BRISTOL & REGIONAL Stop-The-War NEWS : February 2005 : (Virtual Version)

For events and news publicised between newsletters, please
keep an eye on our message board, and other links provided.
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition/

DOWNLOAD: A printer friendly version of this newsletter is available.
Please print copies & give / sell them to people who don't have email.
Visit:  http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire/display/21924/index.php
Or:  https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/304551.html


CONTENTS CODE : * New Section... ^ Updated Section...
~ Bristol / Regional Events... + National / International Events...

01) ^~ BRISTOL STW Public Meeting : 7th Feb
02) ^~+ Days Of Action : 15th Feb & 21st Mar
03) *~+ National Lobby Your MP: 11-12 Mar
04) ^ + SAT 19th MARCH : NATIONAL DEMO
05) *~+ Spring Camp @Brize Norton : 21-25 Apr
06) * + Report: Defend The Right To Protest
07) *~ MORE Bristol & Bath Events In Feb
08) *~ MORE Regional Area Events In Feb
09) * + MORE National Level Events In Feb
10) * News: ....... ORDER 81 .......
11) ~ Local Peace Vigils & Planning Meetings

NOTE: Venue Change For BSTWC Meetings (Section 11)


GROUP DESCRIPTION :
Bristol STW Coalition produces this newsletter to publicise events & activities in opposition to the so-called 'war on terror'. We are composed of groups & individuals with a wide variety of political & religious views. We are politically non-aligned, but we are also committed to oppose any racist backlash. Bristol STW is not a 'membership' organisation. Any one or group opposed to the 'war on terror' can consider themselves part of Bristol STW, or can continue to be publicised by us while choosing to organise independently of the Coalition. We don't claim (or seek) a monopoly over anti-war sentiment & activity in the city & recognise that many groups & individuals have their own ways of opposing the 'war on terror'. We are also dependent on individual donations for our funding, so if you are able to make a donation please send a cheque or postal order, payable to: Bristol Stop The War Coalition. Post: Box 45, Greenleaf Books, 82 Colston St, Bristol, BS1 5BB. Or you can email us privately :  bristolstopwar@hotmail.com



01) BRISTOL STOP THE WAR COALITION PUBLIC MEETING : MON 7th FEB
Title: "Bring The Troops Home Now" Email:  bristolstopwar@hotmail.com
TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. Free Entry. VENUE: The Council House, College Green. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358282&Y=172815&A=Y&Z=1
SPEAKERS: Tony Benn, John Rees (Respect), Caroline Lucas MEP (Green Party), Edd Cherrie (UK Veterans & Families For Peace). Related Links:
 http://www.ukveteransandfamiliesforpeace.co.uk  http://www.greenparty.org.uk
 http://www.mfaw.org.uk  http://www.stopwar.org.uk  http://www.respectcoalition.org

Scott Ritter, the ex UN weapons inspector, recently described the current situation in Iraq as 'a once secular society now the centre of a global anti-American Islamist jihad, tens of thousands of civilians killed, an unending war that costs almost £3.2bn a month, & the basic principles of democracy mocked through an election process that has generated extensive violence'. This has been brought about by the US government's invasion, fully backed by the British government. With Tony Benn making a rare speaking appearance in Bristol & a broad platform of other speakers, this meeting gives an opportunity to debate & discuss our continued opposition to the occupation of Iraq. Come along & join in the discussion. Tell your friends. Let's fill the Council House to overflowing.

DID YOUR MP VOTE FOR WAR? With an election coming up it'll be handy to know. Find out more at Bradford Stop The War Coalition's new website. Jean Corston (Bristol East, Labour) & Dawn Primarolo (Bristol South, Labour) voted in favour of this illegal war. Vote them out!
Visit:  http://www.stopthewarmongers.org.uk/



02) DAYS OF ACTION - TUE 15th FEB & MON 21st MARCH
a) ^~+ 15th Feb: National Day Of Action
b) *~+ 21st Mar: International Day Of Action

a) NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION : Tue 15th February
Called By Stop-The-War Coalition:  http://www.stopwar.org.uk
i) BRISTOL: "This National Day Of Action against the occupation of Iraq marks the 2nd anniversary of the huge multi million demonstration in London in 2003. After the deeply-flawed elections in Iraq & the government's announcement that, on top of the existing curtailments of civil liberties, it now wants to introduce house arrest to Britain, this is a chance for the anti-war movement to show Bristol (& Tony Blair) that we haven't gone away. The majority of the British public oppose the invasion & occupation of Iraq. Come to the Bristol Peace Vigil from 5.30pm onwards on 15th February with banners, placards, drums, friends. St. Augustines Parade. MAP:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
ii) LONDON: Central London - 4:00pm: 'Mass Die-In' in Parliament Square. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=530091&Y=179688&A=Y&Z=1
(Also see Section 6 for news on plans to stop protests in Parliament Square.

b) INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION : Wed 21st March
Title: "Stop The Arms Trade ... Before It Stops You"
DISARM DSEi, BM Box 3679, London WC1N 3XX, Email:  actionday@dsei.org
Link:  http://www.dsei.org "International groups are calling for a day of direct action against the arms trade on 21st March 2005 to coincide with the 2nd anniversary of the start of war on Iraq. The international arms trade is responsible for death, destruction & misery all over the planet. Arms dealers profit from war & are constantly looking for ways to sell their deadly technology to whichever side is prepared to pay, often at the taxpayer's expense. Join us & show that we will not tolerate this murderous trade. Support this call to action, find your local arms dealer & organise an action in your area. For more info use the contacts above."



