STOP THE WAR COALITION UK NEWSLETTER

2009-08-08T19:34:00.000+10:00

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1109 05 August 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) SOLDIER FACING COURT MARTIAL JOINS STOP THE WAR
2) JULY THE MONTH OF WORSTS: CAMPAIGN NOW FOR 24 OCTOBER
3) DON’T DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR – OR ELSE
4) STOP THE WAR’S LETTER TO THE IRAQ INQUIRY
5) ANTI-WAR SONGS OF THE WEEK
6) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

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1) SOLDIER FACING COURT MARTIAL JOINS STOP THE WAR

Court martial proceedings have began against Lance Corporal
Joe Glenton, the first British soldier to speak out publicly
against the war in Afghanistan. Joe has joined the Stop the
War Coalition and intends to deny desertion, calling an expert
on international law to argue against the legality of the war
in Afghanistan.

Joe delivered a letter to Gordon Brown last week at Downing
Street giving his reasons for refusing to fight an unjust war
(read letter here: http://bit.ly/eO3V0).

His case has received widespread media coverage, including the
BBC TV News discussion between Lindsey German, national
convenor of Stop the War, and Major-General Sir Patrick
Cordingly, who led the British army in the first Gulf War
against Iraq (see the video of the discussion here:
http://bit.ly/GZU3s)

EMAIL YOUR SUPPORT TO: joeisinnocent@hotmail.co.uk.
DOWNLOAD THE DEFEND CORPORAL JOE GLENTON PETITION:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb

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2) JULY THE MONTH OF WORSTS: CAMPAIGN NOW FOR 24 OCTOBER

July was the worst month since the invasion in 2001 for Afghan
civilian deaths and for British and US soldiers killed. It was
also the worst month for serious injuries to British troops.
(See here for more details: http://bit.ly/ztpvo)

There have now been 192 lives of British soldiers lost in the
senseless war in Afghanistan. The 200 threshold will sadly be
passed in the near future. Stop the War’s local groups across
the country will be organising Naming the Dead ceremonies on
the following Saturday (contact the Stop the War office if you
would like to participate: office@stopwar.org.uk; 020 7801
2768)

With Gordon Brown still having the nerve to call July’s
military operations a "success", the importance of the
campaign to build the biggest possible Troops Home Now
demonstration on 24 October – called by Stop the War, CND and
BMI -- was never clearer. (Download initial leaflet here:
http://bit.ly/1UxUut)

Over the past few weeks, Stop the War’s local groups have
experienced unprecedented feeling against the war in
Afghanistan, with people queuing at street stalls to sign
petitions calling for the troops to come home.

Another sign of growing anger over this war has been the sharp
increase in people contacting the Stop the War national office
offering to help in our campaign. If you would like to get
involved too: office@stopwar.org.uk; 020 7801 2768.

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3) DON’T DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR – OR ELSE

Lindsey German’s latest blog discusses the proposal suggested
under new procedures for becoming a British citizen, whereby
applicants may be penalised for demonstrating against British
troops, which apparently could be seen as "an active disregard
of UK values".

As Lindsey writes, "Since public opinion, according to all
polls, wants a rapid withdrawal of all troops from
Afghanistan, then anti-war demos more represent 'UK values'
than the vociferous pro war lobby of military and
politicians."

You can read Lindsey’s blog here: http://bit.ly/C9Obf

Lindsey also had the pleasure of a confrontation on BBC Radio
this week with Colonel Tim Collins, the army officer who
gained some notoriety from his speech to his regiment on the
eve of the Iraq war, when he clearly saw himself as a
reincarnation of Shakespeare's Henry V.

Collins accused Lindsey of "sailing close to the wind" in her
support of Lance Corporal Joe Glenton’s right to refuse to
return to Afghanistan. This, said Collins, was tantamount to
inciting mutiny in the army!

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4) STOP THE WAR’S LETTER TO THE IRAQ INQUIRY

The Stop the War Coalition has written to Sir John Chilcot,
chair of the panel for the Iraq inquiry requesting that we be
given the opportunity to present evidence to the inquiry into
the Iraq war and to propose expert witnesses. We await his
reply.

You can read Stop the War’s letter here: http://bit.ly/cxOHZ

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5) ANTI-WAR SONGS OF THE WEEK

Many thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions for our
anti-war song of the week, which is a feature of our website.

We have made one of the suggestions, Hero of War by Rise
Against, this week’s selection (our thanks to Richard), which
you can listen to here: http://bit.ly/10HLlX

You can see the full list of songs so far here:
http://bit.ly/nsHxo

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6) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

Follow us here: http://twitter.com/STWuk

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2009-08-01T13:15:00.000+10:00

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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1108 31 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 WAR CALLS NATIONAL AFGHANISTAN DEMONSTRATION
2) DEAR PRIME MINISTER: SOLDIER WRITES TO GORDON BROWN
3) WILL THE IRAQ INQUIRY BE YET ANOTHER WHITEWASH?
4) FILM: PALESTINE'S HISTORY OF DISPOSSESSION AND OCCUPATION
5) STOP THE WAR IN THE MEDIA
6) ANTI-WAR SONG OF THE WEEK
7) OVER 100 A WEEK JOINING STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

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1) STOP THE WAR CALLS NATIONAL AFGHANISTAN DEMONSTRATION

General Sir Richard Dannatt, outgoing head of the British
army, has called for the British government to be put on a
"war-like footing" over Afghanistan. Despite all the evidence
of failure (see http://bit.ly/pCjzK), despite British soldiers
suffering the highest level of deaths and injuries since the
invasion in 2001, despite the majority of British people
wanting the troops out now (see http://bit.ly/2QXiDj), the
Government and the generals remain committed to this pointless
and bloody war.

Stop the War, in conjunction with the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament and the British Muslim Initiative, has called a
demonstration in central London on Saturday 24 October to mark
the eighth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan.

We are asking all our supporters to start publicising the
demonstration as widely as possible. Initial publicity is
available to download here: http://bit.ly/1UxUut

200 DEAD PROTESTS
Stop the War's local groups are preparing protests to take
place the weekend after the 200th British soldier is killed in
Afghanistan. At the current rate of fatalities, with 191
having died so far, it is likely this figure will be reached
in the near future. It will be yet another testament to
tragically wasted lives of soldiers -- some as young as
eighteen -- sent to kill and be killed in a futile war.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Local Stop the Groups campaigning to bring the troops home
from Afghanistan are experiencing unprecedented levels of
support, not least in the thousands who have signed our
petition to Gordon Brown in recent weeks.

If you would like to get involved in a local Stop the War
group, contact the national office for details of a group in
your area: Tel: 020 7801 2768; Email office@stopwar.org.uk

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2) DEAR PRIME MINISTER: SOLDIER WRITES TO GORDON BROWN

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, from the Royal Logistics Corps, is
the first British soldier to speak out publicly against the
war in Afghanistan.

In a letter to Gordon Brown which he delivered to 10 Downing
Street on Thursday 30 July, he explained why he will not
return to fight in Afghanistan because he believes politicians
must stop wasting soldiers' lives in an unjustified war.

Court martial proceedings for desertion against Joe begin on
Monday 3 August.

HOW TO SUPPORT JOE:
Email messages of support to joeisinnocent@hotmail.co.uk
A petition to collect signatures is available here:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb

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3) WILL THE IRAQ INQUIRY BE YET ANOTHER WHITEWASH?

Stop the War Coalition has written to Sir John Chilcot, chair
of the panel for the Iraq inquiry, requesting that we be given
the opportunity to present evidence and to propose expert
witnesses. We await his reply.

Chilcot promises the inquiry will be 'as open as possible',
but will it be open enough to allow testimony and evidence to
be heard from Stop the War Coalition, the principal
organisation leading the opposition to the war before it was
begun in 2003 and to the subsequent occupation of Iraq. SEE
http://bit.ly/18Xo8o

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4) FILM: PALESTINE'S HISTORY OF DISPOSSESSION AND OCCUPATION

How could the ruthless expropriation of an entire people
happen? In a short film, John Rees, a national officer of Stop
the War, presents the history of how the state of Israel was
born out of terror, war, conquest and the dispossession of the
Palestinian people.
SEE THE 20 MINUTE FILM HERE: http://bit.ly/4AaVhg

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5) STOP THE WAR IN THE MEDIA

The last few weeks have seen Stop the War gaining widespread
coverage in the broadcast and print media, where we have been
featured on all the major networks and in the national press,
particularly on the issue of Afghanistan.

Our views on the Afghan war have been reported more widely
than at any time since the invasion in 2001, now that the
reality of the unwinnable war has forced itself into the
headlines. Our involvement in the visit of Afghan MP Malalai
Joya and our support for serving soldier Joe Glenton's in his
refusal to return to Afghanistan have received widespread
coverage. Here are a few examples:

BBC NEWS
* Soldier takes war protest to PM: http://bit.ly/p1dXg
* Afghan woman MP lists 'enemies': http://bit.ly/yHz3y

BBC RADIO 4: THE MORAL MAZE
Stop the War's John Rees is interrogated on whether there is a
moral case for the war in Afghanistan: http://bit.ly/19gfhn

SKY NEWS
* Interview with soldier Joe Glenton on why he won't return to
Afghanistan: http://bit.ly/PBPAc

MIRROR
*Afghanistan deaths: Is it still worth it? Stop the War's
Lindsey German debates with government minister Bill Rammell:
http://bit.ly/fynji

DAILY MAIL
Afghan veteran who deserted the Army marches on Downing
Street: http://bit.ly/ZUj5z

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6) ANTI-WAR SONG OF THE WEEK

A very popular feature of Stop the War's website is our
anti-war song of the week. This week's song is Oliver's Army
by Elvis Costello: http://bit.ly/3xKfWU.

To see the full list of the series so far and to hear past
selections, go here: http://bit.ly/nsHxo

We welcome suggestions for future anti-war songs of the week,
but please note that they need to be by well known artists.
Much as we would like to, we simply don't have the time or
resources to listen to songs by new bands or singers.

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7) OVER 100 A WEEK JOINING STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

In little over two months, at a rate of over 100 a week, close
to 1200 people have chosen to follow Stop the War on Twitter.
If you would like to join them, go here to sign up:
http://twitter.com/STWuk

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2009-07-09T23:27:00.005+10:00

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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)

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

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

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

2009-06-23T22:28:00.003+10:00

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1101 24 June 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

*************************************
STOP THE WAR WEBSITE: IMPORTANT UPDATE. Please note that the
Stop the War website is now fully restored after having been
hacked over the weekend. Many thanks for the messages of
support and patience.

*************************************
LAUNCH MEETING: DEFEND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
FRIDAY 26 JUNE 6.30PM BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE
BISHOPSGATE, LONDON EC1 (Map http://bit.ly/1sDev)
Speakers include:
GEORGE GALLOWAY MP, DAUD ABDULLAH, ANAS ALTIKRITI, SEUMAS
MILNE, LOWKEY, ISMAIL PATEL, LINDSEY GERMAN
Full details here: http://bit.ly/Cee4i

The Daily Express front page of 24 June (http://bit.ly/3ykkI)
calls for a ban on the burka in Britain. The Express has long
been prominent in stoking prejudice against Muslims.

But it is far from alone. The unlamented Communities Minister
Hazel Blears tried to demand the removal of Daud Abdullah from
the Muslim Council of Britain leadership. Gordon Brown's
government has continued its bidding war to introduce ever
more draconian anti-terror laws.

Many Muslims in Britain are increasingly anxious at these
developments and are understandably fed up with being on the
sharp end of police stop and search policies, anti-terror
legislation, and a high level of anti-Muslim prejudice and
racism in the media and from politicians. The recent BNP
election victories clearly benefited from this climate of
Islamophobia.

A new campaign to counter attacks on the Muslim community will
be launched at a public meeting in London on Friday 26 June,
organised by a range of organisations including the Stop the
War Coalition. Muslim and non Muslim speakers - including
George Galloway, Daud Abdullah, Lowkey and Lindsey German --
will join together to oppose the attacks on Muslims and argue
the need for a campaign to oppose them.

A draft founding statement for the campaign is available to
read and download here: http://bit.ly/Cee4i

Please attend the meeting if you can and publicise as widely
as possible.

*************************************
FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/STWuk

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

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
22 June 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

STOP THE WAR'S WEBSITE HAS BEEN HACKED

Unfortunately our website has been hacked. While we fix it we have set up a
temporary method to enable access to the website and a temporary email address
for you to use to contact us.

TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE:

http://stopwar.org.uk

(This is the same as the old address with the www. removed)

TEMPORARY EMAIL ADDRESS:

ukstwc@gmail.com

TWITTER USERS
If you are following Stop the War on Twitter, you will have received tweets for
all updates to our website since we were hacked, as updates are always tweeted
to our followers. Anyone wishing to join us on Twitter can do so here:
https://twitter.com/STWuk

Our apologies for any inconvenience while we sort out the technical problems
due to being hacked.

Stop the War Coalition National Office

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1100 21 June 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) IRAQ INQUIRY: PROTEST: CONTACT YOUR MP
2) LAUNCH MEETING: DEFEND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
3) THE IRAN CRISIS: STATEMENT FROM STOP THE WAR
4) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

****************************************
1) IRAQ INQUIRY: PROTEST PARLIAMENT WED 24 JUNE

The scandal over Gordon Brown's decision to hold the Iraq war
inquiry in private has united in condemnation the most
unlikely people, including MPs, peers in the House of Lords,
military leaders, former civil servants, bereaved families and
even Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain's US ambassador at the
time the decision was taken to go to war.

The anger over this appalling decision has intensified with
the revelation that Tony Blair was behind Brown's decision to
have a completely secret inquiry (SEE http://bit.ly/oun55).

A motion calling for a public inquiry is to be debated in
parliament on Wednesday 24 June. Stop the War has called a
protest for 2pm at parliament to insist that there is a full
public inquiry, and not the whitewash Brown has planned,
prompted by Blair.

Stop the War is also asking all its local groups and
supporters to contact their MPs as a matter of urgency, by
letter, telephone, email or fax, and urge them to support the
call for a full public inquiry. A letter from Stop the War to
MPs can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/GqK1P

There is every chance that Brown will have to make at least a
partial U-turn, but -- as Sir Christopher Meyer says -- there
is no reason why the whole inquiry should not be held in
public. We also need an inquiry with the power to subpoena
witnesses under oath and it needs to be broadly based, rather
than comprising the five establishment toadies appointed by
Brown to produce a cover-up.

Time is short but we need to do all we can to maximise the
pressure on Brown to reverse his scandalous decision. The need
for a full public inquiry has been highlighted yet again by
the leaked government memo from January 2003, which reports on
a meeting between George Bush and Blair, at which they plotted
in secret to commit the supreme crime of an unprovoked act of
aggression. (SEE http://bit.ly/SvSFd)

PROTEST: PARLIAMENT
WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2PM
Please publicise as widely as possible.

CONTACT YOUR MP AND URGE HIM/HER TO PRESS
FOR A FULL PUBLIC INQUIRY

****************************************
2) LAUNCH MEETING: DEFEND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

Muslims in Britain face attacks on many fronts. A broadly
based campaign is being launched at a public meeting on Friday
26 June to confront the growth of racist attitudes towards
Muslims and rising governmental and state harassment. It is
supported by Muslim organisations, MPs, trade unionists,
church representatives, members of the legal profession and
prominent figures from the world of arts and media. SEE THE
FOUNDING STATEMENT HERE: http://bit.ly/vXlJ8

LAUNCH MEETING: DEFEND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
FRIDAY 26 JUNE 6.30PM
BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE, BISHOPSGATE, LONDON EC1
(OPPOSITE LIVERPOOL ST TUBE)
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
George Galloway MP, Daud Abdullah, Diane Abbott MP, Anas al
Tikriti, Ismael Patel, Lindsey German

FULL DETAILS AND TO DOWNLOAD LEAFLET: http://bit.ly/Cee4i

****************************************
3) THE IRAN CRISIS: STATEMENT FROM STOP THE WAR

The crisis unfolding in Iran must not become the pretext for
renewed intervention by the USA or Britain in the region, nor
for a whipping up of further tension around Iran's nuclear
programme.

The responsibility of the anti-war movement is first of all to
oppose the role of the British government in the region, and
to prevent its posturing being used as a pretence to justify a
US or Israeli military attack against Iran, an attack which
would have catastrophic results for the whole Middle East, and
the Iranian people in particular.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE: http://bit.ly/3pzXZL

****************************************
4) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

If you are on Twitter, you will have received links to much of
the content in this newsletter already. If you are not and you
would like to receive our daily updates, you can join here:
https://twitter.com/STWuk

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1100 18 June 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) IRAQ INQUIRY BUCKET OF WHITEWASH
2) NEW CAMPAIGN TO DEFEND MUSLIM COMMUNITY
3) SELLING WAR: ARMED FORCES DAY
4) LIFE FOR WOMEN IN "LIBERATED" AFGHANISTAN
5) FREEDOM FOR TAMILS DEMONSTRATION
6) STOP THE WAR STUDENT CONFERENCE
7) THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TWITTERED

***************************************
1) IRAQ INQUIRY BUCKET OF WHITEWASH

Stop the War organised a protest outside parliament on 15 June
as Gordon Brown was announcing his inquiry into the Iraq war.
It is to be held in secret by a committee of house-trained
toadies (four Sirs and a Baroness) and have no power to make
recommendations or hold to account the warmongers who took us
into an illegal and immoral war.

Even army chiefs are calling Brown's inquiry a cover-up, with
Air Marshal Sir John Walker, summarising its real purpose:
"There is only one reason that the inquiry is being heard in
private and that is to protect past and present members of
this Government." (SEE http://bit.ly/INXF6)

Rose Gentle, from Military Families Against the War, whose son
was killed in Iraq in 2004, says Brown's inquiry is a waste of
time and the pressure is building to get it made public, even
by warmongering newspapers like the Daily Mail, which called
Brown's plan a "joke" (SEE http://bit.ly/Es4hz) .

