For Immediate Release

Aug. 3, 2000

Last year the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) initiated the Iraq
Food Basket Advocacy Project to highlight the humanitarian crisis in
Iraq. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), a Quaker
organization, has invited concerned citizens from around the country
to participate in this year's efforts.

In Arizona, Arizonans for the Protection of Children will join
participants from Mennonite groups, the First Institutional Baptist
Church, Phoenix Pax Christi, Arizona Institute for Peace Education
and Research (AIPER), the Phoenix Chapter of the American Arab Anti-
Discrimination Committee (ADC), Amnesty International, Shepherd of
the Hills Congregational Church and others in calling for relief to
the suffering of the Iraqi people.

On August 4th at 10am we will be giving Rep. Shadegg's staff an adult
and child food basket containing the amount of food rations Iraqis
receive for one week. Participants will be bringing individual and
group letters expressing their concern over the humanitarian
situation in Iraq.

* Aug. 6, 2000 will mark the 10th anniversary of sanctions against
Iraq
*Human Rights Watch (HRW) refers to the oil-for-food program "as a
temporary relief program [which] does not encompass the planning and
investment required to restore Iraq's infrastructure to a level
needed to meet the most basic civilian necessities."
* In its Petition to the UN Security Council Addressing the
Humanitarian Situation in Iraq, Amnesty International notes research
indicating that sanctions on Iraq have "resulted in violations of the
right to life, among other rights, of civilians - in particular
children."
* A decade ago Iraq had one of the highest standards of living in the
Middle East. Economic sanctions have strengthened Saddam Hussein's
hold on power while devastating the lives of ordinary Iraqis.
 

Where: Rep. John Shadegg's office (301 E. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix)
When: August 4th, 2000, 10am

Contact person: Janet Olson 623-925-0131
Arizonans for the Protection of Children
14175 W. Indian School Road, B4, #184
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Email: webmaster@protectchild.org

PRESS RELEASE