Bristol Stop The War Newsletter - April 2008

bristol | peace | announcement Thursday April 10, 2008 13:13 by info@bristolstopwar

News & Views From The Anti-War Movement In Bristol

BRISTOL-STOP-THE-WAR NEWS

April 2008

Last month was the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The enthusiasts for the attack told us it would be all over in a few months – Iraq would welcome the invaders and the whole Middle East would be transformed into some sort of paradise. Five years later the warnings of those who opposed the invasion have been borne out – hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed; Iraqi society in turmoil; the invading armies bogged down with no end in sight.

See Robert Fisk in the Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/fisk/robert-fisk-the-....html
and Lindsey German, national convener of Stop The War, on MSN News
http://news.uk.msn.com/iraq-invasion-stop-the-war-coali....aspx

George Bush marked the anniversary by encouraging the al-Maliki government in Baghdad to attack the opponents of the occupation in Basra. He declared this attack - supported by waves of US and British bombers - on Iraq's second city as a "defining moment" in his "surge" strategy. He had no idea that within days the truth of his words would return to haunt him, as the attack stalled almost immediately before determined resistance and the refusal of many government soldiers and police to fight against their fellow Iraqis – over 1000 are reported to have defected to the resistance.

As hundreds of thousands of Iraqis came onto the streets in towns and cities across the country to call for the occupiers to leave, it was clear that the Iraqi government had suffered a humiliating defeat. The attack was a different sort of "defining moment" to what Bush and his administration had intended. The protests showed that, despite the US policy to foment communal tensions, the main division in Iraqi society is between pro- and anti-occupation forces. The widely popular cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has now called for a million strong demonstration this week against the occupation.

While this was clearly a defeat for the al-Maliki government in Iraq, and exposed the reality behind the supposed "success" of Bush's surge, it is in such moments that an imperial power can become most dangerous. The intensifying claims by Bush and his military leaders that Iran is behind the resistance to the US-British occupation -- without producing a shred of evidence -- may well turn into an attack on Iran, with incalculable consequences for the region and world stability.

The announcement by the British government that it will not be reducing the number of its troops in Iraq, as previously announced, could in part be due to plans for such an attack on Iran. The recent events in Basra show that our government’s insistence last year that the British army withdrew from the city because its mission was a "success" and "complete" could not be further from the truth. The US sent 500 soldiers as part to Basra of the latest attack while 4000 British troops sat at the airport doing very little – it’s time to bring them home now and end the occupation of Iraq
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/09/ira....usa1

Our next newsletter is scheduled for June. For more independent news outlets, for events between newsletters, please visit our listpage:

https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/bristolstopthewarcoal...ition

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

01) *+~ Teachers’ Union Opposes Military Recruitment In Schools
02) *+~ Iraqi Asylum Seekers To Be Forcibly Returned
03) *~ 60th Anniversary Of The Nakba - Conference - Saturday April 26th
04) *+ “Free Palestine” - National Demonstration - Saturday 10th May
05) *~ In The Event Of An Attack On Iran
06) *+ BBC Poll Shows 70% Of Iraqis Want Foreign Forces To Leave
07) *~ Local Author’s New Novel Set In Palestine
08) ^~ More Bristol & Bath Events
09) ^+ More National Events
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

1. TEACHERS’ UNION OPPOSES MILITARY RECRUITMENT IN SCHOOLS

The widespread unpopularity of the invasion and occupation of Iraq has created a recruitment crisis for the army with a projected 10 per cent shortfall in troop numbers. The Ministry of Defence is attempting to resolve its problems by concentrating far more of its efforts in schools and revising the methods it uses to attract more young people into its ranks.

Recently the army announced a bursary scheme for thousands of school leavers in an effort to boost recruitment, and controversial plans, backed by Gordon Brown, are now being drawn up for pupils in comprehensive schools to sign up for military drills and weapons training.

The Rowntree Trust provides evidence that the MOD is focusing disproportionately on schools in the most disadvantaged areas and targeting vulnerable pupils without clearly outlining the risks of army life.

It is therefore all credit to the National Union of Teachers that they have decided at their conference last month to protect students in their care by refusing to be conduits for the dissemination of MOD propaganda or recruitment into the military.

So the union now has a policy of actively opposing military recruitment in schools and will support teachers, students and parents who campaign against such activities.

