International students at Atlantic College held a theatrical Die-in in Cardiff city centre on Wednesday 19th at 15:00. The action follows the occupation of the debating chamber of the Welsh Assembly by five anti-war activists on Tuesday. Over 50 students from countries including Pakistan, Montenegro, Sudan, USA, Palestine, Canada, Argentina, Vietnam and Spain took to the streets and lay down in a mass expression of their stance against the war. Whilst they carry a strong message, the students are dedicated to peaceful protest.

Rabia Mir, an 18 year old Pakistani student taking part in the protest said:
“Although war now seems inevitable, the past 12 months have shown that people around the world are dedicated to moving towards a world fighting war, not wars. Thinking now of each person who will die as bombs rain on Iraq, somebody’s father, someone is their mother, they’re someone’s child - not numbers. We must forget talk of victory and casualties, of crisis and dollar bills. These are people, just like you. The action in Cardiff will hopefully be a challenging image of this.”

Liam Goodacre, 17 from Peebles in Scotland, is organizing the action:

“Even at this late stage we must show that the international community does not back this invasion. This action, and countless others around the country show that the British people are not in favour of this war. It is time for the government to start representing the views of their population. If war is declared this action is only a taste of what will be seen on the streets of Cardiff.”

The students will be urging people to take simple action on the day war breaks out by leaving their place of work or study in a nationwide demonstration of mass opposition. Many of the students took part in previous marches in London, Cardiff and organised a symbolic ‘Weapons Inspection’ of RAF St Athans in January. They plan to leave the college on the day a war breaks out and travel to Cardiff to join in a huge demonstration. Thousands of people are expected to leave work, college and school and take to the streets of central Cardiff if war is declared.

ENDS

- Bilingual interviews with the students will be available. For more contact Joel Kenrick on 01446 799237 or  press@icwi.org. See our website at www.icwi.org. (07814405811 on the day)
- For more on the national Die-in campaign see www.j-n-v.org/obstruct&resistpress.htm
- Contact Jill Stallard, CND Cymru, for more on Welsh activities: (01550) 750 260  heddwch@nantgaredig.freeuk.com
- The Stop the War Coalition are planning a demonstration on the Saturday after War breaks out in London. Contact  office@stopwar.org.uk or the Press Office on 020 7278 5786 or 020 7278 6702
- Atlantic College is one of ten United World Colleges around the world. More than 300 students from 73 countries study for the two-year IB exam, most on scholarship. For more information see www.uwcac.org.uk or contact Laura Henderson on 01446 799147.