BRISTOL STOP THE WAR CONTENTS: 11th JANUARY 2003

1) Vigil Actions: 15th & 18th Jan
2) Film: Palestine....... 21st Jan
3) R.A.F Fairford Action: 26th Jan
4) Bristol Benefit Gig: 8th Feb
5) National Demonstration: 15th Feb
6) *News: 500,000 War Casualties?
7) Stop The City Campaign
8) *Views: BMCS Open Letter
9) Daily Vigil + Weekly Meeting
10) *Related Campaigns
11) Updates: Local, Bath, National
12) Online: Petition + City Map
13) Alternative News Section
14) Links Section + Emails
15) Press, Race, Police Complaints
16) How This Forum Works

* Regular Section Updated Weekly


1) PEACE VIGIL ACTIONS : WED 15th & SAT 18th JANUARY
Two Special Peace Vigils to mark the 12th Annniversary of the start of US/UK Bombing of Iraq. PLEASE COME ALONG
DATES: WED 15th & SAT 18th JANUARY.
TIMES: Wed 15th 5:30-6:30 & Sat 18th* 3:00-4:30
(City Centre. Opposite the Hippodrome. St.Augustines Parade)
((Sat 18th* will include an earlier 1:00pm picket of the Army Recruitment Centre for those who wish to do so. 50metres from the Vigil. Colston Ave.))
COACH TICKETS for the Sat 15th Feb NATIONAL DEMO will be available.
DIRECTIONS : CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
Ramsey Clarke, the former UN Attorney General to the US, has issued charges of Crimes Against Humanity against George Bush Senior. These charges relate to crimes committed against the people of Iraq following the UN deadline of Jan 15th 1991, as the date for Iraq to pull out of Kuwait. By 28th Feb 1991 the US had dropped 88,500 tons
of explosives on Iraq (the equivalent of 7 l/2 Hiroshima bombs).
Further Info:  http://www.iacenter.org/rcun.htm
"(The Gulf War) devastated water systems from reservoir, pumping station to kitchen faucet as well as urban sewage & sanitation systems. Food production, processing, storage & distribution were widely destroyed. Poultry was nearly wiped out by loss of electricity & lack of grain. Animal herds were decimated. Fertilizer & insecticide plants were destroyed. Communications systems, telephone, radio & TV were shattered. Transportation was badly battered.
Electric power was knocked out across the nation in the first 24 hours. Petroleum production, refining, storage & distribution were attacked across the nation." Ramsey Clarke.
Full Report:  http://www.iacenter.org/rc12600.htm


2) FILM: PALESTINE ON THE GROUND : TUE 21st JANUARY
Cube Cinema: Dove Street South. Kings Square (Off Jamaica St.)
Website:  http://www.cubecinema.com/
Date & Time: Tue 21st January @8:00pm : £3 Entry
Click Below For Directions: Tel: 0117 9074190
 http://www.cubecinema.com/directions.html
"This is a 3 part series about the happenings in Ramallah, Jenin & Gaza during the months of June & July 2002. Each part is half an hour long. The daily lives of Palestinians living under Israeli army occupation are explored. The issues of roadblocks, checkpoints, curfews, incursions, & daily killings are looked at closely, as the film is being shot at the time of Israeli military operations. The
international Solidarity Movement, a loose conglomeration of International activists, try to help under these terrible conditions. Emphasis of the roles Internationals can play in solidarity with the Palestinians is stressed including observation of the Israeli army actions, public demonstration, acting as human shields & doing relief
work delivering food & medecine under curfew. The Main aim is to tell the truth as to what is happening 'on the ground' In Palestine."
Palestine Solidarity Website:  http://www.bristolpsc.freeserve.co.uk/


