RESPECTING OTHERS

OPPORTUNITY TO STOP U.S. MILITARIZATION IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Please lend your support to those working on the front lines of the opposition to the growing militarization of the Americas.

From August 16 to 23, 2010, in Colombia, “The International Gathering of the Women and Peoples of the Americas against Militarization” will be held.  This Gathering aims to denounce the growing militarism on the continent and make visible its negative impact on the lives of women and communities.

The Gathering is an opportunity to review and articulate different paths for resistance of women and their communities at a local, national and international level. It is a setting for those who share the responsibility for the defense of the sovereignty of communities and of the right of women to live a life free of violence.

This Gathering is occurring in the context of the recent signing of a “Cooperation Agreement on Security and Defense” between the governments of Colombia and the United States in 2009. This accord institutionalizes the presence of US military and contracted forces in seven military bases on Colombian territory. These personnel will enjoy diplomatic immunity, remaining outside the control of national or foreign laws, despite the history of abuses which have been documented in different countries and situations where there have been foreign troops.

We are writing to ask that your organization please lend its name in support of this Gathering. The organizations planning this Gathering would be very grateful for your political backing of the opposition of the seven new U.S. military bases in Colombia.

The women that are helping to organize this Gathering oppose the new U.S. military bases in Colombia because of the negative social effects that these bases will have on the surrounding communities, and specifically on their women.

If you support this gathering, please e-mail us at csn@igo.org, and we will add your organization's name to a poster. We are not asking for financial support, only for names. Please circulate this  message widely to other organizations in your area, that would be interested.

Source of Information: Colombia Support Network