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ATLANTA - May 16 - On May 22nd, sixteen Americans will journey to Iraq to begin a six day walk across the desert to dramatize the need for the US and the international community to 'go the extra mile' in averting the all-out war threatened by the Bush Administration. "The 23 million people of Iraq have suffered cruelly for a dozen years under US bombing and sanctions. It is time to end this failed policy, not to start a new war," says Dr. James. E. Jennings of the Compassion Iraq Coalition, which is organizing the Walk for Peace. "Washington readily spends millions on defense, but not one cent for diplomacy. Why not talk?"
The Walk begins May 24th when the delegation will cross the desert into Iraq at the Jordanian border carrying signs calling for an end to the sanctions. For the next six days they will walk from the Euphrates River to Baghdad, stopping to meet and talk with people in the towns of Rutba, Ramadi and Falluja. Each walker has received pledges for every mile walked, with proceeds going to the Pediatric Oncology ward at the Basra Children's Hospital. According to press reports, the Basra region has experienced a 242% increase in childhood cancers and leukemia that many experts link to depleted uranium (DU) contamination resulting from US bombing during the Gulf War.
The Compassion Iraq Coalition is comprised of volunteers from a dozen US cities, including Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The PEACE WALK is co-led by Jennings and Kathy Kelly, Director of Voices in the Wilderness. Jennings, President of Conscience International, led the 2001 Baghdad Airlift, the first American civilian delegation to fly to Iraq in defiance of the US/UK imposed so-called "No-Fly Zone." Kelly is widely known as a leader of the anti-sanctions movement and has led several humanitarian missions to Iraq.
CONTACT: Compassion Iraq Coalition
May 15-20: Kathy Kelly, kkelly@igc.org 773-784-8065 cell 773-447-3964
Until May 17th: James Jennings, conscience@usa.com 770-454-9109
cell 770-490-0277
After May 17th: Jennifer Horan, jenniferhoran22@hotmail.com
cell 617-784-1785
-OR-
After May 20: Voices in the Wilderness Office: info@vitw.org
773-784-8065
For additional sanctions-related information go to: http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw
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