This is good news for those of us in Bristol who are very concerned that Withywood School has been handed over to the Merchant Venturers to run, with a heavy emphasis on military training and recruitment. Our young people deserve a better start in life than simply being prepared as cannon fodder for military adventures across the world and we are now in a better position to do something about it.

Bristol Stop The War Coalition will be working with others in the city to keep the military out of our schools. Get in touch with us if you would like to help with this in anyway

For further information email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com

PS The NUT locally have been important supporters of Bristol Stop The War. They are holding a one-day strike on Thursday 24th April, demanding a realistic wage rise. There will be a march, assembling at Castle Park at 11.30 with a rally at College Green at 1pm. Try to get there and support them.
For further details email secretary@bristol.nut.org.uk

2. IRAQI ASYLUM SEEKERS TO BE FORCIBLY RETURNED

More than 1,400 Iraqis whose claims for asylum have been rejected are being told that they must sign up for a voluntary return programme to Iraq within three weeks, as the government now considers Iraq a safe place. If they do not comply they will lose their Section 4 support i.e. emergency accommodation and voucher provision and be left destitute with no right to work and no access to basic services.

If the prospect of destitution is not enough to persuade people to return to the hell that is Iraq, the Home Office has other methods. It has warned “We prefer people to leave voluntarily but if necessary we will enforce their return.”

After five years of occupation, Iraq is ranked as one of the most violent and dangerous places in the world with some estimates of a million-plus civilian deaths. Iraqis have experienced the physical and social destruction of their country, mass killings, daily violence, pauperisation and the complete breakdown of basic services and supplies.

Almost 5 million Iraqis have been displaced by violence since 2003. Up to 1.5 million are living in Syria and a further 1 million have been taken into other neighbouring states. The number of Iraqis applying for asylum in the EU almost doubled last year, rising to 38,286, reflecting the growing chaos in the country. More than 40% of those went to Sweden. Only 2,705 came to Britain to claim asylum here.

The Refugee Council is only stating the obvious when it says, “Iraq is still patently unsafe and people from there are terrified of going back. Removing support in such cases only results in one thing: more hungry and homeless people living in constant fear.”

Across the country groups are organising to expose and halt this shameful policy. In Bristol the Stop the War Coalition has agreed to support the Bristol Defend the Asylum Seekers led campaign of petitioning, and protesting and sponsoring the public rally to be held in May.

For further information email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com or asylumbristol@hotmail.com

3. 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAKBA - DAY SCHOOL - SATURDAY APRIL 26th

2008 is the sixtieth anniversary of the Nakba (Arabic for "The Catastrophe"), the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948. Zionist forces expelled approximately 750,000 Palestinians - almost 2/3 of the population--from their homes. 11 urban neighbourhoods were emptied and 531 villages were destroyed. Palestinians were forced out into the West Bank & the Gaza Strip and into the neighbouring countries. According to the UN, the number of registered Palestinian refugees today is approximately 4.5 million, the largest single refugee group in the world. Israel refuses Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, or to pay compensation as required by UN. Zionists deny the Nakba ever happened, as with the well-know saying "a people without land returning to a land without people." In the Palestinian calendar, the day that Israel declared independence (May 15) is observed as Nakba Day.

The Nakba continues to this day. The Gaza Strip is a vast refugee camp, being strangled by Israel. A tenth of the West Bank is currently been stolen by the building of the wall and the Jordan Valley, another third, has been virtually annexed. The remainder of the West Bank is split into over sixty non-contiguous areas, separated by strings of settlements, settler-only roads, and internal checkpoints. Palestinians are subjected to a process of slow-ethnic-cleansing by settler or military harassment, land-theft and house demolitions. All this is supported by the connivance of Western Governments, including the EU and the UK.

Locally, the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign is drawing attention to this injustice by holding a one-day conference at the Malcolm X Centre 10.30 – 5.00 on Saturday 26th April.

Speakers include:-
Maha Rahwanji, member of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Executive Committee, whose family were driven out of Haifa in 1948.
Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East and member of the All-Party Britain-Palestine Group.
Ilan Pappe, Professor of History at Exeter University and internationally acclaimed academic on the Nakba.

The conference will include stalls & exhibitions, together with eight workshops to build genuine networking and practical empowerment. Middle Eastern lunch and refreshments available for purchase.
Entrance to the conference is free/donations.

Followed in the evening by:

SOCIAL FOR PALESTINE
8.00 til midnight.
Also at the Malcolm X Centre.
With Middle Eastern meal, bands, cabaret, oriental dancers, DJ, and bar.
Tickets £6 (£3 concessions) on the door or in advance from Booty, 82 Colston Street, Bristol.

