AFSC Newsletter

Toward Peace and Justice> The American Friends Service Committee's monthly e-newsletter>> In this issue:> - Help stop nuclear proliferation> - Support jailed Israeli conscientious objector> - Health and safety rollback in maquiladoras> - Learn how to be a better Africa advocate> - AFSC documents abuses on the Arizona-Mexico border> - Communities commemorate Iraq war anniversary>> ---------------------------------------------------------------->> Help Stop Nuclear Proliferation>> On May 2, the 188 nations that have ratified the Nuclear> Nonproliferation Treaty will gather for its five-year review> conference. At these conferences, signatory countries renew> their "irrevocable commitment" to address the dangers of nuclear> proliferation. Ominously, the Bush administration has refused> to agree to an agenda, signaling a hard line approach.>> Between now and the opening of the conference on May 2, it is> essential that we speak out strongly to tell our government that> a return to nuclear proliferation is not acceptable.>> Tell your senators to put U.S. weapons policy back on course:> http://ga3.org/campaign/nuclear_afsc/wibn6wk2f5jexjm>> ---------------------------------------------------------------->> Support Jailed Israeli Conscientious Objector>> As you may have read in last month's issue, AFSC sponsored the> "Faces of Hope" speaking tour, featuring Israeli conscientious> objector Eyal Brami. We hope that many of you had a chance to> attend an event.>> When Eyal returned to Israel, he refused induction to the> Israeli Defense Force on his March 22 recruitment date. He is> currently being held in an Israeli military prison for his> refusal. He anticipates meeting with the military's Conscience> Board in the upcoming weeks to defend his conscientious objector> status. He could face up to two years in prison for his decision> to refuse service.>> Read updates Eyal's case and learn more about Israeli COs:> http://ga3.org/ct/NdS22cp1mms4/>> Sign a letter of support for Eyal to the Israeli Ministry of> Defense:> http://ga3.org/ct/N7S22cp1mmsr/> (This page is also a portal to additional information about> nonviolent resistance and refusal activities in Israel and> Palestine.)>> ---------------------------------------------------------------->> Health and Safety Rollback in the Maquiladora Industry>> For more than a decade, gains in health and safety have> numbered among the most important achievements of maquiladora> activism. (The maquiladoras are the foreign- [mostly US-] owned> assembly plants that line Mexico's border with the United> States.) Now, however, increasing global competition has caused> an intensified assault on labor rights and working conditions in> the maquiladoras.>> A new report from the Comite Fronterizo de Obreras (CFO -> Border Workers Committee), AFSC's grassroots partner at the> border, highlights the growing health-and-safety problems faced> by maquiladora workers and how they are responding to this new> challenge. Read the report at> http://ga3.org/ct/2dS22cp1mms5/>>> Upcoming: Julia Quinonez, the CFO coordinator, and Ricardo> Hernandez, director of AFSC's Mexico-U.S. Border Program, will> be speaking about maquiladora issues at a conference in Oregon> and in several locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. For> tour details, see> http://ga3.org/ct/M7S22cp1mmsc/>>> Subscribe to the Border Program's new Updater, available in> English and Spanish, and stay in touch with maquiladora> activism.> English version:> http://ga3.org/ct/ApS22cp1mms3/> Spanish version:> http://ga3.org/ct/M1S22cp1mmse/>> ---------------------------------------------------------------->> You might also be interested in these programs and events:>> Learn how to be a better Africa advocate at AFSC's Bill> Sutherland Training Institute, June 23-25, 2005. This year's> theme is "Gender and the Politics of Inequality."> http://ga3.org/ct/MdS22cp1mmsd/>> To document and challenge potential abuses resulting from the> "Minuteman Project," which invites armed civilians to patrol the> U.S.-Mexico border, we've been recruiting and training volunteer> observers in Cochise County, Arizona. For more information, see> our press release at:> http://ga3.org/ct/NpS22cp1mmsf/>> On the second anniversary of the Iraq war, about 250> communities participated in AFSC's Stand for Peace events.> Thank you all for your participation! To read comments from the> events, please visit> http://ga3.org/ct/21S22cp1mmsv//>> ---------------------------------------------------------------->> Your Contribution Will Help Make AFSC's Work Possible> AFSC is able to work for peace, provide humanitarian relief,> and transform lives around the world only because of the support> we receive from people like you. To make a contribution call 1-> 888-588-2372 and learn about ways you can support AFSC.> There also are several ways to contribute online.> http://ga3.org/ct/MpS22cp1mmsB//