A MESSAGE FROM SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH FAMILIES FOR PEACEFUL TOMORROWS -- Final End

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Date Posted: 05:46:44 01/04/03 Sat
Author: The Serpent
Subject:

A MESSAGE FROM SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH FAMILIES FOR PEACEFUL TOMORROWS

Victims themselves who realize that bombing innocent people isn't going to stop terrorism.

We've got to be the bigger person, because someone has to be.

Contact: http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/ Peaceful

Tomorrows is a group of family members of September Eleventh victims who are working for peace.

"Six months ago members of our families and thousands of other innocents lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on Flight 93. The loss of innocent lives continues -- it has now been over five months since the beginning of US military action in Afghanistan in which other families have also suffered. Yet there is no official acknowledgment that innocent Afghan civilians have been killed or maimed in the bombing.

While the number of civilian casualties is unclear, estimates range from 1,000 to4,000 people. The innocent victims in Afghanistan who lost their lives during the U.S. air strikes deserve our compassion and support. Out of our concern for our Afghan "sister families," four Peaceful Tomorrows members traveled to Afghanistan in January with Global Exchange visiting dozens of grieving and devastated Afghan families. Many of the families of those who were killed or injured by US bombs are living in dire economic straits.

We returned from our visit determined to help our Afghan sister families. We are calling on the US government to conduct a detailed study of civilian casualties and create a fund to help the affected families.

Afghan relief organizations suggest an average grant of $10,000 to rebuild homes, restock possessions, secure adequate medical andpsychological care, or compensate for the loss of breadwinners and caretakers. Assuming 2,000 families seek compensation, this wouldamount to $20 million. Twenty million is less than one day_s military expense during the bombing campaign, which cost $30 million a day.

While we pressure the US government to do a study and create a fund, we are starting this critical work ourselves. Peaceful Tomorrows and Global Exchange, together with Afghan groups, are doing a survey of civilian casualties and providing immediate help to desperately poor people who were mistakenly hurt during the US military campaign.

Please join us. When Peaceful Tomorrows members met with families in Afghanistan they expressed their empathy for our situation. Please help us to show them that Americans care about their well-being and are sorry for their losses.

It is through such compassion that we will build the foundation for a secure and peaceful tomorrow."

For more information about Peaceful Tomorrows, please visit: http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/ Contact: http://www.peacefultomorrows.org /

Peaceful Tomorrows is a group of family members of SeptemberEleventh victims who are working for peace.

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