CONNECTICUT RESOLUTIONS ADVANCE PEACE WITH JUSTICE
The resolutions adopted at the Connecticut United For Peace (http://www.ctunitedforpeace.org/) Annual Conference are historic because a) they showed that CT is indeed United for Peace (resolutions passed unanimously or with very large majority of those attending), and b) the education and work that led to this stage provide models for other states. We in CT are proud of the high school efforts against military recruitment, student activism, integration of varied but linked struggles (from local needs, to Iraq, to immigration, to anti-militarism, to civil rights, to work against Israeli apartheid and more). The 10 resolutions adopted in CT at the conference are:
For a United State Demonstration on March 18, 2006.
2) For a National Spring Action to Bring the Troops Home Now!
For a 2006 statewide antiwar conference on Saturday, November 18.
(In support of) Student Activists
The US base at Guantanamo Bay
The Inseparable Link between US policy in Iraq and Israel/Palestine
Caterpillar Bulldozers
The PATRIOT Act
Support the Call of 200 Palestinian NGO's
Not Another Penny for the War
Note: Call of the Palestinian Community
http://www.divestmentproject.org/downloads/Palestinian_Call070905.pdf"
About Rachel Corrie: http://www.divestmentproject.org/craig_cindy_corrie.shtml
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Proposals (including amendments) as passed in the November annual Conference of CT United For Peace (CTUnitedForPeace.org)
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7) Caterpillar Bulldozers
Caterpillar sells Israel giant bulldozers which are then armored to serve as mililtary vehicles. In recent years their principal use has been to the destroy Palestinian homes. Homes are bulldozed for various excuses the main one being they are built without a permit. Permits are almost never granted for Palestinians to build homes on their own land.
In 2003 Caterpillar bulldozers were used in the murder of Rachel Corrie an American citizen who was a member of the International Solidarity Movement.
Caterpillar management is particularly anti-union and forced a long strike on the auto workers union a few years ago.
CT United for Peace will participate in the campaigns 1) to bring to justice the people who ordered the killing of Rachel Corrie and 2) to divest stock in Caterpillar and to publicize its participation in crimes against Palestinians. It will also seek to enlilst unions in the campaign to stop selling bulldozers to Israel.
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9) Support the Call of 200 Palestinian NGO's
Whereas Israel is in violation of dozens of UN Security Council resolutions including UNSC 242 and 338 that clearly state the inadmissibility of acquisition of territory by war, and many more UN General Assembly Resolutions including UN resolution 194 that calls for repatriation of Palestinian refugees,
Whereas the International Court of Justice provided a seminal ruling at the request of the General Assembly of the UN that deemed Israel in violation of International law including the fourth Geneva Convention especially in regards to its construction of the separation barrier/wall inside the occupied Palestinian areas,
Whereas Palestinian Civil Society has issued a statement in July 2005 that articulated Israel's persistent violations of international and humanitarian laws and conventions and then called "upon international civil society organizations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to
Whereas this call supported by over 200 Palestinian non-governmental organizations stated that: "these non-violent punitive measures should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:
1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and 3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194." (http://www.badil.org/Boycott-Statement.htm)
Whereas, a meeting held at the United Nations issued a statement supported by attendee civil society organizations from around the world that adopted this Palestinian Civil Society Call and encouraged all countries and civil society organizations to use it as a framework for bringing a durable peace (http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6EA38R? )
Whereas a number of Churches have moved in the past two years towards implementing divestments and boycotts from Israel as tools for bringing human rights to the center (the Lutheran Church, The Presbyterian Church, The United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Anglican Churches, and The World Council of Churches, see http://www.qumsiyeh.org/boycottsanddivestment/ )
Whereas "Students on more than forty US campuses are demanding a review of university investments in Israeli companies as well as in firms doing major debated municipal divestment measures. These tactics are not the only parallels to the struggle against apartheid. Yesterday's South African township dwellers can tell you about today's life in the occupied territories." Bishop Desmund Tutu and Ian Urbina article "Against Israeli Apartheid"
Whereas CT United for Peace aims to "support peace and human rights (as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human rights), social justice and seek to end all forms of discrimination. (and that) Currently we are actively opposing war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine,"
Therefore, be it resolved that CT United for Peace adopts the call for action by the Palestinian Civil society that was also endorsed by Civil
Therefore, be it resolved that CT United for Peace adopts the call forAction by the Palestinian Civil society that was also endorsed by Civil Society Groups around the world, specifically, to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel until Israel
(1) Ends its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantles the Wall;
(2) Recognizes the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
(3) Respects, protects and promotes the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.