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CALL TO ACTION:
JOIN WHITE ARM BAND CAMPAIGN  TO OPPOSE WAR ON IRAQ

BUILDING A NATIONAL MOVEMENT

By J M Eaton, Wolfville, N.S. Phone: (902) 542-1631 jeaton@ca.inter.net
January 13, 2003

INTRODUCTION
A white arm band campaign, to oppose war on Iraq, is emerging in Canada with
some citizens already wearing white arm bands, on their upper left arm, and
others preparing arm bands for the Peace / Anti- War Marches and Rallies
across the country on January 18th.

The wearing of a white arm band conveys several messages:
1. Symbolizes a call for peaceful and non-violent solutions to global
problems
2. Indicates NO WAR ON IRAQ
3. Signals to politicians that we do not support a US- led war on Iraq which
is without sound intellectual foundation and which contravenes international
law, and the UN process set in place over fifty years ago to ‘end the
scourge of war’

The Halifax Peace Coalition (Nova Scotia, Canada) is recommending  that all
those wearing arm bands also familiarize themselves with the document on
their website titled “Ten reasons why Canadians should oppose war on Iraq”
http://hfxpeace.chebucto.org/.

WHITE ARM BANDS - WEARING and MAKING

See end of document for guidelines on wearing and making arm bands!  Have
them ready to wear on January 18th and continue to wear them in your
communities and work places thereafter.

The Halifax Peace Coalition,  which is encouraging all who attend the
January 18th peace March and Rally in Halifax  to wear ‘white arm bands’ -
have placed this e-mail which tells how to wear and make the arm bands on
their website http://hfxpeace.chebucto.org/.


DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION WIDE CAMPAIGN
Janet M Eaton, of Wolfville, NS,  an academic and activist, associated with
the 'peace movement' and 'global democracy movement',  is serving as the
Halifax Peace Coalition (HPC) provincial and national liaison on the white
arm band campaign.  With assistance from Sheila Zurbrigg, of the Canadian
Network to End Sanctions Against Iraq (CANESI) and the HPC, Janet has been
spreading the word of the white arm band campaign while gathering
information on initiatives across the country, and  gauging interest in
developing the ‘white arm band’ wearing as a nation wide campaign.
Professor Jo Wood, of the Ottawa Iraq Anti-War Action Committee raised the
idea on a CBC National Radio show, in Early December. Initial feedback from
leaders in the peace movement across the country suggests  overwhelming
support for the idea. Many are thinking it might have the potential to
become a citizen’s movement wherein thousands of Canadians will be wearing
their arm bands not only on  January 18th  but continuing to wear them in
their daily activities thereafter. (See quotes at end)

PEOPLE AND GROUPS CONTACTED ABOUT THE WHITE ARM BAND CAMPAIGN
The following individuals and groups have expressed interest in the  white
arm band campaign and would encouraging their networks to participate.
Some have already started wearing their arm bands, and spreading the word.

Individuals Contacted:
Rita Wilson, Voice of Women (VOW), New Glasgow, NS
Linda Morgan, Canadian Network to End Sanctions on Iraq (CANESI), Vancouver,
BC
Joan Russow, VOW, long time peace activist,  Vancouver, BC
Chris Mills, Physicians for Global Survival (PGS), Ottawa, ON
Sheila Zurbrigg, Professor, CANESI, HPC, VOW, PGS, Halifax, NS
Jo Wood, Professor & Peace activist, Ottawa Iraq Anti-war Action Committee,
Ottawa, ON
Ewan Dunbar, University of Ottawa, ON
Marion Pape, VOW Executive, Salt Spring Island, NS
Bruna Nota , Past President, Women’s International League for Peace and
Freedom (WILPF), Toronto, ON
David Morgan, Veterans Against Nuclear War (VANA), Vancouver, BC
Jan Slakov, VOW, Salt Spring Island, BC
Carolyn Bassett, Canadian Peace Alliance (CPA), Toronto, ON
Peggy Hope-Simpson,  Voice of Women and long time peace activist, Wolfville,
NS
David Mangle, Wolfville Peace Vigil Group, Wolfville, NS

Groups - Supporting the White Arm Band Campaign
Halifax Peace Coalition - A coalition of groups dedicated to using peaceful
means to stop war with Iraq: Canadian Labour Congress / Oxfam Canada /
Council of Canadians – Halifax & South Shore / Canadian Network to End
Sanctions on Iraq (CANESI) / Dalhousie for Peace and Justice /  Sisters of
Charity / Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council / NS Campaign to End
Iraq Sanctions / Islamic Association of the Maritime Provinces /
Inter-University Coalition Against the War / Unitarians for Social Justice /
Social Justice Subcommittee for the Anglican Diocese of NS / Physicians For
Global Survival – NS / NS Voice of Women / International Socialists –
Halifax  / Network of Voices for Action & Education (NOVAE) the Halifax
Meeting of Friends (Quakers) / Teachers for Peace and Social Justice / Trade
Unionists Against the War / South Shore Worship Group (Quakers)

