Page 1:
DISOBEDIENCE in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is OUR
original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been
made, through disobedience and through rebellion.
Oscar Wilde

Pages 2-3:
DIRECT ACTION CAN STOP THIS WAR!

So, we made it to the big demonstration. The appalling prospect of
another war has moved us to put aside our usual Saturday afternoon
activities - playing with the kids, sleeping, shopping, making love,
going to the football, whatever - and do our best to make our voices
heard.
Right now, on September 28th 2002, we in the UK are in the
unique position of being able to stop this war. If Britain pulls out,
the US will be further isolated and may be forced to pull back from
the brink. The seemingly out of control juggernaut of history would
have been stopped dead in its tracks. But how can we stop this
warwhat the hell is the next step, the one that follows on from
attending this march?
Throughout history people power has stopped wars, ousted
unpopular governments, toppled dictatorial regimes. Just think of
apartheid, the Communist bloc, the Vietnam war, a few examples from
the recent past. But did this happen because people came together
every few months to take part in a big demo ? No. It happened because
people screamed "enough is enough!" and they screamed it every day,
everywhere - in the streets, at work, in the schools, the
universities, their neighbourhoods - and the scream transformed
itself into an act, an act that said "we are going to disobey you, we
are no longer going to collaborate, we are going to get in the way of
your plans, we are going to pour sand into the machine and we are
going take back control of our lives." And the act inspired others to
take part and share the scream and act together and remember the
beauty of solidarity. Recent polls show that more than half the UK
population are against war with Iraq - that's a lot of people. If
only a fraction of us began to resist in creative ways that went
beyond the occasional state-sanctioned mass demonstration, we could
stop this war.
Some call this civil disobedience, some direct action. The
recent rise of the global anticapitalist movement has shown that
these powerful tactics work . From the Zapatista peasant rebels in
southern Mexico, to the streets of Seattle, Genoa, Bangalore and
Quebec, millions have taken
creative forms of direct action and managed to put issues that a
decade ago were invisible back onto the agenda. The insatiable greed
of corporations and the destruction of peoples lives and lands by
capitalism have become part of everyday debate around the world. It
was inspirational actions that built a truly global movement of
movements, it was people occupying motorways with street parties and
planting trees in the tarmac, it was citizens pulling down the fences
around leaders' summits, it was farmers burning fields of GM crops.
It was not the traditional demonstrations that ritually march from a
to b, however huge, noisy and diverse as they can sometimes be.
At its simplest, direct action is about taking direct control
of our own lives, and refusing to accept the authority of our
'leaders' to act on our behalf, on the pretext of a
once-every-four-years visit to a sleepy polling
station. It's taking matters into our own hands and acting directly
to address the issues that concern us. If we see someone who is
hungry, we cook them a meal, (or share our land and seeds!) - it's
not about asking others to do things for us, it's doing things for
ourselves.
There isn't a manual saying that only tried-and-tested
actions can take place. In fact, direct action thrives on originality
and a willingness to play with existing norms, as well as an ability
to outfox the forces that would seek to thwart us. It can be driving
a large phallic cardboard tank down Whitehall, setting up a peace
camp, blockading a military base, refusing to pay taxes because they
pay for arms, going into an army recruitment office and asking
embarrasing questions for an hour, disrupting an arms fair,
dismantling a Hawk jet or any other piece of military hardware,
following an MP around for a day dressed as stars and stripes
painted-sheep - the only limit is our imagination.
It's certainly true that there are loads of things that can
get in the way of becoming more active. Job commitments (or the fear
of losing that job), lack of energy, kids, fear of aggressive
treatment by police, even a creeping sense of hopelessness, are all
valid reasons to hang back. The trick maybe is to take on something
manageable yet significant, and to feel some satisfaction from having
achieved it. We can start by bringing together a few friends that
we're happy working with, deciding what limits we're comfortable with
and then dreaming up ideas. The likelihood is that once we've seen
our ideas becoming real, once we experience the power of imagination
becoming action, then there's nothing stopping us. We discuss
feelings and ideas, we push through the fear that authority tries so
hard to suffocate us with, we move onto the next action, feeling more
confident, a little stronger...
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Everyone is as small as the fear they feel and as big as the enemy
they choose" eduardo galeano

If you go to one demonstration and then go home, that's something,
but people in power can live with that. What they can't live with is
sustained pressure that keeps building, organisations that keep doing
things, people that learn from the last time and do it better next
time.


