94 forgotten 15.2 Anti War demonstrations in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

In 127 towns in the Nordic countries people were setting records in participation in demonstrations 15.2 2003 against war on Iraq. This according to a study made by Folkrörelsestudiegruppen, the Popular movement study group. 94 of these demonstrations have not been included in the world list with 603 places of protests made by United for Peace and Justice. Instead of 600 protests globally as widely stated there was at least 700.

In small villages, towns and big cities there had not been such a big demonstration in over 50 years or ever. ”Without any comparisment the biggest political demonstration that has taken place in Stavanger in my lifetime (and I am 53 now)” said Leif Olsson from the oil town on the west coast in Southern Norway where 10.000 demonstrated. There has been a large underestimation of the number of demonstrations in smaller towns, and yet the percentage of participants of the population and some long term effect can well exceed that of larger city events.

Demonstrations took place at every corner of the Nordic countries. From the northernmost town in the world Hammerfest, yes even further north in Longyearbyen on Spitzbergen islands close to the North pole as well as Amundsen-Scott polar station in Antarctica, to Esbjerg in Southern Jutland in Denmark, from the easternmost outpost of Western Europe close to Russia in Kirkenes to Isafjördur, the westernmost village in Northwestern Iceland demonstrations took place. In total 345.000 people participated.

Greatest participation was in Norway. 30 Norwegians out of one thousand went out on the streets in 50 places. 51 including Amundsen-Scott polar station in Antarctica. In total 130.000 demonstrated. Second greatest participation in the Nordic countries had Iceland. 17 Icelanders out of one thousand participated in demonstrations in Reykjavik, Akureyri och Isafjördur numbering in total a bit less than 5.000. Third comes Sweden where 15 inhabitants out of one thousand demonstrated in 49 places with 135.000 participants in the manifestations. On the fourth place comes Denmark. 8 Danes out of one thousand took to the streets in 11 towns and cities with totally 40.000 participants in the demonstrations. If one includes pre demonstrations close to or inside Copenhagen 5 places can be added to the figures, most of them already included in the United for Peace world list. This gives in total 16 peace manifestations in Denmark. Last comes surprisingly Finland which is normally strong in making mass mobilisations for peace. Here 6 inhabitants out of one thousand demonstrated in 14 places. In total 30.000 Finns demonstrated to prevent war against Iraq.

The United for Peace and Justice world list has been widely used both by established and alternative media. The total number of places where demonstrations were planned to take place were 603, a figure that now with the addition from a region with only 23 million inhabitants has to increase to 697. Especially Swedish figures are underestimated. Only the cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmoe are included. Actually the 49 places participating on 15.2 makes 14 times more protests in Sweden than listed by United for Peace and Justice. In Norway 11 places was on the world list. Here the are reports from 50 places which makes more than 4 times more protests than listed earlier. In Finland 8 places are on the world list which also is quite more less then the reports stating 14 places. From Iceland demonstrations are documented from the same places as listed while Denmark is most insecure depending on how to count demonstrations close to Copenhagen that later joined the central demonstration in the city. 5 more towns are reported from Denmark now. The reason why especially Sweden is underestimated is lack of national coordination. United for Peace and Justice has not received the information needed.

Protest activities took place in following cities, towns and villages in the Nordic countries:

