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War Times/Tiempo de Guerras

Special free print issue of War Times/Tiempo de Guerras coming soon!

In the last few weeks, war, occupation, death and destruction have dangerously intensified in the Middle East. The U.S. government has encouraged Israel’s devastation of both Lebanon and Gaza. Three thousand civilians are dying by violence each month in Iraq. Almost a million Iraqis are living as refugees in neighboring countries. The mainstream press offers its unquestioning approval of U.S. and Israeli moves, while condemning – or ignoring – the widespread opposition of the Arab world.

This one-sided news coverage reminds us of the early days of the U.S. "War on Terror" and of the buildup for the war in Iraq. In those times few media voices were raised to oppose the Bush Administration's designs. We face a similar situation today. Once again we must look to the alternative press to pierce the official story; to expose the bias and racism involved; and to paint a realistic picture of the active wars in the Middle East, their causes, and their implications for the future.

We first began publishing War Times/Tiempo de Guerras, a free, bilingual tabloid newspaper, in the spring of 2002. Then as now, we saw the need to demonstrate that it is possible - and necessary - to oppose the Bush Administration's war agenda. With the development of a national peace movement and the burgeoning of multiple internet-based resources, the need for a print publication declined. In fall of 2004, we ceased the paper publication. We have continued to maintain our website (www.war-times.org) and to produce downloadable leaflets and a monthly email newsletter.

But now we are taking War Times out of "retirement" and preparing a special print issue to appear in September. This free, bilingual issue will vividly portray the horrors of the wars as they are lived by all who live in affected places, including IRAQ, Lebanon, and the Occupied Territories. It will discuss the history and implications of the U.S.-Israeli alliance, explain how there is no 'might makes right' military solution to the problems of the region, and offer concrete ideas for peace action. It will be available after September 14.

Thanks to the generous support of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the Center for Third World Organizing, Global Exchange, and the Kendra Alexander Foundation, we plan to print a minimum of 100,000 copies. We will of course make the issue contents available on our website and to our email list. But the printed version will allow organizers, teachers, activists, and all peace-loving people to provide the issue for free to their neighbors, colleagues, students, members, friends and families. We hope it will be a contribution to peace with justice in the Middle East.

How you can help:

• Be a War Times/Tiempo de Guerras distributor. We will send you bundles of War Times to distribute wherever you are. There is no charge, but if you can support this project, we ask $10 per 25 copies (more if you can afford it, less if you can't); orders in multiples of 25, please. Contact distribution@war-times.org for more information.

• Make a contribution. Visit www.war-times.org and click on the "Donate Now" button to make a tax-deductible contribution towards our special print issue. The more money we raise, the more copies we will be able to print. (You can also send a check to War Times/Tiempo de Guerras, c/o P.O. Box 99096, Emeryville, CA 94662.)

• Tell people you know about the special issue. Forward this email to your own contact lists, and anyone you think might be interested in this project.

• Sign up to receive regular updates from War Times. To receive War Watch, a free monthly email update, visit www.war-times.org and enter your email address.

Peace,

The War Times/Tiempo de Guerras All-Volunteer Staff: Jan Adams, Karolo Aparicio, Mariana Bustamante, Ruth Warner Carrillo, Jung Hee Choi, Max Elbaum, Arnoldo García, Rebecca Gordon, Felicia Gustin, Hany Khalil, Rachel Kahn, Lynn Koh, Gerald Lenoir, Burton Li, Elizabeth (Betita) Martínez, Samuel Orozco, Ricardo Ortega, Sushawn Robb, Kerry Taylor, Bob Wing

posted by Annamarie at 10:46 PM