Stop Islamophobia Conference: Book Now‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER No. 1154  
21 May 2010  
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 7801 2768      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:  
1) STOP ISLAMOPHOBIA CONFERENCE - BOOK NOW  
2) STOP THE WAR APPEAL - PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY  
3) DEMOCRACY VILLAGE UNDER ATTACK

*******************************  
1) STOP ISLAMOPHOBIA CONFERENCE - BOOK NOW

This conference is a crucial, long overdue event. Attacks on  
the Muslim community are at an all time high. The newspapers  
are full of abuse against Muslims. Physical attacks are  
rising. Muslim demonstrators are being sent to prison. The  
election of a right wing government will only mean more  
anti-Muslim policies while in Europe governments are lining up 
to ban the Burqa and impose restrictions on the Hijab.

The aim is to bring together all the organisations and 
individuals who want to stop the spread of the Islamophobic  
poison. The conference has been backed by Unite the Union, the 
NUJ, CND and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, a number of  
Mosques, Friends of al Aqsa, the Muslim Safety Forum, the  
Islamic Forum of Europe and many other organisations.

Speakers include Moazzam Begg, Daud Abdullah, Salma Yaqoob,  
Peter Oborne, Lindsey German, Imran Khan, Seumas Milne and  
many more.

Please book now and spread the word. Tickets are available  
here: http://bit.ly/al64ru

*******************************  
2) STOP THE WAR APPEAL - PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY
 
Stop the War Coalition needs your support.  We have launched  
an appeal for £10,000 for our two most urgent initiatives -  
the Troops Out of Afghanistan tour and the conference to Stop 
Islamophobia. Both projects are expensive. Both are crucial.  
NATO is poised for its biggest military offensive since  
Obama's surge, the attack on Kandanar. This could lead to  
massive suffering in what uis Afghanistans second city.

£50 buys 2000 leaflets, £500 pays for a workshop at the  
conference. Please give generously.

HOW TO DONATE:
ONLINE:  http://bit.ly/FeWuS
BY PHONE: Call 0207801 2768 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              0207801 2768      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
BY POST: Send a cheque made out to "Stop the War Coalition" to 
Stop the War, 231 Vauxhall Bridge Road London SW1 1EH

*******************************  
3) DEMOCRACY VILLAGE UNDER ATTACK

Activists in Parliament Square, who have been camping out in  
protest against the war in Afghanistan, are being threatened  
with eviction in the run up to the Queens Speech next week.  
They are asking for people to visit them to show support. Send 
messages to:  supportdemoracyvillage@gmail.com

They can also be followed on Twitter at:  
http://twitter.com/Democracyville

Hackney Stop the War Film Show WINTER SOLDIERS II Wed 31 March, 7.30pm

Hackney Stop the War is pleased to present a showing of Winter Soldiers II.

This is a rare opportunity to hear powerful and moving testimony by US soldiers condemning the occupation of Iraq and the part they played in it. We also hear from analysts and Iraqis about the motives for the occupation and the resistance to it.

This film, released in 2008 and not previously shown in Britain, also predicts continuity in US foreign policy - something the Obama regime has confirmed in respect of Afghanistan.

********************************************

Hackney Stop the War

Film Show

WINTER SOLDIERS II

Wed 31 March, 7.30pm

Abney Hall, 73a Stoke Newington Church Street N16

(down alley way, virtually opposite fire station)

Buses: 73, 393, 476; 106, 276. Rail: Stoke Newington

Tickets on the door; £3 (£1.50 concessionals)

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 020 7801 2768.

********************************** 
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 020 7801 2768.

********************************** 
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)

Viva Palestina

ç

The 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

Bring them home by Christmas‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1126 17 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) BRING THEM HOME BY CHRISTMAS  
2) PROTESTS, VIGILS WHEN 100th SOLDIER KILLED IN 2009 
3) BRING THE TROOPS HOME POSTCARD  
4) CALLING ALL STUDENTS IN LONDON  
5) MILITARY FAMILIES GO TO DOWNING STREET  
6) DEFEND L/CPL JOE GLENTON - LET SOLDIERS SPEAK  
7) STOP THE WAR AT CHRISTMAS

*******************************  
1) BRING THEM HOME BY CHRISTMAS

It is a sign of the strength of anti war opinion in Britain  
that Gordon Brown has been forced to say that he is thinking  
about an 'exit strategy' from Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, instead of announcing a date for withdrawal of 
British troops -- in line with majority public opinion in this 
country - his vague remarks smack more of a pre election  
manoeuvre than of a serious change in policy.