Stockholm 75.000, Oslo 60.000, Copenhagen 30.000, Gothenburg 25.000 (se), Trondheim 20.000, Bergen 15.000, Helsinki 15.000, Stavanger 10.000, Malmö 5.000, Aarhus 5.000, Turku 5.000, Reykjavik 4.000, Kristiansand 3.000, Tromsø 3.000, Umeå 3.000, Lund 3.000, Hamar 2.500, Borås 2.000, Skien 2.000, Tampere 2.000, Tønsberg 2000, Aalborg 2.000, Jönköping 1.800, Bodø 1.750, Lillehammer 1.500, Växjö 1.500, Piteå 1.500, Falun 1.400, Luleå 1.100, Oulu 1.000, Gävle 900, Sundsvall 900, Västerås 1.000, Östersund 850, Fredrikstad 800, Visby 800, Esbjerg 750, Halmstad 750, Elverum 700, Arendal 700, Härnösand 700, Eskilstuna 600, Haugesund 600, Ålesund 600, Florø 550, Joensuu 550, Akureiry 500, Mo i Rana 500, Molde 500, Risør 500, Sarpsborg 500, Simrishamn 500, Skellefteå 500, Jyväskylä 450, Karlshamn 450, Karlskrona 450, Mandal 450, Borlänge 400, Gjøvik 400, Hammerfest 400, Kalmar 400, Mariehamn 400, Torneå 400, Ørsta 400, Kirkenes 350, Kragerø 350, Kristianstad 350, Silkeborg 350, Voss 350, Alta 300, Brønnøysund 300, Helsingborg 300, Kuopio 300, Levanger 300, Motala 300, Narvik 300, Norrköping 300, Randers 300, Sandviken 300, Sortland 300, Steinkjer 300, Svolvær 300, Viborg 300, Honningsvåg 250, Rovaniemi 250, Sandnessjøen 250, Savonlinna 250, Seinäjoki 215, Boden 200, Harstad 200, Kiruna 200, Porsgrunn 200, Rognan 200, Tomelilla 200, Struer 200, Söderhamn 200, Vågå 200, Ås 200, Ludvika 150, Gislaved 125, Kemi 125, Rørvik 120, Hedemora 100, Nokia 100, Otta 100, Rissa 100, Hjørring 100, Sykkylven 100, Ulvik 100, Isafjördur 90, Arjeplog 60, Hudiksvall 60, Stokmarknes 50, Gagnef 25, Gällivare 25

Unknown figures: Alfta, Fredericia, Kolding, Longyearbyen, Nässjö, Ockelbo, Uddevalla and Vågan. Almost all organised demonstrations, In Longyearbyen with torches. In Nässjö only signitures were collected (resulting in 240 names against war) and in Uddevalla there was a street theater. All Nordic 127 places listed in this study are confirmed by reports afterward or preparatory public announcement documentation in one Swedish and two Danish cases. The pre demonstrations in the Copenhagen area are not included in this Nordic list of 127 protests, with them included the total is 132.

The figures come from different sources. A lower estimation has been chosen when there are different reports and one of them seems to be an overestimation. In some cases a figure in between two estimations has been chosen. This has been the solution for the most controversial figures from Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stockholm.

Tord Björk

Popular movement study group

23.2 2003


Attachment:

Figures and sources for each country (additional figures in brackets when reports make different estimations).


Denmark

Copenhagen 30.000 (10.000-50.000)

Aarhus 5.000 (6.000)

Aalborg 2.000 (2.000-3.000)

Esbjerg 750 (500-1.000)

Silkeborg 350 (200-500)

Randers 300

Viborg 300

Struer 200

Hjørring 100

Lacking figures: Fredricia, Kolding

Pre demonstrations in the Copenhagen area not included in the overall figures for the Nordic countries in this study: Brønshøj, Nørrebro, Roskilde and Valby. There are also reports stating that an action should take place in Hjørnby which is also not included.

Sources: Anti war coalitions www.ingenkrig.dk, www.stop-terrorkrigen.dk, daily left paper www.arbejderen.dk, Internet alternativ media www.modkraft.dk. In total ca. 40.000 partcipants in the manifestations.


Finland

Helsingfors 15.000 (15.000 - 20.000)

Åbo 5.000 (5.000 -7.000)

Tammerfors 2.000

Uleåborg 1.000 (1.500)

Joensuu 550 (500-600)

Jyväskylä 450 (400-500)

Torneå 400

Mariehamn 400

Kuopio 300

Rovaniemi 250 (200-300)

Savonlinna 250

Seinäjoki 215

Kemi 125 (120-130)

Nokia 100

Källa: All figures from antiwar coalition www.eiiskuairakiin.org. Figures are given from different sources, both low and high, also when contradicting organisers higher estimations. It is the only organisation in the Nordic countries doing so. Indymedia sf.indymedia.org also gives figures for the big cities in Finland. The lowest figures listed above gives 26.040, the highest 33.040. Total number is therefore estimated as 30.000 in Finland.


