Bristol-Stop-The-War News : 18th October 2003

*Updated Section **New Section
***International Events

1) **Talk: '...Free The Miami 5': 23rd Oct
2) *2003 Schumacher Lectures: 25th Oct
3) *Films: Includes 'On The Buses': 27th Oct
4) Film: 'The Invisible War...': 28th Oct
5) *HALLOWEEN ACTIONS 2003: 31st Oct
6) **Sponsored Walk For Palestine: 1st Nov
7) **Talk: Coca Cola Boycott: 4th Nov
8) **Talk: 'Modern Jihad...': 7th Nov
9) ***European Social Forum: 12-15th Nov
10) **Talk: Galloway MP In Bristol: 17th Nov
11) **STOP BUSH: 3 Days Of Defiance: 19-21st Nov
12) **STOP BUSH NATIONAL DEMO: 20th Nov
13) *News: US Adopts Collective Punishment
14) Planning Groups In Bristol & Bath
15) CHANGES TO THIS FORUM


1) TALK : '...FREE THE MIAMI 5' : THUR 23rd OCTOBER
Title: 'Fight US Terrorism - Free The Miami Five'
Related Link:  http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/
Organised by Bristol Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
DATE: Thur 23rd Oct. TIME: 7:30-9:00pm. FREE ENTRY
VENUE: Transport House. Victoria St. Fishponds. Bristol. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=365000&Y=176000&scale=10000
WHO ARE THE MIAMI 5? They are 5 Cuban men in US prisons for defending
Cuba from terrorist acts by extremist right-wing groups in Miami.
They were sentenced from 15 years to 2 life sentences. They never
harmed anyone, yet they are in prison while anti-Cuba extremists,
whom they tried to stop, are walking freely in Miami. How did the 5
Cubans try to stop them? By monitoring the terrorists actions, &
informing Cuba of impending attacks by those extremist groups.
The 5 Cubans are Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino,
Rene Gonzalez, & Fernando Gonzalez. They were convicted in US federal
court on 8th June 2001. The US govt claimed they were engaged in
espionage on US military bases & threatened 'national security.'
The espionage charge was a fabrication, as in 14,000 pages of
transcript no espionage evidence was ever introduced.
The 5 Cubans were strictly involved in monitoring the actions of
terrorist right-wing groups in Miami. These groups - such as Omega 7,
Alpha 66, Brothers To The Rescue, Brigada 2506, & Comandos F4 - have
caused the deaths & injury of hundreds of people in Cuba & other
countries. Since 1959 more than 3,000 innocent Cuban civilians have
been killed in terrorist attacks organised by the US."
COME ALONG TO FIND OUT MORE. Contact: 01225 429292.


2) BRISTOL 2003 SCHUMACHER LECTURES: SAT 25th OCTOBER
Organisers Link:  http://www.schumacher.org.uk
'GLOBAL CONFLICT OR HUMAN SCALE DEVELOPMENT?'
DATE: Sat 25th Oct. TIME 10:00am - 5:00pm.
VENUE: Victoria Rooms. Whiteladies Rd. Clifton. Bristol. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=358000&Y=173500&scale=10000
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets Need To Be Pre-Booked. £22 / £18 / £12
MORE INFO: Schumacher UK Office. Create Environment Centre, Bristol
BS1 6XN. Tel/Fax: 0117 903 108. Email: admin@schumacher.org.uk
 http://www.schumacher.org.uk/bristol_schumacher_lectures_03.htm
ANN PETTIFOR: Director at the New Economics Foundation. In 1996 Ann
co-founded Jubilee 2000 for the cancellation of the debts of the
poorest countries. PETER RUSSELL: Cosmologist & Author. Peter's
principal interest is the inner challenges of the times we're
passing through, & has written 10 books in this area. MICHAEL MEACHER
MP: Minister of State for Environment May 97 to June 03. Michael
recently spoke up against the 'Project For The New Amercan Century'.
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1036571,00.htmlE
"In the last 2 years we have seen global conflict scale up to truly
dangerous levels. It seems as though the interests of a small group
of countries & companies are taking priority over the concerns of the
rest of humanity. Unprecedented military technology is being used to
assert political & economic power."


