NEWS RELEASE

14th February 2003. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Photo Opportunity/Crews Welcome

“War breaks my heart” say Valentine War Protesters locked to Downing Street Gates

Five anti-war activists have, this morning (10am Friday 14th February) locked themselves to a huge pink heart constructed from wood and metal at the gates of Downing Street in an attempt to stop the War on Iraq.

“War breaks my heart” is the message, the protestors are wearing huge pink fluffy hearts are attempting to deliver a Valentine card to Mr. Blair. The police are warning them of arrest for obstructing the highway.

In a protest against the humanitarian cost of a war on Iraq, the five Oxford based protestors are attached by their arms to the heart ‘lock-on’ which is emblazoned with the message “War Breaks My Heart”.

“There will be 500,000 Iraqi casualties1 if this inhumane conflict goes ahead. It could create almost a million refugees” said activist Rebecca.

“This is a war to further an aggressive, profit-led, US agenda2. It’s a war that is putting the quest for resources over the lives and homes of innocent families. This is a people that have suffered daily bombing raids and terrible, punitive sanctions for the twelve years since the last Gulf War. They have suffered enough.”

Activist KathrynTulip said
“War is not the answer. You cannot bomb your way to peace! The UK has no place supporting this obscene conflict. Blair needs to end his love affair with Bush and listen to the people.”.

ENDS

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Notes for the Editor:
1.According to a leaked UN document entitled ‘Likely Humanitarian Scenarios’: “as many as 500,000 people could require treatment to a greater or lesser degree as a result of direct or indirect injuries”. The document then goes on to describe the collapse of the primary healthcare system and damage to basic infrastructure such as water and power. Food shortages will lead to a “dire” nutritional status for 3.03million people. The conflict is expected to create 900,000 refugees. www.casi.org.uk/info/undocs/war021210.html

2. For example a recent Deutsche Bank report indicates that US corporation Exxon Mobil have the most to gain from “regime change” in Iraq. Exxon are widely credited with putting Bush in power, and Bush widely credited with serving their interests by refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Exxon also fund the American Enterprise Institute which has been vocal in calling for war.

The Oxford Pledge of Resistance group is one of a growing number of groups committed to taking and supporting non-violent direct action against war on Iraq. For more information on the Pledge of Resistance see www.j-n-v.org
· On Sunday 19th January 6 activists from the same group locked themselves to a huge pair of purple Y-fronts carrying the message “War is Pants” outside the gates of the Northwood Joint Operational Command Base in London. It took Ministry of Defence Police 4 hours to cut the protestors free of their lock-on.
Thousands are expected to show their dissent in a sit-down protest after the anti-war march tomorrow. Organised by ARROW Active Resistance To The Roots of War), Voices in the Wilderness and D10, the “Love not War, Peace not Hate” sit down is planned for 5pm moving from Green Park to occupy a central London street. www.j-n-v.org.
'precisely because I do not have the beautiful
words I need, I call upon my acts to speak to you'
Daisy Zamora