The letter is now
>online and can be viewed and signed at:
>
>http://www.petitionpetition.com/cgi/petition.cgi?id=2535
>
>.
>
>-----------
>
>DON'T LET A TRAGEDY TURN INTO A WAR
>
>The tragedy that occurred on September 11th in the US is unspeakable.
>Thousands of innocent people lost their lives and are being mourned
>worldwide. But the response of the US, Canadian and other NATO governments
>threatens to bring even more suffering to more innocent people. We cannot
>stand idly by while the western world prepares for war.
>
>To assume that war will in any way increase the safety and security of
>American, Canadian or other citizens is folly. If the threat of war turns
>into a reality, there will be increased bloodshed abroad and the threat of
>increased retaliation at home.
>
>Already the price of war hysteria is being paid as xenophobia and racism
>spread. Muslim and Hindu mosques in Quebec and Ontario have been set
ablaze,
>and racist attacks including death threats have escalated against those of
>Muslim faith. This is all too reminiscent of the government inspired racism
>against Japanese Canadians that accompanied World War Two.
>
>The drive to war must be stopped. A new movement for global justice has
>emerged internationally with a vision of a world where the priority is
human
>need, not corporate greed. This movement is taking on the root causes of
the
>despair and injustice so many of the world's people feel that sadly gives
>rise to the type of terrorism we have recently witnessed. The bombing of
>Iraq in 1991 cost 200,000 Iraqi lives. The sanctions against that country
>have led to the deaths of an estimated 500,000 children. Ariel Sharon in
>1982 led Israeli forces in an attack on Lebanon. Sharon's forces surrounded
>the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps allowing militia to
>slaughter 2,700 men, women and children. Today, Palestinians are the
victims
>of continued genocidal attacks while Israel relies on US military support.
>
>We cannot fight terror with terror. There is still time to stop the
>juggernaut that is catapulting this country into participation in a
barbaric
>war in the name of fighting terrorism.
>
>We call upon the Canadian government to refuse to participate in a war
>against Afghanistan or any other country. Don't let the US tragedy be an
>excuse for an even more tragic war.
>
>Signed:
>Full Name: Hitay Yukseker
>City: Kingston
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: Professor of Linguistics, Queen's University
>9.
>Full Name: Paul Hamel
>City: Toronto
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: Activist, Science for Peace
>8.
>Full Name: Joel Harden
>City: Toronto
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: National Coordinator, Resistance Press
>7.
>Full Name: Greg Albo
>City: Toronto
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: Professor of Political Science, York University
>6.
>Full Name: Ken Lewenza Jr.
>City: Windsor
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: Chair, Education Committee, CAW 444
>5.
>Full Name: Abbie Bakan
>City: Toronto
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: Professor of Political Studies, Queen's University
>4.
>Full Name: Carolyn Egan
>City: Toronto
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: President, USWA 8300
>3.
>Full Name: Mehdi Kouhestaninejad
>City: Toronto
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: President, CUPE 3261
>2.
>Full Name: Sam Gindin
>City: Toronto
>State/Province: Ontario
>Country: Canada
>Occupation: Former Executive Assistant to the President, CAW