3) FILMS : INCLUDES 'ON THE BUSES' : MON 27th OCTOBER
Organisers Link:  http://bristol.indymedia.org
DATE: Mon 27th Oct. TIME: 7:30-10:00. TAX: £3/2*
(*Though no one turned away through lack of funds)
VENUE: Cube Cinema. Dove Street South. Kings Square (Off Jamaica St.)
MAP:  http://www.cubecinema.com/directions.html INFO: Tel: 0117 9074190
"An ongoing showcase of contemporary filmmakers finding new forms of
cinema to show resistance to globalisation throughout the world.
PLEASE NOTE: The previously advertised film 'Why War?' will now be
shown sometime in Nov as part of an additional night of films.
LINE UP INCLUDES: A new community film from the Knowle West Media
Project. An examination of how the media act as an ideological block
to demonstrations, just as much as police who create a physical one.
'ON THE BUSES': In March 2003 the police illegally hijacked 2 coach
loads of anti-war protestors travelling to USAF Fairford. Recently
they have won the right to a Judicial inquiry. This is their story.


4) FILM : 'THE INVISIBLE WAR...' : TUE 28th OCTOBER
'The Invisible War: Depleted Uranium & The Politics Of Radiation'
Links:  http://www.pandoraproject.org &  http://cadu.members.gn.apc.org
DATE: Tue 28th Oct. TIME: 7:30-9:00 TAX: £3.50/2.50
VENUE: Cube Cinema. Dove Street South. Kings Square (Off Jamaica St.)
MAP:  http://www.cubecinema.com/directions.html INFO: Tel: 0117 9074190
SPEAKER: Dr Dan Bishop. President of IDUST. Link:  http://www.idust.net
"The US used Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq &
possibly Afghanistan. DU is a toxic & radiological weapon. It has a
half life of 4.5 billion years. DU causes many illnesses, cancers &
genetic defects. 1/3 of the US & British armies deployed in the 1st
Gulf War are ill with Gulf War syndrome, many symptoms of which
appear to be caused by DU. 1,000's of these troops are now dead. This
documentary hears testimony from doctors & veterans from New York
medical labs, from European & US military establishments, from the UN
& Nato, & details the growing debate over this controversial weapon.
ALSO SHOWING: Interview with Nibby David, who was poisoned by DU
whilst working in the aerospace industry. An estimated 1,820 tonnes
of DU has been dropped on Iraq since 1991. Our govt insists DU is
safe, & no more toxic than lead, & that low level alpha radiation
does no harm. This view ignores the latest research showing all forms
of Uranium can cause mutations in cell DNA. There is now a new
understanding of the way low level radiation affects cells, which is
different from the effects of high level radiation, but which is
still insidiously lethal."


5) HALLOWEEN DAY OF ACTIONS : FRIDAY 31st OCTOBER
Please join this Halloween demonstration taking place in Bristol City
Centre on Halloween. The plan is to Trick or Treat the corporations,
businesses, military & government institutions who have a history &
legacy of supporting brutal wars & brutal & dangerous methods of
production & employment around the world.
THE DEMONSTRATION WILL INITIALLY BEGIN @12:00noon.
IT WILL THEN CONTINUE @5:30pm @The Bristol Peace Vigil.
First Meeting Point: 12:00noon. Opposite Hippodrome. City Centre.
Final Meeting Point: 5:30pm. Opposite Hippodrome. City Centre. MAP:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
NATURE OF DEMO: To move en masse around designated 'targets' in &
around the city centre, (Esso, McD's, Starbucks, Gap, TA Centre, Army
Recruitment Centre, etc) while possibly interrupting the flow of
business in a peaceful & non violent manner. We will be distributing
leaflets (please feel free to make your own).
SUGGESTIONS: Bring music, drums, whistles, banners, children,
bicycles, leaflets etc. If you're a member of a band, samba group or
street theatre group we'd love to hear from you! Dress up in a scary
ethos themed costume - George Bush, Guantanamo Bay prisoner, mutated
GM vegetable, victim of Coca Cola assasinations in Colombia, Depleted
Uranium poisoned Iraqi or soldier, bedraggled refugee, abused
laboratory chimp, whatever you want! Or just come as you are!
MAIN AIMS: The main objective is to raise awareness & make the
connections between individual companies, their effects on our planet
& society, & the wars launched & fought in their interests. All
groups, individuals & campaigns are welcome (although we do wish to
discourage open shows by political parties, meaning we don't want the
demo swamped with party political placards).
MORE INFO & HELP WITH COSTUMES:
Email Gilly:  gillian_gates@yahoo.com.au Tel: 07791 776617
Or Email Holly:  celery57@hotmail.com Tel:  07808 704889


