Bristol-Stop-The-War News : 25th July 2003
Bristol-Stop-The-War | 25.07.2003 18:01 | Anti-militarism | Social Struggles
Please see below for details of your nearest Vigil.
COCA COLA. Killing Trade Unionists?
See the 'review' section for more.
*Updated Section **New Section
1) Talk: Palestine & Bristol ISM: 29th July
2) **Talk: Media Mind Control?: 31st July
3) **London: Peoples Assembly: 30th Aug
4) *DISARM: DSEi 2003: 6th-12th Sept
5) NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION: 27th Sept
6) **Report: 1st Bristol Anti-War Conference
7) *News: Police Condemned @Fairford
8) **Report: Rogue International War Tattoo
9) **Asylum: Defend Maria Ikow
10) *Review: Coca Cola Boycott
11) *Legal: Witnesses Wanted
12) PEACE VIGILS In Bristol & Bath
13) Planning Meetings In Bristol & Bath
14) How This Forum Works
1) TALK : PALESTINE & BRISTOL ISM : TUE 29th JULY
Organisers Link:
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Related Link:
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Bristol Link:
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DATE: Tue 29th July. TIME: 7:30-9:00pm. FREE ENTRY
PLACE: Easton Community Centre. Kilburn Rd.
(On the junction of Easton Rd & Whitehall Rd.) DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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"A group of people have formed Bristol ISM (International Solidarity
Movement) with the intention of raising awareness of the nature of
the Israeli occupation of Palestine, & to raise funds for the purpose
of sending observers & workers to Palestine itself. The presence of
the ISM in the occupied Palestinian territories creates space within
which Palestinians can conduct non-violent means of resistance to the
Israeli system of terror, apartheid & occupation. As a non-violent
movement, the ISM uses a Ghandi style peaceful response to aggression
to expose the human rights abuses committed by the Israeli army.
The aims of Bristol ISM are: ~ To publicise the work of the ISM
through talks & film evenings (more details to follow). ~ To
encourage & assist people to go out & work with the ISM in Palestine,
during the freedom summer campaign (1st July- 5th Aug), the Olive
Harvest later in the year, & in between. This will include relevant
training (more details soon). ~ To carry out direct action, & assist
with other campaigns locally & nationally (eg: against Caterpillar,
the firm that supplies bulldozers to the Israeli Army; the boycott
Israeli goods campaign; to help press for an independent inquiry into
the shooting of Tom Hurnall in Rafah."
FOR MORE INFO:
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2) TALK : DOES THE MEDIA CONTROL OUR MINDS? : THUR 31st JULY
Organisers Link:
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DATE: Thur 31st July. TIME: 7:00-8:30pm. FREE ENTRY
VENUE: Bristolian Cafe. Picton St. Montpelier. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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'CAFE MARX' SPEAKER: Colin Thomas (Film producer/director)
"The war on Iraq has again put the spotlight on the role of the
media. Is it all powerful? Or does it reflect the divisions within
society? Is the BBC neutral? Why has there been such relentless media
witch-hunt against asylum seekers? Can socialists & radicals use the
press and TV to undermine ruling class ideas? Can media barons like
Murdoch be controlled? Could Britain ever end up like Italy where the
President (Berlusconi) owns most of the media?
Colin Thomas is a film producer/director based in Bristol. He is an
active socialist & former Labour member. He campaigns for press &
broadcasting freedom, & in the past has refused to allow the BBC to
censor his documentaries on Northern Ireland. You can see one of his
programmes on Sun 27th @5.45pm on BBC2 - Dead Man Talking - The
radical politics of 19th century novelist Thomas Hardy."
ADDITIONAL 'CAFE MARX' EVENT ON THUR 31st JULY:
'Life after Capitalism, what kind of world do we want?'
TIME: 7:30-9:00pm. FREE ENTRY
VENUE: Cafe Maitreya. St Marks Rd. Easton. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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3) LONDON : PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY : SAT 30th AUG
Organisers Link:
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DATE: Sat 30th Aug. TIME: 10:00am - 5:30pm
VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Euston Road. London WC1
(Opposite Euston Tube). DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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2nd PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY FOR PEACE IN LONDON
"Stop The War Coalition launched a People's Assembly earlier this
year as a way of injecting some real democracy into the debate about
the so-called 'War On Terrorism'. Our 1st Assembly, held on 12th
March 2003, raised the banner of Peace as Blair's Parliament preached
War. Around 1,000 people attended the 1st assembly, which was
held a stone's throw from the heart of Parliament, & which called for
the restoration of democracy in the UK, & the restoration of
international law. The 2nd Assembly will consist of delegates from
every community, & will challenge Blair's lies & call for an end
to the occupation." News On 1st Assembly:
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MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
4) DISARM : DSEi WEAPONS FAIR 2003 : 6th - 12th SEPT
Organisers Link:
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INTERNATIONAL CALL TO ACTION: LONDON 6TH – 12TH SEPT 2003
For a full list of Arms Traders:
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BACKGROUND: "DSEi is one of the worlds biggest trade fairs for guns,
bombs, planes, small arms, mines & tanks. Taking place in London from
6th–12th Sept 2003, protesters from all over the world are invited to
travel to the UK to target, not just the fair itself, but the
businesses behind it. Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi
2003) is sponsored by the British govt. It will host arms buyers from
countries on Amnesty Internationals list of human rights abusers.
