Iraq Water Project Team III: American veterans go to Iraq to help rebuild water-treatment plants

Around a year ago, I had the chance to visit Iraq with team II of the
Iraq Water Project. The IWP (www.iraqwaterproject.org), a project of
Veterans For Peace (www.veteransforpeace.org), revolves around repairing and
maintaining
Iraqi water treatment plants destroyed by the genocidal sanctions
imposed on Iraq by the "international community". Team I inaugurated
work in the first, and largest, plant (Labbani). Our team was to inaugurate
work in the next three plants.

The team participants paid there expenses to go to Iraq, get a first-hand
experience of the effect of the sanctions, and work in the water treatment
plants.

After the success of phase one, which involved the repair of the first four
treatment plants, the VFP decided to continue the IWP, repairing more
plants, and sending more delegations. Unfortunately, the IWP is not
funded by such charitable organisations as the Soros foundation, the
European Union, or the several 'endowments for democracy'. As a consequence,
things have not moved as fast as we would have liked. But due to the efforts
of a small group of dedicated people, a large part of the funds for the next
phase have been collected, and the next team is going to depart in a couple
of months.

The next team will be led by Tom Sager, whom I had the honour to meet as a
fellow member of Team II. Tom is a retired university professor who speaks
little, hears more, and works even more. My guess is that with Tom at the
helm, team III cannot but be a success.

Following is the invitation by Tom Sager to those who have expressed
interest in participating in team III or otherwise helping


Abu Nicola al Yunani

FAV Webmaster

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                 BACKGROUND

Iraq's water treatment facilities were deliberately
targeted and destroyed during the 1991 Gulf War by the
US military, with full knowledge of the devastating
effect this would have on Iraqi civilians. For the 11
years since the end of the Gulf War, Iraq was
prevented from rebuilding and maintaining its water
treatment capacity by the most comprehensive economic
sanctions ever imposed on any group of people, again,
with full knowledge by the US government that Iraqi
civilians, particularly children under 5, were dying
by the thousands every month from water borne diseases
and complications directly attributable to the lack of
clean water.

The Iraq Water Project which began in 2000 has already
rebuilt four water treatment plants serving 70,000
people in the Basrah area. It is envisioned that the
repair of the two water treatment plants at Tawi, on
the Euphrates River above Ar-Ramadi and Old Hudaidah
in the City of Baqooba will be completed by June 1,
2002. We are determined to continue the Iraq Water
Project until economic sanctions against Iraq are
lifted. Should any of the water treatment plants which
we have rebuilt be bombed or destroyed by the US
military, we are determined to rebuild them again.

The IWP is intended to ease the suffering of the Iraqi
people. However, it is equally intended to create a
galvanizing event that enables us to better educate
the American public as to the devastating effects of
sanctions. We believe firmly in the need for
humanitarian work abroad to be linked with educational
efforts back home. It is our hope that the image of
former US military people from all eras (and their
friends) going into Iraq to help rebuild the civilian
infrastructure, will have a dramatic effect on the
American consciousness.

So far we 've been very successful and we hope it
continues that way. If accepted, you will witness the
effects that sanctions and ongoing bombing have
wrought on the civilian population. And in a public
showing of solidarity with Iraqi civilians, you will
work on the water treatment facilities that the IWP
has committed itself to restore. You will also be
asked to follow in the successful footsteps of
previous IWP delegations in creating local events in
your communities. These events should aim at raising
awareness of both the devastating effects of
sanctions, and raising money for the continuing
efforts of the Iraq Water Project.

#############################################################################
Dear Friends:

Thank you for your interest in traveling to Iraq with
the Iraq Water Project.

I am sorry about the long delay. But, finally we have
an application. Please read it over carefully, and if
you wish to apply, fill it out and send it to both me
and Kathy Kelly with a brief resume by email as soon
as possible, preferably within a week.

Please note that there have been many changes. This
trip will be led by Voices in the Wilderness. We will
be leaving on May 6 or May 7 and will be gone for
about 2 weeks with 10 days in Iraq. The cost,
exclusive of airfare to and from Amman, Jordan will be
no more than $1,000. The cost of round trip airfare to
Amman will depend on where you are starting from.

Due to the unsettled global situation and the strong
possibility of escalation of war in Iraq, the criteria
for participation are more stringent then usual.
However, I think you will understand why that is
necessary.

Thanks again for your interest. I am looking forward
to a very exciting trip.

In peace and solidarity,

Tom Sager, coordinator
Iraq Water Project

              -------------------------

APPLICATION FOR TRAVEL TO IRAQ WITH THE IRAQ WATER
PROJECT FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPPOSING US PLANS FOR
FURTHER WAR AGAINST THE IRAQI PEOPLE, OPPOSING THE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS OF IRAQ, AND WORKING ON THE
REBUILDING OF WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AT TAWI AND OLD
HUDAIDAH

Dear applicant:

   Thank you for your interest in the Iraq Water
Project (IWP), a project of Veterans for Peace Inc.
(VFP) in partnership with Life for Relief and
Development (LIFE). Because of US Treasury Dept.
restrictions, neither VFP nor LIFE can be involved in
travel to Iraq at this time. Voices in the Wilderness
(VitW), a campaign to end the economic sanctions of
Iraq, which has been organizing travel to Iraq since
1996 in defiance of economic sanctions and all US
government restrictions on travel to Iraq has
graciously agreed to facilitate our travel to Iraq.

         PLEASE READ THIS WARNING CAREFULLY!

1. We will be entering a war zone at a time when there
have been serious threats of expanding the war against
the Iraqi people in both scope and intensity. If you
travel with us, you may be putting yourself in grave
personal danger. The safety of the trip may depend on
all participants working together as a cohesive group.
All participants must be willing and able to put aside
their own personal agendas and egos for the safety and
good of the trip. In addition, we may potentially find
ourselves under fire or under bombardment by the US
military. It is imperative that all participants be
able to remain cool and not panic under these
conditions.

