We, the National Coalition of American Nuns, commit ourselves to the long-term work of justice and peacemaking in our personal lives, ministries, congregations, churches, and civil society. Following the example of Jesus, we will encourage nonviolent means of responding to conflict. We call on the U.S. government to begin at once to withdraw from its occupation in Iraq and to withdraw support of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. We encourage a boycott of Israeli goods in order to hasten a more just civil order in the Holy Land. The U.S. Arms Export Control Act Prohibits the use of US-made machinery or weapons against a civilian population. Because Caterpillar (CAT) bulldozers are used as weapons of war in the Occupied Territories in violation not only of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, but also of international law and the corporation's own code of conduct, we call for divestment from Caterpillar, municipal boycotts of CAT machinery, and a consumer boycott of other CAT products.