For More Info: Link:
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*WHAT IS BEING PLANNED? (*Updated)
SAT 6th Sept: Central London March. Details Soon
SUN 7th - MON 8th Sept: Disarm DSEi Counter Conference. Details Soon.
TUE 9th Sept: Non Violent Direct Action Day (NVDA). Details Soon.
*WED 10th SEPTEMBER: DESTROY DSEi DAY OF ACTION.
*8:00am (9:00am Start) - Critical Mass Demonstration
*PLACE: Bank Tube station. In front of Royal Exchange. TUBE MAP BELOW:
*
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*11:00am - MASS BLOCKADE OF DSEi. PLACE: Canning Town Roundabout.
*(Nearest tube station Canning Town) DIRECTIONS BELOW:
*
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*11:00am - MASS BLOCKADE. PLACE: Royal Albert Way. Connaught Bridge
*Underpass. (Nearest tube station Royal Albert). DIRECTIONS BELOW:
*
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MORE BACKGROUND: The last DSEi exhibition took place over 11th Sept
2001. While many businesses around the world closed, the arms fair
stayed open. For 3 more days countries (including US, Israel & 14
Arab nations) continued to shop, side-by-side. The arms trade, of
which DSEi 2003 is an important part, is an international political
business made up of multinational companies. These companies play a
leading role in the unjust global economic system which causes
poverty & abuse of human rights around the world."
Official DSEi Website:
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5) NEXT NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : SAT 27th SEPT
National Demonstration Against The Occupation Of Iraq & Palestine
PLACE: London. DATE: Sat 27th Sept. TIME: 12:00-5:00pm.
More Information To Follow. Related Site:
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BRISTOL COACH TICKETS: Available Soon. Please Spread The Word Now.
"This war was wrong before it started & it remains wrong. It is
illegal, immoral & unnecessary. The reasons for war were given as the
existence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Not a single WMD has
been found, even though many of the sites which were identified as
containing them have been visited. Even if any are now found to
exist, the conduct of the war makes it clear that the Iraqi regime
did not, as claimed, intend to use them. The US & UK showed their war
aims by early on taking over the 600 oil wells. The reconstruction of
Iraq will be carried out mainly by US companies. There is much talk
of the oil becoming the property of the Iraqi people but all the
signs are that revenues from the oil will be used to feed the profits
of the primarily US construction companies."
END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ & PALESTINE.
6) REPORT : 1st BRISTOL ANTI-WAR CONFERENCE
"Up to 200 people attended Bristol's 1st anti-war conference at
Bristol University Graduate School on Sat 12th July. The theme of
Conference came about as a result of a merger between Colombia
Solidarity Campaign & Bristol-Stop-The-War, who had both planned
similar conferences within weeks of each other. We instead merged our
plans, & through that developed a theme for conference, which was to
investigate links between the so called 'War on Terror', the social
struggles in Latin America, & their relevance to grass roots Bristol
politics.
Overall conference was as great success, with the links between US
aggression in the Middle East & Latin America made. These wars &
struggles are considered to be part bid of a wider bid by the US to
establish an empire at a time when it has no clear rival. The attempt
by the US to return us to a dark age where wars can be caricatured as
battles between good & evil, is viewed as the smokescreen used to ram
home a far-right economic program, resulting in massive human rights
abuses being committed & sidelined in its name (see the 'Coca Cola
Boycott' for related info).
The relevance of these issues to Bristol Politics was left a little
more open-ended, with questions raised as to the extent to which
Bristol-Stop-The-War had made the links with local unions, who are
themselves at the receiving end of this far-right economic agenda.
So there is clearly still work to be done. That said, the ability of
Bristol to make a difference to the lives of those fleeing wars &
economic crises, often created by countries such as our own, was
demonstrated by the attendance of Maria Ikow, a refugee fleeing
Somalia (see 'Defend Maroa Ikow' for more info).
