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News :: Education |
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March 5, 2003 -- National Student Strike Planned |
Current rating: 0 |
by Sascha Meinrath
Email: sascha (nospam) ucimc.org (verified) |
22 Feb 2003
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On March 5, 2003, students at colleges and universities throughout North America (and beyond) will launch a one-day strike to protest the impending pre-emptive war against Iraq. What will happen here in Champaign-Urbana? |
More information is available at: http://nyspc.net/actions.html
Student Strike for Books Not Bombs!
Contact 501-244-2439 or clearinghouse (at) tao.ca
for questions about this important action!
The Bush administration is intent on plunging America into an illegitimate and pre-emptive war that will only increase danger for Americans and the world. At the same time education, healthcare, and the economy are being neglected. Its time for youth and students to take a stand for America’s future!
One-Day National Student Strike, March 5th, 2003
Books Not Bombs! Stop The War Against Iraq!
The National Youth and Student Peace Coalition (NYSPC) calls upon students on campuses across the United States to join us in a one-day student strike on March 5th, 2003.
As students and youth, our futures will be shaped by the actions that the Bush administration takes today. A US attack on Iraq will inevitably:
• Endanger the lives of US servicemen and women
• Increase the suffering of the Iraqi people while slaughtering thousands of innocent people
• Encourage terror attacks against the US around the world and at home
• Be used as an excuse to erode civil liberties
• Divert resources from education and social services
• Subvert historical precedent and international law
As students and youth, the future of this country, we are disturbed by the lack of attention paid to the real needs of Americans, especially education. Financial aid opportunities and family income are rapidly losing ground to the rising cost of higher education. *1 Low-income families are facing decreasing access to education. Student debt is increasing. *2 All while the US military budget steadily increases (12% from 2000 to 2002 *3).
We say NO! to this war of terror to increase American power and take control of strategic oil supplies.
Join us in a student strike March 5th to demand:
US Government:
- End the drive for military action and sanctions that target the people of Iraq
- Fund education to ensure that everyone in the US has access to higher education
- Re-allocate military funds to eliminating poverty and building peace and home and abroad
- Repeal the provision of the "No Child Left Behind" Act that requires schools to give out student information to military recruiters
Campus Administrators:
- Declare opposition to the war
- Disclose and eliminate military research contracts
- Freeze or lower tuition and fees
- Stop sending student information to military recruiters without consent from parents and students
The Bush Administration’s war on Iraq is a venture for control of the region and its oil supplies, not national security, democracy, or human rights. Our campuses provide implicit support for this through military research, recruiting, and ROTC programs. As students who value freedom, democracy, and our education we say: THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE! The best way to improve our national security is to halt drives for illegal and immoral wars and redirect public funds from the military and arms trade to education and social services at home and humanitarian aid abroad. Take a stand with students across the nation on March 5th to build toward this collective vision.
Sources:
1. College Board (as reported in the Michael A. Fletcher, Washington Post, Dec. 10, 2001, Page A01)
2. Sherschel, Particia M. USA Group Report. June, 2000. See: <www.luminafoundation.org/Publications/research.shtml>
3. Deen , Thalif. “U.N. says Nations Reveal Arms Spending - but Spend More.” Inter Press Service. Oct. 7, 2002
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