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STORY: A local anti-war group is conducting a peace fast this week. The Houston Coalition for Justice Not War is passing the task each day among its members in relay fashion. Today, it was Yolanda Garza Byrdwell's turn to stand in front of the Federal building in downtown Houston. She wore a sign that read "Fasting for Peace" and collected signatures for a petition to declare the city a "No War Zone." Byrdwell says the coalition's message is clear: "We believe that this Iraq intervention is only for the purpose of oil." She also draws connections between the effect of U.S. war policies on Iraqis and Houstonians: "The United States, just last week, passed a resolution preventing more medication for the people of Iraq. Obviously that will affect the innocent people - the children and the mothers. And here in the United States, I see around us that there is a lot of people with no insurance, even among people that I know - my family and my relatives here in Houston. They don't have insurance. They suffer for the lack of care, why should we spend a lot of money - $6 billion - to kill other people when we need the resources here?" Some coalition members may conduct extended, individual hunger strikes if the U.S. invades Iraq. E-mail Monica Lopez at monicalopez@ziplip.com. This story was broadcast on January 8, 2003.