Shirin Ebadi, a human rights activist and Iranian lawyer, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her work championing the rights of women and children in the Islamist state of Iran, will discuss “Iran Awakening: A Story of Revolution and Hope” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, in MSU’s Strand Union Building Ballrooms. Mrs. Ebadi has faced death threats from the Iranian government and has been imprisoned for her work.  Tickets for Ebadi’s lecture are on sale now, and are $5 for students or $8 for the general public. Tickets are available at all TicketsWest locations and at www.ticketswest.com.

On March 19, the 5th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, the Montana Peace Seekers delivered a list of peace alternative actions for Iraq to the offices of the Montana Congressional Delegation.  Among the alternatives was the proposal to form a Peace Action Group that would implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, one of which is the following:

“The United States should immediately launch a new diplomatic offensive . . . This diplomatic effort should include every country that has an interest in avoiding a chaotic Iraq, including all of Iraq’s neighbors.  Iraq’s neighbors and key states in and outside the region should form a support group to reinforce security and national reconciliation within Iraq.”

The Peace Seekers suggested Shirin Ebadi as one of the members for the Peace Action Group.  We have informed both Senator Tester’s and Senator Baucus’ staff that Shirin Ebadi will be in Bozeman on April 16 and that this will be a prime opportunity to make contact with her and propose her participation in the Peace Action Group.

On March 20, 2007, in a visit to both Senators Baucus and Tester in Washington, D. C., I proposed this same Peace Action Group as a way of making peace in Iraq and bringing our troops home.  Both Senators thought this was a good idea and would work.  No legislation materialized.

Now, a year and about 1,000 dead soldiers later, there is an opportunity to start implementing the Peace Action Group.  Let’s make a good showing at the April 16 Shirin Ebadi lecture and contact the Senators reminding them of the March 19 peace alternatives and urging them to take advantage of this opportunity.

Deborah Hayden