Founded in 2005, Voices for Creative Nonviolence grew out of Voices in the Wilderness, a campaign running from 1996-2003 to end the UN/US sanctions against the Iraqi. Voices in the Wilderness organized 70 delegations to visit Iraq in the period between 1996 and 2003, to call attention to the civilians suffering under the effect of sanctions and war.
Voices for Creative Nonviolence’s goals include:
- An end to all forms of economic and military warfare against Iraq.
- The immediate end to the U. S. war in and occupation of Iraq, with the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. military personnel
- An end to any military action against Iraq, whether it be by the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marines.
- Guarantees that Iraq’s oil wealth remain with the Iraqi people and not be siphoned off by multinational corporations.
- The complete and unconditional cancellation of the odious debt incurred by Saddam Hussein’s regime, as well as of the reparations charges imposed by the U.N. against Iraq following Hussein’s 1990-91 invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
- Full funding provided by the U.S. and U.K. for the reconstruction of Iraq following years of economic and military warfare. The U.S. deliberately targeted, damaged and destroyed Iraq’s water and electrical system in 1991. The U.S. and U.K. and U.N. refused to allow Iraq any opportunity to rebuild through 14 years of brutal economic sanctions. The state of disrepair and of ill health in Iraq today is a direct consequence of the warfare waged against Iraq since 1991.
In pursuit of its objectives, Voices has organized a variety of campaigns, including 100,000 Rings (2005) an international campaign to commemorate and remember Iraqis who have died since the U.S. invasion in 2003; Occupation Project (2007), a national campaign of civil disobedience seeking an end to funding of the Iraq war; and Seasons of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project (2007-08), a campaign of civil disobedience at the Iowa campaign offices of the leading Republican and Democratic candidates.
Kathy Kelly, a founder Voices in the Wilderness, played a critical role in bringing together the 9/11 family members who would go on to found September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. Her group’s plan for a peace walk from the Washington, DC to New York City in the months after the 9/11 attacks coincided with initial contacts made among family members David Potorti, Barry Amundson and Kelly Campbell and ultimately grew to include Amber Amundson, Ryan Amundson and Colleen Kelly.
Web site: http://vcnv.org/
Contact: info@vcnv.org
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
1249 W Argyle Street #2
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (773) 878-3815
