STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1132 23 December 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) A MESSAGE TO ALL STOP THE WAR SUPPORTERS
2) REMEMBER GAZA: ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
3) VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY GAZA 27 DECEMBER
4) STOP THE WAR'S SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK
*********************************
1) A MESSAGE TO ALL STOP THE WAR SUPPORTERS
Dear Friends,
We are writing to thank you for all your work and support over
the past year.
The Stop the War Coalition began 2009 by mobilising to stop
the attack on Gaza, which included the biggest demonstration
for Palestine ever held in Britain, when over 100,000
protested on 10 January.
We have ended it campaigning to get the troops out of
Afghanistan and remembering Gaza on the anniversary of
Israel's attack.
Over this week alone we organised a protest by military
families at Downing St, where we handed in our petition
calling for British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan;
we held a successful Beats Beat Bullets gig for Gaza, and --
together with PSC, CND and BMI -- we will be holding a vigil
at the Israeli Embassy in London on 27 December (see below).
Over the year we have organised -- both nationally and locally
around the country -- a series of demonstrations, vigils,
meetings, rallies, cultural and fundraising events. We will
begin the new year with two important initiatives.
In London on 28 January, Gordon Brown has convened an
international conference to discuss further escalation of the
war in Afghanistan. Stop the War will be organising a protest,
details of which will be available at the beginning of
January.
Also in January or possibly February, it is expected that Tony
Blair will appear at the Chilcot inquiry on Iraq. We want to
mobilise the biggest possible protest against the man now
widely regarded as having broken international law in taking
Britain to war.
There is likely to be a major national demonstration in March
as part of an international day of action, calling for all
foreign troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan.
A general election will be called in the first half of 2010
and Stop the war will be organising a campaign to ensure that
the war in Afghanistan is a prominent issue.
Our priority for 2010 will be to intensify the pressure on the
government to bring the troops home, reflecting the view of an
ever increasing majority of people in Britain. The recent US
and British troop surge, the extension of the Afghan war into
Pakistan and Yemen, and the threats against Iran, make our
campaign more important than ever.
The coming year is clearly going to be as busy for Stop the
War as any in our eight year history. Please continue to
support our work and our activities.
We rely entirely on contributions by our supporters to fund
our small office and all of our campaigns. If you are not
already a member of Stop the War, we urge you to consider
becoming one now, or make a donation to help us sustain our
anti-war work as effectively as we can. You can join or donate
online, here: http://bit.ly/APlKX
We wish you a happy holiday and new year, and we hope that by
active opposition to our government's war policies, together
we can help make 2010 more peaceful than the year just ending.
Best wishes,
Lindsey German
National Convenor, Stop the War Coalition
Andrew Murray
National Chair, Stop the War Coalition
*********************************
2) REMEMBER GAZA: ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
To mark that anniversary of Israel's attach and to protest at
the continuing siege of Gaza, there will be a vigil outside
the Israeli Embassy, 3.00 - 5.00pm 5pm, High Street
Kensington, London W8, called by Palestine Solidarity
Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative
and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
REMEMBER GAZA: END THE SIEGE
SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2009 3-5PM
HIGH STREET KENSINGTON LONDON W8
(High St Kensington tube station)
*********************************
3) VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY GAZA 27 DECEMBER
The Viva Palestina convoy taking 100 vehicles full of aid from
Britain to break the siege plans enter Gaza on 27 December,
when it will be joined by convoys from Turkey and the United
States. For updates on the convoy,
http://www.vivapalestina.org or Twitter: viva_palestina
*********************************
4) STOP THE WAR'S SONGS FOR XMAS WEEK
We've chosen two songs for Christmas week.
Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon, which is about
Christmas Day 1914 when all sides in World War I laid down
their weapons and made peace by playing a game of soccer.
Barra Barra by Rachid Taha is the soundtrack to a video called
Israel - An Apartheid State, which powerfully captures life
for Palestinians under Israeli occupation and siege. Plus
we've included a bonus video of Rachid Taha and Brian Eno
performing Barra Barra live at the great benefit concert they
did for Stop the War in 2005.
