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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1107 28 July 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk ;
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) VOTERS TURN AGAINST WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
2) NAMING THE DEAD CEREMONIES WHEN THE 200TH SOLDIER DIES
3) SERVING SOLDIER REFUSES TO RETURN TO WAR
4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
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1) VOTERS TURN AGAINST WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
The latest opinion poll in The Independent carried the
headline, "Voters turn against war in Afghanistan". Despite
the pro war propaganda campaign it reported that 52% of the
British Public want the troops home now. (See
http://bit.ly/2QXiDj)
This was confirmed by anti-war activists petitioning up and
down the country last weekend. All reported a fantastic
response. The report from Worcester was typical: "We collected
more signatures and gave out more leaflets than at probably
any point in the four years we have been doing street stalls"
(See groups campaign report: http://bit.ly/WlzDW)
The government has declared 'mission accomplished' but even it
had to admit they have only 'cleared' an area the size of the
Isle of Wight of 500 Taliban, deploying 9000 troops to do so,
at a cost of 22 soldiers killed and hundreds more wounded.
And what effect has the fighting had on the Afghan people? At
a packed Stop the War meeting in London last week, Afghan MP
Malalai Joya explained how the occupation was a disaster for
the Afghan people and is driving the country backwards. "We
always reject occupation and foreign domination," she said,
calling for solidarity from the anti-war movement.
"I know there are millions of British people who want to see
an end to this conflict as soon as possible. Together we can
raise our voice for peace and justice." (See
http://bit.ly/2x33Fz)
Stop the War is encouraging its supporters across the country
to get in touch with their local anti-war group and help the
campaign in your area. If you would like to get involved,
contact the national Stop the War office for details of a
local group in your area: Email office@stopwar.org.uk or call
020 7801 2768.
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2) NAMING THE DEAD CEREMONIES WHEN THE 200TH SOLDIER DIES
Currently the lives of 191 British soldiers have been wasted
in this terrible, pointless, war. Local anti-war groups will
be holding Naming the Dead ceremonies in every area the
weekend after the 200th soldier is killed.
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3) SERVING SOLDIER REFUSES TO RETURN TO WAR
At the Stop the War rally featuring Malalai Joya in London
last week, Lance Corporal Joe Glenton became the first serving
British soldier to speak out publicly against the Afghan war.
Joe faces court martial and a possible two-year prison term
after going on the run rather than return to Afghanistan.
Joe says he gradually became aware that justifications for
occupying Afghanistan were ringing hollow. "The Afghan people
were attacking us, even though our politicians said we were
going in to help them. It came as a real shock"
"That's when I became aware that there was something seriously
wrong with the war," he says.
Joe will attend a court martial hearing next Monday We are
asking all our supporters to send messages of complaint, for
forwarding to the Ministry of Defence, to
joeisinnocent@hotmail.co.uk
Watch Joe's speech at the Stop the War meeting here:
http://bit.ly/1vyX7b
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4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
Twitter is currently a fashionable obsession in the mainstream
media, but don't let that put you off joining what is
developing into a very useful means of communication for
campaigns like Stop the War.
You can join Stop the War on Twitter here: It's free!
http://twitter.com/STWuk
Here's a simple guide to using Twitter for complete beginners:
http://bit.ly/6r4g8
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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1105 17 July 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) SPEAK OUT ON AFGHANISTAN
2) PUBLIC MEETING WITH AFGHAN MP MALALAI JOYA
3) STOP THE WAR START THE MUSIC LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION
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1) SPEAK OUT ON AFGHANISTAN
Stop the war supporters will be campaigning across the country
tomorrow to demand an end to the carnage in Afghanistan.
Crysse Morrison, who is occupying the fourth plinth in Trafalgar
Square tomorrow from 4-5pm is going to read a Stop the War
statement on Afghanistan. There will be a naming of the dead in
Croydon, in London new groups have sprung up in the last week in
Twickenham, Ladbroke Grove, Bloomsbury and Wembley. Newcastle
have organised a protest tonight.