Stop the War has long called for a full public inquiry and
will be campaigning to overturn yet another bucket of
whitewash after the Hutton and Butler reports, which were also
devised to hide rather than reveal the truth of an illegal war
which has cost over one million lives. (SEE
http://bit.ly/Dsle2)

EMERGENCY PROTEST:
It seems likely -- with the Conservatives and Liberal
Democrats, plus Labour rebels, calling for the inquiry to be
made public -- that there will be a debate on the issue in
parliament next week. Stop the War will call an emergency
protest outside parliament when we have timings for the
debate, which we will publicise through email, our website and
Twitter. Do join us if you can.

***************************************
2) NEW CAMPAIGN TO DEFEND MUSLIM COMMUNITY

A broad-based campaign to confront the growth of racist
attitudes towards Muslims, not least in the mass media, and
their harassment by government, police and other state
agencies, is being launched in London on Friday 26 June.

The election to the European parliament of the BNP -- a
fascist party which targets Muslims in its propaganda -- has
added to the urgent need for such a campaign.

The campaign's founding statement has already been endorsed by
Muslim organisations, MPs, trade unionists and prominent
figures from the world of arts, journalism and the legal
profession.

Stop the War is asking its local groups to collect signatures
for the statement, which can be downloaded here:
http://bit.ly/13fcOO

LAUNCH MEETING: DEFEND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
FRIDAY 26 JUNE 6.30PM
BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE,
BISHOPSGATE, LONDON EC1
(Opposite Liverpool St tube)
Speakers include:
GEORGE GALLOWAY MP, DAUD ABDULLAH, DIANE ABBOTT MP, ANAS AL
TIKRITI, ISMAEL PATEL, LINDSEY GERMAN
For more details and to download leaflet go to:
http://bit.ly/13fcOO

***************************************
3) SELLING WAR: ARMED FORCES DAY

There is a concerted government publicity campaign to glorify
the armed forces, not least to distract attention from the
disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to stimulate
recruitment among the young, who are sent to kill and be
killed in foreign lands.

Parades in high streets around the country, slick recruitment
campaigns in the media and in schools and colleges, "Action
Man" style army toys etc are just some of the methods being
used to change perceptions about the armed forces.

The publicity barrage will intensify on Saturday 27 June,
which has been designated Armed Forces Day. Stop the War has
asked its local groups to organise SUPPORT THE TROOPS: BRING
THEM HOME events on that day, for which a leaflet for
downloading will be available on our website:
http://stopwar.org.uk.

***************************************
4) LIFE FOR WOMEN IN "LIBERATED" AFGHANISTAN

When Tony Blair made his now notorious "we will not walk away
from Afghanistan" speech he highlighted the lives of Afghan
women as a priority for the countries "liberators".

Malalai Joya, member of the Afghan parliament, has described
how life for women in Afghanistan under occupation has become
so bad that some "would rather set themselves on fire than
endure the hell of life in our liberated country".

TO READ MALALAI JOYA'S ARTICLE GO TO http://bit.ly/14yhee

TO SIGN STOP THE WAR'S TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN PETITION, GO
TO: http://bit.ly/ft6BP

***************************************
5) FREEDOM FOR TAMILS DEMONSTRATION

The recent onslaught on Tamils by the Sri Lankan government
left tens of thousands of civilians dead and there are now
hundreds of thousands in internment camps, from which an
estimated 13,000 have "disappeared".

Britain's Tamil community, which over the last two months has
organised very large demonstrations, including outside
parliament, has called a FREEDOM FOR TAMILS demonstration in
London on Saturday 20 June and is encouraging the widest
support by non-Tamils.

FREEDOM FOR TAMILS
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
SATURDAY 20 JUNE 2009
ASSEMBLE 1PM HYDE PARK CORNER
MARCH TO TEMPLE - EMBANKMENT
More info: http://bit.ly/OWLfD

***************************************
6) STOP THE WAR STUDENT CONFERENCE

Israeli historian Ilan Pappe, George Galloway MP, Iraqi
activist Sabah Jawad, poet and rapper Lowkey, are among the
keynote speakers at the Stop the War Student Conference on
Saturday 19 September.

The conference will be an opportunity for anti-war students to
meet, discuss and plan future anti-war activities in colleges
and schools.

The event will be held in University of London Union, Malet
Street, London. Advance booking is recommended, cost just £3.

For more information and to book a place at the conference,
contact Stewart at the national Stop the War Office; email
stewart@stopwar.org.uk, tel 020 7801 2768

***************************************
7) THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TWITTERED

If you're already twittering, you will know that Twitter has
played a central role in getting news out instantly about the
election upheaval in Iran, with even the mainstream media
using it as a prime source for information.

In the past month, over 700 people have opted to follow Stop
the War on Twitter to get our daily updates.

If you haven't joined Twitter yet and want to know what the
fuss is about, have a look at Stop the War's Twitter, where
you can also sign up: http://twitter.com/STWuk

2009-05-16T15:57:00.006+10:00

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1099 01 June 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) FOUR UK SOLDIERS KILLED BUT "WE'RE WINNING"
2) STOP THE WAR'S QUESTIONS FOR EU CANDIDATES
3) BEATS BEAT BULLETS
4) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

******************************
1) FOUR UK SOLDIERS KILLED BUT "WE'RE WINNING"

You would not know it from the mainstream media, but May has
been one of the deadliest months for the British army in
Afghanistan, with twelve soldiers killed, including four in
the last week.

Getting even less attention is the astonishing figure that on
average 20 British service men and women receive emergency
treatment at Camp Bastion, the army's emergency field
hospital. With a total deployment of 8,500, that means that
very British soldier in Afghanistan has a one in eight chance
of being seriously injured or contracting a serious illness.
(SEE http://bit.ly/Z1C5K)

Meanwhile, it was revealed this week that British pilots in
Afghanistan are firing an increasing number of "enhanced
blast" thermobaric weapons, designed to kill everyone in
buildings they strike. Human rights groups have serious
concerns that civilians are dying at the hands of some kind of
terror weapon. READ MORE HERE: http://bit.ly/r9kPS

Gordon Brown and army chiefs still insist "we're winning", but
the British officer Lieutenant General Jim Dutton, who is
NATO's deputy commander in Afghanistan, warned last week that
the violence will get worse in the coming months. Very bad
news for the Afghan people, for whom 2009 has been the
bloodiest since the 2001 invasion. (SEE http://bit.ly/11Pm8m)

Brown has no idea, any more than his US masters, what
"winning" would look like. There is only one solution to the
escalating levels of death and destruction in this futile and
unwinnable war: the complete withdrawal of all foreign troops.

TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN PETITION:
Sign it here: http://bit.ly/ft6BP
Download for collecting signatures here: http://bit.ly/rNaTZ

******************************
2) STOP THE WAR'S QUESTIONS FOR EU CANDIDATES

The European elections on June 4th are an opportunity for the
anti-war movement to question parties and candidates on the
issues arising from imperialist wars. Stop the War believes
that anti-war activists ought to question candidates and
parties directly whenever the opportunity arises. SEE
SUGGESTED QUESTIONS HERE: http://bit.ly/10nAHO

THE BNP
The British National Party (BNP) are attempting to present
themselves as an anti-war party in order to raise their
profile in the European elections. It is not. It is a fascist
organisation whose policies can only be carried through by a
civil war against ethnic minorities and all those it regards
as inferior. Stop the War's statement on the BNP is here:
http://bit.ly/10nAHO

LOVE MUSIC, HATE ANTI-WAR FASCISTS
The trade unions PCS and Unite, together with Unite Against
Fascism, have produced an inspired one minute video against
the BNP, directed by Ridley Scott. SEE IT HERE:
http://bit.ly/6X2EI

******************************
3) BEATS BEAT BULLETS

THURSDAY 11 JUNE:
TRUMAN BREWERY, BRICK LANE, LONDON E1 6QL
A night of positive music in aid of Stop the War Coalition
with:
LOWKEY, PEYOTI FOR PRESIDENT, PANDIT G (ADF), ESLAM JAWAD,
LAST SKEPTIK and STEAZ

******************************
4) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

Get regular Stop the War updates on the fastest growing form
of online communication. JOIN HERE: http://twitter.com/STWuk

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1098 20 May 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) BANNED AND SEIZED: TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA
2) DEMONSTRATE AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE 23 MAY
3) TELL DOWNING STREET: TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN
4) TAKE GAZA TO THE TOP: MESSAGE FROM TONY BENN
5) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

*****************************************
1) BANNED AND SEIZED: TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA

The BBC refused to broadcast SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN. The law
courts have seized the opera on which THE TRAINER is based.
See both plays on Thursday 21 May at Hackney Empire. TWO PLAYS
FOR GAZA is a fundraising event for the Gaza School of Music
and Stop the War.

TONY BENN INTRODUCES TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA
SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN and THE TRAINER
Hackney Empire 291 Mare Street London, E8 1EJ
Thursday 21 May 2009 at 7.30 pm
PERFORMED BY Roger Lloyd Pack, Janie Dee, Corin Redgrave, Jana
Zeineddine, and others.
PLUS MUSIC by Reem Kelani, rap artist Lowkey and Freylekh
Klezmer Dance Band

TICKETS SELLING FAST. BOOK NOW (£15 / £10 concessions)
Phone the Hackney Empire 020 8985 2424)
Online booking: http://bit.ly/1aE968

SEE ALSO:
* Attacking Seven Jewish Children as 'antisemitic' is no
service to Jews http://bit.ly/hB99T

* Weapons of mass consumption? Israel bans books, music and
clothes from entering Gaza. http://bit.ly/FPlyg

*****************************************
2) DEMONSTRATE AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE 23 MAY

STOP POLICE VIOLENCE. KETTLE NEW SCOTLAND YARD.
SATURDAY 23 MAY - ASSEMBLE 3PM TRAFALGAR SQUARE
MARCH VIA DOWNING STREET TO NEW SCOTLAND YARD

The United Campaign Against Police Violence has called a
national demonstration to defend the right to protest without
harassment and to demand justice for those who have died in
police custody.

Stop the War is supporting this demonstration and calling on
our supporters to attend because recent police behaviour on
demonstrations amounts to the intimidation and criminalisation
of protestors.

Protestors will demand the disbanding of the Territorial
Support Group, the resignation of "Independent" Police
Complaints Commission chair Nick Hardwick, justice for those
killed in police custody and for the right to protest.

SEE ALSO:
* The face of British policing today on demonstrations.
http://bit.ly/eZ1UT

*****************************************
3) TELL DOWNING STREET - TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN

In a chilling speech last week, General Sir Richard Dannatt,
the head of the British army, said that fighting wars like
Iraq and Afghanistan was "the struggle of our generation -
perhaps our 30 years war", Afghanistan, he said, "provides the
opportunity" to "restore credibility" with the US that was
lost over Iraq and he clearly implied this meant sending more
troops.

The need is clearly pressing for Stop the war's petition,
which -- in line with the view of 68 per cent of the British
public -- calls for all troops to be withdrawn from
Afghanistan. The petition has now been accepted on the Downing
Street website. Recent signatories include Rapper Lowkey and
Baroness Jenny Tonge.

Please sign the petition yourself and get friends and
colleagues to sign. Spread the link far and wide. We want
thousands to sign by Labour's conference in the autumn.

SIGN PETITION ONLINE http://bit.ly/ft6BP
DOWNLOAD TO COLLECT SIGNATUES: http://bit.ly/2EqfM1

SEE ALSO:
*Torturer, terrorist, psychopath: Meet Barrack Obama's new
army chief in Afghanistan: http://bit.ly/IxHwJ

* More Iraqs, more Afghanistans, more "boots on ground",
endless war, says UK army chief. http://bit.ly/tLpFt

*****************************************
4) TAKE GAZA TO THE TOP: MESSAGE FROM TONY BENN

Dear Friend,

I am writing to ask for your support for the downloadable
single "Tears to Laughter" by pro-Palestinian rapper Lowkey
which is being re-released this week.

The song speaks to people about the struggle of the
Palestinians and their fight for freedom. In addition Lowkey
is donating all profits to the DEC Gaza appeal. Lowkey is a
tireless supporter of the Palestinians, has performed at many
of the recent university occupations and the Free Gaza
demonstrations in London as well as touring Israel and
Palestine.

The disaster in Gaza is not over so the single is being
re-launched this week. By buying it you, your friends and your
colleagues can show support for the Palestinian people in
their hour of need.

The single is supported by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine
Solidarity Campaign and Viva Palestina. I hope we can count on
yours too.

Yours in solidarity,

Tony Benn.

VIEW THE VIDEO HERE: http://bit.ly/K9uwc
BUY THE SINGLE FROM ITUNES

On the week of its original release the track got to number18
on the iTunes Hip Hop chart. This week let's try and get it to
the top.

*****************************************
5) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/STWuk

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1096 14 May 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

ANTI-SEMITIC? UNBALANCED? BANNED BY THE BBC

Why does the most controversial play of recent times have
prominent members of the acting profession lining up to
perform at a Stop the War event this week at which it will be
performed. Why are others flooding us with messages of
support?

Caryl Churchill's play SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN was written as a
response to Israel's barbaric attack on Gaza at the beginning
of this year. It has since been performed around the world and
provoked controversy everywhere.

It has been accused of anti-semitism and banned by the BBC as
"unbalanced". Actors Roger Lloyd Pack, Miriam Margolyes,
Timothy West, Prunella Scales, Tim Pigott-Smith, Janet Suzman,
Corin Redgrave, and many more, clearly disagree, having sent
messages of support to Stop the War for presenting the play
this Thursday 21 May.

Miriam Margolyes, who is Jewish, was recently condemned as
anti-semitic in the Australian press for appearing in a
production of SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN in Melbourne Australia.
Her response was instant: "Jews who know the truth must tell
the truth." (See below for more messages of support.)

TONY BENN INTRODUCES TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA
SEVEN JEWISH CHILDEN and THE TRAINER
A fundraising event for the Gaza School of Music and Stop the
War Coalition, performed by Roger Lloyd Pack, Janie Dee, Jana
Zeineddine and others. Plus music by Palestinian singer Reem
Kelani, rap artist Lowkey and Freylekh Klezmer Dance Band.
HACKNEY EMPIRE 291 MARE STREET LONDON, E8 1EJ
THURSDAY 21 MAY 2009 AT 7.30 PM
ADVANCE BOOKING:
ONLINE http://bit.ly/1aE968 OR CALL 020 8985 2424

Caryl Churchill will present her own play SEVEN JEWISH
CHILDEN, with many of the cast from the original Royal Court
Theatre production.

It will play on a double bill with THE TRAINER by David Wilson
and Anne Aylor (with contributions from Keith Burstein), of
which Michael Kustow, theatre director and former Channel 4
arts commissioner, said after a recent sell-out production:
"Gripping drama. A passionate and telling condemnation of an
injustice made possible by the anti-terrorism laws."

OTHER MESSAGES OF SUPPORT FOR TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA:

MARK THOMAS, COMEDIAN, WRITER AND ACTIVIST:
If the media are failing to report the actions of artists and
performers to work in solidarity with Palestine and against
Israeli military aggression then we have to speak out even
louder.

A. L. KENNEDY, AWARD WINNING NOVELIST:
Glimpses of truth are all the more needed when our media
culture is in collapse and the humanity the media shows grows
less and less human.

WALTER WOLFGANG, LABOUR PARTY NEC MEMBER:
Thank you for all you are doing. I shall be at Two Plays for
Gaza on 21 May.

JOHN PILGER, JOURNALIST:
I wish you all success with The Trainer and all power to
everything you do.

TIMOTHY WEST AND PRUNELLA SCALES, ACTORS:
Have a wonderful evening, you're doing a great job.

TONY BENN INTRODUCES TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA
SEVEN JEWISH CHILDEN and THE TRAINER
HACKNEY EMPIRE 291 MARE STREET LONDON, E8 1EJ
THURSDAY 21 MAY 2009 AT 7.30 PM
ADVANCE BOOKING:
ONLINE http://bit.ly/1aE968 OR CALL 020 8985 2424

**************************************
FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/STWuk

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1096 14 May 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) DEMONSTRATE FOR PALESTINE: END SIEGE OF GAZA
2) TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN: SIGN PETITION & PASS IT ON
3) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

***********************************
1) DEMONSTRATE FOR PALESTINE: END SIEGE OF GAZA

REMEMBER GAZA DEMONSTRATION SATURDAY 16 MAY
FREE PALESTINE: END ISRAELI OCCUPATION: END ARMS TRADE
ASSEMBLE 12 NOON MALET ST LONDON WC1E 7HY
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE

This Saturday 16 May thousands will converge on Central London
to demand an end to the Siege of Gaza and justice for the
Palestinians. Please spread the word about this crucial
demonstration.

Despite worldwide outrage at the Israeli invasion in December,
the people of Gaza are in a desperate situation. Aid is being
blocked by the siege and reconstruction has barely begun. Last
weekend the Israelis fired more rockets on the tunnels that
many rely on to survive.

Meanwhile, no one has been brought to account for the well
documented attacks on civilians during the occupation and the
West's massive financial support for Israel continues.
Instead, British foreign secretary David Miliband met
Israel's racist foreign secretary Avigdor Lieberman this week.
During Israel's invasion of Gaza, Lieberman proposed action
"just like the United States did with the Japanese in World
War II", meaning when the US used nuclear bombs to obliterate
two cities.

Please do all you can to publicise the demonstration and
encourage everyone you know to join us. Full details and a
leaflet are available on the Stop the War
website (http://bit.ly/J0tAo).

Watch this video:
WHY YOU SHOULD DEMONSTRATE ON 16 MAY: http://bit.ly/10TBS6

REMEMBER GAZA DEMONSTRATION SATURDAY 16 MAY
FREE PALESTINE: END ISRAELI OCCUPATION: END ARMS TRADE
ASSEMBLE 12 NOON MALET ST LONDON WC1E 7HY
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Nearest tubes: Euston, Russell Square and Goodge Street.

