STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1137 26 January 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
1) ATTEMPT TO BAN PROTEST OUTSIDE BLAIR INQUIRY
2) AFGHAN MEETING HAS ADDED URGENCY
3) PROTEST AT GORDON BROWN'S AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE
**********************************
1) ATTEMPT TO BAN PROTEST OUTSIDE BLAIR INQUIRY
Negotiations between the police and Stop the War broke down
today when it became clear that the government is trying to
hide our legitimate peaceful protest from Tony Blair when he
gives evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry on Friday.
After days in which we were told by the police that they would
try to facilitate our protest, Stop the War has been told we
will not be allowed to protest on the grass outside the QEII
Conference Centre.
This is a denial of our democratic rights and Stop the War
will now call for the widest possible mobilisation, not just
to express the majority view in this country that Tony Blair
should be held to account for war crimes, but in defence of
the right to protest.
Why should the public be denied the right to peaceful protest,
particularly when the latest evidence given to the Chilcot
Committee shows beyond doubt that Tony Blair knew he was
taking Britain into an illegal war, and that he doctored legal
advice to deceive his Cabinet, Parliament and the British
public.
Stop the War is calling on all its supporters, local groups
and affiliated organisations to mobilise the widest possible
support for the Blair protest on Friday.
We urge everyone who can to join the demonstration at the QEII
Conference Centre from 8am. Full details for the planned
events are here: http://bit.ly/8mKM0T
Spread the word as widely as you can among your family,
friends, work colleagues, fellow students etc, etc
TONY BLAIR'S "JUDGEMENT DAY"
DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST
Friday 29 January from 8.00am onwards
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE
Nearest tube: Westminster
**********************************
2) AFGHAN MEETING HAS ADDED URGENCY
The public meeting From Iraq to Afghanistan on Wednesday 27
January has added urgency, given government attempts to
curtail our right to protest.
Included in the discussion on Afghanistan will be the issue of
how we can build the widest mobilisation possible to defend
our democratic right to protest peacefully.
Speakers include Tony Benn, George Galloway MP, Seumas Milne
from The Guardian, German MP Christine Buchholz, Kate Hudson
from CND and Lindsey German from Stop the War Coalition.
STOP THE WAR/CND PUBLIC MEETING
FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN
WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 7.00PM
CAMDEN CENTRE, BIDBOROUGH STREET
LONDON WC1H 9DB
The limited edition JAIL TONY t-shirt, specially designed by
Katharine Hamnett for Stop the War, will be on sale at this
meeting. For a picture, see: http://bit.ly/72lcYY
The new Stop the War pamphlet, Iraq: The People's Dossier,
will also be on sale.
**********************************
3) PROTEST AT GORDON BROWN'S AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE
Thursday 28 January, 8.30am,
Lancaster House, Stable Yard,
St James's, London SW1A 1BB
Protest when Gordon Brown hosts his international conference,
attended by Hilary Clinton, President Karzai, Ban Ki-moon from
the UN, and representatives of all the US-led countries that
are waging war in Afghanistan.
**********************************
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Attempt to ban protest outside Blair inquiry
Monday 25 January 2010
Sunday 24 January 2010
The people's voice on Blair's judgement day
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1135 24 January 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
1) THE PEOPLE'S VOICE ON BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY
2) NEW PAMPHLET - IRAQ: A PEOPLE'S DOSSIER
3) PUBLIC MEETING: FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN
4) GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE
5) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING
6) FUNDING A WEEK OF ANTI-WAR PROTEST
*******************************
1) THE PEOPLE'S VOICE ON BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY
Writers, musicians, relatives of the dead, Iraqi refugees,
poets, human rights
lawyers, comedians, well known actors, MPs and ordinary
citizens are joining a day of protest, performance and
politics outside the Iraq Inquiry on Friday 29 January, as
Tony Blair faces his judgement day.
People who oppose Britain's foreign wars are coming from all
corners of the country. The verdict on Blair will affect
present and future wars. It needs to be made clear to the
world that people here regard him as a man guilty of taking
Britain into an illegal war.
The approximate timetable for Tony Blair's Judgement Day at
the QE2 Conference Centre, is as follows:
8.00: PROTEST STARTS AS BLAIR ARRIVES
A delegation including Iraqi citizens and grieving military
families take the People's Dossier of questions for Tony Blair
to Sir John Chilcot.
