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----- Original Message -----
From: MoveOn Bulletin
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 4:04 AM
Subject: The Good News THE GOOD NEWSMoveOn Peace Bulletin, International Edition Read online or subscribe at:
However, there was good news in 2002 as well. Peace agreements and cease-fires were signed by warring factions in some of the world's largest conflicts, including Africa's world war--so named because it has claimed the lives of some 2 million people. Despite fears about terrorism and oppressive governments, a major survey concluded that the world actually became more free in 2002, and that in general, the world is moving towards more open and democratic systems of government. Some important international treaties were signed that will help make the world a better place, and there was even good news for the environment as Australian scientists announced that the hole in the ozone is finally beginning to close. And of course, we here at MoveOn are also very encouraged by the continued growth of our organization and the enthusiasm of our members, which is constantly inspiring. That's why we decided to kick off 2003 with ten pieces of good news--five pieces of good news for peace, and five pieces of good news for the world in general. They are by no means the only pieces of good news from 2002, but together, they demonstrate that despite the many social and political challenges facing us, the world is still moving forward and making progress. May that knowledge inspire you and offer you hope as we face the new year.
1)THERE'S STILL TIME TO STOP A U.S.-LED WAR ON IRAQ In response to the threat of war, the global peace movement continues to
grow. Massive demonstrations continue to be held around the world. Some
activists have traveled to Iraq to act as observers and human shields. A peace
group in Canada has even committed to sending a group of citizen weapons
inspectors to the U.S., holding the country accountable for it's double
standards about weapons of mass destruction. According to a recent poll by the Los Angeles Times, most Americans don't
believe that a war on Iraq is justified. The poll concluded that "72 percent of
respondents, including 60 percent of Republicans, said Bush has not provided
enough evidence to justify starting a war with Iraq, " and "63 percent of
respondents said war would be justified only if the United Nations finds a
pattern of serious violations by Iraq, while just 22 percent agreed with the
administration's position." Many major U.S. cities are signing resolutions opposing war on Iraq. For a
list of cities that have passed resolutions, and more information on the
campaigns behind them, see: The U.S. peace movement is far more diverse and technologically savvy than
past peace movements. Perhaps the best news is that massive demonstrations have
already been held before any U.S. soldiers begin dying in Iraq, while in
Vietnam, it took many American deaths to begin fueling opposition. The antiwar movement in the U.S. has made the leap from the left to the
mainstream. The work of groups such as MoveOn has helped make this happen.
(Note: This article is Salon premium content, meaning that unless you're already
a member, you'll need to sign up and pay to read it.) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in what has been
widely interpreted as a direct challenge to President Bush's policies. Nobel
committee chairman Gunnar Berge stated that the award "can and must also be seen
as criticism of the line the current U.S. administration has taken on
Iraq."
Since Sept. 11, the Internet has helped spawn a peace movement that can
respond rapidly and on a massive scale. It has given people the ability to
communicate and plan actions in ways that were unheard of in the past. 3) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO/RWANDA PEACE PACT The text of the peace deal has been provided online by the BBC. After two weeks of fighting following the signing of the peace deal, three
Congo rebel groups have now signed a new cease-fire in an effort to support it.
It is hoped that democratic elections will be held in 2 1/2 years. For a complete description and discussion of this conflict, please see our
previous bulletin, "World War in Africa." 4) ANGOLA/UNITA CEASE-FIRE Although they are facing famine, and have seen several peace deals fall apart
in the past, displaced Angolans are beginning the process of returning home to
rebuild. The new peace is expected to last, a fact that is giving many people
hope for the first time in years. 5) SRI LANKAN CEASE-FIRE In December 2002, the cease-fire marked its one-year anniversary. Rebuilding
trust is difficult after such a long war, and the longer the cease-fire holds,
the better the chance that progress can be made between the previously warring
factions. So far, as a result of the cease-fire, tourism in the country has been
up, as has economic growth. 1) WORLD BECOMING MORE FREE This is the main page of the survey, which includes links to charts, the
press release, and other related materials. 2) OZONE HOLE CLOSING This is a short interview with one of the Australian scientists who helped
conduct the research on the ozone hole. You can either read the transcript or
listen to it using Media Player. 3) KYOTO PROTOCOL TO TAKE EFFECT SOON The U.S. refusal to ratify has been viewed as particularly damaging since the U.S. is accountable for a whopping 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The U.S. refusal thus meant that in order to come into effect, the Kyoto Protocol had to be ratified by almost every other country. Canada was the most recent country to ratify, after months of debate over the
issue and heavy lobbying by the energy industry. Since China has also ratified, the Kyoto Protocol is now one country away
from taking effect. If Russia ratifies the Kyoto Protocol, it will take effect
even despite the U.S. refusal to participate. The good news is that Russia has
already promised to ratify "in the near future." 4) INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT GAINS JURISDICTION 5) BAHRAINI WOMEN GIVEN RIGHT TO VOTE Women in Bahrain explain the feelings of triumph and hope they have as a
result of this landmark vote. A short blurb on the election includes a picture of a woman casting her
vote.
Proofreading team:
MoveOn.org does not necessarily endorse all of the views espoused on the pages that we link to, nor do we vouch for their accuracy. Read them at your own risk. The MoveOn Peace Bulletin is a project of MoveOn.org. MoveOn.org is a US-based issue-oriented, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that gives people a voice in shaping the laws and policies that affect our lives. MoveOn.org engages people in the civic process, using the Internet to democratically determine a non-partisan agenda, raising public awareness of pressing issues, and coordinating grassroots advocacy campaigns to encourage sound national and international policies. To be kept informed about actions and campaigns, many of which are related to bulletin topics, you can sign up for MoveOn's action updates, at: http://www.moveon.org/keepmeposted/
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