For more information on the Nakba visit http://www.palestinecampaign.org/?sel=81
Prof Ilan Pappe, Exeter University www.ilanpappe.org/
Local highly informative site http://israel-palestine.janineroberts.com/
Evidence of lost Palestine www.palestineremembered.com

FFI visit Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign website at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bristol_PSC/
or email Bristol.Nakba60@yahoo.co.uk

4. “FREE PALESTINE” - NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION - SATURDAY 10TH MAY

As part of the commemoration of the Naqba (see item 3 above) the Palestine Solidarity Committee are holding a national demonstration in London on Saturday 10th May 2008

FREE PALESTINE
END THE SIEGE ON GAZA – FOR THE RIGHT OF RETURN – END ISRAELI OCCUPATION

Assemble 1pm Temple Underground station/ Victoria Embankment, rally in Trafalgar Square.

Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign are running a coach. Tickets £15 waged / £8 concessions.Departs 8.00am Anchor Road, Bristol; 8.45am Avon Street Coach Park, Bath
Tickets on sale at Booty, 82 Colston Street, Bristol or email bristol.nakba60@yahoo.co.uk

5. IN THE EVENT OF AN ATTACK ON IRAN

An imminent attack on Iran may not seem as likely as it did this time last year, but the US government recently sacked the head of their armed forces who had spoken out publicly against such an attack. And Bush & Cheney, in their last months in power, shouldn’t be underestimated. So it’s worth repeating what we have said on several occasions before. We continue to campaign against any attack on Iran (and against sanctions which are making the lives of ordinary Iranians very difficult). 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 Saturday.

For further information email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com

6. BBC POLL SHOWS 70% OF IRAQIS WANT FOREIGN FORCES TO LEAVE

You probably didn’t notice because the BBC (unsurprisingly) didn’t make much of a story of it, but an opinion poll the BBC sponsored in Iraq last month revealed that seven out of ten Iraqis want foreign forces to leave. You can see details of this at

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080317/wl_mideast_afp/ira...itain
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/14_03_08iraq...8.pdf

7. LOCAL AUTHOR’S NEW NOVEL SET IN PALESTINE

Checkpoint the new sociopolitical suspense novel by local author and peace activist Lisa Saffron, is the story of ordinary people living in a conflict zone, each struggling to make sense of a situation where it’s not clear who is the victim and who is the terrorist.

Checkpoint is about the possibility of redemption. It is about a common humanity, the illusion of being on opposite sides and the need to take responsibility. “The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has never been more topical but the news is depressing,” Saffron writes. “People want to hear that a just peace is possible. I believe it is and the message in my novel is one of hope.”

More information about Checkpoint, including how to buy it, is available at www.LisaSaffron.com.

8. MORE BRISTOL & BATH EVENTS

a) Days Of Action For Squats & Autonomous Spaces - April 11th & 12th
b) Ending Islamophobia – A Women’s Workshop – Saturday 12th April
c) Mining, Multinationals & Community Mobilisation – Wednesday 19th April
d) Why You Should Be A Socialist – Tuesday 22nd April
e) “Gitmo: The New Rules Of War” – Flim – Monday 5th May
f) Moazzem Begg Speaks In Bristol – Monday 19th May

a) DAYS OF ACTION FOR SQUATS AND AUTONOMOUS SPACES - APRIL 11th & 12th

An International Days of Action for Squats and Autonomous Spaces has been called for on the 11th and 12th of April 2008. http://april2008.squat.net:8080/. Across Europe diverse groups of enraged creatives will be reclaiming spaces for art, housing, workshops, discussions, talks, flims, food, swap-shops, music and theatre to name but the bare essentials.

For info on events in Bristol call: 07528 953 230 / 07591 631 230

FRIDAY 11th - daytime: Come help create the space; - evening: Flim night from 7pm
SATURDAY 12th - Carnival Parade starting from Albany Green St. Pauls at 11am; - Art Exhibition open all day; - Cabaret/Open mic, live music

More info at http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688145

b) ENDING ISLAMOPHOBIA – A WOMEN’S WORKSHOP – SATURDAY 12TH APRIL

Dr Christien van den Anker brings her experience of working on all forms of discrimination and inter-sectionality to a session aimed at any woman who wants to learn more about the subject and engage with their own belief systems. The workshop runs from 10am-1pm on 12th April at the Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol BS2. Attendance is free. To book a place ring 0117 924 4512 or mail info@pieriancentre.com

More info at http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688165

c) MINING, MULTINATIONALS & COMMUNITY MOBILISATION – WEDNESDAY 19TH APRIL

The Colombia Solidarity Campaign presents:

Speaker: Teófilo Acuña, Farmers and Mining Association of Southern Bolívar, Colombia

Come and hear from Teofilo a community leader who was imprisoned last year on the orders of the Colombian army battalion responsable for protecting the interests of mining multinationals.

