Today, a woman hurled herself out of a window on the corner of where I work, killing herself. My coworkers were there and couldn't believe it was happening. We think she may have known one of the victims from the WTC tragedy. With all the drama going on within the past week, this event emotionally drained us further.. (We went back to work on Monday, and it was one of the hardest days of going to work any of us had experienced. We hardly did anything productive, as our minds were elsewhere...) I can only hope that the 7 stories of crater that's now become the site of ground zero will be uncovered sooner than later. Those rescue workers are working hard as hell! Even those poor dogs. The ground of that site is so hot the soles of the men's work boots melt slightly! I can only imagine what it does to the dogs' paws, though I know they wear boots, as one of the requested pieces to donate are dog booties.


ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND
*COMMUNITY ALERT*
~~ THE MEETING LOCATION HAS BEEN UPDATED ~~

Please join us for a second community forum on Saturday, September 22nd to discuss the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks and how we can take action in response to the anti-Asian backlash that has occurred in New York City and around the nation.

WHEN:
Saturday, September 22, 2001, 2-4 pm

WHERE:
New York University
Randolf Summerville Theater
100 Washington Square East
Room 703

PLEASE RSVP AT:
AALDEF, 212.966.5932 or 212.760.9110

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sin Yen Ling, 212.760.9110 x476 or
sling@aaldef.org
Margaret Fung, 212.966.5932 x201 or
mfung@aaldef.org


* * * * * * *


TEACH IN / SPEAK OUT

Threats of War
Prospects for Justice
AFTER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER
FRIDAY - Sept. 21
4:00 to 6:00 pm
CUNY Graduate Center
365 Fifth Avenue (Btwn. 34th & 35th St.)
Proshansky Auditorium - Concourse Level

With:
Talal Asad
Ella Shohat*
David Harvey
Zahera Saed
Stanley Aronowitz

Fahima Danishgar*
Neil Smith
Sunita Reddy
Ali Mir
Khaled Fahmy*

Sponsors: Center for Place, Culture, and Politics Center for the Study of Culture, Technology, and Work


* * * * * * *

2 ONLINE PETITIONS

If you haven't already, please consider signing the following two on-line petitions. They're important, very quick and easy to sign:

Call For Peace and Justice!
click here

University of Chicago petition urging restraint in any action taken as a result of Tuesday's atrocities.
click here


* * * * * * *


WHY SEPTEMBER 11TH?
THE U.S. & THE MUSLIM WORLD

New York University's
Dept. of Middle Eastern Studies
& Hagop Kevorkian Center

invite all NYU students, faculty & staff
to a forum on

WHY SEPTEMBER 11th?
The U.S. & the Muslim World

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Hemmerdinger Hall Main Building
100 Washington Square East

NYU faculty specializing on the Middle East, Islam, and U.S. foreign policy will discuss:
Who are the groups suspected of attacking NYC and Washington, D.C., and why? Who are the "Islamic fundamentalists," and what are their aims/beliefs? How are the policies of the U.S. government perceived in predominantly Muslim lands? Is there really "a clash of civilizations" between Islam and the West? How should the U.S. respond to these attacks & what are alternatives to current policies? What can we as members of the NYU community do to help the situation at this time?

The forum is co-sponsored by the Center for African American, Latino & Asian American Student Services, Africana Studies, American Studies Program, Art Education Program, Asian/Pacific/American Studies, Dept. of Drama, Center for European Studies, Gallatin, Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Metropolitan Studies Program, Performance Studies, Graduate Students of Color Network, & Graduate Student Organizing Committee.


* * * * * * *


ARABIAN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION SOCIETY

Here's a really good link to the arabian anti-discrimination society that I heard about from NPR. You may want to list it on your website.
www.adc.org

Please see this site and petition for peace:
www.9-11peace.org


* * * * * * *


NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN MURDERED

Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 08:53:05 -0700 (PDT)

Over the past week our country has endured sheer terror and a threat to our way of life. This is a very difficult time for all Americans.

Some have used this tragedy as an excuse to exercise racism in its most extreme and disgusting form. Over the past weekend, an employee who works in the Healthy Nation office at Cherokee Nation experienced this firsthand. On Friday night, Kimberly Lowe, niece of Cherokee Nation employee Margie Burkhart, was murdered in an act of violent racism. Here is her story...

