Following the calls from the Assembly of the Social Movements alongside the World Social Forum meeting in Venezuala in January, the international anti-war movement is planning mass protests around the world on March 18th / 19th. The weekend will see over 200 anti-war protests around the globe. There will be a demand to end to the brutal, illegal and humiliating occupation of Iraq and against the proposed US attack on Iran. The protests will take place as far afield as Yellowknife in the frozen far north of Canada to Iraq itself where there will be demonstrations in Baghdad and Basra.
In London the Stop the War Coalition is organising a national protest on March 18th, meeting outside the Houses of Parliament at midday, and marching to Trafalger Square via Hyde Park Corner. "Don't Attack Iran" is the sub-slogan.
More at:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk
See also: http://www.march-in-march.org (global site)
http://unitedforpeace.org (a week of actions in March)
http://www.troopsoutnow.org
WSF Assembly Call:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/WSFAssemblyCall.htm
A few weeks later in London there will be a Mass Civil Disobedience Demo in parliament square on 2nd April, marking the April 2004 US attack on Fallujah. A noviolent direct action workshop and legal briefing will take place in London the day before.
The protest has not sought permission under SOCPA legislation - which makes it a criminal offence to organise or take part in a protest within 1km of Parliament. The mass action is thus also challenging this new attack on our civil liberties.
Organised by the Mass Action Group and supported by Iraq Occupation Focus, JNV, the London Catholic Worker and Voices UK. More at: http://www.voicesuk.org/
More at:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk See also:
http://www.march-in-march.org (global site) http://unitedforpeace.org (a week of actions in March) http://www.troopsoutnow.org WSF Assembly Call:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/WSFAssemblyCall.htm A few weeks later in London there will be a Mass Civil Disobedience Demo in parliament square on 2nd April, marking the April 2004 US attack on Fallujah. A noviolent direct action workshop and legal briefing will take place in London the day before.
The protest has not sought permission under SOCPA legislation - which makes it a criminal offence to organise or take part in a protest within 1km of Parliament. The mass action is thus also challenging this new attack on our civil liberties.
Organised by the Mass Action Group and supported by Iraq Occupation Focus, JNV, the London Catholic Worker and Voices UK. More at:
http://www.voicesuk.org/
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Don't Let Up - These Are CRIMINALS
28.02.2006 20:02
by Jordan Thornton
www.dissidentvoice.org
September 18, 2005
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Cindy Sheehan's courageous actions in Texas have captured the imagination of an American public desperate for an end to this madness. We must give them something they can get behind, while the Bush/PNAC Regime is vulnerable, and before the next big Distraction we all sense is imminent. Let's send an unmistakable message of unity and determination to the world, and end this now before things get any worse.
Since the demonstrations which reversed the electoral decision in the Ukraine, I've heard and seen many Ukrainians talking about large groups of foreigners who were pivotal to their planning. Many of these groups were the ones responsible for paying for the food, shelter, and orange banners used by the protestors. I didn't think much of this, or the accusations of funding from agencies such as the CIA, until I saw the same thing occurring in Lebanon.
Then, a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Carol Off, did a piece explaining that the "spontaneous, grassroots" protests in the Ukraine were the result of CIA funding and planning over a period of ten years.
Sadly, the report lauded these tactics of Regime Change, but nonetheless, proved my point.
One thing I've noticed is the tightly-controlled Western media's willingness to ignore the unsubstantiated allegations made in Syria and Lebanon that the Central Intelligence Agency, or Israel's Mossad, or both, were responsible for actions like the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, and behind the recent Opposition Movements, while at the same time, parroting over and over the same unsubstantiated claims about Syria, emanating from the White House den of LIARS and thieves. Even media outlets which I consider better than the rest, like the CBC, are guilty of such irresponsibility. When pro-Syrian demonstrators turned out in the hundreds of thousands, proving the anti-Syrians to be the minority voice, the media downplayed these numbers.
