Talk by Dr. Thomasson

Dr. Thomasson is the President of Physicians for Social Responsibility. She has been doing a tour of the southeast USA, to promote awareness of the issues facing us today. She came to Asheville on October 18 and October 19 and spoke on Iran, nuclear issues and climate issues. I did not catch the climate issues talk, but I did attend the talk in Iran and nuclear issues. There are my notes:

Iran was founded in 500 BC, during the Persepolis empire. Zoroastrainism (a Persian religion founded in the sixth century b.c. by the prophet Zoroaster, promulgated in the Avesta, and characterized by worship of a supreme god Ahura Mazda who requires good deeds for help in his cosmic struggle against the evil spirit Ahriman, from dictionary) was the dominant religion, and echoes of that religion are still seen in many Iran customs.

The government of Iran provides free contraception and requires family planning classes before marriage. They are trying to limit the birth rate in Iran, and one of the actions they took was to NOT provide maternity leave for the fourth baby born (the US government provides NO maternity leave for any birth!). The birthrate dropped with these measures, and so did infant mortality. Health care is a right in Iran – it is in their constitution. About 60% of the population is under 30 years of age.

About 95% of the population is Shi’a, with seven or eight different fractions. About 3% of the population is Sunni, and there are Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians in the country also.

About 63% of the university students are women, and 35% of physicians are women. Women are now allowed to divorce. Fifteen women are in Parliament, however, in the last election, no women were allowed to run for office. There is one Jew in Parliament also.

Eisenhower authorized the first CIA overthrow of a democratically elected leader. The US authorities controlled the rulers in Iran until Iranian Revolution in 1979, when theocracy was voted in and five million people fled Iran. In 1980, Iraq invaded Iran and this helped to consolidate power for the Iranians. About one million died and ten million were wounded in that war. About 35,000 Iranians today have medical problems from chemical weapons used in the Iran-Iraq war.

The Iranian president does not determine foreign polity. The Supreme Leader determines a foreign policy. They have had a Fatwa against nuclear weapons.

Dr. Thomasson recommended joining the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran. (They have a great website, by the way.) She recommended that we write all presidential candidates and ask them about their positions and ask them to denounce military actions against Iran. She recommended that we have meetings with elected officials to express our concerns and to say that we want diplomacy without preconditions and to denounce military actions.

Dr. Thomasson does not feel that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, only nuclear power. She does not think that nuclear power is good or healthy for anyone.