Brown's speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet last night reflects 
the political divisions in the US and Britain over the war,  
and the realisation that the antiwar movement is growing as  
calls increase for the troops to come home. Brown's claim that 
the war is helping to defeat al Qaeda is also disingenuous.

The killings of al Qaeda leaders have been carried out by the 
CIA in Pakistan. They are not the result of the war in 
Afghanistan.

We are almost at the tragic figure of 100 British soldiers  
killed in Afghanistan in this year alone. Thousands of Afghans 
have died. The only commitment worth anything from Gordon  
Brown is to get the troops out by Christmas.

*******************************  
2) PROTESTS, VIGILS WHEN 100th SOLDIER KILLED IN 2009

Local groups of the Stop the War Coalition are organising  
protests, vigils and namings of the dead on the day that the  
100th soldier this year dies. The figure currently stands at  
97. Check the website for your local contacts.

*******************************  
3) BRING THE TROOPS HOME POSTCARD

Stop the War has produced Bring the Troops Home postcards for 
sending to your local MP. To order call 020 7801 2768.

*******************************  
4) CALLING ALL STUDENTS IN LONDON

Students across London are organising a DIE-IN protest  
calling for the troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan at  
Parliament  Square on Wednesday 25 November at 1.30pm. For  
more details contact Stewart: stewart@stopwar.org.uk or call  
020 7801 2768.

*******************************  
5) MILITARY FAMILIES GO TO DOWNING STREET

Military families and veterans are going to Downing Street at 
5pm on Monday 21 December to demand to see Gordon Brown and  
hand in the Bring the Troops Home petition. They would like to 
see as many people as possible join them to show support.

Two family members who have lost loved ones in the war have  
asked us to send out this invitation to all Stop the War  
supporters.

MESSAGE FROM GRAEME KNIGHT AND JOAN HUMPHRIES 
Graeme Knight is the father of Sergeant Ben Knight who died in 
Afghanistan in 2004 Joan Humphries is the grandmother of  
Private Kevin Elliott who died on foot patrol in Afghanistan  
2009.

"We have suffered terrible personal loss in this war in  
Afghanistan and we don't want one more family to go through  
the same pain. 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.

"Britain is slavishly supporting the US just to keep up the  
so-called special relationship. Meanwhile the death toll is  
mounting.  It is high time the troops came home.

"We are going to Downing Street with other Families who have  
loved ones or have lost loved ones in Afghanistan and ex  
soldiers on Monday 21 December. We will be demanding to see  
Gordon Brown and give him a petition signed by tens of 
thousands calling for the troops to be brought home . Candles 
will be lit for those who have died.

"Please join us at Downing Street if you can and publicise 21 
December as widely as possible."

*******************************  
6) DEFEND L/CPL JOE GLENTON - LET SOLDIERS SPEAK

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton who is currently in prison for  
speaking out against the war in Afghanistan faces a hearing  
tomorrow morning at 10pm. Join the protest to support him 9.45 
am, The Official Solicitors' Office, 81 Chancery Lane WC2A 1DD

Messages of support for Joe are pouring in. You can see a  
selection here: http://bit.ly/7AhDN

Send your message to: defendjoeglenton@gmail.com

*******************************  
7) STOP THE WAR AT CHRISTMAS

Stop the war is offering some  Christmas gift ideas to help  
fund the campaign to get the troops home. We have Afghan  
slipper socks for only £9 plus postage and packing. Plus a  
special offer of the illustrated history of the Stop the War  
Coalition for just £5 plus postage.

To order and see all Stop the War merchandise, go to: 
http://bit.ly/1u7UJF

Five more soldiers die in an unwinnable war

from Stop The War Coalition:
On 4 November, five soldiers were killed by one or more Afghan policemen. 229 soldiers have now died since the 2001 invasion, 92 of them this year. Gordon Brown insists, "They fought to make Afghanistan more secure, but above all to make Britain safer from the terrorism and extremism which continues to threaten us." The truth is, they are dying in an unwinnable war which has no other purpose than to save the reputation of politicians like Brown, who slavishly follow the dictates of US foreign policy, even when it's obvious that the world's second poorest country is no threat whatever to British interests. The blood of these five soldiers is on the hands of Gordon Brown. How many more British soldiers and Afghan civilians will die before he is forced to accept the inevitable and bring all the troops home?

