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MASS 'NOSE-IN'* AND VIGIL AGAINST THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON IRAQ. End the Lies. Lift the Economic Sanctions. Photo-call:1pm, Sunday April 29, on steps outside the FCO at the western end of King Charles Street, London SW1 (nearest tube: Westminster or St James's Park). Vigil: 2-4pm opposite Downing Street (*Robin Cook beards and Pinocchio noses will be provided) Every time Pinocchio told a lie his nose grew a little longer. On April 29, this symbolism will be used to stage a mass 'nose-in' photocall and vigil outside the Foreign Office. Beards and noses will be provided to create a crowd of Robin 'Pinocchio' Cooks and a new web-site, rebutting the Government's propaganda about the sanctions, will be launched. Please join us on the day to denounce the FO's lies and to show your support for a genuinely 'smart' policy towards Iraq : an end to the economic sanctions. Organised by voices in the wilderness uk and ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots Of War) Contact details at end of message. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Since their imposition in August 1990 the economic sanctions on Iraq have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of them children. In the face of mounting international pressure to lift the sanctions the British Government has launched a 'new propaganda drive' to 'refocus the public debate' (Guardian, 20th February 2001): **THE LIE**: 'Saddam alone is to blame for the suffering of his people.' (Robin Cook, Daily Telegraph, 20th February 2001) **THE TRUTH**: 'The sanctions [on Iraq] are humanly catastrophic, morally indefensible and politically ineffective.' (Catholic aid agency CAFOD, 2nd February 2001) 'SMART' SANCTIONS? Part of this 'propaganda drive' is an attempt to repackage the embargo as 'smart' sanctions. However, as The Economist notes, this 'offers an aspirin where surgery is needed.' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - An A5 leaflet version of the above (with a picture of Cook as Pinocchio) is available FREE from the voices office while stocks last. voices in the wilderness uk, 16B Cherwell St, Oxford, OX4 1BG, tel. 01865 243 232, email: voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk web-site: http://welcome.to/voicesuk/ -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk