The Montreal local group of the Iraq Peace Team
has renamed itself the Iraq Solidarity Project - Projet Solidarite
Irak (ISP-PSI). Under this name, we are about to launch a new
project to monitor the occupation forces and the reconstruction
of Iraq and possibly to provide international accompaniment to
Iraqis under the occupation. If all goes according to plans, the
ISP-PSI will link with the international initiative "Occupation
Watch" (www.occupationwatch.org), providing a Quebec/Canadian
component to pay special attention to Canadian participation in
the occupation and plunder of Iraq.
ISP-PSI was recently endorsed by Echec a la guerre,
the Montreal coalition which mobilised hundreds of thousands of
people to march in opposition to the invasion of Iraq this past
year.
Our first step will be to send a small fact-finding
team to Iraq to make contacts and test the desire for an international
solidarity presence in Iraq. If the group returns with a positive
reply, ISP-PSI will begin sending delegations in mid- to late
September.
In order to send this initial team, we need your
support. If everyone on this list sends $10, we will be secure
enough to proceed with the initiative independently of any large
funding source. (Sending more would of course be even more helpful!)
Checks can be made out to "Objection Conscience
- Voices of Conscience" (and sent care of 8166 Henri-Julien,
Montreal QC H2P 2J2). They need to be clearly marked "for
Iraq Solidarity Project".
As you know, the situation in Iraq has been deteriorating.
The anti-war/peace movement has not been responding with the kind
of unity and energy that the situation demands. We are hoping
that this initiative can help to build a new solidarity movement
with the people of Iraq.
in solidarity,
Lisa Ndejuru Raymond Legault Randah Taher Amar
Al Allaq Mary Foster Francois Godbout
for the Iraq Solidarity Project