6) SPONSORED WALK FOR PALESTINE : SAT 1st NOVEMBER
Links:  http://www.palestinecampaign.org/  http://www.palsolidarity.org/
DATE: Sat 1st Nov. TIME: 8:00am onwards.
MEET: 14 Robertson Rd. Easton (Kebele Cafe). MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=361000&Y=174500&scale=10000
SPONSORED WALK FOR PALESTINE: In aid of Palestine Solidarity
Campaign, & Medical Aid for Palestinians. Meet outside 14 Robertson
Road, Easton @8.00 a.m. The walk sets off at 9.00am, but please get
there at 8.00am, for media & photo opportunities. Please dress in
Palestinian colours, & bring flags, scarves, etc.
We would hope to be down in Bath by 4.30. Don't forget to bring warm
& waterproof clothing, a packed lunch, & your bus or train fare to
get back from Bath. We need everyone to get sponsorships from all
their friends to make this activity worthwhile.
TO JOIN OR TO SPONSOR THE WALK: Contact Margaret: 0117 9466885


7) TALK : THE COCA COLA BOYCOTT : TUE 4th NOVEMBER
Related Link:  http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/
'We ask Coca-Cola to stop killing & you to stop drinking Coke'
DATE: Tue 4th Nov. TIME: 7:30-9:00pm. FREE ENTRY.
PLACE: Friends Meeting House. 126 Hampton Rd. Redland. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=358000&Y=174000&scale=10000
SPEAKERS: Luis Eduardo Garcia (Coca Cola Workers Union - SINTRAINAL
Carlos Rodriguez (University Workers Union - SINTRAUNICOL)
Supported by: Colombia Solidarity Campaign & Bristol Stop the War.
BACKGROUND: 8 Sinaltrainal union leaders have been murdered since
1990, killed by paramilitary death squads allegedly hiredv by
subsidiaries of Coca Cola in Colombia. A US Judge in a court case
brought by the United Steelworkers Union on behalf of Sinaltrainal,
has ruled that Coca Cola's Colombian subsidiaries do have a case to
answer, yet the multinational refuses to cooperate.
MORE REASONS FOR THE BOYCOTT: a) For the violation of human rights of
workers & their communities. b) For the imprisonment, displacement,
kidnapping & murder of trade unionists in Colombia, Brazil,
Guatemala, Peru, US, Venezuela, Palestine, Turkey, Iran & other
countries. c) The criminal theft of water sources & contamination
from bottling plants.
CHILD OF COCA COLA WORKER TORTURED: Attacks & threats continue
against Sinaltrainal members & their children. On the 10 Sep 2003 at
1pm in the Boulevard Simon Bolivar, 4 unknown men, their faces
covered by hoods, stopped David Josse Carranza Calle, the 15 year old
son of National Sinaltrainal leader & Coca Cola worker Limberto
Carranza, forced him off his bicycle, & bundled him into a white
truck. They drove away with him & tortured him, asking him over &
over where his father was. At about 4.30pm they dumped him in a place
known as 'Canon de la Ahuyama' where he was found by a man who
alerted the police.
MORE INFO: Colombia Solidarity Campaign. PO Box 8446. London N17 6NZ.
Email:  Colombia_sc@hotmail.com Bristol:  bristolcolombiasol@yahoo.co.uk


8) TALK: 'MODERN JIHAD...' FRI 7th NOVEMBER
Title: Modern Jihad: Tracing the Dollars Behind the Terror Networks
Related Link:  http://www.modernjihad.com
DATE: Fri 7th Nov. TIME: 7:00-8:30pm. TAX: £1.00 Only.
Please Pre-Book:  christina.watkins@blackwell.co.uk 0117 9276602
VENUE: Blackwells Bookstore. 89 Park St. Bristol. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=358000&Y=173000&scale=10000
SPEAKERS:  LORETTA NAPOLEONI & MILAN RAI
Book 1: MODERN JIHAD: Tracing the Dollars Behind the Terror Networks.
"Author & economic investigative reporter Loretta Napoleoni discusses
the $1.5 trillion terrorist economy, a fast growing illegal economy
twice the size of the UK's GDP, & maps out the arteries of an
international economic system that feeds armed groups the world over
with an endless supply of cash. Napoleoni reveals the interdependency
between economies run by armed groups & western economies, & provides
a valuable insight into real factors dividing 'East' & 'West'."
BOOK 2: REGIME UNCHANGED: Why the War on Iraq Changed Nothing.
"Milan Rai demonstrates this was a war based on lies. This was not a
war for disarmament or `regime change', but for power. The 1st half
of Regime Unchanged documents the way in which Washington undermined
& shut down the UN weapons inspectors just as they were on the brink
of a new & decisive phase of inspections. The 2nd half presents
damning evidence that leading members of Saddam Hussein's Ba`athist
regime were deliberately restored to power in Iraq in the 1st month
after `liberation'. A pattern familiar to US & UK foreign policy."


9) EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM : 12th-15th NOVEMBER
The 2nd ESF will be held in Paris, Saint Denis, Bobigny, Ivry
ESF Mobilisation Link:  http://www.mobilise.org.uk/
"Great movements & struggles are growing across Europe. Now they are
presenting new possibilities & opportunities to redefine & build
another Europe for another World. The 1st European Social Forum (ESF)
took place in Florence (Italy) last November, attracting 60,000
activists, trade unionists, peace campaigners & everyday people.
Since then Europe has witnessed some incredible struggles."
BRISTOL TRANSPORT: Transport from Bristol to the ESF is being
arranged. For more info contact: 07973 371588. COST: £55 / £45.
ESF ACCOMODATION: Collective housing such as gymnasiums will be put
at our disposal. People will need to bring their own sleeping bag.
These structures are equipped with showers & bathrooms. We will block-
book accommodation for the Bristol delegation, so let us know if
you arrange your own accommodation.
THE CHARTER OF PRINCIPLES: "The European Social Forum is not an
organisation, but an open meeting place for reflective thinking,
democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange
of experiences & interlinking for effective action, by groups &
movements of civil society that are opposed to neoliberalism & to
domination of the world by capital & any form of imperialism, & are
committed to building a planetary society directed towards fruitful
relationships among Mankind and between it & the Earth."
ESF CHARTER:  http://www.fse-esf.org/article.php3?id_article=538


10) TALK : GEORGE GALLOWAY IN BRISTOL : MON 17th NOVEMBER
Related Link:  http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0620/p01s03-woiq.html
DATE: Mon 17th Nov. TIME: 7:00pm-8:30pm. TAX: £1.00* only.
VENUE: Malcolm X Centre. Ashley Rd. St. Pauls. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=359500&Y=174000&scale=10000
*You can either pay on the door, or in advance from Greenleaf Books
82 Colston St, or from Mina Rd Post Office. MORE INFO: 0117 9556198
SPEAKERS: George Galloway MP, Sammi Velioglu, & Sharon Foley.
GEORGE GALLOWAY MP: The Glasgow Kelvin representative was suspended
in May over complaints about remarks critical of the Iraq invasion he
made on Abu Dhabi television. Galloway memorably described Blair &
Bush as 'wolves' for invading Iraq. His disciplinary hearing, on 22
Oct, could end in him being expelled from the Labour party. This will
be the 5th time George has spoken in Bristol in the last year, & each
time he has been just as refreshing & revealing as the last.
SHARON FOLEY: Sharon Foley is a dedicated & critical activist within
Bristol-Stop-The-War, & Bristol as a whole. Come & hear her speak.
SAMMI VELIOGLU: Sammi Velioglu travelled overland from Bristol to
Iraq to deliver an ambulance full of medical supplies. Hear Sammi
describe his first-hand experiences of what is happening in Iraq
under British & US occupation.
WE ARE STILL COLLECTING FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR IRAQ.
To make a donation cheques are payable to: Bristol Stop The War
Coalition. Post to: BSTWC. Greenleaf Books. Box 45. 82 Colston St.
BS1 5BB. Please write 'Medicine For Iraq' on the back of cheques.