03) NATIONAL LOBBY YOUR MP : 11th - 12th MARCH
Link:  http://www.cacc.org.uk/lobbybriefing.htm
Called By CAMPACC, Supported By Stop The War Coalition & Others.
WHY WE NEED TO LOBBY: "The UK government has waged war abroad & systematically terrorised migrant & Muslim communities at home. ‘Anti-terror’ laws have introduced imprisonment without trial. They have broadened the definition of terrorism to include normal political activities. They authorize stop-and-searches & even detention in the name of ‘suspicion’ or ‘association’ with terrorism. Here is what two Law Lords said in their judgement against internment powers under the 2001 anti-terror law: 'The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws & political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as
these." Law Lord Hoffman, 18 Dec 2004.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: "Lobby your MP in their constituency to protest about the 'anti-terror' laws which are up for renewal in March, including the internment laws recently condemned as unjust by the law lords. You can do so in the weekend of 12 March, or any time before this. For more details, including arguments you can use & commitments your MP can give, please visit the CAMPACC website above."

i) Send a letter, email or fax to your MP. Urge your MP to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 426, which addresses the illegality of the detentions at Belmarsh prison. Urge your MP to to vote against any renewal or extension of ‘anti-terror’ powers.
EDM 426 In Full:  http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=426
ii) Take an active part in the lobby. Book an appointment to see your MP on 11th or 12th March or any time your MP agrees to meet you, preferably by mid-March.
iii) Inform us (CAMPACC) about the time & place of lobby in your constituency, with contact details, so that this information can be posted on our website.
Email For Publicising Your Lobby:  humanrightslobby@yahoo.co.uk
iv) Read the Briefing Notes & other documents on our website to help you to make your case, & to help you take the initiative at getting organised in your community without feeling you have to wait for someone else to do it first.
Join CAMPACC’s email list to keep up with latest developments:
Email:  estella24@tiscali.co.uk Visit:  http://www.cacc.org.uk

CONTACT YOUR MP BY ONE OF THESE METHODS:
To Locate Your MP, Visit:  http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/
Or email:  hcinfo@parliament.uk or Tel: 020 7219 4272
To Fax Your Map, Visit:  http://www.faxyourmp.org.uk/



04) NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : SATURDAY 19th MARCH
Title: "Bring The Troops Home Now - End The Occupation Of Iraq"
To coincide with the 2nd anniversary of the start of the invasion of Iraq there is a National Demonstration in London. Tickets are on sale at the address below. They will also be on sale at the Public Meeting on 7th Feb (see Section 1). Remember, it helps us to organise & book coaches if people buy their tickets as soon as possible. If you want a ticket, but can't get to Greenleaf Books, email us at  bristolstopwar@hotmail.com & we'll give you a call to arrange to get you a ticket.

BRISTOL TICKETS: £12 waged - £6 concessions. AVAILABLE FROM: Greenleaf Books. 82 Colston St. City Centre (Near Top of Christmas Steps). MAP BELOW:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358574&Y=173126&A=Y&Z=1
COACHES LEAVE BRISTOL: Anchor Rd Coach Park @8:30am on Sat 19th Mar.
(The road behind the Watershed complex. City Centre). MAP BELOW:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358327&Y=172605&A=Y&Z=1
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.

BATH TICKETS Coaches to London Demo on Saturday 19 March assemble Laura Place at 8.45. Tickets £12 (£8 concessions) will be available on the Saturday vigil, 11.30 to 12.30 every Sat outside Bath Abbey, (see Section 11 for more details.)



05) SPRING PEACE CAMP AT BRIZE NORTON : 21st - 25th APRIL 2005
In Full:  http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire/display/21881/index.php
As the first British soldier, George Solomou, refuses to fight in Iraq, will more now follow? A new campaign (based in Bristol, with a National focus) seeks to convince soldiers to refuse to fight as they prepare to embark from the UK. Brize Norton in Oxfordshire is the largest Royal Air Force base in Britain. UK troops are flown from there direct to Basra, & this is where the coffins come back to.
News Link:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1393503,00.html
A SOLDIER SAYS: "He thought they shouldn't be there, they should all just be back here because it's a war which nobody knows why it was started or what it was done for... We are all absolutely devastated." Craig Lowe, a young soldier said this, of his older brother Paul, killed last year while with the Black Watch in Iraq. Such thoughts, coming from soldiers' families - & even from soldiers themselves - made some of us here in Bristol think that we & they might have things to talk about - even, possibly, aims in common. With this in mind, a group of us have decided to set up a temporary peace camp at Brize.

WHY WE SHOULD DO THIS: i) To reach out to the military personnel, & to people in the nearby town of Carterton. We want to try & enter into some kind of dialogue with anyone willing to talk to us. At Brize we will mainly be dealing with RAF personnel, 60% of whom are said to have been opposed to the 2003 assault on Iraq. We may also get the chance to talk directly with soldiers bound for Basra. ii) To focus a spotlight on where the planes take off from, carrying soldiers to take part in the ongoing occupation of Iraq. We intend to invite the media, to hold a peace march past the base, & to organise a few non-violent 'stunts'. Whatever people can come up with that is peaceful, non-confrontational & creative.
Related Link: Military Families Against War:  http://www.mfaw.org.uk/

WHAT WE NEED: We need a group of really sorted people for this one - & to discourage anyone from coming who just might not be able to handle their drink. So please, no alcohol or other drugs (legal or otherwise), on site, & no dogs. Nothing to be carried near the fences or around the military that could be interpreted as a weapon. Experience has shown that this is far the best way to keep it a well-organised place, full of dependable people.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: If you think this is as worthwhile a project as we do please get in touch. We're going to need camping gear of all sorts, help with collecting the gear, help with transport, help with getting the word out, leafletting, creative non-violent ideas for stunts & outreach - artists, publicity people, banners, musicians...
CONTACT: Margaret Jones. Email:  Nabataat@yahoo.co.uk Tel: (0117) 94 66 885.
Please leave a landline number.



