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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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/
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