The Voices in the Wilderness website is no longer maintained. VitW.org will be available indefinitely for archival and research purposes.

Since its founding in 1996, Voices in the Wilderness has campaigned to end economic and military warfare against the Iraqi people. We have done this by organizing over seventy delegations to Iraq in deliberate violation of UN economic sanctions and US law. We have lived alongside ordinary Iraqis before and during the US invasion and throughout the current US occupation of Iraq. In defiance of the sanctions, we publicly delivered modest amounts of medical supplies to children and families in need; our primary focus has always been ordinary Iraqi civilians and the most vulnerable of Iraqi society, especially children. We have witnessed this ongoing warfare through the everyday lives of families we have come to know as friends.

We are people of conscience-volunteers, teachers, veterans, social workers, artists, health care professionals, trades people and people of faith-who, in the tradition of Mohandas Gandhi, practice and advocate nonviolence in the pursuit of social justice. As nonviolent war resisters, we oppose the development, storage, sale, and use of weapons of mass destruction by anyone or any country, be they nuclear, chemical, biological, or economic weapons. Many of us refuse to pay taxes for war.

We have seen that the US/UK invasion and occupation of Iraq violates human rights, the UN charter, and international law. It plunders the land and resources of Iraq, puts civilians and soldiers in mortal danger, and fills the pockets of multi-national corporations. It has inevitably led to coercive tactics such as raiding of homes, destruction of farms, arbitrary arrests, imprisonment without due process, torture of detainees, kidnapping of families, extortion, use of military force to suppress popular demonstrations, and murder of civilians. Voices in the Wilderness advocates complete withdrawal of US/UK troops from Iraq and calls on the US and UK governments not to impede an election process which would facilitate Iraqi sovereignty. In response to this occupation we campaign to educate, act and live in resistance to militarism. We advocate interdependent ways of life, rooted in simplicity, service and sharing of resources.

Voices in the Wilderness organized Iraq Peace Team delegations to live alongside ordinary Iraqis during the massive bombardment of Operation Shock and Awe. Convinced that “where you stand determines what you see and how you live,” VitW continues its efforts to educate people in the United States and abroad about the consequences of US militarism. Our current campaign focuses on the need to “spotlight Iraq.” By telling the truth about this war, we hope to help prevent future wars. Further, we seek to connect with and educate ourselves about people who live in other countries threatened by US war.

Dedicated to nonviolently resist the roots of war, campaign members challenge military recruitment, corporate war profiteering, and elements of contemporary culture that wage low intensity warfare, continually, against the biological diversity of our planet and against weaker countries whose resources are exploited to maintain our western consumer lifestyles. We advocate simple living, sharing of resources, service, reverence for all of life, creative education and nonviolent direct action for peace.

Voices in the Wilderness functions as a network for nonviolent education and action: developing and practicing ways of nonviolent resistance. Vitw is committed to teaching peace in formal teaching and learning environments as well as through grassroots, non-traditional settings. We will travel anywhere, anytime, with or without a stipend to help foster education in communities that invite our members to speak about what they’ve seen and heard.

Purpose of Voices in the Wilderness:

Voices in the Wilderness was formed in 1996 to nonviolently challenge the economic warfare being waged by the US against the people of Iraq. Voices continues its work today, acting to end to the US occupation of Iraq. As US citizens, our key demands of our government include:

• An end to the US occupation of Iraq.
• The clean-up in Iraq of depleted uranium, cluster bombs and landmines and other unexploded weapons, with this clean-up fully funded by the US. A prohibition on any future use of such weapons.
• Respect for all human rights and worker rights in Iraq.
• Respect for Iraqi movement toward self-determination and renunciation of any effort to create a puppet government with strings attached to the US’ own national interest.
• Payment of restitution by the US government to Iraqis who suffered loss as a result of the past 14 years of economic and military warfare at the hands of the US.
• Reconstruction of Iraq funded by the US and its allies, but directed by and for the benefit of Iraqi citizens.
• Employment of Iraqis, not non-Iraqis, in the rebuilding of Iraq, with Iraqis being paid a living wage.
• Full health care for all, including US soldiers and Iraqis, who suffered physical or psychological injuries as a result of the US war against Iraq.
• Redirecting our country’s resources away from war-making and towards funding of the common good. The common good includes fully funded universal health care and education, including post-high school education. It also includes employment which pays a living wage.

Compiled by Heidi Holliday and Tess Kleinhaus

1995

December - Voices in the Wilderness Founded - A small group of friends who were active in protesting the Gulf War in 1991 meet in Chicago and start Voices in the Wilderness (VITW), with intention to use nonviolent civil disobedience to provoke a confrontation with the powers behind the illegal and immoral sanctions against Iraq.