06) REPORT : DEFEND PROTEST IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE
Link:  http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/defend.htm
Send Messages Of Support To Brian: C/O: Parliament Square, London SW1A
BACKGROUND : "Brian Haw has been protesting in Parliament Square since 1st June 2001. Initially he was campaigning against economic sanctions on Iraq & the bombing of the country by the US & UK. After 11 Sept 2001 he widened his focus, directing his messages of peace against the 'war on terror'. Brian's protest, & all future protest in Parliament Square, will be banned under new legislation within the Serious Organised Crime & Police Bill.

ABOUT THE BILL : Clause 123 and 124 of the Bill are entitled 'Behaviour in vicinity of Parliament'. The 'behaviour' affected 'is any behaviour which has or could have any of the following results - (a) hindering any person from entering or leaving the Palace of Westminster, (b) hindering the proper operation of Parliament, or (c) spoiling the visual aspect, or otherwise spoiling the enjoyment by members of the public, of any part of the designated area.'
The Bill states that the police may give 'a direction' to 'any person behaving or proposing to behave in such a way, & any person organising or directing such behaviour'. If the 'direction' is not complied with, the person(s) may be arrested & could face up to 51 weeks in jail, a fine, or both. The idea of banning/controlling certain protests near parliament is a response to Brian's protest of over 3 & a half years opposite Parliament.
Various authorities have tried different ways of getting rid of him but haven't been able to do it legally in a way which he has not successfully challenged. While a number of MPs have spoken out in parliament against this kind of new legislation it may be that, on the back of the Countryside Alliance protests, the idea of banning or controlling protest outside Parliament will gain momentum & be seen as acceptable for security reasons."

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Urge your MP to vote against this attack on free speech & to sign the Early Day Motion (EDM) 299 defending protest in Parliament Square.
EDM 299 IN FULL:  http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=299
Contact Your MP by one of the following means, & quote EDM 299.
To Locate Your MP, Visit:  http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/
Or email:  hcinfo@parliament.uk or Tel: 020 7219 4272
To Fax Your Map, Visit:  http://www.faxyourmp.org.uk/



07) MORE BRISTOL & BATH EVENTS IN FEBRUARY
a) *~ Out Now!: Bristle Magazine No.18
b) *~ 9th Feb: Bristol Social Forum Meeting
c) *~ 9th Feb: Bath STW Public Meeting
d) *~ 18th Feb: Bristol Dissent! Bath Benefit
e) *~ 19th Feb: 'Respect' Public Meeting

a) BRISTLE MAGAZINE ISSUE 18 : OUT NOW! TAX: £1.50
Link:  http://www.bristle.org.uk Email:  bristlemag@yahoo.co.uk
Bristol & South West's independent alternative magazine. Features on ID cards, ASBO's, G8, local input into international events, & more. FROM: A. Jones (Fishponds), Barratt Newsagents (Fishponds), Better Food Company (St. Werburghs), Big Saver Off Licence (Easton), Bond News (Totterdown), BRB International (Easton), Bristol Genuine Seedbank (Old Market), Bristol News (Jamaica St), Chelsea Inn (Easton), Circle Books (Bedminster), Cube Cinema (Dove St), Customers Choice (Eastville), Dysfunctional (Bedminster), Eat the Beat (St. Nicholas St.), Fopp Records (Park St.), Galliford Stores (Montpelier), Genesis (Easton), Greenbank P.O, Greenbank Pub, Greenleaf Books (Colston St), Harvest Natural Foods (Gloucester Rd), Here (Stokes Croft), Kebele (Easton), La Ruca (Gloucester Rd), Lifestyle (Stokes Croft), Lower Easton P.O, Lunched Out (Stokes Croft), Northern Lights Gallery (Bedminster), One Planet (Montpelier), Replay Records (Bedminster), Royce Rolls (St. Nicholas Market), Sonnis Food & Wines (St Werburghs), Stokes Croft P.O, Tangy (Easton), Plough (Easton), Wardatu Sahara (Easton), Windmill News (Redfield). BATH: Green Park Books, Groovement Records (Walcot St.), Happy Daze (Walcot St.), Harvest Natural Foods (Walcot St.), Pierrepont Newsagent (Manvers St.) FROME: Frome Wholefoods (Cheap St.), Garden Café (Catherine Hill). TOTNES: Harlequin Books (High St)