Iceland

Reykjavik 4000

Akureiry 500

Isafjördur 90

Källa: Icelandic peace movement www.fridur.is. There are lots of pictures from the actions. In total ca. 5.000 demonstrators


Norway

Oslo 60.000

Trondheim 20.000

Bergen 15.000

Stavanger 10.000

Tromsø 3.000 (3.500)

Kristiansand 3.000

Hamar 2.500

Tønsberg 2000

Skien 2.000

Bodø 1.750

Lillehammer 1500

Fredrikstad 800

Elverum 700

Arendal 700

Ålesund 600

Haugesund 600

Florø 550

Sarpsborg 500

Risør 500

Mo i Rana 500

Molde 500

Mandal 450

Gjøvik 400

Hammerfest 400

Ørsta 400

Voss 350

Kragerø 350

Kirkenes 350

Svolvær 300

Narvik 300

Alta 300

Sortland 300

Brønnøysund 300

Steinkjer 300

Levanger 300

Honningsvåg 250

Sandnessjøen 250

Harstad 200

Vågå 200

Porsgrunn 200

Harstad 200

Rognan 200

Ås 200

Rørvik 120

Rissa 100

Sykkylven 100

Ulvik 100

Otta 100

Stokmarknes 50

Lacking figures: Longyearbyen, Vågan

Also Amundsen-Scott polar station in Antarctica 5


Sources: Anti war coalition  http://ingenkrig.no and indymedia.no. Report also in left daily klassekampen.no. In total ca.135.000 demonstrators.



Sweden

There are a great number of different sources making it hard to judge what figures to state. A full documentation will be available in Swedish at www.folkrorelser.nu

Stockholm 75.000 (35.000-100.000)

Göteborg 25.000 (12.500-40.000)

Malmö 5.000

Umeå 4.000

Lund 3.000 (2.400 - 4.000)

Borås 2.000

Linköping 2.000

Jönköping 1.800 (1.600-2.000)

Piteå 1.500 (1.000–1.600)

Växjö 1.500

Falun 1.400 (1.500)

Luleå 1.100

Gävle 1.000

Sundsvall 900 (1.000)

Västerås 1.000

Östersund 850 (730-1.000)

Visby 800 (900)

Halmstad 750 (800)

Härnösand 700

Eskilstuna 600 (700)

Skellefteå 500

Simrishamn 500

Karlshamn 450

Karlskrona 450

Kalmar 400

Borlänge 400

Helsingborg 350 (300-400)

Kristianstad 350

Motala 300

Norrköping 300

Sandviken 300

Kiruna 200

Söderhamn 200

Tomelilla 200

Boden 150 (100-200)

Ludvika 150 (100)

Gislaved 125 (100-150)

Hedemora 100

Lysekil 100

Arvika 75

Arjeplog 60

Hudiksvall 60

Ljusdal 50

Gagnef 25

Gällivare 25 (20-30)

Ockelbo demonstration reported but not number of partcipants

Uddevalla street theater

Nässjö protest meeting at a square where 240 signuters were collected

Reports are missing from announced demonstration in Alfta

Sources:

Left weeklies are reporting most extensively: www.internationalen.se, www.proletaren.se, www.socialisterna.nu, www.arbetaren.se, alternative net media also but with less national coverage: www.yelah.net, www.se.indymedia.org, www.fib.se, www.motkraft.net. There is no national anti war coalition but some local networks have homepages, e.g. Stockholm, www.motkrig.org. The total number of participants in Sweden is according ca 135.000.


United for Peace and Justice World list with 603 places:

 http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=725