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News :: Peace |
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Dec. 13 Benefit For US Vets, Iraqi Refugees "not So Simple" |
Current rating: 0 |
by Ricky Baldwin
Email: baldwinricky (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!)
Phone: 217-328-3037 |
02 Dec 2003
Modified: 09:53:38 PM |
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It wasn't easy for organizers to find a way to donate to returning US veterans and Iraqi civilians in need. But they did it, and one-of-a-kind benefit is on. |
US soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have at least two things in common with Iraqi civilians: many are in need and the US government is ignoring their needs. That's why the Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort (AWARE) has organized a benefit for these two populations to be held 7-10 pm on Saturday December 13 at OJC Technologies, upstairs at 115 W Main St in Urbana.
Organizers of the event note that, although Congress approved the President's request for $87 billion, none of this money is earmarked for returning veterans or for Iraqi civilians displaced by the US invasion. In fact, says former soldier Paul King, while politicians call on civilians to "support our troops" the government itself has been skimping on pay and benefits.
"Congress has cut veteran's benefits by 2/3, eliminated combat pay and reduced our soldiers to common mercenary thugs," says King. "We have murdered over 20,000 people in an impoverished and defenseless country. We poison our soldiers with depleted uranium and slash their health care benefits. They will be angry when they return. We need to help them, and flags and patriotic bumper stickers aren't going to do it."
Flags and bumper stickers
When King and other AWARE activists decided they wanted to pitch in to help raise humanitarian aide for Iraqi civilians and returning US vets, they assumed they could tap into an ongoing campaign for the vets and donate to a humanitarian group working in Iraq. Unfortunately it wasn't that simple.
Although there are spirited campaigns with catchy names to collect donations to send 'CARE' packages to deployed troops -- including hundreds of dollars for Christmas lights -- no one in any of the local veterans groups knew of any campaign for returning veterans and their families. This is in spite of the fact that many local returning veterans have been having trouble finding work or getting unemployment, while some have suffered particular losses that have made it harder to get back on their feet.
Also, most humanitarian groups have now pulled out of Iraq in the wake of terrorist attacks against the UN and Red Cross/Red Crescent. Millions of Iraqis remain homeless, without access to clean water, sanitation, properly staffed or supplied hospitals, or adequate food -- and now mostly without access to international aid. Press reports indicate "Dickensian" conditions with young children picking through the ruins of war to look for unexploded ordnance (or in fact anything else) to sell in order to escape starvation.
Filling the gap
Eventually, benefit organizers did find two groups that will help channel donations to US veterans and Iraqis in need. The local chapter of the Red Cross offers referral services and help getting government grants to veterans and their families. But the organization is severely underfunded and provides no direct aide, so the benefit fills a gap that is wide open. The Red Cross will earmark the contribution from the benefit for returning veterans and military families.
For Iraqis, Oxfam Iraq has been doing much-needed work with refugees in Jordan, providing clean water, sanitation and hospital supplies. Oxfam participates in a campaign called "All Our Children" which is an entirely "independent people-to-people" effort: that is, it receives no government backing. This is important because many Iraqis "bristle at anyone connected to the US military intervention."
Oxfam Iraq's work includes 100 hospital beds for the Ibn Al-Aheer and Al Khassa Pediatric Hospitals in Mosul, which lacked enough beds for the patients. "With two or three children per bed," says Oxfam, "infections spread and the healing process is delayed as children cannot get enough rest."
Money where your mouth is
"I sincerely hope that all of the 'support your troops' activists can find time to attend our benefit," says King. "As a veteran I know they would really appreciate it." King also hopes that afterwards the 'support our troops' folks will decide to follow suit with their own benefit for US vets and Iraqi refugees.
All proceeds from AWARE's benefit will be divided evenly between Oxfam Iraq and the local Red Cross's Armed Forces Emergency Services program. Dance bands and food will be on hand for a donation, and donations are welcome from folks who would like to support this effort but cannot attend.
For more: 344-9155. |
See also:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/where_we_work/iraq/emerg.htm
http://www.redcross.org/services/afes
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Re: Dec. 13 Benefit For US Vets, Iraqi Refugees |
by jqwaters
jq (nospam) wildhunt.org (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
07 Dec 2003
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Are you doing a piece for any local papers? If not, you should really consider approaching The Paper about writing something up about it to get the word out or even do a post-piece about the event to let people know this sort of work is being done in our community. Thanks for the article. |
