September, 18 2009, 04:02pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Francine Porter (francineporter@aol.com) 412-389-3216;
Eileen Olmstead (eileeno31@gmail.com) 412-404-2594
G20 Plans are a Go! Women's Coalition Announces Tent City Project
Who: Women's Coalition, organized by CODEPINK and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
What:
Announcing the Women's Tent City, a project of protest to the policies
of the G-20 and of solidarity with women and children refugees.
PITTSBURGH, PA
Who: Women's Coalition, organized by CODEPINK and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
What:
Announcing the Women's Tent City, a project of protest to the policies
of the G-20 and of solidarity with women and children refugees.
The
Women's Tent City includes two full days of workshops. Four of the many
topics covered are: Gender, Globalization and Conflict in Iran, Iraq
and Palestine; Impact of War on Women/Women Waging Peace; Israel and
Palestine-The Economy of the Occupation; Through a Mother's Eyes-Impact
of War on Children. There will also be a children's activity tent where
children can make their own artistic images of a better world.
When: Monday and Tuesday, September 21st and 22nd
Where: Point State Park
The
Women's Coalition has developed the Women's Tent City to educate people
about the policies of the G20 and their relationship to the suffering
of women and children as refugees and victims of war. Edith Bell, one
of the organizers of this project, said "We
want to express our concern and draw attention to the consequences of
war on women and children who make up the majority of refugees and
victims of war." It is the position of the Women's Coalition that the
policies of the G20 and the weapons-dependent economies of their
countries that perpetuate global violence. Women and children comprise
the majority of victims of war and of the refugee population created by
war. Francine Porter of CODEPINK added "We are honored to represent the
voice of refugees around the world."
The Women's Tent City is inviting Pittsburghers and the many visitors to our city to stop by and join in the discussion.
The Women's Coalition is an affiliate of the Thomas Merton Center
CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.
(818) 275-7232LATEST NEWS
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South Korea's Constitutional Court began hearing a case that accuses the government of having failed to protect 200 people, including dozens of young environmental activists and children, by not tackling climate change https://t.co/XRIGE23KGMÂ pic.twitter.com/snvqBaGGe9
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 23, 2024
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At The New Statesman, associate political editor Rachel Cunliffe wrote Tuesday that the tragedy reveals "the flaws of the Rwanda plan," which proponents say could deter migrants from seeking refuge in Britain.
Proponents of the Rwanda plan will inevitably point to today's disaster as further evidence that strong measures are needed to address the issue of Channel crossings. They will accuse Labour and opposition parties of ignoring the human cost of letting this crisis continue and argue that lives are at stake if the government does not act.
[...]
The reality is that a substantial number of people who pay people traffickers large sums of money to crowd them on to a tiny boat do so because they feel they have no other option. Fleeing war and persecution, they are desperate. And so they are prepared to take desperate measures. Measures that sometimes lead to tragedy, but which are deemed necessary given the hopelessness of their situation.
It is hard to see how the threat to send a tiny fraction of those who arrive (Rwanda has said it will only take 150-200 migrants) changes this calculation.
The Labour Party, which is leading Conservatives in polls ahead of the expected elections, has vowed to scrap the legislation if it wins control of the government later this year, and critics have expressed doubt that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will actually secure deportation flights before Britons vote.
One flight was grounded in June 2022 after the European Court of Human Rights intervened, and on Monday the OHCHR warned aviation authorities that they would risk violating international law if they allow "unlawful removals" of asylum-seekers to Rwanda.
Critics have also pointed to a finding by the National Audit Office that the deportations would cost £1.8 million ($2.2 million) per person.
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