Everyone will, of course, have drawn their own insights &
conclusions, & there were admittedly a few problems, such as the lack
of disabled facilities & a creche. One of our workshops also failed
to go ahead due to the workshop organiser being given the wrong
time, & Bristol Indymedia (
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disappointed as a result of lack of space & time to provide computer
facilities. But, as said from the outset, this would be the 1st in a
series of conferences, & this gives us time to gain experience in
how to run events such as this as smoothly as possible."
PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK & COMMENTS TO:
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TO VIEW FEEDBACK & COMMENTS VISIT:
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7) NEWS : LIBERTY CONDEMNS POLICING @FAIRFORD
Liberty Link:
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Fairford Coach Action:
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CASUALTY OF WAR - 8 Weeks Of Counter-Terrorism In Rural England
"An investigation by human rights group Liberty into policing of
peace demos at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, during the recent
invasion of Iraq has revealed fundamental breaches of the European
Convention on Human Rights. It has found there was a clear policy of
using anti-terrorism laws to prevent citizens taking part in
legitimate protest. At its most extreme an anti-terrorist order was
served on an 11-year-old girl (her father is now seeking legal
redress) & a coach load of demonstrators was `kidnapped' by police
(also the subject of a legal action).
The investigation has discovered that the combined cost of policing
the protests against a possibly illegal war was in excess of £7m.
Gloucestershire constabulary spent £3.26m. The MOD police £3.79m.
Between 1 Mar & 30 Apr the number of people arrested at RAF Fairford
was 61. Of these 27 were charged with public order (but not
terrorist) offences. Not a single terrorist was detained.
Now a number of MPs, including Liberal Simon Hughes & Labour MPs
David Drew, Lynn Jones & Neil Gerrard, are asking why the Home
Secretary told Parliament the Terrorism Act 2000 was not being used
to prevent protests at Fairford despite evidence that dozens of
protesters had been stopped & searched under section 44 of the
Terrorism Act. Liberty is calling for a House of Commons Select
Committee on Home Affairs to investigate why powers under the
Terrorism Act were used against peaceful protesters. In particular it
would like to know the extent to which policies were dictated by
Cabinet, the Home Secretary & the US armed forces."
IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO ADD TO THIS REPORT CONTACT:
Tel: 020 7403 3888. Fax: 020 7407 5354. Email: info@liberty-human-
rights.org.uk
8) REPORT : ROGUE INTERNATIONAL WAR TATTOO
Sat 19th July was the main day of International Air Tattoo. Visitors
on the Sat reportedly crashed from highs of 200,000 to only 30,000
this year. Nonetheless, it still gave an opportunity for those who
missed the B52s flying off from Fairford (Gloucestershire) during
March & April a 2nd chance to witness these carpet bombers of
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Iraq etc. Below are reports on protests
against the Tattoo which took place over the weekend of the Tattoo.
Related Site:
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a) 'DISORGANISED' DEMO: "In response to excessive policing, which has
been found to breach basic human rights (see 'News' section),
protesters decided against an easily policed demo, & opted
for 'disorganised' pockets of activity, which sprung up around the
Air Tattoo as they demonstrated & leafleted crowds on Sat 19th. They
witnessed a sickening display of military hardware on show above the
Cotswold countryside. The most grotesque display was the production
of a pink `love heart' in the sky by 2 aircraft. In view of the
suffering levelled at the Iraqi people by bombers recently flying
from Fairford it seemed a most insensitive act."
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b) DEPLETED URANIUM TALK: "On Sat 19th, Damacio Lopez, a leading
expert on the subject of Depleted Uranium, gave a talk at Fairford
Community Centre. Last Dec Damacio visited Iraq with a Japanese
delegation to investigate the effects of radiation. The Japanese
delegation were making a documentary & asked if they could film Mr
Lopez's investigation. Having agreed, they travelled with him across
Iraq from Baghdad to Basra. They found traces of Plutonium,
Americium, Neptunium, etc. in bullets. Not just Depleted Uranium. Not
just `tank-busting shells' & `bunker-busting bombs' but bullets. (ie:
DU is only the tip of the iceberg-lie).
They visited what hospitals remain in Iraq (pitiably few) & visited
Leukaemia wards. The experts were in full agreement of one fact that
the US govt still denies, that all the birth defects & abnormalities
were a result of radiation poisoning. Although he didn't dwell on
it, Mr Lopez realised he was contaminated on returning from his
visit. He says he doesn't know how long he's got left but that
he's `making the most of it [his life]'. He didn't elaborate, didn't
wallow in self-pity, moved swiftly on."