There will also be a Stop the War contingent on the MARCH FOR
JOBS in Birmingham on Saturday. Please join the contingent if
you are attending.

***********************************
2) TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN: SIGN PETITION & PASS IT ON

Latest developments simply confirm that the occupation of
Afghanistan is an unmitigated disaster. Innocent civilians are
being killed (http://bit.ly/11XmN3), Afghans are claiming
white phosphorous is being used by US forces
(http://bit.ly/1t16g). British soldiers are dying. The war is
creating chaos in Pakistan.

Stop the War has launched a petition to help create pressure
on the British government to pull the troops out. The petition
will be handed in to Downing Street later in the year, which
will be Stop the War's launch for further action on the issue.

The petition can be signed on line but we are asking our
supporters not just to sign but to forward the link as widely
as possible and to download a hard copy version, take it
around colleagues and friends and return it to the Stop the
war Office.

SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE OR DOWNLOAD FOR COLLECTING
SIGNATURES: http://bit.ly/JTUoj

***********************************
3) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

You can follow Stop the War for daily updates, news and
analysis on Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk.

For those of you already twittering, please note that Stop the
War's Twitter user name has be shortened to STWuk.

If you're not on Twitter yet, it's well worth considering as
the fastest growing form of online communication. Have a look
at Stop the War's Twitter to see how it works:
http://twitter.com/STWuk

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1095 12 May 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN, ISRAEL'S OPENLY RACIST FOREIGN MINISTER, IS COMING TO LONDON
to meet the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband and the Shadow Foreign
Secretary, William Hague, as part of his bid to strengthen ties between Europe
and Israel.

PROTEST AGAINST ISRAEL'S RACIST FOREIGN MINISTER
WEDNESDAY 13 MAY 10.30AM - 12.00 NOON
FOREIGN OFFICE, WHITEHALL, LONDON
Protest called by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jews
for Justice for Palestinians, British Muslim Initiative, CND, Palestinian Forum
in Britain.

JOIN US to show our disgust at the government's willingness to meet with
Israeli warmongers. During Israel's bombing and invasion of Gaza, Avigdor
Lieberman threatened action 'just like the United States did with the Japanese
in World War II', when the US used nuclear bombs to obliterate two cities.

He has called for the execution of elected Arab members of Israel's parliament
if they have any contact with Hamas, and threatened the expulsion of
Palestinian citizens of Israel. In February this year he said: "If you want
peace, you must prepare for war."

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LIEBERMAN: http://bit.ly/2UH2QX

SATURDAY 16 MAY IN LONDON:
WHY WE WILL REMEMBER GAZA: http://bit.ly/10TBS6

FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER: http://twitter.com/stwuk

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1094 07 May 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/STWCoalition

1) WE WILL REMEMBER GAZA: DEMONSTRATE 16 MAY
2) WHAT "LIBERATING" AFGHANISTAN LOOKS LIKE
3) SEE THE GAZA PLAY THE BBC BANNED
4) TOYS FOR THE BOYS (GIRLS LATER) PROMOTE WAR
5) PETE SEEGER LONGTIME ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST IS 90
6) BEATS BEAT BULLETS: STOP THE WAR GIG
7) TRICYCLE THEATRE'S AFGHANISTAN SEASON
8) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

***************************************
1) WE WILL REMEMBER GAZA: DEMONSTRATE 16 MAY

Thousands live in the shadow of the ruins of their homes,
thousands in tents, thousands crowded together with their
relatives, tens of thousands who are newly homeless and in
whom the world has lost interest. If they had been injured in
an earthquake, the world would have rushed aid to them long
ago.

Instead Israel's savage blockade is preventing essential
resources entering Gaza and blocking $4.5 billion aid which
has been pledged for reconstruction.

The United Nations Secretary General refuses to publish in
full a report with details of Israeli war crimes and has
blocked any further investigation of Israel's barbaric
invasion in December/January.

The world may have forgotten Gaza but our demonstration on
Saturday 16 May will show that we have not. The demonstration
has been called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War
Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Palestinian Forum in
Britain and CND, and is supported by dozens more
organisations.

There will be speakers from Gaza and the West Bank, who will
be joined by Lowkey MC, Jeremy Hardy, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Martin
Linton MP, George Galloway MP, Daud Abdullah - Deputy Gen Sec
Muslim Council of Britain, Jean Lambert MEP, Jenny Tonge MEP
and Manuel Hassassian - Palestinian General Delegate to the
UK.

Full details and a leaflet are available on the Stop the War
website (http://bit.ly/J0tAo). Please do all you can to
publicise the demonstration and encourage everyone you know to
join us.

REMEMBER GAZA DEMONSTRATION SATURDAY 16 MAY
ASSEMBLE 12NOON MALET ST LONDON WC1E 7HY
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE

FULL DETAILS AND LEAFLET: http://bit.ly/J0tAo

***************************************
2) WHAT "LIBERATING" AFGHANISTAN LOOKS LIKE

Even Conservative ex-chancellor Nigel Lawson says the game is
up and Britain should withdraw all troops from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile this week, US bombers showed yet again what
"liberating" Afghanistan means for its people. See
http://bit.ly/11XmN3

STOP THE WAR TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN PETITION
Stop the War has launched a national Troops Out of Afghanistan
petition, which you can sign now online here:
http://bit.ly/17NSgc

A petition to download for printing is also available here
http://bit.ly/JTUoj. We are asking all local Stop the War
groups and supporters to collect signatures as widely as
possible in their communities, workplaces, colleges etc. The
latest opinion poll shows 68 per cent of the British public
want all British troops withdrawn from Afghanistan. We need to
reflect the scale of this opposition in our petition, which we
will deliver to Gordon Brown in the Summer.

FULL PETITION DETAILS HERE: http://bit.ly/JTUoj

***************************************
3) SEE THE GAZA PLAY THE BBC BANNED

The BBC is refusing to broadcast Seven Jewish Children, Caryl
Churchill's 10 minute play, written in January as Israel was
committing mass murder in its invasion of Gaza. The BBC says
it must remain "impartial" -- the same reason it gave for not
broadcasting the Gaza emergency appeal.

Caryl Churchill will introduce a production of Seven Jewish
Children, with most of the original cast from the Royal Court
Theatre, in a double bill at Hackney Empire in London on 21
May. The second play is The Trainer by David Wilson & Anne
Aylor (with contributions from Keith Burstein) which explores
the love story between a British Jew and his Palestinian
fiancée. The Trainer sold out its first production in March.

Actors performing include Tim Pigott-Smith, Janie Dee, Jana
Zeineddine, Roger Lloyd Pack and Paul Herzberg.

Also appearing will be renowned Palestinian singer, Reem
Kelani, rap poet Lowkey and ex-SAS soldier Ben Griffin, who
will read from the Winter Soldier Investigation into the
Vietnam war.

TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA is a benefit for the Gaza School of Music
and Stop the War Coalition. It will be introduced by Tony Benn
and directed by Tom Platten.

TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA
INTRODUCED BY TONY BENN
THURSDAY 21 MAY AT 7.30 PM
HACKNEY EMPIRE 291 MARE STREET
LONDON, E8 1EJ

FULL DETAILS AND BOOKING: http://bit.ly/Rb3x8

***************************************
4) TOYS FOR THE BOYS (GIRLS LATER) PROMOTE WAR

The Ministry of Defence has sponsored a set of "HM Armed
Forces" dolls. All are -- for now -- male and white and none
have missing limbs or bear the psychological scars of warfare.
These toys are a part of the government's drive to make war
acceptable and the army something to be emulated, as are the
resurgence of military parades and recruitment campaigns aimed
at teenagers.

The Ministry of Defence said: "These toys showcase our people
and equipment and this commercial recognition proves the high
level support for our forces among the British public." Unless
of course "our forces" are doing something the British public
opposes, such as the 68 per cent who think all British troops
should be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

READ MORE HERE: http://bit.ly/U1LEu

***************************************
5) PETE SEEGER LONGTIME ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST IS 90
Pete Seeger, musician, song writer and political activist --
not least in the anti-war, civil rights and environment
movements -- was 90 on 2 May. "At ninety," said Bruce
Springsteen in a birthday concert in Seeger's honour, "He
remains a stealth dagger through the heart of our country's
illusions about itself." Stop the War has a webpage dedicated
to his inspiring life.

CELEBRATING PETE SEEGER: http://bit.ly/Yr02T

***************************************
6) BEATS BEAT BULLETS: STOP THE WAR GIG

MONDAY 11 JUNE AT THE VIBE BAR
91 BRICK LANE, LONDON E1.
Stop the War presents a night of political hip hop, reggae,
indo-dub bass lines and conscious lyrics.

LINE UP INCLUDES:
* PANDIT G of Asian Dub Foundation.
* PEYOTE FOR PRESIDENT - incendiary Latino tunes
* STYLAH - prolific lyricist and UK hip hop wordsmith
* ESLAM JAWAD - Lebanese born political rapper
* And of course anti-war, pro-Palestinian poet, playwright,
political activist and award winning hip hop artist LOWKEY.

TICKETS JUST £5. Call 0207 801 2768 for more details and
flyers.
_____________________________________

WIN FREE TICKETS PEYOTI FOR PRESIDENT'S ALBUM LAUNCH:
Stop the War has two pairs of tickets to give away for the
launch of
Peyoti for President's new album 'Rising Tide of Conformity'
at Dingwalls, Camden on Sunday 10 May, plus two copies of the
album. To win email tansy@stopwar.org.uk with the answer to
this question: where is Peyoti for President playing on 11th
June? First correct emails win. Otherwise tickets for this gig
are available from: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/47164

***************************************
7) TRICYCLE THEATRE'S AFGHANISTAN SEASON

The Tricycle Theatre's critically acclaimed Afghanistan
season: 'THE GREAT GAME' is now underway. Called by The
Independent the 'inspirational highlight of the year', a video
trailer and booking details are available here:
http://bit.ly/C8sCv

***************************************
8) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

Twitter is the fastest growing means of online communication.
Follow Stop the War's daily Twitter updates here:
http://twitter.com/STWCoalition

2009-04-24T00:54:00.002+10:00

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1092 23 April 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) BARACK OBAMA AND THE WAR ON TERROR
2) OBAMA AND IRAN: LONDON PUBLIC MEETING 27 APRIL
3) REMEMBER GAZA... NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
4) REMEMBER IAN TOMLINSON ON FRIDAY 24 APRIL
5) CATCH UP ON RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES
6) DO YOU TWEET?

*****************************************
1) BARACK OBAMA AND THE WAR ON TERROR

The Stop the War national annual conference this Saturday 25
April begins with a session introduced by Tony Benn, with
several other keynote speakers, on Barack Obama and the War on
Terror. The conference will also discuss Afghanistan, Iraq,
Palestine and Muslims and civil liberties.

The conference is open to all members of Stop the War
Coalition. To book your place (and become a member, if you are
not one already) CALL: 020 7801 2768
Full details here:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1198/1/

STOP THE WAR COALITION NATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Tony Benn * Karma Nabulsi * Ken Loach *
George Galloway MP * Rose Gentle * Seumas Milne * Daud
Abdullah * Jeremy Corbyn MP * Craig Murray * Lindsey German

SESSIONS: * Barack Obama and the War on Terror introduced by
Tony Benn, * Troops out of Afghanistan with Rose Gentle and
others, * Palestine with Karma Nabulsi and others, * Muslims
and Civil Liberties with George Galloway MP and others, * Iraq
Briefing with Sami Ramadami, * Building the Stop the War
movement

South Camden Community School
Charrington Street, London, NW1 1RG
Saturday 25 April: 10.00am to 5.00pm.

BOOK NOW: Call 020 7801 2768

*****************************************
2) OBAMA AND IRAN: LONDON PUBLIC MEETING 27 APRIL

Speakers:
JON SNOW Channel 4 news journalist and presenter
MEHRI HONARBIN-HOLLIDAY Academic and writer, Campaign Iran
ALI FATHOLLAH-NEVJAD Political scientist, CASMII
JOHN REES Stop the War Coalition
Chair:
BARONESS PROFESSOR HALEH AFSHAR Iranian academic

Monday 27 April - 7Ppm - Room G2, SOAS
Russell Square Campus, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
London WC1H 0XG

See map: http://tiny.cc/5nUFs Hosted by Campaign Iran

*****************************************
3) REMEMBER GAZA... NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION

SATURDAY 16 MAY ASSEMBLE 12NOON CENTRAL LONDON
Free Palestine - End Israeli Occupation - End the Arms Trade
Called by: Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War
Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Palestinian Forum in
Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Full details here:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1179/1/

*****************************************
4) REMEMBER IAN TOMLINSON ON FRIDAY 24 APRIL

To remember Ian Tomlinson and those who have died in police
custody, the United Campaign Against Police Violence (UCAPV)
has called for lights across Britain to turn off for one hour
this Friday.

Full details here:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1197/27/

*****************************************
5) CATCH UP ON RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES

The forgotten war: what "victory" looks like in Iraq:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1200/1/

Protest is the cornerstone of democracy:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1195/27/

Defend BBC's Jeremy Bowen under attack from Zionist lobby:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1194/27/

Dancing on Gaza graves. Israeli army song-and-dance troupe
commemorate Israel's founding:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1193/199/

We need an independent public inquiry into the policing of
public events:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1196/27/

*****************************************
6) DO YOU TWEET?

For Stop the War supporters who like to tweet, follow Stop the
War on Twitter. Get the latest news about Stop the War
activities and events instantly, plus links to interesting
anti-war analysis and comment. If you are not a tweeter yet,
join now. It's free and the fastest growing form of online
communication on the web.

http://twitter.com/STWCoalition

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1091 20 April 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) LATEST ON STOP THE WAR CONFERENCE
2) HALF PRICE FILM OFFICER TO STOP THE WAR SUPPORTERS
3) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

*****************************************
1) LATEST ON STOP THE WAR CONFERENCE

BOOK NOW FOR THE STOP THE WAR CONFERENCE
SATURDAY 25 APRIL 1.00AM - 5.30PM Registration from 9.00am
SOUTH CAMDEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL, LONDON NW1 1RG

TO REGISTER AS A DELEGATE OR AN OBSERVER:
Phone Stop the War on 020 7801 2768.

The conference will be a chance to discuss the state of the
War on Terror and the next steps for the anti war movement In
a heightened political atmosphere generated by the G20
protests, the movement for Gaza and police attacks on
protestors, the conference will be addressed by key figures of
the movement.

We will also be showing footage of the great Gaza
demonstrations including video of brutal police attacks.

Latest additions to the list of speakers include DAUD
ABDULLAH, Deputy General Secretary of Muslim Council of
Britain, currently under attack from the government for his
statements in support of the Palestinians and WALTER WOLFGANG
ex-Labour Party NEC.

SESSIONS:
* Obama and the War on Terror introduced by TONY BENN
* Troops out of Afghanistan with ROSE GENTLE and others
* Palestine with KARMA NABULSI and others
* Muslims and Civil Liberties with GEORGE GALLOWAY MP and
others
* Iraq Briefing with SAMI RAMADAMI
* Building Stop the war.

Other speakers include film director KEN LOACH, Guardian
journalist SEUMAS MILNE, National Stop the War Convenor
LINDSEY GERMAN, National Stop the War Chair ANDREW MURRAY and
JEREMY CORBYN MP.

BOOK YOUR PLACE: PHONE STOP THE WAR ON 020 7801 2768
The conference is open to all national members of Stop the War
coalition, either as delegates from local Stop the War groups
and affiliated organisations, or as individual observers.

*****************************************
2) SPECIAL OFFER TO STOP THE WAR MEMBERS

Legendary photomontage artist PETER KENNARD, who has been
producing world renowned anti-war images for over 30 years,
has together with CAT PHILLIPS released a stunning film,
titled TO DIE FOR, which is being offered at a special
half-price discount for Stop the War supporters.

"One of the most important artists of the late 20th century."
- John Pilger.

FOR FULL DETAILS GO TO:
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1150/1/

*****************************************
3) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

Do you tweet? Get instant upates on Stop the War activities,
other information from the anti-war movement and links to
comment and analysis.

Follow Stop the War on http://twitter.com/STWCoalition
**********************************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1090 15 April 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE
2) PROTEST: STOP POLICE BRUTALITY
3) STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

***************************************************
1) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Saturday April 25th
Camden Community School
Charrington Street,
London NW1 1RG

Registration 9am, Conference ends 6pm

Nearest tubes Euston and Kings Cross.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Tony Benn, Ken Loach, Karma Nabulsi, George Galloway, Rose
Gentle, Anas al Tikriti, Andrew Murray, Sami Ramadani, Lindsey German, Jeremy
Corbyn and Kate Hudson.

Sessions include OBAMA AND THE WAR ON TERROR. TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN,
PALESTINE, MUSLIMS & CIVIL LIBERTIES, IRAQ BRIEFING, BUILDING STOP THE WAR.

This year has seen the biggest wave of anti war protest in years. Up and down
the country hundreds of thousands marched against Israel's brutal occupation of
Gaza. The protests and campaigning continue as the deadly blockade of the Gaza
enclave goes on.

In the last few weeks thousands of anti war protesters converged on the NATO
conference in Strasbourg to march against NATO expansion and the Obama surge in
Afghanistan, and thousands more joined the anti G20 protests in London.

After 3 months of intense activity the Stop the War Coalition's conference will
be a chance to assess the state of the war on terror under the new presidency
and discuss the movement's priorities.

The movement faces big challenges. As the fighting intensifies in Afghanistan
and more British troops are despatched there we need to relaunch the campaign
to get the troops out.

We have to keep up the pressure on Israel to end the siege of Gaza and force
our government and the so called international community to stop supporting
Israel.

We have to tackle the growing Islamophobia which is a direct product of the
wars our government has backed.

Your local Stop the War group will be sending a delegation to the conference -
get in touch with them if you want to be included or you can register
independently with the Stop the War office as a delegate if you were a member
before 1 Jan this year or an observer if you are a new member (you can join at
the conference).

ENTRY is £10. Phone 020 7801 2768 to book your place.

