BRISTOL STWC PUBLIC MEETING : WED 30th AUG
See Section 1 of this newsletter.
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : MANCHESTER : SAT 23rd SEPT
Coach Ticket Details in Section 3 of this newsletter.
(Also see Section 8 for Brize Norton National Demo on 2nd Dec)
See Section 1 of this newsletter.
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : MANCHESTER : SAT 23rd SEPT
Coach Ticket Details in Section 3 of this newsletter.
(Also see Section 8 for Brize Norton National Demo on 2nd Dec)
For more NATIONAL anti-war news visit our message board:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition/
To post to our message board email:
bristol-stop-the-war-coalition@yahoogroups.com
For more BRISTOL and SOUTH WEST news:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org
CONTENTS CODE:
* New Section... ^ Updated Section...
~ Bristol Events... + National/International Events...
01) * ~ Public Meeting : Lebanon In Ruins : 30th August
02) ^+~ Fairford Trials Begin : 4th - 18th September
03) ^+~ NATIONAL DEMO : Manchester : 23rd September
04) *+~ Military Base Peace Camps Up & Running
05) *+~ Faslane 365 Reminder : 10th - 11th October
06) ~ IN THE EVENT OF ATTACK ON IRAN
07) * ~ More Bristol & Bath Events
08) *+ More National Level Events
09) * News: Iraqi Unions Kept Away From Oil Legislation
10) ~ Local Peace Vigils & Planning Meetings
GROUP DESCRIPTION : Bristol Stop The War 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. Anyone 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 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 To: BSTW, 23 Monmouth Road, BRISTOL, BS7 8LF. Or you can email
us privately: bristolstopwar@hotmail.com
01) PUBLIC MEETING : LEBANON IN RUINS : 30th AUGUST
Full Title: ‘Lebanon In Ruins : Where Next For The War On Terror?’
TIME & VENUE: 7.30pm. Wed 30th August @ The Folk House, 40a Park St, Bristol. Map:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.4542&lon=-2.6023&scale=10000&icon=x
Public meeting organised by Bristol Stop-the-war Coalition. In the lead up to the 23rd September National Demonstration in Manchester, and following the recent disasterous Israeli excursion in Lebanon, there is a need to discuss the latest situation in the Middle East, and how we in the anti-war movement can help build the fight to the finish. All welcome. (Also see Section 7 of this newsletter for a Sponsored Walk in aid of Lebanon and Palestine to be promoted at this event).
SPEAKERS: Lindsey German (STWC) - Member of Military Families Against the War (MFAW), Labour MP (t.b.c.) - Arshad Ali Khan (Imam of St Marks Rd Mosque, Easton) - Tam McFarlane (NEC member for South West FBU)
02) FAIRFORD TRIALS BEGIN : 4th – 18th SEPTEMBER
Margaret Jones & Paul Milling appear at Bristol Crown Court on Monday 4th September charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage as a result of disabling vehicles used for loading bombs and fuel on to US B-52s at RAF Fairford in March 2003 in an attempt to disrupt the bombing of Iraq. The maximum sentence is ten years imprisonment. They need our support. If you can, go down to the court, especially on the first day.
Bristol Indymedia 'Fairford' Front Page:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25213
The Bristol Indymedia Pre-Trial Archives:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25208
MARGARET (Monica) JONES WRITES: This is one more chance to say 'Not in Our Name.' To that end, we call for a quiet, dignified gathering outside the Bristol Crown Court in Small Street on MON 4th SEPT, STARTING @9:00am (The street runs between Corn St and the Cenotaph area in the Centre.) Everyone who feels as strongly as we do that what our government is doing – in Iraq, in Lebanon, Palestine is utterly wrong, is welcome and urged to attend this first day, at 9.00. The trial is expected to run for two weeks - so friends and supporters are welcome to come on the other mornings, too. And to come into court and hear the evidence.
Back in March 2003 Paul Milling and I, using hammers and bolt cutters at RAF Fairford, disabled a couple of dozen vehicles used for getting bombs and fuel onto military planes. Our hope was to delay take-off of the B-52 bombers then stationed on the base, waiting to launch the first bombing raid on Iraq. These planes carried, among other weapons, cluster bombs. Their appalling load was to be part of the ‘Shock and Awe’ raids on Baghdad, so bragged about by the Pentagon.
Whether we did succeed in delaying the take-off of the planes to any degree, will never be known. All I personally hoped for, though was to give someone living in the city a chance to run for their life before all hell came down. We acted accountably and non-violently. (Unless you count putting the vehicles out of action as 'violence'. We don't.) We were concerned for safety, putting warning notices on the trucks, and telling the police what we had done. Paul had the blessing of his Quaker meeting in Birmingham, who had a general idea - though not the precise details - of what he intended to do.
After a series of pre-trial appeals, we now go to trial, charged with Conspiracy to commit Criminal Damage. Maximum sentence: ten years’ imprisonment. Trial dates: MON 4th SEPT (until Sept. 18th)
WITNESSES IN THE TRIAL INCLUDE:
JO WILDING, a long-time Bristol resident. Heroine to the peace movement for her humanitarian work with Iraqi children under fire. She sent dramatic dispatches from wartime Iraq, some of which appeared in The Guardian. - AN IRAQI CIVILIAN who was a schoolboy in Baghdad at the time of the US bombing. - A BRITISH WOMAN who lived in a power station as a ‘human shield’, and witnessed the bombing. - JOURNALIST FELICITY ARBUTHNOT, an authority on Iraq. - A witness to the loading of cluster bombs at RAF Fairford. - The internationally known landmine expert Rae McGrath.
LEGAL TEAM: Barristers Hugo Charlton, James Hines
Prof. Nick Grief (authority on international human rights law)
More info: Margaret (Monica) Jones (0117) 94 66 885 (until Sept. 4th)
Email: nabataat@yahoo.co.uk
03) NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : MANCHESTER : SAT 23rd SEPT
Also See: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
The main slogan for this demonstration is ‘Time To Go’ - Time for US and British troops to go from Iraq and time for Blair to go. This year the Labour Party conference is taking place in Manchester and the demonstration takes place there the day before it starts.
Coaches from Bristol will leave Anchor Rd at 8.00am on Sat 23rd Sept.
For further information email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com
TICKETS IN ADVANCE (£14 waged / £7 unwaged) available from:
Please buy your tickets early. This helps us book more coaches and take more people.
Booty 82 Colston St, Bristol BS1 5BB. Map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358598&Y=173249&A=Y&Z=1
Circle Books, 65 North St, Bristol, BS3 1ES. Map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358068&Y=171465&A=Y&Z=1
La Ruca, 89 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 8AS. Map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=359016&Y=174970&A=Y&Z=1
If you go to one these outlets to buy tickets look round the shop - buy something. They are supporting us so try to support them. If you can't get to one of these outlets and want to buy tickets please email your name, address and ohone number to bristolstopwar@hotmail.com and we will get tickets to you.
