On today’s show, host Esty Dinur is in conversation with Kathy Kelly about her experience advocating peace in the Middle East. Kelly worked with Voices in the Wilderness in Iraq after the US’s “Shock and Awe” assault on the country. She says the main victims of violence and economic sanctions against Iraq were children, the elderly, and the poor. Kelly was disappointed by mainstream media for not covering the civilian losses, and she wants to see better reporting on the reality of war crimes.

Kelly sees a similar pattern with the more recent US attacks on Iran of warfare against civilians. There have been systematic attacks on journalists and healthcare workers in Gaza and elsewhere, two groups of people who are first-hand witnesses to the horrors of war and genocide.

They also discuss student groups organizing around BDS and taking other nonviolent actions. Kelly also describes the schools in Afghanistan that she supported and how important it is to talk about Israel’s nuclear weapons. She finds hope in grassroots organizing around the world.

Kathy Kelly is board president of World BEYOND War. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, she has coordinated an international network to assist young Afghans forced to flee their country after the Taliban takeover. With Voices in the Wilderness companions, from 1996 – 2003, she traveled 27 times to Iraq, defying the economic sanctions and remaining in Iraq throughout the Shock and Awe bombing.

Featured image of Esty Dinur and Kathy Kelly courtesy of Sara Gabler/WORT.

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