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Created: December 18, 2001
Latest update: December 18, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org.
Urgent : A Call to Those Responsiblefrom Mrs Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate
On Tuesday, December 18, 2001, David Adams posted to the PEC List:
"The greatest gift we can all receive is the gift of human life.
"This year my husband and I were blessed with the gift of two beautiful grandchildren - Jack and Matthew. How much love they bring into our lives by their gentle presence. To cuddle them, and whisper « I love you », gives me great joy. They deepen my soul. They make me want to laugh and sing. I feel deeply responsible for their welfare. I also feel in good conscience responsible for the welfare - and indeed the lives of the children in the world.
"It is in this spirit that I wish to share with you my belief that many children are now in grave danger and need our help. The American and British Governments have gone to war in Afghanistan and I fear that the next step by these Military Giants is to attack our Brothers and Sisters in Somalia.
"At a time when the entire International Community should be increasing our humanitarian and political efforts to solve this crisis, we are wasting valuable energies discussing bombs, instead of bread for Somalian children.
"Each of us must do everything we can to save the lives of the children, whether they live in Iraq, Somalia, Colombia, the Philippines or Belgium. We each must do something. So what can we do ?
"I believe that it is the responsability of each citizen and those in political power to do all they can to nurture and protect the lives of the children in the world. The U.N. has a responsability to lead the way for us all to establish a Coalition for Peace and Dialogue in the new Century.
"At a time when the UNHCR has said that in the events of a strike by the United States on Somalia, the agency has developped contingency plans for coping with any resulting refugees exodus. I believe it is more important that we develop our political initiatives to prevent any such strikes and begin a peace process in this « troubled » land.
"We the peoples of the World can unite in working for "no war" to uphold all International laws and solve our problems nonviolently in this Decade for a culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the children of the world. We must change of mindset from a war mentallity to a peace mentality.
"For myself, I promise that, if the American and British military Giants attack these countries, I will go and stand under the bombs with the people, as in good conscience I can do no less."
Mairead MAGUIRE, Brussels, 13/12/2001