3) R.A.F FAIRFORD ACTION* : SUNDAY 26th JANUARY
CALLED BY: The Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors
GWI Email:  info@gwi.org.uk
GWI CONTACTS: 01267 253 479, 01453 767315/ 883673/ 762258
 http://www.cynatech.co.uk/gwi//26-Jan-Fairford.htm
*WE NEED A CAR POOL. This is a short-notice event, & we will not be providing coaches from Bristol. Email  james@venables.plus.com with your details if you either have a car, or if you wish to find a place.
PRE-EMPTIVE INSPECTION: This event marks the last day of inspections in Iraq before the scheduled report to the UN Security Council.
ASSEMBLE: Fairford HIGH ST @12 noon. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
Take the M4 from Bristol to Swindon. Turn off at J15 onto the A419, then onto the A361, & onto the A417 passing through Lechlade Village. You can park in PARK ST once in Fairford. USAF Fairford is 20 mins walk from Fairford Village, along HORCOTT RD.
DIRECTIONS: CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=410000&Y=200000&scale=200000
FOR A MAP OF FAIRFORD VILLAGE:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=415000&Y=201000&scale=10000
BACKGROUND: R.A.F Fairford (in Gloucestershire) can now house the U.S B2 Stealth bombers. In tests the B-2 has successfully released mini-nuclear weapons. These are a new generation of `more usable' U.S nuclear bombs, to go with their new generation of Stealth Weapons. The U.S wishes to use British soil to house these weapons, placing the U.K in the frontline of the U.S war for oil. In the event R.A.F
Fairford is used as a base in yet another U.S war, the people of this region will be faced with the constant daily roar of U.S Bombers on their way to carpet bomb Iraq cities.
BECOME A WEAPONS INSPECTOR: white decontamination suits from  http://www.screwfix.co.uk Part no.17133 £1.15 Tel: 0500 414141


4) BRISTOL BENEFIT GIG : ALL LIVE MUSIC: SAT 8th FEB
To raise funds for Bristol-Stop-The-War-Coalition. Our last Benefit Gig on Halloween attracted 100 people, & was said by many to have had the best atmosphere of any event they'd recently attended. Please come back again for another night of all live music. ONLY £2.50
LINE UP: MOTIVATIONS (reggae), RITA LYNCH (punk), INVISIBLE
VOICES (blues) + Traditional Irish Music Throughout The Night
TIME: Sat 8th Feb. 8:00pm-1:00am. £2.50 on the door.
PLACE: Bristol County Sports Club. 40 Colston St.
(Top of Christmas Steps. City Centre)
DIRECTIONS: CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=358500&Y=173000&scale=10000


5) NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : SATURDAY 15th FEBRUARY
The next National Demonstration against the Invasion of Iraq will be held on Saturday 15th February. This event will be co-ordinated with Events & Demonstrations across the U.S, Europe, & the Wider World.
PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKET EARLY as it causes organisational problems when the majority of people buy tickets in the final 72 hours.
BRISTOL COACH TICKETS* : £10 waged - £5 concessions
Greenleaf Books. 82 Colston St. City Centre (Top of Christmas Steps)
(*Coach tickets will be available from the VIGIL ACTIONS. See above)
DIRECTIONS: CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
COACHES LEAVE : Anchor Rd Coach Park @ 8:30am on Sat 15th Feb.
(Near @Bristol. Behind the Watershed Complex. City Centre)


6) NEWS : U.N PREDICTS 500,000 IRAQI CASUALTIES
Full Story:  http://www.globalissues.net/article/252
"As many as half a million Iraqis could require medical treatment as a result of serious injuries suffered in the early stages of a war on Iraq, U.N emergency planners said in a document disclosed Tuesday (07/01/03). The total includes some 100,000 expected to be injured as a direct result of combat & a further 400,000 wounded as an indirect
result of the devastation, according to estimates prepared by the World Health Organization, the document said.
U.N officials confirmed the authenticity of the document, which assumes that a new war in Iraq would develop beyond an aerial bombardment into a large scale ground offensive. 'The resultant devastation would undoubtedly be great,' the U.N planners concluded. The estimates were based on material from several different U.N organizations. The assessment assumes that Iraqi oil production would
be shut down & the Iraqi electricity network, & transportation systems would be significantly damaged.
U.N. officials had previously disclosed that as many as 9.5 million of Iraq's 26.5 million people could quickly need outside food to survive. War would also produce a huge refugee problem, driving some 900,000 Iraqis into neighbouring countries, with about 100,000 requiring immediate assistance, according to the U.N estimate.
Another 2 million could be driven from their homes but remain inside Iraq, where access by relief agencies would be a particular problem due fighting, the planners say.
According to the assessment, children under 5, pregnant women & mothers who are breast-feeding 'will be particularly vulnerable because of the likely absence of a functioning primary health care system in a post-conflict situation... Furthermore, the outbreak of diseases in epidemic if not pandemic proportions is very likely...
Diseases such as cholera & dysentery thrive in the environment... these factors must be considered." Irwin Arieff. Reuters (8/01/03)


