MADRE is an international women's human rights organization that works in partnership with community-based women's organizations worldwide to address issues of health and reproductive rights, economic development, education, and other human rights. MADRE provides resources, training, and support to enable our sister organizations to meet concrete needs in their communities while working to shift the balance of power to promote long-term development and social justice.

Women are the victims of violence and backward religious traditions in Iraq, and are in desperate need of shelter and protection from random acts of aggression. These women are subject to continuous threat of being: -- killed by their husbands or male relatives (honor killings) -- Burnt or mutilated for suspicion of shameful acts -- publicly executed or shot by the police -- kidnapped and secretly murdered -- in state of despair and see no other way than to commit suicide Consequently, millions of women undergo sexual discrimination encouraged by Islamist activists and Saddam’s regime that urge all “God Loving” men to oppress their women so as to abide by an Islamic submissive lifestyle that was created hundreds of years ago. This situation has been introduced and enhanced in the last decade, and does not allow women basic standards of human dignity. Other Reasons that result in the deterioration of social status of women in Iraq: · Hundreds of thousands of women were widowed by consecutive wars, and genocide executed by Saddam’s army · Economic sanctions spread out poverty to unthinkable extents where every widow finds herself responsible of a family with no sort of support or social insurance · Recent years changes in civil laws so as to allow honor killings and referral to backward and barbaric tribal law · Absence of supremacy of law, allowing Islamist misogynist practices which the ruling Baath party chose to apply by committing mass killings on women. Local Women’s Movements Independent Women’s organization (IWO) was formed on 8th of March 1992 in North of Iraq with the efforts of volunteering individuals. Since then, women sheltering services began to be provided. These include armed protection, safe dwelling and legal services. IWO has proved to be the only organization to fully adopt a comprehensive campaign of advocating Iraqi women’s rights and for that had gained the support of local radical movements. IWO has extended its influence to international locations that attracted masses of Iraqi refugees. It is represented now in Canada, England and Australia. Our committee (DIWR) in Canada was founded on May 20, 1998 and has pursued Investigating into the status of Iraqi women with a focus on Kurdistan of Iraq where the absence of supremacy of law resulted in giving way to ancient tribal practices against women encouraged by recent Islamist influences. The need for these services? In order to gain a broad perspective of the local scene, and a sense of the urgency to activate change towards the women’s cause in Iraqi Kurdistan, we refer to one recent statistical figure done in North of Iraq - Kurdistan - That could explain it all: Within a population of 5 Million in Iraqi Kurdistan * 4000 honor killings (1990-1999) * Hundreds of burnt women * Tens of honor driven mutilations against women * Thousands of circumcised (genitally mutilated) girls yearly till this present day

A website for trade unionists in Britain supporting workers in Iraq (including those currently unemployed) and all the various forms of organised labour.

Over the past year, labor’s finest independent journal, New Labor Forum, has featured in-depth analyses of the economic and social fallout of the Bush administration’s military-industrial-security policy. In our forthcoming May 2004 issue, William Hartung reports on the impact of this policy on the working class in the United States, in his article “Homeland Insecurity: The War on Terror and the War on Labor.� And Mike Zweig writes on the diversity of union positions regarding the war and social movement unionism. Previous features in New Labor Forum include Walden Bello’s Economics of Empire (Fall 2003, Vol 12 #3), and JoAnn Wypijewski’s Labor in a Time of War (Summer 2003, Vol 12 #2). For these articles and more information about the journal, visit us at http://www.qc.edu/newlaborforum.

An exceptional collection of links to many other site dealing with Iraq.

Schema-Root.org is an encyclopedia of current events, with over 9,000 topic pages, all carrying current cross-referenced newsfeeds and topic-specific research resources. In addition there is a cross-referencing utility that applies schema-root cross-referencing to arbitrary text of any length.