***************************************************
2) PROTEST: STOP POLICE BRUTALITY

DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST
THURSDAY 16 APRIL 5.00PM
NEW SCOTLAND YARD
10 BROADWAY, LONDON SW1
Called by Stop the War, CND, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and British Muslim
Initiative.

More video evidence has emerged of the unrestrained brutality of the policing
on the G20 demonstrations. Stop the War has experienced the same kind of
policing on the Gaza demonstrations in January this year and also at the George
Bush demonstration in June last year.

In one incident on the 3rd January march, police attacked marchers in the Hyde
Park underpass, creating a situation which could have led to serious injury and
death. Many complaints were made to the IPCC [Independent Police Complaints
Commission] but that body chose not to proceed with an investigation. The IPPC
is now discredited and must be replaced.

It is clear that there is now a co-ordinated attempt by the police to
criminalise peaceful protest in this country. This is a conspiracy against our
democracy which requires serious investigation. We will be protesting outside
Scotland Yard on Thursday 16 April to make this point.

***************************************************
3) STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

For Stop the War supporters who like to tweat and get the latest news about
activities and events:
http://twitter.com/STWCoalition

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1089 9 April 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) STOP POLICE BRUTALITY
2) MARCH IN COMMEMORATION OF IAN TOMLINSON
3) SRI LANKA DEMONSTRATION
4) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE
5) REMEMBER GAZA DEMONSTRATION 16 MAY

*********************************
1) STOP POLICE BRUTALITY

PROTESTING IS NOT A CRIME.
PROTEST 5PM, THURSDAY APRIL 16TH
NEW SCOTLAND YARD
8 -10 BROADWAY SW1H OBG
Called by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity
Campaign, British Muslim Initiative and others.

The tragic death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests confirms
what the Stop the War Coalition has been saying for some time;
that the police's current attitude towards protest is
confrontational, provocative and dangerous. In June 2008 the
Metropolitan police banned and attempted to criminalise a
protest at the visit of George Bush to London. They have since
tried to bring serious charges against up to 20 participants.
In January this year they brutally attacked demonstrators
protesting against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Since then
the police have raided the homes of some of those that
protested.

The tactics of forcible corralling - so called 'kettling',
police assaults on overwhelmingly peaceful protestors and home
raids on participants add up to to a major attack on the right
to protest.

The Stop the War Coalition, the British Mulsim Initiative and
Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others have called a protest
at Scotland Yard on Thursday April 16th to demand action on
these issues.

We ask all our supporters to attend this protest.

*********************************
2) MARCH IN COMMEMORATION OF IAN TOMLINSON

SATURDAY 11 APRIL: ASSEMBLE 11.30AM
BETHNAL GREEN POLICE STATION

Stop the War is supporting the march in commemoration of Ian
Tomlinson who died at the G20 protest this Saturday. Please
wear black and bring flowers to lay where he died.

*********************************
3) SRI LANKA DEMONSTRATION

STOP GENOCIDE OF TAMILS IN SRI LANKA
SATURDAY 11 APRIL ASSEMBLE 1PM EMBANKMENT

Stop the War is supporting the Sri Lanka demonstration on
Saturday, called by the Tamil Forum UK. The march will be
assembling at 1pm at Embankment Tube. The Stop the War
contingent will be assembling at 12.30 outside the tube.

*********************************
4) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE

SATURDAY 25 APRIL: REGISTRATION 9AM
SOUTH CAMDEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
CHARRINGTON STREET, LONDON, NW1 1RG
Nearest Tubes - Euston, Kings Cross

The conference is a chance for anti-war activists to discuss
the state of the war on terror and plan the next steps for the
movement. The Conference will enable an exchange of ideas
about local campaigning and how best to strengthen local
groups.

This year has seen the biggest wave of anti-war protest since
the invasion of Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people up and
down the country marched and took action against Israel's
brutal invasion of Gaza. The campaign for Gaza continues as
the siege goes on and Israel lurches to the right.

Although Barack Obama was elected on a wave of anti-war
sentiment, his actions are failing to live up to the tone of
his speeches. He has ordered a surge in Afghanistan which can
only lead to more tragedy in a devastated country. This
'AfPak' war is pushing Pakistan to the brink of collapse.

His decision to continue with the Missile Defence Shield has
increased tension in Central Europe and with Iran.

The Conference will address all these issues and there will
also be sessions on Islamophopbia and Civil Liberries,
building local groups and the Media and the War.

Appearing at the conference will be Palestinian writer Karma
Nabulsi, Tony Benn, Ex ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray,
George Galloway MP, Rose Gentle from Military Families Against
the War, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Kate Hudson from CND, filmmaker Ken
Loach and many others.

Each Stop the War group can send up to 4 delegates, if its
affiliation is up to date. Other affiliates: 2 delegates with
up to 1,000 members, up to 4 with 1,000-10,000, up to 6 with
10,000 plus.

Individual members can come as delegates with speaking and
voting rights, if they were members by 1 January 2009. New
members can come as observers.

TO REGISTER
* BY POST: Send a cheque made out to Stop the War Coalition to
Stop the War Coalition, 231 Vauhall Bridge Road, London SW1V
1EH.
* BY CREDIT CARD: Call 020 7801 2768.
* BY EMAIL: conference@stopwar.org.uk

*********************************
5) REMEMBER GAZA DEMONSTRATION 16 MAY

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION 16 MAY
REMEMBER GAZA - FREE PALESTINE

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War, BMI and CND
have called this demonstration on the anniversary of the Naqba
- the catastrophe in 1948.

The siege of Gaza continues, those who organised the invasion
remain unpunished and Britain and the US continue to support
and sell arms to Israel. Stop the War is asking all its
supporters to mobilise as widely as possible for this
important demonstration. Full details to follow shortly.

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
3 April 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

EMERGENCY PROTEST MARCH AGAINST POLICE
BRUTALITY ON G20 DEMONSTRATIONS
ASSEMBLE 12PM SATURDAY 4 APRIL BANK OF ENGLAND
MARCH TO BETHNAL GREEN POLICE STATION

Stop the War is supporting the protest march against the police brutality on
the G20 London demonstrations this week. Not only were these marches attacked
but the recent demonstrations against the invasion and blockade of Gaza were
also met with extreme force from the Metropolitan police. It would seem that
the police have taken it upon themselves to deny the right to peaceful protest.

The protest march will also be to express compassion with the family of
Ian Tomlinson who tragically died during the 1 April protests at the Bank
of England. The march organisers are calling for an independent public inquiry
into the instances of police violence that occurred thoughout the week and to
establish the full circumstances of Ian Tomlinson's death.

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

2009-03-17T16:29:00.007+11:00

******************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1088 30 March 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

FINAL DETAILS FOR THE ANTI WAR G20 PROTESTS

WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL - DEMONSTRATE AS WORLD LEADERS ARRIVE

YES WE CAN MARCH - Get the troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq - End the Siege
of Gaza/free Palestine - Make Jobs not bombs - Abolish all Nukes - Stop selling
arms to Israel.

ASSEMBLE 2PM US EMBASSY, Grosvenor Square, W1K 4AF.
Nearest tubes Bond Street and Green Park.
Called by Stop the War, CND, The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the British
Muslim Initiative.

We will be marching through central London to Trafalgar Square.

3.30PM ALTERNATIVE SUMMIT IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Tony Benn; Arthur Scargill; Susan George; Bruce Kent, CND; Lindsey German, Stop
the War Coalition; Dr Mahathir Mohamed, ex President of Malaysia; Daud
Abduallah, Muslim Council of Britain; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Keith Sonnet, UNISON;
Victoria Brittain; Alan Simpson MP, Billy Hayes,CWU; Ismail Patel, BMI;
Mohammed Umar, Ramadan Foundation.

PERFORMERS INCLUDE: Lowkey, Julie Felix and Reem Kalani

THURSDAY 2 APRIL PROTEST AT THE G20
11 am, the roundabout at end of Tidal Basin Road, E16 1AD.
Nearest working tube/DLR: Canning Town.

Please bring shoes, baby dolls, photos and other symbols of the death and
destruction wreaked by the world's leaders.

*****************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1088 30 March 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

FINAL DETAILS FOR THE ANTI WAR G20 PROTESTS

WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL - DEMONSTRATE AS WORLD LEADERS ARRIVE

YES WE CAN MARCH - Get the troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq - End the Siege
of Gaza/free Palestine - Make Jobs not bombs - Abolish all Nukes - Stop selling
arms to Israel.

ASSEMBLE 2PM US EMBASSY, Grosvenor Square, W1K 4AF.
Nearest tubes Bond Street and Green Park.
Called by Stop the War, CND, The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the British
Muslim Initiative.

We will be marching through central London to Trafalgar Square.

3.30PM ALTERNATIVE SUMMIT IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Tony Benn; Arthur Scargill; Susan George; Bruce Kent, CND; Lindsey German, Stop
the War Coalition; Dr Mahathir Mohamed, ex President of Malaysia; Daud
Abduallah, Muslim Council of Britain; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Keith Sonnet, UNISON;
Victoria Brittain; Alan Simpson MP, Billy Hayes,CWU; Ismail Patel, BMI;
Mohammed Umar, Ramadan Foundation.

PERFORMERS INCLUDE: Lowkey, Julie Felix and Reem Kalani

THURSDAY 2 APRIL PROTEST AT THE G20
11 am, the roundabout at end of Tidal Basin Road, E16 1AD.
Nearest working tube/DLR: Canning Town.

Please bring shoes, baby dolls, photos and other symbols of the death and
destruction wreaked by the world's leaders.

******************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1088 30 March 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

5 REASONS TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR THIS WEDNESDAY:

Saturday's Put People First demonstration was excellent. Tens of thousands came
out to protest against the whole spectrum of the world leaders' policies. The
anti-war bloc was very big and very loud and got lots of coverage.

The next big event is the Yes We Can demonstration this Wednesday.

This is the only anti-war demonstration at the G20. It is the main chance we
have to make sure that the G20 leaders can't avoid the massive opposition to
their war policies.

The demonstration will assemble at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Sq, London W1A
2LQ. Nearest tubes Green Park or Bond Street.

We will hand in a message to Barack Obama and then march through central London
to Trafalgar Square for an alternative summit.

Speakers include Arthur Scargill, Tony benn, Susan George, Lindsey German,
Bruce Kent and Daud Abdullah.

5 REASONS TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR THIS WEDNESDAY:

* Barack Obama has just announced a surge of 23,000 extra troops for
Afghanistan. The British government looks set to send another 2,000.

* The murderous siege of Gaza continues. Israel is still bombing the tunnels in
to Gaza.

* No date has been set for the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq.

* Both US and British projected military spending has risen on last year.

* Britain is still selling arms to Israel.

******************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1087 25 March 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

In this newsletter:
1) GET READY FOR A WEEK OF PROTEST
2) SAT 28 MARCH: PUT PEOPLE FIRST DEMONSTRATION
3) MON 30 MARCH: PUBLIC MEETING: MEET THE RESISTANCE
4) TUE 31 MARCH: STOP THE WAR PRESENTS LOWKEY
5) WED 1 APRIL: YES WE CAN DEMONSTRATION
6) THURS 2 APRIL, 11AM PROTEST AT THE EXCEL CENTRE
7) APR 3-5 NO TO NATO INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATION

*****************************************
1) GET READY FOR A WEEK OF PROTEST

Stop the War's main event at the G20 is the YES WE CAN
demonstration which starts at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square
at 2.00pm on Wednesday 1 April.

But we have a week of protest coming up at the G20 and NATO
(details below). It is crucial we make sure the world's
leaders can't escape the massive opposition to the wars they
are waging.

For more information on any of these events please contact the
Stop the War office on 020 7801 2768 on or check the
website www.stopwar.org.uk

*****************************************
2) SAT 28 MARCH: PUT PEOPLE FIRST DEMONSTRATION

Stop the War is encouraging its supporters to join this
demonstration called by the TUC and NGO's calling for Jobs and
action on poverty and the environment.

We will be forming an anti war/solidarity with Palestine
contingent on the demo. Look for the Jobs Not Bombs banner,
meet at Temple Tube 10.30 am.
http://www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk

*****************************************
3) MON 30 MARCH: PUBLIC MEETING: MEET THE RESISTANCE
THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE & JUSTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Come and hear elected representatives from the resistance in
Palestine and Lebanon.

Speakers:
HUSSEIN EL-HAJJ HASSAN MP
Lebanon’s Loyalty to the Resistance Parliamentary Bloc
HASAN KHREISHI
Vice President of the Palestinian Legislative Council
JEREMY CORBYN MP
Stop the War Coalition
JOHN REES
Vice President (Europe) Cairo Conference
DYAB ABOU JAHJAH
International Co-Ordinator of the International Union of
Parliamentarians For Palestine
SUKANT CHANDAN
English Chair of IUPFP

Time: 7pm
Date: Monday 30th March
Place: Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London (nearest
tube, Euston or Euston Square)
Entrance £2

*****************************************
4) TUE 31 MARCH: STOP THE WAR PRESENTS LOWKEY
Tears to Laughter, a benefit and launch party for Lowkey's new
single and for the G20 protests. Featuring Faith SFX and
Shadia Mansour.
8pm, Vibe Bar, Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL 8pm.
Contact the Stop the War office on 020 7801 2768 to book your
ticket.

*****************************************
5) WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL: YES WE CAN DEMONSTRATION
Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, End the Siege of Gaza,
Make Jobs not Bombs, Abolish nukes, End Arms Sales to Israel.

Assemble 2pm US Embassy Grosvenor Square.

The demonstration will start by handing in a message to Barack
Obama at the US embassy. We will then march through central
London at the moment the world leaders' arrive and Obama meets
Gordon Brown at Downing Street.

3.30 RALLY IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. Speakers include Tony Benn,
Arthur Scargill, Daud Abdullah from the Muslim Council of
Britain, anti debt campaigner Susan George, and Keith Sonnet
from UNISON. Performers include Palestinian singer Reem
Kolanai and rapper Lowkey.

*****************************************
6) THURS 2 APRIL, 11AM PROTEST AT THE EXCEL CENTRE
Details to be announced.

*****************************************
7) NO TO NATO INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATION

FRIDAY 3 APRIL: 6am Victoria Embankment. Join the coach for
Strasbourg No To NATO protests. Book online at
www.stopwar.org.uk or by phone on 020 7801 2768

SATURDAY 4 APRIL: NO to NATO International Demonstration,
Strasbourg

SUNDAY 5 APRIL: Strasbourg Counter Conference

*****************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1086 23 March 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

In this newsletter:
1) PROTEST AT G20 - SPREAD THE WORD
2) PUT PEOPLE FIRST: SATURDAY 28 MARCH
3) PROTEST AT G20 SUMMIT THURSDAY 2 APRIL
4) NO TO NATO PROTEST STRASBOURG APRIL 4 AND 5

*************************************
1) PROTEST AT G20 - SPREAD THE WORD
The leaders of the world's big powers will meet at the G20
summit in London next week. It will be Barack Obama's first
visit to London and a chance to demand change from Bush's war
policies.

The anti war demonstration at the G20 will assemble at the US
Embassy at 2pm on Wednesday 1st April. We will be handing in a
message to the US Embassy and then marching through central
London as the world's leaders arrive.

Our message to Obama and the rest of the worlds leaders will
be 'Yes We Can'. Yes we can end the siege of Gaza and free
Palestine, get the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, make
jobs not bombs, abolish nukes and stop arming Israel.

For all these reasons we are asking all our supporters to join
this demonstration and publicise it as widely as possible.
Stickers, postcards and posters are available from the Stop
the War office on 020 7801 2768.

Amongst those speaking and performing in Trafalgar Square will
be Tony Benn, Arthur Scargill, anti-debt campaigner Susan
George, rapper Lowkey, Palestinian singer Reem Kolani, UNISON
Keith Sonnet, and Daud Abdullah from the Muslim Council of
Britain.

The demonstration is called by The Stop the War Coalition,
CND, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and British Muslim
Initiative.

*************************************
2) PUT PEOPLE FIRST SATURDAY 28 MARCH
The anti-war movement will be marching together on this
important demonstration under a banner calling for Jobs not
Bombs. Meet at the start of the demonstration at Temple tube
at 10.30 am.

*************************************
3) PROTEST AT G20 SUMMIT THURSDAY 2 APRIL
Stop the War is calling a protest at the Excel Centre at the
Summit itself on Thursday. Starts at the Excel in East London
at 11am.

*************************************
4) NO TO NATO PROTEST STRASBOURG APRIL 4 AND 5
The week of protests continues! Tens of thousands will be
travelling from all over Europe to protest at the NATO meeting
in Strasbourg. Stop the War is putting on coaches leaving
Victoria Embankment at 6 am Friday April 3rd. Book your seat
now online at www.stopwar.org.uk or by phone on 020 7801 2768.

******************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
06 March 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

YES WE CAN NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL: ASSEMBLE 2.0 PM
US EMBASSY, GROSVENOR SQUARE, W1A 1AE

The anti war movement will be marching from the US embassy on
Wednesday 1 April, the day Barack Obama and the other world
leaders arrive in London for the G20 Summit.

The march will be in support of Gaza and against the
occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and for the abolition of
nuclear weapons. It will assemble at 2 pm at the US Embassy,
Grosvenor Square, London.

Our message will be: YES WE CAN end the siege of Gaza and free
Palestine, get the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, abolish
all nukes, create jobs not bombs and stop arming Israel.

We are calling for the biggest possible mobilisation for this
national demonstration. We are asking all local Stop the War
groups to book transport for the day.

