Re: [MAPC-policy] proposed city resolution

Re: [MAPC-policy] proposed city resolution

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-10-25

Thanks for working on this, X!  It looks really good.  My suggestions
are below - the biggest one being that we should NOT include anything that
might be construed as supporting or even tolerating the U.S. bombing of
Afghanistan.  I realize that we won't be able to get the Council to call on
the U.S. to stop bombing, and think focusing on the humanitarian crisis is a
great strategy, but let's think about how we can word the resolution so that
it's more in line with the "peace and justice, not war and revenge" point of
unity.  The Alders can also advise us about what's politically do-able.
-X

PS- Since this is a time-sensitive matter - winter is fast approaching -
let's try to push this to a Council vote quickly.

> Hi Everyone,
> Last night we decided that I would draft a resolution, and all of us on
> the policy committee would contribute comments on that draft.  Then we
could
> work all those comments in.  After that, we would bring it around to all
the
> alders for their feedback.
> To develop the resolution, I looked at Madison's 9/25 resolution
> condemning the 9/11 attack and expressing sympathy for the victims
> (http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/council/ccattach/att092501/attack30314.pdf).
I
> followed that format.
> For content, I relied on Wellstone's S.172 resolution, which he
> introduced on 10/18 (last Thursday) and which is in a Senate committee
right
> now.  I tried to simplify quite a bit and make it relevant to Madison.
> Here is what I came up with:
>
> ===============================================================
> A RESOLUTION regarding the urgent need to provide emergency humanitarian
> assistance and development assistance to civilians in Afghanistan,
including
> Afghan refugees in surrounding countries.
>
>
> SPONSORS: [Alders names here.]
>
>
> WHEREAS, a disastrous humanitarian crisis is underway, with an estimated
7.5
> million people in Afghanistan facing critical food shortage or outright
> starvation this winter; and

* add: "and 70 percent of these people are women and children; and"

>
> WHEREAS,  food aid shipments have been disrupted due to security concerns
> around U.S. military actions in Afghanistan; and

* let's boost our credibility here by noting the concerns expressed by
Doctors without Borders, Oxfam, etc: "Whereas, the aid agencies active in
the region, including the Nobel laureate Doctors Without Borders (MSF),
Oxfam International and World Food Program, have stated that the U.S. food
drops can not meet the increasing and urgent need for assistance; and"

>
> WHEREAS, Madison supports U.S. military efforts through many channels,
> including the federal taxes its citizens pay, and through its citizens'
> participation in the armed forces; and

* DELETE the previous clause!!!!

>
> WHEREAS, the Mayor and Common Council deplore their participation in
actions
> that cause mass starvation;

* if we delete the clause before the one above, we'll probably need to
change this one, maybe to something like, "Whereas the Mayor and Common
Council are concerned at the likely possibility of mass starvation in the
Afghanistan region, if the situation is not speedily addressed;"

>
> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor and Common Council urge a
> resolution to the situation that minimizes loss of life; and
>
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT humanitarian concerns must be a top U.S.
> priority for action in Afghanistan, especially as there exists a narrow

* instead of "action in", put "policy towards"

> window of opportunity for supplying food to the region's population before
> winter makes this difficult or impossible; and
>
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their
> borders to allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the international
> community must be prepared to contribute to the economic costs incurred by
> the flight of desperate Afghan civilians; and
>
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT as the United States engages in military
action
> in Afghanistan, it must work to deliver assistance, particularly through
> overland truck convoys, and safe humanitarian access to affected
> populations, in partnership with humanitarian agencies in quantities
> sufficient to alleviate a large scale humanitarian catastrophe; and

* I think the previous clause also accepts the ongoing bombing - take out
the first part, so it reads like, "Be it further resolved that the United
States must actively support the work of various agencies to deliver
assistance in Afghanistan, particularly through..."

>
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States should contribute to efforts
> by the international community to provide long-term, sustainable
> reconstruction and development assistance for the people of Afghanistan,
> including efforts to protect the basic human rights of women and children.

* can we also add something to the effect that the U.S. should support
democratic processes in Afghanistan leading to a government which represents
ALL its people, including women???

>
> ====================================================================
>
> I don't know how much it's appropriate for Madison to be resolving
> things for the United States to do.  Maybe one of you has a suggestion on
> that.

* there will be a few alders who will object, saying that the city can't and
shouldn't dictate U.S. foreign policy, but most will realize it's in the
long (and democratic) tradition of communities voicing their opinions on
matters of importance to them through their local elected officials

>
> I'll send Wellstone's resolution as a second e-mail, in case you'd like
> to see the inspiration for mine.
>
> Look forward to getting your comments!
>
> --X

Thursday, October 25, 2001 2:00 PM

Re: [MAPC-policy] proposed city resolution