Kimberly Lowe and several friends went out on Friday night in Tulsa. While driving around Tulsa they were"allegedly" followed and harassed by a vehicle of white males. The males were "allegedly" throwing items at the car and yelling "Go back to your own country!" Kimberey was driving and acting as many of us would, stopped the car and confronted the males. Sadly, the males "allegedly" decided to end her life. They "allegedly" used the car to hit Kimberly and pin her against another vehicle. They then "allegedly" backed up and ran over her again. Kimberly was pronounced dead at St. John's hospital.

Tulsa news media and the Tulsa Police department have yet to deem this a "hate crime". Kimberly's family wants to make certain that senseless acts of violence are not deemed acceptable. We want the Tulsa Police department and the news media to cover this story and make the point that NO ACTS OF VIOLENCE against people of color are acceptable. I am outraged that so little has been done to bring attention to this heinous crime.

We need your help. If you know of any sources of support to bring attention to this case and hopefully bring these criminals to justice, please call or e-mail me. We are looking for a source similar to the NAACP to assist in bringing the necessary attention to this crime. Any advice or assistance would be appreciated

Name: Lisa Perkins
E-mail: Lisa Perkins lperkins@cherokee.org


* * * * * * *


ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION WTC FUND

Dear friends:

As you know, there are a lot of folks donating funds throughout the country, which is wonderful to see. You might ask "why another fund?" Here's three reasons why folks should promote the Asian American Federation WTC Fund:

1) The Asian American Federation has a direct network with Asian American social service organizations throughout the NY Metropolitan area, and will be coordinating with them and others throughout the city.

2) The Asian American Federation has a track record of responsible grant-making to organizations in the area, ensuring that your

3) 100% of funds donated to the new AA Federation WTC Fund will be used in relief efforts: some of it will be for general relief, but the majority will be for relief in the Asian American community, through services and other needs as they arise.

Please read the announcement below, and PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY...

Asian American Federation of New York Establishes WTC Fund
to Aid NYC Relief Efforts and Asian American Community

Sept. 18th, New York – Today, the Asian American Federation of New York, a non-profit leadership organization in the Asian American community, established the Asian American Federation WTC Fund to help those in need after the World Trade Center devastation on September 11th. The purpose of this fund is to mobilize financial resources to respond to the urgent needs of those affected by the tragedy.

As part of the Asian American Federation Relief Initiative, the WTC Fund will provide financial resources to aid the larger assistance efforts in the New York City region and support relief efforts in the Asian American community. With 36 member agencies that provide services to Asian American communities throughout the city, the Federation established the WTC Fund to provide immediate support to these and other groups that will offer a variety of assistance to families and victims of the tragedy. All monies donated to the
WTC Fund will be used to relieve the physical, emotional, and financial impact of the September 11th devastation upon lower Manhattan upon local children, families and communities, and to help in the effort to rebuild New York City.

Those wishing to contribute to the Asian American Federation WTC Fund may send their donations in care of the Asian American Federation of New York, 120 Wall Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10005. Checks should be made payable to the Asian American Federation WTC Fund. Donations are 100% tax deductible and will
be accepted until October 31, 2001.

For more information, please call (212) 344-5878 ext. 27, or visit the Asian American Federation website at www.aafny.org.


* * * * * * *


TEACH-IN ON AFGHANISTAN AND PEACE

Bluestockings Women's Bookstore and Cafe
172 Allen St. (Between Stanton and Rivington)
Trains: F to 2nd Ave
(exit 1st Ave and walk to two blocks down Houston)
212-777-6028
info@bluestockings.com

Teach-In on Afghanistan and Peace!
This Saturday, September, 22nd 2-4pm
at Bluestockings Women's Bookstore

Speakers:
Zieba Shorish-Shamley, Women's Alliance for Peace and Human Rights in Afghanistan
Felicity Hill, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Sara Flounders, International Action Center

In this time of confusion and pain it is important to have accurate information in order to understand what is truly happening in the world around us. Come to a teach-in at Bluestockings Women's Bookstore to learn background on the conflict in Afghanistan and what interntaional and local organizations are doing to work for a peaceful resolution to this conflict. After the teach-in we will proceed to the rally in protest of anti-arab violence at Union Square.


* * * * * * *


NATIONAL MARCH IN WASHINGTON DC

From: "Action Center"

Dear Friends,

Our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences are with all those whose loved ones were lost or injured on September 11, 2001. At this moment, we would all like to take time to reflect, to grieve, to extend sympathy and condolences to all. But we believe that we must do more. We must act.

