War is the World’s Worst Headache

TCTU implores U.S. not to become world’s biggest menace

posted 3 March 03

US President Bush has not heeded UN warnings or weapons inspection results and ignores opposition from NATO, insisting on igniting a war against Iraq. The British TUC and the U.S. AFL-CIO have joined in voicing opposition to war. U.S.-based SEIU, Britain’s T&G, FBU, ICEM, and IMF, Korea’s KCTU, Brazil’s CUT, and South Africa’s COSATU have also issued statements against attacks on Iraq.

Taiwan has a long history of dependency on the US, and even provided financial support in the recent U.S. attacks on Afghanistan. Taiwan’s media is also playing to the tune of whatever information the U.S. government and U.S. corporate media provides. Now as the second weapons inspection report is about to be released, the world fears that the U.S. may take unilateral action at this critical juncture. The Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions has stood in solidarity with counterpart confederations in other countries and international trade unions in holding “215” anti-war activities on February 15.

It is common knowledge that war is not a way of solving conflicts and will only intensify hatred and violence. We ask the American Institute in Taiwan to inform U.S. President Bush to not make an enemy of the world’s trade unions. We also implore Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to refrain from contributing financial support for a war against Iraq as it did in attacks on Afghanistan. As the world’s trade unions, we say no to the U.S., and we hope President Chen will openly express Taiwan’s opposition to a U.S. on Iraq. We believe that as a country’s highest leader, President Chen should clearly understand that an anti-war stance is the optimal survival strategy for a small country in the kingpin arena of current international politics. Like Switzerland, we must oppose all war if we have any hopes of becoming a country with a strong foothold.

Just as former U.S. President Eisenhower said, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”It is estimated that this war will cost US$33 billion. This amount could provide more than 10 years of clean water to developing countries. The price of one missile is enough to provide one school with lunches for its pupils for 5 years. One Patriot missile costs US$100,000 – equal to the annual wages of 370 citizens (the average annual wage of an Iraqi is US$2,700). Just 18 days of the world’s military spending could be used to treat 4 million of the world’s children who are suffering chronic illness.

Although Taiwan and Iraq are separated by a long distance, a war would unquestionably impact Taiwan’s stock market. International oil prices would continue to rise and if China Petroleum is not privatized by that time, the inflation of oil prices will have an even greater impact on Taiwan’s economy. Taiwan’s unemployment problem is already severe and with a further blow to the economy, the first ones to suffer will be the workers of Taiwan. It makes no difference which countries are at war – it is invariably our fellow workers around the world who take the brunt of military destruction. Thus, the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions stands in solidarity with the U.S. Confederation of Trade Unions to oppose war. We ask Taiwan’s workers to steadfastly pursue justice by joining in this worldwide protest against war.