b) BRISTOL SOCIAL FORUM MEETING : WED 9th FEBRUARY
Visit:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristolsocialforum/
There is a free car parking area directly opposite the Wilder Street building.
DATE: Wed 9th Feb. TIME: 7:00-9:00pm. (Free Entry/Donations). VENUE: The CEED Centre (Wilder St. building), Wilder St, St. Pauls. 5-10 minutes walk from Broadmead bus station, off St. James Barton roundabout, & Stokes Croft. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=359335&Y=173842&A=Y&Z=1
PART ONE: Open discussion plans to introduce ID cards, & the effect they will have on civil liberties. Other related issues, such as plans to introduce mandatory fingerprinting & biometric passports, also form a part of that debate. LINKS:
NO2ID:  http://www.no2id.net/ NO2ID have a Bristol contact:  Bristol@no2id.net
Libery & ID Cards:  http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/privacy/id-cards.shtml
Statewatch:  http://www.statewatch.org (monitoring civil liberties across Europe)
PART TWO: We will also talk more about plans to launch the Bristol Social Forum as soon as possible. We can find new ways to improve the level of communication (and even cross pollination) of ideas between groups, while also respecting the autonomy of involved groups. PROVISIONAL GUIDELINES: i) To provide a space for debate. ii) To work towards peace, provide alternatives to capitalism, and protection of the environment iii) We are opposed to, & will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

c) BATH STOP-THE-WAR PUBLIC MEETING : Wed 9th February
Link:  http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk Email:  postmaster@bathstopwar.org.uk
Title: "Human Security from war and disaster". TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. Free Entry.
VENUE: Friends Meeting House, York Street, Bath. BA1. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=375149&Y=164717&A=Y&Z=1
Link:  http://www.abolishwar.org.uk/home.shtml SPEAKER: Bruce Kent (Chair of Movement for the Abolition of War & Vice-Chair of CND) How can we change the topsy-turvy policies which mean there are always billions of pounds for war but we still are nowhere near the international target of 0.7% of GDP for overseas aid?"

d) BRISTOL DISSENT! BATH BENEFIT : FRI 18th FEBRUARY
Proceeds from the regular Leftism club night ( www.leftism.co.uk ) go to Dissent.
VENUE: Porter Butt Pub, London Rd, Bath. 9pm to 1am. £3 / £2 B4 10pm. MAP:
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.3913&lon=-2.3537&scale=10000
ABOUT DISSENT! "Bristol Dissent! aims to mobilise in preparation for the return of the G8 to the UK in July 2005. The G8 has no legal standing. It is an ad hoc club for the world's ruling elite attempting to dictate the course of world events."
Join The E-list:  http://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/dissent-bristol
Email:  dissentbristol@subsection.org.uk Link:  http://www.dissent.org.uk
Post: Dissent, Box 102, Greenleaf Books, 82 Colston St, Bristol, BS1 5BB
OTHER DISSENT! DATES: Monthly meetings: last Tuesday of the month, Feb 22, 7.30pm at Kebele, 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, BS5 (Tel: 0117 939 9469). Info / Research sub-group: meets next 8 Feb at 6pm, at Kebele. There is also an Events/Outreach sub-group, & Art/Stencil workshops. Get in touch to get involved.SPRING DAYSCHOOL: Sat 9th April. Free Entry. 11am to 6pm, with benefit social after. Vegan food & snacks; stalls; free info, displays. "Full details of venue & programme to follow. All are welcome to participate & discuss the problems we face as the G8 and global corporations carve up & privatise the world."
For more info regards the day please contact:  bristol_g8workshops@riseup.net

e) BRISTOL 'RESPECT' MEETING : SAT 19th FEBRUARY
Link:  http://www.respectcoalition.org Email:  bristolunity@hotmail.com
SPEAKER: George Galloway, MP. TIME: 2:00-4:00pm. FREE ENTRY.
VENUE: Bannerman Rd School, Bannerman Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=360757&Y=173985&A=Y&Z=1
RESPECT In The South West: "Pro-war Bristol East MP Jean Corston is to face an anti-war opponent at this years expected general election. Paulette North, local asylum rights and anti-war campaigner, has been selected as the RESPECT prospective parliamentary candidate for the Bristol East constituency. Paulette, a teacher at the City Academy, vowed to offer people a 'credible left alternative to the people of East Bristol', which would 'represent the views of the majority who believe that our troops should be brought home from Iraq immediately'.
On sitting Labour MP, Jean Corston, Ms North said, 'her voting record is shameful. She betrayed the people of Bristol East, many of whom are Muslim, by voting for Bush & Blair's horrific war". She went on, 'Representing the wonderful diversity of East Bristol should be a privilege for the local MP. If elected I would work tirelessly to defend the local asylum seekers & immigrant communities from the attacks on them by the government'. Come along to find out more about RESPECT."



08) MORE REGIONAL AREA EVENTS IN FEB
a) *~ 1st Feb: Swindon STW Public Meeting.
b) *~ 2nd Feb: Plymouth Depleted Uranium Talk
c) *~ 2nd Feb: Oxford PSC 'Milky Way' Film Night.
d) *~ 3rd Feb: Bridport Peace Group Benefit Night.
e) *~ 4th Feb: Coventry STW Public Meeting.
f) *~ 5th Feb: Slough 'Fennerfest' Tsunami Benefit.
g) *~ 7th Feb: Dorchester 'Global Security' Talk.
h) *~ 8th Feb: Birmingham STW Public Meeting.
i) *~ 10th Feb: Oxford STW Public Meeting
j) *~ 12th Feb: Oxford Palestine Fundraiser
k) *~ 13th Feb: Bangor 'Uncovered Iraq' Film
l) *~ 17th Feb: Exeter STW Public Meeting
m) *~+ 19th Feb: Wales 'Nuclear Free' Conference
n) *~ 22nd Feb: Ilminster 'Climate Change' Talk

a) SWINDON STW PUBLIC MEETING : Tue 1st February
Link:  http://freespace.virgin.net/swindon.stopwar/
TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. Free Entry. VENUE: Moravian Church, Dixon St. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=414937&Y=184225&A=Y&Z=1
Former Swindon MP Lord Stoddart, an outspoken critic of the Government's policy towards Iraq, will chair the meeting. Speakers include Bruce Kent - former national chair of CND - & Kate Hudson. DAY OF ACTION EVENT: 15th Feb. Meet at the Cenotaph, Swindon Centre, for a symbolic protest from noon til 1pm.

