Citizens Peace Plan and
Final Declaration of the Peace Caucus of the United States Social Forum
Adopted June 30, 2007
We, participants in the U.S. Social Forum Peace Caucus
Recognizing the devastating effects of the U.S. occupation on the Iraqi
people;
And acknowledging the relevance of the Iraq war and occupation to our
struggle for social justice in our communities and our world;
Emphasize the urgency of a rapid and humane end to the occupation.
We therefore call for the following:
1) Military Withdrawal.
The United States to immediately and completely withdraw all troops and
bases from Iraq.
2) Iraqi National Reconciliation.
The United States and the international community to play a supporting role
in a national reconciliation process led by legitimate representatives of
Iraqs diverse peoples.
3) Regional Stabilization.
The United States to ask international institutions, such as the United
Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to
sponsor regional conferences of all neighboring countries, including Iran
and Syria, to seek measures to end the civil war and stabilize Iraqs
future.
4) Reconstruction and Reparations.
The United States to provide sufficient resources to an internationally
administered fund to address the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, repair the
physical damage caused by its invasion and occupation of Iraq and to provide
reparations to Iraqis.
5) Support for veterans.
The United States to provide sustained and sufficient support for all the
veterans and their families who have suffered in this war.
6) Words, not war with Iran.
The United States to cooperate with other countries and the United Nations
to support the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and engage Iran in direct
diplomatic negotiations-- without preconditions--to end the nuclear standoff
and promote the stabilization of Iraq.
7) Reorient U.S. Foreign and Domestic Policies
The United States to re-orient its foreign policies to support international
law and institutions for a more just global system.
8) Transition to culture of peace.
The United States to support domestic policies and programs that foster the
transition from a culture of war to a culture of peace, human rights, and
justice.
To help achieve this peace plan and to prevent future wars, we commit
ourselves to taking the following actions to make another world possible:
1) We will participate in multiple activities of community groups other
than our own, following the motto of giving before we ask others to
support our campaigns. The platinum rule of supporting self-determination
by relating to others not as we would have them do to us but rather as they
want us to relate to them will guide our work in this regard.
2) In our work we will remain consistently mindful of the connections
between justice, peace, human rights, and human relations on the earth.
3) We will constantly strive to facilitate healing as we work to promote a
culture of peace and human rights.
4) Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights in 2008, we commit to building awareness of human rights in our
communities.
5) We commit to continuing the conversations begun at the United States
Social Forum, sharing what we have learned and supporting each other in
moving forward.