Political blog from the Republic of Absurdistan

More than 1.6 million Americans have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of August 1, 2007, 67,000 of them had been killed or wounded. In addition, more than 250,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans had been treated at Veterans Administrations hospitals since their return home from combat. KPFA launched this website in an effort to put a human face on the conflict. Only by truly listening to the stories of soldiers who've come home, can we appreciate the realities of war and what we can do to help. Sincerely, Aaron Glantz

COMD is an anti-militarism organization that also challenges the institution of the military, its effect on society, its budget, its role abroad and at home, and the racism, sexism and homophobia that are inherent in the armed forces and Selective Service System. COMD activities include community education, direct action and youth outreach. Individuals sharing our goals are invited to become COMD activists and supporters.

dedicated to peace------- anti-war--------- anti-intervention---------pro-Constitution WAR IS A RACKET . . . Why? . . Who benefits? . . . . . . How does it happen? . . . . . . Who pays the price? . . . . . What can we do? . . . . . . . . . . Please read on . . . . . . . . .

We are entering the third year of the war in Iraq. Increasingly, many Americans believe that the war is over. They think that relatively few civilians and soldiers have died. They think that U.S. interests and Iraqi interests are best served by the continued occupation of Iraq. This is not the reality. We now know that over 100,000 Iraqi citizens have died since the beginning of the war. Over 1,500 U.S. soldiers have died. Countless others have been wounded and maimed. And, although the pictures are not shown on TV, large numbers of Iraqi citizens and U.S. soldiers continue to die. Let’s tell the truth about the war and continuing occupation in Iraq. MAY 15: COUNTING THE COST STOPPING THE WAR On May 15, in protest of the rising death toll and the on-going occupation, wear a number representing one of the over 100,000 Iraqi citizens, U.S. soldiers, coalition soldiers, and other international civilians who have died in Iraq. Join one of the local actions being planned in Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and other locations. Organize an event of your own, such as candlelight vigil at a local war memorial or a demonstration in your town square. Or, simply spend the day wearing your number and talking to your neighbors about it. SIGN UP NOW and we will send you your number to wear on May 15. We will ask you to donate $10 to cover the costs of packaging and shipping, and to make sure that everyone who wants to can participate, even if they can’t pay. The remainder of your donation will help fund humanitarian aid in Iraq and continued anti-war work.

Mother Speak started with one scared and isolated mom worrying about her son, an Army Ranger and Sergeant with the 82nd Airborne, after he was deployed to Afghanistan and then Iraq. That one scared and isolated mom traveled to Iraq, visited her son on a military base in the Sunni Triangle, wrote a daily travel journal, met Iraqis, and interviewed Iraqi mothers. Now she shares mothers voices from all over the United States and the world. Learn more. Mother Speak seeks a range of worldviews and opinions. Interviews will not exceed 2,000 words. Photos of mothers and children are included when possible. If you are interested in volunteering for an interview, or if you know others mothers who may be interested, contact Mother Speak.

AfterDowningStreet.org is a coalition of veterans' groups, peace groups, and political activist groups, which launched on May 26, 2005, a campaign to urge the U.S. Congress to begin a formal investigation into whether President Bush has committed impeachable offenses in connection with the Iraq war.

The IVAW Mission Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is a group of veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are committed to saving lives and ending the violence in Iraq by an immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces. We also believe that the governments that sponsored these wars are indebted to the men and women that were forced to fight them and must give their Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen the benefits that are owed to them upon their return home. We welcome all active duty, reservist, and recent veterans into our ranks. To join the IVAW please send email to join@ivaw.net

Philosophy and Politics Across the political spectrum left, right and center, everyone says they want peace. Too often they also want a gun, an army, or a bomb to ensure they get the "right kind of peace." War Resisters League is unique because we believe, to quote the late A.J. Muste, "There is no way to peace — peace is the way." We reject the use of violence for national defense or for revolutionary change. Deeply influenced by the teachings of the Indian leader, Mohandas Gandhi, as well as Thoreau, Tolstoy, King, Deming, and others, War Resisters League believes war is a crime against humanity. We use peaceful means to create a society that is democratic, free of economic, racial, and sexual oppression. The methods we use range from education to demonstrations to lobbying to nonviolent direct action-at all times trying to see those we oppose not as enemies, but as sisters and brothers. WRL is committed not only to eliminating war, but the causes of war-causes intricately linked to the violence that pervades our society. We know that even where there seems to be "peace," the suffering of homelessness, hunger, lack of medical care, and poverty is as violent to those upon whom it is imposed as any war. We search for an answer to the violence in our society not in the building of more prisons, but in programs that bring help to those in need. The government centers its spending priorities on missiles and bombs despite the unmet needs of millions of desperate people. WRL works for peace within a framework of social justice. Our culture still equates masculinity with domination and concentrates economic and political power in the hands of men. The spirit and style of feminism offers a real alternative to the military psychology of America with its stress on competition and aggressive (even violent) behavior. Human survival depends on finding ways to negotiate and cooperate rather than continuing conflict through violence. The nonviolence of War Resisters League may seem radical simply because it is different. We know that all social change involves pain, suffering, and often tragedy. The pacifist does not deny conflict exists, but we believe nonviolence achieves social change with the least injustice and suffering because we focus on the evil of institutions rather than seeing individuals as evil.

