For peace,

In memory of

RACHEL CORRIE

For peace,

In memory of

RACHEL CORRIE

A few days earlier, in Gaza, a A few days earlier, in Gaza, a young female peacemaker lost young female peacemaker lost her life. Rachel Corrie, was her life. Rachel Corrie, was only 23 years old. She was a only 23 years old. She was a studiant at the Olympia studiant at the Olympia University (Washington), she University (Washington), she belonged to the Movement of belonged to the Movement of Justice et Peace. Justice et Peace.

With her pacifist association, With her pacifist association, she had organised initiatives in she had organised initiatives in memory of the 11 september, memory of the 11 september, and in memory of the victimes and in memory of the victimes of the desaster and of the war of the desaster and of the war in Afghanistan.in Afghanistan.

This year, Rachel had decided to pass from theory to practice, by This year, Rachel had decided to pass from theory to practice, by going to Israel, Where she joined the International Palestinian going to Israel, Where she joined the International Palestinian movement of solidarity.movement of solidarity.

With this association, she took part in actions intended to stop the With this association, she took part in actions intended to stop the Israeli caterpilars, that were demolishing the houses of kamikazes Israeli caterpilars, that were demolishing the houses of kamikazes and their families, on the palestinian territory.and their families, on the palestinian territory.

She had written to her friends, in many emails: “They are destroying She had written to her friends, in many emails: “They are destroying houses even if people were inside. They have no respect for people.”houses even if people were inside. They have no respect for people.”

On the 15th of March, at the Gaza frontier, Rachel and her On the 15th of March, at the Gaza frontier, Rachel and her friends, were trying to oppose the demolitions,friends, were trying to oppose the demolitions,

““She was sitting in the way of a caterpillar. The driver saw her, did She was sitting in the way of a caterpillar. The driver saw her, did not stop and drove over her” declared Joseph Smith, a pacifist in the not stop and drove over her” declared Joseph Smith, a pacifist in the US.US.

““The caterpillar covered her with soil, and then drove over her”, The caterpillar covered her with soil, and then drove over her”, added Nicolas Dure, another colleague of her.added Nicolas Dure, another colleague of her.

Her colleagues tried to save her by stopping the caterpillar and Her colleagues tried to save her by stopping the caterpillar and then by giving her life support. But all was in vain.then by giving her life support. But all was in vain.

Rachel Corrie is only 23 years old,. She lost her life defending, Rachel Corrie is only 23 years old,. She lost her life defending, with her body and thoughts, the rights of palestinian citizens for with her body and thoughts, the rights of palestinian citizens for life and a place to live..life and a place to live..

The Israeli authorities gave a The Israeli authorities gave a different version of the facts, different version of the facts, denying the proofs of the witnesses. denying the proofs of the witnesses. The young lady was killed in a cold The young lady was killed in a cold blooded barbaric way, while she blooded barbaric way, while she was opposing in a peaceful way.was opposing in a peaceful way.

Rachel and her friends maintained Rachel and her friends maintained that: “every day, dozens of houses that: “every day, dozens of houses are destroyed on the frontier of are destroyed on the frontier of Gaza!”, “that the bombing polluted Gaza!”, “that the bombing polluted the wells of drinking water in the the wells of drinking water in the refugee camps of Rafah, and that refugee camps of Rafah, and that these cannot be restored without the these cannot be restored without the palestenian workers being exposed palestenian workers being exposed to the Israeli shootings.to the Israeli shootings.

Many initiatives were taken in Olympia ( Washington ) and in all the US in memory of Rachel.

This message is ment to be a testimony of the courage a young peacemaker, Rachel. Her courage lead her to attempt to stop the massacres and injustice Plestinians are suffering.

Meanwhile, the largest and most important peace movement is being developped against the war. Rachel Corrie is certainly the symbol Rachel Corrie is certainly the symbol of this movement. She was the victime of the of this movement. She was the victime of the absurde and horrifying logic of war, that we, absurde and horrifying logic of war, that we, peacemakers are attempting to stop.peacemakers are attempting to stop.

I am asking you to pass this message:

-to make known the case of this young lady, a part of her history, and her commitment.

-not to forget the Plestinian-Israeli conflit that is leading to countless innocent palestinian civilian victimes.

- and that we have to continu our movement and pressure in order to find a fair and definite solution.

Stefano Costa (Verdi Milano) - xawcos@tin.it

Traduit par France LAUTIER (Paris )

Translated by Lara Ghanime (Mount Lebanon)

THE ENTIRE WORLD IS IN WAR

THIS MESSAGE MUST CROSS THE WORLD AND CONVINCE THOSE WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN.WE DEMAND THAT PEACE BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

DON’T STOP THIS

WE ASK THAT THIS MESSAGE BE TRANSLATED IN ALL LANGUAGES, SO THAT ALL, WITH NO DISTINCTION OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONALITY, BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS REFLECTION FOR PEACE.