Although I prepared a speech for the Sean MacBride Award
ceremony a few weeks ago, I feel that I need to update my
remarks in view of the extraordinary events of 11 September
2001. Ironically, in the original speech I called for more dispersed
demonstrations against economic and military globalization so as
to avoid confrontation and violence. The current protests have
been vulnerable to infiltration. Moreover, demonstrators are
susceptible to being dismissed by media and political leaders as
"hooligans"; their serious messages and voices are not being
heard. Confrontational military and police with shields, mace and
tear gas are useless against a dispersed civil society protest group
which is well synchronized, relevant and having clearly articulated
goals. Terrorists have also noticed that dispersion is a tactic not
easily fought with nuclear bombs and missile defense.
I do not really believe in coincidence, and I think there must be
some significance in the International Peace Bureau (IPB) choice
of a North American peace activist in 2001. Although I was born
and brought up in Buffalo NY, USA, I have lived in and strongly
related to my Candian inheritance for the past twenty one years. I
am actually a fourth generation Canadian, and also a fourth
generation American. I chose to live in Canada because of a long
distaste for the U.S. Superpower mentality and constant
escalation of the nuclear arms race. It was difficult to plan and
work creatively for a peaceful and free world while constantly
having to respond to the "next generation" weaponry. Today I
want to re-assume my American heritage and speak to the
suffering soul of this great nation which absorbed the blows to the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the face of this terrorist
attack it is incumbent on the global peace community not just to
call for non-violent solutions, but also to flesh out some of the real
life options and supports for peaceful resolution of these events.
The American psyche has absorbed the shock, and is filled with
compassion for the dead and wounded, and for their families.
They are unclear about appropriate actions in the face of the
obvious need for justice and the passionate calls for vengeance.
Americans are also generally unaware of the international efforts
already underway to curb organized crime, or of the United
Nations conference on this issue held in Sicily this year. Publicly
joining this initiative would be a logical beginning of meaningful
response.
The terrorist attacks were well planned, and the targets
apparently carefully chosen as symbols of international trade and
military planning. The attacks were also clearly international in
scope, transcending America. Nationals of eighty countries were
victimized and the terrorists with their support groups were multi-
national. The suicide tactic was not derived from Islamic law or
piety, and even Muslim people are distancing themselves from
these extremists. The struggle is not based in religion. Another
disturbing dimension of the crime was the terrorist "insider
trading" through which they placed bets that the stocks price of
airlines, financial investment companies housed in the World
Trade Center and insurance companies, would fall, thereby
providing millions of dollars to fund their "holy war".
First I would like to witness to the heroism of the people of New
York, Washington, the fourth highjacked plane and all Americans
in responding to the trauma. There was an outpouring of love and
selfless assistance to those caught in the building collapses, fires
and chaos. Those in the stricken buildings used their cell phones to
call home, and their messages were all the same: "I love you!" In
prayer services, spontaneous gatherings and public media, "God
bless America" was sung over and over. Crowds of people lined
the streets to cheer the fire and police officers who were risking
their lives to rescue people. Organizations sent lunch baskets,
sandwiches and even dog food for the police and their dogs trying
to locate survivors. From hundreds of miles away from New York
and Washington, socks and gloves were collected for rescue
workers. The generous compassionate heart of America was
broken.
Most people did not wildly hit out at local Muslims or persons of
Arab origin The overwhelming majority of Americans were both
numb with grief and focused on helping in any way they could.
There were however some attacks on Muslims, vandalism at
Mosques and some harassment of Arab Americans, as I believe
also happened in England and perhaps elsewhere Such misplaced
anger has no place in our search for viable responses.
It is generally agreed by most thinkers in both the peace and
military communities that this is a new kind of attack and will
spawn a new kind of "war". It seems to be also clear that an
American wild western type of posse and lynching is equally
inappropriate and counterproductive. Bombing the already
devastated and suffering peasants of Afghanistan is cruel and
unnecessary. Afghanis are not the "enemy". In fact taking the law
into one's own hand will do little but spawn more hatred and mass
murder of innocent people. We do have an international civic
society, international law, an international criminal court and a
supportive global community. The clearest message which the
peace community could deliver to the United States is:
"DO NOT TRY TO GO IT ALONE".
What is called for is not an international coalition to support and
back U.S. anti-terrorism policy decisions and actions. It is for the
U.S. to step back and let the international community take
initiative in the pursuit, prosecution and punishment of the
criminals. A Father whose daughter has been raped and killed
should not undertake the pursuit and punishment of the
perpetrator. This is a basic tenant of domestic law. None of us
are exempt from the passion arising in response to so much pain.
Far from losing face internationally, the true stature and maturity
of the American Nation would be clearly manifested in this
stepping back.
The American peace groups could help to educate the public of
the United States on the wisdom of not taking the initiative. It is
also an opportunity for education on the problems posed to
development of international law by the failure of the U.S. to join
with the global community on promoting some key international
law concepts. There are several international agreements violated
by the terrorists and/or needed to counteract terrorism, which the
U.S. has not yet signed: The Human Rights Covenant's Social and
Economic Rights sections, the World Criminal Court, the
Landmine Treaty and The Rights of the Child. The United
Nations 2001 conference against organized crime and its
resolutions received little media coverage in the United States, in
spite of long term U.S. ineffectual efforts to wipe out the Mafia
and drug lords. The American public needs to be brought into
market place discussions of these international instruments of
civility, and the reasons for American dissent should be openly
discussed and resolved.