If you aren't able to come on 23rd September but want to show your support by making a donation towards the cost of the coaches please make out a cheque to `Bristol Stop The War Coalition' and post it to BSTWC, 23 Monmouth Road, Bristol, BS7 8LF.
If you would like leaflets to distribute with details of the demo & coaches from Bristol please email us. We'll be organising street stalls across the city in the next few weeks. Please email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com if you would like to help.
04) MILITARY BASE PEACE CAMPS NOW UP & RUNNING
Three peace camps have been set up at RAF Brize Norton, at USAF Mildenhall and at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in protest at the use of these places to refuel planes
loaded with bombs flying between the US and Israel. Please support these camps if you can.
PEACE CAMP CONTACTS:
RAF BRIZE NORTON, Oxfordshire:
Contact Kate: 07748 015 601
BRIZE NORTON NATIONAL DEMO: 2nd December 2006
(See Section 8 of this newsletter for more info).
USAF MILDENHALL, Suffolk:
Contact Mell: 07760 161 755
PRESTWICK AIRPORT, Glasgow:
Contact Lesley: 01505 504 426 or 07966 649 370
WHAT’S NEEDED?
Your support in person, for a day, a weekend, a week or longer. - Supplies: contact the camps for details. Messages of support: Post to Indymedia at http://www.indymedia.org.uk Best to send these as comments on existing reports. - Publicity - tell everyone about these camps. Legal observers - Visits with food & water - Visits with banners * music - People who can run skill sharing workshops - Anyone who has solar panels or small wind turbines to help run a laptop, charge mobiles - Lap tops - Wood - Moral support - stuff for kids to do - Pots & pans - candles etc – Money - Plastic fire buckets - water containers - spades - first aid kits - Bikes - People at home to send out press releases and help mobilise people - People to keep an eye on flight patterns - plane spotters.
05) FASLANE 365 REMINDER : 10th – 11th October
More info about Faslane 365 visit: http://www.faslane365.org
Bristol Contact, Email: nabataat@yahoo.co.uk
BACKGROUND: October First 2006 will see the beginning of an audacious civil resistance initiative to apply critical public pressure for the disarmament of Britain's nuclear weapons. Building on the success of previous mass blockades of the Trident nuclear base at Faslane, there will be a year-long continuous peaceful blockade at Faslane in Scotland. To make this happen, groups and organisations from Scotland, England and Wales, and beyond, are being invited to come and shut down the base for at least one two-day period each during the year.
BRISTOL CONTINGENT: About 40 people from across the South West have now signed up for a blockade at Faslane in Scotland on the 10th and 11th October, to express their opposition to Trident nuclear weapons (and their replacement). Legal observers, and a couple more drivers, are still needed. Also people who like brewing coffee and making sandwiches. The overall plan of F365 is to blockade Faslane nuclear submarine base, with a different 'bloc' of people every 48 hours. Groups are invited to make links with their own particular issue. Socialist groups - 'Welfare not Warfare', Green groups - nuclear devastation of the environment (etc.) There are 39 separate groups from UK and abroad signed up now - CND, Scottish Socialists, Green Party, Quakers, Greenham Women, Palestine Solidarity plus regional groups, and professional groups ( e.g. Medical Workers, and Academics).
TRAINING: A one-day training is required for all participants. The next one is Saturday September 9th, 10.30 - 5.00 pm, Redland Quaker Meeting House, Redland Road.
More Info, Email: nabataat@yahoo.co.uk
NATIONAL STWC CONTINGENT: November 6th - 7th are the days Stop The War will be the blockading organisation. Any local STW groups or individuals who would like to join us, please contact the STWC office: 020 7278 6694; email: office@stopwar.org.uk
06) IN THE EVENT OF ATTACK ON IRAN
In the event of an attack being launched against Iran, Bristol Stop the War Coalition calls on all its supporters to join the Peace Vigil on the Centre, opposite the Hippodrome, on the day they hear of the attack. The Vigil is from 5.30pm-6.30pm on Mondays to Fridays and 3pm- 4pm on Saturdays.
(Also see Section 10 of this newsletter for more regular Vigils)
For further information email: bristolstopwar@hotmail.com
07) MORE BRISTOL & BATH EVENTS
a) News: NO2iD - ‘Pressure The Parties’
b) Picket: ‘Keeping Up The Opposition To Raytheon’
c) 4th Sept : Bristol Indymedia Film Night
d) 17th Sept: Sponsored Walk For Lebanon & Palestine
e) News: Kebele Infoshop Opening Soon
a) NO2iD : PRESSURE THE PARTIES
Newsletter: http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25296
“This week David Cameron has released the Conservative party's 'mini-manifesto'. Item 6 clearly states: ‘Abolishing ID cards if they are introduced.’ NO2ID would like to see the leaders of *all* the opposition parties make such statements - some already have - but we don't imagine for a minute that even this would guarantee success. On the Parliamentary front, it will be in large part about how high up the political agenda we can get 'ID cards' by the time of the next general election. And then how clearly the electorate vote for abolition or against the surveillance state.
A positive thing to do right now, if you have a Tory MP, is to use http://www.writetothem.com/ to draw their attention to this particular mini-manifesto promise, and point out that this is one issue about which you as their constituent are passionately concerned. This first step should at least start the issue registering on the Conservative party consciousness, but if you feel like adding some detail - e.g. ‘My key concern is that the National Identity Register, i.e. the highly invasive database behind the cards, is abolished too’, or, ‘If you are going to abolish ID cards, then do I have your assurance that a Conservative government would therefore repeal the Identity Cards Act 2006?’ - then please do.
Bristol Contact: David Gould - Email: bristol@no2id.net Phone: 0117 914 9141
Website: http://www.bristol-no2id.org.uk/
b) KEEPING UP THE OPPOSITION TO RAYTHEON
Report: http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25275
“Bristol Business Park is home to offices belonging to RAYTHEON, one of the biggest arms manufacturers in the world. Raytheon Systems Inc is the worlds 3rd biggest arms company and supplies munitions and electronics to Israel. Consignments of Raytheon GBU 'bunker buster' bombs have recently been transported via UK airports to Israel. These horrific weapons can kill literally hundreds of people with one strike into an urban area. Israel has already been using these in densely populated areas of the Lebanon.
Most ‘bunker busters’ have a devastatingly high explosive power making them the most deadly of ‘conventional weapons’. Some use depleted uranium, leaving toxic pollutants, which cause illness and death for years. Raytheon is not simply off in some far-flung corner of the world far from any criticism or action. They are acting, now, at their office in Bristol. Raytheon’s presence here therefore implicates Bristol indirectly in Israeli war crimes.”