Unless we stop President Bush from carrying out a new, wider war in the Middle East and beyond, the number of innocent victims will grow from the thousands to the tens of thousands and possibly more. A new, wider U.S. war in the Middle East can only lead to an escalating cycle of violence. War is not the answer.

After the horrific killings of thousands of innocent civilians on Sept. 11, the Bush administration is moving in a very ominous direction. In a chilling statement, Bush administration spokespersons have called for "ending states," an unprecedented threat.

At the same time, Arab American and Muslim people in the United States -- as well as other communities of color -- are facing racist attacks and harassment in their communities, on their jobs and at mosques. Anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism is a poison that should be repudiated.

The government is attempting to curb civil liberties and to create a climate in which it is impossible for progressive people to speak their mind. The Bush administration is attempting to take advantage of this crisis to militarize U.S. society with a vast expansion of police powers that is intended to severely restrict basic democratic rights.

On September 29 we had planned to demonstrate against the Bush administration's reactionary foreign and domestic policy and the IMF and World Bank. In light of the current crisis, with its tragic consequences for so many thousands of people, we have refocused the call for our demonstration to address the immediate danger posed by increased racism and the grave threat of a new war.

Now is the time for all people of conscience, all people who oppose racism and war to come together. If you believe in civil liberties and oppose racism and war, join us on September 29 in front of the White House. We urge all organizations to join together at this critical time.

National March in Washington DC
Saturday, September 29
Rally 11 am at the White House

SIGNERS:
Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic
Archdiocese of Detroit
Samia Halaby, Al-Awda Palestine Right of Return Coalition
Barbara Lubin, Executive Director, Middle East Children's Alliance
Nania Kaur Dhingra, Sikh Student Organization, George Washington University
Chuck Kaufman, National Co-Coordinator, Nicaragua Network
Njeri Shakur, Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement
National Lawyers Guild
(LIST IN FORMATION)

Tens of thousands will march on the White House on September 29. I want to add my name or organization to the list of endorsing organizations and individuals for this protest, or sign up to help mobilize in my area!

Name:
Email:
Street Address:
City:
State/Province:
Zip/Postal Code:
Country:
Home Telephone:
Work Telephone:
Fax:
Occupation:
Title/Position as it should appear:
Organization/Union:

[check all that apply]

[ ] List me as an endorser!

[ ] My organization/union has officially endorsed.

[ ] I can help with outreach (leafletting, posting, call-ups, drop-offs, mailings).

[ ] I would like someone to speak to my group (explain in comments).

[ ] I can help with fundraising.

[ ] I would like to hear about upcoming activities.

[ ] Other - let me know how I can help! (tell us how you can help in comments below).

$ [ ] amount I can contribute (Send to "War & racism is not the answer - Protest at the White House Sept. 29 Demonstration" c/o International Action Center at the address below)

Message to September 29th Surround the White House Mobilization:
(enter your comments here)

Send replies to iacenter@iacenter.org


* * * * * * *


CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: PROPOSED MEMORIAL BOOK TO HELP THE SURVIVING FAMILY OF MR. THUNG PHETAKOUNE

Greetings! Can you pass this on to any writers or artists you know who would be interested in helping us with the project below?

The brutal murder of Thung Phetakoune in New Hampshire in July reminds us all too clearly of the need for all Asian Americans to stand together against ignorance and racism.

This isn't just a Lao issue or even an Asian issue, but a human issue. I hope you can help us in our stand against racism, and encourage you to contribute your voice and experiences.

Thank you,
Bryan Thao Worra


CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Members of the Satjadham Lao Literary Project, an international grassroots organization of Lao writers and artists, are calling for submissions of poetry, prose or artwork for inclusion in a proposed memorial book to help the surviving family of Mr. Thung Phetakoune and to support anti-racism programs.

On July 14, 2001, Mr. Thung Phetakoune, a 62-year old Lao immigrant in Newmarket, NH died after receiving fatal head injuries from an assault by 35-year old Richard Labbe.

Labbe told police that he was paying back Asians for the deaths of Americans in the Vietnam War, including his brother and uncle, and that he hated Vietnamese people.

In fact, Mr. Phetakoune was a military veteran who assisted American and Lao anti-communist forces during the war in Laos.

Labbe is being charged with second-degree murder and also with committing a hate crime. Community leaders across the nation are calling for full prosecution of the case and are organizing to provide support for Mr. Phetakoune's family, including his elderly widow.

The organizers of the memorial book are asking for submissions that honor the memory of Mr. Phetakoune and that will help the public to understand what the world has lost with his death.

