Maureen Lucía Booth, Spain

"As a printmaker, a woman, a mother and a world citizen I cannot stand idly by while cynical war mongerers and oil and arms profiteers go about the business of hammering the world into their own sordid image."

The prints presented in this virtual exhibit are in response to the following call for work, which went out on October 7, 2002:

"Here at World Printmakers we're profoundly perplexed and concerned about the current fashion of bombing people for specious reasons. After all the sanguinary regimes the American government has sponsored around the globe since World War II, we don't understand why President Bush's administration should suddenly feel the urgent necessity to take unilateral military action in Iraq. We're concerned about the devastation which would be brought on the already pulverized Iraqui people and about the unforseen consequences for the whole world.

"And we're suspicious of the administration's motives. Is it the oil? Is it a Bush family vendetta? We'll probably never know, but we seriously doubt that it's principally about "regional stability," "arms of mass destruction" or "defiance of UN resolutions," since there is next-door neighbor Israel sitting on a formidable nuclear stockpile for more than 20 years now, in open defiance of a whole slew of UN resolutions dating back to 1948, and presided over by a head of government whose responsibilities in the massacres of the Sabra and Chatila refugee camp make him a firm candidate for a crimes-against-humanity trial. For some reason, however, President Bush has not suggested invading Israel or deposing Sharon. Whatever the American government's motives may be, we think the new euphemisms such as "pre-emptive strike," "regime change," "collateral damage" and "carrot and stick" are just nuspeak synonyms for the familiar old militarist litany: "agression," "invasion," "civilian victims," and "bribery and blackmail."

"And we're against all of them.

"What to do? That is the question. Fair enough, there's not much World Printmakers can do. We're small, and we're in the business of promoting art and artists; we're in no position to deal with lethally dangerous politicians and generals on either side of the globe. But we do feel the urgent need to make some gesture, some statement however humble, to take a stand against this militarist madness.

"What we propose then is this: "The Printmakers' Peace," The World Printmakers Anti-Militarist Exhibit 2002, an online fine-print exhibit with prints (and short texts, if they like) by concerned fine-art printmakers worldwide, both traditional and digital. If you feeling strongly about this issue, too, and would like to participate, just e-mail us a .jpg image (300 pixels long or high, 72 dpi resolution) of one of your prints (accompanied by a short text, if you like (not more than a paragraph, please), and we'll publish it in a special section on the World Printmakers site. The e-mail address is: contact@worldprintmakers.com.

"We may not make any difference at all. But, then again, we may. In any case, we feel we have to try.

"Kind regards and count your blessings,

Mike and Maureen Booth
World Printmakers
http://www.worldprintmakers.com"

The Response

Richard Kennedy, U.S.A.

"I hope it is of some reasurrance that there are many of us Americans who are appalled by the actions of our government. They are very clever at disguising the truth, and even better at justifying their actions to the American public. I suppose it is our nature to want to believe they are looking out for our best interests. Why would 'Uncle Sam' steer us in the wrong direction?"

Emma Clark, U.K.

"Thanks for this idea, I think it's great."

Bill H. Ritchie, Jr., U.S.A.

"Elmer Gates, subject of today's e-stamp, died in 1923. He was a scientist and educator who saw that his dream of world peace would probably not be realized if he lived a hundred more years. He was a brilliant person, but full of fear and self-deprecation, it seems. For good reason--living at a US American high of arrogant self serving capitalism and misuse of economic power. I hope artists individually do not see themselves as powerless, for that is only to give more license to bullies and liars. I hope artists do not, as they did during the Third Reich, fall for enticing service to inhumanity. A sense of distant security and claiming helplessness will paralyze our defenses against tyrannies. We still have the Web, don't we?"

Roberta Wesley, U.S.A.

About "He is Me": You will note that the animal
shares one body. It is killing itself. We pay for a preemptive unilateral move against Iraq with the destruction of our own country, our economic and
moral fiber in a similar way.

Our representatives have been spineless on this issue. Senator Edwards of North Carolina (one of the possible presidential contenders) spoke out against the Bush administration's foreign policy yesterday. I plan to email
him and thank him for his courage. His contact information is on his web site at http://www.senate.gov/~edwards/

Not everyone agrees:

"Well Miguel, what a load emotive clap-trap you've served up - if you can't or won't recognize what's at stake here then you're not only naive, but appallingly ignorant of the real world."

Allan Heywood

And this:

TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST IMMEDIATELY!!! You are not pacifists, you just take sides! Hope your business goes BANKRUPT!!!!

Lilian Broca

Mary Farrell, U.S.A.

"Just to let you know that many U.S. artists and citizens are outraged by this administration's hawkish stance. There have been many protests and letters signed by prominent artists, actors, musicians, writers, academics and activists. Please remember that this president was not elected but "installed" in his position. I am very grateful that you are doing something to state your opposition to this insanity. I agree that it feels like a small action but we have to do something. I've gone to protests, signed countless letters, and called my representatives repeatedly. There is a groundswell among the people speaking out louder and louder. I am horrified to be part of a country taking this stance..."