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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Saturday 1 August 2009
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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
****************************************
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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Thursday 9 July 2009
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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.
*********************************
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
*********************************
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
**********************************
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
**********************************
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
**********************************
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.
**********************************
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
**********************************
Tuesday 23 June 2009
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
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
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
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
would have catastrophic results for the whole
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
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
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".
organised very large demonstrations, including outside
parliament, has called a FREEDOM FOR TAMILS demonstration in
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
Street
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
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