On Saturday 25 January the first of a series of Human Shield Action convoys left London (photos). Two double-decker buses are carrying a dozen human shield all the way to Baghdad. The convoy, comprising volunteers from Britain and around the world, will drive through Europe and into the Middle East picking up more human shields en route. It will arrive in Baghdad on 8 February where the volunteers will stay until the imminent threat of war has passed.

The convoy, led by former US Marine and Gulf War veteran Ken Nichols O'Keefe, has attracted volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. They state that a massive civilian presence in Iraq has the potential to create the pressure needed to stop western governments from pursuing "a criminal war" and that "our so-called democracies have failed us. If we as people are going to stop wars we must act" (read press release)

Meanwhile opposition to the War continues all over Britain with almost daily actions and demonstrations taking place. The lastest reports recived inform of a demonstration in Colcheser where 500 people marched on the barracks of the 16th Air Assault Brigade. In Brixton 300 people blocked the entrance of Lambeth Town Hall where Geoff Hoon was due to address the Lambeth Labour group. In Southampton the Greenpeace flag ship, the Rainbow Warrior, entered Marchwood Military port and blocked the departure of UK military supply vessels heading for Iraq.