Regional Mobilization Here on May 18-19 Calls for an End to Civilian Casualties in Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region
Peace activists from across California and even from Nevada are planning to mobilize here in San Diego to protest the world’s largest and leading manufacturer of drones May 18-19.
San Diego is home to defense contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, site of the activists demonstration. General Atomics builds the Predator and Reaper drones generally costing U.S. taxpayers $4 million to $12 million each.
Predator and Reaper drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) have become the signature weapons of the Obama administration’s air strikes. Drones scout over the two countries launching Hellfire missiles into the region missing their intended targets, resulting in the deaths of many innocent people including children.
“So many civilian casualties by US drone attacks are not just war crimes but crimes against humanity. We must restore America’s image by suspending these attacks immediately. This indiscriminate method of drone killing will not improve our relationship with Pakistan or the Muslim world. It will not bring us safety or peace throughout the world, in fact it begets more harm and destruction as extremists use the death of innocent civilians as a tool to recruit more people to join the Taliban to fight against us. We are actually helping them,” Samina Sundas, Founder of American Muslim Voice stated.
“Although it may never be known how many civilians have died as a result of U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, there are estimates of hundreds of innocent bystanders who have perished in the attacks,” states Nancy Mancias organizer with CODEPINK. “We feel these deadly attacks on innocent civilians need to cease. As the U.S. government steps up its Predator and Reaper drone program, the number of civilian casualties in Pakistan will undeniably rise.“
Pakistani authorities released statistics earlier in the year indicating that between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009, U.S. Predator and Reaper drone strikes have killed over 700 innocent civilians. With the increase of drone strikes, according to the most recent story in The International News, January 2010 proved to be a deadly month in Pakistan with 123 innocent civilians killed.
Click here more information about the May 18-19 demonstration: http://www.sdcpj.org/flyers/2010-04-15_drone%20flier.pdf
See here for our recent post on the drones.
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CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities.
Peace Resource Center is a membership organization and community clearinghouse of information on peace and social justice issues and activities. Through our active programs and by promoting networking among peace-related organizations, offering nonviolent alternatives to conflict resolution and carrying on a program of peace education, we provide an ongoing presence throughout San Diego County. http://www.prcsd.org/
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Don’t be silly.
It’s NOT the drones that are pulling the trigger.
Nor is your opponent the munitions manufacturers.
It’s the operators, with whom you have a beef.
However, San Diego can be an enjoyable place to
hang-out this time of year.
I’d rather see them making droids than sending any more of our young men and women to die.
Ending the war would be better, but I’ll take what I can get.
Fortunately, the droids rebelled and balked at going, however, the drones keep flying. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.)
That’s the ticket. It should be about ending the war. I don’t care who you are. If you live in San Diego then you DO have a family member, friend, neighbor who serves in the military. This is a blunt question but her goes. Would you rather they do the killing from the safety of being here on U.S. soil, or would you rather they do the killing over there where there is a good chance they will be killed themselves? Yes you and I alike would rather the U.S not be at war at all and NO ONE gets killed, but the fact is we are at war until we and will be until we’re not. Simple as that. No we should have never invaded Iraq and we should probably should not have lost focus on Afghanistan so soon, but that just didn’t happen. We are not going to wake up tomorrow on 4/23 and all the troops will be on their way home. As a 20 year Navy vet (now retired) I have an issue with people who have an issue with the pilots of these planes. To me it goes back to protesting the war itself. That is what the focus should be.
Dear San Diego Peace and Justice Community,
Out-of-Town Activists are making plans to come to San Diego May 18th and 19th for a series of events and demonstrations surrounding the issue of unmanned Drones, their use in the killing of civilians in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and their production right here in San Diego. For more information please visit the SDCPJ website: http://www.sdcpj.org
Do you have a spare room and would you be willing to host an activist for these important events?
Please contact Lynn Gonzalez at dissential@gmail.com !
Thank you!