FOR BOTH SONGS, GO TO: http://bit.ly/6vnfKN
Thursday 24 December 2009
Message to all Stop the War Coalition supporters
Saturday 19 December 2009
Mon 21 Dec: join military families handing in petition to Downing Street
Please come to these two protests, next Monday and the Sunday after Xmas.
4) Tony Blair is likely to appear at the Iraq Inquiry in January
and Stop the War's officers are discussing plans for how best
to give him a warm reception.
On 28 January, Gordon Brown's international conference on
Afghanistan, which will be attended by Hamid Karzai, president
of Afghanistan in name but not legitimacy. Stop the War will
of course be organising protests and other events, details of
which will be published soon.
It may not have been called, but the general election campaign
has effectively started, with suggestions the date may be as
early as March. Stop the War intends to ensure that the wars
in Afghanistan and Iraq are central issues in the election.
*********************************
Hackney Stop The War sends best wishes to all our members and supporters for the New Year.
1) DECEMBER 21 MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
2) GAZA PROTEST AT THE ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
2) GAZA PROTEST AT THE ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
3) Thanks to everyone who supported the protest outside Kingsland Shopping Centre 12 Dec.
4) Activity in the New Year
***************************
1) DECEMBER 21 MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
With another two soldiers killed, bringing the total in 2009
to 102, the delivering of our Bring the Troops Home petition
to Downing Street on Monday 21 December, 5pm, could not be
more timely.
Military families are coming from around the country, with
their supporters, to take the petition to Gordon Brown's door.
They will be joined by former soldiers.
The families have asked for as much support as possible.
Hackney Stop the War banner will be present.
Stop the War thanks everyone for their efforts in collecting signatures for the
petition. It doesn't yet have a total figure because petition
sheets are still coming into the office, but tens of thousands
of signatures have been collected.
MILITARY FAMILIES DELIVER PETITION TO GORDON BROWN
BRING THE TROOPS HOME
MONDAY 21 DECEMBER, 5PM
DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL, SW1A 2AA
PLEASE SUPPORT IF YOU CAN
For more information see: http://bit.ly/4Z3eCR
***************************
2) GAZA PROTEST AT THE ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
Sunday 28 December will be exactly one year since the start of
Israel's attack on Gaza and there will be worldwide protest
marking the anniversary.
The UK protest will be at the Israeli Embassy in London from
3-5pm. It has been called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign,
Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament and many other organisations and
campaigns (For full list here:and details of Remember Gaza
events around the UK, go to http://bit.ly/5bxUAn )
With a British Court having issued a summons for the arrest of
Tzipi Livni (see http://bit.ly/8b11ul) - one of the three
Israeli ministers who led the Gaza onslaught - the issue of
war crimes, the need for Israel to be brought to account for
war crimes now documented by the UN's Goldstone report, is as
urgent as ever.
The protest at the Israeli embassy will also be calling for an
end to the Gaza siege, through which Israel is strangling all
aspects of civil life for one million Palestinians.
Please publicise the protest as widely as possible.
REMEMBER GAZA: END THE SIEGE
SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2009 3-5PM
HIGH STREET KENSINGTON LONDON W8
(High St Kensington tube station)
***************************
1) DECEMBER 21 MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
With another two soldiers killed, bringing the total in 2009
to 102, the delivering of our Bring the Troops Home petition
to Downing Street on Monday 21 December, 5pm, could not be
more timely.
Military families are coming from around the country, with
their supporters, to take the petition to Gordon Brown's door.
They will be joined by former soldiers.
The families have asked for as much support as possible.
Hackney Stop the War banner will be present.
Stop the War thanks everyone for their efforts in collecting signatures for the
petition. It doesn't yet have a total figure because petition
sheets are still coming into the office, but tens of thousands
of signatures have been collected.
MILITARY FAMILIES DELIVER PETITION TO GORDON BROWN
BRING THE TROOPS HOME
MONDAY 21 DECEMBER, 5PM
DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL, SW1A 2AA
PLEASE SUPPORT IF YOU CAN
For more information see: http://bit.ly/4Z3eCR
***************************
2) GAZA PROTEST AT THE ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
Sunday 28 December will be exactly one year since the start of
Israel's attack on Gaza and there will be worldwide protest
marking the anniversary.