"We all need to come together and help one another in the continuous fight against racism, ignorance and xenophobia," said Bryan Thao Worra, one of the volunteers working on the project. "This is an issue that affects everyone, and submissions are welcome from anyone who feels that violence and racism have no place in our community."

Pieces that address the war in Laos and the experience of Southeast Asians in America are also welcome, as are thoughts on what we can do together to combat racism in our community.

Due to limited space, pieces should be relatively concise and accessible in terms of clarity and meaning. Writers and artists will receive full credit for their contribution and will retain all standard legal rights to their work.

The submission deadline is set for November 1st, 2001. Please send submissions and other inquiries to:

Adisack Nhouyvanisvong
Phetakoune Project Submissions
508 Broadway Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

or by e-mail to:
Phetakoune@satjadham.net

Direct contributions to assist the Phetakoune family can be sent to:
Phetakoune Family Fund,
c/o Bank of New Hampshire,
72 Exeter St.
Newmarket, NH 03857


* * * * * * *


ONLINE PUBLICATIONS to scour, bookmark and pass on to folks:

www.indybay.org
www.fair.org
www.commondreams.org
www.zmag.org/altmediawatch.htm
www.accuracy.org
www.thenation.com
For further writings by leading critics on the media, go to:
www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Media/Mediacontrol_US.html


* * * * * * *


WINDOW SIGNS

Inkworks Press has created 2 windowsigns "Justice, not Vengeance/Let us not become the evil that we deplore" and "Hate Free Community/Stop Racist Attacks." We've also made flyers of Barbara Lee's speech before congress on 9/14 under the headline
"Barbara Lee Speaks for Me, and Millions More". These materials are available at Inkworks now, 2827 7th Street, Berkeley. We request a donation if possible to defray expenses and to print more, but it's not necessary. Our purpose is to get them into circulation. We will reprint bulk orders at cost.

You will find the links to these flyers on the website below (in jpeg and pdf format).

home.igc.org/~inkworks/ppnindex.html

Take care, and be safe,

the Inkworks Collective

INKWORKS PRESS
2827 Seventh Street
Berkeley CA 94710
ph: 510.845.7111
fx: 510.845.6753
inkworks@igc.org
www.igc.org/inkworks


* * * * * * *


ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER

Subject: help needed at the Arab-American center
Date: 13 Sep 2001 16:18:34 EDT
From: EMILY JACIR ejacir@usa.net

Dear friends,

We are really swamped here at the Arab-American Family Support Center. We have kids scared to go to school, mothers to scared to
leave their homes to buy food for their families. People are being attacked, Arab children have reported this afternoon, teachers who
attacked them verbally.

There are now 4 reported attacks in Bay Ridge. Families are contacting us because they are to seared to talk to the American
police.

Children are at home scared.
The media is calling us from all over the world every minute.
Please help.This is what we need:

-volunteers to escort women to go buy food and to walk kids to and from school. If you can help, please send me your phone number, name, and the neighborhood you live in and work in.

- I need a list of Arab professionals and intellectuals and university students that I can give to all the media who keep calling. If you can speak to the media, please send me your name, number, and profession, major etc.

Thanks!
Emily

I went to the vigil at Union Square on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I took a few pictures, but I was not as excited as some who were actually stepping into the middle of the Tibetan buddhist prayer gatherings, such as one particular white photographer. That was a little weird. But I'll tell you about my experience at the vigil over the weekend sometime soon. Right now, I wanted to let you know of some important developments/postings/ways you can assist in light of the tragedy. From what I've posted, you can see where I stand on this, but I invite anyone in general who has their own similar/different opinions to peruse these...

SUPPORT CONGRESSWOMAN LEE!

As you probably know, yesterday California Representative Barbara Lee was the sole US Congress representative to oppose the vote that gave Bush authority to wage a 'military war' on terrorism. Since the isolated action and words of this courageous woman risk being submerged by the war rhetoric mounting by the minute in the U.S., we should let her know immediately our appreciation of her gesture, and try to make this support as public as possible.

If you agree with the above, please:
1) Write to representative Lee a personal message of support or sign the one below
2) Send it to the following addresses: barbara.lee@mail.house.gov
3) CC it to: community@cnn.com
4) Send this message to as many friends as possible.