PRESS COVERAGE
CBC National Television News was present, filming and interviewing, during
the making of the white arm bands in Wolfville, NS on January 11th. The
producer noted that this will be part of an eight or ten minute segment
documenting what the anti-war movement is doing in preparation for the
January 18th Peace/ anti-war Marches and Rallies. It will air on the 10:00
p.m. edition of the  CBC National News , Thursday or Friday, January 16 or
17th, barring an unforeseen news event.  This will provide timely awareness
of the Marches and Rallies on January 18th as well as the white arm band
campaign.
Please spread the word of this coverage.

LET’S BUILD A MASS MOVEMENT!!

PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK, IDEAS and ACTIONS TAKEN TO:
Janet M Eaton
phone (902) 542- 1631
jeaton@ca.inter.net


REFERENCES
Halifax Peace Coalition Website: http://hfxpeace.chebucto.org/
See for posters, placard graphics, links to other peace and anti-war
websites, reasons to oppose the War on Iraq, the White Arm Band Campaign in
Canada, and other relevant information.  This site has just been named
website of the week by http://rabble.ca.


WHITE ARM BANDS - WEARING and MAKING
Wearing:
The white arm bands are being worn on the left arm above the elbow.  Have
them ready to wear on January 18th and continue to wear them in your
communities and work places thereafter.

Making:

Size: The arm bands should be about two inches (5cm) in width, wide enough
to make a visible statement but not be too much.

Materials:
- A heavy cotton duck material was used to make arm bands by a Voice of
Women’s group in New Glasgow, NS and distributed to over 80 people at a
local rally. These bands were simply cut in strips and pinned, no need to
sew or iron in place because of the heavier weight of the material.

- Old sheets, pillow cases, and table cloths are being used by a group in
Wolfville, NS to create white arm bands by cutting out, sewing, and ironing
the cloth.  The Wolfville group held an arm band making gathering and a
description of the process is below (including the use of a peace symbol
stamp on the band).

- If you are unable to sew an arm band or do not have time, any white cloth
can be used by tearing the cloth into strips, cutting into appropriate
lengths of about 18 inches ( 46 cm) , folding it in on itself to hide the
frayed edges, ironing if desired, and pinning onto the arm.  If pins are not
available the bands should be cut into longer strips about 30 or 32 inch
(76 - 81cm) i.e. large enough to tie around the upper arm. The lengths
suggested assume enough length to allow for placing over a winter coat.



MASS PRODUCTION OF WHITE ARM BANDS
Account of an arm band making gathering in Wolfville, NS
On January 11th, 2003 about 25 local peace and global democracy activists
came together as a team with three work tables, five sewing machines,
innumerable old white sheets, and boundless enthusiasm to produce over 300
white arm bands.  All 300 arm bands were sewn, ironed, stamped with a peace
symbol made from a potato stamp, and a safety pin attached, ready for the
wearer. The experience provided the opportunity for those who participated,
young and old, from their various groups, to leave with the highly -
informed experience necessary for replicating the exercise with their
groups. All agreed that the solidarity building around the issue was fun and
highly charged with positive and empowering energy.

The Process:
(1) Procure old sheets, material, small safety pins, red ink pad)
(2) Set up work stations - sewing, ironing, stamping and pinning, carve
peace symbol in flat surface of a cross section of a small potato
(3)  Measure off 5 inch ( 13 cm) widths, make small cut and tear the entire
length- (don’t try to cut - the line is straighter if torn)
(4) Fold together with the two torn edges face to face and sew a seam, a
half inch in from the edges, up the entire length of the 5 inch (13cm) strip
(5) Cut in 16 to 18 inch (41- 46) strips (alternatively cut in strips before
sewing), allow band to be large enough to go over a winter jacket.
(6) Turn inside out - by turning it on a dowel or handle of long wooden
spoon etc… (To avoid this step fold the edges in, making a 2 inch (5 cm)
wide band and stitch)
(7) Iron flat
(8) Stamp with peace symbol using a red ink pad.  Alternatively groups can
use a marker to draw a peace symbol or write the word peace.  Another idea
shared by Jan Slakov is to consider writing 'peace' on your arm band  in
more than one language!
(9) Place a pin in the arm band for the wearer to fasten it onto to arm of
their garment. If you are not sewing the bands and planning to tie them on
then remember to make the bands longer - about 30 inches in length.
(10) Sew across the ends if time permits.


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