b) PLYMOUTH DEPLETED URANIUM TALK : Wed 2nd February
Title: "The Doctor, Depleted Uranium And The Sick Children"
TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. Free Entry. VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Swarthmore, 78 Mutley Plain, Plymouth, Devon PL4 6LF. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=248339&Y=55888&A=Y&Z=1
Link:  http://www.childvictimsofwar.org/ "Joanne Baker of Child Victims Of War will be giving a talk on Depleted Uranium, & it's use in US weapons systems. She will be joined by Ian Avent of CANSAR who will speak about Tritium pollution."

c) OXFORD PSC FILM 'THE MILKY WAY' : Wed 2nd February
Organized by Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign. TIME: 7:00pm Start.
Free Entry. VENUE: St. Anthony’s College Lecture Theatre, OX2 6JF. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=450957&Y=207457&A=Y&Z=1
"In 1964, in a small Palestinian village, the villagers living under military rule cope with unhealed wounds. In the 1948 war of Israeli independence, many Palestinian villagers were killed or forced away from homes & loved ones. Among those left behind is the childlike Mabruq who lost his parents & Jamili who lost her mother."

d) BRIDPORT 'DISTURB THE PEACE' BENEFIT : Thur 3rd February
Bridport Peace and Justice Group invite you to Disturb the Peace with Herbie Treehead, Dotstar, Lauren Glover & others. The gig kicks off at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Fruits of the Earth, The Bookshop & the Bridport Record Centre. Tickets allow you to give £8 or £5 concessions. This is your opportunity to bop your socks off, & still help work towards world Peace & Justice.
VENUE: Bridport Arts Centre, South St, Dorset, DT6 3NR. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=346603&Y=92861&A=Y&Z=1

e) COVENTRY STOP-THE-WAR PUBLIC MEETING : Fri 4th February
Title: "Bring the Troops Home" Email:  tales-of-the-unelected@lineone.net
TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. VENUE: Methodist Central Hall. Warwick Lane. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=433324&Y=278774&A=Y&Z=1
Free Entry. SPEAKERS: Rose Gentle, Military Families Against War (Mother of Fusilier Gordon Gentle, killed in Iraq) - Alan Simpson MP, Chair of Labour Against War. - Ghada Razuki, Stop the War Coalition.
Links:  http://www.mfaw.org.uk &  http://www.labouragainstthewar.org.uk

f) SLOUGH 'FENNERFEST' TSUNAMI BENEFIT : Sat 5th February
Link:  http://www.fennerfest.co.uk/ Following on from the highly successful Fennerfest Festival in November, FennerFest make an early return. Proceeds to CARE International & Slough charity, Khalsa Aid. Headlining are the Funjabis. TICKETS: £10 in advance. Herschel Arms, Herschel St. Tel: 07910 332684
Links:  http://www.careinternational.org.uk &  http://www.khalsaaid.org/
TIME & VENUE: 7:00pm Start. West Wing Arts Centre, Stoke Rd, Slough. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=497983&Y=180957&A=Y&Z=1

g) DORCHESTER 'GLOBAL SECURITY' TALK : Mon 7th February
Organised by Dorchester Peace & Justice Group. Tel: 01305 259416
TITLE: 'Rethinking Global Security': Free Entry. SPEAKER: David Gee, of the Peace and Disarmament Programme, Friends House London. TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Holloway Rd, Dorchester, Dorset. David Gee: "We have projects coming up in the areas of nuclear disarmament, the proposal to create the peace tax, & issues about the psychology of security."
Read More:  http://u19s.quaker.org.uk/level1/friends-house/david-gee-interview.html

h) BIRMINGHAM STW PUBLIC MEETING : Tue 8th February
Title: "Iraq After The Election" TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. Free Entry.
VENUE: Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, Birmingham. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=407310&Y=286865&A=Y&Z=1
SPEAKER: Sabah Jawad (Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation)
Link:  http://www.idao.org "The IDAO is a group of progressive Iraqi activists. The formation of IDAO is in recognition of the political situation inflicted on our country, & we will continue the campaign to end the illegal military occupation."

i) OXFORD STOP-THE-WAR PUBLIC MEETING : Thur 10th February
Title: "Civil Liberties Under Threat: How The War On Terror Is A War On Our Freedoms."
Email:  caro.raine@tinyworld.co.uk SPEAKER: James Welch, Legal Director Of Liberty. Discussion on the continuous decline of our freedoms.
FREE ENTRY. VENUE: Oxford Town Hall, St. Aldate's, OX1 1BX. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=451393&Y=206145&A=Y&Z=1
LIBERTY:  http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk "Liberty is a leading human rights & civil liberties organisation. It has fought to secure equal rights for for 70 years."