JOIN THE REGULAR PICKET: Every Friday morning 8:00am. Meet on the UWE/Bristol Business Park roundabout, Coldharbour Lane. Email: jandamarra[at.stopspam]riseup[dot]net
c) BRISTOL INDYMEDIA FILM NIGHT : 4th September
Review: http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25288
Bristol Indymedia Film: Land and Freedom / 70th Anniversary Spanish Civil War. Mon 4th Sept 2006. Doors open 7.30pm, film starts at 8pm. £3/4 though nobody turned away for lack of funds. Venue: Cube Cinema: Dove St South (off Kings Square), Bristol. Map:
http://www.cubecinema.com/directions.html
“This year is the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Many see this as a prelude to the 2nd World War as it drew in Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy, Stalin's Russia and volunteers from all over the world who came to fight the fascists and to fight for a better world. As the anarchist Buenaventura Durruti said of the struggle; ‘We are not in the least afraid of ruins. We are going to inherit the earth; there is not the slightest doubt about that. The bourgeoisie might blast and ruin its own world before it leaves the stage of history. We carry a new world here, in our hearts. That world is growing this minute.’
This months Indymedia film night brings you 'Land and Freedom', Palme d'Or winner Ken Loach's multiple award winning account of a British volunteer who fights in the Spanish Civil war. Film is based loosely on George Orwell's book 'Homage to Catalonia' and tells the story of one ordinary persons journey from Liverpool to Spain to fight for his belief. The film uses all of Loach's skill and technique to craft a film of substance, emotion and beauty that is in stark contrast to much of the vacuous entertainment in the Hollywood mould.
Bristol Indymedia: http://bristol.indymedia.org
d) SPONSORED WALK FOR LEBANON & PALESTINE : 17th September
This initiative is being pushed forward by three women from some of the Bristol mosques.
“Today in Lebanon and Palestine is a most serious humanitarian crisis. Many people at this moment are hungry, homeless, sick, and grieved by the loss of loved ones. The infrastructure in Lebanon is destroyed and these people are crying out for human basic needs. We can't make a miracle overnight, but we believe we can make a difference by helping and showing them at this time of despair that there are people who care.
A human life is very precious and no human being should have to suffer this way. So we have taken it upon ourselves to organize a sponsored walk to raise as much money as possible. The number of people taking place started at three but it is slowly growing. If you would like to take part we welcome everyone.It will take place on SUNDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER, and will follow the route of the Bristol to Bath cycle path and canal tow path. The starting place and time will be announced later and further publicised at the 'Lebanon in ruins' Stop-the-War meeting on the 30th August (See Section 1 of this newsletter). Yours sincerely, Khadijah Ziane & Khadijah Walcott & Anisa Walcott
FOR A SPONSORSHIP FORM, EMAIL kkellyziane@hotmail.co.uk
e) KEBELE INFOSHOP OPENING SOON
Email: kebelesocialcentre@riseup.net or Tel: 0117 9399469.
Kebele is at 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, Bristol. BS5 6JY.
The infoshop is open from 26th August:
every Saturday, 10am - 1pm.
“After the loss of Greenleaf bookshop in 2005, there is a clear need for other outlets for radical politics in Bristol, and the kebele infoshop is a small step towards helping to fill the gap. In a time of relentless
government double speak and systematic mass media truth manipulation, we recognise the need to answer their lies with counter information. Our aim is to make radical publications affordable and accessible, and everything in the infoshop is priced with this in mind. There is a lot of new stock in and more on the way, from squatter’s handbooks and lots of new books to wearing yer politics on yer sleeve badges and T-shirts, alongside some top political music from all over the place - come and check it out!
There is also an extensive free information rack, combining local, national and international flyers, stickers, leaflets and newsletters. The free info rack accepts contributions from any individual, group or network with a commitment to progressive politics, radical change and non-hierarchical ways of organising. Kebele infostall wants to get out more! If you know of an event that could benefit from an incursion from the Kebele infostall please feel free to invite us along. It might be a gig, a street event, a community day or a special occasion.”
08) MORE NATIONAL LEVEL EVENTS
a) National Anti-War Email Campaign
b) 26th Aug - 4th Sept: Camp For Climate Action (Leeds)
c) 14th - 19th Sept: Long Walk For Peace (Scotland)
d) 28th – 29th Oct : No More Fallujahs (London)
e) 2nd Dec: Brize Norton NATIONAL DEMO (Oxfordshire)
a) NATIONAL ANTI-WAR EMAIL CAMPAIGN
Contact your MP through: http://www.writetothem.com
Here are a few sample questions that you could put to your MP, but feel encouraged to ask your own questions in your own way. And please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.
(i) How can you fight terrorism with nuclear bombs? Is it not time to scrap Trident and to ensure Britain does not waste £25billion pounds on a replacement?
(ii) Did you support the invasion of Iraq? and if you did support the invasion do you accept responsibility for the bloodshed and misery that has been the result of Blair and Bush's aggression?
(iii) What will you do to speed up the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq?
(iv) What will you do to ensure that Blair, or any other British government does not get involved in any further pre-emptive illegal wars, especially against Syria or Iran?
(v) What exactly is the mission statement for having troops in Afghanistan?
(vi) Is it not time to halt all arms sales to Israel? And doesn't United Kingdom arms sales to Israel make this government a accomplice in Israel war crimes?
b) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION : 26th Aug - 4th Sept
Link: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/ Email: info@climatecamp.org.uk
‘The Future Is Not Yet Written, Inaction Is The Tragedy’
“Help us set up! We'll be putting together some of the site infrastructure in Leeds from Monday August 21. If you'd like to help, come to the Common Place, 23-25 Wharf Street, Leeds LS2 7EQ any time during that week. The Camp for Climate Action will take place in Megawatt Valley, near Leeds, home of Drax power station, the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide in the UK.
Climate change is happening now and is set to get much worse. Governments and corporations dream of growth without end, economy without limits. When nuclear power is hailed as the solution to ecological crisis you know there's a problem. There is a growing grassroots movement that fundamentally challenges the fossil fuel economy. The camp will be a place for this movement to get together. It will be a place for new people, people who have never been 'political' before but who want move beyond concern into activity. It will be a place for experienced activists: old and young, cynical and hopeful. We all need courage, the guts to step beyond the comfort of our concern or the borders of our group. Climate change casts a long shadow over the future. But we believe this time can be an opportunity, a moment when people come together and say 'enough'.
c) LONG WALK FOR PEACE : 14th - 19th September
Long Walk For Peace: Faslane Nuclear Submarine base to the Scottish Parliament
“The aim of the Long Walk is to urge the Scottish Parliament to speak out against replacing Trident. The total distance is 85 miles - about 15 miles each day. There will be meetings and stalls along the route. Scotland's For Peace, 15 Barrland Rd, Glasgow, G41 1QH, Tel 0141 433 2821
info@scotland4peace.org & http://www.scotland4peace.org
d) NO MORE FALLUJAHS : 28th - 29th October
For more info: http://www.rememberfallujah.org or Tel: 0845 458 2564.
“No more Fallujahs: A weekend of non-violent resistance to the occupation of Iraq on the 2nd anniversary of the November 2004 US/UK massacre in Fallujah. Organised by the Mass Action Group. Ssupported by Act Together, CND, Iraq Occupation Focus, JNV, Stop The War, Voices UK and others. LEGAL BRIEFING: Direct action and legal briefing for this event: 8 Oct 11am - 4pm, Diorama Gallery 1, 34 Osnaburgh Street, NW1 3ND (tube: Great Portland Street).”
