IRAQ PEACE TEAM Chicago-based Voices in the Wilderness has been actively opposing the sanctions and ongoing bombing of Iraq since 1996. They have organised over 50 delegations to Iraq from the U.S. and have a solid understanding of the situation in Iraq. In the face of mounting threats against Iraq, they initiated the Iraq Peace Team project. Since September 2002, the Iraq Peace Team has maintained a constant presence of international activists in Iraq, standing in solidarity with the Iraqi people and working to prevent the invasion. The Iraq Peace Team intends to remain with the Iraqi people during an attack, sending back reports about how the assault is affecting people on the ground. See http://www.iraqpeaceteam.org and http://www.nowar-paix.ca/

CANADIAN PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PEACE TEAM. Since November 2002, Canadians associated with the Canadian Network to End Sanctions on Iraq (CANESI) have been active participants in this project.

• Dr. David Swann from Calgary (http://swann.activist.ca/).
• Dr. Amir Khadir from Montreal joined the team in November.
• Four women from Vancouver (Irene MacInnes, Linda Morgan, Irene Vandas, and Jennifer Ziemann joined in December. (see CBC)
• Three Montreal/Ottawa activists (Mary Foster, Lisa Ndejuru and Mick Panesar) joined on January 26, 2003 (see Peac Team I) for biographies and callout.
• Zehira Houfani-Montreal and Robert Turcotte-Quebec city joint the team on March 06, 2003.( see Peac Team II) for biographies and callout.

GOALS. The primary goals of the delegations are to show solidarity with the people of Iraq and to strengthen the growing antiwar movement in Canada. The latter is important not only because of the tremendous threat posed by an invasion of Iraq, but because the Bush administration seems intent on continuing its war plans beyond Iraq.

ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ. As the volatile situation allows/demands delegations will visit families, hospitals, schools, and other public centres; engage in media work; help organise antiwar actions inside Iraq; and be involved in other activities aimed at demonstrating solidarity with the people of Iraq and opposing the war.

YOUR SUPPORT. There are many ways in which you can support the members of the Iraq Peace Team and help make their work effective.

** FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Pleasae view the team callout and details to find contact information.

** TECHNICAL EQUIPMENTS

** DIFFUSING REPORTS. If you would like to receive and use their reports from Iraq, please sign on to our list (send a blank email to iptcanada-subscribe@yahoogroups.com). Please circulate them, post them on websites, publish them, and generally use them in your antiwar work. Reports and pictures are posted at www.nowar-paix.ca.

** TRANSLATION. There will be a need for French to English translation of reports and English to French translation of media bulletins. If you can volunteer to translate, please let us know.

** MEDIA CONTACTS. If you have contacts in alternative or mainstream media, please put us in touch. We are looking for opportunities to publish reports in print, online and tv/radio media before, during and after the trip.

** RADIO REPORTS. The peace team members intend to report regularly to community radio stations. These reports will also be posted online. Please pass on and otherwise use the reports once they are posted.

** SUPPORT GROUPS. If you can help to coordinate support for peace team members please join the support group. They will be fund-raising, organizing contact with MPs and other government people (as necessary),sending reports and appeals, and doing media work.

** FOLLOW UP. If you are interested in having peace team members speak at a public event, in a classroom, or some other public gathering, let us know.

CONTACTS: See callouts and details of each team.