Petitioning sessions have been organised up and down the country.
If you want to get involved go to the website for local contacts
or phone the office on 020 7801 2768.
We have produced a fact sheet 'Ten Reasons to get the troops out
of Afghanistan'. You can download it at www.stopwar.org.uk
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2) PUBLIC MEETING WITH AFGHAN MP MALALAI JOYA
London, Thursday July 23rd.
Malalai is a young female MP who has become internationally
famous for speaking out against the warlords and the NATO
occupation in Afghanistan.
She is making her only public appearance at this meeting to
launch her new book 'Raising My Voice'. Malalai will be joined by
Lindsey German.
Tickets £4/£2 - advance booking recommended at www.stopwar.org.uk
or by phone to the office.
Malalai Joya speaks out
7pm, Thursday July 23rd
Conway Hall,
Red Lion Square
(Holborn Tube)
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3) STOP THE WAR START THE MUSIC LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION
Stop the War Coalition launches 'Stop the War Start the Music'
and now we need a logo. Please see:
www.startthemusic.org.uk/logo-competition for more details.
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6) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/STWuk
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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1104 14 July 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk ;
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) TIME FOR ACTION ON AFGHANISTAN - SATURDAY 18 JULY
2) PUBLIC MEETING WITH AFGHAN MP MALALAI JOYA
3) 103 YEARS OLD AND STILL MARCHING FOR PEACE
4) VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY BARRED FROM GAZA
5) SEUMAS MILNE ON THE MEDIA AND AFGHANISTAN
6) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
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1) TIME FOR ACTION ON AFGHANISTAN - SATURDAY 18 JULY
There is now a full scale crisis over the occupation of
Afghanistan.
As the death toll mounts the military top brass have no
coherent strategy and the politicians can give no sensible
explanation as to why the troops are in Afghanistan.
The idea that bombing and strafing Afghan towns and villages
will reduce the threat of terrorism is simply untenable. And
despite the intensive media spin, opinion polls continue to
show majority opposition to the war in Britain, with 56% in
The Guardian/BBC poll and 59% in the ITV poll.
Stop the War is asking all its supporters to spend time this
Saturday campaigning to bring the troops home. Amongst other
things we are asking our local Stop the War groups to collect
signatures this Saturday for the petition we will be
presenting to Gordon Brown.
The petition can be signed online and downloaded for printing
on the Stop the War website: http://stopwar.org.uk
IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED THIS SATURDAY:
Phone the Stop the War national office: 020 7801 2768
Or email: office@stopwar.org.uk
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2) PUBLIC MEETING WITH AFGHAN MP MALALAI JOYA
The Afghan MP and campaigner for women's rights Malalai Joya
will be launching her new book Raising My Voice at a Stop the
War public meeting in London on Thursday 23 July.
Malalai Joya is often called "the bravest woman in
Afghanistan". Elected to the Afghan parliament in 2004 as the
youngest MP, she soon became a very vocal critic of the
warlords and criminals that dominate the parliament and the
widespread corruption in prime minister Karzai's government.
There have been several attempts on her life and the continual
death threats mean she needs constant protect from bodyguards.
In 2007 she was suspended from the parliament. (SEE
http://bit.ly/Bveth)
Early booking for this meeting is recommended. Tickets cost £4
/ £2 concessions and are available online: http://bit.ly/mWOzk
PUBLIC MEETING: EYE WITNESS IN AFGHANISTAN
WITH MALALAI JOYA, AFGHAN MP
Other speakers include Lindsey German, Stop the War national
convenor, and Rose Gentle from Military Families Against the
War
THURSDAY 23 JULY 7PM
CONWAY HALL, RED LION SQUARE
LONDON WC1. Book here: http://bit.ly/mWOzk
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3) 103 YEARS OLD AND STILL MARCHING FOR PEACE
The Time of Their lives is an inspiring film about two
centenarians Rose Hacker and Hetty Bower whose commitment to
peace and anti-war activity puts many activists a fraction of
their age to shame.
