On Sundays VCH meeting (31st October) we reviewed progress on the 3rd Iraq Report. The launch will be on Thursday 18th November at 9.00am at the Foreign Press Association, 11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AJ. If you are interested in attending contact Gill Reeve on
We reviewed Medacts current activities and discussed the how best to involve members, including the possibilities of setting up local groups and the function of the VCH group. We agreed this group should continue as an informal network for any members concerned about violent conflict and will continue with meetings on various topics. The next meeting will be on Sunday 16th January at 11.00am in the office. We shall review the Medact Report on Iraq and actions that flow from it.
One action suggested now is to write to MPs about the bombing of civilian targets. The recent paper in the Lancet, "Mortality before and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: cluster sample survey, Roberts et al" (www.thelancet.com Published online October 29,2004 http://image.thelancet.com/extras/04art10342web.pdf) suggests 100,000 excess deaths with the majority of these due to violence, and more specifically due to air strikes in civilian areas. A proper debate on this is essential; what is the moral justification to kill innocent people?
Many of the original members of the VCH group may be interested in joining Medact Refugee Health Network, for health professionals working with refugees, there is an email group with regular updates on legal and health related issues, including mental health. There is a monthly meeting with a speaker and discussion. Please contact Moyra at the office on "Medact" moyrarushby@medact.org
Dates for the future:
Education for Peace: Intensive Week/End Course for Teachers, Community or Student Leaders and Peace Campaigners, Sat 13th and Sun 14th November
12 noon to 6 pm. Britannia House, Hammersmith, London W6. Contact Sylvia Bercu on "SB"
Iraq Voices in the Wilderness and Christian Peacemaker Teams UK at 7.30-9.30pm on Thursday 18 November at Friends House. Reports from the ground in Iraq.
Movement for the Abolition of War AGM. 10.00 to 4.00, Saturday 20th November. Vaughan Ho, 46 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QN