9.00-10.00: NAMING OF THE DEAD CEREMONY
When Blair's testimony begins, names of Iraqis killed in the
war will be read by novelist A.L Kennedy, Musician Brian Eno,
actor and director Sam West, actor and director Simon
McBurney, playwright David Edgar, Lancet editor Richard
Horton, former UK ambassador Craig Murray, Iraqi author Haifa
Zangana, comedian and author Alexei Sayle, actor Miriam
Margoyles, and more.
10.00-11.00: SPEECHES, READINGS AND PERFORMANCES
Including by many of those participating in the Naming the
Dead ceremony.
12.00-13.00: PERFORMANCE FROM LOWKEY, KING BLUES AND
OTHER MUSICIANS.
13.00-14.00: MILITARY FAMILIES NAMING OF THE DEAD
Members of military families who lost loved ones in the Iraq
war will read the names of all 179 British soldiers who died.
16.00: PROTEST AS TONY BLAIR LEAVES THE INQUIRY
Tony Blair's Judgement Day
Friday 29 January from 8.00am
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE
Nearest tube: Westminster
*******************************
2) NEW PAMPHLET - IRAQ: A PEOPLE'S DOSSIER
A new Stop the War pamphlet, IRAQ: A PEOPLE'S DOSSIER, will be
available on Blair's Judgement Day. It is a compilation
representing the voices that have been excluded from the Iraq
Inquiry - that is, the majority of people in Britain who
consistently opposed Tony Blair's war.
*******************************
3) PUBLIC MEETING: FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN
WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 7PM
CAMDEN CENTRE, BIDBOROUGH STREET
LONDON WC1H 9DB
At this Stop the War/CND public meeting leading figures will
focus on another war initiated war by Tony Blair, and expose
the lies behind the "good war" in Afghanistan.
Speakers include Tony Benn, Seumas Milne (The Guardian),
George Galloway MP, a speaker from the German movement, Kate
Hudson (CND) and Lindsey German (Stop the War) .
*******************************
4) GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE
The day before Blair appears at the Chilcot inquiry, on
Thursday 28 January, Gordon Brown has called a war conference
on Afghanistan, which will be attended by Hilary Clinton,
President Karzai and representatives from all the Nato
countries supporting the US-led occupation. Stop the War and
CND are organising a protest demanding an end to a war which
is every bit as immoral and devastating as the war in Iraq.
Protest on Thursday 28 January, 8.30am, Lancaster House,
Stable Yard, St James's, London SW1A 1BB
*******************************
5) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING
It is ironic that Tony Blair is facing an inquiry into his
decision to send soldiers to an illegal war which has
slaughtered hundreds of thousands on the same day that a
soldier who refuses to fight what he regards as another
unjustifiable war started by Blair is facing court martial.
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, faces the first hearing of his
court martial on Friday 29 January at Bulford in Wiltshire.
Stop the War has called a picket to support Joe. Supporters
travelling from London will meet with anti-war activists in
Wiltshire.
It is essential that the only soldier to stand up and say
publicly what many soldiers privately admit - that the war in
Afghanistan is both unwinnable and unjustifiable - gets the
widest possible support from the anti-war movement. Messages
of support can be sent to Joe at defendjoeglenton@gmail.com.
For more information and updates on his case, see:
http://bit.ly/2vHCKR
*******************************
6) FUNDING A WEEK OF ANTI-WAR PROTEST
Stop the War has had a hectic beginning to 2010, with three
major events and the publication of a new pamphlet this week.
We are now gearing up for the general election campaign, to
ensure that the war in Afghanistan is not sidelined by the
major political parties, all of which supported the recent
troop surge that will inevitably lead to further escalation
following eight years which have brought nothing but ever
increasing levels of death and destruction.