DIRECT ACTION enables people to develop a new sense of self-
confidence and an awareness of their individual and collective power.

DIRECT ACTION is founded on the idea that WE can develop the ability
for selfrule through practice, and that WE CAN decide directly on the
important issues facing US.

DIRECT ACTION is not just a tactic, it is individuals and communities
running their own lives outside the control of bureaucrats or
politicians.

DIRECT ACTION encompasses a whole range of activities, from
organising coops to resisting authority.

DIRECT ACTION places moral commitment above national or international law.

DIRECT ACTION is not a last resort when other methods have failed,
but the preferred way of doing things.

Page 4:
WHAT TO DO

483 days....as long as it takes

Brian Haw has been protesting for peace in Parliament Square opposite
the Houses of Parliament since June 2001. Every day Brian's display
of messages against the economic sanctions on Iraq and against war
reminds those in power of the effects of their policies on ordinary
people's lives in another part of the world. It has made Westminster
Council feel uncomfortable and they are seeking a High Court
injunction to remove Brian.
Please support Brian and his right to protest at the hearing on
Tuesday 1 October at the Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London,
10.30. Phone 020 8806 6272 for more details or visit Brian in
Parliament Square.


Get creative

Dirty water is the biggest killer of children in Iraq today. During
the Gulf War, much of the water and sanitation infrastructure, as
well as electricity and transport, was directly targeted and
destroyed. Because of the last 12 years of economic sanctions on
Iraq, these systems are still in a terrible state and have
contributed to large scale disease and death. In another war,
further destruction is likely to lead to a humanitarian catastrophe
for the Iraqi people.

On Wednesday 2nd October an action will take place to highlight the
link between war and water. It is organised by Act Together: British
and Iraqi women against sanctions and war on Iraq. Contact:
 information@acttogether.org

War Zone Whitehall: A non-violent action to bring the reality of
human suffering to Tony Blair's doorstep on Sunday 1 December.
Prop-making, non-violent direct action preparation and anti-war
teach-in will also take place. Contact: Voices in the Wilderness on
0845 458 2564.

War is an inevitable consequence of the military machine. Its no
coincidence that in the build up to war, the face of the army becomes
more public with "recruitment days" and "family days". Long on talk
of adventure and training, short on mention of having to kill people.
"Meet the Army" a recruitment bonanza is taking place during the
weekend of the big march, 27-29th September. Its not officially open
during the day of the march however ( we wonder why ?), why not pay
them an official or unofficial visit in horseguards parade, next to
St James Park.

Contact: War Resisters International for information on what you can
do to counter the militarisation of www.wri-irg.org.

One of the longest running peace vigils in history ARROW (Active
Resistance to the Roots of War) have been occupying the corner of
Kings Charles Street and Whitehall, every Monday, from 17:30 to
19:00, since the end of the Gulf War. Please come along to support
the message to those in the buildings behind: 'Lift the Economic
Sanctions on Iraq/No War on Iraq'.

Women in Black are an international movement taking action and
campaigning for peace in Palestine, Iraq and other places. The
London group organises a silent vigil every Wednesday against war on
Iraq and for an end to the occupation of Palestine at the Edith Cavel
Statue, opposite the National Portrait Gallery between 6-7pm. Women
only, please wear black. There are other groups around the country.
Contact: 020 7813 2019.
BLOCKADING THE BASES

If George W Bush goes ahead with his plans for 'regime change' in
Iraq, NSA Menwith Hill will once again play a major part. NSA Menwith
Hill was key to the Gulf War in 1990. Now is the time to voice your
opposition to the US militarisation of Space and the US military
plans to bomb Iraq. Come and flood the base with your presence.
Stop "Star Wars" and Stop the Bombing of Iraq will take place on
Saturday, 12 October 2002, from 12:00 to 16:00, at NSA Menwith Hill,
North Yorkshire. It is organised by The Campaign for the
Accountability of American Bases (CAAB), Tel/fax no: +44 (0)1943
466405,  caab@btclick.com

Lakenheath is the primary US air base in Europe. It is nuclear armed.
Aircraft from Lakenheath have attacked Iraq in previous wars and it
is likely that they will be used again. A call for nuclear
disarmament at Lakenheath and no war on Iraq is being organised by
the Lakenheath Action Group on Sunday, 06 October 2002, from 11:00 to
16:00, at USAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. Food, accommodation and
nonviolence training will be available.

