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Voices of Peace
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This campaign is based solely on word of mouth. It is CRUCIAL that you tell
others. We've attached below a brief letter you can send to your email circle. Just
copy and paste the text into your own email, then personalize the message. Your own
words are always best. Please only contact people who know you personally. Spam hurts
our campaign.
Sample letter:
I'm really concerned about the situation in Kashmir. Please join me in calling on the leaders of India and Pakistan to cool down.
The conflict is edging ever closer to a nuclear war. A nuclear exchange between these rival nations could kill 12 million people and spread radioactive fallout around the globe. Through MoveOn.org, I'm calling on President Musharraf of Pakistan and Prime Minister Vajpayee of India to step back from the brink of holocaust.
You can join us and sign a message from concerned citizens of the world at:
http://www.moveon.org/nonukesoverkashmir/
Both leaders are currently banging the drums of war. Recently, Pakistan tested its third missile in as many days, emphasizing its ability to deliver nukes to the large Indian city Delhi in under three minutes. Prime Minister Vajpayee told the 700,000 troops stationed along the border of Pakistan that he was preparing for "a decisive victory."
While India has stated that it will only use its nuclear bombs in the case of an attack, Pakistan has made clear that it will strike first if threatened. And there's reason to believe that it will follow through on this policy: in 1999, such an attack was narrowly averted, over the protest of then-General Musharraf.
More worrying still, India and Pakistan have broken many of their diplomatic ties. Unlike the US and the USSR during the Cold War, India and Pakistan have no direct line connecting the leadership of each nation. The possibility exists that nukes could be launched as a result of a mistake, since there's no easy way for the leadership of one nation to verify the intentions of its rival. With millions of lives in the balance and weapons on hair-trigger alert, the lack of communication between the two countries is just plain wrong.
If India and Pakistan were to go to war, the effects would be felt around the world. The trade winds above the two countries are ideally situated to spread nuclear fallout. Essentially highly radioactive dust, fallout can cause leukemia and many other kinds of cancer, as well as radiation poisoning.
Assuming either nation survived the attacks, it's unlikely that the conflict would even be resolved. Instead of pushing their countries toward Armageddon, Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Musharraf must re-establish strong diplomatic ties, disavow the use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances, and work toward a comprehensive agreement on the future of Kashmir.
Please let them know that you're concerned about the escalating conflict today:
http://www.moveon.org/nonukesoverkashmir/
The lives of millions of Indians and Pakistanis could be at stake. Thanks.
--thanks to Kayrin G.