Video- Troops out of Afghanistan demo

Afghanistan demonstration update, BNP, etc‏

Watch this and know why we demonstrate on 24 October

This two-minute video shows what a futile and unjustified war means for the Afghan people and gives yet another reason why we're demonstrating on 24 October. The US army predictably claimed that the civilians died because the occupying forces came under Taliban attack. Afghan witnesses and grieving relatives say this is a lie.

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1120 22 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) FRIDAY IS LONDON TUBES DAY 
2) SPEAKERS AT DEMONSTRATION RALLY  
3) WAR CRIMINAL STRAW FACES "ANTI-WAR" FASCIST 
4) IMPORTANT: MARBLE ARCH TUBE STATION 
5) ROBB JOHNSON'S AFGHANISTAN WAR SONG 
6) KEEP WEAPONS OF MASS COMMUNICATION GOING  
7) LONDON STOP THE WAR GROUPS' CONTACT DETAILS

****************************** 
1) FRIDAY IS LONDON TUBES DAY

The campaign tempo for Saturday's Bring the Troops Home  
demonstration has been raised dramatically this week. So many 
leaflets have been distributed, particularly in London, that  
the office ran out and had to do an urgent re-order.

This was particularly important because Stop the War has  
designated Friday 23 October as London tube station day, when 
we've asked our local groups to leaflet as many tubes stations 
as possible.

We have listed at the end of this newsletter all London  
groups, together with contact names and telephone numbers. If 
you have any time at all to help leaflet the tubes, please  
contact your local group for details of when and where this is 
taking place.

****************************** 
2) SPEAKERS AT DEMONSTRATION RALLY  
There is a varied list of speakers at the demonstration rally, 
who will make contributions in a range of formats. Speakers  
include:

* Serving soldier JOE GLENTON, facing court martial for  
refusing to return to Afghanistan;  
* Ex-soldier PAUL MCGURK, who left the army last month because 
he refused to continue fighting an unjustified war in 
Afghanistan;  
* A number of relatives from military families, including  
PETER BRIERLEY, who famously refused to shake Tony Blair's  
hand because it "has my son's blood on it";  
* TARIQ ALI, GEORGE GALLOWAY MP and ANDREJ HUNKO MP from the  
German Die Linke party 
* Musicians ROBB JOHNSON (see below), LOWKEY and the KING  
BLUES; 
* Actors BILL PATERSON, KIKA MARKHAM and CORIN REDGRAVE, who  
will do readings and Naming the Dead commemorations.

CHECK THE STOP THE WAR WEBSITE FOR DEMONSTRATION UPDATES:  
http://stopwar.org.uk

Assemble 12 noon Hyde Park: March to Trafalgar Square 
Called by Stop the War Coalition, CND and BMI 
The march will be lead by anti-war soldiers, ex-soldiers and  
military families

****************************** 
3) WAR CRIMINAL STRAW FACES "ANTI-WAR" FASCIST

If there were any accountability for the Iraq war, Jack Straw 
- who was British foreign secretary at the time - would be  
indicted for war crimes. (See http://bit.ly/RmX66)

On the BBC's Question Time programme, Straw will debate with  
Nick Griffin, leader of the fascist British National Party,  
which opposes both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

No doubt Nick Griffin will have a field day highlighting Jack 
Straw's war crimes, but whatever the BNP says about Iraq and  
Afghanistan, it is not an anti-war party. It is a fascist  
organisation and its policies can only be carried through by a 
civil war against ethnic minorities and all those it regards  
as inferior.

Stop the War supports the campaigns which reveal the true  
nature of the BNP and which mobilise opposition to its fascist 
policies. Many of Stop the War's supporters will join the  
protest on Thursday 22 October against the BBC's decison to  
invite a fascist party to participate in its Question Time  
programme.

FOR STOP THE WAR'S STATEMENT ON THE BNP, SEE: 
http://bit.ly/6X2EI

****************************** 
4) IMPORTANT: MARBLE ARCH TUBE STATION

Marble Arch Station, which is the nearest to the demonstration 
assembly point in Hyde Park, is closed all day Saturday.  
Please use Lancaster Gate, Bond Street or Hyde Park Corner  
tube stations.

