IMPORTANT ALERT: ACT NOW AND SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL YOUR NETWORKS!!
Get the word out about Colombia!
BACKGROUND
As the Peace Talks in Colombia crumbled and violence escalates, the
U.S. government’s actions are making things worse not better! Join
the Colombia Mobilization in Washington DC, April 19-22 as we gather
to reframe the national debate and our nation’s policy about Colombia.
We will meet and share, protest and lobby, reflect and march. See the
full schedule at: www.colombiamobilization
Colombia Support Network will be holding a caucus on Friday evening, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Washington City Church of the Brethren at 337 N. Caroline Ave. SE. We hope to see representatives of the chapters there.
Sister Marge
Colombia Support Network
The images dominating media coverage about Colombia are about violence,
insecurity, and war. But while the media regularly covers atrocities
and violence carried out by the FARC and ELN guerillas, there is silence
when it comes to violence by the right-wing (and, most importantly,
military-linked) paramilitaries. All the atrocities are horrible and
must be condemned. But the worst part about this slanted reporting is
that it is laying the groundwork for US “counter-terrorism”
action in Colombia and leads people to think that the peace process
is hopeless! Things are bad in Colombia, and many people’s lives
are dominated by violence, insecurity, and war. But increased funding
for warfare will certainly make matters far worse. In fact, it already
has! The solution is peace, not more war. Help present this alternative
vision by getting media attention around the Colombia Mobilization and
your trip to Washington!
ACTION
GET READY to come to the Mobilization and BRING OTHERS WITH YOU! The
first step is to get an organizing packet at www.colombiamobilization.
or by calling Witness for Peace at 202-588-1471.
In April, as you are getting ready to leave, you should be doing media
work! Find more hints on media work at the CM website.
The media wants to know - Contact the editor of your Local/Metro news
page early in April. Introduce yourself and tell her/him about what
you are going to do. Ask her/him what information they need to cover
the story. The story might be “Local goes to Washington to ask
Congress for peace in Colombia” or “Grandmother and church
group protest in Washington over US policy toward Colombia” or
they may even ask you to give them a report from the “front line.”
Press Release - Because this is a local news story, send a press
advisory a week before you leave. Call and make sure the news outlet
received the press release and ask them which reporter will cover the
story. Call your media contacts when you are in Washington to give them
updates. Follow-up with her/him when you return home.
Letter to the Editor hint: Many newspapers TODAY had a wire story
about a car bombing in Colombia. This is a great excuse to write to
your newspaper, condemning violence on all sides, but asking some pointed
questions about whether we want US taxpayer money to perpetuate terrorism
by funding a military that is linked to murderous paramilitary death
squads. See http://www.colombiamobilization.org/article.php?id=33
for talking points or visit the School of the Americas Watch website
(www.soaw.org) for examples of other
massacres that have gone uncovered by your newspaper in the past.
Other: Do you have transportation and a place to stay? Have you educated
your community about why you are going? Do you have congressional visits
arranged for while you’re in Washington?
TALKING POINTS
The Colombia Mobilization has the following missions (for detailed statement
see the webpage:
1. We call for an end to U.S. military aid to Colombia and the
Andean region, including training at the School of the Americas (SOA).
2. We call for an end to U.S. funding of counter-narcotic aerial
eradication in Colombia and the Andean region.
3. We call for dramatic expansion of drug treatment and prevention
in the United States.
4. We call for the United States to support comprehensive sustainable
economic development alternatives throughout the Andean region, as well
as efforts for peace that include the full participation of civil society.
5. We call for the United States to help alleviate the conditions
of refugees and those people internally displaced because of the conflict.
6. We are committed to nonviolence in our own actions as well
as supporting exclusively nonviolent, negotiated political solutions
to the conflict in Colombia. We do not support or endorse any armed
actor in the Colombian conflict.
More updates and actions on Colombia can be found at:
Janet M. Hostetler
Advocacy and Campaigns Coordinator
Witness for Peace
1229 15th St, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 588-1471
fax (202) 588-1472
csn's colombia mobilization page