j) OXFORD PALESTINE FUNDRAISER : Sat 12th February
Organized by Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
"A Taste of Palestine" Food, Storytelling, Entertainment & More. Please Book Now.
Tickets £8/£5 – Tel: 01865 778 009 or email:  caro.raine@tinyworld.co.uk
VENUE: Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way (off Cowley Road), Oxford. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=453165&Y=205708&A=Y&Z=1
Money raised from the 3rd 'Taste of Palestine' night will go towards sponsoring 2 children from Al Amari Child Club to come over here as part of the group in July.

k) BANGOR 'UNCOVERED : THE WAR IN IRAQ' FILM : Sun 13th February
Link:  http://www.theatrgwynedd.co.uk/english/index.htm
TIME: 7:30pm (83 minutes). TAX: £5.20/£4.20/£3.20.
VENUE: Theatr Gwynedd, Ffordd Deiniol, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2TL. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=257976&Y=372215&A=Y&Z=1
With an intoduction from Hywel Williams MP. This documentary debunks the spin put on the issue of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction by the US government.

l) EXETER STOP-THE-WAR PUBLIC MEETING : Thur 17th February
Title: "Bring The Troops Home" Email:  exeterstopwar@hotmail.com
TIME: 7:00-9:00pm. VENUE: Mint Methodist Church, Fore St., Exeter. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=291794&Y=92456&A=Y&Z=1
Free Entry. SPEAKERS: Rose Gentle (Military Families Against the War), Lindsey German (STWC), Kamil Mahdi (Iraqi exile and lecturer at Exeter University).
Link:  http://www.mfaw.org.uk/ "MFAW is an organization of loved ones of members of the British Armed Services. We are opposed to a war that is based on lies."

m) WALES 'NUCLEAR FREE' CONFERENCE : Sat 19th February
Organised by WANA (Welsh Anti-Nuclear Alliance) and CND.
TIME: 11am - 5pm. Details: Tel: 01248 490715 or 01248 750218 or 01248 722184.
Email: tycerrig1.freeserve.co.uk VENUE: Old College, Aberystwyth, King St. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=258126&Y=281717&A=Y&Z=1
Title: "A Nuclear Free Future - All-Wales Conference To Launch A New Campaign" Topics Include: Nuclear Power Is Not The Way To Halt Global Warming. - Stop The Military / Civil Nuclear Partnership. - Radiation & Cancer In Wales: The Cover-Ups."

n) ILMINSTER 'CLIMATE CHANGE' TALK : Tue 22nd February
Title: "Climate Change As A Security Threat." Organised by South Somerset Peace
Group. Link:  http://www.southsomersetpeace.infoaction.org.uk/
TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. VENUE: Minster Rooms, Court Barton, Ilminster, MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=335975&Y=114644&A=Y&Z=1
£2 - incl drinks. Link:  http://www.world-nuclear.org/opinion/layton.pdf SPEAKER:
Christopher Layton. "We know the facts & the remedies. What stops us applying them is a greed & insouciance, fuelled by national economic competition."



09) MORE NATIONAL LEVEL EVENTS IN FEB
a) * + 2nd Feb: Student Teach In Against Occupation
b) * + 9th Feb: Palestine International Conference
c) * + 12th Feb: Peace Not War 'Make Love Not War'
d) * + 14th Feb: London 'Bring The Troops Home' Rally
e) * + 26th Feb: Unite Against Fascism Conference
f) * + 26th Feb: Coca Cola Activists Conference
g) *~+ 19 Mar-15 Apr: International Month Of Actions
h) *~+ 1-6 Apr: Days Of Action Against Windrush
i) *~+ 10-16 Apr: Global Week Of Action On Trade

a) STUDENT TEACH-IN AGAINST OCCUPATION : Wed 2nd February
Entrance £3. Organised by Student CND, Student Stop the War and FOSIS.
For advance registration, email  studentcnd@yahoo.com Or call the STW Coalition on
020 7278 6694 or 07815 790 913. TIME: 1:00-7:00pm.
INTERACTIVE MAP:  http://map.tfl.gov.uk/map.asp VENUE: London School of Economics, Houghton St, London (Holborn tube). "An opportunity to learn first hand about the realities of life under the US-led occupation, & to discuss how students can support an end to the occupation."

b) PALESTINE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE : Wed 9th February
Title: "Palestine in The Media" Organised by Friends of Al Aqsa
Link:  http://www.aqsa.org.uk/ TIME: 2:00-6:30pm. TICKETS: £10 including buffet dinner / £5 students (Limited seats only Book early). Tel: +44 116 2125441
Email:  info@aqsa.org.uk VENUE: Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh St, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=529885&Y=182040&A=Y&Z=1
Friends of Al-Aqsa is concerned with defending basic human rights of Palestinians.

c) PEACE NOT WAR 'MAKE LOVE NOT WAR' PARTY : Sat 12th February
Link:  http://www.peace-not-war.org Email:  music@peace-not-war.org
Tel: +44 (0) 78 1075 0505. There's a new Peace Not War CD out now, & peace groups can sell them to raise funds (get them at no cost & pay £3/CD later).
TIME: 8pm-3am. TAX: £5/£3, full-time activists get in free if you reply to this email.
VENUE: St George's Circle Community Centre, 49 Tufnell Park Rd, London N7 (Tufnell Park or Holloway Tube) INTERACTIVE MAP:  http://map.tfl.gov.uk/map.asp
INCLUDES: Discussions and workshops, & anti-war short films in the evening.

