Why Saturday 24 October matters

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1117 15 October 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 SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER MATTERS  
2) PETER BRIERLEY: WHY I'LL BE THERE ON 24 OCTOBER  
3) CALLING ALL LONDONERS  
4) MEDIA COVERAGE FOR 24 OCTOBER  
5) TREMENDOUS RESPONSE TO OUR FINANCIAL APPEAL

************************************* 
1) WHY SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER MATTERS

Next Saturday October 24th is one of the most important anti  
war demonstrations Stop the War has  ever organised.

It comes at the moment when the war in Afghanistan has lost  
all credibility but the governments on both sides of the  
Atlantic are sending more troops.

It comes at a time of widespread revulsion against the war  
across the country. Amongst others, many soldiers, ex soldiers 
and military families are contacting us to express their  
outrage at the terrible waste of life it is causing.

It comes at a time when the reasons given for the war have  
been exposed as lies. As violence spirals in Afghanistan who  
can now believe the war is making the world a safer place?  
After the sham elections who can believe it is bringing  
democracy to Afghanistan?

Members of military families, including those of serving  
soldiers, are travelling from as far afield as Dundee and  
Exeter. They will be at the head of the demonstration, 
alongside Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who is  
facing a court martial for refusing to go back to Afghanistan 
(see http://bit.ly/1b5cb5), and Peter Brierley, the father who 
lost his son in Iraq and refused to shake Tony Blair's hand in 
St Paul's Cathedral a week ago (see below: Why I'll be there  
on 24 October).

Over the following week, we are asking all local Stop the War 
groups to use all opportunities to publicise the demonstration 
in every way they can. The tremendous response of the London  
groups is a very encouraging sign (see below: Calling All  
Londoners), as are the new student Stop the War groups 
springing up in colleges where we have never had one before.

Transport to bring protestors from outside London has been  
organised across the country from Glasgow in the North to  
Portsmouth in the South. (See http://bit.ly/FGook).

Both Obama and Gordon Brown are clearly worried by the growing 
opposition to the war. The latest poll shows 68 percent of the 
British public want the troops brought home. Our  
demonstration, called in conjunction with the Campaign for  
Nuclear Disarmament and the British Muslim Initiative, could  
not have been more timely.

Please use every means you can to publicise the demonstration: 
texts, emails, tweets (for the Twitter users), letters to the 
local press are things we can all do. If you would like to  
help in your local Stop the War group's activities see 
http://bit.ly/3cPI3i.

DEMONSTRATE: BRING THE TROOPS HOME  
SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER ASSEMBLE 12 NOON  
HYDE PARK: MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE  
For updates including the march route: http://stopwar.org.uk

************************************* 
2) PETER BRIERLEY: WHY I'LL BE THERE ON 24 OCTOBER

Peter Brierley, whose son died in Iraq, became the subject of 
a worldwide news story when he refused to shake Tony Blair's  
hand at a commemoration service for British soldiers killed in 
Iraq, with the words: "Don't you dare. You have my son's blood 
on your hands." Peter, who is a member of Stop the War,  
explains here why he will be on next week's demonstration.

"I believe marching makes a difference. By being on the  
streets we get closer to the point of bringing the troops  
home. Everyone should bring one or two other people - people  
who have never been on a demonstration before, who aren't  
activists. I used to be the person who sat in the chair. I'd  
watch the protests and think, I want to be part of that. It  
took my son's death to push me into doing something.  
Demonstrate to show the government that we are strong."

SEE: "My son's blood is on your hands": http://bit.ly/C7atg

************************************* 
3) CALLING ALL LONDONERS

Over the next week, London Stop the War groups are pulling out 
all the stops mobilising support for the demonstration. The  
list of dozens of activities in all corners of the capital  
city has been posted on the Stop the War website. If you live 
in London and have any time to help in your area, please look 
for details of events here: http://bit.ly/1fcykL

************************************* 
4) MEDIA COVERAGE FOR 24 OCTOBER

Stop the War is getting numerous requests for interviews on TV 
and radio but we still find it difficult to get the mainstream 
newspapers to give us coverage prior to a demonstration  
(Seumas Milne's excellent article in today's Guardian is an  
exception: http://bit.ly/1ziQez).

One possibly more accessible media is the local press and we  
are encouraging our supporters to write to their local 
newspaper, linking a local issue with the demonstration (the  
cost of the war when local services are facing draconian cuts, 
is an obvious topic).

************************************* 
5) TREMENDOUS RESPONSE TO OUR FINANCIAL APPEAL

Many thanks to everyone who has responded to our urgent appeal 
for funds. These contributions are essential for us to cover  
the costs of next week's demonstration and for continuing our 
campaign in the coming months, as we aim to ensure that the  
war in Afghanistan features prominently in the run up to the  
general election, which is only a few months away.

We still need urgently to raise more funding, so if you have  
not donated yet, any contribution you can make will be very  
much appreciated.

HOW TO DONATE: 
* Online: http://bit.ly/APlKX ;  
* By credit / debit card: Phone 020 7801 2768 
* By cheque: Made out to 'Stop the War Coalition' and sent to

   Stop the War Coalition  
   231 Vauxhall Bridge Road  
   London SW1V 1EH