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Friends of the Earth Launches Online UN Antiwar Protest

31 March 2003

Friends of the Earth is encouraging its supporters and others opposed to the war against Iraq to lobby UN Security Council members to call an emergency session of the UN General Assembly to discuss the conflict.

The online action is at www.foe.co.uk/press_for_change/iraq_war/un/index.html. An emergency session of the General Assembly is permitted under the so-called "Uniting for Peace" Resolution, no 377. It can be invoked by either 7 members of the Security Council or a majority of members of the General Assembly.

The meeting would have the power to recommend collective measures to UN members to "maintain or restore international peace or security". The resolution was used in 1956 to help end the UK and French invasion of Egypt (the Suez Crisis).

The sample e-mail on the site reads:

"Now that the US and UK have waged war against Iraq, contrary to the will of the majority of citizens who have shown their opposition by attending peace rallies across the world, and without obtaining the backing of the United Nations, I am asking you to make a stand to end this senseless war.

As the representative of your nation to the United Nations Security Council, I request that you ask the General Assembly to invoke the Uniting for Peace Resolution (UN Resolution 377), which empowers the General Assembly to act to keep or restore the peace when the Security Council, due to lack of agreement among the permanent members, is not able to do so.

Within 24 hours of a stalemate in the Security Council, the General Assembly can meet to consider the matter. The General Assembly can recommend collective measures to "maintain or restore international peace and security".

The Uniting for Peace Resolution has been used ten times since 1950. I believe that such action would be supported by the vast majority of the citizens of all UN member nations.

I urge you to act now to put a stop to the war."

Commenting, Friends of the Earth Executive Director Tony Juniper said:

"Politicians in the UK and US have failed us. Both countries are now engaged in an illegal and destructive war; one that threatens the lives of civilians, the environment of Iraq and the region and international peace and security.

It is time for citizens to step in and correct the mistakes of rulers. Only united and determined protest can now bring this war to a speedy conclusion. We believe that the United Nations could and should play a central role in ending this terrible conflict and in repairing the damage it has already done. We encourage those who care about human rights and the environment to join in our action and make their feelings known to political leaders around the world. This war must stop."

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust

Last modified: Jun 2008