11) STOP BUSH : 3 DAYS OF DEFIANCE : 19th-21st NOVEMBER
Bush has been invited to Buckingham Palace for a 3 day State visit
from 19-21 Nov. He will receive a 'welcome' which will never be
forgotten. As we anticipate ongoing censorship by the media, there is
first a direct message to the media which we would like you to send
whispering through your media organisations (see below...)
'STOP BUSH' EVENTS ARE SHOWN AFTER THIS MESSAGE TO THE MEDIA:
"As a result of the Demo of 15th February 2003 (the largest in
British history) up to 2 million people are now aware that your media
organisations censor, deny & misrepresent opposition voices within
society as systematically as any other fake democracy you may care to
denigrate. In the future members of your profession may find
yourselves in the dock facing charges of aiding & abetting crimes
against humanity in areas such as the Middle East, & of aiding &
abetting coups against democracies in areas such as Latin America.
One such event is the US backed coup against the democratically
elected government of Venezuela on 11th April 1992. Thankfully this
coup failed within 48 hours as 1 million marched upon the
Presidential Palace. This failed coup, like other 'successful' US
coups (namely the coup against the elected government of Chile on
11th Sept 1973), was against a government demanding a European style
mixed economy. In the shadow of the Cold War, an obscene 50
year war against countries emulating European style economies has
been waged around the world, & against Latin America, aided fully by
a complicit & criminal media." James Venables.
Venezuelan Coup:  http://www.counterpunch.org/suarez0612.html
Chilean Coup:  http://www.geocities.com/educhile_1970s/September11.html
STOP BUSH & STOP THE MEDIA BARONS! PROPOSED EVENTS BELOW:
Wed 19th Nov: LONDON: Alternative Cavalcade with cyclists, taxi
drivers, scooter clubs etc, following open carriage as alternative
state procession.
Wed 19th Nov: BRISTOL: Give Bush a real Bristol welcome, & topple
Bush's statue in the City Centre! Opposite Hippodrome. 5:00pm
onwards. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
Thur 19th Nov: NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION. This may take a slightly
different form from recent demos - e.g a slightly later start, fewer
speakers, music or some other form of entertainment rather than our 2
or 3 hour rallies. See Section Below For Bristol Coach Tickets.
Thur 19th Nov: BRISTOL: Come to the City Centre Vigil from 5:30pm
onwards if you can't make it to the National Demo. Please make new
placards. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
Fri 20th Nov: LONDON: 'Trial of Bush' with key lawyers & possibly a
People's Assembly to condemn war crimes, as well as a 'Goodbye
George' farewell concert.
Fri 20th Nov: BRISTOL: Come to the one of the Friday Vigils around
Bristol to give Bush a Bristol send off. More details on these & all
other events will follow soon.
FOR MORE INFO & RESOURCES PLEASE VISIT:
 http://www.stopwar.org.uk &  http://www.stopwar.org.uk/resources.asp
IMPORTANT NOTE: These events are only an outline, they are not meant
to be definitive or prescriptive. Groups & individuals should feel
free to organise additional events, & to take part in Direct Action.
To receive further info on Direct Action, or to get involved in the
discussion, please send a blank email to the addresses below:
a)  resistbush-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk
b)  bushinghampalace-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


12) STOP BUSH NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : THUR 20th NOV
Please visit the resources link, & distribute leaflets & posters with
the coach ticket details shown below added. Spread the word amongst
friends, workmates & relatives. Please help anyway you can!
LEAFLETS & RESOURCES:  http://www.stopwar.org.uk/resources.asp
Early indications are that this demo will be massive. As it falls on
a Thursday please book time off work now, make your childcare
arrangements, call in sick, whatever it takes to make it to this
critical & historic demonstration. STOP BUSH!
COACH TICKETS FROM BRISTOL TO LONDON : £12 waged - £6 concessions.
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: Greenleaf Books. 82 Colston St. City Centre
(Near Top of Christmas Steps). MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=359000&Y=173000&scale=10000
COACHES LEAVE BRISTOL: Anchor Rd Coach Park @10:00am on Thu 20th Nov.
(Near @Bristol. Behind the Watershed Complex. City Centre). MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=358500&Y=173000&scale=10000
COACHES RETURN BY: 9:00pm approx. Dropping off at Broadmead & Anchor
Rd. Don't worry if you've never been on a demonstration before, a
mobile contact, details of pick up & drop off points, & other help
will be given on the coaches.
THERE WILL ALSO BE TRANSPORT FROM UWE.
For more UWE info email:  stopthewar@uwe.ac.uk
TO JOIN THE UWE EMAIL LIST SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO:
 uwestopwar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