The Education for Peace in Iraq Center

About EPIC

EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values.

The EPIC Mission

Peace in Iraq through change at home. That has been the mission of the Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC) since 1998.

Based in Washington DC, EPIC works to defend human rights, support democracy and improve humanitarian conditions in Iraq through public education and legislative advocacy. With a growing base of grassroots activists, EPIC works to shift U.S. policy to genuinely support the people of Iraq.

For decades, Iraq has suffered through repression, conflict and international isolation. Now Iraqis are enduring political terrorism, lawlessness and foreign military rule. EPIC seeks an end to the violence and a better future for the Iraqi people. We are working to promote policies in support of democracy and human rights in Iraq. In particular, EPIC advocates a long-term commitment by the international community to provide Iraqis with the support they need to establish the prerequisites of democracy: strong institutions, rule of law and stability.

Iraq Needs a New Process The U.S. plan for transferring power to selected Iraqis by June 30 th lacks legitimacy and threatens to institutionalize sectarian divisions and ignite civil conflict. Instead, EPIC supports an independent role for the United Nations to facilitate a fully transparent, inclusive and internationally recognized process for restoring Iraqi sovereignty. EPIC informs policy-makers, the media and Americans about what is needed to ensure

. An end to political violence and lawlessness;

. Sustainable development and job creation;

. Strong institutions, rule of law and stability necessary for democracy and human rights;

. Assistance for Iraqi victims of war and repression.

Get Informed

EPIC Alert Weekly Update The EPIC Alert reaches more than 15,000 Americans via e-mail each week, providing up-to-the-minute analysis, news and action ideas. EPIC Alerts have generated tens of thousands of targeted calls and letters to elected officials and the press during times of crisis. Subscribe at www.epic-usa.org.

Iraq Speakers Bureau coordinator at (202) 543-6176.

“The Education for Peace in Iraq Center has been an invaluable source of both informat ion and activism for years. Building on their experience studying the impact of sanctions on the peopl e of Iraq and trying to alter U.S. policy to ease that humanitarian cr is is, today EPI C is at the fore front of the struggle to bring peace to Iraq.� Congresswoman Barbara Lee

For more information, visit www.epic-usa.org

1718 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20009

tel: +1 202 483 1140
fax: +1 202 483 1248

Publications inquiries:
bookstore@epic.org

Veterans for Common Sense seeks to inject the element of Common Sense into debates over war and national security. In an age when the majority of public servants have never served in uniform, the perspective of war veterans must play a key role in the public debate over national security issues in order to preserve the liberty veterans have fought and died preserving.

Founded in July, 2006, we are a peace and justice organization registered as a issue caucus in the American Federation of Teachers. MISSION STATEMENT The AFT Peace and Justice Caucus will be an issue caucus with the mission to promote peaceful solutions to world conflict and economic and social justice at home and abroad. The Caucus will advocate that AFT work for public policies that * Work for world peace & disarmament * Reduce the military budget and increase funding of education and other social needs * Reduce violence * Increase awareness of basic human and civil rights * Support the right of all workers in all nations to organize and bargain collectively * Support the concept of a free, quality public education for all, free from the fear of pre-emptive war and the restrictions of wartime occupations The Caucus will also undertake to educate AFT members about various issues that address the above concerns through literature, forums, and other public events.