7) STOP THE CITY ON THE OUTBREAK OF WAR
In the event war is not averted, we call upon everyone to converge at the Peace Vigil @6:00pm on the evening following* the 'official' outbreak of war with Iraq. A national 1 hour stoppage at work is also suggested on the day following the outbreak of war Preparations for war intensify with each day that passes. Our response is to build our movement day by day, & to shut down our city on the outbreak of war.
(*You will be sent an email confirming when the Bristol Coalition considers war to have 'officially' begun so as clarify the evening of the Main Demo. To join our TELEPHONE TREE to receive confirmation send your name & number to:  james@venables.plus.com)
*******Peace Vigil open-ended on the outbreak of War*******
PEACE VIGIL TIMES: Mon-Fri 5:30-6:30pm & Sat 3:00-4:00pm
(City Centre. Opposite the Hippodrome. St.Augustines Parade)
DIRECTIONS : CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
'PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE'. Please consider signing the pledge.
a) I pledge to take part in non-violent civil disobedience in the event of a major US/UK attack on Iraq or any other country in the course of the 'war on terrorism'.
b) I support people in my community carrying out non-violent civil disobedience against US/UK attacks in the 'war on terrorism'.
TO SIGN THE PLEDGE visit:  http://www.j-n-v.org/index.htm
Or send your pledge by post: Arrow, c/o NonViolent Resistance Network, 162 Holloway Road, London N7 8DQ.


8) VIEWS : BRISTOL MUSLIM CULTURAL SOCIETY (BMCS)
AN OPEN LETTER to our elected representatives from the BMCS.
To read a full copy of the letter click below:
 http://bristol.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2942&group=webcast
"I write with reference to the growing inevitability of an
unjustified military attack on Iraq. Our office has been receiving a stream of calls from members, asking BMCS to actively represent the growing concern of the local Muslim community & their clear opposition to war. The Mirror (07/01/03) ran a mocking front page, suggesting Bush's real intentions for war on Iraq was oil.( http://www.mirror.co.uk/frontpages) It would be funny if the issue were not so serious. Lives are at stake.
In The Times, Tam Dalyell began his article by pleading directly to the Prime Minister; 'In the name of democracy, Mr Blair, read this before you send a single Briton to die.' He went on to say: 'what would you think if you were serving in the Forces, if you knew that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Field Marshals Lord Bramall & Sir John Stanier, General Patrick Cordingley, & a host of others were vehemently opposed to what you were asking them to do?'
'You, in these circumstances have the unique power to stop war because U.S opinion itself would not support war, without the backing of the Security Council & the U.K. If you choose to do so, many of us believe that your actions at this stage could restrain President Bush.' In the Guardian, Richard Norton-Taylor declares his frustration, 'If only he would listen, this could be Blair's finest hour'. Interestingly, Norton-Taylor says that privately the messages coming from British embassies & Foreign Office officials here is decidedly anti-war. However, they cannot express these views publicly.
But perhaps the comments which best reflect the dismay of the vast majority of the Bristol Muslim Community, are the words of veteran anti-apartheid campaigner, & a massive voice for justice in the world, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who described Tony Blair's stance on Iraq as 'mind boggling'. The burden of responsibility then rests with you, our elected representative, to ensure that the Government hears those voices & more importantly, ours. Yours sincerely, Mr. Farooq A. Siddique. BMCS Public Relations"
Email:  bmcs@bmcs.org.uk Website: www.bmcs.org.uk/


9) DAILY PEACE VIGIL + WEEKLY MEETING
a) PEACE VIGIL: Bristol has kept Vigil every night since 9/11. We know many of you have difficulty getting there at rush hour, but we've targeted this time for maximum visibility. So, if you can come for 10 minutes, or make time once a month, that would be great.
PEACE VIGIL TIMES : Mon-Fri 5:30-6:30pm & Sat 3:00-4:00pm
(City Centre. Opposite the Hippodrome. St.Augustines Parade)
DIRECTIONS : CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
b) WEEKLY MEETING: We hold a meeting every week on Thursday 6:45-8:15pm @ St.Mary On The Quay Hall. City Centre. Colston Ave.(opposite the Cenotaph). Everyone's welcome to attend. Please come along to give your input, to provide ideas, & to help arrange events.


