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Afghan War Lantern Tribute on Parkers Piece, Cambridge (23/20/2009).

Cameraboy | 25.10.2009 22:56 | Anti-militarism | Culture | Cambridge

On Friday 23rd October 2009, a small band of artivists came together on Parkers Piece, Cambridge at 6:00pm to do something in rememberance of all those who have perished in a war that has lasted longer than World War Two.

Setting up...
Setting up...







The view from Kelsey Kerridge...
The view from Kelsey Kerridge...

Singing old song about an old problem.
Singing old song about an old problem.



Spelling it out...
Spelling it out...


It is now eight years since the madness that is the war in Afghanistan has started. In that time countless thousands of Afghans have perished and many Western soldiers have gone to Afghanistan, only to come home in Bodybags.

You know something is amiss when you have soldiers going AWOL and joining anti war demonstrations in London.

You know something is amiss when even the top brass in the military seem on an almost weekly basis now are seen to be breaking the usual protocols and going on the record in the press to say that they cannot win the campaign in Afghanistan.

You know something is amiss when the production of Opium Poppies in Afghanistan is higher now than it was before this current war started.

You know something is amiss when opinion polls are charting a swing against continuing this war.

In short, it is a costly exercise in futility.

A few people sang a rendition of "The Answer is Blowing in The Wind", although I can't help thinking that since it's composer has already sold his soul (and songs) to 'The Man', we need to look elsewhere now for more relevant musical comment.

Then arrangement of Lanterns placed on Parkers Piece spelled out the phrase "END THE WAR NOW".

Enough said.

Cameraboy


Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

The war is amiss

27.10.2009 13:39

You know something is amiss when Afghan womens groups say their lives are far worse now, that the new government is as bad as the Taliban and the occupation should end today, when womens rights were one of occupiers excuses.

You know something is amiss when the war has overspilled into Pakistan causing a bigger domestic disaster than any earthquake, and far more Pakistanis think their biggest enemy is no longer India but the US.

You know something is amiss when there aren't any foriegn terrorists in Afghanistan yet we are fighting in a tribal civil war under them banner of a long war on terror.

Well done for producing so many lanterns and displaying them so poignantly. It is a good choice of words too, it is hard to think of short, pithy slogans that haven't already been associated with other groups or conflicts (Stop the War, Peace Now and Troops Out for example). It would be great if some of the people who contributed could try the same thing in Edinburgh in a couple of weeks, to let the NATO chiefs see it too.

Danny


Hit and miss

27.10.2009 14:39

Even more is amiss when peaceful protestors are shot and even the occuping officials resign disillusioned

U.S. official resigns over Afghan war
Foreign Service officer and former Marine captain says he no longer knows why his nation is fighting
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR2009102603394.html?hpid%3Dtopnews⊂=AR

Police fire on anti-US protesters in Kabul
 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6890757.ece

Danny


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