The UK protest will be at the Israeli Embassy in London from
3-5pm. It has been called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign,
Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament and many other organisations and
campaigns (For full list here:and details of Remember Gaza
events around the UK, go to http://bit.ly/5bxUAn )
With a British Court having issued a summons for the arrest of
Tzipi Livni (see http://bit.ly/8b11ul) - one of the three
Israeli ministers who led the Gaza onslaught - the issue of
war crimes, the need for Israel to be brought to account for
war crimes now documented by the UN's Goldstone report, is as
urgent as ever.
The protest at the Israeli embassy will also be calling for an
end to the Gaza siege, through which Israel is strangling all
aspects of civil life for one million Palestinians.
Please publicise the protest as widely as possible.
REMEMBER GAZA: END THE SIEGE
SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2009 3-5PM
HIGH STREET KENSINGTON LONDON W8
(High St Kensington tube station)
***************************
3) Thanks to everyone who came to the 40 strong protest outside the Army Show Room at the Kingsland Shopping Centre on Sat 12 Dec.
We collected signatures to bring the troops home and got people to sign a xmas card for Joe Glenton, the soldier who courageously refuses to fight in Afghanistan and who faces the prospect of up to 10 years in prison.
We also remembered the 100 British soldiers killed this year, together with the many Afghan civilians who have lost their lives in this pointless war, and demanded the Army Show Room be shut down.
We got a very good response.
****************************
Finally....
4) Tony Blair is likely to appear at the Iraq Inquiry in January
and Stop the War's officers are discussing plans for how best
to give him a warm reception.
On 28 January, Gordon Brown's international conference on
Afghanistan, which will be attended by Hamid Karzai, president
of Afghanistan in name but not legitimacy. Stop the War will
of course be organising protests and other events, details of
which will be published soon.
It may not have been called, but the general election campaign
has effectively started, with suggestions the date may be as
early as March. Stop the War intends to ensure that the wars
in Afghanistan and Iraq are central issues in the election.
******************************
Hackney Stop The War sends best wishes to all our members and supporters for the New Year.
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Final push for Bring the Troops Home petition
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1131 15 December 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk ;
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
1) FINAL PUSH FOR BRING THE TROOPS HOME PETITION
2) TONY BLAIR CONFESSES HE'S A WAR CRIMINAL
3) REMEMBER GAZA: ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
4) VIVA PALESTINA AID CONVOY TO GAZA
5) BEATS BEAT BULLETS GAZA SPECIAL
6) SONG FOR GAZA
7) POSTSCRIPT: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
*********************************
1) FINAL PUSH FOR BRING THE TROOPS HOME PETITION
If you haven't signed Stop the War's Bring the Troops Home
petition, we urge you to do so online now:
http://bit.ly/8jLhRk. You will then be included when military
families and former soldiers deliver the petition to Gordon
Brown in Downing Street on Monday 21 at 5pm.
Military families are coming with their supporters from around
the country and they have asked for the widest support when
they go to Downing Street. If you are able to join them, it
will be very much appreciated.
Please note that if you have been collecting signatures for
petition sheets, these need to arrive at the Stop the War
office by 17 December to be included in Monday's submission to
Gordon Brown.
Many thanks to everyone who has helped us accumulate tens of
thousands of signatures.
MILITARY FAMILIES DELIVER PETITION TO GORDON BROWN
BRING THE TROOPS HOME
MONDAY 21 DECEMBER, 5PM
DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL, SW1A 2AA
PLEASE SUPPORT IF YOU CAN
For more information see: http://bit.ly/4Z3eCR
*********************************
2) TONY BLAIR CONFESSES HE'S A WAR CRIMINAL
Tony Blair's admission in a BBC interview that he would have
made up some other lie other than weapons of mass destruction
to topple Saddam Hussein has raised the stakes considerably
for his appearance at the Iraq Inquiry, probably in January.
As John Rentoul, Blair's biographer and the Independent's
chief political commentator, put it, "Tony Blair's interview
was the front-page lead in The Guardian and prominently
reported in all available outlets, all along the lines
summarised by the Stop the War Coalition press release this
morning: Tony Blair confesses to war crimes."
Stop the War will ensure that Blair gets a very warm reception
at the Iraq Inquiry. We will undoubtedly be joined by many of
the families who lost loved ones because of Blair's war
crimes.