Both of these remarkable women are testament to the view that
political commitment keeps you young.
As well as participating in the protests against the
Afghanistan and Iraq wars, they campaigned tirelessly over
decades in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
The Stop the War Coalition features in the film because 103
year old Hetty Bower has been a consistent participant on our
demonstrations and protests, her only complaint being that our
marches were "too slow"! She estimates she has marched on 89
peace demonstrations.
Rose sadly died during the filming of the documentary.
The film will be shown on BBC Four on Monday 20 July at
7.30pm. It is moving and inspirational and not to be missed.
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4) VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY BARRED FROM GAZA
The Egyptian government is blocking the Viva Palestina aid
convoy from the United States from entering Gaza. The convoy
is bringing $1 million dollars of aid, including 47 much
needed vehicles, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid.
They have been denied access to Gaza since Saturday 11 July.
The Viva Palestina US convoy has been organised by MP George
Galloway, who also organised the first Viva Palestina caravan
which drove from London to Gaza in March, when £1 million of
aid was delivered in over 100 vehicles.
Plans have been announced for more convoys this year from
Venezuela and Moscow, as well as a second UK convoy on 4
October and a second US convoy in December to mark the first
anniversary of Israel's brutal attack on Gaza in 2008.
For more information and an interview with George Galloway, go
to: http://bit.ly/caQW8
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5) SEUMAS MILNE ON THE MEDIA AND AFGHANISTAN
Seumas Milne, Guardian columnist spoke about the media and the
war in Afghanistan at a packed meeting in London on 13 July,
organised by Stop the War and Media Workers Against the War.
Go here for a video of his speech: http://bit.ly/EIISX
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6) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/STWuk
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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1103 10 July 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) EMERGENCY PROTEST DOWNING ST MON 13 JULY 5-7PM
2) PUBLIC MEETING: AFGHANISTAN IN THE MEDIA - THE GOOD WAR?
3) VIDEO: INTERVENTION AND RESISTANCE IN AFGHANISTAN
4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
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1) EMERGENCY PROTEST DOWNING ST MONDAY 13 JULY 5-7PM.
Ten British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in as
many days, bringing the total to 179 and equalling the number
of UK deaths in Iraq. The troop "surge" which was meant to
pacify Helmand province has become a nightmare for the British
army.
This unwinnable war must stop now. All British troops must be
withdrawn to prevent any more futile deaths, and to stop the
carnage suffered by the Afghan people.
Stop the War has called an emergency protest at Downing Street
on Monday 13 July, 5-7pm. Please spread the word now.
* JOIN THE PROTEST, DOWNING STREET, MONDAY 13 JULY, 5-7pm
* SIGN THE TROOPS OUT NOW PETITION: http://bit.ly/ft6BP
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2) PUBLIC MEETING AFGHANISTAN IN THE MEDIA - THE GOOD WAR?
What a difference two weeks makes. The media have swung from
triumphalism to despair as ten British troops have died in as
many days during Operation Panther's Claw. "Triumph for Brits
in raid on Helmand" was the Mirror headline on 23 June.
"Taliban crushed" proclaimed the Star. (See
http://bit.ly/5HbCi)
The public meeting on Afghanistan and the media on Monday 13
July, hosted by Media Workers Against the War and Stop the
War, could not be more timely. Journalists Seumas Milne
(Guardian), Guy Smallman (just back from Afghanistan) and
Stephen Grey (investigative journalist embedded with British
troops in Helmand) are among the speakers.
THE GOOD WAR? AFGHANISTAN IN THE MEDIA
PUBLIC MEETING: MONDAY 13 JULY, 7pm. ALL WELCOME.
