[Think] The Secret Behind the Sanctions

[Fen Labalme]

Since last I wrote on this, many changes and additions have been made the
the "Feel; Think; Respond" list of links at
http://activism.net/think/

The most recent, and perhaps the reason why I am writing this, is the
definitive proof that the U.S. has knowingly violated the Geneva conventions
for ten years by depriving Iraq of clean water, which has been responsible
for the deaths of several hundred thousand civilians, mostly children.  See
_The Secret Behind the Sanctions_ from The Progressive magazine, at
http://www.progressive.org/0801issue/nagy0901.html

It's sad that all of our news media are delivering exactly the same story.
What ever happened to diversified points of view?  Why is Berkeley facing
potential business losses because their representative opposed the bombings?
Why hasn't Big Oil's connection to the mideast ever been mentioned?

This last point is crucial.  Depending on who you talk to, there is only
enough oil to support our present way of life for another 40-100 years.  So
the American way of life will have to change, if not in our lifetime, then
in our children's.  Yet we continue to bully Saudi Arabia and others in the
middle east because we want to preserve a dream.  (My internal cynic adds
that Cheney and Bush want to preserve their energy and oil families, too.)

As a people, it would be better if we *chose* to make changes rather than
have them thrust upon us by exterior forces, such as depleted resources.
Through education, conservation, alternative energy we can supply all our
needs beyond the foreseeable future.  (I am reminded here that the Navajo
elders consider how changes will affect their tribe for seven generations
before making big decisions.)

We could begin by choosing to boycott SUVs and require that auto makers
started supplying us with more fuel efficient cars.  More and better public
transportation and tax incentives for conservation measures.  If the US let
go of its oil interests in the mideast and only acted, with the UN and NATO,
as peacekeepers, we could make a huge step toward lessening the cause, and
thus the threat, of domestic terrorism.  So what if gas goes to $7 a gallon?
I think we can afford that more than another bombing.

As always, your comments and views are most welcome.  Please feel free to
post to <think@activism.net> if you want others to hear your viewpoints.

Love,
Fen

PS: On November 6th, San Franciscans will have the amazing opportunity to
    vote for two propositions, B and H, which will nearly double the current
    national output of solar energy.  Find out how you can help, at
    http://www.cleanenergynow.org/


"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by
itself."
        -- Thomas Jefferson