To:
The Honorable Barbara Lee
U.S. House of Representatives
426 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Lee:

I wish to thank you for your courage to stand up firmly against the resolution to authorize U.S. military action to respond to the attacks on the pentagon and the World Trade Center. I too, am "convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States," as you put it in your eloquent plea against war.

You will be remembered and honored as the lone voice of conscience in U.S. Congress. History will prove the truth of your insight.

Let us work together to prevent this war and build an global alliance of solidarity that will bring to justice the perpetrators of these hideous crimes against humanity.

Sincerely,

____________
(Your Name)

* * * * * * *

PETITION TO STOP RETALIATION AGAINST AMERICAN MUSLIM AND ARAB COMMUNITIES

Instructions:

Please read the following petition. If you agree with the sentiments and would like to add your name, please do so. Forward this to as many concerned people as you can! We the authors of the petition are committed to a quick turn-around time so that we can get this to President Bush ASAP. Please don't hesitate to add your name and to forward this petition. When the list of names reaches any whole multiple of 15 (e.g. 15, 30, 45, and 60 names and so on) please forward the entire thing to skinnyactivist@yahoo.com. Also, no matter how many names are on it, send it to skinnyactivist@yahoo.com (or directly to the White House at president@whitehouse.gov) if the date is already September 18th or later.

thanks--
Cecile V. Cruz and Tom K. Brown


PETITION TO STOP RETALIATION AGAINST AMERICAN MUSLIM AND ARAB COMMUNITIES

Dear President Bush:

We are deeply saddened by the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11th. In the wake of these attacks, we the undersigned are also highly concerned about the backlash against Islamic Americans and Arab-Americans in our nation. We hereby urge you to make a statement condemning these acts of violence and hatred.

The thoughtless targeting of Islamic or Arab-American people and institution is already occurring, and without sensible discussion these acts of hatred and violence may escalate once further information about the source of the terrorist plots is revealed.

We must work towards the eradication of terrorism and of the conditions which motivate this terrorism. However, acts of hatred and violence directed at innocent people (and based only on the victims' appearance, religious beliefs, ethnicity, or national origin) do nothing to deter terrorism and instead only aid and perpetuate the aims of the terrorists. We must seek justice, but our acts of retribution will be fully justified only if they circumvent (rather than encourage or perpetuate) the targeting of innocent civilians. We believe that it is imperative that you make a public statement condemning hate-crimes against the American Muslim and Arab-American communities in the U.S., and re-enforcing the understanding that the terrorist acts perpetrated on September 11th were the work of an extremist group (or groups) whatever their religious affiliations or national origins.

You certainly know that the views and actions of these extremist groups (whoever they might be) are not widely shared amongst the members of our very diverse Muslim and Arab communities. Lashing out at our own citizens (or, for that matter, at innocent foreign nationals who reside in the U.S. or abroad) is a mistake and results from confusion about who is accountable for the acts.

A message from the President on these issues would be very powerful. It is important that the people of the entire nation understand that this message is backed by our President as well as by the political figures from whom we have already heard (these figures include NYC mayor Giulani, CA governor Gray Davis, and San Francisco's Chief of Police Fred Lau, among others). These leaders have spoken eloquently, but their words are heard most clearly by their own constituents. A message from our President could be heard more clearly by the people of our entire nation and by people around the world. Such a message could provide a nucleus for growing national and world unity against terrorism.

Let's stop the backlash before these horrible acts of terrorism claim the lives of even more innocent US citizens and foreign visitors.

Thanks you for considering this matter. We all depend on you to act accordingly.

Sincerely,

1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)
12.)
13.)
14.)
15.)

* * * * * * *

WTC and THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Dear Friends,

I hope this message find you and your loved ones safe and sound. I was thinking that we should get all the different APA groups together for an event to help out with the WTC tragedy. We could raise money and awareness for the need of tolerance between all cultures. Especially in regard to Arab Americans and other muslim communities. The money raised could be divided between the victims of the tragedy and help for the victims of the backlash. Spearheaded, I believe, by AALDEF and CAAAV.

We'll need a venue like a corporate auditorium or something similar. And we'll need people willing to perform. And a bunch of volunteers. And we could try to do this by the week of October 1st.

I'd like to get a response on how interested people are in something like this. And if so, send me any information on resources we can use, like an auditorium and performers and groups who are interested in participating.

Tolerance & Peace,
Ramon Gil,
President,
Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans
email: RSGil@aol.com
tel: 646-840-1118



* * * * * * *

THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN REFUTED

Independent Media Center
www.indymedia.org

CNN USING 1991 FOOTAGE of celebrating Palistinians to manipulate you (english) Wednesday 12 Sep 2001

I'd like to add some ideas from here, down south. There's an important point in the power of press, specifically the power of CNN.