Reports On Depleted Uranium:
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LINKS:
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c) FAIRFORD PEACE CAMP (Thur 18th- Mon 21st July): "A special Peace
Camp was held for Tattoo. After an initial ding-dong with
Gloucestershire police who tried to move us on, we settled down to an
excellent & well supported camp, with a constant presence at the main
entrance to the Air Tattoo. We were also opposite a camp site of
2,000 Tattoo goers, who all had to pass our friendly, banner
festooned camp with peace songs wafting into the night. It seemed to
satisfy the police to give us parking tickets for camping on the
verge, well inside the new yellow lines, so we incurred £180 fines
between us for parking essential vehicles."
If you wish to make a donation to the parking fines:
CHEQUES PAYABLE TO: Nukewatch South.
POST: Joe Sturge. 29 Cowleigh Rd. Malvern. Worcs. WR14 1QF
9) ASYLUM : DEFEND MARIA IKOW
Organisers Link:
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BRISTOL DEFEND ASYLUM SEEKERS CAMPAIGN
"Problems in Somalia are the result of colonization. Great Britain
split the country in 2 & encouraged clan warfare by divide & rule.
Maria Ikow is a victim of this policy. She is 28 & severely
traumatized, & she has an unexplained lump in her throat. Maria has
witnessed the murder of her husband & rape of her sister. She had to
leave her 7 year-old son, Mohammed, in Somalia with his grandmother.
Sarah McMurchie of Douglas & Partners is acting as Maria's solicitor.
Sarah has written to the Home Office to ask her case to be reopened &
appeals to be renewed. This has been denied. Sarah has now written a
letter to the Home Office asking for compassion. There is reluctance
to deport to Somalia. Research has shown deportations to Somalia are
being reduced because of the on-going civil war.
Maria's appeals have failed & she faces deportation. Maria is now
destitute, & sleeps on the floor of a friend in Barton Hill. BDASC
are taking up this case to highlight injustice of the Immigration &
Nationality system. Blunkett is trying to push through legislation
that will mean the introduction of Identity Cards, abolition of
appeals after the 1st determination by an adjudicator, & removal of
legal aid. The BDASC demand a fair legal system that gives all asylum
seekers their human rights. We demand an end to a foreign policy that
creates conflict & war, forcing people like Maria to flee their
country. We demand an end to the under funding of the public sector
which encourages the scapegoating of asylum seekers & leaves them
vulnerable to the risk of vicious racist attacks in this country."
IF YOU WANT TO HELP WITH EITHER MONEY OR TIME:
Contact: Box 41. Greenleaf Books. 82 Colston Street. Bristol BS1 5BB
CHEQUES PAYABLE TO: BDASC
Please write 'Maria Ikow Fund' on the back of cheques.
10) REVIEW : COCA COLA BOYCOTT
INFO:
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FLYER:
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"Coca Cola & Nestlé stand accused of serious human rights violations
in Colombia. While Nestlé sack union members, Coca Cola kill them.
Paramilitary Death Squads, allegedly acting under orders from Coca
Cola management, have assassinated 8 trade union leaders in their
workplaces. A US judge has ruled that Coca Cola do have a case
to answer, yet Coca Cola refuses to co-operate with the union &
continues a policy of violent repression. Colombian union,
Sintraminercol, has responded by calling for an international boycott
of Coca Cola & all their products. Last Tuesday, July 22, saw the
launch of this global campaign.
The boycott is a means of sustained pressure & condemnation against
the policies of the multinational company Coca Cola around the world
so that the company repairs the damage caused, changes its policies &
makes a commitment to respect the human rights of workers &
populations The boycott will initially be for one year. The boycott
will not only consist of not consuming products of Coca Cola, but
will also mark the start of a sustained campaign of condemnation,
mobilisation & struggle against its policies. Organise to throwout
Coca Cola from your workplace, schools & colleges. Get rid of the
vending machinces!"
11) LEGAL : WITNESSES WANTED
a) MARCH 20th: "A man was attacked by a police dog at the anti-war
demo on College Green on Thur 20th March. The incident happened at
about 8.30pm. The man, Shaun Davies, is in his mid-20s. He had a
shaved head, & was wearing green khaki trousers & a padded 'puffa'
jacket with a hood. The police dog sprang at Shaun, & ripped quite a
lot of stuffing out of the back of the jacket. Shaun was arrested, &
charged with - among other things - attacking a police horse. He says
the rider of the horse charged the horse at him, & that he was merely
trying to get out of the way. If anyone witnessed this incident,
Shaun would be grateful if they would come forward to help prevent
him becoming the victim of more injustice."
