Education < Archive

San Franciscans Educate About Iraq

Since 2000, children across the country have been sending "One Million Postcards" calling for an end to sanctions against Iraq.

"The aim is to strengthen ties between American children and Iraqi children."

The San Francisco chapter of American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is working with Dan Kelley of the San Francisco School Board to promote a new curriculum guide on Iraq. The guide, entitled "Fostering Friendships," is currently being used in schools across the country.

"The aim is to strengthen ties between American children and Iraqi children," said Allan Solomonow, Middle East program director. "We want to challenge stereotypes and expand knowledge by sharing information and educational resources between the two groups."

By introducing American students to the rich culture and history of the Arab world, the study guide offers them the opportunity to evaluate recent U.S. actions and policies in the region. Initially targeting elementary and middle school teachers, the program could eventually involve high school teachers as well.

The program includes two young women from California who started a "One Million Postcards" campaign to call for an end to U.S. economic sanctions against Iraq.

Currently, inadequate access to food, medicine, clean water and building materials decimates the Iraqi population. The United Nations estimates that more than one million Iraqis have died since 1990 as a direct result of the U.S. embargo. Five thousand Iraqi children die each month.

Lack of education inflicts some of the most long-term damage to the Iraqi population. In Iraq, children attend crumbling schools, sitting as many as three to a desk. There are no maps or charts, no pencils, paper or books.

Solomonow links these efforts to rebuild Iraqi schools with the challenges to students in Kosovo and in communities in the U.S. "With a policy of global militarism, there is no place where kids can feel safe," he explained. "Money is diverted into weapons, poverty gets worse, education gets worse. And we lose the ability to change our lives."

For more information, contact Allan Solomonow, at 415/565-0201 or asolomonow@afsc.org.
AFSC's program on Iraq's sanctions is online at www.afsc.org/conscience/default.htm