All around the world we are subjected to 3 or 4 huge news distributors, and one of them - as you well know - is CNN. Very well, I guess all of you have been seeing (just as I've been) images from this company. In particular, one set of images called my attencion: the Palestinians celebrating the bombing, out on the streets, eating some cake and making funny faces for the camera.

Well, THOSE IMAGES WERE SHOT BACK IN 1991!!! Those are images of Palestinians celebrating the invasion of Kuwait! It's simply unacceptable that a super-power of cumminications as CNN uses images which do not correspond to the reality in talking about so serious an issue.

A teacher of mine, here in Brazil, has videotapes recorded in 1991, with the very same images; he's been sending emails to CNN, Globo (the major TV network in Brazil) and newspapers, denouncing what I myself classify as a crime against the public opinion. If anyone of you has access to this kind of files, search for it. In the meanwhile, I'll try to 'put my hands' on a copy of this tape.

But now, think for a moment about the impact of such images. Your people are hurt, emotionally fragile, and this kind broadcast have very high possibility of causing waves of anger and rage against Palestinians. It's simply irresponsible to show images such as those.

Finally, I'd like to say that we all regret and condemn all that has happened in the last days; but Nikos has a point here. I really don't want to be misunderstood here, but the truth is that US government had shown no respect for other countries in the last decades. In the 60s and 70s they had helped lots of military coups throughout the world (including Brazil in 64).

Later, with Reagan and Bush (Father), the Washington Consensus have been demolishing the bases of our economies, making us more and more dependant (and, many of us, preoccupied with this situation).

Your current president quickly made things worse: Kioto Protocol, Star Wars, Colombia Plan, the exchange of rain forest for pieces of external debt, the abandonment of the position of third party in negotiations between IRA and England, and between Palestinians and Israel. All those mistakes in US external politics made your country more hatred than before, and, of course, more vulnerable.

Listen, I'm NOT justifying the terrorist actions that took place in your country; but it seems to me that, if your leaders had come along another path of thoughts and actions, you wouldn't be suffering what you are now.

Best regards, and the hope that everything is resolved for the best of all of us.

Márcio A. V. Carvalho
State University of Campinas - Brazil


* * * * * * *

CALL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE!

In the aftermath of the ruthless attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, we implore the leaders of the United States to ensure that justice be served by protecting the innocent citizens of all nations. We call for PEACE and JUSTICE, not revenge.

Please help by signing this petition to be sent to President Bush. It takes 30 seconds and will really help. Please follow this link:
http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/224622495

The system centralizes signature collection to provide consolidated, useful reports for petition authors and targets.

* * * * * * *

For Immediate Release
September 15, 2001
Contact: Giles Li 202-223-5500
www.ocanatl.org

VIGIL HELD AT JAPANESE AMERICAN MEMORIAL TO PATRIOTISM

Washington, DC - On Friday, September 14, over 100 concerned Americans gathered at the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, DC to honor the memory of the countless individuals who lost their lives in Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) joined a diverse group of people, which included Representatives David Wu (D-OR) and Mike Honda (D-CA) and members of several different racial and religious groups. Attendees were given the opportunity to address the crowd and the vigil concluded when the crowd linked arms for a moment of silence.

"I am proud that OCA was able to join with the broader Washington, DC community in memorializing the victims in the recent tragedy," said George M. Ong, OCA National President. "It is important to remember the people who passed away in the attack, and also for Americans to give each other support in this difficult time. Let the diversity in the crowd be a reminder of how much we have in common, regardless of external differences. To help our nation heal from the heartache, we have to lend our shoulder to others - neighbor and stranger alike."

"Last night after the vigil, the Congress passed a resolution concerning events that have occurred in the wake of the terrorist
attacks," remarked Christine Chen, OCA Executive Director. "It states that the rights of all Americans, including Arab Americans,
American Muslims, and South Asian Americans, will be protected in the quest to bring the terrorists to justice. It conveys how important it is that all Americans stand together and show solidarity; OCA was honored to take part in an event that carried
the same message."

Asian American Journalists Association urges media to continue responsible coverage on Arab American communities San Francisco (Sept. 12) - As we cover the horrific events of Sept. 11, the Asian American Journalists Association urges the nation's news media to continue the responsible reporting on our nation's Arab American communities that has marked coverage so far.