When: Wednesday 16th April - 5-7pm
Where: Frank Lecture Theatre - Department of Physics - University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue - BS8 1LT

More info at http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688161

d) WHY YOU SHOULD BE A SOCIALIST – TUESDAY 22ND APRIL

An Socialist Workers Party public meeting

Our world in crisis - recession and war; is there an alternative to this madness?

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Malcolm X Centre, 141 City Road, St Pauls, Bristol, BS2 8YH

Speakers:
Alex Callinicos has written many books including 'An anticapitalist manifesto'
Weymen Bennett is Joint Secretary of Unite Against Fascism (speaking in pc)

More info at http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688149

e) “GITMO: THE NEW RULES OF WAR” – FLIM – MONDAY 5TH MAY

Bristol Indymedia Flim Night: FREE! 'Gitmo: The New Rules of War'

Monday 5th May 2008 8pm @ Cube Cinema, Stokes Croft, Bristol - Entry Free!

In January, Bristol Indymedia hosted a talk by former Guantanamo bay detainee Moazzam Begg. The talk was a huge success and we filled the Cube twice over! As a follow on to that event, Bristol Indymedia will be screening the award winning documentary 'Gitmo: The new Rules of War'.

Venue: Cube Cinema: Dove St South (off Kings Square), Bristol
Map: http://microplex.cubecinema.com/cubewebsite/directions.html

http://www.bristol.indymedia.org
http://www.cageprisoners.com

Venue: Cube Cinema: Dove St South (off Kings Square), Bristol

Map: http://microplex.cubecinema.com/cubewebsite/directions.html

More info at http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688120

f) MOAZZEM BEGG SPEAKS IN BRISTOL – MONDAY 19TH MAY

Moazzam Begg will be speaking about his experiences in Guantanamo and sharing some of his poetry
Organised by the local Bristol Amnesty group
Date: Monday May 19th
Time: 7:45pm
Venue: YHA, near the centre of Bristol
For further information contact: margaret.hodson@blueyonder.co.uk or contact@cageprisoners.com

More info at http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/687871

9. MORE NATIONAL EVENTS

a) “Stop The St Athan Military Academy” - Demonstration – Saturday 26th April
b) “1968 & All That” – Conference – Saturday 10th May

a) “STOP THE ST ATHAN MILITARY ACADEMY” - DEMONSTRATION – SATURDAY 26TH APRIL

Join the demonstration against the proposed military academy in South Wales. Funded by defence multi-nationals like Raytheon through a PFI scheme, £14 billion is being spent on this huge complex when we need hospitals & schools. Needless to say the multinationals will be making a large profit on the scheme

Assemble at 1.30pm, Demonstration at 2pm, Cardiff City Centre

To join the mailing list, email no2militaryacademy@inbox.com
For more details visit www.cynefinywerin.org.uk.

b) “1968 & ALL THAT” – CONFERENCE – SATURDAY 10TH MAY

If you are old enough to remember or young enough to want to learn more this may be for you. A major retrospective conference on the almost-revolutionary events of 1968, forty years ago. With speakers, flims, debates, fun & games, bookfair etc. And an undeclared subtext of - what went wrong, why are we where we are now, and what can we learn from the failures then to change things now? All welcome to discuss and then turn theory into action...

Sat May 10 2008, from 10am to 10pm.
Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1
Nearest tube - Holborn

See website for details of speakers, events etc and how to find out more.
Related Link: http://www.1968andallthat.net/

More info at http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688089

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) 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)
c) THE BRISTOL-STOP-THE-WAR PLANNING GROUP: Everyone's welcome. We hold regular Bristol-Stop-The-War planning meetings as a forum for local groups to inform each other of their intentions, of finding people to work together on projects, & 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. For details of our next meeting email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com

d) BATH-STOP-THE-WAR PLANNING GROUP: Hold Regular Meetings. For details:
Tel: 01225 315480 Email: postmaster@bathstopwar.org.uk Visit: 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