10) RELATED CAMPAIGNS
DISRUPT THE MASTERS OF WAR : 18-19th JANUARY
A Weekend Of Non-Violent Protest & Civil Disobedience at the nerve centre of U.K war plans. NORTHWOOD MILITARY BASE. LONDON
Organised By: ARROW (Active Resistance To The Roots Of War), Voices In The Wilderness UK , & D10 (Nonviolent Resistance To Militarism) FOR INFO: Tel: 0845 458 2564 Email:  voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
WEBSITES:  http://www.j-n-v.org (ARROW) http://www.voicesuk.org (VOICES)  http://www.northwood.cjb.net/ (D10)
"Northwood military base, London, is the Permanent Joint Headquarters of the British Armed Forces. As the command post for rapid deployment forces, it will play a key role in directing British forces. On the 12th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1991 war, we invite activists to come to Northwood for a weekend of nonviolent resistance."
INCLUDING: OPERATION INTERNAL LOOK (arrestable action*)
Saturday 18 January. Meet 12 noon. Northwood main gate
"Break the Official Secrets Act as we observe Northwood HQ. Meet 12 noon at Northwood main gate." (on the Metropolitan Tube Line)
INCLUDING: MASS BLOCKADE & PROTEST (arrestable action*)
Sunday 19 January. Meet 11am, Northwood tube (Metropolitan Line).
*arrestable action: Civil disobedience risks arrest. Supporters not wishing to risk arrest are welcome, but should contact the organisers.


11) UPDATES : LOCAL, BATH CITY, NATIONAL
a) LOCAL: EAST BRISTOL ACTION MEETING: Wed 15th January
To Mobilise stalls, leafleting (etc) for the 15th Feb National Demo.
TIME & PLACE: 7.30pm @Easton Community Centre
Kilburn Rd. On the junction of Easton Rd & Whitehall Rd.
DIRECTIONS: CLICK BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=361000&Y=174000&scale=10000
UNIVERSITY (UWE) STOP THE WAR SOCIETY
To join the UWE mailing list send a blank email to:
 uwestopthewar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
b) BATH PEACE VIGIL: Saturdays 11.30-12.30 @ The Abbey
If Iraq is attacked, assembly outside Bath Abbey 6pm that day.
Info: Tel: 01225 315480 Email:  judith.eversley@f2c.co.uk
FOR A MAP OF BATH: CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=375000&Y=165000&scale=10000
Website:  http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk
c) NATIONAL COALITION: Email:  office@stopwar.org.uk
PO Box 3739 London E5 8EJ Tel: 07951 235 915 or 0207 053 2155/6
Website:  http://www.stopwar.org.uk


12) ONLINE : PETITION + CITY CENTRE MAP
a) Please sign the 'Don't Attack Iraq' petition by visiting the Peace Vigil, or by coming along to our Thursday meeting. You can also sign online (i) or download a copy for campaigning (ii)
i) VISIT:  http://www.petitiononline.com/cndstwc/petition.html
ii) VISIT:  http://www.stopwar.org.uk/Resources/Iraqpet.pdf
b) CITY CENTRE MAP : CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
KEY AREAS: All Within The City Centre
PEACE VIGIL: St. Augustines Parade
THURSDAY MEETING: St. Mary On The Quay. Colston Ave
COACH TICKETS: 82 Colston Street. Greenleaf Books
COACH PARK: Anchor Road


13) ALTERNATIVE NEWS SECTION
a) REGIONAL
Bristol Events & Discussion Group Page
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristolactivists
The Bristolian Newsletter
 http://www.bristolian.freeservers.com/b23.htm
Bristol Indymedia. Submit Your Own Articles.
 http://bristol.indymedia.org
Bristol-Stop-The-War Group Page
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition
Kebele Kulture Project
 http://www.kebele.org/Quorum4/kebeleTable.php
b) NATIONAL
BBC News Site (surprisingly good)
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/
UK Based Global News Site
 http://www.cafe-uni.com/
Information War: News Network
 http://www.informationwar.org/
MediaLens. Misreporting Alerts
 http://www.medialens.org/
Media Workers News & Activist Site
 http://www.mwaw.org/
Films & Writing Of John Pilger
 http://pilger.carlton.com/
Schnews: Direct Action News
 http://www.schnews.org.uk/
Socialist Worker News
 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/
UK News. Submit Your Own articles.
 http://uk.indymedia.org
c) INTERNATIONAL
Afghanistan: Comprehensive Account Of US Bombing
 http://www.cursor.org/stories/civilian_deaths.htm
Centre For Research On Globalisation
 http://www.globalresearch.ca
Counterpunch Newsletter
 http://www.counterpunch.org/
Incore Global Conflict Data Service
 http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/cds/countries/
Free Press International
 http://www.freepressinternational.com/
U.S Anti-War Site. Article Based
 http://www.peace.moveon.org/
Exposing Criminal Global Elites
 http://www.propagandamatrix.com/thepropagandamatrix
News & Articles On 9/11 & Beyond
 http://www.whatreallyhappened.com
World Socialist Web Site
 http://www.wsws.org/index.shtml
Znet Magazine. Links & Articles
 http://www.zmag.org/
30,000 Links To Global Groups & News Stories
 http://www.bessereweltlinks.de/english/index.htm