****************************** 
5) ROBB JOHNSON'S AFGHANISTAN WAR SONG

Renowned songwriter Robb Johnson will be appearing at the  
demonstration rally on Saturday. Stop the War has made his new 
song North West Frontier -- which is about the Afghanistan war 
-- our song of the week. You can hear it on the Stop the War  
website:  http://bit.ly/116gTa

****************************** 
6) KEEP WEAPONS OF MASS COMMUNICATION GOING

Another British soldier was killed today in Afghanistan,  
highlighting yet again the importance of Saturday's  
demonstration. Please do all you can to spread the word in the 
last couple of days, not forgetting the weapons of mass  
communication to everyone you know: emails, texts, tweets,  
Facebook, etc.

****************************** 
7) LONDON STOP THE WAR GROUPS CONTACT DETAILS

Live in London? Get involved with your local Stop the War  
Group. Help leaflet the tube stations on Friday 22 October.  
Find your local group below:

NORTH
* Bloomsbury, Isobel McMillan, 07951 199 672  
* Brent, Sarah Cox 07951 084 101  
* Camden, Liz Wheatley 07525 846 520  
* Haringey, Simon Hester 0773 606 4045 
* Wembley, Hind 07944 267 272 
* Islington, Shirley Franklin 07958 745 802

SOUTH
* Southwark, Laura Harvey 07976 911 887  
* East Dulwich, Nicola Fields 07790 330 142  
* Croydon Dima, 07917 475 748 
* Lambeth, Chris Blake 07766 601 777  
* Lewisham,  Michael Coulsten 07753 185 732  
* Wandsworth, John Clossick   020 7223 3483  
* Tooting (Wandsworth) Dave Esbester, 0208 646 5545, 07913 468 
659  
* Putney (Wandsworth) Pat Shearin 07931 679 459

EAST
* Tower Hamlets,  Jo Gough    07730 612 105  
* Newham, Andy Brown 07736 812 366  
* Waltham Forest, Carole Vincent 07982 875 032 
* Hackney,  Despina 07932 714 833

WEST
* Wimbledon James   07926 742 907  
* Richmond Sam Oxby, 07960 770 835  
* Kingston, Noel, 0208 395 2656  
* Twickenham, John Whits.     07812 348 845  
* Acton/Ealing, Iqbal  07773 577 461 
* Hounslow, Richard 07774 936 556  
* Ladbroke Grove, Giavanni  
* Hammersmith, Victoria 07887 943 194

Soldiers and their families lead Saturday's march

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER 
No. 1119 20 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) SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES LEAD SATURDAY'S MARCH 
2) MUSICIANS AND ACTORS PERFORM AT THE RALLY 
3) HELP STEWARD THE DEMONSTRATION ON 24 OCTOBER

****************************** 
1) SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES LEAD SATURDAY'S MARCH

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton (http://bit.ly/eO3V0 )will become 
the first serving British soldier to openly attend an anti-war 
demonstration when he leads marchers from Hyde Park to 
Trafalgar square on Saturday 24 October calling for all troops 
to be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Joe, who is currently fighting a court martial for refusing to 
return to Afghanistan, will be joined by families of soldiers 
who have given their lives during the occupations in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.

Joan Humphries' grandson Kevin Elliott, 24, from Black Watch, 
was killed while on on foot patrol in the southern Afghan 
province of Helmand on August 31 of this year. She says:

"I have supported CND all my life and have been involved in 
Stop the War since the march in 2003 when more than a million 
people were on the streets. Kevin knew my feelings. But there 
were no jobs, education was poor and the politicians down 
south were dishonest and there was simply nothing else he felt 
he could do but join the army."

Peter Brierley ( http://bit.ly/C7atg ) will attend the 
demonstration in memory of his son, Lance Corporal Shaun 
Brierley, who was killed while on duty in Iraq. Peter refused 
to shake the hand of Tony Blair at a memorial service for 
those who died in Iraq at St Paul's Cathedral earlier this 
month, explaining that it had "my son's blood on it."

Paul McGurk, 25, served in Helmand province until April 2008 
but left the army last month because he could not support the 
war with Afghanistan. "My regiment has been posted back to 
Afghanistan and I will be attending the demonstration for 
them, calling for them to come home because this conflict 
cannot be justified.

"Morale in the army was very low when I was serving and this 
can only be getting worse. Those who intend serving for the 
next 22 years face being posted to Afghanistan six more 
times."

DEMONSTRATE SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 
BRING THE TROOPS HOME 
ASSEMBLE 12 NOON HYDE PARK 
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE 
Called by Stop the War, CND and BMI

Full details and map of march route: http://bit.ly/2pZlGD

Please use email, texts, tweets, Facebook etc to help 
publicise the demonstration as widely as possible.