Reg Keys, who stood against Blair in the 2005 general
election, has already said he will be on the Inquiry's
doorstep the day Blair is there. After hearing Blair's latest
justification for his war crimes, Reg gave a withering and
unmissable interview to the BBC about losing his son, who was
killed in Iraq, due to Blair's lies. You can watch the video
here: http://bit.ly/6Gw9h2
*********************************
3) REMEMBER GAZA: ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER
On Sunday 27 December, it will be exactly one year since the
start of Israel's attack on Gaza, in which 1,400 Palestinians
were killed, 5,000 injured and 50,000 homes destroyed.
To mark that anniversary and to protest at the continuing
Israeli siege of Gaza, which denies the one million population
of Gaza the basic necessities, there will be a vigil outside
the Israeli Embassy, 3-5pm, High Street Kensington, London W8.
The vigil has been called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign,
Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative and Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament.
REMEMBER GAZA: END THE SIEGE
SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2009 3-5PM
HIGH STREET KENSINGTON LONDON W8
(High St Kensington tube station)
*********************************
4) VIVA PALESTINA AID CONVOY TO GAZA
As well as the vigil at the Israeli embassy in London, Sunday
27 December is the day that the Viva Palestine aid convoys
from Britain, the United States and Turkey will enter Gaza,
bringing essential resources to its people that are deniedthem
by the Israeli siege.
The Viva Palestina convoy is getting a tremendous response in
every country it crosses on the way to Gaza. You can follow
its progress on the Viva Palestina website, which has lots of
videos, pictures and reports, and on Twitter.
* Website: http://bit.ly/pPrky
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/viva_palestina
* George Galloway on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/georgegalloway
*********************************
5) BEATS BEAT BULLETS GAZA SPECIAL
On Tuesday 22 December, Start the Music has a Gaza Special in
its series of highly successful Beats Beat Bullets fundraising
gigs for Stop the War.
Another impressive line-up will be performing in memory of the
atrocities committed by Israel and the worldwide protests that
took to the streets in every corner of the world (see Stop the
War's Song of the Week below).
Top of the bill is rapper-poet Lowkey, who made such an impact
on Stop the War's Stop the Massacre demonstration on 10
January 2009 - the biggest protest for Palestine ever held in
Britain - with his "Long Live Palestine - Long Live Gaza" (see
http://bit.ly/Q7jEd).
Joining Lowkey will be Reveal and Shadia Mansour.
BEATS BEAT BULLETS TUE 22 DECEMBER
A GAZA SPECIAL FEATURING:
LOWKEY, REVEAL AND SHADIA MANSOUR
8-11pm at Vibe Live, Vibe Bar Tickets £5
91 - 95 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL
See Start the Music website for more details:
http://startthemusic.org.uk/
*********************************
6) SONG FOR GAZA
With the Viva Palestina aid convoy on its way to Gaza, and the
anniversary of Israel's attack approaching, we've chosen Song
for Gaza by Michael Heart as song of the week, which has
become a YouTube phenomenon, with millions of hits and many
people creating their own videos to go with the song.
The video we've used is a moving testament to the worldwide
outpouring of rage against Israel's attack, with pictures of
demonstrations from every corner of the globe. You can watch
the video and hear the song here: http://bit.ly/7YhW1D
Many thanks to everyone sending in suggestions for song of the
week, which have all been excellent and very varied. Keep them
coming. Sometime soon we'll try and have a multiple posting on
the website so we can begin to catch up with the backlog of
suggestions.
*********************************
7) POSTSCRIPT: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Rage Against the Machine are one of the biggest bands in the
world and they are uncompromisingly anti-war. In 2007, their
lead guitarist Tom Morello did a memorable benefit gig in
London for Stop the War.
An extraordinary internet rebellion has broken out to try and
get Rage Against the Machine's protest track, "Killing in the
Name", as Christmas No.1, in front of the latest X
Factor/Simon Cowell single.
It seems to be working, with nearly one million joining the
Facebook group which started the campaign (see
http://bit.ly/4pwYdT) and downloads of the song putting it
currently ahead of the X Factor song. Simon Cowell is not
pleased! Sales also generate donations to the housing charity
Shelter, which has already receive £30,000 as a result. The
singles chart will be published on 20 December.
