Don't Bomb Iran
From the TrueMajority.org website: "The drumbeat to war with Iran is getting louder. With only a few months left in the Bush Presidency, it's tempting to sit back and wait until November. But belligerent rhetoric and fear mongering about Iran is on the rise. In the latest example, George Bush's mouthpiece, General Petreaus, claimed that Iran's involvement is ‘the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq.'" You can sign their online petition in support of S. Res. 356, which would require that any military action against Iran be explicitly approved by Congress, HERE.
AFSC Update on California Senate Joint Resolution #19: "Torture by Licensed Healthcare Professionals"
California Senate Joint Resolution #19 (SJR 19), "Torture by Licensed Healthcare Professionals", authored by State Senator Mark Ridley Thomas is headed for a full vote in the California State Assembly. Although we do not know the exact date of the vote yet, we would like to invite you to contact your California Assembly-person right away and urge them to vote YES! on SJR 19. More information on the upcoming vote is available HERE, and more information about the AFSC-L.A. Stop Torture project can be found at http://www.afsc.org/pacificsw/stoptorture.htm.
Appeal for International Support: Condemn Psychologist Participation in Detainee Abuse
U.S. abuse of detainees is of concern for citizens around the world as U.S. tolerance for detainee torture and abuse is taken as a signal by other countries that it is acceptable to weaken their human rights protections. Dictators and oppressive regimes around the world point to Guantanamo and CIA abuses as an excuse for their own governments' abusive actions. Mental health colleagues in other countries have also expressed concern about the actions of the American Psychological Association (APA) which, while condemning torture in the abstract, have in practice provided cover for psychologists to participate in U.S. abuse at Guantanamo and elsewhere. In June 2008, PsySR's End Torture Action Committee issued a call for international colleagues to protest the APA's position on psychologists participating in U.S. interrogations of so-called "enemy combatants." The committee's full statement and more information is available HERE.
Petition the American Psychological Association TODAY
“Be it resolved that psychologists may not work in settings where persons are held outside of, or in violation of, either International Law (e.g., the UN Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions) or the US Constitution (where appropriate), unless they are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights.” Read the full petition of Psychologists for an Ethical APA and sign online HERE.
Support Displaced Iraqis
The Collateral Repair Project is a grassroots movement, created to address the catastrophic displacement of over four million Iraqis forced to leave their homes and communities because of the violence and instability resulting from the invasion and occupation of their country. CRP facilitates mutually respectful relationships between Iraqis and citizens of Coalition countries by offering opportunities for dialogue and for working together to create and implement solutions to repair the devastation.
Help Scholars at Risk
Around the world today, scholars are attacked because of their words, their ideas and their place in society. Those seeking power and control work to limit access to information and new ideas by targeting scholars, restricting academic freedom and repressing research, publication, teaching and learning. The Scholars at Risk Network (SAR) is an international network of universities and colleges responding to these attacks. SAR promotes academic freedom and defends the human rights of scholars and their communities worldwide.