OUTLINE: Sat 28 Oct: Peace walk from the UK’s military nerve centre in Northwood. More details soon! Sun 29 Oct: ‘Unauthorised’ 24-hour peace camp in Parliament Square to demand an end to the occupation. Assemble 12 noon, Parliament Square. The camp will begin with Maya Evans and Milan Rai reading the names of 100 Iraqis who have died as a result of US/UK military action in Iraq - one year after their arrest for doing this in Oct 2005.
PLEASE NOTE: Under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act participation in such an ‘unauthorised’ demonstration is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1000.
e) NATIONAL DEMO AT RAF BRIZE NORTON (OXFORDSHIRE) : 2nd December
RAF Brize Norton is the base from which all British troops are flown to Iraq and Afghanistan, and where they return to (alive and dead). This national demonstration to the gates of the base is to demand immediate withdrawal of British troops. RAF Brize Norton is also being used to refuel American military flights transporting munitions between Kelly air force base in the USA to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, taking bombs to be used by the Israeli Defense Force in the current war in Lebanon. A big turn out at the gates of the base will send a clear message to the government, and is an act of solidarity with the service people and their families who want Britain to withdraw.
ASSEMBLE 12:00 noon in Carterton, Saturday 2nd December 2006. Called by Oxford, Bristol and Swindon Stop the War Coalitions. Supported by Stop the War Coalition.
Ring 07764563855 or Email: swindon_stopwar@yahoo.co.uk for more details.
09) NEWS : IRAQI UNIONS KEPT AWAY FROM OIL LEGISLATION
Please Note: This Article Is Included For Information Purposes Only.
Full Article (1st August 2006): http://www.basraoilunion.org
Hassan Jum'a Awad al-Asadi Head of Oil Unions in the South: “At the outset I would like to thank all media personnel who are trying to shed light on the hidden areas of what is happening in Iraq. There are many challenges that the important and vital oil sector faces. I think that the elected Iraqi government must take into consideration the presence of an explicit law which determines the oil policy in Iraq. This is Law No. 80 from the year 1961. It very clearly identifies oil investment areas in Iraq, how to support the national economy, and how monopolistic foreign companies should not control the oil.
At present, we are in the beginning of the twenty-first century and Iraq does not have an oil law even though oil sector constitutes 75% of the Iraqi economy. Since the fall of the great idol and the coming of the occupation forces to Iraq and since the Governing Council, the transitional government, and the government of Dr. al-Ja'fari, until this current government, which was elected by the Iraqis and has been in effect for over four months, we have not seen any results from anyone. Specialists in oil policies have not presented any projects to increase Iraqi production. All that we hear is about investment and giving great opportunities to foreign companies to invest in Iraqi oil, as if investment would save Iraq from the dilemma which is a result of the reckless policy of the entombed regime.
What was not taken into consideration is the fact that there are national cadres qualified scientifically and technically who took over this sector. During the period between the arrival of the occupation forces in 2003 and this year, these “warriors” in the oil sector brought production up to 2.5 million barrels per day without any direct or indirect intervention in the production process by the monopolistic foreign companies. These Iraqi heroes want oil to be a blessing to the Iraqis and not retribution.
The question that is posed here is: Were these experts in oil policies asked to participate in drawing up the oil law? Which committee draws up these laws if there is no one who represents the largest oil company working in Iraq, bearing in mind that this company has experts in the oil sector?
One of the strangest things that the successive governments in Iraq overlooked after 2003 is the presence of a law that regulates work in the oil fields at the borders of Iraq’s neighboring countries such as Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. These countries have complete control over common oil fields at the borders. Why hasn’t this been taken into consideration?
Therefore, officials who want to prepare laws related to Iraqi oil must involve specialists in oil policies as well as professional organizations such as unions. In this way, the law will be complete and not lacking anything. Unions have not enjoyed their legitimate rights during the ousted regime or after the 2003 War. We can summarize the reasons as follows:
(i) - Resolution No. 150 is still in effect. This resolution prevents unions from doing their work in the public sector, even although 70% of the labor force is in the public sector.
(ii) - There is no legal formula for the work of the unions. Union work was opposed and resisted after the fall of the previous regime. Any minister can abolish a union in his or her ministry. This happened in the Ministry of Transport where the union was abolished by the minister.
(iii) - There is no sufficient protection for union workers because professional work is not protected.
(iv) - There are political speculations and party interference in the work of unions. This has led to confusion in the work of unions and the adoption of narrow partisanship in professional work.
(v) - Many officials looked forward to the disintegration of union work because of the presence of many unions. These officials felt that through plurality there is weakness; thus, they made decisions against union work.
We suggest the following measures to gain the rights of unions:
(i) - Canceling resolution No. 150 issued by the dissolved regime.
(ii) - Unifying the union movement because there is power in unity.
(iii) - Preventing the union movement from being politicized or becoming a hostage in the hands of parties so that it will not be used for their party interests.
(iv) - Allowing unions to participate in decisions related to work and workers.
(v) - Allowing unions to participate in the political decisions issued by the state which are related to investment and other issues.
(vi) - Allowing unions to participate in the boards of directors of the productive companies in order to draw up practical company policies and to be aware of issues related to companies.
(vii) - Allowing workers’ representatives to be involved in the provincial councils because they constitute the largest group.
10) LOCAL PEACE VIGILS & PLANNING GROUPS
a) THE DAILY BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL: TIMES: MON-FRI 5:30-6:30pm & SAT 3:00-4:00pm. PLACE: City Centre (Opposite The Hippodrome. St. Augustines Parade). 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 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.
b) EASTON PEACE VIGIL: Every Friday. 5:00pm-6:00pm. On the Corner of Robertson Rd & Stapleton Rd. Easton, Bristol.
c) BATH PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday 11.30am-12.30pm. Bath Abbey. (Off York Street. From the railway station or bus station walk up Manvers St)
d) THE 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 events are agreed & planned. We don't vote at these meetings, as we're not here to force adherence to a consensus view.
Venue: Easy T's Café, 20-21 Lower Park Row, BRISTOL, BS1 5BN. Map: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.4559&lon=-2.5981&scale=5000&icon=x
This is a few doors down from The Ship pub, towards Christmas Steps. Tea & coffee are served! As now, the meetings will start at 7pm and end around 8.30pm. All welcome. For further information email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com
e) BATH-STOP-THE-WAR PLANNING GROUP: Hold Regular Meetings. For details:
Tel: 01225 315480 Email: postmaster@bathstopwar.org.uk
Visit: http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk
For general enquiries email: bristolstopwar@hotmail.com
For News Around Bristol Visit: http://bristol.indymedia.org
"Even those of us who have tried to follow the war closely are not aware of a fraction of the horrors unleashed in Iraq." - Author Arundathi Roy at the World Tribunal on Iraq, Istanbul, 2005. http://www.worldtribunal.org
SAY YES 2 PEACE ..... SAY YES 2 PEACE ..... SAY YES 2 PEACE
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition/ To post to our message board email:
bristol-stop-the-war-coalition@yahoogroups.com For more BRISTOL and SOUTH WEST news:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org CONTENTS CODE:
* New Section... ^ Updated Section...