SEE THIS VIDEO FOR MORE INFO: http://bit.ly/4vnt7q
Monday 14 December 2009
Military families petition Gordon Brown to bring the troops home
Stop the War Coalition Friday
14 December 2009
Web: www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
CONTACT: Andrew Burgin 07939 242 229
Lindsey German 07810 540 584
PRESS RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
Military families petition Gordon Brown to bring the troops home.
On Monday 21 December at 5pm military families, who have either lost loved ones
or have relatives serving in Afghanistan, will deliver a petition to Gordon
Brown in Downing Street, calling for all British troops to be withdrawn. They
will be joined by former soldiers.
The military families and former soldiers will hold a press conference an hour
prior to delivering the petition, at 4pm in the Silver Cross, Whitehall, SW1
2BX.
Graham Knight, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, said, "We will hold a vigil
at Downing Street for those who have been killed. We have suffered terrible
personal loss in this war and we don't want any more families to go through the
same pain."
Joan Humphries, whose grandson was killed in August 2009, said, "Everyone knows
now this is a pointless war, deeply unpopular in Britain and Afghanistan. Young
lives are being sacrificed so that politicians can save face."
Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War Coalition said, "Tens of thousands of
people from across Britain have signed this petition, and 71% of the population
oppose the war. 100 British soldiers have been killed this year in a senseless
and unwinnable war. Gordon Brown should listen to the families of those who
have lost loved ones in the war and bring the troops home."
For further information, contact:
Andrew Burgin 07939 242 229
Lindsey German 07810 540 584
Monday 7 December 2009
Why have 100 soldiers died in Afghanistan this year?
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1130 07 December 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel:020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
**********************************
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
1) WHY HAVE 100 SOLDIERS DIED IN AFGHANISTAN THIS YEAR?
2) MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET
3) MEETING: FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN
4) PICKET AT JOE GLENTON'S COURT HEARING
5) FREE JOE GLENTON T-SHIRT
6) LIVE IN LONDON? COME TO OUR XMAS PARTY
7) SONG OF THE WEEK
**********************************
1) WHY HAVE 100 SOLDIERS DIED IN AFGHANISTAN THIS YEAR
The hundredth British soldier to die in Afghanistan this year
was killed because Gordon Brown refuses to learn the lesson of
history: that the people of Afghanistan never accept
occupation by foreign powers.
He died fighting to support one of the most corrupt
governments in the world, which is dominated by war lords and
drug barons and which has no legitimacy following a
breathtakingly fraudulent election.
Gordon Brown says he died to safeguard Britain against
terrorist attack. But no Afghan has ever attacked Britain or
any other country.
He died, says Brown, to help defeat al-Qaeda. But more British
soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in 2009 than the
total number of al-Qaeda in the country, which the US
government admits is just a few dozen.
By increasing the number of British troops sent to kill and be
killed in Afghanistan to over 10,000, Gordon Brown has
condemned many more soldiers and countless Afghans to die in
this unjustified and unwinnable war.
NAMING THE DEAD VIGILS
To mark the 100th death this year, Stop the War groups across
the country will hold vigils and naming the dead ceremonies,
at which the names of all 100 soldiers killed will be read
out, together with the names of 100 Afghans, to represent the
countless thousands who have died. If you would like to join
an event in your area, please contact the Stop the War office
for details: office@stopwar.org.uk or call
**********************************
2) MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET
The tragically inevitable death of the 100th soldier to die in
2009 gives even more focus to the military families protest at
Downing Street, 5pm, on Monday 21 December.
The families, who have either lost loved ones in Afghanistan
or have relatives currently serving, together with friends ,
supporters and former soldiers, will deliver to Gordon Brown
Stop the War's Bring the Troops Home petition, numbering tens
of thousands of signatures.
The families have asked for the widest possible support for
their protest. If you live in London, please join them if you
can.
MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET
MONDAY 21 DECEMBER AT 5PM
DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL, LONDON
For more details: http://bit.ly/4Z3eCR
BRING THE TROOPS HOME PETITION:
Sign online: http://bit.ly/8jLhRk
Download to print and collect signatures: http://bit.ly/rNaTZ
If you would like to help collect signatures in your area,
please contact the Stop the War office: Email
office@stopwar.org.uk or call
**********************************
3) MEETING: FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN
Paul Flynn MP hosts a Stop the War briefing meeting at the
House of Commons on Wednesday 9 December. The meeting is open
to all and will provide up to date discussion of the
Afghanistan War, following Gordon Brown's troop surge, and an
expert briefing on the Iraq Inquiry.
FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN
WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 7PM
HOUSE OF COMMONS
PORTCULLIS HOUSE, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD
LONDON SW1
Hosted by Paul Flynn MP
Speakers include Sabah Jawad and Sami Ramadani from Iraqi
Democrats Against Occupation and Carol Turner from Stop the
War Coalition.
To download flyer, go to: http://bit.ly/8s0tjh
**********************************
4) PICKET AT JOE GLENTON'S COURT HEARING
Stop the War has called a picket of the court hearing on 16
December, which will decide if Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who
faces court martial for refusing to serve in Afghanistan (SEE
http://bit.ly/2vHCKR), is to be released from prison to spend
Christmas with his family. If you live in London and are able
to attend, your support will be much appreciated.
STOP THE WAR PICKET:
WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER, 9.30AM,
OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
81 CHANCERY LANE, LONDON WC22A 1BQ
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO JOE
* Email: defendjoeglenton@gmail.com
* Write letters, cards etc to:
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton
Military Corrective Training Centre
Berechurch Hall Camp
Colchester CO2 9NU
**********************************
6) FREE JOE GLENTON T-SHIRT
Stop the War has produced a Free Joe Glenton t-shirt. Picture,
more information and to order, go to: http://bit.ly/1u7UJF
**********************************
7) LIVE IN LONDON? COME TO OUR XMAS PARTY
Stop the War's Xmas Party on Friday 11 December is open to all
our supporters. Admission is free. This will also be the
launch event for Stop the War's archive, which is being housed
at the Bishopsgate Institute. There will be a showcase
representing Stop the War's campaigns for peace over eight
years, since its founding in 2001.
STOP THE WAR'S XMAS PARTY AND LAUNCH
EXHIBITION OF STOP THE WAR'S ARCHIVE
FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 7-10 PM
BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE
230 BISHOPSGATE LONDON EC2M 4QH
(Opposite Liverpool Street Station)
**********************************
7) SONG OF THE WEEK
Universal Soldier, written by Buffy Sainte-Marie, performed by
Donovan. To hear, go to: http://bit.ly/6SHteY
Free Joe Glenton Bring the troops home from Afghanistan Close down the Army showroom
Free Joe Glenton
Bring the troops home from Afghanistan
Close down the Army showroom
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton has refused to serve in Afghanistan and led the national Stop the War demonstration in October. He has now been imprisoned for speaking out against the war.
He needs our support for his brave stand.
What better place to protest at his imprisonment than at the Kingsland Shopping Centre where the Army showroom is attempting to disguise the reality of the war.
Come along and help campaign to end the occupation of Afghanistan. Thousands of civilians have been killed and hundreds of British soldiers have lost their lives in a pointless war to defend a corrupt regime. Sending more troops will do nothing but increase the threat of terrorism.
Come and protest. We shall be leafletting, petitioning and asking for support for Joe Glenton.
1.30pm
Saturday 12 December
Kingsland Shopping Centre
Kingsland High Street
(opposite Dalston Kingsland Station)
Sunday 6 December 2009
STOP THE WAR MEETING AT PARLIAMENT WED 9 DEC
STOP THE WAR MEETING AT PARLIAMENT
Paul Flynn MP and Sabah Jawad from Iraqi Democrats Against
Occupation are among the speakers at a Stop the War briefing
meeting on Afghanistan and the Iraq Inquiry at the House of
Commons on Wednesday 9 December.
The meeting is open to all and will provide up to date
discussion of the Afghanistan War, following Gordon Brown's
troop surge, and an expert briefing on the Iraq Inquiry.
STOP THE WAR BRIEFING ON AFGHANISTAN & IRAQ INQUIRY
Hosted by Paul Flynn MP
WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 7PM
HOUSE OF COMMONS
PORTCULLIS HOUSE, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD
LONDON SW1.
Paul Flynn MP and Sabah Jawad from Iraqi Democrats Against
Occupation are among the speakers at a Stop the War briefing
meeting on Afghanistan and the Iraq Inquiry at the House of
Commons on Wednesday 9 December.
