Pacific Youth condemn American war legacy

Pacific Youth strongly oppose war. Youth from all over the Pacific region that gathered at the 9th NFIP Conference held in Tonga last month have expressed grave concerns about the lives of youth, children and innocent civilians in Iraq should the war on Iraq eventuate. The Youth are also concerned about the impact of war on the Pacific region and the environmental consequences of using arsenals and possibly nuclear weapons both in Iraq and other countries.

Pacific Youth strongly oppose war. Youth from all over the Pacific region that gathered at the 9th NFIP Conference held in Tonga last month have expressed grave concerns about the lives of youth, children and innocent civilians in Iraq should the war on Iraq eventuate. The Youth are also concerned about the impact of war on the Pacific region and the environmental consequences of using arsenals and possibly nuclear weapons both in Iraq and other countries.

The Youth of the NFIP movement call on the rest of the world and on world leaders to stop the arrogance and narrow-mindedness that is being displayed mainly by the United States, United Kingdom and their allies in their headlong rush to war. War will pose immense risks if the intention is to effectively deal with weapons of mass destruction.

In an age where we, the younger generation, are being taught leadership and diplomacy skills so we can become greater and more diplomatic leaders, it is a real disgrace that prominent leaders such as President Bush and Prime Minister Blair are displaying such recklessness through an obvious evasion of diplomacy and international law. What legacy are they leaving to the youth of the world?" asked Shirley Atatagi-Coutts, a member of the NFIP Youth movement.

The Youth of the NFIP movement are concerned that this war against Iraq is not about non-compliance of Iraq to United Nations regulations on weapons of mass destruction. The Youth agree with the global opinion that this war is about asserting US global domination driven by the desire to take control of oil reserves. If this war is really about weapons of mass destruction, then the US and UK are clearly displaying double standards by not speaking out against other countries like Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Egypt, Israel and Korea that are also suspected of possessing or developing such weapons. The US is also not working to eliminate their own weapons of mass destruction.

Let us not forget the bombing and complete devastation of Afghanistan in search of Osama bin Laden which proved to be a dismal failure. What is US hoping to achieve by invading and attacking Iraq?" says Alina Pete, a member of the NFIP Youth movement from Canada.

The United States and its allies need to look at the bigger picture and consider the impacts of their actions on the rest of the world.

The Youth of the Movement understand that the Pacifics location puts them in a prime position to have a clearer perspective of whats really happening. In the east, some Middle-East countries and the Muslim world see the US as the No. 1 terrorists. In the west, Americans see the Muslim world as the No.1 terrorists. Both arguments can be justified by numerous events that have occurred in the past everywhere in both sides of world. This is a vicious cycle that war will only exacerbate and only diplomacy can diffuse.

For more information please contact:    Cherelle Savaliolefilemu Jackson
               E-mail: c05jackson@yahoo.com
               Phone: 559 908 2361
               Address: 1111 Central Ave Apt 19
Redlands, CA, 92374

NFIP YOUTH MEMBERS

Aotearoa
Tui Hoterene
Marcia Cassidy
Leiana Robertson

Cook Islands
Love Inangaro Tupuna

Fiji
Fipe Tuitubou
Stanly Simpson

Great Turtle Island (Canada)
Alina Pete
Bonnie Leask

Japan
Amu Keira

Ka Paeaina (Hawaii)
Melehoala Kahananui
Kerri Kaloi

Papua New Guinea
John Kawowo

Samoa
Cherelle Savaliolefilemu Jackson
Shirley Atatagi-Coutts

Solomon Islands
Luke Memua
Kristina Fidali

Vanuatu
Lora Gamali Lini

Tonga
Sione Polotini
Sione Fifita
Vaka 'Akauola