2. For US citizens, traveling to Iraq without
permission from the US Treasury Department is
punishable by criminal penalties of up to 12 years in
prison and fines of US$1 million. In addition there
may also be civil penalties. For those who are not
citizens of the US, there may also be criminal or
civil penalties. All particants must accept this risk
personally. There are no exceptions. VitW does not
seek government approval of its actions.

3. This trip will be physically and emotionally
exhausting. Participants must be in good physical and
mental health.

4. We are committed to non-violent struggle against
war and oppression. While on the trip, participants
must agree to under no circumstances resort to
physical or verbal violence against anyone, no matter
how provoked. There are no exceptions.


ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN AND NOTARIZE
A DOCUMENT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND WILL COMPLY WITH
THE ABOVE FOUR PARAGRAPHS, AND WILL NOT HOLD VFP,
LIFE, VITW, OR ANY OF THEIR MEMBERS, AFFILIATES, OR
AGENTS LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED ON ACCOUNT OF
PARTICIPATION IN THIS TRIP.

IF YOU CANNOT OR WILL NOT COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE
REQUESTS, THEN PLEASE DO NOT APPLY.

NOTE: Because of the tense nature of the situation in
Iraq at this time, we must limit participation in this
particular trip to those who have had experience with
non-violent action, and have already learned how to
handle themselves non-violently in tense potentially
violent situations, such as under fire, in certain
non-violent demonstrations, or in certain courtroom
situations. This is not the proper time or milieu in
which to learn non-violence action.

         HOW TO DONATE TO IRAQ WATER PROJECT

Those who cannot join the trip for whatever reason,
but wish to donate to the Iraq Water Project may do so
legally by sending a check made out to VFP - Iraq
Water Project to: Veterans for Peace, Iraq Water
Project, 438 N. Skinker, St. Louis, MO 63130. VFP is a
501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax
deductible as provided for by US law. The repair of
the water treatment plants at Tawi and Old Hudaidah is
being done legally with permission from the US
Treasury Department.

                THE TRIP

We are looking forward to a very exciting, history
making trip. We envision a 14 day trip, spending 10
days in Iraq and a considerable amount of that time at
Tawi and Old Hudaidah working in solidarity alongside
of Iraqi contractors and laborers repairing these
water treatment plants. These plants which have been
destroyed by war and economic sanctions will provide
15,000 people, 3 schools, and 2 medical clinics with
safe clean drinking water.

The trip will not be all work. We plan to visit
schools, hospitals, clinics, museums, and at least one
archeological site. There will also be some lectures
and briefings to attend, and possibly one day of doing
something both educational and relaxing. In addition
we hope to visit the four water treatment plants that
have already been repaired by the Iraq Water Project.

Although dates are not firmly set yet, we are planning
to leave on May 6 or May 7 or very soon thereafter. We
will probably hook up for at least part of the trip
with other groups that VitW is leading into Iraq. We
do not have a firm figure, but we envisage a cost of
no more than US$1,000 from Amman into Iraq, traveling
in Iraq, and back out to Amman. All participants are
required to raise their own expenses, and pay for
their own travel to and from Amman.

Each participant will need to get their own Jordanian
visa. VitW will take care of Iraqi visas for all
participants.

NOTE 1: Because of the volatile situation in Iraq, the
itinerary will be subject to change at any time
without notice. There is no absolute assurance that
anything that is planned will actually occur.


             FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tom Sager, Coordinator
Veterans for Peace Iraq Water Project
8 Laird Ave.
Rolla, MO 65401
phone: 573-368-5551
email: tomsager@yahoo.com

Veterans for Peace Iraq Water Project
438 N. Skinker
St. Louis, MO 63130
phone: 314-725-6005
email: vfp@igc.org
web: www.veteransforpeace.org
web: www.iraqwaterproject.org

Life for Relief and Development
17300 W. 10 mile Rd.
Southfield, MI 48075
phone: 800-827-3543
email: reliefusa@aol.com
web: www.lifeusa.org

Voices In The Wilderness
1460 West Carmen Avenue
Chicago, IL  60640
Phone: (773) 784-8065
Fax. (773) 784-8837
email: kkelly@igc.org
web: www.vitw.org

                HOW TO APPLY:

1. Fill out the below application and send it
immediately, along with a brief resume to both
tomsager@yahoo.com and kkelly@igc.org. PLEASE, PLAIN
TEXT ONLY! No attachments or fancy formatting. Answer
every question. Applications with blank answers will
not be accepted. Those unable to apply by email, may
apply by snailmail to: Tom Sager, 8 Laird Ave., Rolla,
MO 65401, USA and by snailmail or FAX to Voices in the
Wilderness, 1460 West Carmen Avenue, Chicago, IL
60640, FAX 773-784-8837.

2. Apply immediately. There is no firm deadline, but
time is short and space is limited. The earlier you
apply, the better your chances. Ideally, we would like
to have your application by Sunday March 3. We will
let you know as soon as possible whether you are
accepted, and give you more detailed information about
the trip as it becomes available.

3. FAX or snailmail a clean readable copy of the first
page of your passport to Voices in the Wilderness.

4. Send check for US$100 made out to VFP - Iraq Water
Project to Tom Sager, 8 Laird Ave., Rolla, MO 65401,
USA, unless you answered No to question 18.

Thank you again for your interest in the Iraq Water
Project. We look forward to a successful trip.

Yours in peace and solidarity,

Tom Sager,
coordinator


For the actual text of the application, please contact

Tom Sager (tomsager@yahoo.com)

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