on the proposed Rsmart" sanctions resolution
on 4th July - right in the middle of their walk! They
are readily reachable and are willing to meet with journalists and give
interviews at any point along their route [1]. They are also encouraging
people to join them at any point long the route. They hope to reach Land's
End on the 21st August in time for Corinne's birthday for a
double celebration! The
past few years have seen a growing tide of opposition to the sanctions.
Two Assistant Secretary Generals to the UN and Humanitarian Co-ordinators
in Iraq resigned in protest. The first Denis Halliday said "We are in the
process of destroying an entire society, it is as simple and terrifying
as that. It is illegal and immoral". The
second Hans von Sponeck was particularly outspoken about the effects of
sanctions on children, pointing out that infant mortality had more than
doubled under the sanctions. He added, RCan we afford, can anyone afford
to associate himself or herself with such a reality? I cannot". For
more information: visit: www.basinet.org
where you can also follow their progress day by day. Tel:
0113 282 4810Mobile: 07713 74 21E-mail: info@basinet.org
Address:
BASI, 6 Main Street, Carlton, Wakefield, WF3 3RW
NB:Corinne
and Sally are members of the Leeds University Students Union [3] campaign
Against Sanctions on Iraq Society and Britain Against Sanctions on Iraq
(BASI). Both organisations aim to raise awareness of the effects of the
economic sanctions on the civilian population of Iraq and campaign for
the lifting of non-military sanctions. They do not support or have any
ties with the government of Iraq.
Notes to Editors:
1.They
will pass through some major towns and cities: Inverness, Stirling, Glasgow,
Carlisle, Lancaster, Bristol to name a few...contact BASI for more details.
2.The
Human Relief Foundation - Registered Charity No: 1043676
Contact
details: P.O. Box 194, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1YW, England, U.K.
Tel:
01274 392727Fax: 01274 739992www.hrf.co.uk
3.A
motion was passed at this years Annual General Meeting of the
Leeds Student Union, which condemned the economic sanctions on Iraq. The
sanctions are killing 5000 children every month and have caused the deaths
of millions of Iraqis since their imposition. The Leeds University Union
now officially opposes this genocide.