Iraqi women organise economic boycott of US

Along the entrance to the Women's Will organization, Maxine Nash and I saw banners saying, "The Occupation Kills Your Sons, Don't Buy from the Occupiers," "Boycott the Invaders, and "Iraqi Mothers United Against Sectarian Fighting." Inside the meeting room another more colourful banner said, "No Peace Without Justice."

We walked into a teach-in already in progress. Hana Ibrahim, coordinator of Women's Will and Dr Balkiss, member of the board, (two middle aged Muslim women) alternatively spoke to about eighteen women and five men about one way Iraqis could resist the U.S. occupation.

"We would silently defeat the occupation, not by killing, but by refusing to cooperate economically with America," said Dr. Balkiss.

"America is trying to make this a free market for itself and treating Iraq like another state. We should have our own sovereignty. Even before the tanks came in, the media war succeeded in promoting American products. Iraqis have been buying the cheaper American products, and this has undermined our economy. The invasion has brought us poverty.

" Hana went on to say that there are many things women can do. "Any mother can refuse to buy Coca Cola and other U.S. products. We know how to manage our lives here. We have our own meats, fruits and vegetables. Iran and Syria don't deal with the U.S. economically and they do all right.

" She referred to Gandhi's urging the Indian people to spin their own thread and weave their own cloth.

During the discussion, one woman told the group about her relative's wedding, where the family served American soft drinks, but the people refused to drink it. When the family brought in Iraqi soft drinks, the guests drank them. Another woman said that she knew how to make her own shampoo out of natural products. "If they put in a McDonalds in Baghdad, we will boycott it," added another.

Hana concluded the meeting, "Women should work through civil society. Working nonviolently can strengthen peaceful structures. Small actions, such as putting up posters, and large actions, like demonstrations, all add up and make a difference. Whatever it takes, we will win."
By Peggy Gish
http://www.iraq-war.ru/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=37368