Northwood is the site of the Permanent Joint Forces Headquarters.
Just outside London, near Watford, it is the place where war strategy
is made and directed and will be a focus for actions when the
aggression starts.


Organise a film screening.

There is no better way to show the reality of war. Voices in the
Wilderness are showing 2 films at the Rio cinema, Hackney, London on
12 October from 2.30pm. The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm is a
documentary which contextualises the build-up to the Gulf War in
1990, providing a revealing history of western policies in the Gulf
both before the war and after. Greetings from Missile Street was
shot in 2000 by a small group from the U.S. who lived for a month on
a street in Basra, Southern Iraq, which had been hit by US missiles
in January 1999. This film documents the lives of the families who
live there, their grief as they remember those who died and their
hardship after a decade of sanctions.
For information about showing these films and others, contact Voices
on 0845 458 2564.

WHen WAR starts shut your city down

Thousands of people have signed the Pledge of Resistance over the
past months. They are pledging to take non-violent direct action, or
provide support, in the event of an attack of an attack on Iraq or
any other country. Local organising groups are forming and training
is available. Contact:www.justicenotvengeance.org.

There will be groups taking to the streets to Stop the City in cities
around the country the night after bombing begins. Some have promised
to bring out pots and pans and make a hell of a noise, in the style
of Argentinas popular rebellion. On the day make sure there is
something happening in your area.

These are just a few of the many things that are happening as
ordinary people come togehter to act. There are numerous actions,
vigils, protests, meetings going on all around the country and in
colleges, community centres, churches and on the street. Find out
what is happening in your area and join in. Or better still start
something yourself, you can be sure that you are not the only person
who wants to make their voice heard, take action and stop this war.

contacts

Direct Action Against War Now (DAAWN):
 http://www30.brinkster.com/DAAWN/current.html

Northwood: Nonviolence @ Northwood:  d10northwood@gmx.net

Trident Ploughshares: 42-46 Bethel St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1NR UK
email  tp2000@gn.apc.org
Tel 0845 4588 366
www.tridentploughshares.org

Voices in the Wilderness UK:  voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
www.viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
0845 458 2564

ARROW: 020 7607 2302; www.justicenotvengeance.org

Rhythms of Resistance: radical samba -  info@rhythmsofresistance.co.uk

WOMBLES white overalls and social disobedience) :
 wombles@hushmail.com www.wombles.org.uk

Peoples' Global Action (PGA): Global grassroots Anti capitalist
network. www.agp.org

Newham Monitoring Project: 020 8555 8151;  nmp@gn.apc.org

London Reclaim the Streets: Direct action network and more.
 rts@gn.apc.org www.reclaimthestreets.net

Rising Tide UK : Direct action against oil and climate change.
www.risingtide.org.uk

Social Centres(places to meet others) :
London Action Resource Centre (LARC): 62 Fieldgate Centre, London E1,
Whitechapel or Aldgate tubes.
 fieldgate@gn.apc.org, www.londonarc.org 020 7377 9088

Radical Dairy: 47 Kynaston Road, Stoke Newington, N16.
 radicaldairy@hotmail.com; 020 7249 6996

Use Your Loaf: 227 Deptford High Street, Depford.

56a Infoshop: 56a Crampton Street, SE17.
www.safetycat.org  56a@safetycat.org

Independent Media

Indymedia: a network of collectively run media outlets for the
creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of the truth.

Independent Media Center (Global Portal): www.indymedia.org

Independent Media Center (UK):
www.indymedia.org.uk

SchNEWS: www.schnews.co.uk

Squall: www.squall.co.uk

A-Infos: www.ainfos.ca

ZNet:www.zmag.org

Urban75 Magazine: www.urban75.com

Protest.net: www.protest.net

Corporate Watch (UK): www.corporatewatch.org

This is brought to you by the Fashionably Late Collective. We suggest
you stay at home and sit infront of your weapon of mass distraction,
changing the channels every second. But if you want to contact us try
 fieldgate@gn.apc.org