PLEASE RING SHAUN DIRECTLY: 07855 712517
Or you can contact him via:
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b) MARCH 29th: "On the anti-war demo of Sat 29th March, Ornella
Saibene was arrested & charged with a section 5 Public Order offence.
While this offence is itself minor (it relates to the use of language
which others may find distressing), Ornella has been found 'guilty' &
now has a criminal record. She continues to claim her innocence. She
believes the police have mistaken her for someone similar to her
earlier in the demo, & that any 'distressing' language she may have
later used was a result of being assaulted by the police while
walking down Park St. We need witnesses to confirm she was not
swearing at the police prior to the demo reaching Park St, &
witnesses to her assault by the Police while walking down Park St.
Ornella is in her early 40's (but looks younger). She has black hair,
which was worn in plaited pig tails. She was wearing a dark grey
fleece, blue t-shirt, denim skirt & black tights, & is of medium to
large build. If you think you can help, please get in touch."
PLEASE RING ORNELLA DIRECTLY: 0117 3730099
Or you can contact her via:
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12) PEACE VIGILS IN BRISTOL & BATH
a) THE DAILY BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL: The Independent Bristol Peace Vigil
is an open space for discussion, as well a crucial focus to our
campaign. We've kept vigil every night since 9/11, & will keep Vigil
onwards into the future. If you can only make it for 15 minutes, or
a couple of times a month, please still come as all support is
essential. Everyone's welcome at the Bristol Peace Vigil.
TIMES: MON-FRI 5:30-6:30pm, & SAT 3:00-4:00pm. City Centre.
(Opposite Hippodrome. St.Augustines Parade) DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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b) BATH PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday 11.30am-12.30pm @Bath Abbey
(Off York St. From the Station walk up Manvers St) DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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c) EASTON VIGIL: Every Friday. 5:00pm-6:00pm
Corner of Robertson Rd & Stapleton Rd. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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d) HORFIELD VIGIL: Every Friday. 2:00pm-3:00pm
Horfield Meeting House. 300 Gloucester Rd. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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e) ST. WERBURGHS VIGIL: Every Friday. 5:00pm-6:00pm
Junction of Mina Rd & James St. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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f) TOTTERDOWN VIGIL: Every Friday. 5:00pm - 6:00pm. Wells Road.
(By the junction of St.John's Lane). DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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13) PLANNING MEETINGS IN BRISTOL & BATH
a) THE MAIN BRISTOL PLANNING MEETING IN THE CITY CENTRE
All are welcome. We hold a Bristol-Stop-The-War meeting every week,
as a forum for local groups to inform each other of their intentions,
of finding people to work together on projects, & as a venue where
large scale Bristol Demos are agreed & planned. We don't vote at
these meetings, as we're not here to force adherence to a consensus
view. We do instead discuss issues until we reach broad consensus.
DATE: Every Thursday. TIME: 7:00-8:30pm. PLACE: St. Mary on the Quay.
City Centre. Colston Ave. (Opposite War Memorial). DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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b) BATH: Bath-Stop-The-War meet every other Wed. Next meeting 6th Aug.
TIME: 8:00-9:30pm @Friends Meeting House. York St. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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c) BISHOPSTON: Bishopston Group meet every Tuesday. TIME: 7:30-9:00pm
@Friends Meeting House. 300 Gloucester Rd. DIRECTONS BELOW:
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d) MONTPELIER: Montpelier Group meet on the 1st Wed of each month.
TIME: 7:00-8:00pm @Bristolian Cafe. Picton St. DIRECTIONS BELOW.
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e) ST.WERBURGHS: St.Werburghs Group meet every Wed. TIME: 7:00-8:00pm
@St.Werburghs Community Centre. Horley Rd. DIRECTIONS BELOW:
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f) UWE (University) STOP THE WAR: To join send a blank email to:
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14) HOW THIS FORUM WORKS
a) People can join our mailing list by sending a blank email to:
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b) You can email us:
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c) Visit us to view & post messages:
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d) At the above address click MESSAGES for our message archive, POST
to post from the webpage, & LINKS for news & political links.
e) Please email us with information, discussion & questions, but
unless you're engaging in discussion, please only send submissions of
relevance to the South West.
"If you go to one demonstration and then go home, that's something,
but people in power can live with that. What they can't live with is
sustained pressure that keeps building, organisations that keep doing
things, people that keep learning from the last time and doing it
better next time." Noam Chomsky
SAY YES 2 PEACE .... SAY YES 2 PEACE .... SAY YES 2 PEACE
Bristol-Stop-The-War