1998

• Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Award, 1998
• Newberry Library Free Speech Award, 1998

1999

• Detroit City Council Testimonial Resolution commending humanitarian efforts, February 1999
• Robert O. Cooper Fellowship in Peace and Justice Award, Southern Methodist University March 1999
• University of the Incarnate Word Distinguished Speaker Award March 1999
• California State Assembly Certificate of Recognition for Founding of Voices in the Wilderness November 1999
• Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award, 1999
• Consortium on Peace Research and Development Social Courage Award, 1999
• Dan Berrigan Award, DePaul University 1999
• Office of the Americas Peace and Justice Award November 1999

2000

• International Fellowship of Reconciliation Pfeiffer Peace Award, February 2000
• Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Kathy Kelly and Denis Halliday 2000
• Arab American Anti Discrimination Committee Humanitarian Award June 2000

2001

• Nobel Peace Prize Nominee 2001
• Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan Appreciation Award for Dedication in Lifting Sanctions Against Iraq July 2001
• Newberry Library “1st place” orator — Awarded to Kathy Kelly, Bughouse Square Debates August 2001
• Life for Relief and Development Humanitarian Services Award September 2001

2003

• Global Exchange International Women’s Rights Awardee May 2003
• Archbishop Oscar Romero Award, Mercyhurst College March 2003
• Nobel Peace prize Nominee
• Call to Action Leadership Award
• Thomas Merton Center Award, Pittsburgh, PA 2003
• Adela Dwyer St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award, Villanova University, Voices in the Wilderness 2003
• William Scarlett Award from The Witness, Voices in the Wilderness 2003
• Episcopal Publishing Company, The Witness Magazine
• The Bishop William Scarlett Award, “For devotion and life commitment to upholding a vision of justice, peace and social change.”
• The Eileen Egan National Peacemaker Award, “Your courage to stand with those whose homes, families, livelihoods, and very existence have been shattered by bombs of arrogance and greed, lies and deceptions, is true testament to the Gospel of the nonviolent Jesus.”

2004

• Association of Chicago Priests, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Common Ground Award
• First Annual Award for Justice on behalf of the Religious Orders Partnership
• Cranbrook Peace Foundation Annual Peace Award
• Pax Christi Metro New York
• Finalist for Bush in 30 Seconds Ad Contest, for Human Cost of War

2005

• Houston Peace and Justice Center National Peacemaker Award
• Peace Seeker of the Year 2005, Montana Peace Seekers Network
• Doctorate of Theology, honoris causa, awarded to Kathy Kelly by Chicago Theological Seminary, awarded May 14, 2005
• Doctorate of Humanities, honoris causa, awarded to Kathy Kelly by Lewis University, awarded May 15, 2005

September 22, 2003

Desde nuestra fundación, 1996, en Voices in the Wilderness (VitW) -Voces en el Desierto- hemos hecho campaña para poner fin al embargo económico y a la guerra en contra del pueblo iraquí. Nuestra campaña ha consistido básicamente en la organización y envío de delegaciones a Irak, en abierta violación al embargo impuesto por las Naciones Unidas y a las leyes internas de los Estados Unidos, a fin de entregar públicamente pequeños cargamentos de medicinas a personas necesitadas. Nuestra prioridad ha sido siempre la población civil de Irak, especialmente los niños. En el curso de 70 visitas a territorio iraquí hemos sido testigos del desarrollo de esta guerra en la vida diaria de familias, a las que hemos llegado a conecer como amigos.

Somos voluntarios, maestros, veteranos, trabajadores sociales, artistas, profesionales de la salud y religiosos, quienes sigiendo la tradición de Mohandas Gandhi proclamamos la noviolencia como método para el cambio social. Nos oponemos al desarrollo, almacenamiento y uso, por cualquier país, de armas de destrucción masiva, sean éstas; nucleares, biológicas, químicas o económicas. Muchos de nosotros nos reusamos a pagar impuestos para la guerra.

Durante toda la “Operación Choque y Pavor,” encabezada por el gobierno estadounidense, VitW organizó el Iraq Peace Team (Equipo de Paz por Irak), cuyas delelagaciones mantuvieron una constante presencia en Irak en solidaridad con el pueblo iraquí antes, durante y después de los intensos bombardeos y la subsecuente ocupación. Convencidos de que “el lugar donde estás parado determina lo que ves” VitW continúa su esfuerzo por educar a la gente en los Estados Unidos y en el extranjero sobre las consecuencias del militarismo del gobierno estadounidense. En la actualidad nuestra campaña está enfocada en la necesidad de poner a Irak en el centro de la atención pública. Diciendo la verdad sobre esta guerra esperamos ayudar a prevenir guerras futuras. Al mismo tiempo buscamos informarnos y educarnos respecto a la realidad que afecta a los habitantes de los países del supuesto “eje del mal”. Tenemos la esperanza en que nuestra experiencia y métodos de educación y resistencia puedan servir de modelo para la gente que hace un trabajo similar, en los Estados Unidos y en el extranjero.

Dedicados a la noviolencia resistimos las políticas bélicas. Miembros de la campaña desafían el reclutamiento militar, las corporaciones que viven del negocio de la guerra y los aspectos de la cultura occidental que propician la guerra de baja intensidad contra la diversidad biológica de la Madre Tierra y contra países débilitados, cuyos recursos son explotados a fin de mantener nuestro estilo de vida excesivamente consumista. Abogamos por vivir simplemente, compartiendo recursos y servicios, respetando todas las formas de vida, abriendo espacios de educación creativa y acciones directas, noviolentas, por la paz.

Voices in the Wilderness funciona como una red de trabajo de acción y educación hacia la noviolencia: desarrollando y practicando caminos de resistencia noviolenta, en Voices estamos comprometidos a promover la resolución pacífica de conflictos, dentro de un ambiente de educación formal así como en ambientes no tradicionales. Estamos dispuestos a viajar a cualquier sitio, en cualquier momento, nos pagen o no por hacerlo a fin de compartir nuestra experencia como testigos de la situación en Irak y a la vez escuchar y aprender de la experiencia de otras y otros.