~ Bristol Events... + National/International Events...
01) * ~ Public Meeting : Lebanon In Ruins : 30th August
02) ^+~ Fairford Trials Begin : 4th - 18th September
03) ^+~ NATIONAL DEMO : Manchester : 23rd September
04) *+~ Military Base Peace Camps Up & Running
05) *+~ Faslane 365 Reminder : 10th - 11th October
06) ~ IN THE EVENT OF ATTACK ON IRAN
07) * ~ More Bristol & Bath Events
08) *+ More National Level Events
09) * News: Iraqi Unions Kept Away From Oil Legislation
10) ~ Local Peace Vigils & Planning Meetings
GROUP DESCRIPTION : Bristol Stop The War 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. Anyone 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 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 To: BSTW, 23 Monmouth Road, BRISTOL, BS7 8LF. Or you can email
us privately:
bristolstopwar@hotmail.com 01) PUBLIC MEETING : LEBANON IN RUINS : 30th AUGUST
Full Title: ‘Lebanon In Ruins : Where Next For The War On Terror?’
TIME & VENUE: 7.30pm. Wed 30th August @ The Folk House, 40a Park St, Bristol. Map:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.4542&lon=-2.6023&scale=10000&icon=x Public meeting organised by Bristol Stop-the-war Coalition. In the lead up to the 23rd September National Demonstration in Manchester, and following the recent disasterous Israeli excursion in Lebanon, there is a need to discuss the latest situation in the Middle East, and how we in the anti-war movement can help build the fight to the finish. All welcome. (Also see Section 7 of this newsletter for a Sponsored Walk in aid of Lebanon and Palestine to be promoted at this event).
SPEAKERS: Lindsey German (STWC) - Member of Military Families Against the War (MFAW), Labour MP (t.b.c.) - Arshad Ali Khan (Imam of St Marks Rd Mosque, Easton) - Tam McFarlane (NEC member for South West FBU)
02) FAIRFORD TRIALS BEGIN : 4th – 18th SEPTEMBER
Margaret Jones & Paul Milling appear at Bristol Crown Court on Monday 4th September charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage as a result of disabling vehicles used for loading bombs and fuel on to US B-52s at RAF Fairford in March 2003 in an attempt to disrupt the bombing of Iraq. The maximum sentence is ten years imprisonment. They need our support. If you can, go down to the court, especially on the first day.
Bristol Indymedia 'Fairford' Front Page:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25213 The Bristol Indymedia Pre-Trial Archives:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25208 MARGARET (Monica) JONES WRITES: This is one more chance to say 'Not in Our Name.' To that end, we call for a quiet, dignified gathering outside the Bristol Crown Court in Small Street on MON 4th SEPT, STARTING @9:00am (The street runs between Corn St and the Cenotaph area in the Centre.) Everyone who feels as strongly as we do that what our government is doing – in Iraq, in Lebanon, Palestine is utterly wrong, is welcome and urged to attend this first day, at 9.00. The trial is expected to run for two weeks - so friends and supporters are welcome to come on the other mornings, too. And to come into court and hear the evidence.
Back in March 2003 Paul Milling and I, using hammers and bolt cutters at RAF Fairford, disabled a couple of dozen vehicles used for getting bombs and fuel onto military planes. Our hope was to delay take-off of the B-52 bombers then stationed on the base, waiting to launch the first bombing raid on Iraq. These planes carried, among other weapons, cluster bombs. Their appalling load was to be part of the ‘Shock and Awe’ raids on Baghdad, so bragged about by the Pentagon.
Whether we did succeed in delaying the take-off of the planes to any degree, will never be known. All I personally hoped for, though was to give someone living in the city a chance to run for their life before all hell came down. We acted accountably and non-violently. (Unless you count putting the vehicles out of action as 'violence'. We don't.) We were concerned for safety, putting warning notices on the trucks, and telling the police what we had done. Paul had the blessing of his Quaker meeting in Birmingham, who had a general idea - though not the precise details - of what he intended to do.
After a series of pre-trial appeals, we now go to trial, charged with Conspiracy to commit Criminal Damage. Maximum sentence: ten years’ imprisonment. Trial dates: MON 4th SEPT (until Sept. 18th)
WITNESSES IN THE TRIAL INCLUDE:
JO WILDING, a long-time Bristol resident. Heroine to the peace movement for her humanitarian work with Iraqi children under fire. She sent dramatic dispatches from wartime Iraq, some of which appeared in The Guardian. - AN IRAQI CIVILIAN who was a schoolboy in Baghdad at the time of the US bombing. - A BRITISH WOMAN who lived in a power station as a ‘human shield’, and witnessed the bombing. - JOURNALIST FELICITY ARBUTHNOT, an authority on Iraq. - A witness to the loading of cluster bombs at RAF Fairford. - The internationally known landmine expert Rae McGrath.
LEGAL TEAM: Barristers Hugo Charlton, James Hines
Prof. Nick Grief (authority on international human rights law)
More info: Margaret (Monica) Jones (0117) 94 66 885 (until Sept. 4th)
Email:
nabataat@yahoo.co.uk 03) NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION : MANCHESTER : SAT 23rd SEPT
Also See:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk The main slogan for this demonstration is ‘Time To Go’ - Time for US and British troops to go from Iraq and time for Blair to go. This year the Labour Party conference is taking place in Manchester and the demonstration takes place there the day before it starts.
Coaches from Bristol will leave Anchor Rd at 8.00am on Sat 23rd Sept.
For further information email
bristolstopwar@hotmail.com TICKETS IN ADVANCE (£14 waged / £7 unwaged) available from:
Please buy your tickets early. This helps us book more coaches and take more people.
Booty 82 Colston St, Bristol BS1 5BB. Map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358598&Y=173249&A=Y&Z=1 Circle Books, 65 North St, Bristol, BS3 1ES. Map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358068&Y=171465&A=Y&Z=1 La Ruca, 89 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 8AS. Map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=359016&Y=174970&A=Y&Z=1 If you go to one these outlets to buy tickets look round the shop - buy something. They are supporting us so try to support them. If you can't get to one of these outlets and want to buy tickets please email your name, address and ohone number to
bristolstopwar@hotmail.com and we will get tickets to you. If you aren't able to come on 23rd September but want to show your support by making a donation towards the cost of the coaches please make out a cheque to `Bristol Stop The War Coalition' and post it to BSTWC, 23 Monmouth Road, Bristol, BS7 8LF.
