Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq (INOC)
SPEAKERS AVAILABLE on
U.S. Policies and The People of Iraq
Are the "horror stories" about the effects of war and UN economic sanctions on Iraq really true? Over the 12 years the sanctions have been in place, a number of Northwest humanitarian delegations have visited Iraq, some carrying medicines and toys in defiance of government regulations. A number of Seattle-area visitors to Iraq have volunteered to share, without charge, their eyewitness experiences with your church or service group, class, or "living room" forum.
With the war in progress, we are obligated to learn more about Iraq from those who have witnessed first-hand the devastation already visited upon this Middle East country.
Please consider requesting a speaker, whom you are encouraged to contact directly to make arrangements.
For speakers from outside of Washington state, click here.
Dick Blakney
Dick worked thirty years overseas in hospital administration and hospital planning, mainly in Hong Kong (18 years) and Borneo, while pharmaceutical supply systems development for ministries of health took him to Liberia plus short term work, e.g., for WHO, UNICEF and USAID in a number of countries, mainly in Africa. He also worked in Guyana concerning management support systems for rural primary health care. He is active in the Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq (INOC), was a member of the May 2002 delegation to Iraq, and is active in the United Nations Association/Seattle. He lives in Bothell. Email: rbblakn@aol.com, phone: (425) 488-9965.Jonis Davis
Jonis Davis was one of six volunteers and staff of the American Friends Service Committee who traveled to Iraq in June 1999. Their purpose was to explore what feasible, useful and appropriate opportunities AFSC might find in Iraq to help alleviate the suffering of ordinary people caused by United Nations economic sanctions. Her presentation includes historical and geographical background of Iraq and slides of the country and the people the delegation saw and met with, in Baghdad, Amara, Basra and Nasariya. She can be reached directly at (206) 632-0500 or email: jdavis@afsc.org.Rev. Rich Gamble
Rev. Rich Gamble is pastor of Keystone United Church of Christ. He visited Iraq in May of 2002 as a part of the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility delegation. He is available for speeches, Q&A sessions or, occasional preaching opportunities. Contact info Rich Gamble, 5019 Keystone Place N, Seattle WA 98103, (206) 632-6021 or spambles@yahoo.com.Bob Haynes
Bob Haynes, a cardiologist in private practice in Kirkland, was a member of the April 1999 and May 2002 Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility delegation to Iraq. He is a member of the Board of Sponsors of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility and has traveled extensively in the Middle East. He is available to discuss the medical aspects and repercussions of the sanctions. He can be engaged directly by email at iggydog@aol.com.Gerri Haynes
Gerri, a member of the UW clinical faculty and a nurse with expertise as a grief counselor, palliative care and hospice consulting, has organized and led three groups to Iraq, most recently in May, 2002. Gerri is the immediate past president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility - the sponsoring organization for these three trips. Gerri has been in Iraq four times and traveled through the Middle East on many occasions. In her words: "The world cannot continue to support the destruction of Iraq...I believe if people learn about the effects of the sanctions, toleration for this weapon of mass destruction will end." She can be engaged directly by email at iggydog@aol.com.Evan Kanter
Evan Kanter, MD, PhD is "Northwest Regional Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility". A psychiatrist and neuroscientist on the faculty of the University of Washington, he specializes in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder. He has traveled twice to Iraq to help document the health effects of economic sanctions. He will discuss the medical consequences, including malnutrition and infectious disease, as well as the devastating psychosocial impact of sanctions. He can be contacted directly at (206) 547-2630 or by email at ekanter@u.washington.edu or wpsr@wpsr.org.Carolyn Keller
Carolyn Keller has been a Special Education teacher at Redmond High School for 11 years. She traveled to Iraq in May 2002 with Physicians for Social Responsibility and visited Baghdad, Basra, Babylon and Ur. She traveled to the Mid East with PSR in 1997, visiting Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. She can be reached at ckeller@lkwash.wednet.edu.Larry Kerschner
I am a member of Fellowship of Reconciliation, Veterans for Peace, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. It was through my membership in FOR and in discussions with Bert Sacks that I became aware of the horrendous situation that we have created in Iraq. I went to Iraq as part of a Voices in the Wilderness delegation in August 2000 in order to have some ability to speak as an eyewitness to this crime. I am a family Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) with a Rural Health Clinic in Southwest Washington. I have self-published a chapbook of poetry and essays to raise money for Voices in the Wilderness. I'm willing to speak anywhere that anyone would want me. I can be contacted through e-mail at lewiscoccpi@hotmail.com. My home phone is (360) 292-3946. Snail mail: POB 397, Pe Ell, WA 98572.Wolfgang Kluge
Dr. Kluge is a retired cardiologist, a member of IPPNW and currently serving on the board of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, who has been in the Middle East several times. He was a member of the April 1999 WPSR delegation to Iraq. Along with physicians from the US, Canada and Australia and other concerned citizens from those countries as well as from Great Britain and Palestine, he visited several hospitals in Baghdad, met with officials from the UN, UNICEF, the Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies, the Middle East Council of Churches, Department Heads from the University of Baghdad Medical School and a girls' school. He says: "The sanctions affect the average Iraqi citizen severely, but especially the poor and the sick and the young. They must be stopped." Dr. Kluge can be reached at kluge@hctc.com.Brian Mack
Brian teaches religion at Seattle Prep High School and was a member of the delegation which traveled to Iraq in August 2000. He may be contacted at mack442@juno.com or (206) 760-2282.Rev. Sharon Moe
Rev. Sharon Moe is the senior minister at University Temple in Seattle. She traveled to Iraq in May 2002 with the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, going both to Baghdad and Basra. In September and October, Rev. Moe traveled again to Iraq, this time with a smaller delegation, and was in Baghdad and Basra. She can be reached at revmo1@aol.com.Rev. Randall Mullins
Rev. Randall Mullins, a United Church of Christ minister with the Center for Contemplation and Nonviolence, spent seven days in Baghdad and two nights in Basra in November 1997 as a member of the eighth Voices in the Wilderness delegation. He is one of several Voices delegates from the Northwest who has been fined $10,000 by the US government for illegally carrying medicines and toys to the children of Iraq. Randall says he was touched most by "the juxtaposition of horrible suffering and amazing hospitality." He can be reached directly at (206) 721-6268 or email at ccnrandall@igc.org.Ginny NiCarthy
Ginny traveled to Iraq in October, 2002, to see the faces and hear the voices of Iraqi children and families, and to glimpse as much of Iraqi culture as possible. She talked with university students, professors and a women's organization representative, as well as visiting hospitals and clinics. Ginny has worked in the movements against abuse of women, and for civil rights, civil liberties and peace. She can be reached at gnicarthy@earthlink.net.Bert Sacks
Bert has been to Iraq nine times. He travels with the group Voices in the Wilderness and is one of several Voices members from the Northwest who has been fined $10,000 for carrying "medical supplies and toys" to Iraqi children in violation of sanctions. He plans to continue to bring aid to the people of Iraq in violation of US laws he believes are wrong. Bert says, "In Iraq I visit hospitals in each city where I go. I also visit water and sewage treatment plants--and I see their disrepair because of bombing and sanctions. These places are linked with what we see in the hospitals--water-borne diseases are killing many, many children." You can contact Bert directly at (206) 548-9566 or email bert@connectexpress.com.
For more information, contact:
Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq
5019 Keystone Place N
Seattle WA 98103206-632-6021
Updated on March 21, 2003.