We will also be protesting at the G20 summit at the Excel
Centre in East London on Thursday 2 April at 11 am

For flyers, posters and other publicity phone the Coalition
office on 0207278 6694 or e-mail us at office@stopwar.org.uk

********************************
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********************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1084 03 March 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) PROTEST AT THE G20 - APRIL 1ST AND 2ND
2) PROTEST AT THE NATO MEETING IN STRASBOURG
3) SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA: NATIONAL TOUR
4) GAZA EMERGENCY LOBBY PARLIAMENT 11 MARCH
5) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE 25 APRIL
6) ISRAELI SCIENCE DAY: SCIENCE MUSEUM PROTEST

*************************************
1) PROTEST AT THE G20 - APRIL 1ST AND 2ND

The leaders of the world's most powerful nations will meet at
the G20 summit in London on April 2. It will be Barack Obama's
first visit to Britain. Despite expectations of a change of
course, and though we now have a welcome commitment to a
pullback from Iraq, there has been no distancing from Israel
from Obama, a promise of a massive surge of troops to
Afghanistan and continued missile attacks on Pakistan.

The G20 is a chance for us to demand a real end to Bush's war
policies. The Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity
Campaign, The British Muslim Initiative, and CND have called
two protests at the G20.

Our message will be 'Yes We Can'. Yes we can end the siege of
Gaza and free Palestine, yes we can get the troops out of Iraq
and Afghanistan, yes we can make jobs not bombs, yes we can
abolish nukes, yes we can stop arming Israel.
* April1st: march through central London on the eve of the
G20, assemble central London, 2pm.
* April 2nd: protest at the Excel Centre London Docklands,
assemble 11am.

For publicity postcards contact the Stop the War office.

Stop the War will also be marching on the March 28th Put
People First Demonstration.

*************************************
2) PROTEST AT THE NATO MEETING IN STRASBOURG
NO TO NATO TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN
Book your seat now!
Anti-war groups from across the world are heading for
Strasbourg, France, to protest at the NATO meeting against any
further expansion of NATO and to demand an end to the
occupation of Afghanistan.

There will be an international demonstration, blockades and a
counter summit at the NATO meeting in Strasbourg on 2-5 April
2009. The international demonstration is on Saturday April
4th.

Stop the War is organising coaches to the protests, leaving at
9am on Friday April 3rd from Victoria Embankment. Tickets are
going fast and places are limited due to ferry bookings.
Please book now. To book and for more information on the
protests go to www.stopwar.org.uk

The French Government is trying to stop the protests taking
place in central Strasbourg - please sign the protest petition
on the website.

*************************************
3) SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA: NATIONAL TOUR
END THE WAR ON TERROR

370 people packed in to the Stop the War rally in Hackney on
Monday. It was so packed, unfortunately some people had to be
turned away.

Stop the War is organising 'Solidarity with Gaza, End the War
on Terror' meetings in towns and cities around the country
with speakers including Tony Benn, Ken Loach, Andrew Murray,
Marian Abudayya, Seamus Milne, Ismail Patel, Lindsey German,
Jeremy Corbyn, Kate Hudson, John Rees and Louise Christian.

For details of your local meeting check the website. If you
want to organise a meeting in your town or area please contact
the office.

*************************************
4) GAZA EMERGENCY LOBBY PARLIAMENT
WEDNESDAY MARCH 11TH, 2-6PM

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War have called
a Lobby of Parliament on Wed 11 March to protest at the
continuing siege of Gaza and the inaction of our government.
Please request a meeting with your MP in advance - remember to
tell them if it will only be possible for you to meet them at
certain times during the day.

*************************************
5) STOP THE WAR COALITION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
SATURDAY 25TH APRIL

The conference will assess the state of War on Terror after
Bush with a special focus on Palestine and Afghanistan and
debate the strategy for the movement. Each affiliated stop the
war group has the right to 4 delegates. Individual members
can come as observers. Phone Stop the War to affiliate and
book your places

Speakers include Sami Ramadani, Karma Nabulsi, Tony Benn,
Craig Murray, Ken Loach, Andrew Murray, Rose Gentle, Jeremy
Corbyn and Lindsey German.

*************************************
6) ISRAELI SCIENCE DAY: SCIENCE MUSEUM PROTEST

More than 400 academics, a Nobel laureate and the former chair
of the Science Select Committee called on the Science Museum
to cancel workshops due to be held this week in London and
Manchester that promote Israeli scientific achievements to
schoolchildren.

Pickets have been called to protest against the museum
decision to promote scientists and universities who are
"complicit in the Israeli occupation and in the policies and
weaponry recently deployed to such disastrous effect in Gaza".
SEE http://tinyurl.com/bztfj6

MANCHESTER Tues 3rd March, from 10am
See http://manchesterstopwar.org/

LONDON :THURSDAY 5 MARCH, 9.30AM,
SCIENCE MUSEUM
EXHIBITION ROW
LONDON SW7 2DD

Called by Brick Up supported by Stop the War Coalition.

*************************************
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********************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1083 23 February 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU
2) RESISTANCE ON THE ROAD: G20/NATO/CAIRO CONFERENCE
3) CALLING ALL LONDON STUDENTS
5) DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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

1) COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU
SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA-END THE WAR ON TERROR
The Stop the War Coalition is going on the road. We are
organising meetings in towns and cities up and down the country,
with speakers including Palestinians, activists, representatives
of the Muslim community and well known figures such as Tony Benn,
Bruce Kent and Jeremy Corbyn. The title of the meetings is
'Solidarity with Gaza, end the war on terror' and they are aimed
to sustain the momentum of the mass movement round Palestine
while mobilising for the week of protests around the G20 and NATO
in early April. Below is a list of meetings already booked. More
are being organised. If you would like a meeting in your area,
please let us know. We will provide speakers and help you to
organise and publicise it.

RALLIES: SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA - END THE WAR ON TERROR

Blackburn: 13th March. More information: 0207 278 6694

Brighton: 13th March with Tony Benn & Andrew Murray + others tbc
7.30pm, The Metropole Hotel, Sea Front. More information: 07962
940 355

Bristol: 6th March with Tony Benn, Dr Mohammed Odeh, Farooq
Siddique, Hiba Ayyad, Rawan Abu Amriyeh & Chris Nineham.
7.30 pm, The City Academy, Russell Town Avenue, Bristol, BS5 9JH.
More information: bristolstopwar@hotmail.com

Doncaster: 3rd March with Lindsey German & Andrew Murray. More
information: 0207 278 6694.

Ealing: 6th March with Lindsey German, Maryam Abu Dayya (activist
from Gaza)
19.30, Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway W5. More information:
ealingstopwar@gmail.com

Hackney: 2nd March: No to Nato Get out of Afghanistan with Tony
Benn; Gan Majicek - No to Bases Initiative, Czech Republic;
Lindsey German; Haci Ozdemir - Refugee Workers Quarter
Association. Abney Hall, 73a Stoke Newington Church St, N16.
Entry: £2. More information: 07932 714 833

Haringey:19th March with Lindsey German & more tbc. More
information: 020 72786694.

Kings Lynn: 18th March with Lindsey German
7.30, Friends Meeting House, 38 Bridge St, Kings Lynn
More information: 01366 500 799

Ladbroke Grove: March 26th with Andrew Murray, Tony Benn and
others. Notting Hill Arts Centre. More information Julie 07738
455632

Lambeth: 21st March, An afternoon on Palestine

Middlesbrough: 10th March with John Rees & Andrew Murray. St
Mary's Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesborough. More
information: 0207 278 6694

Newcastle: 9th March with Jeremy Corbyn MP & John Rees
More information: 0207 278 6694

Rotherham: 23rd February with Kate Hudson & Andrew Murray

Sheffield: 11th March with Bruce Kent CND, Muhammed Ali - Islam
Channel, Lindsey German. More information: 0207 278 6694.

Yeovil & Sherborne: 5th March with Chris Nineham
Unity Hall, Central Road, Yeovil (opposite the bus station)
More information: John on 01935 873 028

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

2) RESISTANCE ON THE ROAD MARCH 27TH - APRIL 5TH

- PROTEST AT THE G20 IN LONDON. Demonstrate Wednesday April 1st
Central London. Protest at the summit Thursday April 2nd.

The leaders of the world's big powers will meet at the G20 summit
in London on April 2. It is Barack Obama's first visit to
Britain. It is our chance to demand a change from Bush's war
policies. The Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity
Campaign, The British Muslim Initiative, and CND have called two
protests at the G20; a march and rally in central London on the
afternoon of April 1st, and a protest to the conference itself on
April 2nd. In the afternoon of April 1st we will be marching
through Central London while Barack Obama speaks to Parliament.
On Thursday morning we will be protesting to the summit itself at
the Excel Centre in East London.

Our message will be 'Yes We Can'. Yes we can end the siege of
Gaza and free Palestine, get the troops out of Iraq and
Afghanistan, make jobs not bombs, abolish nukes, stop arming
Israel.

- NO TO NATO, STRASBOURG 1-5 April
The international anti war movement has called a series of
protests at the NATO summit in Strasbourg in France. There will
be a massive international demonstration on Saturday 4th. Among
other things the demo will be demanding all foreign troops out of
Afghanistan.

There will be blockades of the conference on Friday 3rd and
Saturday 4th and a counter summit that ends on Sunday 5th. Noam
Chomsky and Tariq Ali will be among the speakers.

Stop the War is organising a British contingent leaving on the
morning of Friday 3rd April. To book your seat on a Stop the War
coach go to
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=823&Itemid=216
For more information go to
http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=812&Itemid=1

Stop Press: NATO tries to halt Strasbourg demonstration

NATO and the French authorities are threatening to ban the
international 'No to NATO, No to War' demonstration in Strasbourg
on Saturday 4 April. NATO's 60th anniversary meeting will be held
inside a Red Zone that encompasses the whole of the city centre.
Even Strasbourg residents will need a special pass to come and go
in their own city. Now the authorities are threatening to exclude
the international peace demonstration from the city. The
international coalition calling the demonstration are organising
a wave of protest at this attack on the right to demonstrate.
Sign the petition at
http://www.petitiononline.com/nato/petition.html
Write to the President of France at http://www.elysee.fr/ecrire/

- CAIRO CONFERENCE
March 27/28/29, Cairo

For seven years the Cairo Conference has been a vital meeting
place for those fighting against war and occupation in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Palestine and beyond. It brings together activists
from the Middle East and the international anti war movements.
Participants include trade unionists, activists from the national
liberation movements, and representatives from all the radical
parties.

Direct flights are available with BA for under £300 & there is a
wide range of inexpensive accommodation in Cairo.

For more information please phone Stop the War or e-mail
cairoconference@stopwar.org.uk

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

3) CALLING ALL LONDON STUDENTS

London Student Activist Meeting
Tuesday 24 February, 5pm, Kings SU, Guys Campus, Nearest tube
London Bridge

The incredible wave of ocupations continues. UEL, St. Andrews and
University of West England have all occupied in the last week.
The occupation of New York University was directly inspired by
actions taken by British students. Most of the occupations so far
have been victorious, with demands met including scholarships for
Palestinian students, aid to Gaza and statements from
Universities condemning Israel's barbaric attack.

There will be a student activist meeting, open to all students
who want to take action over Gaza, on Tuesday 24 February, 5pm,
at the Students Union at Guys Campus of Kings College. Nearest
tube London Bridge.

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

4) DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

-'Benefit Gaza' - Unity For The Innocent Victims of War - will
take place on Saturday 28th at The Cockpit Theatre, NW8

'Benefit Gaza' will feature Comedy Store performers such David
Whitney, author John Rose, music from Aruba Red, Robb Johnson and
Clare Mooney, readings from leading actors such as Neil D'Souza
(National Theatre), Angus Lindsay (Complicite) Doug Rao (DS
Turner in the The Bill) and many more including up and coming
stand up Nathan Caton ( Little Miss Jocelyn)

Tickets cost £15 or £12 concessions. All proceeds will go to MAP
and the Rachel Corrie Foundation. There are limited tickets so we
strongly urge booking online or reserving via email.

- A Stop the War benefit - The premiere of a new play
A reading of THE TRAINER with Tim Pigott-Smith, Corin Redgrave
and others to be announced.
By David Wilson and Anne Aylor (Advisor, Keith Burstein)
Friday 6 March, 7.30 pm @ Oxford House, Derbyshire Street,
Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG
nearest tube: Bethnal Green.

The Trainer is a rehearsed reading of a play with two strands.
One concerning the composer Keith Burstein who sued the Evening
Standard after being accused of 'glorifying' terror in his opera,
'Manifest Destiny'. The other strand concerns Leila, the young
Palestinian gym-trainer of the judges in Burstein's court of
appeal. This is a black surreal comedy about the terror laws that
have descended into farce.

Tickets £5 available on the web (www.stopwar.org.uk) or pay by
credit card (020 7278 6694) If paying by cheque send to Stop the
War Coalition, 27 Britannia Street, London WC1X 9JP and mark
'trainer'. Please enclose a return address for your tickets.

- Stop the War Annual Conference
Saturday April 25th, Camden Community School, Euston, London.
An opportunity to discuss the nature of the War on Terror after
Bush and how the movement should respond.
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2009-01-30T21:19:00.006+11:00

STOP THE WAR COALITION
06 February 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

WAVE OF GAZA SOLIDARITY ACTION ON UK CAMPUSES
NATIONAL STUDENT ACTIVISTS' MEETING CALLED
TONY BENN AND GEORGE GALLOWAY AMONG SPEAKERS

The last two weeks have seen an extraordinary wave of
solidarity action for Gaza on Britain's campuses, with student
occupations at 22 universities and colleges so far.

The students' demands have been for the universities and
colleges to provide scholarships for Palestinian students, to
send books and unused computers to Palestine, to condemn the
Israeli attacks on Gaza and to disinvest from Israel,
specifically from investing in BAE, which supplies arms to
Israel.

A victory for these demands has been won in the majority of
universities and colleges which took action. More occupations
are likely to follow on other campuses.

Stop the War has organised a student activists' meeting in
London on Saturday 7 February, at which the speakers will
include Tony Benn, George Galloway MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP and
Lindsey German, national convenor of Stop the War.

The meeting is open to everyone who wants to build an active
anti-war movement on campus. Please publicise the meeting as
widely as you can.

STOP THE WAR NATIONAL STUDENT ACTIVIST MEETING
SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY, 12-4PM
BIRKBECK COLLEGE,
ROOM B01, CLORE MANAGEMENT CENTRE,
25-27 TORRINGTON SQUARE, LONDON, WC1E 7HX

TIMETABLE:

12-1pm
Solidarity with Gaza - End the War on Terror
Tony Benn, George Galloway MP, Lindsey German Convenor Stop
the War, Mira Hammad LSE

1-2.30pm
Building solidarity with Palestine on the campuses
With representatives from University campaigns

3-4pm
Closing Rally - The future of the anti-war movement
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Chris Nineham StWC, Rob Owen, NUS NEC

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Email: office@stopwar.org.uk
Phone: 07783 541 333

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1082 05 February 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA
2) STOP THE WAR'S 7TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE
3) UPCOMING EVENTS FOR GAZA
4) SOLDIERS' MOTHER CALLS FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL
5) SKY SALESMAN OF THE WEEK
6) ISRAELI COLONEL FLEES BRITAIN FEARING ARREST

************************************
1) SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA

The mainstream media may have lost interest, but for ordinary
people across the world, outraged by Israel's savagery and the
refusal of the world's governments to condemn its war crimes,
there is a determination that this time Gaza will not be
forgotten.

Israel is continuing its inhuman siege of Gaza which reduces
most of its population to dependency on emergency food rations
to survive -- Israel having wrecked up to 60 percent of Gaza's
agricultural industry (see http://tinyurl.com/bwtzph ) -- and
imposes severe limits on all basic necessities, including
medical supplies.

In Britain, there's a vast range of solidarity activities
taking place across the country, including student occupations
of universities and colleges demanding disinvestment from
Israel, Gaza aid collections and protests, pickets publicising
the boycott of Israeli goods and benefit concerts for Gaza.
(See below for details.)

Stop the War is planning a national tour of rallies under the
title SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA - END THE WAR ON TERROR. Full
details will be available shortly. Please phone the national
office if you want help setting up a rally in your town or
area: 020 7278 6694

NEW BRIEFING SHEET: SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA
A new Stop the War briefing sheet titled SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA
is now available from the national office for our local groups
to use at their meetings, street stalls and other events, and
for our supporters to distribute in their workplace, colleges,
community organisations etc. The cost is £5 per hundred and
orders can be placed by calling 020 7278 6694.

************************************
2) STOP THE WAR'S 7TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Stop the War's 7th national conference will take place on
Saturday April 25 at South Camden Community School in London.
The day will include sessions on the campaign to secure an end
to the occupation of Afghanistan and on solidarity with the
Palestinian people. The full agenda will be available soon.

As well as delegations from local Stop the War groups and
affiliated organisations, the conference is open to all
individual members of Stop the War.

For further details, contact the national office: email
office@stopwar.org.uk; tel 020 7278 6694

************************************
3) UPCOMING EVENTS FOR GAZA

- SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY: ISRAELI BOYCOTT
A major boycott protest, organised by Palestine Solidarity
Campaign, will be held at the Agrexco HQ in Hayes, Middlesex.
Agrexco is one of the main despatch centres for Israeli
produced flowers. The next week is one of the busiest times
for the sale of flowers, with Valentine's day approaching.
What most people do not know is that many of the flowers sold
in Britain come from Israel. For full details of the Agrexco
protest, including available transport, and for other boycott
activities this Saturday, go to: http://tinyurl.com/dkcp5p

- SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY: CHILDREN'S DEMONSTRATION
A children's demonstration for the children of Gaza and for
all children of Palestine will take place outside 10 Downing
Street on Sunday 8 February, 1.30pm to 3.00pm. The protest is
organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission and
Palestinian Forum of Britain and is supported by many other
organisations, including Stop the War Coalition.

- MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY: ISRAELI AMBASSADOR PROTEST
Kensington and Chelsea Council have invited the Israeli
Ambassador for a diplomatic reception at Kensington Town Hall
on Monday 9 February, despite Labour councillors tabling a
motion calling for the invitation to be withdrawn. A
London-wide protest has been called outside Kensington Town
Hall, when the reception takes place at 5.30pm on 9 February.
The Israeli Ambassador should not be feted at diplomatic
receptions but expelled from Britain for the war crimes
perpetrated by the country he represents.
* Israeli Ambassador Protest, Monday 9 February 5.30pm
* Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7nx

- SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY: VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY LEAVES UK
The Viva Palestina aid convoy, initiated by George Galloway MP
and supported by many organisations, including Stop the War,
leaves Britain on 14 February, taking the message "We will not
look away from Gaza" through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, before reaching Gaza around 9
March. The convoy will bring clothes, medicines and other
essential resources to Gaza. There are 32 vehicles pledged so
far, including six ambulances. The response has been so high
in London that all the vehicles are now filled with donated
aid. Aid collections are still taking place outside London and
supporters are also encouraged to make donations For full
details of the Viva Palestina convoy and how you can
contribute, go to: http://www.vivapalestina.org/

- SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY: BENEFIT FOR GAZA
A benefit for Stop the War Coalition & Medical Aid for
Palestinians, with Yaaba Funk, LowKey (see
http://tinyurl.com/bst8fp) and multi-percussionist Renu
Hossain
THE CROSS KINGS 7.30-11.30pm £10/ £5 (+ donations), 126 York
Way, London N1 0AX. Tel 020 7278 8318
www.thecrosskings.co.uk for travel and direction info

- FEBRUARY 6-21: SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN -- A PLAY FOR GAZA
Caryl Churchill, one of Britain's leading playwrights and a
long time supporter of Stop the War, has written a very short
play, called Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza, which is
a ten minute history of Israel, ending with the bombing of
Gaza, from 6-21 February. There will be thirteen performances
at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London. Admission
is free. There will be a collection for Medical Aid for
Palestinians at the end of the performance. For full details
and how to reserve a seat, see: http://tinyurl.com/dnjty3

************************************
4) SOLDIERS' MOTHER CALLS FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL

Marina Feasey, mother of two soldiers serving in Afghanistan
says all British troops should be withdrawn immediately. "The
government is sending them to their slaughter. The troops are
making security conditions worse."

"It's understandable that the Afghans viewed the British as
invaders. If this country was invaded we would also fight
until the occupiers left.

I think a lot of people in this country believe the Afghans
should be left to sort out their own problems. The idea that
our troops are somehow keeping our streets safe by fighting in
Afghanistan is nonsense. We are being attacked in this country
because of our involvement in Afghanistan."

READ FULL ARTICLE: http://tinyurl.com/c2jujz

************************************
5) SKY SALESMAN OF THE WEEK

Stop the War has received the following message from one of
our supporters:

I received a phone call from a Sky salesman trying to sell me
an extended warranty on my Sky Box. When I told him that I was
cancelling my subscription due to Sky's refusal to broadcast
the DEC appeal for Gaza, he said, "That's an admirable
thing to do; I wish more people would do the same".

SEE ALSO: The BBC's Nadir: How the Gaza massacre was reported:
http://tinyurl.com/dfpzvu

************************************
6) ISRAELI COLONEL FLEES BRITAIN FEARING ARREST

An Israeli colonel involved in Israel's attack on Gaza
returned to Israel in haste last week, fearing arrest on
charges of war crimes during a visit to the UK. A meeting at
which he was due to speak - apparently to justify Israel's
mass slaughter of civilians in Gaza -- was cancelled due to a
demonstration outside demanding that he be arrested.

A loophole in British law allows private criminal complaints
of war crimes to be lodged against military personnel, even if
they are not British citizens and the alleged crimes were
committed elsewhere. Israel is working with the British
government to change the law.

READ ARTICLE: http://tinyurl.com/cly8o2

*************************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
02 February 2009

PUBLIC MEETING CANCELLED
Due to the severe weather conditions in London, the public meeting GAZA -
FAILED BY THE MEDIA, scheduled for Monday 2 February and hosted by Media
Workers Against the War, has been cancelled.

BBC IN REVOLT OVER GAZA
The BBC is still seething in response to it’s director general Mark
Thompson’s decision not to broadcast the Gaza aid appeal.

At least three BBC NUJ workplace branches have passed motions calling on the
BBC to transmit the Gaza aid appeal. A petition is circulating within the
corporation which concludes: “The victims of Gaza deserve the aid appeal like
any other victims of humanitarian crises. The conflict they are caught in is
as controversial as any other armed conflict in the world and singling them
out is what harms the BBC’s reputation of impartiality.”

For more details of the BBC revolt, go to:
http://www.mwaw.net/2009/02/02/bbcrevolt/

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
01 February2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
T: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA
LONDON PUBLIC MEETING: MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY: 7PM

Even before the BBC's outrage-generating ban on the DEC
emergency aid broadcast, there was widespread criticism of the
reporting of Israel's onslaught on Gaza. Media Workers Against
the War is hosting another of its very impressive public
meetings in London, titled: Gaza - Failed by the Media.

Speakers:
Richard Horton, The Lancet
Ghada Karmi, Palestinian activist and Guardian columnist
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, NUJ
Lauren Booth, Press TV
A Palestinian Journalist (tbc)
Jane Shallice, Stop The War Coalition

PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY
7.00PM ALL WELCOME
OLD CINEMA LECTURE THEATRE
WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY
309 REGENT STREET LONDON W1B 2UW
Nearest tube: Oxford CircusS
Map: http://tinyurl.com/dj6ywh

MORE DETAILS: Email info@mwaw.net, Tel 07801 789 297
Hosted by Media Workers Against the War: http://www.mwaw.net/

See also The Media Workers Against the War article:
EIGHT REASONS WHY THE BBC IS WRONG ON GAZA
http://www.mwaw.net/2009/01/26/gaza-appeal/

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1082 29 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

VIVA PALESTINA:
A LIFELINE FROM BRITAIN TO GAZA

A convoy of aid will be leaving Britain for Gaza on Saturday
14 February. The Viva Palestina convoy was initiated by George
Galloway MP, who says, "The death toll in Gaza is rising,
while the world's leaders and media look away in search of a
new story. We will not look away. The Palestinians in Gaza
need our help now, just as they did when Israel's bombs and
illegal weapons were dropping." (See the Viva Palestina
website: http://tinyurl.com/awonzd )

The Viva Palestina convoy now has volunteers across the
country, collecting aid and organising vehicles. There are
already 20 vehicles in the convoy, including a fire engine,
ambulances, trucks and a boat.

The response to the aid collections has been tremendous. All
the convoy vehicles in the London area have been filled. The
convoy no longer needs medicines. Collections for clothes and
other items are still taking place outside of London. If you
want to contribute or help in the collections, contact the
convoy organiser in your area or contact the volunteers
co-ordinator. For contact details see
http://tinyurl.com/au2lfm

The convoy will travel through France, Spain, Morocco,
Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and through Rafah into Gaza. A
map and details of the route can be seen here:
http://tinyurl.com/dmwn28

Viva Palestina is being funded by donations. See here for how
to donate: http://tinyurl.com/araqp2

The Viva Palestina convoy is supported by the Stop the War
Coalition, the Anglo-Arab Organisation, several British trade
unions and a large number of Muslim organisations.

HOW TO CONTACT VIVA PALESTINA:
Go to http://tinyurl.com/cjllo3

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1081 29 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) BBC AND SKY: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?
2) HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED?
3) OBAMA'S FIRST ACTS OF WAR
4) NATIONWIDE PROTEST IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
5) GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA
6) SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN: A PLAY FOR GAZA
7) STOP THE WAR NEEDS OFFICE AND STORAGE SPACE
8) YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP: NO. 1744

**********************************************
1) BBC AND SKY: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

"What is wrong with you people?" These were the words of actor
David Soul, when complaining to the BBC about its refusal to
broadcast an emergency aid appeal for the people of Gaza.

The protests over this decision have come from every corner of
British society. There has been almost universal outrage, from
the Archbishop of Canterbury to writers and actors who say
they won't work for the BBC again, from college students
occupying their colleges to tens of thousands complaining to
the BBC, from the occupations and protests at BBC offices
across Britain to hundreds of individuals saying they are
cancelling their TV licences and Sky subscriptions.

Many thanks to all the supporters of Stop the War who have
helped build this campaign to get the BBC and Sky to reverse
their decision. That may not have been achieved yet but the
scale of the protest has generated colossal publicity for the
DEC emergency appeal which will be reflected in the donations
they receive and which will be rushed to Gaza to help bring
shelter, food, fuel and medical supplies to a traumatised and
devastated people.

For reports on the different protests around the country and
to view the appeal that the BBC and Sky wouldn't show, go to
the Stop the War website: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

For a short, moving film which documents the carnage of the
last month and the opposition to it around the world,
including the demonstrations in London, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/brk78r

**********************************************
2) HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

The Palestinian cause has never received such widespread
support as has been mobilised over the past weeks. Israel may
have reigned back the full power of its military might for now
but Palestine is still subject to endless occupation, siege
and ethnic cleansing. The campaign for Palestinian rights must
be maintained.

Hundreds of people have contacted Stop the War in the last
month asking how they can help in our activities, enquiring
about Stop the War groups in their area, seeking information
about public meetings, asking how they can set up a local Stop
the War group or organise a petition or a collection for Gaza
or to report activities in their locality.

If you would like information on any aspect of our work and
how you can be involved, please contact our national office:
email office@stopwar.org.uk; phone 020 7278 6694.

VOLUNTEERS MEETING
Stop the war has been inundated with people volunteering to
help us in our anti-war activities. Volunteers who live in the
London area and want to get involved in any way are invited to
a Stop the War Activities Meeting on Thursday 5 February at
the Indian YMCA. 41 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 6AQ

**********************************************
3) OBAMA'S FIRST ACTS OF WAR

Within days of taking office Barack Obama sanctioned two
missile attacks in Pakistan, which killed dozens of civilians.
Obama also announced the doubling of US troop numbers in
Afghanistan to 60,000, making it clear that his war policies
are no different from those of George Bush.

Obama's vice president Joe Biden says there will be an
"uptick" in the military campaign in Afghanistan which makes
more important than ever the protests now being planned in
Britain for Obama's first visit here in April.

It is essential that the anti-war movement mobilises the
widest opposition to the war in Afghanistan - which is
unwinnable even if the invaders knew what "winning" would look
like. Obama's intention is to escalate the war dramatically,
with the inevitable slaughter of Afghan civilians, already
being killed in their hundreds.

Stop the War and CND are now planning their demonstration in
London when Obama joins other heads of government at the G20
meeting on April 2. Following the G20 protest there will be
three days of anti-war events in Strasburg, when Obama will
join in a celebration of the NATO on the 60th anniversary of
its founding. We will be publishing full details soon.

Stop The War Pamphlet:
AFGHANISTAN: WHY WE SHOULD GET OUT
Available from the national office: email
office@stopwar.org.uk or phone 020 7278 6694

**********************************************
4) NATIONWIDE PROTEST IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

The supposed political apathy of students has been exposed as
nonsense in the rush of activity across the country in the
past month, with 18 occupations of universities by students
campaigning for Gaza, and more protests to come. The students'
demands include an end to universities investing in arms
companies which supply Israel, funding of scholarships for
Palestinian students and sending old books and computers to
Gaza.

Five of these occupations have already succeeded in winning
their demands, at SOAS and LSE in London and at Oxford, Essex
and Sussex universities. For more details of the student
campaign for Gaza, visit our website:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

Stop the War is organising a student activists' meeting on
Saturday 7 February for students to meet and discuss how to
spread and co-ordinate their campaign of action for Gaza and
against the war in Afghanistan.

STUDENT ACTIVIST CONFERENCE
SATURDAY 7 FEB 7: 12 NOON - 4.00PM
CLORE MANAGEMENT CENTRE RM B01
BIRKBECK COLLEGE, MALET STREET
LONDON WC1E7HX

**********************************************
5) GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA

Even before the controversy of the DEC emergency aid
broadcast, there was widespread criticism of the reporting of
Israel's onslaught on Gaza. Media Workers Against the War is
hosting another of its very impressive public meetings, titled
GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA, in London on Monday 2 February.

The speakers include Gerald Kaufman MP, whose blistering
attack on Israel's barbarity in the House of Commons was
widely reported (see video here: http://tinyurl.com/bz32ao)

Other speakers include Seumas Milne from The Guardian and
Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet.

GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA
PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY
7.00PM ALL WELCOME
Speakers:
Seumas Milne, The Guardian
Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Richard Horton, The Lancet
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, NUJ
Lauren Booth, Press TV
A Palestinian Journalist (tbc)
Jane Shallice, Stop The War Coalition
OLD CINEMA LECTURE THEATRE
WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY
309 REGENT STREET LONDON W1B 2UW
Nearest tube: Oxford CircusS
Map: http://tinyurl.com/dj6ywh

MORE DETAILS: Email info@mwaw.net, Tel 07801 789 297
Hosted by Media Workers Against the War: http://www.mwaw.net/

See also The Media Workers Against the War article:
EIGHT REASONS WHY THE BBC IS WRONG ON GAZA
http://www.mwaw.net/2009/01/26/gaza-appeal/

**********************************************
6) SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN: A PLAY FOR GAZA

Seven Jewish Children is a ten minute history of Israel,
ending with the bombing of Gaza. The playwright Caryl
Churchill says of her play, "It came out of feeling strongly
about what's happening in Gaza - it's a way of helping the
people there. Everyone knows about Gaza, everyone is upset
about it, and this play is something they could come to. It's
a political event, not just a theatre event."

There are 13 performances, 6 - 21 February at the Royal Court
Theatre in London. For more details and how to book:
http://tinyurl.com/dnjty3

**********************************************
7) STOP THE WAR NEEDS OFFICE AND STORAGE SPACE

Stop the War must unavoidably move from its current office at
the UCU union's building in Kings Cross, where we have been
for a number of years. We are very grateful for the support
UCU has given us in providing a national office. The UCU
building is soon to be closed and Stop the War is looking for
new premises in London. If any of our supporters knows of
office space which would be suitable for Stop the War, please
contact: email office@stopwar.org.uk or phone 020 7278 6694.

We are also looking for temporary storage space to house our
resources (merchandise, placards, printed materials etc). We
need space the equivalent of a double lockup garage. If you
know of any available storage facilities, please contact the
national office.

**********************************************
8) YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP: NO. 1744

"The rocket barrages which are getting closer and closer to
populated areas cannot go unanswered," said US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton in her first news conference. No prizes
for guessing which country she meant (clue: not the one she
should have been talking about).

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1080 26 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

EMERGENCY BBC PROTEST
MONDAY 26 JANUARY, 5.00PM
BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE,
PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON W1A 1AA
COLLECTIVE RETURN OF BBC TV LICENSES

Stop the War is organising a mass return of TV licenses to the
BBC for those incensed by the continuing refusal of the BBC to
broadcast and emergency appeal for Gaza.

The fact that other channels including Channel 4, ITV and
Channel 5 are showing the appeal tonight shows how isolated
and extreme the BBC is on this issue.

For those living in London there will be a collective return
of BBC TV licenses on Monday 26 January, at 5.30pm, at BBC
Broadcasting House, Portland Place, W1A 1AA. If you live in
London and want to register your disgust at the BBC
management's behaviour, do join us, if you can.

We are asking local Stop the War groups outside London, which
have a BBC office in their area, to organise similar license
return events, notifying the local media beforehand.

A number of our supporters have informed us that they have
written to the BBC saying they have cancelled their direct
debit for their TV license. If you are planning to do the
same, please inform Stop the War at office@stopwar.org.uk.

The BBC said that by yesterday they had received over 11,000
complaints. That figure is bound to be far higher by now,
given how there is now virtually unanimous agreement across
the full spectrum of opinion in Britain that the BBC must
reverse its disgraceful decision. Reports say that the vast
majority of BBC staff are outraged by the blocking of the Gaza
appeal. We need to do all we can to increase the pressure on
the BBC management.

If you have not complained to the BBC yet, do so here:
PHONE: 03700 100 222
TEXT: 03700 100 212
ONLINE:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_stage1.shtml

You can donate to the appeal that the BBC is denying a
broadcast here:
https://www.donate.bt.com/bt_form_gaza.html

****************************************
SUCCESS FOR OCCUPATION OF BBC SCOTLAND

Over 100 protestors from the Stop the war and Palestinian
groups occupied the BBC's Scotland headquarters in Glasgow.
The occupation was a complete success in increasing pressure
on the BBC and getting widespread media coverage. The BBC
management conceded to the protesters' demands for a meeting
with representatives from the BBC national executive. There
were no arrests. For a full report, go to:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

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

2009-01-22T23:40:00.005+11:00

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1079 24 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

STOP THE BBC BLOCKING GAZA AID APPEAL

There is now massive pressure on the BBC to reverse its
decision to block an aid for Gaza appeal, with government
ministers joining the campaign to make the BBC reverse its
decision.

Tony Benn, many MPs and celebrities and thousands of
protestors will deliver a letter (see below) to the BBC today
demanding that the BBC reverse what government Health Minister
Ben Bradshaw calls its "inexplicable decision" to refuse a
broadcast for an emergency appeal to raise desperately needed
aid for Gaza. Bradshaw says the reasons the BBC gave are
"completely feeble".
(See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7848614.stm)

Tony Benn, President of Stop the War, says, "To deny the help
that the aid agencies and the UN need at this moment in time
is incomprehensible. I appeal to the chairman of the BBC Trust
to intervene to reverse this decision to save the lives of
those who are now in acute danger of dying through a lack of
food, fuel, water and medical supplies."

WHAT YOU CAN DO
* Join the protest at the BBC today 24 January at 1.30pm, when
we will be assembling for our LIFT THE GAZA BLOCKADE
demonstration
* If you can't join the demonstration, complain to the BBC and
insist it reverses its decision:
TO COMPLAIN TO THE BBC
PHONE: 03700 100 222
TEXT: 03700 100 212
ONLINE:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_stage1.shtml

******************************
LETTER SIGNED BY TONY BENN, CELEBRITIES, MANY OTHERS

To Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of the BBC Trust, Mark
Thompson, Director General of the BBC, Caroline Thomson, Chief
Operating Officer for the BBC

The International Committee of the Red Cross say that
conditions for the people of Gaza are "worse than Dafur" but
the BBC refuses to allow the Disasters Emergency Committee to
broadcast an appeal for aid.