The meeting is open to all and will provide up to date
discussion of the Afghanistan War, following Gordon Brown's
troop surge, and an expert briefing on the Iraq Inquiry.
STOP THE WAR BRIEFING ON AFGHANISTAN & IRAQ INQUIRY
Hosted by Paul Flynn MP
WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 7PM
HOUSE OF COMMONS
PORTCULLIS HOUSE, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD
LONDON SW1.
Friday 4 December 2009
Viva Palestina
รงThe next Viva Palestina convoy, supported by Stop the War, is going to be a huge international gathering delivering aid to the people of Gaza on 27 December, the anniversary of Israel's barbaric invasion at the turn of 2009.
The Israeli seige of Gaza prevents essential resources reaching Palestinians trapped in the world's most densely populated area. Convoys from Britain, the United States and Turkey, packed with aid donated by the people of those countries, will converge on Gaza to break that seige.
The UK convoy departs on 6 December. For more details and to donate, go to: www.vivapalestina.org
In addition a local Stop the War supporter is joining the convoy....
Dear all
I'm joining the upcoming Viva Palestina convoy. We will be leaving London on 5 December with lorries, minibuses and ambulances full of medical and other supplies and hoping to enter Gaza on 27 December. All our vehicles and equipment, as well as the aid, will be left in Gaza.
There are only 7 days to go, and we urgently need YOUR MONEY! Please please please, consider giving something to help us break the siege and bring urgently-needed medical aid to the people of Gaza.
Everything you can give really will make a difference, so please give extremely generously! And if you're short of dosh, consider asking someone to donate an early Christmas present on your behalf :)
Peace, love and freedom fighting
------------------------
Joti Brar
Tuesday 1 December 2009
The only serious exit strategy for Afghanistan
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1128 30 November 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
**********************************
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
1) THE ONLY SERIOUS EXIT STRATEGY FOR AFGHANISTAN
2) THE IRAQ INQUIRY CATCH PHRASE: "NOT ME, GUV'"
3) VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY TO GAZA: 5 DECEMBER
4) SUPPORT GROWING FOR MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST
5) THURSDAY 28 JANUARY: DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
6) DON'T FORGET JOE GLENTON
7) XMAS PARTY: FROM BLIAR TO STOP BUSH
8) STOP THE WAR SONG OF THE WEEK
**********************************
1) THE ONLY SERIOUS EXIT STRATEGY FOR AFGHANISTAN
Inevitably the news of yet another British soldier dying in
Afghanistan coincided with Gordon Brown's announcement that he
is sending 500 more British troops to fight in a war which in
the latest poll 71 per cent of the British public opposes.
We are witnessing a very dangerous escalation of the war. With
Barack Obama likely to announce a surge of around 30,000
troops, and other Nato allies adding a further five thousand,
the total number of foreign troops occupying Afghanistan will
equal that deployed by the Soviet Union in the 1979-89 Afghan
war, which ended in its catastrophic defeat.
Gordon Brown's troop surge is a response to failure after
eight years of war. All the various war aims have been shown
to be false. The war has not made Britain safer from
terrorism, but has made it more dangerous. The war is not
being fought for democracy, but to protect one of the most
corrupt governments in the world. The troops are not engaged
in a humanitarian mission, but in a war of occupation opposed
by the majority of Afghans.
Brown and Obama both claim that this dramatic increase in the
number of troops is the beginning of an exit strategy. It is
nothing of the sort. It is the signal that the major powers
are planning to continue a war -- which after Vietnam is the
second longest in American history -- for years to come.
Just as in Vietnam the US claimed that sending more troops was
the key to bringing peace, Obama and Brown are proposing more
war as necessary for their "exit strategy".
There is only one serious exit strategy: that is to recognise
that Britain and the other Nato powers have no right to be in
Afghanistan, and -- far from escalating the numbers -- Gordon
Brown should be withdrawing all British troops now.
**********************************
2) THE IRAQ INQUIRY CATCH PHRASE: "NOT ME, GUV'"
The evidence given to the Iraq Inquiry in its first week saw a
series of establishment figures trying to absolve themselves
of any blame for their part in the build up to war, implying
all responsibility lay with Tony Blair.