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE (SMALL HALL)
173 EUSTON ROAD, LONDON NW1 2BJ
Opposite Euston station: Map http://tinyurl.com/p33vhf
Hosted by Media Workers Against the War and Stop the War
Coalition
See http://bit.ly/eAuls
Speakers include:
STEPHEN GREY, investigative journalist embedded with British
troops in Helmand and author: "Operation Snakebite: The
Explosive True Story of an Afghan Desert Siege", and "Ghost
Plane: The True Story of the CIA Torture Program"
GUY SMALLMAN, photojournalist, recently returned from
Afghanistan
SEUMAS MILNE, columnist, the Guardian
MORE INFO: Tel 0207 801 2768
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3) VIDEO: INTERVENTION AND RESISTANCE IN AFGHANISTAN
Why has one of the poorest countries in the world been soaked
in blood for over 150 years, as three major powers have sought
to control it? Stop the War officer John Rees presents a short
video history of imperialist intervention and local resistance
in Afghanistan.
The 20 minute film can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/13TEmJ
It is part of the Timeline series produced by the Islam
Channel (http://bit.ly/4jCqQ).
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4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
In the last few weeks over 1000 people have decided to follow
Stop the War on Twitter. If you are not already following us
for regular updates, you can do so here:
http://twitter.com/STWuk
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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1102 07 July 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) STOP THE CARNAGE IN AFGHANISTAN - PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET
2) PUBLIC MEETING AFGHANISTAN IN THE MEDIA – THE GOOD WAR?
3) IRAQ INQUIRY: STILL A WHITEWASH?
4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
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1) STOP THE CARNAGE IN AFGHANISTAN - PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET
176 British soldiers have now died in Afghanistan, only three short of the
total number of British fatalities in Iraq. On Monday US forces had their worst
day in Afghanistan since 2001 with seven dead. The US and British troop
“surge” in Helmand province was meant to show that “the good war” in
Afghanistan war was winnable. Within days reality knocked the wheels off the
propaganda wagon, as the invading armies became bogged down in fierce fighting.
The number of Afghans dead and wounded is not even recorded, but the scale of
destruction caused by such open warfare must be immense. The comparison with
the Iraq disaster is all too obvious.
Even the usually pro-war Observer newspaper now says “what is needed is a
serious debate about what we are doing in Afghanistan", without which, it
concludes, "the war in Afghanistan can only drag on, with deaths on all sides".
On the day the British deaths reach 179 – the number of British soldiers
killed in Iraq - Stop the War will be assembling at Downing Street at 5pm to
demand our politicians
end this terrible waste of life and pull the troops out.
If the announcement happens on the weekend we will protest on Monday at 5pm.
Click on this link to view the Stop the War event on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102925401164
SIGN THE TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN PETITION HERE:
http://bit.ly/STWCAfghanistan
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2) PUBLIC MEETING: AFGHANISTAN IN THE MEDIA
THE GOOD WAR? AFGHANISTAN IN THE MEDIA
MONDAY 13 JULY, 7.00PM
SEE http://bit.ly/eAuls
Media coverage of the war in Afghanistan is reaching new lows. Next to no anti
war voices can be heard despite the fact that the latest poll shows
overwhelming opposition to the war.
This meeting of experienced journalists and commentators will expose the
reality of the war and the propaganda machine that is working to sustain it.
Speakers include STEPHEN GREY, investigative journalist “embedded” with
British army, GUY SMALLMAN, just returned from Afghanistan and SEUMAS MILNE,
Guardian columnist
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
EUSTON ROAD, NW1 2BJ
(Opposite Euston Station)
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3) IRAQ INQUIRY: STILL A WHITEWASH?
The government defeated an attempt to give the Iraq inquiry more teeth, though
its majority was nearly halved to 39. Speeches made in the debate by MPs George
Galloway, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell show why holding some of the inquiry
in public is not enough to prevent its report being little more than a bucket
of whitewash, just as Brown always intended.
Stop the War is organising an Inquiry Committee which will present its own
submission to the inquiry. We are also encouraging all our supporters to submit
their own.
READ EXTRACTS FROM SPEECHES HERE: http://bit.ly/12zfyt
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4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
If you are not already following Stop the War on Twitter, you can join here:
http://twitter.com/STWuk
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