d) ALL LONDON RALLY 'BRING THE TROOPS HOME' : Mon 14th February
Link:  http://www.stopwar.org.uk Email:  office@stopwar.org.uk Tel: 020 7278 6694
TIME: 7:30-9:30pm. Free Entry. VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Euston Road (nearest tube: Euston BR). INTERACTIVE MAP:  http://map.tfl.gov.uk/map.asp
SPEAKERS: Tony Benn, George Galloway MP, John Rees (STW Coalition). "Bush and Blair are in terrible trouble over Iraq. Resistance is growing, and here in the UK opinion polls against the war are at their highest ever - between 55-70% against - Millions who reluctantly supported the war are now feeling deceived."

e) UNITE AGAINST FASCISM NATIONAL CONFERENCE : Sat 26th February
Link:  http://www.uaf.org.uk Tel: 020 7833 4916 UK Email:  unite@natfhe.org.uk
Advance Registration Required: £10 / £5 / £3. TIME: 9:30am-5:30pm.
VENUE: TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1. MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=530057&Y=181571&A=Y&Z=1
Bristol Email:  bristoluaf@yahoo.co.uk "The BNP will stand in 100 constituencies at the general election. Targeting areas where they received a high vote in European & London elections. UAF will discuss strategies for campaigning against the BNP."

f) COCA COLA ACTIVISTS CONFERENCE : Sat 26th February
Link:  http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk Title: "The International campaign against Coca-Cola: Building the network & mobilising the boycott."
To Register: Tel: 07743 743041. Email:  colombia_sc@hotmail.com
TIME: 1:00-6:30pm. VENUE: Leeds University Union. Get In Touch For More Info.
"Coca Cola stand accused of serious human rights violations in Colombia. Paramilitary Death Squads, acting under orders from Coca Cola management, have assassinated 8 trade union leaders in their workplaces. The union, SINALTRAINAL, has responded by calling for an international boycott of Coca Cola."

g) INTERNATIONAL MONTH OF PEACE ACTIONS : 19 March-15 April 2005
Link:  http://counter2005.org/contact.php &  http://www.j-n-v.org/
"Grassroots anti-war groups from the US & UK invite you to be part of an international month of peace action. The US, British, Canadian & other anti-war movements will serve notice on the administration in Washington, & its servants in London, that we will not permit another war of the kind inflicted on Iraq. If interested please get in touch."
UK CONTACTS: Maya Evans & Milan Rai: 0845 458 9571 (phone & fax) 07980 748 555 (mobile) Email:  info@j-n-v.org

h) DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST WINDRUSH : 1st - 6th April 2005
This Is An Advance Notice, For More Information, Tel: 07815 004 578
"Windrush are a company which organize the ‘Iraq Procurement Conferences’ at which the privatization of Iraq’s assets is facilitated. Even if every troop left Iraq tomorrow, the occupation would continue as a result of the economic ties which are currently being planned & signed up to through privatisation of Iraq’s services."

i) GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION ON TRADE : 10th - 16th April 2005
Links:  http://www.april2005.org/index.html For More Info, Email:  glen@tjm.org.uk
"A week where campaigns from across the world active on trade & neo-liberalism come together in united action. The aim is to challenge the free trade myth & put forward alternatives by delivering the biggest global mobilisation we have seen. In November 2003, over 100 trade activists from 50 countries took part in a historic gathering - the International Trade Campaign Conference, in Delhi, India - from which they issued this Global Call to a Week of Action. Anyone can get involved."



