Forthcoming events in London

1. Debate: Should the Troops be in Afghanistan?

Wed 14 April 7pm.

Old Cinema lecture theatre, Westminster University, 309 Regent Street, W1B 2UW

In the weeks leading to the general election Stop the War is organising debates around the country on the war in Afghanistan. The London debate is on Wednesday 14 April. The participants include Mehdi Hasan from the New Statesman, Professor Christopher Coker from the London School of Economics, Martin Cakebread from the National Defence Association, and Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War. Please make every effort to attend. It's important that supporters of the occupation are in no doubt about the scale of the opposition to keeping the troops in Afghanistan. 2. Defending the Welfare State and Public Services March and Rally Saturday 10 April Assemble 12 noon for 1pm Temple Place, Embankment Rally 2pm, Trafalgar Square (with speakers, music and entertainment) Whoever wins the next general election will be looking at the welfare state and public services as a way of cutting public expenditure. This demonstration must therefore send a clear message to all the political parties that the majority of people do not want to see further cuts and privatisation. As Stop the War has pointed out this government has spent £12 billion on the Afghan war since 2001 and spent at least £45 billion on defence last year. That's money that could be spent on welfare, pensions and benefits. The demonstration is supported by the TUC, by all the major trade unions, by the BMA and by NHS: Keep our NHS public 3. London Conference: What Now for Iraq?

Date: Saturday, 10 April 2010
Time: 10:30 - 16:30
Location: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

A one day conference organised by WSIUI (Women Solidarity For Independent & Unified Iraq).

Iraq is moving towards a neo-colonial era of indirect rule. This is based on the Anglo and US - Iraq Status of Forces Agreement and the long-term US "strategic framework", to establish "cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and security fields". A situation similar, in many aspects, to the British neo-colonial rule in the aftermath of signing the 1930 treaty.

The conference will address the recent developments identifiable in the neo-colonial era especially through key areas of human rights, gender, damaged environment, the effects of the use of unconventional weapons, and cultural cleansing. It concludes by addressing the highly important issue of what should be done to establish justice for Iraq.

The Sessions are;

1- Human rights
2- Culture, Gender and occupation
3- Environment; the deadly reality.
4- The future starts now; International law and Justice for Iraq

About the speakers:

The four sessions feature Iraqi commentators including Dr Sana al Khayat (Academic), Dr Sawsan Al Assaf (Academic), Sabah al Mukhtar (President of the Arab Lawyers Association), Professor Zuhair Al Sharook (Academic), Mundher al Adhami (Academic), Salah al Hashimi (Lawyer), and Haifa Zangana (author & activist). Speakers from international organisations and activists including Dr Said Boumedouha (Amnesty International), Lindsey German (Convenor - Stop the War Coalition), Dirk Adriaensens (The B Russell s Tribunal), Mike Phipps (Iraq Occupation Focus), Tahrir Swift (Activist), Julie Flint (Journalist & film maker) and Nicholas Wood (author - Joint Secretary to The Blair War Crimes Foundation).

Women Solidarity For Independent & Unified Iraq (WSIUI)
http://solidarityiraq.blogspot.com

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Hackney Stop The War