Why not to pay fees to US corporations - was: To the Editor: War on Iraq

Dear All,

in special times, there are special rules.
Therefore I would like to forward a mail, which I sent today to several
newspapers.

Just one more reason, why not to pay license fees to MS, a big US taxpayer,
and thus - willingly or not - a financier of a possible war ...

Stefan

>Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 09:51:44 +0700
>To: Nhan Dan <toasoan@nhandan.org.vn>
>From: Stefan Probst <stefan.probst@opticom.v-nam.net>
>Subject: To the Editor: War on Iraq
>
>Dear Editor,
>
>if Iraq does not comply with the UN demands, as stipulated by the Security
>Council, then it will be breaking international law and rightfully will
>face the consequences. There is no doubt about that, and it should be like
>that.
>
>However, if the government of any nation, especially despite the UN's
>explicit disapproval, starts a war on another country, then it too is
>breaking international law and becomes an "international law criminal".
>
>In the light of what is going on in the last days, I can only urge all
>companies, which have some self-respect and don't run for every dirty
>money, to refuse to do any business with criminals, i.e. not to deal
>anything with offices, like embassies of such governments, in case they
>really start a war.
>
>I propose, that concerned companies immediately issue public statements in
>this regard, e.g. an open letter to the concerned embassies, announcing,
>that they will cease immediately all business with them, in case a war
>breaks out, so that peace-loving people know about that and can do
>business with those companies, to make up for potential losses.
>
>They could furthermore request from other business partners of said
>countries (companies, business groups, etc.) to make public statements
>that they don't support any not UN approved war, or face the same
>consequences of broken business relations.
>
>Coming from a country, where some decades ago a criminal government was
>supported by ruthless corporations which put their own profits before any
>ethics or concerns about humanitarian law, I am convinced, that business
>entities have the moral duty to stand up, and not just to continue
>"business as usual".
>
>Sincerely,
>Stefan Probst,
>Hanoi

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