Campaign for an Iraq War Inquiry (CIWI – formally IWIG)
ARBN 162 022 979
Suite 406, 1 Queens Road
Melbourne Vic 3004
4 February 2013
Dear Supporters and Friends,
Now that our incorporation formalities have been completed, the Campaign needs to move on and make itself felt.
March will mark the 10th anniversary of the start of the 2003 Iraq War – i.e. the US, UK, Australian led invasion. We know of the enormous death toll it caused, and the irreparable damage to property and lives suffered (and still being suffered), as was predicted before the war. After all this time Iraq is in no better state. The region is even more chaotic.
Parliament was not consulted about Australia’s participation in the war, and the enormous demonstrations against the war that took place here and elsewhere on 15th February were ignored by our government.
There are innumerable conflict situations either already existing or possibly about to surface. Some are in our region; many not. Australia must not become militarily involved in any of these overseas conflicts unless, at the very least, Parliament approves the involvement and the Australian people are fully informed of the reasons.
If such exercises in futility involving Australia, as was the Iraq War, are not to happen again the message we are seeking to get across from a careful inquiry into the origins of that war needs to be communicated loudly and clearly. For this we need funds. The original contributions have got us this far but can take us only a little way further. We need to be able to:
- finance a professional campaign director (part-time)
- meet the fees involved in a carefully targeted Freedom of Information campaign
- conduct opinion polling, both to assist with the design of our campaign and to measure its effectiveness, and
- promote the Campaign to the many other organisations and key individuals who support our cause.
Much, of course, is already being done on a voluntary basis.
As the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq looms on March 19th, events are being organised throughout Australia, including
- A Deakin symposium, ‘’ “Iraq 10 years on: Intervention, Occupation, Withdrawal and Beyond” to be held on 14 – 15 March 2013.
- A Chorus of Women sang a Lament for the people of Iraq in Parliament House on 18 March 2003, the day Australia’s participation in the invasion of Iraq was announced. Their 10th anniversary concert will be held in the foyer of Parliament House from 12.30 – 1.10pm on Tuesday 19 March.
We are being active in this regard with articles and through participation in related events – as will be evident from our blogs. We would urge you as supporters and friends of our campaign to attend any of these events you are able to get to, and to take such opportunities as you can to speak or publish articles and opinion pieces bearing on the issues we are campaigning on.
Beyond that, we seek and welcome suggestions from members and supporters for additional activities and we invite articles and comments on a continuous basis – the website, blogs and other social media are lively and hungry, and need to be fed.
Above all we need funds if we are to carry out necessary promotions, etc. at a professional level.
We therefore ask you please to give urgent consideration to making a contribution to our funding.
Contributions can be made:
- by cheque payable to: ‘Campaign for an Iraq War Inquiry’, and forwarded to the Hon Treasurer (Andrew Farran), c/- PO Box 7389, BEAUMARIS, Vic. 3193; or
- paid directly to: Campaign for an Iraq War Inquiry bank account at NAB’s 300 Collins Street Branch:
BSB 083-054
A/c No: 14-992-1270.
If you contribute funds by direct deposit or electronic transfer, please send an email to info@iraqwarinquiry.org.au giving your name, address and amount credited so that we may send you a receipt.
We look forward to hearing from you. The task is challenging. The need is urgent.
Please forward this letter to any of your friends whom you feel may wish to support our campaign.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Barratt, AO
President, Campaign for an Iraq War Inquiry – for the Committee.
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Originally published by AWPR, 4 February, 2013 | 3:55 pm