We have had a tremendous response to our emergency appeal for
funds this month, but we still urgently need financial support
to help sustain our activities and events for peace. We rely
entirely on the contributions of our members and supporters
for funding. If you have not donated to the current appeal,
please consider doing so now:
How to donate:
* Donate online: http://bit.ly/8g4iQ4
* By credit/debit card: Call 020 7801 2768
* By post: Send cheque made out to "Stop the War
Coalition":
231 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London UK
SW1V 1EH
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Protest days in January
| 23 January, 1.30pm: Protest outside Army Show Room at Kingsland Shopping Centre, opposite Dalston Kingsland Station. Come and give out leaflets to publicise the blocade of Brown's Afghanistan Conference on 28 January and Blair's judgement day on 29 January. Helping us will be a masked Tony Bliar (no, not the real one) to answer any questions you have. 27 January: Central London Public Meeting Why we should get out of Afghanistan |
| Speakers: Tony Benn, Seumas Milne, George Galloway MP, a speaker from the German movement, Kate Hudson (CND), Lindsey German (Stop the War) 7pm, Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC1H9DB |
| 28 January: Blockade Gordon Brown's Afghanistan conference |
Gordon Brown's international conference on Afghanistan is part of a concerted effort to revive the brand Afghanistan as "the good war". In reality the warmongers are gathering for a war council masquerading as a peace conference, which is why Stop the War has called for a blockade. Blockade Gordon Brown's War Conference | |
| 29 January: Tony Blair's Judgement Day |
 Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Westminster, London SW1P 3EEOn Friday 29 January, Tony Blair try to explain to the Iraq Inquiry the lies he used to take Britain into an illegal war. Stop the War will hold an all-day protest outside the inquiry, which will include a naming the dead ceremony, street theatre, poetry readings, music and other performances.Many military families will be there for the appearance of the man responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.It is time for the voice of the majority to be heard. Over 60% of the British public opposed the invasion in 2003. Today 52% say Blair deliberately misled parliament and the country. One in four say he should face trial for war crimes. On 29 January we will demand no whitewash by the Iraq Inquiry. Join us from 8.00am onwards |
Sunday 17 January 2010
The people's dossier versus the dodgy dossier
STOP THE WAR COALITION
17 January 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel:020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER VERSUS THE DODGY DOSSIER
Have you submitted your question to Tony Blair for the
People's Dossier, which Stop the War will be presenting to the
Iraq Inquiry? Hundreds of questions have been sent in,
including contributions from Hans von Sponeck, the former UN
coordinater in Iraq, musician Brian Eno and a number of
military families.
Sami Ramadani, from Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation, has
sent in this question:
Mr Blair, you have often said that you "strongly believed" you
were doing "the right thing" when you sent British troops to
invade and occupy Iraq. Considering that Hitler and other war
criminals strongly believed that what they were doing was
right, do you think that strongly believing in something makes
it right, or pardonable if it proved to be terribly wrong?
Last week Alistair Campbell told the Iraq Inquiry he defends
"every single word" of the dossier presented to parliament in
September 2002. Blair wrote in the forward that it showed
"beyond doubt" that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, when
both he and Campbell knew full well that the intelligence had
not produced any evidence that they existed.
The second "dodgy" dossier" published in February 2003 was an
even more blatant fabrication intended to justify war crimes.
If you haven't sent in your question yet, please do so now.
Blair will be appearing at the Iraq Inquiry within the next
three weeks and we want the People's Dossier to be
representative of everyone who protested in such vast numbers
against his warmongering under the slogan "not in our name".
HOW TO SEND YOUR QUESTION
Send it by email to Stop the War. Write "Blair question" in
the subject title of the email and send to
office@stopwar.org.uk
SEE UPDATES TO THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER
We have posted a selection of questions received so far here:
http://bit.ly/5lfaSN
We will be posting the full list of questions received soon,
which will be update daily.
PROTEST THE DAY BLAIR GIVES EVIDENCE
Stop the war will call a protest outside the Iraq Inquiry when
Blair appears to insist there is no whitewash of his war
crimes. There will be events all day, including a naming the
dead ceremony, poetry readings, music and other performances.
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on public trial
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1134 13 January 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel:
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN ON PUBLIC TRIAL
2) BLOCKADE GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE
3) TONY BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY
4) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING
5) BRITISH GAZA PROTESTORS IMPRISONED
6) GAZA ONE YEAR ON: PUBLIC MEETING
7) KEEP THE MONEY COMING IN
*********************************
1) WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN ON PUBLIC TRIAL
The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are on public trial in the
next few weeks. In January we will have the opportunity to
give high profile expression to the opinion of the
overwhelming majority of people in this country, that these
wars are wrong and that they have to end. Stop the War is
calling demonstrations at both Gordon Brown's International
Conference on Afghanistan and for the day Tony Blair gives
evidence to the Iraq Inquiry. See below for details.
*********************************
2) BLOCKADE GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE
THURSDAY 28 JANUARY
LANCASTER HOUSE, STABLE YARD, ST JAMES'
LONDON SW1A 1BB
Gordon Brown has called a conference to discuss the
Afghanistan War. It will be attended by leading players,
including Hilary Clinton, stooge Afghan President Kharzai,
President Sarkozy from France and Chancellor Angela Merkel
from Germany.