****************************** 
2) MUSICIANS AND ACTORS PERFORM AT THE RALLY

Up and coming band King Blues and the rapper Lowkey will be 
among the perfomers at the end of march rally in Trafalgar 
Square. Actors Bill Paterson, Corin Redgrave and Kika Markham 
will do readings, including naming the dead commemorations. 
Other speakers include Bianca Jagger, George Galloway MP and 
Andrej Hanko, who is an MP for Die Linke party in the German 
Parliament.

A full list of speakers will be posted soon on the Stop the 
War website: http://bit.ly/2pZlGD

****************************** 
3) HELP STEWARD THE DEMONSTRATION ON  24 OCTOBER

Stop the War has always been fortunate in the number and the 
commitment of the volunteers who help us organise our 
demonstrations. If you would like to join the team organising 
the demonstration on Saturday 24 October, please email your 
name and contact details to office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 
7801 2768

Weapons of Mass Communication for 24 October‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER 
No. 1118 18 October 2009 
Email office@stopwar.org.uk 
Tel: 020 7801 2768 
Web: http://.stopwar.org.uk 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

WEAPONS OF MASS COMMUNICATION FOR 24 OCTOBER

Full details of the national Bring the Troops Home 
demonstration on 24 October are now on our website (see 
http://bit.ly/2pZlGD), including a map of the march route, 
latest details of coaches from outside London (see 
http://bit.ly/FGook), and details of keynote speakers at the 
rally in Trafalgar Square.

Every day this week there are activities and events taking 
place across the country to build support for the 
demonstration. Virtually every corner of London is being 
covered, with leafleting of tube stations, mosques, colleges, 
shopping centres etc. For details and to get involved, see 
http://bit.ly/3cPI3i

There is a way we can all make a difference. The mainstream 
media gives acres of coverage to the warmongers but does no 
favours to the antiwar movement. We have to use our own 
networks to publicise our events. And it works. If we all 
commit ourselves to using the weapons of mass communication at 
our disposal, we can make a real difference.

Emailing, texting, sending Twitter tweets, posting on Facebook 
-- if we all use every communication means we have to spread 
the word about the demonstration and urge everyone we contact 
to do the same, we will reach a mass audience very quickly, 
despite the vitual news blackout by the mainstream media.

Then no one will be able to say after 24 October that they 
weren't on the demonstration because they didn't know about 
it.

The stakes couldn't be higher, with Gordon Brown having just 
announced an increase in the number of British troops fighting 
an unwinnable and pointless war -- and almost certain to send 
even more when Obama announces his second troop "surge".

The latest poll shows that 68 percent of the British public 
want all the troops brought home. The bigger the turnout on 
Saturday, the more pressure we will put on all those MPs who 
have closed their ears to the majority view of their 
constituents. We're only a few months away from a general 
election. We have to ensure that the war in Afghanistan is a 
central issue. Saturday's demonstration will be the best 
springboard to ensuring that happens.

* SEND THIS MESSAGE BY EMAIL, TEXT, FACEBOOK ETC: 
Join the National Demonstration. 
Bring the Troops Home from Afghanistan. 
You can make a difference. 
London: Saturday 24 October 
Assemble Hyde Park 12 noon 
March to Trafalgar Square 
Full details here: http://bit.ly/2pZlGD 
Please pass on this message to everyone you know.

* TWEET THIS ON TWITTER: 
You can make a difference. Join the Troops Out of #Afghanistan 
demo: London 24 October http://bit.ly/2pZlGD

WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK: 
Last week dozens of bereaved relatives who lost loved ones in 
the Iraq war gave evidence to the Iraq War Inquiry. The 
committee was stunned when the relatives demanded -- with 
almost complete unanimity -- that the illegality of the war 
should be a central issue for the inquiry, and that Tony Blair 
should be indicted for his war crimes.

Our demonstration on Saturday and our continuing campaign to 
end the war in Afghanistan, are aimed to prevent any more 
futile loss of life, by Afghans and soldiers alike. Please act 
now to publicise the demonstration in every way you can. And 
please join us on Saturday.

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

Naming of the Dead ceremonies, Sat 22 Aug in Hackney and Mon 17 Aug at the Cenotaph

Hackney Stop the War will be holding a Naming of the Dead ceremony next Saturday 22 August at 1.30pm outside the Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, E8 (opposite Dalston Kingsland Station).

Over 200 British soldiers have now died in Afghanistan. This is a terrible waste of life in an unjustifiable and unwinnable war. Most people agree that it's time to bring the troops home.