It appears that Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General who
notoriously changed his advice about the legality of the war
just days before the invasion, is getting his "not me, guv'"
in early -- even before he appears at the inquiry. The details
of a letter he wrote to Blair eight months before the
invasion, in which he stated categorically that the war was
illegal, were revealed over the weekend. You can read the
details here: http://bit.ly/6Tk6w7
Apparently Gordon Brown is worried that in the run up to the
general election all these revelations about Iraq will remind
people of why they opposed the war in the first place.
Stop the War is taking every opportunity to ensure that the
issues remain in the public eye -- not least the key question
of holding the war criminals to account.
Stop the War held a protest on the first day of the Chilcot
inquiry, which received worldwide media coverage. (See
http://bit.ly/5IYYCK). We will announce soon a major public
meeting on the issue.
And we await with much anticipation the appearance of Tony
Blair before the Iraq Inquiry -- likely to be in January or
February -- when we will organise a large scale protest to
ensure he is warmly welcomed.
**********************************
3) VIVA PALESTINA THIS WEEKEND
On 27 December, the anniversary of Israel's barbaric invasion
at the turn of 2009, convoys from Britain, the United States
and Turkey, packed with aid donated by the people of those
countries, will converge on Gaza to break the inhuman siege
which prevents essential resources reaching Palestinians in
the world's most densely populated area.
The British convoy leaves London this weekend. Details of the
departure place and time will be available shortly on the Viva
Palestina website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
**********************************
4) SUPPORT GROWING FOR MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST
Support is continuing to build for the Military Families
Against the War protest at Downing Street at 5pm on Monday 21
December.
As well as many families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and
Afghanistan, or have relatives serving in the Afghan war,
there will be a number of former soldiers joining the protest,
when the Bring the Troops Home petition will be handed in to
Downing Street.
The military families also plan to demand to see Gordon Brown.
All the local Stop the War groups across the country have been
asked to sponsor military families in their area to come down
to the Downing Street protest and to send delegations in
support.
The families are asking for the widest support possible.
Please help publicise the event as widely as you can.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: http://bit.ly/4Z3eCR
**********************************
5) THURSDAY 28 JANUARY: DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Gordon Brown has announced that he is organising an
international conference on Afghanistan in London on Thursday
28 January 2010.
As well as organising a protest at Brown's conference, Stop
the War will in response hold its own alternative meetings and
conference. Please note the date now. We will publicise
further details soon.
**********************************
6) DON'T FORGET JOE GLENTON
Send messages of support to Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, in
prison for speaking out against the Afghan war and facing
court martial for refusing to return to Afghanistan.
* Email messages of support to: defendjoeglenton@gmail.com
* Write letters, cards to:
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton
Military Corrective Training Centre
Berechurch Hall Camp
Colchester CO2 9NU
**********************************
7) XMAS PARTY: FROM BLIAR TO STOP BUSH
If you live in London, Stop the War's Xmas party on Friday 11
December is not to be missed. As well as food, drinks and
music, the party takes place surrounded by a showcase of Stop
the War's history, drawn from our archive which is now housed
at the Bishopsgate Institute.
The displays will include many of the posters and placards
going back to our earliest demonstrations, including the now
iconic designs by artist David Gentleman, leaflets, pamphlets,
press cutting, photographs etc.
Admission is free.
STOP THE WAR'S XMAS PARTY
FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 7-10 PM
BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE
230 BISHOPSGATE LONDON EC2M 4QH
(Opposite Liverpool Street Station)
**********************************
8) STOP THE WAR SONG OF THE WEEK
Our song of the week is I Come And Stand At Every Door by This
Mortal Coil. The song puts to music the English translation of
a poem by Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet, which is a plea for peace
from a seven-year-old girl who has perished in the atomic bomb
attack at Hiroshima.
HEAR SONG OF THE WEEK: http://bit.ly/6gufI1
Israel the Palestinians and apartheid - central London meeting Friday 4 December
Israel, the Palestinians and apartheid
There will be a major event on the issue of boycott, disinvestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel in SOAS, University of London, Malet St, on Friday 4 December at 7pm.
The lecturers' union UCU is hosting an international conference on BDS and the London event is a "spin off" with many of the key note speakers from the UCU conference.
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