Title: Instead of Ban on Military Recruiters, APHA to Sponsor “Counter-Recruiting" Booth for Peace Activists
Author:
Section/SPIG: Maternal and Child Health
Issue Date:
A lively debate at the MCH mid-year leadership meeting last February discussed the pros and cons of allowing exhibitors who are at odds with established APHA policy. The issue was the presence of military recruiters in the exhibit hall at the Annual Meeting, despite APHA policy 2002-11, Opposing War in Central Asia and the Persian Gulf (http://www.apha.org/legislative/policy/2002/2002-11-oposwar.pdf ). Because the proposal, put forward by incoming Governing Councilor Dick David from Chicago, was so controversial, MCH Chair Jan Weingrad Smith and other leaders at the meeting resolved to poll all MCH Section members before making any recommendation to the Executive Board. However, APHA staff refused to allow the email to be sent.
Still, David and other anti-war activists felt the issue should be kept alive, so a proposal was drafted, suggesting a peace effort in addition to the military recruiters. The Executive Board agreed to provide and staff a booth in the exhibit hall for the peace perspective to be heard.
A group of APHA members from various sections will be meeting in Chicago to plan alternative efforts, as well. They intend to provide public health professionals and students of military age with some of the harsh facts about military service and the nature of the current war before they make a decision that will impact the lives and health of themselves and many other people. Anyone interested in these anti-military activities should contact a member of the Chicago MCH group coordinating this effort: Dick David rdavid@uic.edu; Joan Kennelly jfk3722@aol.com; Mary Driscoll driscoll@hektoen.org.