"We've got to say to Bush "This is OUR country- Stop the war! To sin by silence at this time makes cowards of us all!" -- Walter Johnson, S.F. Central Labor Council.

To learn more of the Labor movement's position on the war, I checked the internet and found this resolution issued by the S.F. Central Labor Council last Fall during the ILWU strike. You can see how Bush's foreign and domestic policies intertwine.

"Whereas, wasting billions of dollars on the Iraq war buildup translates into cutbacks of essential and job-producing social programs at home such as education, health care, social security and housing, and threatening the rights of labor to strike and organize; and

Whereas, the Bush Administration's war drive has a domestic component, threatening to turn his "endless war" against the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and as an opening wedge against the entire labor movement, by threatening government intervention on the West Coast docks under the guise of "Homeland Security," on the side of the Pacific Maritime Association bosses and a coalition of anti-union corporate interests including Wal-Mart and The Gap;

Therefore be it resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO, reaffirm and join the growing movement in opposition to any US war against Iraq, and call on the unions and AFL-CIO at all levels and Congressional representatives to publicly oppose this war; and

Be it further resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council strongly condemn any attempt by the government, at any level, to introduce troops or otherwise intervene in the contract dispute between the ILWU and the employers, and call on Congressional representatives to publicly oppose this interference; ...."

"How many of you know what biodiesel is?" Mandy Benson, California NOW asked the crowd. As it turns out, biodiesel is the vegetable oil and alcohol mixture that will fuel your diesel engine car and make it possible to "say NO" to oil and U.S. foreign policies based on oil.

"Be conscious consumers-- Buy American and avoid products made with sweatshop labor!" If you are in a labor union and/or shop at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op, you may have heard this idea already. Our country is run by shopping choices, so SHOP FOR CHANGE!!!!

"Fifty-two California senators and assemblymembers signed a letter to President Bush expressing their concerns about Administration policies and urging Bush to act in accord with the U.N. before going to war with Iraq. If your assemblymember or senator did not sign this letter, then you need to speak up!"

Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg then spoke up, telling us that current U.S. foreign policy had "squandered the good will of the world--the world has no respect for bullies. Just because we have the biggest guns doesn't mean we get to decide how other people's countries should be run!"

Goldberg cited Japan, where 80% of the population opposes this war--"they understand nuclear destruction and they oppose the war!"

She praised the growing worldwide peace movement, but decried the lack of accurate information in the U.S. "It's hard to get the message out when most of the media outlets are owned by one or two people!"