During the first few months of isolation and the
quarantine measures of the Covid-19 pandemic, it
may have felt like the world was on hold. However,
war, occupation, and sanctions carried out by the
U.S. and their imperialist allies against oppressed
nations around the world were not on hold.
Underscoring these imperialist countries’ cruelty,
sanctions have even increased their stranglehold,
especially on Cuba, Venezeuela and Iran, when
access to food, medicines, and medical equipment
is now more vital than ever.
No Wars, No Occupations, No Sanctions
Early this year, a call from groups and individuals
in the U.S. was made to organize international
days of action under the campaign “Sanctions Kill.”
MAWO signed on and endorsed this campaign,
which quickly became an even more important
issue when the pandemic was announced, and
sanctions tightened their grip even more. Moving to
online actions, on May 9, the Sanctions Kill campaign
organized an international webinar with speakers
from Cuba, Iran, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Syria, and
Venezuela. This webinar highlighted the impact of
sanctions on these countries, especially under the
Covid-19 pandemic. On May 31, another webinar
brought together speakers from Palestine, Yemen,
North Korea, Venezuela, and Iran, to speak more
on the sanctions they face and the on-going U.S.
military threats and interventions. The Sanctions Kill
campaign continues to highlight and support events
happening around the world, which can be found at
https://sanctionskill.org
In Palestine and around the world, Nakba day (May
15) and al-Quds day (May 22 in 2020) signify
the Palestinian struggle and resistance to Israeli
occupation and the fight for self-determination. As
Palestinians are facing not only the brutal Israeli
occupation of their lands but now also the Covid-19
pandemic, it was important to bring attention to these
days and the Palestinian struggle. On May 16,
the Alberta-based group Mobilization for Justice
held an online webinar titled “The Palestine
Question: Is it complex or complexified?” which
was endorsed by MAWO and other groups. The
event featured esteemed speakers from the U.S.,
Canada, and Iran and was followed by a dynamic
discussion. More info and a recording of the
event is at www.facebook.com/M4Justice/
While pandemic is the word on everyone’s lips
right now, our world is defined by war, occupation,
and imperialism even more fundamentally.
From the invasion and on-going occupation of
Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, and today
when Syria, Libya, and Yemen have faced
imperialist wars, and many other countries suffer
under sanctions, we can characterize this time as a
new era of war and occupation. Whether at home
or on the streets, oppressed nations and antiwar
groups and activists around the world demand
an end to all imperialist wars, occupations,
and sanctions, and for self-determination for
all oppressed nations! For more information
www.mawovancouver.org
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