International Student Young Pugwash
(ISYP)
STATEMENT ON THE
As an international network of students, young
professionals and academics, dedicated to promoting world peace and basic human
security for the present and future generations, we voice our extreme
opposition to the current
It's argued that Mr. Hussein's regime has developed and used illegal weapons in
the past, and that it is a dangerous, criminal dictatorship, as exemplified by
the Iran-Iraq war and by his repression of the Kurds. All of that is certainly true. Yet it is
also true that the weapons acquired by Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq
conflict were supplied to him by today's contenders and although his despicable
gassing of the Kurds was well publicized in the 1980’s most of the members of
today’s “Coalition of the Willing” continued to provide
Our international system represented by the United
Nations and its organs has been the cornerstone for the maintenance of peace
and the promotion of understanding between peoples and nations for more than 50
years. Reason rather then force, according to the world's conviction and
scientific evidence, can produce lasting solutions to world’s problems. War has become the last resort as sanctioned
by international law which defines it as a crime of aggression. Going to war unilaterally with disrespect for
the UN’s rationality and international law urging diplomatic solutions is
making the
We refuse to accept this war as being
fought in the name of freedom and democracy. In such context Humanity becomes a mere instrument
and Freedom or Democracy become empty words worth little more than when used
for bellicose propaganda.
That is not the world we want to live in as we want Freedom and Democracy to be
given back their
true meaning.
Waging pre-emptive wars is not in the purpose of
Science, Technology, the Rule of Law and of the
aspirations of our Modern Civilization. The purpose of civilization
and knowledge should be the betterment of lives of human beings and
strengthening of humanist values.
We are deeply saddened by the inevitable
deaths of thousands of innocent Iraqis and we are frightened by the prospects
of the humanitarian disaster scheduled to unfold as a result of this war. We urge all
parties to abide by the international law protecting civilians in conflict and
we call on the world to support the work of vast number of NGO’s, UN agencies
and International Red Cross in helping to minimize the resulting suffering and
deaths. A globalized world makes us all part of
this conflict and its consequences for the humanity and international law and
relations will be long felt.
As Human Beings we are offended by every offense to our fellows and we
agree that war with occupying, bombing, invading and killing
is an ultimate offense effects of which take generations to heal.
We acknowledge the resolutions of the
International Court of Justice that considers the use or threat of use of
weapons of mass destruction as a crime.
As an International group we share the
commitment of the global peace movement to prevent and stop this conflict that
will certainly affect many countries and might lead to a renewed arms race
eradicating all of the true achievements of humanity in the area of
disarmament. We fear that this conflict
might lead to establishment of a new economic and military world order led by
an unapologetic hegemon. We fear that this pre-emptive war will lead
to increased radicalization of world’s positions, un
upsurge in anti-Americanism, increased violence and hate.
We hereby express
our support to our fellows, who are USA citizens and are also committed to real
Peace and Democracy; we urge USA's democratic institutions to stop an administration
that is about to loose its international legitimacy.
The hopes of our generation for global understanding
and peace that were born when the