If you would like leaflets to distribute with details of the demo & coaches from Bristol please email us. We'll be organising street stalls across the city in the next few weeks. Please email
bristolstopwar@hotmail.com if you would like to help. 04) MILITARY BASE PEACE CAMPS NOW UP & RUNNING
Three peace camps have been set up at RAF Brize Norton, at USAF Mildenhall and at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in protest at the use of these places to refuel planes
loaded with bombs flying between the US and Israel. Please support these camps if you can.
PEACE CAMP CONTACTS:
RAF BRIZE NORTON, Oxfordshire:
Contact Kate: 07748 015 601
BRIZE NORTON NATIONAL DEMO: 2nd December 2006
(See Section 8 of this newsletter for more info).
USAF MILDENHALL, Suffolk:
Contact Mell: 07760 161 755
PRESTWICK AIRPORT, Glasgow:
Contact Lesley: 01505 504 426 or 07966 649 370
WHAT’S NEEDED?
Your support in person, for a day, a weekend, a week or longer. - Supplies: contact the camps for details. Messages of support: Post to Indymedia at
http://www.indymedia.org.uk Best to send these as comments on existing reports. - Publicity - tell everyone about these camps. Legal observers - Visits with food & water - Visits with banners * music - People who can run skill sharing workshops - Anyone who has solar panels or small wind turbines to help run a laptop, charge mobiles - Lap tops - Wood - Moral support - stuff for kids to do - Pots & pans - candles etc – Money - Plastic fire buckets - water containers - spades - first aid kits - Bikes - People at home to send out press releases and help mobilise people - People to keep an eye on flight patterns - plane spotters. 05) FASLANE 365 REMINDER : 10th – 11th October
More info about Faslane 365 visit:
http://www.faslane365.org Bristol Contact, Email:
nabataat@yahoo.co.uk BACKGROUND: October First 2006 will see the beginning of an audacious civil resistance initiative to apply critical public pressure for the disarmament of Britain's nuclear weapons. Building on the success of previous mass blockades of the Trident nuclear base at Faslane, there will be a year-long continuous peaceful blockade at Faslane in Scotland. To make this happen, groups and organisations from Scotland, England and Wales, and beyond, are being invited to come and shut down the base for at least one two-day period each during the year.
BRISTOL CONTINGENT: About 40 people from across the South West have now signed up for a blockade at Faslane in Scotland on the 10th and 11th October, to express their opposition to Trident nuclear weapons (and their replacement). Legal observers, and a couple more drivers, are still needed. Also people who like brewing coffee and making sandwiches. The overall plan of F365 is to blockade Faslane nuclear submarine base, with a different 'bloc' of people every 48 hours. Groups are invited to make links with their own particular issue. Socialist groups - 'Welfare not Warfare', Green groups - nuclear devastation of the environment (etc.) There are 39 separate groups from UK and abroad signed up now - CND, Scottish Socialists, Green Party, Quakers, Greenham Women, Palestine Solidarity plus regional groups, and professional groups ( e.g. Medical Workers, and Academics).
TRAINING: A one-day training is required for all participants. The next one is Saturday September 9th, 10.30 - 5.00 pm, Redland Quaker Meeting House, Redland Road.
More Info, Email:
nabataat@yahoo.co.uk NATIONAL STWC CONTINGENT: November 6th - 7th are the days Stop The War will be the blockading organisation. Any local STW groups or individuals who would like to join us, please contact the STWC office: 020 7278 6694; email:
office@stopwar.org.uk 06) IN THE EVENT OF ATTACK ON IRAN
In the event of an attack being launched against Iran, Bristol Stop the War Coalition calls on all its supporters to join the Peace Vigil on the Centre, opposite the Hippodrome, on the day they hear of the attack. The Vigil is from 5.30pm-6.30pm on Mondays to Fridays and 3pm- 4pm on Saturdays.
(Also see Section 10 of this newsletter for more regular Vigils)
For further information email:
bristolstopwar@hotmail.com 07) MORE BRISTOL & BATH EVENTS
a) News: NO2iD - ‘Pressure The Parties’
b) Picket: ‘Keeping Up The Opposition To Raytheon’
c) 4th Sept : Bristol Indymedia Film Night
d) 17th Sept: Sponsored Walk For Lebanon & Palestine
e) News: Kebele Infoshop Opening Soon
a) NO2iD : PRESSURE THE PARTIES
Newsletter:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25296 “This week David Cameron has released the Conservative party's 'mini-manifesto'. Item 6 clearly states: ‘Abolishing ID cards if they are introduced.’ NO2ID would like to see the leaders of *all* the opposition parties make such statements - some already have - but we don't imagine for a minute that even this would guarantee success. On the Parliamentary front, it will be in large part about how high up the political agenda we can get 'ID cards' by the time of the next general election. And then how clearly the electorate vote for abolition or against the surveillance state.
A positive thing to do right now, if you have a Tory MP, is to use
http://www.writetothem.com/ to draw their attention to this particular mini-manifesto promise, and point out that this is one issue about which you as their constituent are passionately concerned. This first step should at least start the issue registering on the Conservative party consciousness, but if you feel like adding some detail - e.g. ‘My key concern is that the National Identity Register, i.e. the highly invasive database behind the cards, is abolished too’, or, ‘If you are going to abolish ID cards, then do I have your assurance that a Conservative government would therefore repeal the Identity Cards Act 2006?’ - then please do. Bristol Contact: David Gould - Email:
bristol@no2id.net Phone: 0117 914 9141 Website:
http://www.bristol-no2id.org.uk/ b) KEEPING UP THE OPPOSITION TO RAYTHEON
Report:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25275 “Bristol Business Park is home to offices belonging to RAYTHEON, one of the biggest arms manufacturers in the world. Raytheon Systems Inc is the worlds 3rd biggest arms company and supplies munitions and electronics to Israel. Consignments of Raytheon GBU 'bunker buster' bombs have recently been transported via UK airports to Israel. These horrific weapons can kill literally hundreds of people with one strike into an urban area. Israel has already been using these in densely populated areas of the Lebanon.
Most ‘bunker busters’ have a devastatingly high explosive power making them the most deadly of ‘conventional weapons’. Some use depleted uranium, leaving toxic pollutants, which cause illness and death for years. Raytheon is not simply off in some far-flung corner of the world far from any criticism or action. They are acting, now, at their office in Bristol. Raytheon’s presence here therefore implicates Bristol indirectly in Israeli war crimes.”
JOIN THE REGULAR PICKET: Every Friday morning 8:00am. Meet on the UWE/Bristol Business Park roundabout, Coldharbour Lane. Email: jandamarra[at.stopspam]riseup[dot]net
c) BRISTOL INDYMEDIA FILM NIGHT : 4th September
Review:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25288 Bristol Indymedia Film: Land and Freedom / 70th Anniversary Spanish Civil War. Mon 4th Sept 2006. Doors open 7.30pm, film starts at 8pm. £3/4 though nobody turned away for lack of funds. Venue: Cube Cinema: Dove St South (off Kings Square), Bristol. Map:
http://www.cubecinema.com/directions.html “This year is the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Many see this as a prelude to the 2nd World War as it drew in Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy, Stalin's Russia and volunteers from all over the world who came to fight the fascists and to fight for a better world. As the anarchist Buenaventura Durruti said of the struggle; ‘We are not in the least afraid of ruins. We are going to inherit the earth; there is not the slightest doubt about that. The bourgeoisie might blast and ruin its own world before it leaves the stage of history. We carry a new world here, in our hearts. That world is growing this minute.’
