KC Media Watch / Action Alert #13 - Mission Accomplished?

KC Media Watch Alert #13:

This is taken from a recent United for Peace and Justice alert. It is important that the last year be viewed in an appropriate light in the media. That's where you come in.

APRIL 29 to MAY 1, 2004: LOCAL ACTIONS AND MEDIA WORK AGAINST THE ESCALATING CRISIS IN IRAQ We must take action to express our urgent concern about the repression and chaos inside Iraq. During the first half of April, a spiral of violence has taken the lives of growing numbers of Iraqis and Americans. Hundreds of Iraqis and more than 100 U.S. troops have been killed so far this month. The siege of Fallujah led to the deaths of nearly 1,000 people when the Pentagon responded to an atrocity against Americans with excessive force and collective punishment. Throughout Iraq, occupation troops continue to violate the human rights of the Iraqi people by firing into civilian areas, detaining thousands of men and boys without charges, interfering with medical assistance, demolishing homes, and curtailing the rights of free press and freedom of assembly. The crisis in Iraq demands our attention, and our action. If the mission was "accomplished" a year ago, then it's high time to end the occupation and bring home the troops. The situation in Iraq is but one part of the deadly policies of the Bush Administration; now is the time for us to make the connections. Just last week Bush met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and lent unilateral U.S. support to his plan to leave settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in tact. A few days later another Palestinian leader was assassinated by the Israeli military, with no sanctions taken by the U.S. The Bush Administration's policies are aggravating an already intolerable crisis, one that could quickly engulf the whole region. Occupation: wrong in Iraq, wrong in Palestine

*GET THE MEDIA'S ATTENTION ON APRIL 29: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND CALLS TO RADIO TALK SHOWS. We must get out the message that sending in more troops is NOT the answer to Iraq's problems. Use the anniversary of Bush's "mission accomplished" speech as an opportunity to write a letter to the editor explaining that the occupation is part of the problem, NOT the solution. Then take this message to the airwaves: every city and town has dozens of radio talk shows that allow call-ins. Make a call on April 29 and explain why the occupation is actually increasing the level of chaos and violence in Iraq and needs to end. Use the calls to help promote the vigil or other activity you're organizing for April 30 or May 1. Information on how to do participate in this media campaign will be on our web site in a day or two: http://www.unitedforpeace.org

Letters to the Kansas City Star can be sent to 1729 Grand Blvd Kansas City, MO 64108-1458 or emailed to letters@kcstar.com. Please include your name, city, and phone number. The Star will not publish your letter without these. As always, please BCC kcmediawatch@yahoo.com with your letter.

If you wish to write any of the other regional papers www.Congress.org is an excellent resource for contact information. Here is a link to their media guide for the metro area: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=zipresult&azip=66210&submit.x=20&submit.y=13

Please bcc kcmediawatch@yahoo.com on those as well. And if you call into one of the local talks shows, keep us apprised of your success in getting the word out.