Meaning of "Withdrawal" and "Exit" is Changing over Time with the Politics of this War When Carl Conetta of the Project on Defense Alternatives wrote his first Iraq War exit plan in July 2004 he was the second defense policy analyst who offered such a plan. In January 2005 Massachusetts Congressman Marty Meehan was the first elected political leader to call for an exit plan. During 2005 the politics of the Iraq War in the U.S. began to shift reaching a turning point in November when conservative Democratic Congressman John P. Murtha ended his support for White House policy. Since that time most political leaders have had to address the question of how and when they will withdraw troops from Iraq. It has become clear that many such plans for "exiting" or "withdrawing" troops from Iraq do not mean that all troops will leave in the foreseeable future. Some refer to "redeploying" troops. Others, and in particular Congressional resolutions and amendments, allow for residual troops to stay in Iraq for certain missions, but don't specify how many (almost certainly many thousands). For more on withdrawal meaning creep, see Tom Engelhardt's "The Withdrawal Follies" (28 July 2007). All this suggests that readers should exercise caution when attributing meaning to the phrases "troop withdrawals" and "exit plans." Readers should be attentive to details; there may be devils lurking.

Critical perspectives on the current crisis, its origins, and implications

Iraq Veterans for Progress is a Political Action Committee that was formed in order to bring about change. Our current administration's disastrous policies in Iraq have killed more than 2,600 soldiers, wounded more than 19,000, and cost us more than $300 billion. Meanwhile, the violence in Iraq continues to rise. All this is happening as the majority of Americans want the troops to come home. Unfortunately, many of our politicians are still not listening to our calls. That's where Iraq Veterans for Progress comes in. Our goal is to support federal candidates who want a new direction in Iraq and for our country, with the goal of bringing the troops home. In the time between now and November 7 th, we want to offer our support to candidates who share our objectives. Once a candidate is endorsed, we can support them by sending Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to work on their campaigns, making contributions, and by using the media to our advantage. Imagine an election day where we elect brave new leaders who will stand up and fight for what's right for America. Imagine these new Representatives voting with their conscience and standing for what We the People want.

MoveCongress.Org is a "one-stop-shop" for Americans seeking information and tools to move Congress to stop the war in Iraq and prevent an escalation of war into Iran. The website is organized by the Win Without War coalition and allied groups, and our mission is to help you sort through the political labyrinth on Capitol Hill and give you the information you need to make a difference and MOVE Congress to re-deploy US troops from Iraq. We are non-partisan and non-electoral. We rely on our members and friends - Members of Congress, activist groups, and a wide range of other sources of information - to provide insight and information that will be useful to you. We will provide you with updated information and links to these sources whenever possible. We are committed to translating the mandate delivered by the American people on November 7 - change course in Iraq and hold the Bush administration accountable - into action.

Index of articles on Iraq and Afghanistan

In just a few minutes, you can create letters here that will Opt Out your child from BOTH the Pentagon database and your high school recruitment list. To opt out a student, you must submit Opt Out letters by postal mail to both the Pentagon and your School District Superintendent. It's easy! By using this tool, you can create separate pre-printed letters that include BOTH the Pentagon's address and your high school Superintendent's address. All you need is a printer, two envelopes and two stamps.

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently. Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth. Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan. Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers. In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.

Resist in March = Antiwar Activities

This website tracks and reports on all the antiwar actions being planned on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the invasion in mid-March, 2008.

The Declaration of Peace is a nationwide campaign to establish by September 21, 2006 a concrete and rapid plan for peace in Iraq, including: * a prompt timetable for withdrawal of troops and closure of bases * a peace process for security, reconstruction, and reconciliation * and the shift of funding for war to meeting human needs. If this plan for peace is not created and activated by Congress by September 21, the International Day of Peace, Declaration signers across the U.S. will engage in nonviolent action in Washington, D.C. and in communities throughout the nation.

Sign the Pledge: "I will not vote for or support any candidate for Congress or President who does not make a speedy end to the war in Iraq, and preventing any future war of aggression, a public position in his or her campaign."

Produced by the Iraq Policy Working Group

This site provides links to research papers by non-governmental organizations on health issues affecting veterans.

Website of Oil Change International with lots of great resources, analysis and news. * Separate Oil & State * The Price of Oil * EndOilAid.org * Media Center * Resources

Oil Change International campaigns to expose the true costs of oil and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. We are dedicated to identifying and overcoming political barriers to that transition.

Website for antiwar labor organizations in CT

This is a MySpace site maintained by LA-USLAW, a task force of the LA Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, affiliated with U.S. Labor Against the War

Texas Labor Against the War is an organizing chapter of US Labor Against War, a national organization of labor unions and sympathetic organizations.