Please join us to commemorate the soldiers who have died - and the tens of thousands of Afghan civilians who have also died so needlessly.

***************************************************************************************

NAMING OF THE DEAD AT THE CENOTAPH

MONDAY 17 AUGUST 12 NOON

To commemorate all the soldiers who have died, Stop the War will hold a Naming of the Dead ceremony at The Cenotaph in Whitehall at 12 noon on Monday 17 August, when we will read out all 200 names, together with the names of Afghan civilians to represent the tens of thousands who have also died so needlessly.

Stop the War is asking those who can attend to bring flowers if possible.

***************************************************************************************

Public meeting: The good war? Afghanistan in the media

Afghanistan has always been portrayed as the "good war" in contrast to the catastrophe in Iraq. But is it?A public meeting on Monday 13 July, hosted by Media Workers Against the War and Stop the War Coalition, will discuss this issue.

Speakers include prominent journalists Stephen Grey (investigative journalist embedded with British troops in Helmand), Guy Smallman (recently returned from Afghanistan) and Seamus Milne (columnist, the Guardian).

7pm, Mon 13 July, Friends Meeting House, 173 Euston Road NW1 2BJ, opposite Euston Station/tube.All welcome.

For further information telephone 020 7801 2768.
Hackney Stop The War

Public Meeting: Shut down the Army Showroom in Dalston Thursday 18 June

Public meeting

Shut Down the Army Showroom in Dalston

7.30pm, Thursday 18 June

Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road, E5, Lower Clapton

Speakers:

Councillor Angus Mulready-Jones

Jenny Sutton, College of North East London

George Solomou, Military Families Against the War

Lindsey German, Convenor Stop the War Coalition

Twelve soldiers were killed in Afghanistan in May this year. The death rate is now higher than at any time since the invasion in 2001.

And, at around a thousand major casualties a year, every British soldier in Afghanistan has a one in eight chance of being seriously injured or contracting a serious illness.

Why doesn’t the army tell visitors to its showroom in Dalston about these horrific statistics instead of presenting war as a video game?

Our petitioning shows that people are also concerned at the Army’s attempt to exploit youth unemployment in a poor borough like Hackney.

The war in Afghanistan is getting uglier by the week. British pilots are firing an increasing number of “enhanced blast” thermobaric weapons, designed to kill everyone in buildings they strike. The violence will get worse, warns Lieutenant General Jim Dutton, Nato deputy commander in Afghanistan.

Everyone should ask themselves: is this what we want for the people of Afghanistan or for young people here to become involved in?

Youngsters in Hackney deserve better. The choice shouldn’t be between rotting on the dole or facing death or maiming in Afghanistan. Money should be poured into education, not chopped from college budgets.

Protest: Shut Down the Army Showroom in Dalston, Sat 20 June. Defend the right to protest

Shut Down the Army Showroom in Dalston

Join the protest

Another British soldier has just been killed in Afghanistan. It's time all British troops were withdrawn - for the sake of the Afghan people and the servicemen and women sent to defend a corrupt and unpopular regime.

And it's time the Army Showroom in the Kingsland Shopping Centre, Dalston, was shut down. We don't want any more young people, faced with unemployment, falling for the glossy video images and being sent to kill or die or be maimed in Afghanistan.

We also need to defend the right to protest in the face of the outrageous arrest of one of our supporters, who was assaulted and racially abused, as he was walking to work through the shopping centre.

Join the protest at 1.30pm on Saturday 20 June

at the Kingsland Shopping Centre, Dalston

(opposite Dalston Kingsland train station).

Keep up the pressure!

Public Meeting: Shut down the Army Showroom in Dalston

Thursday 18th June
7.30 pm, Round Chapel
Powerscroft Road, E5
Lower Clapton

Speakers
Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War Coalition
Jenny Sutton, College of North East London
George Solomou, Military Families Against the War
Cllr Angus Mulready-Jones

More than 170 British soldiers have been killed in Iraq and more than 150 in Afghanistan. Young ex-servicement are three times more likely to commit suicide than their civilians counterparts. Shelter estimates that over a quarter of homeless people are ex-servicemen and women. Servicemen and women have no employment protection rights. There is a well documented history of bullying and racism in the army. Hundreds of young army recruits go absent without leave every year. 14000 servicemen and women leave the army every year.

CREATE REAL JOBS IN HACKNEY. BRING THE TROOPS HOME.