This months Indymedia film night brings you 'Land and Freedom', Palme d'Or winner Ken Loach's multiple award winning account of a British volunteer who fights in the Spanish Civil war. Film is based loosely on George Orwell's book 'Homage to Catalonia' and tells the story of one ordinary persons journey from Liverpool to Spain to fight for his belief. The film uses all of Loach's skill and technique to craft a film of substance, emotion and beauty that is in stark contrast to much of the vacuous entertainment in the Hollywood mould.
Bristol Indymedia:
http://bristol.indymedia.org d) SPONSORED WALK FOR LEBANON & PALESTINE : 17th September
This initiative is being pushed forward by three women from some of the Bristol mosques.
“Today in Lebanon and Palestine is a most serious humanitarian crisis. Many people at this moment are hungry, homeless, sick, and grieved by the loss of loved ones. The infrastructure in Lebanon is destroyed and these people are crying out for human basic needs. We can't make a miracle overnight, but we believe we can make a difference by helping and showing them at this time of despair that there are people who care.
A human life is very precious and no human being should have to suffer this way. So we have taken it upon ourselves to organize a sponsored walk to raise as much money as possible. The number of people taking place started at three but it is slowly growing. If you would like to take part we welcome everyone.It will take place on SUNDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER, and will follow the route of the Bristol to Bath cycle path and canal tow path. The starting place and time will be announced later and further publicised at the 'Lebanon in ruins' Stop-the-War meeting on the 30th August (See Section 1 of this newsletter). Yours sincerely, Khadijah Ziane & Khadijah Walcott & Anisa Walcott
FOR A SPONSORSHIP FORM, EMAIL
kkellyziane@hotmail.co.uk e) KEBELE INFOSHOP OPENING SOON
Email:
kebelesocialcentre@riseup.net or Tel: 0117 9399469. Kebele is at 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, Bristol. BS5 6JY.
The infoshop is open from 26th August:
every Saturday, 10am - 1pm.
“After the loss of Greenleaf bookshop in 2005, there is a clear need for other outlets for radical politics in Bristol, and the kebele infoshop is a small step towards helping to fill the gap. In a time of relentless
government double speak and systematic mass media truth manipulation, we recognise the need to answer their lies with counter information. Our aim is to make radical publications affordable and accessible, and everything in the infoshop is priced with this in mind. There is a lot of new stock in and more on the way, from squatter’s handbooks and lots of new books to wearing yer politics on yer sleeve badges and T-shirts, alongside some top political music from all over the place - come and check it out!
There is also an extensive free information rack, combining local, national and international flyers, stickers, leaflets and newsletters. The free info rack accepts contributions from any individual, group or network with a commitment to progressive politics, radical change and non-hierarchical ways of organising. Kebele infostall wants to get out more! If you know of an event that could benefit from an incursion from the Kebele infostall please feel free to invite us along. It might be a gig, a street event, a community day or a special occasion.”
08) MORE NATIONAL LEVEL EVENTS
a) National Anti-War Email Campaign
b) 26th Aug - 4th Sept: Camp For Climate Action (Leeds)
c) 14th - 19th Sept: Long Walk For Peace (Scotland)
d) 28th – 29th Oct : No More Fallujahs (London)
e) 2nd Dec: Brize Norton NATIONAL DEMO (Oxfordshire)
a) NATIONAL ANTI-WAR EMAIL CAMPAIGN
Contact your MP through:
http://www.writetothem.com Here are a few sample questions that you could put to your MP, but feel encouraged to ask your own questions in your own way. And please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.
(i) How can you fight terrorism with nuclear bombs? Is it not time to scrap Trident and to ensure Britain does not waste £25billion pounds on a replacement?
(ii) Did you support the invasion of Iraq? and if you did support the invasion do you accept responsibility for the bloodshed and misery that has been the result of Blair and Bush's aggression?
(iii) What will you do to speed up the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq?
(iv) What will you do to ensure that Blair, or any other British government does not get involved in any further pre-emptive illegal wars, especially against Syria or Iran?
(v) What exactly is the mission statement for having troops in Afghanistan?
(vi) Is it not time to halt all arms sales to Israel? And doesn't United Kingdom arms sales to Israel make this government a accomplice in Israel war crimes?
b) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION : 26th Aug - 4th Sept
Link:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/ Email: info@climatecamp.org.uk ‘The Future Is Not Yet Written, Inaction Is The Tragedy’
“Help us set up! We'll be putting together some of the site infrastructure in Leeds from Monday August 21. If you'd like to help, come to the Common Place, 23-25 Wharf Street, Leeds LS2 7EQ any time during that week. The Camp for Climate Action will take place in Megawatt Valley, near Leeds, home of Drax power station, the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide in the UK.
Climate change is happening now and is set to get much worse. Governments and corporations dream of growth without end, economy without limits. When nuclear power is hailed as the solution to ecological crisis you know there's a problem. There is a growing grassroots movement that fundamentally challenges the fossil fuel economy. The camp will be a place for this movement to get together. It will be a place for new people, people who have never been 'political' before but who want move beyond concern into activity. It will be a place for experienced activists: old and young, cynical and hopeful. We all need courage, the guts to step beyond the comfort of our concern or the borders of our group. Climate change casts a long shadow over the future. But we believe this time can be an opportunity, a moment when people come together and say 'enough'.
c) LONG WALK FOR PEACE : 14th - 19th September
Long Walk For Peace: Faslane Nuclear Submarine base to the Scottish Parliament
“The aim of the Long Walk is to urge the Scottish Parliament to speak out against replacing Trident. The total distance is 85 miles - about 15 miles each day. There will be meetings and stalls along the route. Scotland's For Peace, 15 Barrland Rd, Glasgow, G41 1QH, Tel 0141 433 2821
info@scotland4peace.org & http://www.scotland4peace.org d) NO MORE FALLUJAHS : 28th - 29th October
For more info:
http://www.rememberfallujah.org or Tel: 0845 458 2564. “No more Fallujahs: A weekend of non-violent resistance to the occupation of Iraq on the 2nd anniversary of the November 2004 US/UK massacre in Fallujah. Organised by the Mass Action Group. Ssupported by Act Together, CND, Iraq Occupation Focus, JNV, Stop The War, Voices UK and others. LEGAL BRIEFING: Direct action and legal briefing for this event: 8 Oct 11am - 4pm, Diorama Gallery 1, 34 Osnaburgh Street, NW1 3ND (tube: Great Portland Street).”
