Alternative info

Alternative sources for news
on the "war on terrorism"

[10-9-01]

Are the news reports all starting to sound the same? Are you wondering where to find more in-depth reporting on the "war against terrorism"?

We've been asked to suggest some web sites that provide some perspectives you may not find in your local press or on CNN. Well, there's a lot out there, folks!

We'll list here a few of the web sites we have found helpful, with a little sample of the reports listed when we first visited some of them (October 9, 2001).

New sites have been added on 1-2-02!

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has published a large list of web resources. Check out our sampling, and go to their own site. [10-29-01]

If you can suggest other sources, please send a note!

AlterNet

This site provides stories of their own, plus reports from other sources. It offers a generally progressive point of view. They have a page specifically listing their reports on the war.

One interesting report today offers "10 Things to Know about U.S. Policy in the Middle East ."

TomPaine.com

This site specializes in independent thinking, and seems to cover a wider variety of viewpoints. The current home page includes an essay urging "Let our leaders acknowledge: we're far from what we once believed was normal and are not likely to be in that territory for a long time." Another is "an open letter to the peace movement," whose writer declares, "I do not believe the network of terrorism can be defeated without engaging it directly, which I believe will result in violent acts.... So farewell, my friends."

Pacific News Service

This site has long offered in-depth reporting, from a progressive point of view, with a focus on the Pacific rim.

Their index page on the war today lists stories on "Why: Exploring the Roots"; "Gauging America's Response"; "Backlash at Home"; "Worldwide Fallout"; "How We See Ourselves"; "Youth Voices"; "Relief Information, Vigils, Resources."

SoJoNet, the web version of Sojourners' Magazine, reflects a progressive point of view rooted in evangelical Christianity. (We're happy to post some of their good reports here.) The current home page opens with an article by editor Jim Wallis reporting on "a hopeful movement being born in the Middle East----interfaith, rooted in nonviolence, and containing the seeds of a just peace."

In These Times is another progressive magazine, whose web incarnation currently offers articles on topics such as "The Long War: Bush's crusade has no end in sight"; "Where have all the Liberals Gone?"; "Stopping the War: The peace movement returns"; and an interview with Blowback author Charles Johnson.

Added on 10-11-01

The Nation, like its parent magazine, is an excellent source for news and commentary on this and many other issues. They have a special page indexing their extensive Sept. 11 material, including an essay by Richard Falk on the significance of just war thinking in this situation.

Fred Clarkson suggests these:

Common Dreams has a rather comprehensive list of links to progressive and liberal columnists and news items.

Working for Change is the news site related to Working Assets, the progressive long distance phone company.

Women's E-News has had a great deal of reporting on the role of women in the Middle East, and in television news commentary on events since Sept 11th.

Z Magazine (Znet) offers a large assortment of progressive views, including authors such as Noam Chomsky.

www.counterpunch.org is an extension of a newsletter (appropriately called Counterpunch) published by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair. It is a muckraking publication in the tradition and spirit of I.F. Stone.

Added on 10-26-01

Try seeing us as others see us!

There are various web sites that link to newspapers around the world. Here's one that won't tell you where to go, but let you browse to different countries and papers to see what they're seeing about the United States, the war on terrorism, and all the rest.

Thanks to Harold Barton.

RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, offers graphic reports from their "ground zero." This group describes itself as a "political organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy, and women's rights in Afghanistan." They are hardly fans of the Taliban, but they don't seem to enjoy getting bombed, either.

This site wasn't working very smoothly when I checked it, but that may be temporary. What you'll find there is worth the trouble!

Thanks to Gene TeSelle

Church World Service. For good on-the-scene reports of the refugee situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, plus analysis of policy issues and more, check on the web site of Church World Service.

The World Council of Churches and other ecumenical groups have created an excellent collection of statements and resources on the current crisis beginning with a page called "Visions for Peace - Voices of Faith: Behind the news."

They state the purpose thus:

"In response to the threatening global situation in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States, Action by Churches Together (ACT), the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), have set up a short-term response mechanism to offer a selection of statements, useful information, thought-provoking reflections, and worship resources which might aid churches in responding to the unfolding situation."

Various sections include:

	Calls for action
	Church and civil society reactions to the September 11 attacks
	Church and civil society statements on the current crisis and military action
	Contributions to the current debate
	Humanitarian concerns
	Interreligious response
	Resources for study and worship
	Resources exchange

Sojourners' magazine is publishing a study guide on A Moral Response to Terrorism: Conscience in a Time of War -- and the topics and authors look good! [11-24-01]

Added on 11-29-01

Here's one place to keep up with world-wide peace activism

http://pax.protest.net/

This web site, created after the September 11^th attacks, lists peace protests, meetings, benefits and conferences around the world. You'll also find links to many other peace-activist sites, petitions, posters, and more. And you can submit information about events you're working on!

from Utne WebWatch

Added on 1-2-02

Union Theological Seminary (New York) faculty spoke about the events of 9/11 at a forum on September 20, offering a variety of thoughtful and provocative reflections. Their remarks are posted on a UTS web page.

Faculty members speaking included

Mary C. Boys
David M. Carr
Chung Hyun Kyung
Alan M. Cooper
Larry L. Rasmussen
Ann Belford Ulanov
Janet R. Walton

Thanks to Richard Hong

World Press Review provides quick access to news reports from all over the world, representing all sorts of perspectives, providing handy labels of their perspectives – conservative, centrist, liberal, left-wing, government, and so on.

Thanks to Jean Rodenbough

OK, now it's your turn! Please send your suggestions on helpful sources of information. And please include a link to the site, and any brief comments you might want to offer.

Thanks!