Just International

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Archives: Endorsements

Peace Now and Forever Campaign Between India and Pakistan

NOTE: This Resolution has over 1000 endorsements obtained on a personal basis, listed alphabetically at this link. It is online here as part of the Peace Now and Forever Campaign Between India and Pakistan.

PEACEMONGERS’ JOINT RESOLUTION FOR PEACE

In the 70 years since independence and Partition, the people of India and Pakistan have seen too many conflicts and the loss of many valuable lives. Enough of the distrust and tensions. Those who suffer particularly are ordinary people denied visas and those in the conflict zones, especially women and children as well as fishermen who get routinely rounded up and arrested for violating the maritime boundary.
We condemn all forms of violence regardless of its objectives.
Deeply concerned at the current rise in animosity and antagonism between India and Pakistan, we urge both governments and their security establishments to take all steps possible towards improving relations.
We note that whenever it seems that relations might improve, some form of disruption takes place ranging from jingoistic statements to militant attacks. The traditional response to such disruptions only strengthens those who want continued tensions between our two countries.
We, citizens of India and Pakistan, and concerned citizens around the world, move this joint resolution towards a peaceful subcontinent and make the following demands to the governments of India and Pakistan, urging them to:
Develop an institutionalised framework to ensure that continuous and uninterrupted talks between India and Pakistan take place regularly no matter what. Make dialogue uninterrupted and uninterruptible.
Ensure that political leaders, diplomats and civil servants from both countries conduct talks on the sidelines of all international and multilateral forums.
Recognise that the Kashmir dispute above all concerns the lives and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, and work to resolve it through uninterrupted dialogue between all parties concerned.
Implement the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.
Renounce all forms of proxy wars, state-sponsored terrorism, human rights violations, cross-border terrorism, and subversive activities against each other, including through non-state actors or support of separatist movements in each other’s state.
Support and encourage all forms of people-to-people contact, and remove visa restrictions and discrimination faced by citizens of both countries. This must be further taken forward to allow visa-free travel between India and Pakistan.
Increase trade and economic linkages, sports and cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan.
Further, we pledge to uphold the principles of impartial reporting and urge media houses on either side to prevent the growing militarisation of debate. We must act responsibly and stop broadcasting hate speech and creating public hysteria aimed at the other country and/or vulnerable communities.
UPDATE: This resolution is endorsed by over 1000 prominent peacemongers in India, Pakistan and around the world – singers, actors, artists, writers, journalists, retired armed forces personnel, parliamentarians, filmmakers, lawyers, historians, physicians, businesspeople, economists, students and rights workers. They include Gulzar, Noam Chomsky, Shubha Mudgal, Aruna Roy, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Asma Jahangir, Mubarak Ali, Romila Thapar, Ayesha Jalal, Admiral L. Ramdas, General Talat Masood, General Mahmud Durrani, Jean Dreze, Nayantara Sahgal, Mahesh Bhat, Nandita Das, Naseeruddin Shah, Salima Hashmi and Amin Hashwani to name a few. See some of the names in the list online, alphabetically ordered. This resolution is also endorsed by the Sarhad song of Aisi Taisi Democracy.

Hundreds of organisations in India, Pakistan and other countries partnering for The Peace Now Campaign are also obtaining endorsements for this resolution through an on-the-ground signature campaign. Scores of programmes in different cities and towns are providing platforms to people of both countries to assert their desire to resolve all issues amicably and reclaim an atmosphere of peace for the sub-continent.
NOTE: Endorsements collected online and on the ground until 15 August 2017 will be delivered to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan by the end of August 2017.
This petition will be delivered to:
India, Pakistan
Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan

Please sign here.

Support the Nuclear Ban Treaty

We have exciting news! On June 15, more than 130 nations will re-convene at the United Nations for the final session of negotiations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. Sign this petition today to tell the President of the UN conference, Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gomez of Costa Rica, that you support this essential step in the worldwide abolition of nuclear weapons.

Our Director of Programs, Rick Wayman, will meet with Ambassador Whyte in New York during the week of June 19. He will personally deliver your signature and comments to her at that time.

While the U.S. and other nuclear-armed and nuclear-allied nations are boycotting this process, the clear majority of the world’s nations are ready to definitively prohibit nuclear weapons – the only weapon of mass destruction not currently banned. We must support their courageous leadership in banning these weapons that threaten the future of civilization and most complex life on the planet.

Sign the petition as soon as possible to ensure that your signature and comments are included in our submission to the President of the nuclear ban treaty negotiations.

 

Madame President,

We the undersigned strongly applaud your leadership in the negotiations on a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons. We are hopeful for a positive outcome in July.

We consider this to be a very positive step toward a world free of nuclear weapons, and appreciate your efforts to craft a strong, meaningful treaty.

We look forward to working with you, and all nations participating in good faith in this process, to achieve swift entry into force of this treaty, and on future steps toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

 

Please sign up here.

 

No U.S. war planes over Syria

There is no legal or moral basis for the United States to be waging war in Syria, risking conflict with Russia and nuclear apocalypse for us all.

Sign this petition to the U.S. Congress and Secretary of Defense James Mattis:

We urge you to immediately remove all U.S. military planes from Syrian skies and keep them out of that country’s airspace.

Please sign up here.

By taking action you agree that you may be emailed by one or more of the partner organizations. Partners are RootsAction.org, World Beyond War, DailyKos, Veterans For Peace, The Nation, and Watchdog.net. We consider your contact information to be private and confidential. We will NOT disclose it to any other entity unless you specifically authorize us to do so. You can unsubscribe at the bottom of any email you receive from us.

Tell Trump and Putin: Negotiate, Don’t Escalate

What happens during the announced meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in a few days, at the G-20 summit in Germany, could determine the fate of the Earth.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists continues to warn the world that the hands of the risk-estimate “Doomsday Clock” have moved even closer to catastrophic midnight. The dangers of global nuclear holocaust are increasing — and a major factor is the rise of tensions between the United States and Russia.

So, profoundly, this is not about Trump or Putin. This is about whether relations between the two nuclear-weapons superpowers will continue to spin out, worsening the risks of military confrontation. This is about whether the young people we love — and so many others around the world — will have a future. And whether subsequent generations will even exist.

If you want to express support for seeking détente instead of boosting U.S.-Russian tensions, please click here to sign a petition with a vital message for Trump and Putin.

To: President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump
We vehemently urge you to take a constructive approach to your planned meeting at the G-20 summit. Whatever our differences, we must reduce rather than increase the risks of nuclear war. The future of humanity is at stake.

To read about the “Doomsday Clock,” please click on a Background link at the bottom of this email.

After signing the petition, please use the tools on the next webpage to share it with your friends.

— The RootsAction.org Team

P.S. RootsAction is an independent online force endorsed by Jim Hightower, Barbara Ehrenreich, Cornel West, Daniel Ellsberg, Glenn Greenwald, Naomi Klein, Bill Fletcher Jr., Laura Flanders, former U.S. Senator James Abourezk, Frances Fox Piven, Lila Garrett, Phil Donahue, Sonali Kolhatkar, and many others.

Sign up here.

REPORT ON THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE MALAYSIAN CHAPTER OF THE NETWORK IN DEFENCE OF HUMANITY

The Inauguration Ceremony of the Malaysian Chapter of the Network of Artists and Intellectuals in Defence of Humanity, was held on the 25th May 2017, 11.00am at the Embassy of Cuba in Kuala Lumpur. A humble group of Intellectuals, diplomatic officials, and members of civil society were invited to attend the ceremony.

The Ceremony was opened by the Ambassador of Cuba to Malaysia, Ambassador Ibete, who gave an overview of what the Defence of Humanity is all about and its role. Dr. Chandra Muzaffar highlighted in his speech the significance of a network of this sort at this juncture of history in addressing global injustices and the importance of courage and dedication in making the Network grow. A screening of Fidel Castro’s 1979 address to the UN with its emphasis upon the challenges facing humankind was shown and was well received by everyone.

