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This
issue contains:
Conflict Focus of the Month (Somalia)
Environmental Issue of the Month (Plastic Bag Tax)
Humanitarian Issue of the Month (Islamic Women’s
Rights)
Civil Liberty Focus (Azerbaijan)
Film of the Month (Iraq for Sale)
Book of the Month (Growth Fetish)
Letter response of the Month (Sainsbury’s)
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JANUARY 2007 TRENDS (supplied by
CrisisWatch)
Deteriorated Situations
Guinea, India (non-Kashmir), Israel/Occupied Territories, Lebanon, Nigeria,
Sri Lanka, Uganda
Improved Situations
North Korea, Northern Ireland (UK)
Read
February's Crisis Watch Newsletter for excellent coverage of
conflict trends over the last month, including situations that have unchanged
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Visit Warriors of Change to explore
a gateway to activist websites, allowing you to explore the extent of your
power – allowing you to influence policy and corporate decisions at all
levels.
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Want to write a review for a book you’ve read?
Seen a film you think could raise awareness?
Have an issue you’d like raised?
Contact: Editor
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Feel WOC is being polarised or is not reflecting a viewpoint in any
way? Please contact Editor
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Welcome to Warriors of
Change 1st Newsletter!
This
new monthly newsletter gives you a brief insight into various issues
important in January – and how you can help others with just 2 minutes of your time!
Instead of
being overwhelmed by the world's sufferings, by focusing your energy and
attention on single issues, you can make more of a difference. Download
ready-made letters – All you have to
do is sign and send!!!
Be sure to
read Response of the Month (at the
bottom) to witness how your power makes a true difference. WOC aims to raise awareness of current issues.
Whilst WOC tries not to polarise, it does attempt to emphasise our national
(US & UK) responsibility to always push for peace and withdraw from war.
Conflict
Focus — Somalia
What’s Going on? — v.brief outline
† May 2006: Mogadishu warlords [Alliance
for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism ARPCT ] vs Militia [loyal to Union of Islamic Courts UIC ]. UIC opposed by neighbouring Ethiopia and
also US.
† U.S.
neither admits nor denies accusation it is funding warlords.
† E-mails
describing covert illegal operations by private US military companies in
breach of UN regulations - reported by UK newspaper The
Observer
†
Transitional government of Somalia calls for intervention by a regional
East African peacekeeping force. UIC oppose this. Islamists are fiercely
opposed to foreign troops, particularly Ethiopians, in Somalia. (Somalia and Ethiopia fought bitter war
in 1977–78 over Somali province of Ogaden)
† War
erupts December 21, 2006 - Ethiopia vs UIC. Ethiopia launches
large scale intervention in Somalia
† January
9, 2007, United States openly intervenes in Somalia by sending AC-130
gunships to attack
Islamist positions in Ras Kamboni.
† January
11 and 12, joint U.S. and Ethiopian forces conduct additional
airstrikes in wild countryside near Ras Kamboni. U.S. claims it is
targeting terrorist cell responsible for bombings of U.S. embassies in
Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Oxfam claim 70 nomadic herdsmen were
killed and 100 wounded in airstrikes, and none of them were combatants.
†
Escalating violence between ARPCT and UIC – impending humanitarian disaster
 Click Here for a more detailed history of the
conflict (Crisis Watch)
BBC In-depth Coverage
; New York Times Coverage
Donate to charities
involved in humanitarian affairs in Somalia
US Citizens –
Lobby your Congressperson for immediate withdrawal of US military and
financial interference –
Download Letter
template
To discover who and where your representative is –
click here
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Environmental
Focus — Ireland
Plastic Bag Tax Success in Ireland
In 2002, Ireland imposed the Plastic Bag
Environmental Levy – taxing all people 15 cents for using plastic bags in
shops. As a result, plastic bag use has been reduced by 90%!! Millions of
euros have been generated from the tax which is being used for
environmental ventures. Bangladesh has banned polythene bags altogether
while Taiwan and Singapore are taking steps to discourage their use. Is
your country doing the same?
Learn more about the use and abuse of plastic bags
Lobby your MP / Congressperson to do the same! -
Download
Letter template
Find out who your local representative is by
clicking here!
Learn More about Environmental Issues – Click Here
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Humanitarian
Focus — Women’s Rights
Ayaan Hirsi Ali — Islamic women’s
rights activist
Ayaan Hirsi
Ali is one of today’s most controversial political figures. A Somali
refugee who became a Dutch MP, she was propelled into the international
headlines by the assassination of Theo van Gogh, who directed a short film
she’d written criticising Islam’s repression of women.
Radio 4 Broadcast – Click Here to Listen
;
Click Here for Podcast
For the latest up-to-date Humanitarian news – Click
Here
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Civil
Liberty Focus — Azerbaijan
Opposition journalists assaulted in Azerbaijan
Since March 2005,
there have been five assaults against independent journalists by unknown
actors, including one fatal and two near-fatal incidents. All these attacks
have one thing in common - individuals who have expressed criticism of the
authorities.
Write a letter or email to the President! Follow
Amnesty International's simple two step action guide
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Film of
the Month — Iraq for Sale
Uncover another side of the Iraq
War
Acclaimed
director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed
and Uncovered) takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers,
widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of
profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the
connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the
decision makers who allow them to do so.
Click Here for WOC synopsis, trailer and critic
reviews
Click Here to
see trailers, synopses and critic reviews for other controversial &
inspirational movies!
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Book of
the Month— Growth Fetish
Clive Hamilton
For decades
our political leaders and opinion makers have touted higher incomes as the
way to a better future but after many years of sustained economic growth
and increased personal incomes we must confront an awful fact: we aren't any happier. In this
provocative book, Clive Hamilton argues that, far from being the answer to
our problems, growth fetishism and the marketing society lie at the heart
of our social ills."The transition to a post-growth society will be
just as far-reaching as the transition from feudalism to industrial
capitalism or from industrial capitalism to consumer capitalism. It will
fundamentally transform power relationships, social institutions, our
relationships with others, our ethical rules, our attitudes to the natural
environment and, ultimately, our consciousness."
Click Here for Clive
Hamilton’s site, together with critic reviews and how to purchase book
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Response
of the Month – Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Respond to letter
regarding use of plastic bags!
UK retailer Sainsbury’s
respond with an extensive letter outlining why they feel they cannot charge
for plastic bags. The supermarket chain also details how recycled bags will
come into use in the near future and how they are influencing their
customers to use recycled ‘Bags for Life’. Remember the more letters
companies and representatives receive, the more they realise they will have
to shift according to public opinion!
Read Sainsbury’s letter
Write your own
letter to a retailer or company regarding plastic bags –
Download
Template
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