Dear RN list, April 18 On Friday I went to a "people to people vigil for all victims of violence in ex-Yugoslavia" (in Halifax, Nova Scotia). One of the people who spoke there was a woman who once lived in Belgrade. I think she purposely did not say what her background was because once upon a time, labeling oneself "Croatian" or "Serbian" or whatever was not important and she would like to honour that time. She spoke about the stupidity of the bombing, how people in Yugoslavia now find themselves between NATO in the air and Milosovic on the ground. She spoke with deep sadness and ended her message with the salutation that the democratic radio station B-92 used to sign off with: "Don't believe anyone, not even us... and keep the faith". I found tears rolling down my cheeks, tears to recognize the wisdom and truth in that sign-off, so much is said in so few words: an embracing of paradox and the aknowledgement that, deep down, what keeps us going is a matter of faith. I was going to speak too, but didn't get a chance in the end. I would have said how amazing it is to me to think that we are at war; that in itself is amazing. But it is even more amazing because life here continues much as it always has, even though we are at war. I ask myself how this could be and the answer comes to me: this war is, actually, just a natural extension of "business as usual". We have been investing in military defence even as the most pressing threats to our well-being cannot be solved by military means. Our ecomonies are based on destruction and most of us have so far been unable to find ways to live truly non-violently....Just think of all the destruction and exploitation that is inherent in this computer I'm using! (According to the Oct. '97 issue of the _New Internationalist_, to produce a computer, 27,700 litres of water and 2,300 kilowatt hours of electricity are used. Factory workers in Malaysia whose labour contributed to its manufacture earned about $2/hr....) Obviously, I am not prepared to forgo the use of a computer, even though I am aware of its true cost, although I know a couple people who refuse any such acquisition for just this reason. But I do think it is important for us to realize how our everyday lives cause violence and destruction and to seek ways to reduce our complicity in the death spiral. To further this idea of being aware of the true cost of things, I will copy below some statistics which ought to give us pause... and maybe even give rise to some positive action, I hope. all the best, Jan **************************************************************** From: Sid Shniad <•••@••.•••> Subject: The cost of war in Kosovo Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 5:30 PM The money being spent on humanitarian relief for the Kosovan refugees is a tiny fraction of that being spent on the bombing. NATO's bombs have created a crisis in one of the poorest areas of Europe. * The cost of one of the US's B-2 "Stealth" bombers is £1.5 billion. That is the same as the entire gross domestic product of Albania. * The US has 21 B-2 bombers. The money used to produce them could meet the basic health and nutritional requirements of the starving across the world for TWO years. That would save the lives of the 30,000 children under the age of five who die EVERY DAY because of malnutrition and easily treatable diseases. * Every cruise missile fired costs $1 million. Experts estimate NATO dropped at least 120 cruise missiles in the first week of bombing alone. The cost of EACH ONE could provide the seeds and tools for 50,000 poor peasants in the Third World to grow their own food for a year. ***************************************************************** from the UNDP: The world's priorities (annual expenditures in billions) Education for all $6 * cosmetics in USA $8 Water and sanitation for all $9 * ice cream in Europe Reproductive health for all women $12 * perfumes in Eurpope & the USA $12 Basic health & nutrition $13 * cigarettes in Europe $50 alcoholic drinks in Europe $105 military spending in the world $780 *estimated additional cost to achieve universal access to basic social services in all "developing" countries *********************************************************** I close this posting with a comment from a Maori woman in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Makere Harawira, who was one of several people to write in with comments about the "pushing aside mass murder?" posting. I chose hers because it happens to mention the UNDP, the source of the statistics on priorities above and an organization which seems to be really doing some good things... but which may be on its way to being "sold out"... Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 22:26:02 +1200 From: Makere Harawira <•••@••.•••> Subject: Re: Pushing aside mass murder? Well done, Jan - good response. The trouble is that so few people have any idea of the scullduggery that has been going on underneath it all. - including the deliberate undermining of the UN by America - see the record of its failure to pay its dues for several years, therby forcing UNDP into partnership with some of the biggest criminals in the world - the TNC.s Probably the most important thing that we can do is to raise people's understanding of the underlying agendas involved. All of which is why what you do is so utterly invaluable. Regards, Makere PS from Jan: I'm not at all so sure that what I'm doing is so "utterly invaluable" buts thanks all the same. And thanks to all the people who wrote in with comments; it is so good to know you care!
