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Photo by Kelly Bellis		 Ellsworth, Maine — January 27, 2007— In solidarity with the peace action held the same day in Washington, D.C. and other locations nationwide intended to get Congress to stop funding the war in Iraq, about one hundred peace activists braved the fifteen degree temperature and lined both sides of the Union River bridge. Deb Marshall, dressed as a WWI doughboy, handed out tiny toy soldiers with a message stuck on them — BRING ME HOME.
 

A Question of Plastic
We’ve had a couple of inquiries since we began the Army Men Project about the use
of plastic (specifically, the small green men made of plastic) in our efforts to raise consciousness about the war in Iraq. Recently, we had an email exchange with a woman named Sheree, who took the step of getting in touch with the Oriental Trading Company (the wholesaler we use) to ask about the impact the manufacture of the plastic army men had on the environment in China(where they are made) and on Chinese workers. We offer the exchange, beginning with our response, here (all correspondence has been slightly edited to save space):

 

From MWO to Sheree:
Hi Sheree and thanks for your concern about the plastics and the China question. We'd actually checked out Oriental Trading company in the beginning of all this – and we hope what they told us (and recently told you) is true. It's difficult to absolutely know ... Meanwhile, we are constantly aware of the huge environmental degradation the invasion and occupation of Iraq has been inflicting on the region— one of the most long-term pollutants being, of course, the depleted uranium the U.S. uses in the thousands of bombs and various artillery it's been pounding the country with since March of 2003 (and for the 11 years of sanctions prior to that). Again, thanks for your interest. Here's to Peace in 2007

Mouths Wide Open, January 15, 2007
•••••••••••••

From Sheree to Mouths Wide Open:
Thanks! China is fast becoming polluted and emitting much more greenhouse gases in its race to industrialize, so I am heartened by your embracing of the larger picture! I agree with you on DU. Like Agent Orange and land mines, it is a weapon whose legacy continues beyond the conflict, and affects civilians and the environment for untold years afterward. The Precautionary Principle (www.besafenet.com) urges one and all not to release harm into the environment in the first place, and warfare is one of the most environmentally devastating activities of humans...

Sheree, January 15, 2007
•••••••••••••

From Oriental Trading Company to Sheree— see her letter below:
Hello Sheree and thank you for your interest to Oriental Trading Company.
In regards to your customer service request: We are only able to tell you the Army Men are made in China. We do not have any other information available to share with you. However, we have been dealing with some of our suppliers in Asia for more than 30 years, and we have seen first hand the improved economic development for both Chinese workers and employers alike. We support and are members of monitoring organizations such as Human Rights in China and Human Rights Watch/Asia, which work toward improving social, political and economic conditions in China. We also believe our trade with countries throughout the world makes a positive difference in the local economies and helps to improve living and working conditions in China and other countries. Our buyers personally visit the factories and we do not deal with factories that violate human rights. I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely, Customer Relations Representative,
Oriental Trading Company, January 15, 2007
•••••••••••••

From Sheree to Oriental Trading Company:
Please answer any questions that have a quick and true answer! I know I am asking questions that may be hard to answer, but I think they are important, particularly for Mouths Wide Open, who is asking people to cover the world with army men! What is the environmental and human cost of doing this…Some plastics companies are notorious for polluting their neighborhoods … Where are they manufactured? Are workers there allowed to join a union? … What pollution controls are in effect there, regarding smokestack emissions, waste stream disposal, emissions to water or soil?

Sheree, January 14, 2007
 

It's a been a year, and I still firmly believe in the Army Man Project. Change is in the air. It may still take years for the big change but we get closer every day...can you feel it? I know I can. Happy New Year and PEACE!

Tona Ohama, Alberta, Canada January 14, 2007

 

I have family in the military, so I understand why families want their loved ones to come home. I just don't understand why they are mad at Bush, he is doing his best. I don't want to sound like I don't care but understand this, soldiers knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed up … If they would come back home we would have a better chance for Iraq to bomb us or invade our lands … I hope once the Iraqis have enough soldiers, and are able to get good training then our soldiers can come home where they belong. Till then we just have to have hope and pray. Remember God always has a plan even if we don't understand it now.

Jim B., January 13, 2007

 

Some of you may recall the Army Men Project from last Christmas. Please read....Columbia Chronicle online Issue: 2006-12-04
www.columbiachronicle.com/paper/citybeat.php?id=2317

Tona Ohama, Alberta, Canada December 13, 2006

 

SUBJECT: Plastic soldiers found in Tasmania!

Hello, just thought I would let you know that two little plastic green soldiers were found in our Bed and Breakfast with your website name and the message "Bring me home.” We are located at Eaglehawk Neck in Tasmania, Australia, so your message is getting to some very remote places.

Keep up the good work. We agree with your message and support your work.
The little green soldiers are now displayed for all our guests to comment on and so far we have not had a negative comment!!

Kathy and Werner, Osprey Lodge Beachfront Escape,
www.ospreylodge.com.au
November 10, 2006

 

Hey, thanks for doing this.
I am ordering some Army men of my own. I will give them out with my postcards. Please check-out my project: www.sendbushtheconstitution.org
…While my project focuses on Constitutional issues, rather than the war exclusively,
I think we are all on the same page.

Tim G., October 13, 2006

 

Just found a little toy army man....By the church of the crosses. I am an artist/student at SAIC... I think this is a great project!
What a great gift to come by... Let me know how else I can get involved.
Thank you.

Evan R., September 30, 2006

 

Hey guys, I live in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, but I recently moved from Colorado Springs. I know people who have mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sons and daughters in Iraq, and I had to watch as, week after week, the death toll climbed higher. I want to bring the men home, not just from Iraq, but from Afghanistan, too. Please tell me what I can do to help, and please send me some buttons. Thanks for doing what’s right.

Keep fighting. We'll win!

Bryn K., Nova Scotia September 26, 2006

 

I went to the Blue Hill meeting of Peninsula Peace + Justice the other night and they didn't know about the army men so I handed out several baggies and told them about it. Everyone thinks it's such a great idea!! The thing I like best is that everyone starts smiling!! We sold a bunch at the Farmer's Market (to benefit the Island P+J donations only) …I love what you're doing!! … Keep it up!!

Deb M., September 7, 2007

I ordered 2 gross of army men from Oriental Trading Co and with your template
and on Avery label paper, printed the tiny labels then cut them out with tiny
scissors and with the help of my 6 year old grandson, stuck "Bring Me Home"
on the bottoms of about 1/3 of them!

I am part of Island Peace + Justice … I sent the army men over to our IPJ booth at the Farmer's Market to see what interest there was/is in giving them away for a donation. I put my own little message in the baggies with 5 men - "please help cover the Earth with these army men who bring a message of peace. Put them anywhere you go and if possible take a photo which can be sent to mouthswideopen.org". I've put a few around personally but did not have my camera...

I love this project!! When I find out what happened this morning I'll give you an update.

Deb M., September 1, 2006

 

 

 
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