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Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Fri Jun 11 10:13:08 PDT 1999


[Punk Planet staffer Joel Schalit asked me to forward this.]

Hey NY Area Folks,

Punk Planet presents a benefit for Voices in The Wilderness Saturday, July 10th 7:30 pm @ Tramps (10$ adv/12$door)

Grls Against Boys Catpower JOAN OF ARC Ted Leo (chisel)

Also, Jeff Guntzel, drummer for Amphetamine Reptile artists The Freedom Fighters, will be speaking at the benefit. Jeff works with Voices, defying US/UN sanctions and smuggling medicine (and toys and books etc.) into Iraq. Unicef verified statistics say that 6,000-8,000 children a month are dying a month as a direct result of the sanctions, primarily of diseases that are curable in every other part of the world. The people who go on Voices delegation face 12 yrs in jail and $125,000 in fines for thier work.

Below is an excerpt from a letter from Voices in The Wilderness in responce to threat of serious penalty from the Treasury Department and Atty. General Janet Reno. If you would like for me to send or email the complete VIW benefit kit, please let me know.

>>On January 22, 1996, David H. Harmon, of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), warned members of our campaign to "refrain from engaging in any

unauthorized transactions related to the exportation of medical supplies and travel to Iraq." Mr. Harmon warned that "criminal penalties for violating the Regulations range up to 12 years in prison and $1 million in fines" and "civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation..." VitW informed Mr. Harmon in February, 1996, of our intentions to

"continue our effort to feed and care for the children and families of Iraq...by collecting medical relief supplies and then, openly and publicly, transporting these

supplies into Iraq..." We further stated that "we are not governed by rules that license people...but rather by compassion" and invited Mr. Harmon to join us.

With respect to the enforcement of this embargo, we are conscientious objectors. We will not allow a government to dictate to our conscience. We will not allow the U.S. government, in the name of democracy or national security, to order us to cooperate with a strategy designed to starve the people of Iraq, to deprive them of medicine and medical supplies, spare parts for infrastructure, pencils for school children, chlorine for water and sewage treatment, toys, employment, or any of the essentials necessary to sustain daily life.

Thank You,

Jessica Hopper

Jessica Hopper HYPER PR PO BOX 14624 CHICAGO IL 60614 PH: 773-772-3558 hyper at macconnect.com



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