10) NEWS : .............. ORDER 81 ..............
Edited extracts from an Ecologist article by Jeremy Smith, Feb 2005
Original Article:  http://www.theecologist.org/article.html?article=487
"Coals to Newcastle. Ice to Eskimos. Tea to China. These are the acts of the ultimate salesmen, wily marketers able to sell even to people with no need to buy. To that list can now be added a new phrase – Wheat to Iraq. Iraq is part of the ‘fertile crescent’ of Mesopotamia. It is here, in around 8,000BC, that mankind first domesticated wheat, here that agriculture was born. In recent years however wheat production tumbled from 1,236,000 tons in 1995 to just 384,000 tons in 2000.
A press release from Headquarters US Command reports ‘over the past 10 years, farmers were expected to continuously produce wheat, never leaving their fields fallow, leaving few nutrients for the next year’s crop." However, the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) found: ‘Crop yields remain low due to a lack of machinery, low use of inputs, deteriorating soil quality & irrigation facilities’ & 'the animal population has declined steeply due to shortages of feed & vaccines during the embargo years’. Or it could have been simpler still. According to a 2003 USDA report, ‘3 years of drought from 1999-2001 significantly reduced production.’
Whoever you believe, Iraqi wheat production has collapsed in recent years. The next question is how to get it back on its feet. Despite recent troubles, for the last 10,000 years Iraqi farmers have been naturally selecting wheat varieties. In 2002, the FAO estimated that 97% of Iraqi farmers used saved seed or seed from local markets. That there are over 200,000 varieties of wheat in the world is down to the work of farmers like these. It would be reasonable to assume that somewhere amongst the many fields & grainstores of Iraq there are samples of strong, indigenous wheat varieties that could bolster production once more.
The US has decided that despite 10,000 years practice Iraqis would be better off with some new, imported US varieties. Under the guise of helping get Iraq back on its feet, the US is setting out to totally re-engineer the country's traditional farming systems into a US-style corporate agribusiness. The leaders of the $107 million project have a goal of doubling the production of 30,000 Iraqi farms within the 1st year. Out will go traditional methods. In will come imported US seeds (more than likely GM), & with the new seeds will come new chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, all sold to the Iraqis by corporations such as Monsanto, Cargill & Dow.
According to the Business Journal, ‘6 kinds of wheat seeds were developed for the Iraqi endeavour. 3 will be used for farmers to grow wheat made into pasta; 3 seed strains will be for breadmaking.’ Pasta? The 2001 World Food Programme report on Iraq states, ‘Dietary habits included consumption of large quantities of meat, as well as chicken, pulses, grains, vegetables, fruits & dairy products.’ No mention of lasagne. There can be only 2 reasons why 50% of grains are for pasta. One, the US intends to have so many US soldiers & businessmen in Iraq that it is orienting the country’s agriculture around feeding not 'starving Iraqis’ but ‘overfed Americans’. Or, & more likely, because the food was never meant to be eaten inside Iraq at all.
Iraqi farmers are to be taught to grow crops for export. Then they can spend the money they earn (after they've paid for next years seeds & chemicals) buying food for their family. Under the guise of aid, the US has incorporated them into the global economy. What the US is doing in Iraq has a very significant precedent. The Green Revolution of the 1950s & 60s was to be the new dawn for farmers in the developing world. Just as now in Iraq, Western scientists & corporations arrived clutching new ‘wonder crops’, promising peasant farmers they would soon be rich.
Worldwide, thousands of traditional varieties developed over millennia were forsaken in favour of a few new hybrids, all owned by even fewer giant multinationals. Mexico has lost 80% of its corn varieties since 1930. 9,000 varieties of wheat in China have been lost since 1949. In 1970 in the US, genetic uniformity resulted in the loss of a billion dollars of maize because 80% of varieties were susceptible to southern leaf blight. The FAO estimates that 75% of genetic diversity in crops was lost in the last century. The impact on small farmers worldwide has been devastating.
What separates the US’s current scheme from those of the Green Revolution is that the earlier ones were, in part, decisions of elected governments. The Iraqi plan is being imposed without them having any say. America is now behaving like a despot itself. When former Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) administrator Paul Bremer departed Iraq in June 2004 he left behind a legacy of 100 ‘Orders’ for the restructuring of the Iraqi legal system. Of these orders Order 81 covers the issues of ‘Patent, Industrial Design, Undisclosed Information, Integrated Circuits & Plant Variety’. It is legally binding unless repealed by a future Iraqi government.
In recent years farmers have been taken to court for illegally growing GM seeds. Farmers have argued they were doing so unknowingly, that seeds must have carried on the wind. They've still been taken to court. This will now apply in Iraq. Under the rules, if a farmer’s seed can be shown to have been contaminated with registered seeds, he could be fined. Remember, 97% of Iraqi farmers save their seeds. Order 81 puts paid to that. If a corporation develops a variety resistant to an Iraqi pest, & somewhere another farmer is growing a variety that does the same, it’s now illegal to save that seed. The Iraqi farmer may have been wowed with the promise of a bumper yield. but unlike before can’t save his seed for the next year. A 10,000-year tradition has been replaced at a stroke with a contract for hire."



11) LOCAL PEACE VIGILS & PLANNING GROUPS
a) ~ Daily Bristol Peace Vigil
b) ~ Friday Easton Peace Vigil
c) ~ Saturday Bath Peace Vigil
d) ~ Weekly Bristol STW Meeting
e) ~ Regular Bath STW Meeting

a) DAILY BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL: The Independent Bristol Peace Vigil is an open space for discussion, as well a crucial focus to Bristol's campaigns. We've kept vigil every night (except Sundays) since a few days after 11th Sept 2001, & we'll keep Vigil onwards into the future, but we do need your support to keep our flame alive. If you can only make it for 15 minutes, or a couple of times a month, please still come. Everyone's welcome at the Bristol Peace Vigil.
TIMES: MON-FRI 5:30-6:30pm & SAT 3:00-4:00pm. PLACE: City Centre.
(Opposite The Hippodrome. St. Augustines Parade). MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
b) EASTON PEACE VIGIL: Every Friday. 5:00pm-6:00pm.
Corner of Robertson Rd & Stapleton Rd. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=361000&Y=174500&scale=10000
c) BATH PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday 11.30am-12.30pm. Bath Abbey. (Off York
Street. From the Station walk up Manvers St). Please come & support this regular, long-established & powerful witness to the futility of war. MAP BELOW:
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=375000&Y=164500&scale=10000
d) BRISTOL-STOP-THE-WAR PLANNING GROUP: Everyone's 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: From Jan 13th, for about 2 months our meetings will be at: Victoria Methodist Church. 1A Whiteladies Rd, Bristol, BS8 1NU (bottom of Whiteladies Rd, next door but one to Habitat.) MAP:
 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=357830&Y=173465&A=Y&Z=1
e) BATH-STOP-THE-WAR: Hold Regular Meetings. For Details Tel: 01225 315480
Email:  postmaster@bathstopwar.org.uk Visit:  http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk


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For general enquiries email:  bristolstopwar@hotmail.com
For News Around Bristol Visit:  http://bristol.indymedia.org
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"The corporate revolution will collapse if we refuse to buy what they are selling - their ideas, their version of history, their wars, their weapons, their notion of inevitability. Remember this - we be many and they be few. They need us more than we need them. Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." Arundhati Roy.

... SAY YES 2 PEACE ... SAY YES 2 PEACE ... SAY YES 2 PEACE ...