There are other international documents which it would be well
for the U.S. to reconsider in view of today's world. For example,
the post World War II conditional decision of the U.S. Senate to
join the World Court. The condition stated that if the U.S. was
brought before the Court it would reserve to itself the decision as
to whether the suit was "an internal matter", or in common
parlance, none of the Court's business. This clause has been
copied by other countries not wishing to accept international law.
This is not the time for isolation of this big hearted, freedom loving
community across the ocean from Europe. It is time for symbolic
hugging, reassurance and lifting of the burden of "Leader of the
Free World" from its shoulders. The International community
needs to assume the leadership, curbing that global criminal
element which jeopardizes everyone's security. Being a
Superpower is no longer desirable or even possible in this new
world without borders.
It is with humility that I accept the MacBride Peace Award from
the IPB. I recognize the hundred year struggle of this organization
to provide non-violent realistic options to nation states embroiled
in
disputes. Some have heard and appreciated this voice for peace
with justice, and I will be proud to work with the IPB, especially
with its North American members, to expand this moderating
influence into North American culture. On behalf of my American
family, I thank the global peace community for their helping hand
and true friendship in this crisis. Let us all hope that faith in God,
however described, will lead the global community to itself be the
guarantor of security in a just and peaceful world.
Dr. Rosalie Bertell, G.N.S.H.
From:
"Colin Archer" <mailbox@ipb.org>
Date sent:
Thu, 4 Oct 2001 18:10:26 +0200
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PRESS COMMUNIQUE
PEACE BUREAU AWARDS PRIZE TO CANADIAN PUBLIC
HEALTH CAMPAIGNER
Award honours 'scientific testimony from the point of view of the
victim'
Geneva October 4, 2001. At its annual Council meeting last
Sunday, Sept 30, the International Peace Bureau awarded the
annual Sean MacBride Peace Prize to Dr Rosalie Bertell. The
Prize, consisting of a silver medal made by a top Irish craftsman,
was handed over to a representative of the Canadian Consulate,
since Dr Bertell is currently recovering from heart trouble and was
unable to be present.
The International Peace Bureau regards the threats to public health
from nuclear and other military systems as of the highest
significance. "We are honouring Dr Bertell for her lifelong
engagement to the cause of peace and for her deep concern for the
well-being of peoples all over the planet. Hers is an outstanding
contribution to human welfare and environmental awareness", said
Colin Archer, IPB Secretary-General.
Born a US citizen, Dr Bertell has worked with and for the people of
Bhopal, Three Mile Island and the Marshall Islands, to name just a
few. Dr Bertell's many decades of path-breaking work in scientific
research and public education have been an inspiration to peace
workers across the continents. She is President and founder of the
International Institute of Concern for Public Health (IICPH), a
Canada-based non-profit organization created to institutionalize her
growing concern for human survival. She is also Editor in Chief of
International Perspectives in Public Health, a journal dedicated to
publishing high-quality research on pollution and public health.
By choice, Dr Bertell works with indigenous and third world people
as they struggle to preserve their human right to health and life in
the face of industrial, technological and military pollution.
Ordinarily, scientists testify from the point of view of either
government or industry. Dr. Bertell develops scientific testimony
from the point of view of the victim.
Dr. Bertell has served on innumerable Boards and Advisory
Committees as a scientific expert. These include work on the
Great Lakes, the aftermath of the Bhopal disaster in India, the
health and environmental effects of Chernobyl, depleted uranium
issues, and effects of nuclear testing in the Pacific.
Dr Bertell has spent six years in a Carmelite Monastery, and is a
member of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic Religious
Congregation. She earned a doctorate in Biometry at the Catholic
University of America in 1966. She is past member of the Board of
Directors of Global Education Associates in New York. She has
received many other awards, including The Right Livelihood Award
(1986); the World Federalist Peace Award (1988); the United
Nations Environment Programme, Global 500 Laureate (1993); and
has received five honorary Doctorates since launching IICPH in
1984.
Previous award winners include Mordechai Vanunu (1994), the
Committee of Russian Soldiers' Mothers (1995), John Hume (1998)
and Achin Vanaik & Praful Bidwai (2000).
Dr. Bertell is the author of NO IMMEDIATE DANGER? Prognosis
for a Radioactive Earth (1985); CHERNOBYL; The Environmental,
Health and Human Rights Implications (1996); and PLANET
EARTH: The Latest Weapon of War (September 2000).
The International Peace Bureau is the oldest and most
comprehensive of the international peace federations. Its current
main projects are the Hague Appeal for Peace Global Campaign for
Peace Education, and a Disarmament Advocacy Programme .
With 20 international federations, and 200 national/local member
organisations in 53 countries, IPB brings together people working
for peace in many different sectors: not only pacifists but also
women's, youth, labour, religious and professional bodies. IPB was
founded in 1892 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910.
www.ipb.org
The International Institute of Concern for Public Health is a Canada-
based NGO dedicated to helping communities assess and improve
their environmental health status. Its primary role is to assist
populations that have experienced environmental trauma - where
people's health has been threatened or actually damaged.
www.iicph.org