We agree with Government Health Minister Ben Bradshaw, who
says the reasons the BBC has given for blocking an appeal for
humanitarian aid are "completely feeble" and it was "an
inexplicable decision".

We urge the BBC to reconsider its decision and to contact the
Disasters Emergency Committee as a matter of urgency so that
its appeal can be broadcast nationally. Not to do so is to
deny relief needed immediately for people suffering
catastrophic and life-threatening conditions.

BRING CHILDREN'S DOLLS TO THE BBC
If you are coming to demonstration on Saturday 24 January,
which assembles outside Broadcasting House, we are asking
protestors to bring children's dolls, wrapped if possible in
white shrouds, to be laid on the steps of the BBC, as a
memorial to the hundreds of children who died in Israel's
attacks and as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in
Gaza, now denied urgently needed aid by the BBC.

DEMONSTRATE FOR GAZA: SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
STOP THE BBC BLOCKING GAZA AID APPEAL
END THE BLOCKADE: STOP ALL ARMS SALES
BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE
Assemble 1.30pm BBC Broadcasting House
Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
Nearest tubes: Great Portland Street or Regents park.
March starts at 3.00 pm. Ends with rally in Trafalgar Square
4.30 pm.

BRING CHILDEN'S DOLLS WRAPPED IN WHITE SHROUDS TO LAY ON THE
STEPS OF THE BBC

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1076 22 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) END GAZA BLOCKADE: DEMONSTRATE 24 JANUARY
2) SHOES WITH A MESSAGE FOR GORDON BROWN
3) WAVE OF STUDENT OCCUPATIONS FOR GAZA
4) NATIONAL ACTIVISTS MEETING: 24 JANUARY
5) A GOAL FOR GAZA

**********************************************
1) END GAZA BLOCKADE: DEMONSTRATE 24 JANUARY

One in every six buildings in Gaza has been damaged by
Israel's three weeks of mass murder and devastation. Israel
has withdrawn its troops, tanks and bombers for now but says
it will not lift the blockade which starves Gaza's population
of food, water, fuel and essential medical supplies. The
United Nations says that the aid now being allowed by Israel
into Gaza is nowhere near enough to meet the basic needs of
its people.

Saturday's demonstration in London, assembling at BBC
Broadcasting House at 2pm, will be calling for an immediate
end to the blockade and a stop to all arms trade with Israel.

We will also be demanding that those responsible for war
crimes in Gaza are brought to justice. There has never been
such unanimity between the United Nations, the Red Cross,
Amnesty International and numerous human rights organisations
that there is prima facie evidence of war crimes by Israel:
the use of phosphorous chemical weapons, the bombing of
residential buildings, the mass slaughter of civilians, the
bulldozing of homes with people still in them - the list of
crimes indictable under international law is almost endless.
(See Channel 4 News report on Israel's war crimes:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk)

We will be marching past Downing Street and delivering shoes
(see below), with messages inside to Gordon Brown, who has
disgracefully supported Israel by not voicing a single word of
condemnation of its crimes against humanity over the past
three weeks.

Please join the demonstration on Saturday and encourage
everyone you know to show their solidarity with the people of
Gaza, who have suffered unimaginable barbarity and continue to
be subjected to inhuman treatment by Israel.

DEMONSTRATE FOR GAZA: SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
END THE BLOCKADE: STOP ALL ARMS SALES
BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE
Assemble 2.00pm BBC Broadcasting House for rally
Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
Nearest tubes: Great Portland Street or Regents park.
March starts at 3.00 pm. Ends with rally in Trafalgar Square
4.30 pm.

MARCH ROUTE:
Assemble and rally Portland Place, March to Regent Street,
Piccadilly, Lower Regent Street, Trafalgar Square,
Northumberland Avenue, Embankment, Parliament, Downing Street,
Trafalgar Square (End rally)

**********************************************
2) SHOES WITH A MESSAGE FOR GORDON BROWN

A week ago Gordon Brown was supping with war criminals at
Israeli prime minister Olmert's home and offering him the
British navy to tighten the blockade on Gaza. What he should
be doing is banning all arms trade and breaking off all
diplomatic relations, following Israel's terror bombing and
invasion of Gaza.

Please bring shoes to the demonstration on 24 January with a
message for Gordon Brown inside, to be thrown into Downing
Street as we pass.

SHOE THROWERS OF THE WORLD UNITE
See video of shoe throwers from the Middle East to Mexico,
celebrating the end of George Bush's presidency:
http://tinyurl.com/d5hjmc

**********************************************
3) WAVE OF STUDENT OCCUPATIONS FOR GAZA

There has been an extraordinary wave of student occupations in
solidarity with Gaza in universities and colleges across
Britain -- in London, Oxford, Sussex, Warwick, Kingston and
elsewhere. (See Guardian report here:
http://tinyurl.com/d6r8u4)

Among the students' demands are a call for aid to be organised
for Gaza and for colleges to disinvest in arm companies which
supply Israel. The occupations in SOAS, the London School of
Economics and Essex have all been victorious in winning these
demands.

Other occupations are demanding that old computers and text
books are sent to Gaza to replace those that have been
destroyed.

At Kings College, the students are occupying to demand the
rescinding of the honorary doctorate awarded to Shimon Peres,
the president of Israel. At Oxford, the students want a series
of lectures by Peres cancelled.

SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
Five website have been set up by students involved in the
occupations for Gaza, through which you can send messages of
support.

LSE: http://lseoccupation.blogspot.com/
KINGS: http://kcloccupation.blogspot.com/
SUSSEX: http://sussexoccupation.blogspot.com/
WARWICK: http://warwicksolidaritysitin.wordpress.com/
OXFORD: http://occupiedoxford.wordpress.com/

JOIN THE OCCUPATIONS FOR GAZA CAMPAIGN
If you are a student in a college or school and want advice on
how you can join the occupation campaign in solidarity with
Gaza, call 020 7278 6694. We will then put you in touch with
students already organising occupations.

There will be a discussion of the student occupation campaign
at the national activists meeting in London this Saturday (see
below for details). Representatives from the university and
college occupations have been invited to attend.

**********************************************
4) NATIONAL ACTIVISTS MEETING: 24 JANUARY

On the morning of this Saturday's Gaza demonstration in
London, Stop the War is organising a national activists
meeting for representatives from local Stop the War groups
across the country. We will be discussing our continuing
campaigns on Gaza, Afghanistan and Iraq and the preparations
for the mass protest taking place at the G20 meeting in London
on April 2nd, which will be Barack Obama's first visit to
Britain.

We are asking all local Stop the War groups and
representatives of student occupations for Gaza to send
delegates to this important strategy meeting.

Stop the War Activist Meeting 11am - 1pm
St Pancras Church Hall
Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA
100 metres east of Euston Station

**********************************************
A GOAL FOR GAZA

Star footballer Fredi Kanoute, now playing in Spain but
formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, celebrated scoring a goal last
Saturday by lifting his shirt to reveal a T-shirt with the
word Palestine blazoned across it. He was booked by the
referee and fined 3000 Euros. Spain prohibits players from
displaying religious or political messages on the pitch. See
video of Kanoute's goal for Gaza here:
http://tinyurl.com/bmh4q8

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1078 23 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

URGENT REQUEST TO ALL STOP THE WAR'S SUPPORTERS
GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS TO BBC FOR BLOCKING GAZA APPEAL
JOIN THE GOVERNMENT'S PROTEST: COMPLAIN NOW TO THE BBC

Stop the War understands that the government has contacted the
BBC to complain about its decision to refuse the broadcasting
of a humanitarian appeal for Gaza.

The BBC's decision will prevent the raising of millions of
pounds in emergency aid being sent to Gaza. Stop the War is
demanding that the exchange between the government and the BBC
be made public immediately.

The BBC says it is blocking the emergency appeal "to avoid any
risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's
"impartiality", as if this has anything to do with
humanitarian aid for a devastated people. Either they need the
aid or they do not.

This is the first time in the 48 years of similar national
appeals for humanitarian aid that a broadcast has been
refused. It is estimated that £10 million of urgently required
aid will not now be sent to help Palestinians in Gaza, living
in catastrophic conditions.

"This is a betrayal of the BBC's obligation to be a public
service," said Tony Benn, President of Stop the War. "To deny
the help that the aid agencies and the UN need is
incomprehensible."

It is imperative that the BBC responds to the government's
complaint and reverses its decision to refuse this broadcast.
If it does not, we will see people in Gaza continue to suffer
due to being denied emergency relief because of BBC
"impartiality" .

Stop the War urges all its supporters to complain to the BBC.
We must mobilise all the pressure we can to get the BBC to
reverse its decision.

TO COMPLAIN TO THE BBC
PHONE: 03700 100 222
TEXT: 03700 100 212
ONLINE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/

BRING CHILDREN'S DOLLS TO THE BBC
If you are coming to demonstration on Saturday 24 January,
which assembles outside Broadcasting House, we are asking
protestors to bring children's dolls, wrapped if possible in
white shrouds, to be laid on the steps of the BBC, as a
memorial to the hundreds of children who died in Israel's
attacks and as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in
Gaza, now denied urgently needed aid by the BBC.

DEMONSTRATE FOR GAZA: SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
END THE BLOCKADE: STOP ALL ARMS SALES
BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE
Assemble 2.00pm BBC Broadcasting House for rally
Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
Nearest tubes: Great Portland Street or Regents park.
March starts at 3.00 pm. Ends with rally in Trafalgar Square
4.30 pm.

BRING CHILDEN'S DOLLS WRAPPED IN WHITE SHROUDS TO LAY ON THE
STEPS OF THE BBC

BRING SHOES WITH MESSAGES TO GORDON BROWN INSIDE TO DELIVER AS
WE MARCH PAST DOWNING STREET
Instead of banning all arms trade with Israel and breaking all
diplomatic relations, Brown has offered to send the British
navy to help Israel tighten its blockade on Gaza.

MARCH ROUTE:
Assemble and rally Portland Place, March to Regent Street,
Piccadilly, Lower Regent Street, Trafalgar Square,
Northumberland Avenue, Embankment, Parliament, Downing Street,
Trafalgar Square (End rally)

**************************************
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1076 20 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

1) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SATURDAY'S GAZA DEMO
2) NATIONAL STOP THE WAR ACTIVIST MEETING

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

1) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SATURDAY'S GAZA DEMO

There will be a rally with speakers in Portland Place from 2pm before the
demonstration sets off.
The demonstration will leave for Downing Street at 3pm.

DEMONSTRATE:
GAZA: END THE BLOCKADE, STOP ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL,
FREE PALESTINE, BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE
2PM, SATURDAY 24 JANUARY,
PORTLAND PLACE,
LONDON, W1A 1AA
Nearest tubes Great Portland St, Regents Park

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

2) NATIONAL STOP THE WAR ACTIVIST MEETING
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
11AM - 1PM
ST PANCRAS CHURCH HALL
LANCING STREET
EUSTON, LONDON NW1 1NA
100 METERS EAST OF EUSTON STATION
-- STOP THE WAR COALITION

NEWSLETTER
No. 1076 20 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

1) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SATURDAY'S GAZA DEMO
2) NATIONAL STOP THE WAR ACTIVIST MEETING

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

1) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SATURDAY'S GAZA DEMO

There will be a rally with speakers in Portland Place from 2pm before the
demonstration sets off.
The demonstration will leave for Downing Street at 3pm.

DEMONSTRATE:
GAZA: END THE BLOCKADE, STOP ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL,
FREE PALESTINE, BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE
2PM, SATURDAY 24 JANUARY,
PORTLAND PLACE,
LONDON, W1A 1AA
Nearest tubes Great Portland St, Regents Park

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

2) NATIONAL STOP THE WAR ACTIVIST MEETING
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
11AM - 1PM
ST PANCRAS CHURCH HALL
LANCING STREET
EUSTON, LONDON NW1 1NA
100 METERS EAST OF EUSTON STATION

2009-01-22T23:39:00.000+11:00

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1075 20 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

**********************************************
DEMONSTRATE FOR GAZA
END THE BLOCKADE: STOP ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL: FREE PALESTINE
BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY: ASSEMBLE 2.00PM
BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE, PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON W1A 1AA
MARCH TO DOWNING STREET
Nearest tubes: Great Portland Street, Regents park.

**********************************************
GORDON BROWN'S DINNER WITH WAR CRIMINALS

The demonstration this Saturday 24 January will march to
Downing Street, calling for the lifting of the Gaza blockade,
an end to all arms sales to

Israel

and for

Israel

to be made
to pay for its war crimes.

We will also be registering our disgust over Gordon Brown's
support for

Israel

following its barbaric attack. The day
after the massacre was ended - so as not to spoil Barack
Obama's inauguration with pictures of phosphorous bombs
dropping on UN schools in Gaza - Brown rushed off to join five
other heads of government for a celebratory gala dinner at the
Jerusalem home of Israel's prime minister Ehud Olmert,
alongside Olmert's compatriots in mass murder, defence
minister Ehud Barak and foreign minister Tzipi Livni.

"Thank you for demonstrating your impressive support for the
State of

Israel

", said Olmert, "This is in the supreme
interest of all those who fight the forces of evil," among
whom he no doubt meant the 450 children in Gaza killed by

Israel

over the past three weeks.

To which Brown replied, without a sliver of irony, "The task
before us is… an end to arms trafficking." Not of course the
arms trafficking which makes Israel the fourth most powerful
military in the world, able to use the most advanced weapons
of mass slaughter to kill 1400 Palestinians and injure 6000
more.

"Through the anguish and the suffering, we can see the road
toward peace," Brown added, as if all the mass death, injuries
and destruction, which left Gaza looking like it had been hit
by an earthquake, would in some way benefit the cause of
peace.

The demonstration this Saturday will assemble at 2.00 pm at
Broadcasting House in Portland Place, in protest at the BBC's
capitulation to

Israel

's propaganda machine during the attack
on Gaza.

This will be the fourth Gaza demonstration in as many weeks,
all of them bringing unprecedented numbers to voice their
outrage over the carnage we have witnessed and to show our
support for the people of Gaza, subjected to horrific crimes
against humanity. Please help publicise Saturday's
demonstration as widely as you can and encourage everyone you
know to join us. A leaflet for downloading will be available
shortly on our website.

DEMONSTRATE FOR GAZA
END THE BLOCKADE: STOP ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL: BRING THE WAR
CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE: FREE PALESTINE
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY: ASSEMBLE 2.00PM
BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE, PORTLAND PLACE, W1A 1AA
MARCH TO DOWNING STREET
Nearest tubes: Portland Street or Regents park

COACHES FROM OUTSIDE LONDON
Details will be posted on the Stop the War website as we
receive them. Coach drop off point on Saturday will be in
Marylebone Road at the top of Portland Place. The pickup point
after the demonstration will be Victoria Embankment.

**********************************************
NATIONAL STOP THE WAR ACTIVISTS MEETING

Stop the War Activist Meeting 11am - 1pm
St Pancras Church Hall
Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA
100 metres east of Euston Station

The Stop the War Coalition has called this important meeting
to discuss the situation in Gaza, the wider "war on terror"
and how to take the campaign forward.

We will also be discussing the campaign to bring the troops
out of

Afghanistan

and the preparations for the mass protests
at the G20 meeting in London on April 2nd. This will be Barack
Obama's first visit to London.

We are asking for delegations from every Stop the War group
round the country.

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

1) GAZA: DEMONSTRATE SATURDAY 24 JANUARY

A fourth demonstration in London has been called for Saturday
24 January. Israel has stopped bombing schools, mosques,
hospitals, universities and residential buildings, no doubt
not wanting to be seen killing yet more women and children
when Barack Obama is inaugurated as US president on Tuesday.

"We have achieved our objectives, and more," says Israeli
prime minister Olmert.

So slaughtering 1300 Palestinians, 400 of them children,
injuring 6000 people, bombing hospitals and ambulances,
killing medical staff - this will do for now. But, says

Israel

, we may start again any time we wish.

No real ceasefire is possible without the complete removal of

Israel

's tanks, bulldozers and troops or without the lifting
of the blockade and the opening of all Gaza's borders.

Even as it was agreeing to this "mission accomplished"
ceasefire,

Israel

was extracting a price, hence Gordon Brown's
disgraceful offer to send the British navy to support

Israel

,
thereby endorsing retrospectively the barbarism of the past
three weeks. What the British government should be doing is
banning all arms trade with

Israel

.

This is why a fourth demonstration in London has been called
for Saturday 24 January. We will be demanding that

Israel

gets
out of Gaza, that the blockade is lifted, that all borders are
opened and that there is a complete arms embargo on

Israel

.

The demonstration will assemble at BBC Broadcasting House, to
protest against the BBC's Gaza reporting, which has often been
little more than an extension of Israel's propaganda machine.
We will march to Trafalgar Square. More details to follow very
shortly.
Please encourage your relatives, friends, work colleagues,
fellow students, neighbours etc to join us. A leaflet for
downloading will be available shortly.

DEMONSTRATION 24 JANUARY
ISRAEL OUT OF GAZA NOW: LIFT THE BLOCKADE
ASSEMBLE BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE
PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON, W1A 1AA
(NEAREST TUBE OXFORD CIRCUS)
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE
For updates, go to: www.stopwar.org.uk

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

2) NATIONAL STOP THE WAR ACTIVISTS MEETING 11am - 1pm
SATURDAY JANUARY 24

The Stop the War Coalition has called this important meeting
to discuss the situation in Gaza and the wider War on Terror
and how to take the campaign forward.

We will also be discussing the campaign to bring the troops
out of

Afghanistan

and the preparations for the mass protests
at the G20 meeting in London on April 2nd. This will be Barack
Obama's first visit to London.

We are asking for delegations from every Stop the War group
round the country.
The venue will be announced shortly.

