call-in phone conversation

A call-in phone conversation to inform and equip us as Mennonites for a possible United States war against Iraq was held March 10, 2003 9:00 - 10:00 pm EST.

As the United States draws nearer to war with Iraq, Mennonites, Mennonite Brethren, and Church of the Brethren members across the United States and Canada listened on over 122 phone lines. Speakers on this call-in conference phone call were:

	J. Daryl Byler Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office Director
	John Rempel Mennonite Central Committee United Nations liaison
	Susan Mark Landis Mennonite Church USA Executive Board peace advocate

Streaming audio replay of this one hour conversation. (Real Audio or MP3 (3.5Meg) )

Order an audio cassette of this conversation.

Comments from participants.

Prayers said during the conversation.

Links mentioned

Inform

	MCC United Nations http://www.mcc.org/bi/un/index.html News and Views at the United Nations http://www.mcc.org/respub/un/index.html
	Daryl Byler's fasting page http://www.mcc.org/peace/fast Alternative to War http://www.mcc.org/peace/fast/letters/face_to_face.html
	MCC Iraq relief efforts All my Children Campaign http://www.mcc.org/respond/rapid_respond/iraq/all_our_children.html Iraq Families at Risk http://www.mcc.org/respond/rapid_respond/iraq/index.html
	September 12, 2002 Mennonite visit to the White House News article http://peace.mennolink.org/articles/newsschragdc.html Signature letter and updates http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/iraq5000
	Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq http://www.cpt.org/iraq/iraq.php

Equip

	MCC Canada's Women's Fast for Peace http://www.mcc.org/canada/peace/fast/
	House Joint Resolution #24 Ask your representative to co-sponsor H.J. Resolution 24 -- a bill introduced by Sherrod Brown (D-OH) that requires the President to answer important questions about military action before leading the nation to war. You may find the text of the bill at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.J.RES.24:. You may reach your representative at 202-224-3121 or find an email address at www.house.gov.
	Contact the Ambassadors from UN Security Council countries who oppose going to war. Urge them to continue resisting the U.S. push for war. The contact info for the French Mission is: H.E. Mr. Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, Ambassador Mission of France to the United Nations; FAX: (212) 421-6889. Contact information for other UN Missions can be found at: http://www.un.org/members/index.html
	Psalm 75:2-3 - verses that give us a sense of confidence
	Sunday, March 16, 2003: Call to prayer and Fasting News article http://peace.mennolink.org/articles/news40dayfast.html Jim Schrag, Mennonite Church USA Executive Director, letter to congregations http://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/news/03_04_03.htm#3
	Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective http://www.mennolink.org/doc/cof/

What will be the impact of war?

The UN office of the humanitarian coordinator in Iraq estimates that 30 percent of Iraq's children under age five (1.26 million children) will be at risk of death from malnutrition. A Canadian team of health, nutrition, child psychology experts reports that Iraq's 13 million children will be "at grave risk of starvation, disease, death and psychological trauma."
A UN report says that as many as 500,000 people will require medical treatment, more than one million refugees will be created and there could be an outbreak of diseases in "epidemic if not pandemic proportions." http://www.casi.org.uk/info/undocs/war021210.pdf.
analysts say the war will cost $200 - $600 billion or more over 10 years if a long-term occupation is required to bring stability to Iraq.

Share the cost

Audio cassette tapes of the March 10, 2003 conversation are available for a minimal contribution of $7 (includes two-day postage). Checks should be made to Mennonite Church USA Executive Board and mailed to:
Kathy Harshbarger
Peace Projects
PO Box 1245
Elkhart, IN 46515-1245.

Questions? Call Kathy Harshbarger, peace advocate administrative assistant, 574-523-3047.
If this call pays for itself, additional calls might be created.

The phone call costs a bit less than $10 per line. Designated donations to cover expenses may be sent to:
Peace Projects
Mennonite Church USA Executive Board Office
PO Box 347
Newton KS 67114-0347

Any surplus funds will go toward increased Peace Advocate expenses as a result of the Iraq crisis.