Just feels a bit too staged for my taste ... What I find the most irresponsible about all of this is the fact that whoever is behind this, they are attempting (and succeeding) to divide the Lebanese People, and cause conflict both within the country, and towards Syria. This, of course, aids the Israelis and PNAC Americans, who both have an interest, and want to invade and occupy Syria (and perhaps Lebanon as well), as called for repeatedly by the agenda which has seen Bush/PNAC illegally invade two Arab nations already.
The CBC chose Janice Stein, a Zionist "Middle East Expert" to comment on the situation, and she said when she saw the demonstrations she "saw the colour orange". This was after the first anti-Syrian demo, when the colour scheme wasn't so pronounced. Since then, orange flags, placards, etc. have started “spontaneously" appearing in great numbers.
When I was in university, my Design professor brought in some Colour Researchers from the University of Edmonton, who lectured on the psychological, but also the PHYSICAL effects, colours have on the human body and mind. This red-orange colour is one of the "comfort colours", and you will no doubt remember seeing it in countless commercials (ING Direct, and the creepy, stereotypical European banker, anyone ...?).
Since the CIA, or some similar agency, is ultimately behind these carefully stage-managed displays, you know they understand what they're doing. I believe that we should be taking a cue from them, and striking while the iron is hot. This orange color scheme has been carefully crafted in order to transmit "armchair understanding" of these two manufactured crises, and make them appear to be popular uprisings.
Even though it was our Enemy putting it out there, for their own purposes, we should seize the opportunity to claim it for ourselves, since this IS a popular uprising, for the betterment of the world. After all, we have been granted an unprecedented peek inside the CIA's Handbook for Non-Violent Revolutionary Change, and you know damn well that they have studied all of the relevant psychological factors. We should not squander the opportunity we've been provided, and act while the soft underbellies of these monsters is exposed.
If you are to protest, from now on, DRESS IN ORANGE, and CARRY SIGNS OF ORANGE, rally at the feet of power, and the media, DEMANDING that the democratic Will of the People not be ignored. I guarantee this will send an instant message, not only to the Bush/PNAC/Bliar Regime, but to all Americans and to the world that sees it.
Keep your signs easy to read and understand, things such as "FIRE THE LIARS", "INVESTIGATE, IMPEACH, PROSECUTE" and at media centers, "LIARS", or "TRAITORS", or "COWARDS".
Groups should design some Talking Points, and designate members to speak with the reporters on-scene. In larger centers, you should inform the media of what's going to happen, and call the station’s News Director or Assignment Editor, and request to be interviewed. You could even take it further, and offer your services as an Activist Analyst for the day, just like they use ex-military personnel, and members of Right-Wing "Think-Tanks" to undermine our work. If they refuse, acknowledge their hypocrisy, stage a noisy rally at their front doors, contact their competitors, and when they arrive (and they will), talk to them.
Let's test these LIARS and War Criminals, and their media puppets, and see just how much they truly respect "Freedom & Democracy", the words upon which they attempt to justify the atrocities upon which they've built their fortunes.
Regardless of what happens, the message will be sent. We have nothing to lose. If something comes of this, then great. Follow up and celebrate. If the rallies are ignored, or treated by the police as those in the past, then you've just PROVEN these men to be the Hypocrites we all know them to be ... and this message will be transmitted in no uncertain terms around the world.
I'd like to see as many people as can not simply Rally for a few hours but for DAYS. Those who cannot make it there, plan and hold your own local rallies, and not only gather where your Government officials meet, but also where the media does its business.
Let's take this thing that was designed to dupe people into supporting what the Fascists in DC want, and turn it on its head. Let's use it as a tool for bringing that Fascism to its knees, and demonstrate the good intentions that were to be assumed about the "Orange Revolutionaries".
Remember, that we are the Majority, and Truth is our greatest Ally.
The only way we can fail, is if we fail to ACT.
P E A C E . . . ?
Jordan Thornton is an independent journalist, political activist, and screenwriter, who spent the past decade within the mainstream media, both in Canada and the United States. He can be contacted at pilgrim112 at hotmail.com
Reclaim the "Orange Revolution"
Homepage:
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Sept05/Thornton0918.htm
The Kurds will not be marching with you!
01.03.2006 16:58
See this link:
Friend of the Kurds.