LAAW ( Legal Action Against War ) has been set up by a group of concerned citizens, to investigate and utilise every possible legal avenue available to prevent Britain using military force to resolve international disputes. Committed to peace and reconciliation, we will strive to bring about a new national, European and world legal order in which humankind works together for a better world.

Our activities include applications for judicial review, civil proceedings, criminal prosecutions and the preparation and distribution of legal opinions and advice to the armed forces, the media, government and parliaments. In the longer term we will attempt to change British, European and international laws relating to the declaration and conduct of war and the use of military force.

We wish to co-operate with all those individuals, groups and organisations around the world who are striving to eliminate violence, military conflict and warfare and willing to work together to create an inclusive, just and peaceful world.

Through combining our strengths we will prevail.


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Representatives of LAAW
Legal Action Against War would like to invite you to meet some of its main representatives. Listed below are some of the founder members who have been active since LAAW was first formed in February 2003.



Dr J. Thring - President

Mr C. Coverdale - Chairman, Director and Official Delegate for LAAW

Mr. M Hardern - Administrator

Dr J. Thring

BArch MCD (Liv ) PhD (Can tab ) MRTPI Reg'd Architect & Chartered Town Planner, is Convener of Planning for Peace; focusing on long term sustainable solutions to conflict and injustice, Member World Constitution & Parliament Assoc., building a democratic global commons.



Former Hon. Sec. Professions for World Disarmament & Development and Exec. Member Architects & Engineers for Social Responsibility. Papers on political futures include:' Perspectives of Global Justice' 5th Baghdad Conf.;'Strategies & Scenarios for Palestine' Al-Aqsa March, 2001; 'The Future of Peace & Human Rights in Europe' EU Conf. on Peace & Human Rights Brussels,Dec.2000; 'Perspectives of Global Governance' Free Univ. of Eire/ UNESCO 'Visions of Peace' Conf. Dublin, May 2000; 'Visions of Global Democracy' UN Link 2000 Conf. Lond, Nov.1999; 'Justice for Iraq' Baghdad Conf. May 1999;'Global Energy Supplies' Provisional World Parl. Barcelona , Dec. 1998; 'Need for Democratic Replacement of the UN' North-South Mediterranean Partnership or Separation? Symp. Baghdad , Nov.1997; 'Human Rights & Responsibilities' Prov. World Parl. loc.cit. Dec.1996; 'Do We Need a World Government?' AESR News Summer 1996; 'Voting for Policies' Conflict or Resolution? Sinai, 1996; 'Scenarios for Europe , with & without Iraq Embargo' 2nd Athens Conf. Against Embargo on Iraq Apr. 1994; 'An Equilibrium Approach to Sustainable World Management 'Green Dialogue for an Alternative World Order Sirte, 1992.



Mr C. Coverdale

Is an Organisation and Governance Consultant and a behavioural scientist with a particular interest in meme tics - in the case of war, the memes which cause inter-State aggression and the possibility of changing these to ensure societies automatically pursue peaceful means of conflict resolution.

He is LAAW's expert on both UK and International War Law, having studied the subject thoroughly and written a number of abstracts on the subject. These include the UN Charter, the Rome Statute and in the UK the following Acts of Parliament: The UN Act 1946, The Geneva Convention Act 1957 & 1995, The Genocide Act 1969, The Biological Weapons Act 1997, The War Crimes Act 1991, The Chemical Weapons Act 1997, The Human Rights Act 1998 and The International Criminal Court Act 2001.

Mr M. Hardern

Michael Hardern is leading our attempts to let Iraqi victims of the war know that they should register their claims for compensation. Time limits may apply and communication with Iraq is difficult. Perhaps the only option is to use the few internet cafes which are operating, so Michael is concentrating on publicising the availability of claim forms and instructions on our web site


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LAAW receives no funding and depends on donations to continue its work. We all give our time free, but printing, telecoms, postage, maintenance of the web-site, travel and so on are costs which we rely on our supporters to help defray.



If you can help by making a one-off or occasional donation please send a cheque made out to LAAW including, if you wish, a letter with your personal details to

L.A.A.W.

Administration

139 Vauxhall Street

London SE11 5LL




Your donations will be greatly appreciated and will help us to continue our work in bringing the war-mongers to trial and in promoting new, more democratic, processes which will prevent the UK 's participation in wars of aggression.