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

3) STUDENT DAY OF ACTION, THURSDAY JAN 22

Students have been at the forefront of the uproar over Gaza in
universities, schools and FEs. There have been walkouts in
schools and FEs in Tower Hamlets, East London, protests on
campus after campus, and successful occupations at the LSE and
SOAS in London and now Essex University.

This Thursday we are calling on all students to join in the
wave of protests and organise further occupations, walkouts,
die ins and collections for the people of Gaza.
Please e-mail Stop the War with your plans.

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

4) GAZA EVENTS ROUND THE COUNTRY
Local events round the country have been getting an inspiring
response, such is the outrage over

Israel

's war crimes. Many
Stop the War groups are reporting big turnouts for meetings
and protests including 1,200 in Nottingham, well over a
thousand in Manchester, 80 in Southend and very large
donations for aid to Gaza (one Stop the War group collected
over £700 in two hours on its street stall).

Please send or phone any details of planned events in your
area. We are posting details here: http://tinyurl.com/8v4fb3

Please email reports of events in your area to
office@stopwar.org.uk.

*************************************
5) ISRAEL HAS "ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVES, AND MORE

Stop the War's website has one of the most moving testaments
to Israel's barbarism without limits in an interview with Dr
Aboul Aish, a physician living in Gaza, who previously treated
thousands of Israelis when he worked in Israel. Over the past
three weeks Dr Aish reported regularly from Gaza in Hebrew on
Israeli television. On the day

Israel

announced its ceasefire,
he is interviewed just after the Israeli army shelled his
home, killing his three daughters and two grandsons.

The whole of Israel saw this interview and the desperate cries
of a father who has seen the mass murder of his family, but
there have been no public protests for this crime against
humanity, one of many witnessed in the massacre of Gaza. This
must watch video can be viewed here: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
or here: http://tinyurl.com/7b7myo

*************************************
6) WILL OBAMA MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Everyone will celebrate the end of George Bush's presidency,
rightly condemned as the worst in American history. Barack
Obama takes office on a wave of hope and expectation, not
least that he will turn away from Bush's war policies. Obama's
statements on Afghanistan and on Israel, however, raise
serious concerns for all those hoping for an end to the War on
Terror, concerns underlined by his Secretary of State Hilary
Clinton giving unqualified support for the carnage in Gaza.

Even in

Iraq

, Obama's intention to withdraw all troops within
18 months is hedged by many provisos which suggest that the
aim is to maintain control over

Iraq

, and particularly its
oil, without the deployment of the

US

army. On the evidence so
far, the anti-war movement around the world must remain
mobilised.

*************************************
7)

AFGHANISTAN

:

UK

SOLDIERS DYING FOR WHAT?

Four more British soldiers have been killed in

Afghanistan

in
the past week, with barely a mention in the media. This is a
war that is comprehensively lost, even if

America

and its Nato
allies had any idea of what a "victory" would be. The Vietnam
War showed how a lot more killing and destruction can happen
even when it's clear that a war is lost.

This is why the demonstration against the G20 meeting in
London in April, which Barack Obama will attend, and the
international protests in Strasburg in the same month for
Nato's celebration of 60 years since its founding, will focus
on the need for the pointless war in Afghanistan to end and
all occupation armies to be removed from the country. Details
of these demonstrations will be published shortly.

For copies of the Stop the War pamphlet Afghanistan: Why We
Should Get Out, phone 020 7278 6694

*************************************
8) JOIN STOP THE WAR COALITION

Many people have become members of Stop the War Coalition over
the weeks of the Gaza massacre, citing their appreciation of
our work in mobilising opposition to Israel's attacks.
Becoming a member of Stop the War is one of the best ways you
can help us fund our office and the wide range of protests,
rallies, meetings, speaking tours, cultural events etc that we
organise against all the wars associated with the so-called
"war on terror".

Membership of Stop the War can cost as little as £2 a month
(please give more if you can afford it). You can join online:
http://tinyurl.com/9lxmc8 or by calling 020 7278 6694.

2009-01-22T23:37:00.000+11:00

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1074 19 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER
1) GAZA: DEMONSTRATE SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
2) NATIONAL ACTIVISTS MEETING LONDON 11am - 1pm SAT JAN 24
3) NATIONAL STUDENT DAY OF ACTION THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY
4) GAZA EVENTS ROUND THE COUNTRY
5) ISRAEL HAS "ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVES, AND MORE"
6) WILL OBAMA MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
7) AFGHANISTAN: UK SOLDIERS DYING FOR WHAT?
8) JOIN STOP THE WAR COALITION

*************************************
1) GAZA: DEMONSTRATE SATURDAY 24 JANUARY

A fourth demonstration in London has been called for Saturday
24 January. Israel has stopped bombing schools, mosques,
hospitals, universities and residential buildings, no doubt
not wanting to be seen killing yet more women and children
when Barack Obama is inaugurated as US president on Tuesday.

"We have achieved our objectives, and more," says Israeli
prime minister Olmert.

So slaughtering 1300 Palestinians, 400 of them children,
injuring 6000 people, bombing hospitals and ambulances,
killing medical staff - this will do for now. But, says
Israel, we may start again any time we wish.

No real ceasefire is possible without the complete removal of
Israel's tanks, bulldozers and troops or without the lifting
of the blockade and the opening of all Gaza's borders.

Even as it was agreeing to this "mission accomplished"
ceasefire, Israel was extracting a price, hence Gordon Brown's
disgraceful offer to send the British navy to support Israel,
thereby endorsing retrospectively the barbarism of the past
three weeks. What the British government should be doing is
banning all arms trade with Israel.

This is why a fourth demonstration in London has been called
for Saturday 24 January. We will be demanding that Israel gets
out of Gaza, that the blockade is lifted, that all borders are
opened and that there is a complete arms embargo on Israel.

The demonstration will assemble at BBC Broadcasting House, to
protest against the BBC's Gaza reporting, which has often been
little more than an extension of Israel's propaganda machine.
We will march to Trafalgar Square. More details to follow very
shortly.
Please encourage your relatives, friends, work colleagues,
fellow students, neighbours etc to join us. A leaflet for
downloading will be available shortly.

DEMONSTRATION 24 JANUARY
ISRAEL OUT OF GAZA NOW: LIFT THE BLOCKADE
ASSEMBLE BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE
PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON, W1A 1AA
(NEAREST TUBE OXFORD CIRCUS)
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE
For updates, go to: www.stopwar.org.uk

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

2) NATIONAL STOP THE WAR ACTIVISTS MEETING 11am - 1pm
SATURDAY JANUARY 24

The Stop the War Coalition has called this important meeting
to discuss the situation in Gaza and the wider War on Terror
and how to take the campaign forward.

We will also be discussing the campaign to bring the troops
out of Afghanistan and the preparations for the mass protests
at the G20 meeting in London on April 2nd. This will be Barack
Obama's first visit to London.

We are asking for delegations from every Stop the War group
round the country.
The venue will be announced shortly.

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

3) STUDENT DAY OF ACTION, THURSDAY JAN 22

Students have been at the forefront of the uproar over Gaza in
universities, schools and FEs. There have been walkouts in
schools and FEs in Tower Hamlets, East London, protests on
campus after campus, and successful occupations at the LSE and
SOAS in London and now Essex University.

This Thursday we are calling on all students to join in the
wave of protests and organise further occupations, walkouts,
die ins and collections for the people of Gaza.
Please e-mail Stop the War with your plans.

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

4) GAZA EVENTS ROUND THE COUNTRY
Local events round the country have been getting an inspiring
response, such is the outrage over Israel's war crimes. Many
Stop the War groups are reporting big turnouts for meetings
and protests including 1,200 in Nottingham, well over a
thousand in Manchester, 80 in Southend and very large
donations for aid to Gaza (one Stop the War group collected
over £700 in two hours on its street stall).

Please send or phone any details of planned events in your
area. We are posting details here: http://tinyurl.com/8v4fb3

Please email reports of events in your area to
office@stopwar.org.uk.

*************************************
5) ISRAEL HAS "ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVES, AND MORE

Stop the War's website has one of the most moving testaments
to Israel's barbarism without limits in an interview with Dr
Aboul Aish, a physician living in Gaza, who previously treated
thousands of Israelis when he worked in Israel. Over the past
three weeks Dr Aish reported regularly from Gaza in Hebrew on
Israeli television. On the day Israel announced its ceasefire,
he is interviewed just after the Israeli army shelled his
home, killing his three daughters and two grandsons.

The whole of Israel saw this interview and the desperate cries
of a father who has seen the mass murder of his family, but
there have been no public protests for this crime against
humanity, one of many witnessed in the massacre of Gaza. This
must watch video can be viewed here: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
or here: http://tinyurl.com/7b7myo

*************************************
6) WILL OBAMA MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Everyone will celebrate the end of George Bush's presidency,
rightly condemned as the worst in American history. Barack
Obama takes office on a wave of hope and expectation, not
least that he will turn away from Bush's war policies. Obama's
statements on Afghanistan and on Israel, however, raise
serious concerns for all those hoping for an end to the War on
Terror, concerns underlined by his Secretary of State Hilary
Clinton giving unqualified support for the carnage in Gaza.

Even in Iraq, Obama's intention to withdraw all troops within
18 months is hedged by many provisos which suggest that the
aim is to maintain control over Iraq, and particularly its
oil, without the deployment of the US army. On the evidence so
far, the anti-war movement around the world must remain
mobilised.

*************************************
7) AFGHANISTAN: UK SOLDIERS DYING FOR WHAT?

Four more British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in
the past week, with barely a mention in the media. This is a
war that is comprehensively lost, even if America and its Nato
allies had any idea of what a "victory" would be. The Vietnam
War showed how a lot more killing and destruction can happen
even when it's clear that a war is lost.

This is why the demonstration against the G20 meeting in
London in April, which Barack Obama will attend, and the
international protests in Strasburg in the same month for
Nato's celebration of 60 years since its founding, will focus
on the need for the pointless war in Afghanistan to end and
all occupation armies to be removed from the country. Details
of these demonstrations will be published shortly.

For copies of the Stop the War pamphlet Afghanistan: Why We
Should Get Out, phone 020 7278 6694

*************************************
8) JOIN STOP THE WAR COALITION

Many people have become members of Stop the War Coalition over
the weeks of the Gaza massacre, citing their appreciation of
our work in mobilising opposition to Israel's attacks.
Becoming a member of Stop the War is one of the best ways you
can help us fund our office and the wide range of protests,
rallies, meetings, speaking tours, cultural events etc that we
organise against all the wars associated with the so-called
"war on terror".

Membership of Stop the War can cost as little as £2 a month
(please give more if you can afford it). You can join online:
http://tinyurl.com/9lxmc8 or by calling 020 7278 6694.

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

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1073 16 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

3RD NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION FOR GAZA
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
ISRAEL OUT OF GAZA NOW: LIFT THE BLOCKADE
ASSEMBLE BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE
PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON, W1A 1AA
(Nearest tube Oxford Circus)
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE

With over 1100 killed, 350 of them children, and over 5500
injured, the suffering in Gaza is beyond catastrophic.

Israel

is ignoring the worldwide clamour for it to stop now and is
escalating its attacks.

A third national demonstration against Israel's barbarity and
war crimes has been called for Saturday 24 January in London
by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign,
British Muslim Association and many other organisations.

The demonstration will assemble at BBC Broadcasting House,
Portland Place, London, as a response to the BBC's largely
one-sided coverage of the Gaza massacre, allowing Israeli
spokespeople endless opportunities to propagate lies and
deception without challenge.

We will march from the BBC to Trafalgar Square. Further
details, including timings and route, will be available
shortly.

Stop the War calls on all its local groups and supporters to
start building now for what we need to make an even bigger
demonstration than the 100,000 who protested on 10 January.

Israel

must be made to stop its carnage and we must show our
solidarity with the people of Gaza suffering unimaginable
atrocities.

Stop the War will publicise further details and updates by
email and on our website, as we get them.

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

2009-01-22T23:36:00.000+11:00

STOP THE WAR COALITION
15 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
T: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

Following Israel's attack on Gaza, and the two large
demonstrations that Stop the War helped organise over the past
two weeks, our national office has received a number of
requests for information about how to set up a local Stop the
War group. This is very encouraging, as our network of local
groups across the country is the life blood of Stop the War.
This handbook gives advice and suggestions on how to organise
a local group in your area.

HOW TO BUILD A LOCAL STOP THE WAR GROUP

There is a tremendous new mood of activism in the anti-war
movement in response to the Israeli attack on Gaza. Many
people, including many young people, who have never been
involved with the Stop the War Coalition are now building
demos and protests, organising meetings and booking coaches.

We need all of them to be active members of the Stop the War
Coalition if this momentum is to be sustained over the Gaza
protests and flow on into G20 protests next April.

The best way to do this is to encourage activists to build a
Stop the War group. This can be a local group where they live,
a group in their workplace or trade union organisation, a
group in their college, mosque or church or other religous
group.

Its really simple to start a group. Here are some ideas.

Call a meeting. Book a room in a community centre, mosque,
church, pub, library. Get a national STWC coalition speaker
(this is very important so that local groups establish a link
with the national organisation, get news of what the national
organisation is planning, feed in local actions and so on).
Add some local speakers from unions, community and religous
groups etc. Produce leaflets, email, text Facebook and phone
to advertise the meeting. Ask sympathetic organisations to
help publicise the meetings.

Call a protest. Same process as above. Pick a good focus: a

local MP's surgery (if they are not in favour of our camapign
aims), local media if its biased (and it usually is!). Or just
call it in a local town square or market place. Do invite
speakers so that they can shape the response of the crowd.

Use the media: The local paper, radio and TV may not be
sympathetic (though often individual journalists and National
Union of Journalists members will be) but they are hungry for
news and controversy. The STWC is a nationally recognised
organisation with a strong media profile that you can use to
get articles and letters into the papers and news items and
interviews on radio and TV. Don't forget the free sheets~its
easy to get into them and they go out very widely.

Always collect money. Both locally and nationally we always
need money to fund the campaign. Make sure there are always
collection buckets around and that someone does a dedicated
(but short) fund raising speech.

Set up a local committee. Invite people who have been active
in the campaign and who support you locally to help organise
activity. Make sure the committee includes as wide ranging
interests as possible represented on the committee. Trade
unionists, Labour Party members, Greens, socialists, CND
supporters, Muslim, Iraqi, Afghan, Palestinian, Lebanese
groups and many more are all part of the STWC throughout the
country. They proably won't all be active in your area but try
and get as broad a spectrum as possible involved.

Mobilise for national STWC events. It always helps to build a
local group if it participates in the bigger national marches,
meetings and conferences. It costs to get to these events but
its worth the money: it gives local activists confidence,
ideas and allows them to feed their experiece into the
national organisation.

Get in touch with us: Always let us know what you are doing.
We may have contacts in your area. We always want to help and
send speakers when we can. We can help publicise your meeting,
protest, coach on the website and in the news letter.

Phone us on: 02072786694

email: office@stopwar.org.uk

Even if you aren't able to build a group please send us the
emails of all your local contacts so that they can be sent our
Newsletters directly.

STWC affliates:

The STWC works with CND and the British Muslim Intiative in
most of our national mobilisations. We have also worked in
partnership with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to mobilise
the recent Gaza demonstrations. Many Labour Party MPs and
councillors, the Green Party and a range of socialist
organisations are also affiliated to STWC.Below is a selection
of other organisations who are affiliated to STWC. We include
these just to give an idea of the range of organisations that
might assist you in building a STWC in your area.

UNITE branches in London, Tyneside and Coventry
Ashfield Unison
Barnet College
Bristol West Branch MSF
Brixton Hill STW
Calerdale Against the War
Churches Together in Britain & Ireland
Ealing Teachers Association
Ealing Trades Council
FBU
Finchley & Barnet STW
Greenwich Unison
HSE Civil Servants Against the War
Ipswich District TUC
Jewish Socialist Group
Kingston Peace Council / CND
Leeds Finance Workers Broad Left
Lewisham Teachers Association
Liberation
London (North) CLAE UNISON SHOP
London (Nth) Tottenham/Haringey Union Council
London (Sth) MSF London Computer Staffs Branch
London Left Unity (PSC)
Media Transcription Service
Movement for Compassionate Living
UCU Barnet College
UCU Barnsley College
UCU Basildon College Branch
UCU Westminster Kingsway
National Union of Journalists - South Yorkshire Branch
Northhampton STWC
NUT Coventry
NUT Croydon
NUT Ealing
NUT East London
NUT Hackney
NUT Islington
NUT Kensington & Chelsea
NUT Leicestershire
NUT Waltham Forest Association
Prospect Union-Tate Branch
Refugee Worker's Cultural Association
RMT London Transport Regional Council
RMT Waterloo Branch
Sheffield TUC
SOAS STWC
Southend-on-Sea Bourough Council UNISON
Stockport MSF Branch
Stroud Green Against the War
TGWU 1/460 Ipswich Branch
TGWU Branch 1/1700
TGWU/ACTS 1/524 East London Branch
Transport Salaried Staffs Association
TUC Battersea & Wandsworth
UNISON Ashford Local Government
UNISON Cambridge County Council
UNISON Cambridge United Left
UNISON Camden
UNISON Dorset Heath
UNISON Enfield Branch
UNISON Goldsmiths
UNISON Hammersmith
UNISON Housing Assoc Branch
UNISON Islington Branch
UNISON Kings College London
UNISON Knowsley
UNISON Local Authority Associations Branch
UNISON London (Greater)
UNISON London (Sth) Community Health
UNISON London Fire Authority
UNISON London Metropolitan
UNISON Manchester University
UNISON Oxford
UNISON Rochdale
UNISON Sheffield Hallam Uni
UNISON Somerset County Branch
UNISON South London & Maudsley Branch
UNISON Southwark
UNISON Tower Hamlets
UNISON UCL
UNISON UCLH
UNISON Waltham Forest
UNISON Westminster
UNISON Wirral
UNISON Wolverhampton
Waltham Forest Council Workers Against the War
Watford Trades Council