OUTLINE: Sat 28 Oct: Peace walk from the UK’s military nerve centre in Northwood. More details soon! Sun 29 Oct: ‘Unauthorised’ 24-hour peace camp in Parliament Square to demand an end to the occupation. Assemble 12 noon, Parliament Square. The camp will begin with Maya Evans and Milan Rai reading the names of 100 Iraqis who have died as a result of US/UK military action in Iraq - one year after their arrest for doing this in Oct 2005.
PLEASE NOTE: Under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act participation in such an ‘unauthorised’ demonstration is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1000.
e) NATIONAL DEMO AT RAF BRIZE NORTON (OXFORDSHIRE) : 2nd December
RAF Brize Norton is the base from which all British troops are flown to Iraq and Afghanistan, and where they return to (alive and dead). This national demonstration to the gates of the base is to demand immediate withdrawal of British troops. RAF Brize Norton is also being used to refuel American military flights transporting munitions between Kelly air force base in the USA to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, taking bombs to be used by the Israeli Defense Force in the current war in Lebanon. A big turn out at the gates of the base will send a clear message to the government, and is an act of solidarity with the service people and their families who want Britain to withdraw.
ASSEMBLE 12:00 noon in Carterton, Saturday 2nd December 2006. Called by Oxford, Bristol and Swindon Stop the War Coalitions. Supported by Stop the War Coalition.
Ring 07764563855 or Email:
swindon_stopwar@yahoo.co.uk for more details. 09) NEWS : IRAQI UNIONS KEPT AWAY FROM OIL LEGISLATION
Please Note: This Article Is Included For Information Purposes Only.
Full Article (1st August 2006):
http://www.basraoilunion.org Hassan Jum'a Awad al-Asadi Head of Oil Unions in the South: “At the outset I would like to thank all media personnel who are trying to shed light on the hidden areas of what is happening in Iraq. There are many challenges that the important and vital oil sector faces. I think that the elected Iraqi government must take into consideration the presence of an explicit law which determines the oil policy in Iraq. This is Law No. 80 from the year 1961. It very clearly identifies oil investment areas in Iraq, how to support the national economy, and how monopolistic foreign companies should not control the oil.
At present, we are in the beginning of the twenty-first century and Iraq does not have an oil law even though oil sector constitutes 75% of the Iraqi economy. Since the fall of the great idol and the coming of the occupation forces to Iraq and since the Governing Council, the transitional government, and the government of Dr. al-Ja'fari, until this current government, which was elected by the Iraqis and has been in effect for over four months, we have not seen any results from anyone. Specialists in oil policies have not presented any projects to increase Iraqi production. All that we hear is about investment and giving great opportunities to foreign companies to invest in Iraqi oil, as if investment would save Iraq from the dilemma which is a result of the reckless policy of the entombed regime.
What was not taken into consideration is the fact that there are national cadres qualified scientifically and technically who took over this sector. During the period between the arrival of the occupation forces in 2003 and this year, these “warriors” in the oil sector brought production up to 2.5 million barrels per day without any direct or indirect intervention in the production process by the monopolistic foreign companies. These Iraqi heroes want oil to be a blessing to the Iraqis and not retribution.
The question that is posed here is: Were these experts in oil policies asked to participate in drawing up the oil law? Which committee draws up these laws if there is no one who represents the largest oil company working in Iraq, bearing in mind that this company has experts in the oil sector?
One of the strangest things that the successive governments in Iraq overlooked after 2003 is the presence of a law that regulates work in the oil fields at the borders of Iraq’s neighboring countries such as Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. These countries have complete control over common oil fields at the borders. Why hasn’t this been taken into consideration?
Therefore, officials who want to prepare laws related to Iraqi oil must involve specialists in oil policies as well as professional organizations such as unions. In this way, the law will be complete and not lacking anything. Unions have not enjoyed their legitimate rights during the ousted regime or after the 2003 War. We can summarize the reasons as follows:
(i) - Resolution No. 150 is still in effect. This resolution prevents unions from doing their work in the public sector, even although 70% of the labor force is in the public sector.
(ii) - There is no legal formula for the work of the unions. Union work was opposed and resisted after the fall of the previous regime. Any minister can abolish a union in his or her ministry. This happened in the Ministry of Transport where the union was abolished by the minister.
(iii) - There is no sufficient protection for union workers because professional work is not protected.
(iv) - There are political speculations and party interference in the work of unions. This has led to confusion in the work of unions and the adoption of narrow partisanship in professional work.
(v) - Many officials looked forward to the disintegration of union work because of the presence of many unions. These officials felt that through plurality there is weakness; thus, they made decisions against union work.
We suggest the following measures to gain the rights of unions:
(i) - Canceling resolution No. 150 issued by the dissolved regime.
(ii) - Unifying the union movement because there is power in unity.
(iii) - Preventing the union movement from being politicized or becoming a hostage in the hands of parties so that it will not be used for their party interests.
(iv) - Allowing unions to participate in decisions related to work and workers.
(v) - Allowing unions to participate in the political decisions issued by the state which are related to investment and other issues.
(vi) - Allowing unions to participate in the boards of directors of the productive companies in order to draw up practical company policies and to be aware of issues related to companies.
(vii) - Allowing workers’ representatives to be involved in the provincial councils because they constitute the largest group.
10) LOCAL PEACE VIGILS & PLANNING GROUPS
a) THE DAILY BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL: TIMES: MON-FRI 5:30-6:30pm & SAT 3:00-4:00pm. PLACE: City Centre (Opposite The Hippodrome. St. Augustines Parade). 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 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.
b) EASTON PEACE VIGIL: Every Friday. 5:00pm-6:00pm. On the Corner of Robertson Rd & Stapleton Rd. Easton, Bristol.
c) BATH PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday 11.30am-12.30pm. Bath Abbey. (Off York Street. From the railway station or bus station walk up Manvers St)
d) THE 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 events are agreed & planned. We don't vote at these meetings, as we're not here to force adherence to a consensus view.
Venue: Easy T's Café, 20-21 Lower Park Row, BRISTOL, BS1 5BN. Map:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.4559&lon=-2.5981&scale=5000&icon=x This is a few doors down from The Ship pub, towards Christmas Steps. Tea & coffee are served! As now, the meetings will start at 7pm and end around 8.30pm. All welcome. For further information email
bristolstopwar@hotmail.com e) BATH-STOP-THE-WAR PLANNING GROUP: Hold Regular Meetings. For details:
Tel: 01225 315480 Email:
postmaster@bathstopwar.org.uk Visit:
http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk For general enquiries email:
bristolstopwar@hotmail.com For News Around Bristol Visit:
http://bristol.indymedia.org "Even those of us who have tried to follow the war closely are not aware of a fraction of the horrors unleashed in Iraq." - Author Arundathi Roy at the World Tribunal on Iraq, Istanbul, 2005.
http://www.worldtribunal.org SAY YES 2 PEACE ..... SAY YES 2 PEACE ..... SAY YES 2 PEACE
