Stop the War Coalition
PO Box 3739 London E5 8EJ
07951 235 915
www.stopwar.org.uk
 office@stopwar.org.uk

Coalition organises for emergency action when US strikes Iraq
Blair is isolated in Europe and Britain
Anti-war protests will spread

As global alarm about the US’s nuclear hitlist grows, and US Vice Preisdent Dick Cheney meets with Tony Blair, the Stop the War Coalition is launching a major campaign of protest activities against the planned attack on Iraq, including calls for an emergency stoppages in workplaces and colleges when a strike is launched.

“Opposition to the planned attack on Iraq is growing across all sections of the British population,” said Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition convenor. “In response to the call made by Tony Benn at the 20,000 strong Stop the War demonstration on 2 March, we’re seeking support for a pledge to stop work, leave classes or take other emergency action on the day the US and Britain launch their attack.

“We’re also building support for the major national demonstration called by CND for 30 March. It’s vital that we sustain the pressure on Blair, who is isolated in Europe and in Britain in his all-out support for George W Bush.

“We are organising a series of public rallies in major cities across the country, as well as workplace petitions and trade union resolutions.

“The war against terrorism has already proved a disaster for the people of Afghanistan and threatens to engulf the world in violence. The revelation of US plans for the deployment of nuclear weapons against countries without nuclear capabilities and in battlefield situations has rightly spread alarm world-wide. We here in Britain can help put an end to this madness by making clear again and again that on this issue Tony Blair does not speak for us.”

For more information call Andrew Murray (Chair, StWC) on 0777 376 4455 or Lindsey German (Convenor, StWC) on 07810 540584.

I'm banging on with my suggestion that small affinity groups try to co-ordinate a time throughout Britain to stage traffic stoppages in acts of non-violent civil disobedience.

We could all agree a time (e.g. 11am the first day after announcement of US/UK action) through forums like Indymedia and perhaps with the help of organisations like Stop The War Coalition and ARROW (any others?).

Although the authorities would have knowledge of the time, small autonomous groups would organise their own junctions/roads to hit.

I wonder if there's any lorry drivers out there that would be willing to snarl up some motorways while people on foot cause havoc in major towns.

If this idea can catch on, a relatively small number of people willing to risk arrest on obstruction charges could cause a very visible and powerful demonstration. I believe a huge number of us living in this so called democracy would be totally and radically against this war if only we really knew all the facts!

I'd like the government to get a shocking show of people power that would be impossible to ignore! For heaven's sake, the fuel protests last year were taken pretty seriously.

I think this is an extension of what Tony Benn was advocating and I hope others would be willing to help this happening.

Responses gratefully received.

We don´t need to wait for Bush and Blair to attack another innocent civilian population before we take action! The time for action is NOW, before the damage is done . . .

Therefore we have set up a new forum for discussions, as an altenative to the passivity of the Stop the War Coalition. We are Direct Action Against the War Now (D.A.A.W.N), and we make our decisions on an open, democratic and accountable basis.

We can be contacted at :  direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com

Our first action is planned to coincide with the CND rally on Saturday 30 March. This will take the form of a Picnic For Peace cum sit-in cum Reclaim the Streets. We propose to transform Grosvenor Square (home to the US embassy) into an open space, filled with creativity, eating, drinking and merriment . . . "A feast without end".

If you want to participate in the planning process, then get in touch. Direct Action isn´t just for Mayday!!!