Human Shields General Meeting

Monday February 24, 2003

Namna invited anyone interested in drama, improvisation to see her……..

Bruce expressed his disappointment at the people who leave the meeting early (or arriving late).

He says he is gonna be super-efficient in his facilitation to get through the meetings faster and keep the discussion focused.

He said he won’t respect people who come along to have their say and then leave.

Reminder that there is no smoking during the meeting, 

Issue of writing the names and nationalities on the website for human shields at the various sites was raised.

Media and Communications Committee

Change of name of the committee to better reflect its job.

Will be putting out a release tomorrow covering the deploying of the Shields to the food storage centre.

Karl doing great work on the newsletter

Sites Committee

More names than can put in food storage. Those who got priority are those who are gonna be here the shortest time period of time. Others can take over when they leave.

Will leave tomorrow after lunch, between 2pm and 3pm.

John read out the list of names.

On Wednesday will do the refinery, there are five names, but could be more. It is a big site.

On Thursday deployment to a water treatment plant. Will leave after lunch.

Will keep on arranging other sites for deployment over the weekend.

Gordon has looked at a power site and water site. Power station the largest in Baghdad, it was directly hit last time. Accommodation in a compound with five rooms, showers, kitchen etc Can fit 20

Lot of schools nearby. Close to community and shops. Mostly a Christian area, one church there. No hospital in vicinity.

500 metres from that is a water station. Caters for local area. Site not finished, but they’re working on it. Can fit about 12.

People who work there live there, so will be right in the middle of a community. Backs on to a residential street. Small military presence.

Good sites for integration with community.

Those sites wll be posted tomorrow for sign ups.

John says they are prioritizing on the amount of time you said you would be here.

Made a bit of progress on archeological sites. Went to Babylon today, a good visit.

On sites will have evacuation plans.

Question about banners at the sites to advertise the prescence of human shields.

John said he wants the groups to paint the banner, or wall, or roof to mark the site with “Human Shields here!”

Jean Michel talked to Dr Hashimi about flying banners/balloons at important sites

Bruce reiterated that the meeting starts at 6pm sharp and that it would be more efficient.

Hat passed around the hat so that funds could be raised to go towards a charity.

Jean Michel said he has friends in Belgium who want to help with medicine, food and money. How can they do it?

Bruce said good question, find out and let us all know.

Jurgen suggested to mark sites where there are no human shields.

Sue said while individual sites would be highlighted to media and governments. They will also be told that human shields will be spread around Baghdad.

John said “truth in advertising” is important and credibility is important.

Alex asked about having access to communication facilities. Bruce said that you can come into town to use facilities.

Alex asked would hotel accommodation be available if you are coming back for a few days.

John said will try and get a replacement and try to organize hotel room on return from the site.

RE: Marking sites where there are no human shields…….Donna proposed a compromise that Human Shield sites be marked accordingly and that other sites could be marked as a ‘bloody important site, please don’t bomb.’

Re: Letting the media know about human shields at sites.

Ken said that truth is important. But we can rotate people at sites, without letting the media knowing exactly who is where and when.

Visit from the Japanese House of Parliaments, leaders of the Opposition.

Said Human Shields are a new social development. He wants to help stop the war

Point made that media is looking for mistakes. They can go to sites whenever. Suggested that the press committee be there when the media is there to help the Hshields with the media.

Bruce asked if we could move on from discussion on sites.

Donna suggested that policy on the media should be formulated by the press committee and come back to the main meeting for discussion.

John said anyone with suggestions or issues for the sites committee should come to the meting at 5pm tomorrow in restaurant of Andulus.

Peace Ambassadors from a political party in France who are here in Baghdad want to stay and join human shields.

Suggestion

We don’t know how many people we are. We have no policy or system. Tired of long meetings and talking.

Why does everyone come?

Form a smaller meeting, a management committee.

Judith said the meetings are a point of entry for new people, a clearing house of information, give people a sense of being in a group. She disagrees with the proposal.

Karl supports the principle, alternative idea. Committees should report to meeting, but not discuss specific issues. Anyone with questions should go straight t the committee.

Support for this kind of meeting, cos centralizing is not democratic. Supports the larger meeting.

Bruce says he’s gonna go out on the site on Thursday. There’s a lot of stuff that he does that will have to be done 

Sue said given the next few days that people will be out at sites, meetings might not be democratic.

Bruce said there is a divisive issue: a committee of whole or a management committee emerging from committees.

Gordon said as we go out to sites the core group will be diminished. We will have to staff an office. It will be a scale down of operation.

 Suggestion: People will be at different sites, the can form a group in the site. They can meet every day after an action to discuss things.

Bruce said it’s not related. This is about management.

A vote was had

Keeping a committee of a whole received the most support.

Nama suggested last night an action item. Regarding writing names and nationalties on the website (and everywhere). She said there is a concept of second class citizens in the world and that certain western nationalities are favoured.

She said some nationalities will be punished for their action.

Suggested that there be no names or nationalities of human shields published.

One said we don’t need an inferiority complex. He said no one has a right to hide their names. 

Proposed that everyone keep their name and nationality.

Gordon said if you want suppressed, that’s your choice. Need be tangible to the media, to be real,

Gordon proposed that it be individual choice

Faith said as a US citizen she wants her govt to know.

Donna said she aggrees with Gordon and that Dr Hashimi said this whole thing will work if the media knows where we are and when.

She said that anyone who des NOT want their name published should give their name to the Press Committee so that a list can be made.

Karl said he agrees with Gordon.

Gordon said anyone who has not had their photo taken for the website should see him after the meeting.

Jean Michel asked is the fear of persecution greater than the fear to die?

Tolga said it’s up to everyone to decide if they are a name or a number.

Consensus reached that it be an individual choice to suppress names and nationalities.

So it is important that when you speak for the media, that you speak only for yourself.

Issue raised again connection with other human shields when you are out at sites. Bruce said it is your choice and your responsibility to stay connected.

Radio communication suggested, but its not possible.

Political Action Committee

Suggestion that schedules be faxed to the sites advertising.

No one to report from Political action committee

Welcome Committee

Group from Amman will be here in 24 hours.

Welcome Pack has been revised

Welcome to five new Human Shield who arrived today.

Suggestion of political action tomorrow. Bruce said to go and arrange it.

Alex wants to know about the Iraqi political activity tomorrow.

Tolga asked about where the committee is.

He said if you want actions, you should go and organize it and let people know.

Inter-Hotel committee and newsletter

Karl said he took ideas to press committee and decided on a double-sided sheet. Two thirds will be dedicated to news of human shields and the rest to international news.

Method of distribution – suggestion that it be faxed out to hotels and sites. Can be copied a needed.

Karl said for any contributions from the site, you can write a note and leave it in room 206.

Newsletter can be used to advertise any news from committees.

Someone asked for a draft and said surely there is money to make 200 copies.

Donna said that fax didn’t arrive this morning and that it is important to people staying at other hotels to have the daily schedule.

Can other people take on the responsibility???

Responses saying that we should trust the media committee to get on with the job. Others said that we don’t need 200 copies.

Karl said the newsletter will be produced every 2^nd day or every day as needed.

Tolga encouraged everyone to take the newsletter as a priority. It is important to let the media and the world to know what we are doing.

Web committee

Any stories, personal stories, photos can go to Gordon. Can leave stuff in the office.

Donna announced that Iraqi TV want to do a story on human shields and want to do interviews tomorrow in the foyer, Andulus at 10am. All welcome.

Meeting closed 8.15pm