Afghanistan day of protest: 27 march‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER No. 1146  
22 March 2010 
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER  
1) AFGHANISTAN DAY OF PROTEST: 27 MARCH  
2) JOE GLENTON DEFENCE CAMPAIGN  
3) PALESTINE PROTEST AT MAYOR OF JERUSALEM VISIT  
4) DEFEND THE GAZA PROTESTORS 
5) LONDON DEBATE ON AFGHANISTAN

*********************************  
1) AFGHANISTAN DAY OF PROTEST: 27 MARCH

NATO forces are gearing up for a massive offensive on Kandahar 
in the next few months. Even in advance of that the death toll 
is rising -- 30 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan  
since the start of the year.

As the general election approaches, Stop the War groups will  
be campaigning to force the issue of Afghanistan onto the  
political agenda.

On March 27 there will be a Troops Out of Afghanistan day of  
action. Local Stop the War groups will be organising protests 
and petitioning local MPs. Many local groups are organising  
hustings debates and public meetings in the next few weeks.  
Contact the Stop the War office for details of events in your 
area: Email: office@stopwar.org.uk.  Call 020 7801 2768.

As part of our campaigning, Stop the War is producing a "Costs 
of War" leaflet, a questionnaire to put to all candidates  
standing in the election and a new pamphlet on Afghanistan.  
They will be available this week from the national office.

*********************************  
2) JOE GLENTON DEFENCE CAMPAIGN

Colchester Stop the War is organising a weekend of protest  
27/28 March in support of Joe Glenton, the British soldier who 
has been jailed for refusing to fight in Afghanistan (DETAILS, 
UPDATES & PETITION)

SATURDAY 27 MARCH  11.30AM-1PM 
MASS LEAFLET AND PETITION FOR RELEASE OF JOE GLENTON  
ELD LANE, COLCHESTER  
ESSEX CO1 1LS

SUNDAY 28 MARCH 1.30PM 
PROTEST OUTSIDE JOE'S PRISON  
MILITARY CORRECTIVE TRAINING CENTRE  
BERECHURCH HALL ROAD  
ESSEX CO2 9NU

For more details and to get involved, contact Kate, tel: 07834 
218 711, email: stwcolchester@hotmail.co.uk

*********************************  
3) PALESTINE PROTEST AT MAYOR OF JERUSALEM VISIT

Despite international pressure, the Israeli government 
continues its persecution of the Palestinians, making a  
mockery of any talk of a peace process. Not only did they  
announce a huge new settlement in East Jerusalem last week,  
but the Israeli police have been brutally attacking people  
protesting against plans for a new synagogue right next to the 
Al Aqsa Mosque. In addition, four Palestinian youths have been 
shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the last few days.

On Monday 22 march, Nir Barkat -- the Mayor of Jerusalem  
directly responsible for the new settlements -- is visiting  
London. We are urging all our supporters in London to join the 
protest outside Chatham House, where he is speaking.

MONDAY 22 MARCH 5PM  
CHATHAM HOUSE 
10 ST JAMES'S SQUARE  
LONDON SW1Y 4LE

*********************************  
4) DEFEND THE GAZA PROTESTORS

A defence campaign has been set up for the protestors who have 
been charged with offences at the Gaza demonstrations in  
January 2009. (DETAILS, UPDATES, PETITION:  
http://bit.ly/d1FqIA )

More than 20 of the 78 people charged have been sent to prison 
in an unprecedented campaign by the police. Almost all of  
those charged are Muslims. The campaign to defend the 
protestors has resulted in some good press coverage, and one  
of the first defendants to plead not guilty was acquitted last 
week.

Please sign the petition in defence of the protestors, which  
will be delivered to the Home Office at a protest on Tuesday  
30 March, 4.30pm.

SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE:  http://bit.ly/ccjdN8

DOWNLOAD THE PETITION FOR PRINTING: http://bit.ly/b1KAxH  
We are asking our supporters to download the petition for  
collecting signatures as widely as they can. Please send them 
to the Stop the War office in time for the 30 March protest at 
the Home Office.

*********************************  
5) LONDON DEBATE ON AFGHANISTAN

In the run up to the imminent general election, in which all  
the main parties will be supporting the war in Afghanistan,  
Stop the War is organising a series of debates around the  
country. Details for the debates will be posted on our website 
as they become available.

The details of the London debate are:

WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL 7PM 
DEBATE: Should the Troops be in Afghanistan?  
SPEAKERS: 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  
VENUE: The Old Cinema lecture theatre, Westminster University, 
309 Regent Street, W1B 2UW.

*********************************
-- 

IRAN: WHAT LIES AHEAD - meeting central London 3 Feb

IRAN: WHAT LIES AHEAD

Was Tony Blair given prior notice of Barack Obama's decision to site Patriot missiles in four Gulf states? This might explain his repeated warmongering last Friday, when no less
than 58 times he pointed the finger at Iran.

Obama's 'defensive shield' is in reality an act of aggression against Iran, which has faced repeated aggression from the US and its allies in the region, in particular Israel -- the only nuclear armed state in the Middle East.

Stop the War is committed to campaigning against any attack on Iran. Lindsey German, Stop the War's convenor will be speaking at an important meeting in London on Wednesday 3 February, organised by Campaign Iran.

IRAN: WHAT LIES AHEAD?
THE MOVEMENT, SANCTIONS AND THE WEST.
WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY, 7.30PM
BLOOMSBURY BAPTIST CHURCH
235 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE,
LONDON WC2 H8E

For more details see: http://bit.ly/4Izh6F

Attempt to ban protest outside Blair inquiry‏

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.

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

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

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on public trial‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1134 13 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) 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 020 7801 2768 or email  
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 07813 797 853.

*********************************  
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 0207 700 6192

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