Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: SolidNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 6:59 PM Subject: South African CP, Stop war frenzy http://www.solidnet.org News, documents and calls for action from communist and workers' parties. The items are the responsibility of the authors. Join the mailing list: info/subscribe/unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] . ====================================================================================== South African CP, Stop war frenzy - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: RedNet, Tue, 18 Sep 2001 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] , http://www.sacp.org.za =================================================================================== 18 September 2001 SACP CALLS ON SA MEDIA TO STOP THE WAR FRENZY AND GOADING OF SA TO SUPPORT US MILITARY ACTION The South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns the consistent creation of a war frenzy in our country and the world by large sections of South African media, now consolidated by the Markinor survey reported on in the front page of today's edition of The Star newspaper. This survey mischievously reports that 44 of South Africans support military action by the United States in retaliation for last week's attacks in New York and Washington. This is grossly irresponsible and insensitive. It is a direct insult to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the attacks. It undermines the role South Africa should play in building a peaceful and just world order. This war frenzy agenda manipulates public feeling and sympathy in a manner that seeks to opportunistically exploit the tragedy for narrow ends to selfishly promote certain media establishments. The issue has never been whether to support or participate in a US led war or not. Our government and the SACP have strongly condemned the attacks and called for the perpetrators to be brought to book. We have also warned against the dangers of war including the unavoidable reality of the further maiming and killing of innocent civilians. By and large communities of faith, religious leaders, trade unions, women's organisations, community organisations, political parties, NGOs, youth organisations, callers to radio talk-shows and writers of letters to newspapers share this perspective. The Markinor survey goes against these clear positions made by this wide range of South African organisations representing the widest possible spectrum of public opinion in our country. Needless to say, this perspective has not been reflected in the media coverage. Instead we have seen sections of our media involved in the active promotion and fanning of chauvinistic anti-Arab, Islamo-phobic sentiments and the stirring up of mass hysteria around the call for revenge. In other words, large sections of South African media have taken advantage of this tragedy to sanitise public opinion in favour of increased international military aggression. The Markinor survey is part of this war frenzy. Now is the time to debunk the myth that military action will secure the lives and dignity of humanity. The SACP calls on South African media to use this time to open up a rational, intelligent, balanced and introspective debate on how we can all contribute to ensure world peace in a more equitable world. The SACP also calls on South African media to review the role it plays in building a just world peace by starting with a reflection on how it covers the diversity of opinions in our country. CONTACT Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara) Department of Media, Information and Publicity South African Communist Party Tel - 011 339 3621 - Fax - 011 339 4244 Cell - 083 651 0271 - Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website - www.sacp.org.za *End* ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://TOPICA.COM/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