Our profession has the opportunity and the responsibility to inform the public about the many facets of this national tragedy. At the
same time, we can help ensure that the devastating events in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania do not lead to further
injustices against other Americans. Arab Americans, along with all of us, are victims of this attack.

Already, there is much concern within Arab American communities in our nation about the backlash that might result from Tuesday's
attacks. These fears are fueled by reports that link these attacks to Arab or Islamic terrorists.

The Detroit Free Press has put together an excellent guide for journalists titled, "100 Questions and Answers About Arab Americans."
The guide is available online at www.freep.com/jobspage/arabs/index.htm

The following web sites and published articles can also serve as valuable resources for journalists covering this national tragedy:

Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee - www.adc.org
Arab American and Chaldean Council - www.arabacc.org
Arab American Chamber of Commerce - www.arabchamber.org
Arab American Institute: www.aaiusa.org
Arab Film Distribution: www.arabfilm.com
"Arab - Americans, Muslims Fear Backlash" by the Associated Press -
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Attacks-Arabs-and-Muslims.html?searchpv=aponline
"Bay Area Muslims fear reprisals, misplaced blame" by the San Jose
Mercury News -
http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/backlash12.htm

AAJA is a non-profit membership organization with about 1700 members. Our mission is to encourage Asian Pacific Americans to enter the ranks of journalism; work for fair and accurate coverage of Asian Pacific Americans; and increase the number of Asian Pacific American journalists and news managers in the industry.

Our thoughts are with all the victims of the attacks.

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A MESSAGE FROM DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving)

Peace and Greetings.

On behalf of DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving), we’d like to extend our solidarity and support of folks affected by yesterday’s tragedy and its repercussions. The incidents of yesterday will undoubtedly have a major impact on future world events in terms of U.S. foreign policy and retaliation. But we should not forget also the very immediate and local impacts that will be felt for a long time ahead for immigrant and communities of color in the U.S. As in the aftermath of the Gulf War, the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, and the Oklahoma bombing, many people in our communities already have been targeted, attacked, beaten, and harassed. Working class immigrants and people of color already live under constant police and INS repression and things will undoubtedly get worse.

There have been reports already from around the Tri-state area and around the country of anti-Muslim/ anti-Arab/ anti-immigrant attacks. As you know, this generally means anyone who supposedly LOOKS Arab or Muslim- South Asians, particularly Sikhs, Arabs, and many other folks of color. DRUM as part of the Coalition Against Police Brutality in NYC (which includes over a dozen people of color organizations) is organizing around bias attacks in the NYC area. We are meeting with organizations city-wide tomorrow evening to coordinate efforts of different communities. On a broader front, DRUM will continue to organize with other groups around the long-term effects on INS policy and detention and immigrants rights. DRUM is setting up a number to report all incidents of hate crimes and bias attacks for South Asians in the NYC and New Jersey area. Please call in all information about incidents including any contact information for those victimized. We have begun follow-up and community outreach today through Queens and Brooklyn, particularly at Mosques and Gurudwaras in the area. We will work with other groups to collect this information and organize response with the leadership of folks in our community.

THE DRUM BIAS ATTACK NUMBER IS (212) 631-3689.

In Struggle,
Monami Maulik and Subhash Kateel
Coordinators, DRUM

For info on DRUM -Desis Rising Up and Moving,
email info@drumnation.org, or call 212.631.3689
www.drumnation.org

"I have advocated, and I still advocate, revolutionary changes in the structure and in the principles that govern the United States. I advocate an and to capitalist exploitation, the abolition of racist policies, the eradication of sexism and the elimination of political repression. If that is a crime, then I am totally guilty."
-Assata Shakur

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WORDS FROM AN AFGHANI-AMERICAN WRITER

Dear Friends,

The following was sent to me by my friend Tamim Ansary. Tamim is an Afghani-American writer. He is also one of the most brilliant people I know in this life. When he writes, I read. When he talks, I listen. Here is his take on Afghanistan and the whole mess we are in.
-Gary T.

Dear Gary and whoever else is on this email thread:

I've been hearing a lot of talk about "bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age." Ronn Owens, on KGO Talk Radio today, allowed that this mean killing innocent people, people who had nothing to do with this atrocity, but "we're at war, we have to accept collateral damage.

What else can we do?" Minutes later I heard some TV pundit discussing whether we "have the belly to do what must be done."

