Priority Issues
of the Peace Coalition of Monterey County
Each Member Organization of the PCMC
chooses its own priorities among the myriad issues facing us
today.
The PCMC Issues Committee,
consisting of representatives from several
member organizations,
determines which issues the PCMC will focus on.
Chairperson of the PCMC Issues Committee:
George
Riley
The Bush Administration's Next Target:
IRAN
Propaganda and
posturing by the Bush Administration to persuade the US public that Iran is an
imminent threat sounds like a re-run of the build-up before the invasion of
Iraq. Are we powerless to stop this steamroller?
Resource
Page
Protesting the Iraq War
While
recognizing the need for continued actions to protest the Iraq War, the PCMC
Issues Committee has determined that the PCMC should also focus educational and
action efforts on ‘war and conflict’ in a larger context, with the hope of
developing greater community understanding and support for a peaceful world.
Resource Page
Understanding
Conflict in the Middle East
The dominant
unresolved conflict and hot spot in the world is the Middle East. The heart of
instability and conflict is the unresolved and longstanding Israeli occupation
of Palestine. No change in this situation is likely
as long as there are large oil reserves in the region,
US addiction to
oil, enormous
US
military aid to Israel, and single-minded
US
involvement in support of
Israel.
One way to focus the energy of the PCMC is to concentrate on the
Israel-Palestine dilemma. UNLESS there is greater understanding of both sides
of the current conflict, nothing will change. The word “both,” as used here, is
pejorative. There are many ‘sides’ here, with deep emotional differences and
positions. Without a way for the affected people to interact and vent
grievances, the deep divisions separating them will forbid progress.
Can the PCMC address this personal, political, international impasse? We think
so.
It is the goal
of the PCMC to work toward greater local community understanding of the many
issues underlying the continued Israel-Palestine conflict, and to seek common
ground for moving toward peace and stability.
Resource Page
Local Contacts:
Global Majority
Monterey County
Citizens for Middle East Peace
(meeting schedule)
Revealing the Truth About American
Empire,
Resource Page
erosion of democracy at home
budgets that favor the military
bases around the world
privatized military
corporate control of foreign policy
Protesting the Use of Torture
Resource Page
Local Contacts:
DATFAT! (The Direct Action Task
Force Against Torture)
A sub-committee of the Monterey Branch of the Women's
International League for Peace and Freedom
Promoting Alternatives to Military:
Balancing the
Influence of Military Recruiters in Our Schools
Local
Contacts:
Youth Rights and
Jobs that Work!
A joint sub-committee of the Monterey Peace and Justice
Center, and the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council
Salinas Action
League
Hartnell Students for Peace