13) NEWS : US SOLDIERS BULLDOZE FARMERS CROPS
 http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=452375
"US soldiers driving bulldozers, with jazz blaring from loudspeakers,
have uprooted ancient groves of date palms as well as orange & lemon
trees in central Iraq as part of a new policy of collective
punishment of farmers who do not give information about guerrillas
attacking US troops. The stumps of palm trees, some 70 years old,
protrude from the brown earth scoured by the bulldozers beside the
road at Dhuluaya, a small town 50 miles north of Baghdad. Local
women were yesterday busily bundling together the branches of the
uprooted orange & lemon trees and carrying then back to their homes
for firewood.
Nusayef Jassim, one of 32 farmers who saw their fruit trees
destroyed, said: 'They told us that the resistance fighters hide in
our farms, but this is not true. They didn't capture anything.
They didn't find any weapons.' Other farmers said that US troops had
told them, over a loudspeaker in Arabic, that the fruit groves were
being bulldozed to punish the farmers for not informing on the
resistance which is very active in this Sunni Muslim district.
'They made a sort of joke against us by playing jazz music while they
were cutting down the trees,' said one man. Ambushes of US troops
have taken place around Dhuluaya. But Sheikh Hussein Ali Saleh al-
Jabouri, a member of a delegation that went to the nearby US base to
ask for compensation for the loss of the fruit trees, said US
officers described what had happened as "a punishment of local people
because 'you know who is in the resistance & do not tell us'." What
the Israelis had done by way of collective punishment of Palestinians
was now happening in Iraq, Sheikh Hussein added.
The destruction of the fruit trees took place in the 2nd half of last
month but, like much which happens in rural Iraq, word of what
occurred has only slowly filtered out. The destruction of crops took
place along a kilometre-long stretch of road just after it passes
over a bridge. Farmers say that 50 families lost their livelihoods,
but a petition addressed to the coalition forces in Dhuluaya pleading
in erratic English for compensation, lists only 32 people. The
petition says: 'Tens of poor families depend completely on earning
their life on these orchards & now they became very poor & have
nothing & waiting for hunger & death.'
The children of one woman who owned some fruit trees lay down in
front of a bulldozer but were dragged away, according to eyewitnesses
who did not want to give their names. They said that one American
soldier broke down and cried during the operation. When a reporter
from the newspaper Iraq Today attempted to take a photograph of the
bulldozers at work a soldier grabbed his camera & tried to smash it.
The same paper quotes Lt Col Springman, a US commander in the region,
as saying: 'We asked the farmers several times to stop the
attacks, or to tell us who was responsible, but the farmers didn't
tell us.'
Informing US troops about the identity of their attackers would be
extremely dangerous in Iraqi villages, where most people are related
& everyone knows each other. The farmers who lost their fruit trees
all belong to the Khazraji tribe & are unlikely to give information
about fellow tribesmen if they are, in fact, attacking US troops.
Asked how much his lost orchard was worth, Nusayef Jassim said in a
distraught voice: 'It is as if someone cut off my hands & you asked
me how much my hands were worth." Patrick Cockburn in Dhuluaya.
12/10/2003. Independent.


14) PLANNING GROUPS IN BRISTOL & BATH
a) THE MAIN BRISTOL PLANNING GROUP 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
Hall. City Centre. Colston Ave. (Opposite War Memorial). MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=359000&Y=173000&scale=10000
b) BATH-STOP-THE-WAR: Meet every other Wed. Next meeting 29th Oct.
TIME: 8:00-9:30pm @Friends Meeting House. York St. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=375000&Y=164500&scale=10000
Bath Website:  http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk/
c) BISHOPSTON: Bishopston Group meet every Tuesday. TIME: 7:30-9:00pm
@Friends Meeting House. 300 Gloucester Rd. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=359500&Y=176000&scale=10000
d) MONTPELIER: Montpelier Group meet on the 1st Wed of each month.
TIME: 7:00-8:00pm @Bristolian Cafe. Picton St. MAP BELOW.
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=359000&Y=174000&scale=10000
e) ST.WERBURGHS: St.Werburghs Group meet every Wed. TIME: 7:00-8:00pm
@St.Werburghs Community Centre. Horley Rd. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=360000&Y=174500&scale=10000
f) UWE (University) STOP THE WAR: To receive updates send a blank
email to:  uwestopthewar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


15) CHANGES TO THIS FORUM
If you do not make use of Bristols' Message Boards, & only receive
this newsletter, you will not be affected by the change to this
forum, but please read on as you may wish to make future use of
Bristol's Message Boards. We will now be using our BSTW Message Board
for admin, & as a general contact address, (although you will still
be very welcome to continue visiting the board for info, see below.)
VISIT US:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-
coalition/
Our LINKS page will be unaffected, & can still be viewed @:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition/links/
In addition BRISTOL ACTIVISTS is an alternative & under-utilised
forum. By encouraging use of this alternative forum we can gain space
for BSTW admin, as well as breathe new life into BRISTOL ACTIVISTS.
So please join BRISTOL ACTIVISTS for news & events on a wide range of
political issues. To join Bristol Activists send a blank email to:
 bristol-activists-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To view the Bristol Activist message board visit:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-activists
To post to the group once you have joined email:
 bristol-activists@yahoogroups.com


"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