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Dear all >chlorine imports to Iraq are restricted (they're permitted enough for >water purification - as determined by the 661 Committee - and each >tank is labeled and its use is closely monitored). I also recall >hearing reports early on in the OFF program that not enough >chlorine was being approved, but I believe that problem has been >resolved? According to a UNDP report I was given in Baghdad, there is actually a UN-assisted chlorine production facility in Iraq. >Elizabeth, there's no such thing as a list of banned items, but >here's a list of items that have at one time or another been part of a >contract the 661 Committee has blocked or disallowed: >http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~progress/flyers/banned.html > >This list is problematic, I know, but I've used items from the list on >a table to demonstrate the effect of sanctions & it is a powerful >display. As long as you don't claim that these items are "banned" >per se, I think you're okay.. Voices does not regard this list as useable. It has no basis in decisions of the Sanctions Committee. You will note that the list was originally taken from the Iraq Action Coalition. It is no longer on their website, in part because of the emergence of the green lists. We understand that this table was compiled by taking a standard list of civilian goods and striking out all those which could be defined as 'food' or 'medicine'. It therefore is not a record of 'items that have at one time or another been part of a contract the 661 Committee has blocked or disallowed'. I don't believe that Elias Davidsson, the originator of the list, has ever claimed that it was. Ambulances I know are on the green list for health. I think 'Balls for children's sport' are too. 'Books all categories' doesn't reflect present realities - textbooks are being imported under OFF. The idea of this 'banned' list is to shock people. But a lot of people in the world cannot buy most of these goods, don't use them in ordinary life. I'm not sure how shocking it is that people supposedly couldn't buy chiffon or dictaphones. The lack of these goods has not contributed to the humanitarian crisis. We think this list is more than 'problematic'. It is misleading. We urge everyone to find more accurate ways of communicating and illustrating the crisis in Iraq Milan Rai Voices in the Wilderness UK -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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