 March 2002
American Friends Service Committee Peacework Magazine Patrica Watson, Editor Sara Burke, Assistant Editor Pat Farren, Founding Editor 2161 Massachusetts Ave. Telephone number: Fax number:
pwork@igc.org Peacework has been published monthly since 1972, intended to serve as a source of dependable information to those who strive for peace and justice and are committed to furthering the nonviolent social change necessary to achieve them. Rooted in Quaker values and informed by AFSC experience and initiatives, Peacework offers a forum for organizers, fostering coalition-building and teaching the methods and strategies that work in the global and local community. Peacework seeks to serve as an incubator for social transformation, introducing a younger generation to a deeper analysis of problems and issues, reminding and re-inspiring long-term activists, encouraging the generations to listen to each other, and creating space for the voices of the disenfranchised. Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC. |
Korean Women on Bush's Visit Signed by 50 Korean women's organizations (list available on request). We absolutely cannot accept words threatening war on the Korean peninsula. Last year when President Bush declared war on Afghanistan, he demanded that every nation stand by his side. President Bush has now announced the second stage of the war on terrorism. In doing so he has called North Korea, Iran, and Iraq an axis of evil with an implied threat of war on the Korean peninsula. A sensation of fear and anxiety is upon us. The US administration's hard-line rhetoric directed at North Korea is a threat to Koreans who have worked so hard for peace and peaceful reunification on the Korean peninsula. Bush's pronouncement has come at a point in time when many active non-governmental exchanges have been revived among South Koreans and North Koreans, building again a spirit of trust between the South and the North. This also occurs just ahead of the South Korea-US Summit in February. Bush's words mean that South Korea-North Korea and North Korea-US relations are not going to be easy. Furthermore, dividing the world into two parts of good and evil and increasing the likelihood of military arms deployment throws the world into a semi-war state. We women, who have suffered militarism, are greatly worried that physical and mental violence coming from militarism can devastate the world and humankind. Therefore, we women for the sake of peace and security on the Korean peninsula and moreover for a peaceful world, make known our demands as follows: First, we strongly protest Bush's promotion of an atmosphere of war and creation of a pervasive sense of terror while seeking to gain hegemony. We demand that Bush renounce his bellicose words. Second, we reject any kind of military action that increases tension and conflict on the Korean peninsula. We women know from experience that military action brings violence around the world and amplifies it towards women, children and innocent civilians. Also growing tension and military action will surely ruin the whole economy on the Korean peninsula. There have been talks between North Korea and the US about restraining the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We women urge the US to solve problems by continuing to talk and negotiate with North Korea, not through military action. Third, we insist that the US stop forcing arms purchases and cease using alleged threats from North Korea as an excuse to justify a Missile Defence program. We are deeply concerned about the US Missile Defence. US talk of Missile Defence has built up tension in Northeast Asia and also made an arms race a near certainty. We women sincerely urge that advanced science, technology, and huge material resources rather than being used to hasten hostile military confrontations, be employed to improve the welfare, human rights, and environmental conditions of the weak. Fourth, we request that the Kim Dae Jung administration protest and clearly draw back from hostile US policy targeting North Korea. South Korea, which has maintained a military alliance with the US, requires skillful political leadership in carrying out a peaceful reunification process with North Korea. How can South Korea now accept seeing North Korea become a target of war in US sights? This is an issue entwined in our livelihoods and our very lives. We women insist that the South Korean Government be the driving force behind a Reconciliation and Cooperation Policy and that it carry out the Policy with positive action and wisdom. Fifth, the press must realize that this crisis is directly connected with the fate of our nation and the people. We plead that this matter be carefully dealt with in order to serve the national interest and to promote peace on the Korean peninsula. Lastly, we fervently hope that students, politicians, religious leaders, women's organizations, and peace organizations in the US will take steps to halt the spread of war rhetoric and the threat of military action. With them and all the peace-loving women and people in the world we may strongly oppose war together. We promise to continue our efforts to uphold and keep peace. We also declare that sustaining peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential to maintaining and advancing the peace of the world. Living together in harmony is the imperative choice for our world. February 7, 2002 
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