Lunch was served by the Cuban Embassy. With the event coming to a close, the Malaysian Chapter of the Network of Artists and Intellectuals in Defence of Humanity was officially established.

The Network in Defence of Humanity is a movement of thought and action against all forms of domination. It responds to the need to comply with the mandate of the Plenary Assembly of the World Meeting of Intellectuals and Artists in Defence of Humanity held in Caracas on December 6, 2004, attended by representatives of fifty- two countries and diverse cultures.

The Network main topics are as follows:

• in defense of our planet for everyone
• in defense of peoples’ integration
• in defense of an economy of emancipation and solidarity
• in defense of sovereignty and international legality
• in defense of unity in diversity and culture for all
• in defense of knowledge for all
• in defense of popular participation
• in defense of the truth and plurality information
• in defense of memory
• in defense of peace
Report prepared by JUST’s Programme Coordinator, Hassanal Noor Rashid.

27 May 2017

Stop U.S. from Selling More Weapons to Saudi Arabia

Millions of people in Yemen are on the edge of starvation. Cholera is spreading. Bitter and violent resentment of those responsible: the Saudi and U.S. governments is boiling up. Yet Donald Trump proposes to go right on selling Saudi Arabia the weapons with which to continue the war that has created and is maintaining the crisis.

Yes, the United States is slaughtering civilians by the thousands in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and there is something ridiculously hypocritical about professing standards that prevent selling weapons to a government that uses them to kill civilians. No, there is no proper moral way to conduct the campaigns of mass-murder known as wars, so that worthy recipients of war weapons can be distinguished from Saudi Arabia and other unworthy ones. But when we have a chance to alleviate great suffering, we must act on it immediately.

We have that chance. After May 26, U.S. Congress Members and Senators will be home for a week, where they should hear from their constituents in person. In June they will have to vote one way or the other on whether to go on selling war weapons to Saudi Arabia. We will deliver this petition to them.

Please sign it.

Please also, if you are from the U.S., phone your Representative and your two Senators at 1-(202) 224-3121.

Messages of friendship from the people of the United States to the people of Russia

To the people of Russia:

We residents of the United States wish you, our brothers and sisters in Russia, nothing but well. We oppose the hostility and militarism of our government. We favor disarmament and peaceful cooperation. We desire greater friendship and cultural exchange between us. You should not believe everything you hear from the American corporate media. It is not a true representation of Americans. While we do not control any major media outlets, we are numerous. We oppose wars, sanctions, threats, and insults. We send you greetings of solidarity, trust, love, and hope for collaboration on building a better world safe from the dangers of nuclear, military, and environmental destruction.

Please sign the following petition, and add your own comment.

THE DETENTION OF OMAR BARGHOUTI.

The International Movement for a Just World (JUST) is deeply disturbed by the detention of Omar Barghouti by the Israeli authorities on Sunday 19th March 2017.
Barghouti who lives in the coastal city of Akka in present-day Israel is the co-founder of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement which has been targeting Israel for its occupation of Palestinian land and for the injustices it continues to perpetrate against the Palestinian people. The BDS movement is beginning to have a significant impact upon citizens in various parts of the world, especially in Western Europe.
The Israeli authorities are arguing that Barghouti is being detained for tax evasion on earnings amounting to USD 700,000. The BDS National Committee has accused the Israeli government  of ” fabricating  a case” against the well-known and well respected activist. Some independent observers concur.
It is a fact that Barghouti has been subjected to all sorts of threats in the past by  Israeli leaders. In 2016 he was slapped with a travel ban. The Israel government has pressured  foreign governments and legislatures to restrict BDS activities in their countries and Israeli intelligence services have conducted ” black operations” against the movement.
As one of the leaders of the BDS movement, Barghouti has been an effective spokesperson for the Palestinian cause. His lucidly articulated views are listened to avidly even by those who are not sympathetic to the Palestinian struggle. This is why he has been made to pay the price.
JUST demands that Barghouti be released immediately and unconditionally. Israel cannot claim to be a democracy and yet detain peaceful dissidents with a proven commitment to democratic values and principles.  When Israel punishes people like Barghouti it exposes yet  again its true character — that it is an unscrupulous State without an iota of conscience.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar,
President,
International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
Malaysia.
25 March 2017.