And I thought about the issues being raised especially hard because I am from Afghanistan, and even though I've lived here for 35 years I've never lost track of what's going on there. So I want to tell anyone who will listen how it all looks from where I'm standing.

I speak as one who hates the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. There is no doubt in my mind that these people were responsible for the atrocity in New York. I agree that something must be done about those monsters.

But the Taliban and Ben Laden are not Afghanistan. They're not even the government of Afghanistan. The Taliban are a cult of ignorant psychotics who took over Afghanistan in 1997. Bin Laden is a political criminal with a plan. When you think Taliban, think Nazis. When you think Bin Laden, think Hitler. And when you think "the people of Afghanistan" think "the Jews in the concentration camps." It's not only that the Afghan people had nothing to do with this atrocity.

They were the first victims of the perpetrators. They would exult if > someone would come in there, take out the Taliban and clear out the rats nest of international thugs holed up in their country.

Some say, why don't the Afghans rise up and overthrow the Taliban? The answer is, they're starved, exhausted, hurt, incapacitated, suffering.

A few years ago, the United Nations estimated that there are 500,000 disabled orphans in Afghanistan--a country with no economy, no food.

There are millions of widows. And the Taliban has been burying these widows alive in mass graves. The soil is littered with land mines, the farms were all destroyed by the Soviets. These are a few of the reasons why the Afghan people have not overthrown the Taliban.

We come now to the question of bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age. Trouble is, that's been done. The Soviets took care of it already.

Make the Afghans suffer? They're already suffering. Level their houses? Done. Turn their schools into piles of rubble? Done. Eradicate their hospitals? Done. Destroy their infrastructure? Cut them off from medicine and health care? Too late. Someone already did all that.

New bombs would only stir the rubble of earlier bombs. Would they at least get the Taliban? Not likely. In today's Afghanistan, only the Taliban eat, only they have the means to move around. They'd slip away and hide. Maybe the bombs would get some of those disabled orphans, they don't move too fast, they don't even have wheelchairs. But flying over Kabul and dropping bombs wouldn't really be a strike against the criminals who did this horrific thing. Actually it would only be making common cause with the Taliban--by raping once again the people they've been raping all this time.

So what else is there? What can be done, then? Let me now speak with true fear and trembling. The only way to get Bin Laden is to go in there with ground troops. When people speak of "having the belly to do what needs to be done" they're thinking in terms of having the belly to kill as many as needed. Having the belly to overcome any moral qualms about killing innocent people. Let's pull our heads out of the sand. What's actually on the table is Americans dying. And not just because some Americans would die fighting their way through Afghanistan to Bin Laden's hideout. It's much bigger than that folks. Because to get any troops to Afghanistan, we'd have to go through Pakistan. Would they let us? Not likely. The conquest of Pakistan would have to be first. Will other Muslim nations just stand by? You see where I'm going. We're flirting with a world war between Islam and the Wes

And guess what: that's Bin Laden's program. That's exactly what he wants. That's why he did this. Read his speeches and statements. It's all right there. He really believes Islam would beat the west. It might seem ridiculous, but he figures if he can polarize the world into Islam and the West, he's got a billion soldiers. If the west wreaks a holocaust in those lands, that's a billion people with nothing left to lose, that's even better from Bin Laden's point of view. He's probably wrong, in the end the west would win, whatever that would mean, but the war would last for years and millions would die, not just theirs but ours. Who has the belly for that? Bin Laden does. Anyone else?

Tamim Ansary


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POR LO NUESTRO: LIVES OF CUBAN SEX WORKERS
PERFORMANCE BENEFIT
Friday, Septemeber 28th, 2001
7-11PM
DUMBA
57 Jay St, Brooklyn
F to York St

FEATURED PERFORMERS:
Grisel Acosta
Sabrina Margarita Alcantara-Tan
Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhran
Dawn
Emmy Gay
InfiniTEE
Karen Jaime
Ingrid Rivera

Hosted by Martha Cabrera Estevez
DJ Oriza spinning classic musica cubana
Delicious vegan Cuban food que rico......

The Por lo nuestro project was started by Martha Cabrera Estevez. This project will produce a one-woman play depicting the lives of Cuban sex workers (jineteras). The first segment will be a trip to Havana, Santiago and Victoria de las Tunas, Cuba, in October, 2001. In those three cities she will meet with sex workers and participate in their daily lives. The finalized production of Por lo nuestro will be in the Spring of 2002. All proceeds from this benefit will support the Por lo nuestro project.