Daily Egyptian via U-Wire
May 1, 2003, Thursday
BYLINE: By Kristina Herrndobler
Carbondale, Ill.

After months of worldwide protests against a United States-led war on Iraq, opponents are now changing their focus to the Iraqi relief effort.

In an effort to raise funds for Voices in the Wilderness, a joint United States/British campaign to end the economic sanctions and military warfare in Iraq, a collaboration of organizations including the Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois have organized “Pieces for Peace,” to occur Friday at Longbranch Coffee House at 7 p.m.

More than 40 local artists have donated their works, including pottery and photographs, to be sold during a silent auction during the event. Live music and poetry readings will accompany the auction, as well as Voices in the Wilderness guest speaker Ceylon Mooney, who has been to Iraq twice.

Contact: Ceylon Mooney, Stephanie Schaudel
773.784.8065
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Experiences of Iraq Peace Team members living in Iraq during the months leading up to "Operation: Shock and Awe" and throughout the US bombing, invasion and current occupation confirm the simple adage: "Where you stand determines what you see."

On May 10, 2003, in the desperately poor Al Tharwa district in Baghdad, three generations of one family spoke with Caiohme Butterly, an Iraq Peace Team delegate, about the uncertainty and apprehension they now face: "It is like waking up from an operation," said Dr. Karim. "There is pain, and fear, and apprehension dulled a little by the anesthetic, but still there. It is pure, and complete confusion, we feel we are dreaming, waking up from one nightmare, the previous regime, perhaps to descend into another."

His mother agrees, "Oil is our curse. It brought us nothing but tragedy under Saddam. It will bring us nothing under the Americans. They should not have subjected us to another war."

Modesto Bee
May 16, 2003, Friday, ALL EDITION
SECTION: LOCAL NEWS; Pg. B3

Voices in the Wilderness founder Kathy Kelly will speak this weekend in Modesto and Turlock about her experiences providing humanitarian aid to Iraq.

Kelly, 49, of Chicago recently spent five months in Iraq — part of 15 trips to the country since 1996. She helped start Voices in the Wilderness, which opposes sanctions against Iraq, violating sanctions herself to bring medicine and toys into the country and facing arrest and fines.

In “Report Back From War-Torn Iraq,” Kelly will speak of her experiences and raise funds for humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people.

Kelly will speak at 3 p.m. Saturday at Christ Unity Baptist Church, 1320 L St., Modesto; at 2 p.m. Sunday at California State University, Stanislaus, Mary Stewart Rogers Building, Room 130, 801 W. Monte Vista Ave., Turlock; and at 7 p.m. Sunday at Church of the Brethren, 2301 Woodland Ave., Modesto. Free admission. Call 529-5750 or 526-9588.

Modesto Bee
May 17, 2003, Saturday, ALL EDITION
SECTION: FAITH & VALUES; Pg. G1

Founder of Voices in the Wilderness, Kathy Kelly, will speak today and Sunday about her recent trip to Iraq. Kelly, 49, of Chicago, recently spent five months in Iraq — part of 15 trips to the country since 1996. She helped start Voices in the Wilderness, which opposes sanctions against Iraq, and violated sanctions herself to take medicine and toys into the country.

Kelly will speak at 3 p.m. today at Christ Unity Baptist Church, 1320 L St., Modesto; at 2 p.m. Sunday at California State University, Stanislaus, Mary Stewart Rogers Building, Room 130, 801 W. Monte Vista, Turlock; and at 7 p.m. Sunday at Church of the Brethren, 2301 Woodland Ave., Modesto. Admission is free. Call 529-5750 or 526-9588.

Modesto Bee

May 19, 2003, Monday, ALL EDITION
SECTION: LOCAL NEWS; Pg. B1
BYLINE: BY BLAIR CRADDOCK

A longtime peace activist who stayed in Baghdad during the U.S.-led war on Iraq brought her message to a small but receptive audience at California State University, Stanislaus, on Sunday.

“One of the best ways to prevent a next war is to tell the truth about this war,” said the speaker, Kathy Kelly, co-founder of Chicago-based activist organization Voices in the Wilderness.

For Kelly, the central issue is the impact that both the war and a dozen years of economic sanctions have had on the health of Iraqi children.
“Forty-six percent of the Iraqi population are children,” Kelly said. “They did not commit any crime. They never wanted to harm anyone in the United States.”