[MAPC-discuss] a great idea from a colleague
Title
[MAPC-discuss] a great idea from a colleague
Source
born-digital
Media Type
email
Date Entered
2001-11-01
September 11 Email: Body
I got this message off a list I'm on (Progressive Sociologists Network) . Its from a great sociologist. ASA = American Sociologist Association. I think it could pertain to all of us...
he writes:
The American Public Health Association (APHA) adopted a policy statement opposing the war in Afghanistan. Below is a copy of the press release they have put out.
This is a small but very significant victory for the emerging anti-war movement that should give us great encouragement. The APHA is a very large organization of many kinds of health professionals who are politically very diverse. We should try to get other professional organizations to which we belong to adopt similar positions. We might consider a campaign to get the ASA to adopt an anti-war position. Even if we don't win, we would be able to bring the issues before thousands of people and stimulate important debate. We should do the same at regional or international professional associations.
I congratulate the progressive forces in the APHA for their fine work.
Please forward this press release to other lists.
X
++++++++++++++++++ Press Release follows ++++++++++++++++++++++
American Public Health Association Adopts Resolution Opposing War
(ATLANTA, October 24) - The American Public Health Association (APHA), the largest organization of public health professionals in the United States, adopted a policy statement opposing the war in Afghanistan. The resolution states in part, "The American Public Health Association declares its opposition to the military action against Afghanistan and other nations as an undertaking that runs counter to the health and well-being of our populations." The Governing Council, which is the policy-making body of the APHA, voted approval of the statement by a comfortable margin in its closing session this afternoon.
The policy statement specifically condemned "wars motivated by economic objectives, such as dominance over regions rich in petroleum reserves, as stated in [the 1999] Policy Statement ['Opposing War in the Middle East'].
"War in Central and Southwest Asia is intensifying," says Dr. Richard David, a member of the APHA Governing Council and neonatologist at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. "Many public health professionals, like others in this country, oppose this oil war. The APHA sees the health of populations - in this country and abroad - as our top priority. This resolution says the war is about territory, not terrorism. We are against it."
The public health community, many of whom aided the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, condemned the attacks for the staggering levels of death and human suffering they caused to civilians. Many, such as Dr. Victor Sidel, past president of the APHA and current president of the Public Health Association of New York City, see the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan as a campaign with similar effects. "Public health must oppose war because of its direct killing and maiming, because of its destruction of human welfare and the environment, and because of the legacy of violence that will produce further violence," states Dr. Sidel. "The attacks on Muslims and Arab-Americans, and on civil liberties in the United States have already been a blow to public health. Cuts in public health services while a single-minded response to bioterrorism is emphasized, will cause further deaths. Public health would instead support the rule of law, of justice, and of peace."
Many public health professionals see the war as a cause of worsening health in the United States. The billions of dollars allocated to military spending in the recent month will mean corresponding cuts in social programs such as childhood immunizations and education.
Many attendees at the APHA Annual Convention in Atlanta were glad to see the APHA addressing the public health impact of war. "The destruction of public health imfrastructure leads to many years of devastating illness in developing countries such as Afghanistan. When the U.S. bombs destroy water purification plants, they are attacking civilians. There is no military justification for that," says Dr. David Buchanan, an internist from Illinois who is attending the APHA meeting for the first time. "This resolution fits with the APHA mission of promoting health."
For more information, contact:
X
he writes:
The American Public Health Association (APHA) adopted a policy statement opposing the war in Afghanistan. Below is a copy of the press release they have put out.
This is a small but very significant victory for the emerging anti-war movement that should give us great encouragement. The APHA is a very large organization of many kinds of health professionals who are politically very diverse. We should try to get other professional organizations to which we belong to adopt similar positions. We might consider a campaign to get the ASA to adopt an anti-war position. Even if we don't win, we would be able to bring the issues before thousands of people and stimulate important debate. We should do the same at regional or international professional associations.
I congratulate the progressive forces in the APHA for their fine work.
Please forward this press release to other lists.
X
++++++++++++++++++ Press Release follows ++++++++++++++++++++++
American Public Health Association Adopts Resolution Opposing War
(ATLANTA, October 24) - The American Public Health Association (APHA), the largest organization of public health professionals in the United States, adopted a policy statement opposing the war in Afghanistan. The resolution states in part, "The American Public Health Association declares its opposition to the military action against Afghanistan and other nations as an undertaking that runs counter to the health and well-being of our populations." The Governing Council, which is the policy-making body of the APHA, voted approval of the statement by a comfortable margin in its closing session this afternoon.
The policy statement specifically condemned "wars motivated by economic objectives, such as dominance over regions rich in petroleum reserves, as stated in [the 1999] Policy Statement ['Opposing War in the Middle East'].
"War in Central and Southwest Asia is intensifying," says Dr. Richard David, a member of the APHA Governing Council and neonatologist at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. "Many public health professionals, like others in this country, oppose this oil war. The APHA sees the health of populations - in this country and abroad - as our top priority. This resolution says the war is about territory, not terrorism. We are against it."
The public health community, many of whom aided the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, condemned the attacks for the staggering levels of death and human suffering they caused to civilians. Many, such as Dr. Victor Sidel, past president of the APHA and current president of the Public Health Association of New York City, see the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan as a campaign with similar effects. "Public health must oppose war because of its direct killing and maiming, because of its destruction of human welfare and the environment, and because of the legacy of violence that will produce further violence," states Dr. Sidel. "The attacks on Muslims and Arab-Americans, and on civil liberties in the United States have already been a blow to public health. Cuts in public health services while a single-minded response to bioterrorism is emphasized, will cause further deaths. Public health would instead support the rule of law, of justice, and of peace."
Many public health professionals see the war as a cause of worsening health in the United States. The billions of dollars allocated to military spending in the recent month will mean corresponding cuts in social programs such as childhood immunizations and education.
Many attendees at the APHA Annual Convention in Atlanta were glad to see the APHA addressing the public health impact of war. "The destruction of public health imfrastructure leads to many years of devastating illness in developing countries such as Afghanistan. When the U.S. bombs destroy water purification plants, they are attacking civilians. There is no military justification for that," says Dr. David Buchanan, an internist from Illinois who is attending the APHA meeting for the first time. "This resolution fits with the APHA mission of promoting health."
For more information, contact:
X
September 11 Email: Date
Thursday, November 01, 2001 5:13 PM
September 11 Email: Subject
[MAPC-discuss] a great idea from a colleague
Collection
Citation
“[MAPC-discuss] a great idea from a colleague,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed May 17, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/1137.