Palestinian human rights defender, Issa Amro, is facing 18 politically-motivated charges in Israeli military courts.

Palestinian human rights defender, Issa Amro, is facing 18 politically-motivated charges in Israeli military courts.

As Israel ramps up its repressive campaign against Palestinians, human rights defenders–those documenting, speaking, and organizing against Israel’s oppressive policies–are one of its first targets. And Issa Amro, community leader and co-founder of the Hebron-based Youth Against Settlements, is no stranger to being a target of Israeli efforts to silence his activism.

Palestinians face a conviction rate of 99.74% in Israeli military courts, which is why we, and our member groups at Codepink, Jewish Voice for Peace, Interfaith Peace Builders, and others, are petitioning United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to pressure Israel to drop the charges against Issa.

Under Israeli military occupation, Palestinians are forbidden from partaking in almost every form of political expression. The ridiculous charges against Issa range from “insulting a soldier” to “gathering without permission.” They reek of political persecution as clear as day.

The work of Issa and Youth Against Settlements has been internationally recognized, and more importantly, it is incredibly effective in fostering and building Palestinian community and resistance in Hebron, a place where Israeli apartheid, oppression, and occupation is often at its worst and most violent. Israel wants to lock up Issa because he is a powerful community leader and organizer against Israeli apartheid, and therefore a threat to the Israeli status quo.

Help keep Issa free and able to do his incredible work. After you have signed the petition, share it on Facebook & Twitter so we can get as many signatures as possible before the official start of his trial on March 26!

Thank you for taking action to help one more Palestinian voice for freedom, justice, and equality!

Please sign up here.

 

Sincerely,

 

TAMAR GHABIN

Government Affairs Associate

P.S.–Israel is once again targeting Omar Barghouti, another Palestinian human rights defender, and co-founder of the global boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.

 

New Video: A Call for Justice for Mohammed al-Qeeq: Fayha Shalash Urges Action

A new video by Fayha Shalash, Palestinian journalist and the wife of imprisoned hunger striker and journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq, urges international action for his release. We urge all supporters of Palestinian freedom, liberation and justice to share this video widely, as al-Qeeq enters his 24th day of hunger strike demanding release from imprisonment without charge or trial under Israeli administrative detention.

https://youtu.be/2ea0nKEhxKI

Mohammed al-Qeeq is one of 23 Palestinian journalists imprisoned by the Israeli state. His life and health are on the line not only for his freedom, but for Palestinian freedom overall and an end to administrative detention without charge or trial. It is critical to raise our voices internationally and demand freedom for Mohammed al-Qeeq, an end to administrative detention and the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners.

Take Action!

1. Sign and share the public petition to international officials to demand they take a stand on administrative detention and Mohammed al-Qeeq’s imprisonment. Sign and share at: https://www.change.org/p/council-of-the-european-union-take-action-to-free-hunger-striking-palestinian-journalist-mohammed-al-qeeq

2. Organize a protest or a forum for Mohammed al-Qeeq and Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Apartheid Week is approaching and the Israeli injustice system is an excellent example to highlight in IAW activities, especially as your support can help to bring the international attention needed to help Mohammed al-Qeeq in his struggle for freedom. You can invite a speaker, hold a discussion, hold a protest, or just distribute leaflets and information (see below for sample leaflets and posters). To request resources or let us know about your event so we can post it publicly, email samidoun@samidoun.net or contact us on Facebook.

3. Hold a Symbolic Hunger Strike. This is an especially effective tactic on a campus for Israeli Apartheid Week, but can be used anywhere. A symbolic one-day hunger strike in which participants publicly express their solidarity with al-Qeeq and fellow Palestinian prisoners can help to raise local attention. Email samidoun@samidoun.net to let us know about your event!