14) LINKS SECTION
a) ASYLUM
Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers: asylumbristol@hotmail.com
 http://www.asylumbristol.org.uk
Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers: info@defend-asylum.org
 http://www.defend-asylum.org
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation: ncadc@ncadc.org.uk
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk
Refugee Council: info@refugeecouncil.org.uk
 http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
b) RADIATION
Campaign Against Depleted Uranium: info@cadu.org.uk
 http://cadu.members.gn.apc.org//
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament: lrcndnvrn@supanet.com
 http://www.cnduk.org/
Depleted Uranium Research Project:
 brischange@sparror.cubecinema.com
 http://www.brischange.org/pandoraproject/
Campaign Against Trident Nuclear Weapons:
 info@tridentploughshares.org
 http://www.tridentploughshares.org/
c) REGIONAL
Bath Stop The War Coalition: postmaster@bathstopwar.org.uk
 http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk
Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign: bristolpsc@ukf.net
 http://www.bristolpsc.freeserve.co.uk/
Bristol-Stop-The-War Coalition
 bristol-stop-the-war-coalition@yahoogroups.com
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition
Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors: info@gwi.org.uk
 http://www.cynatech.co.uk/gwi//26-Jan-Fairford.htm
Totterdown Against The War: info@totterdownagainstthewar.org
 http://totterdownagainstthewar.org/index.asp?ID=0
University (UWE) Stop-The-War: To join send a blank email to:
 uwestopthewar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uwestopthewar/
d) NATIONAL
Active Resistance to the Roots Of War:
 info@justicenotvengeance.org
 http://www.j-n-v.org/index.htm
Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq: info@casi.org.uk
 http://www.casi.org.uk
Campaign For The Accountability Of American Bases:
 caab@btclick.com
 http://cndyorks.gn.apc.org/caab/index.htm
Colombia Solidarity Campaign: colombia_sc@hotmail.com
 http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk
Labour Against The War: latw@gn.apc.org
 http://www.labouragainstthewar.org.uk/
National Stop The War Coalition: office@stopwar.org.uk
 http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Network Of Activist Scholars
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naspir/
Palestine Solidarity Campaign: info@palestinecampaign.org
 http://www.palestinecampaign.org/
Voices in the Wilderness UK: voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
 http://www.viwuk.freeserve.co.uk/
e) INTERNATIONAL
30,000 Links To Global Groups & News Stories
 http://www.bessereweltlinks.de/english/index.htm
THIS LINK IS AN EXCELLENT INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY. SEE
ALTERNATIVE NEWS FOR INTERNATIONAL NEWS LINKS.


15) PRESS, RACE & POLICE COMPLAINTS INFORMATION
a) PRESS COMPLAINTS COMMISSION: 1 Salisbury Square. London
EC4Y 8JB. Help Line: 020 7353 3732. Email:  pcc@pcc.org.uk
WEB SITE:  http://www.pcc.org.uk
**************
b) BROADCASTING STANDARDS COMMISSION: 7 The Sanctuary.
London SW1P 3JS. Help Line: 020 7808 1000. Email:  bsc@bsc.org.uk
WEB SITE:  http://www.bsc.org.uk/fairindex.htm
**************
c) BBC COMPLAINTS LINE: 08700 100 222
**************
d) BRISTOL RACIAL EQUALITY COUNCIL : Colston House, Colston St. Bristol BS1 5AQ. Help Line: 0117 929 7899.
Email:  bristolrec@compuserve.com
**************
e) COMMISSION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY: 201-211 Borough High St. London SE1 1GZ. Help Line: 020 7939 0000. Email: London& South@cre.gov.uk
WEB SITE:  http://www.cre.gov.uk/index.html
**************
f) POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY : 10 Great George Street. London SW1P 3AE. Help Line: 020 7273 6450 Email:  info@pca.gov.uk
WEB SITE:  http://www.pca.gov.uk/contact/index.htm


16) HOW THIS FORUM WORKS
a) You can email us:  bristol-stop-the-war-coalition@yahoogroups.com
b) Visit us to view & post messages: CLICK BELOW:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition
c) At the above address click 'MESSAGES' for our message archive, & 'POST' to post from the webpage.
d) People can join our mailing list by sending a blank email to:
 bristol-stop-the-war-coalition-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
e) Please email us with information, discussion & questions. 300 WORD submissions for the VIEWS section are welcomed.

SAY YES TO PEACE........SAY YES TO PEACE.......