The conference aims to parade support for Obama's second troop
surge and to boost Gordon Brown in his general election
campaign, for which the lives of Afghans and British soldiers
are being cynically used .
Stop the War and CND are calling for the biggest possible
protest to attempt to blockade the conference. We will be
protesting as near as possible to the conference before it
starts, probably in the morning. The government has not
announced timings yes, so book the day off now and look out
for update mailings or check our website:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk
********************************
3) TONY BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY
QUEEN ELISABETH CONFERENCE CENTRE
WESTMINSTER LONDON SW1P 3EE
Stop the War is calling a protest at the Chilcot Iraq inquiry
from 8am on the day Tony Blair gives evidence. He is due to
appear within the two weeks following 25 January and he will
be questioned all day.
Stop the War is planning a "judgement day" for Blair, which
will include protest, politics and performance. We aim to
involve all the groups and individuals that came together to
oppose Blair's criminal war, and which culminated in the
demonstration by two million people on 15 February 2003.
Many military families who lost loved ones because of Blair's
lies will be attending the Inquiry and joining our protest
outside.
There will be a naming of the dead ceremony when Blair first
appears at the morning session, followed by readings,
speeches, music and performance throughout the time he is
giving evidence.
Appearances have already been confirmed by by playwrights
Caryl Churchill and David Edgar, the band King Blues, rapper
and poet Lowkey, novelist A.L. Kennedy, actor Tim
Piggot-Smith, Bruce Kent from CND, Lancet editor Richard
Horton and many more.
We welcome more suggestions for activities to dramatise the
need for Blair to be brought to justice for his war crimes.
Student and local Stop the War groups are already calling
activist meetings to build support for Blair's Judgement Day
and to discuss proposals for activities. Please contact the
Stop the War office if you would like to be put in touch with
your local or college Stop the War group.
Please spread the word about these protests. Publicity will be
available soon. In the meantime please use every means you can
to publicise these events by forwarding this e-mail, texting
or tweeting your contacts etc.
*********************************
4) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the only serving British soldier
refusing to fight in Afghanistan, was released from the
Military Correction Training Centre in mid December and is now
awaiting the legal hearings prior to his court martial. The
initial legal arguments will be heard on Friday 29 January.
The army has decided that the hearing will be held at Bulford
Camp , about 10 miles from Andover, probably because it thinks
holding it in Wiltshire will diminish media coverage.
Stop the War will be organising transport to go to Bulford to
give support to Joe on the day of his first court martial
hearing. If you would be interested in going, please inform
the Stop the War office: Call
office@stopwar.org.uk.
For background and updates on Joe's case see:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1594/27/
*********************************
5) BRITISH GAZA PROTESTORS IMPRISONED
It is outrageous that while the United Nations Goldstone
Report -- which listed Israel's war crimes in its attack on
Gaza and called for those responsible to be held to account --
has been ignored, those who demonstrated against these crimes
at the time are being imprisoned for their protests.
Over 60 protestors who joined the major demonstrations in
January 2009, which brought over 100,000 on to London's
streets, have been charged with 'violent disorder' offences.
Prison sentences are now being handed down by the courts.
To help those that have been charged we need film footage,
photographs or video of any of the protests outside the
Israeli Embassy or of the demonstrations on the 3rd, 10th or
17th January 2009.
If you can help, please contact Joanna Gilmore who is helping
with the defence of the protestors who have been charged:
Email joanna.gilmore@manchester.ac.uk
Call
*********************************
6) GAZA ONE YEAR ON: PUBLIC MEETING
END THE SIEGE OF GAZA TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 7PM
CONWAY HALL, RED LION SQUARE LONDON WC1R 4RL
Organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War
Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and British Muslim
Initiative.
FULL DETAILS: http://bit.ly/4Oq31K
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
*********************************
7) KEEP THE MONEY COMING IN
We have had a fantastic response to our emergency financial
appeal, receiving over three thousand pounds in the last 36
hours. However we need much more than this to ensure we can be
as effective as possible in the coming weeks.
If you have not already donated, please consider doing so now:
* Donate online: http://bit.ly/APlKX
* By credit/debit card: Call
* By post: Make cheque out to "Stop the War Coalition" and
send to:
231 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London UK
SW1V 1EH
Download appeal letter as pdf: http://bit.ly/6kGWu1
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