Direct Action Against the War Now! meeting in LONDON. Come along!
D.A.A.W.N! | 22.03.2002 18:28
This Sunday (24th March), the first meeting of Direct Action Against the War Now (D.A.A.W.N) will be taking place outside Holborn tube station @ 12 noon. We are working hard to get the group started and it is vital that as many interested people as possible come along.
In March 2002, a cross-section of independent activists decided to form "Direct Action Against the War Now", in order to heighten the intensity and visibility of the anti-war struggle. We are not a political party with a common platform, but a non-hierarchical network of autonomists. We respect a diversity of tactics and opinions, and we call on everyone involved in the anti-war struggle to support us, whether or not they are willing to involve themselves in Direct Action.
Unlike ARROW, we have not taken a specific pledge of non-violence, since many of us feel that previous ARROW actions have lacked spontanaeity. However, this does not mean that we ARE necessarily more "violent" (however we wish to define this); simply that "respect for a diversity of tactics" means exactly what it says on the tin!
We believe that the time for Direct Action is NOW, before Bush and Blair launch their criminal war on the people of Iraq. The Stop the War Coalition has done a great deal over the past six months to build the anti-war movement. But it is clear that marches and rallies are having no overall effect on British policy-making. 100,000 marched through central London in November - but still the war machine continues to acquire new resources and targets. Moreover, the STWC's methods have alienated many activists involved in the wider anti-capitalist struggle. We believe the time has come for a new, more spontaneous approach to resistance.
We have therefore decided to mount a Direct Action on Saturday March 30th, to coincide with the CND/STWC rally taking place in London on the same day. The exact nature of this action will be discussed at our inaugural meeting this Sunday (24th), but the general consensus is for an action on Grosvenor Square in front of the US embassy. We support the CND/StWC march but, because of the nature of our action, it must be carried out separately from the march so as to not involve/endanger anyone against its own will.We obviously cannot predict the response of the police, they are without a doubt the most creative bunch of 'em all! Our main idea is a "Picnic for Peace" (a feast without end!) - so it is vital that people are aware of what is going on and are prepared to contribute food, drink, props - but above all, their creativity and ingenuity on the day!
"I am tired and sick of war; its glory is all moonshine. War is hell." (William Tecumseh Sherman, US army, 1879.)
D.A.A.W.N!
Unlike ARROW, we have not taken a specific pledge of non-violence, since many of us feel that previous ARROW actions have lacked spontanaeity. However, this does not mean that we ARE necessarily more "violent" (however we wish to define this); simply that "respect for a diversity of tactics" means exactly what it says on the tin!
We believe that the time for Direct Action is NOW, before Bush and Blair launch their criminal war on the people of Iraq. The Stop the War Coalition has done a great deal over the past six months to build the anti-war movement. But it is clear that marches and rallies are having no overall effect on British policy-making. 100,000 marched through central London in November - but still the war machine continues to acquire new resources and targets. Moreover, the STWC's methods have alienated many activists involved in the wider anti-capitalist struggle. We believe the time has come for a new, more spontaneous approach to resistance.
We have therefore decided to mount a Direct Action on Saturday March 30th, to coincide with the CND/STWC rally taking place in London on the same day. The exact nature of this action will be discussed at our inaugural meeting this Sunday (24th), but the general consensus is for an action on Grosvenor Square in front of the US embassy. We support the CND/StWC march but, because of the nature of our action, it must be carried out separately from the march so as to not involve/endanger anyone against its own will.We obviously cannot predict the response of the police, they are without a doubt the most creative bunch of 'em all! Our main idea is a "Picnic for Peace" (a feast without end!) - so it is vital that people are aware of what is going on and are prepared to contribute food, drink, props - but above all, their creativity and ingenuity on the day!
"I am tired and sick of war; its glory is all moonshine. War is hell." (William Tecumseh Sherman, US army, 1879.)
D.A.A.W.N!
D.A.A.W.N!
e-mail:
direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com
Comments
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and...
22.03.2002 18:53
our vision is stronger than any of their weapons.we will win.
D.A.A.W.N!
D.A.A.W.N!
e-mail:
direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com
Get a grip!!!
22.03.2002 20:07
"The Stop the War Coalition has done a great deal over the past six months to build the anti-war movement. But it is clear that marches and rallies are having no overall effect on British policy-making. 100,000 marched through central London in November - but still the war machine continues to acquire new resources and targets."
I'm no defender of the STW coalition, but to propose to build an anti-war movement with an even smaller, less broad group of activists would have Whitehall laughing -- if they noticed that is!
Only a mass movement, made up of 100s of thousands of working class people, taking up the struggle on the home front - with strikes, sabotage, disruption and the rest of it is; is going to challenge the muscle flexing of Bush & Blair.
We're a very long way from that at the moment, but this doesn't have to mean that we turn inwards to take part in activities because "the workers" aren't doing it themselves.
This is elitist in its own right, no matter how autonomous and non-hierarchical the direct action is.
You're going to drive yourselves into the ground for no good reason, other than action for actions sake.
Top Cat
About time too
22.03.2002 23:52
peacenik
Non-violence=non-spontaneous?
23.03.2002 00:23
Did I miss the logical step here? How does ARROW's nonviolent stance equate with a lack of spontanaeity? Seems to me ARROW are about the most creative and spontaneous outfit around. And they recognise the connection between means and ends...
Brock
what a minute
23.03.2002 13:58
not so fast
dialogue not hate
23.03.2002 14:47
In Solidarity,
D.A.A.W.N!
D.A.A.W.N!
e-mail:
direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com
diversity=good!
23.03.2002 19:29
sparkle
Absolutely!
24.03.2002 02:07
Zz
And here's the evidence!
24.03.2002 11:15
The answer is: Exactly what he was doing anyway; namely follow a corporate "globalisation" agenda mooted by his backers on the extreme right. Did the actions of two million Italian citizens make a blind bit of difference? Nope.
To make matters worse, the media are reporting this massive protest as an "anti terror" demonstration, implying that the actions of the so-called Red Brigades are somehow bound up with the American-led "War on Terror". This is a classic piece of corporate media hype - either they ignore your protest, or they co-opt it for their own ends.
Yes, it's true - if the Stop the War Coalition mobilised two million British citizens on the streets of London (whether or not they are "working class"!), Blair would ignore them. He could afford to ignore them, because it is entirely possible to shut down a major city for a couple of hours to let a big demonstration pass through.
Imagine if only a few thousand people were willing to engage in spontaneous Direct Action. We could stop the trains, shut down military bases, obstruct the corporate media, basically do whatever it takes to bring the bastards down! Yes, some of us would get nicked. Some might even end up in jail. But if the Faslane Peace Camp protesters are willing to take these risks, why shouldn't we? What's good enough for Gare Loch is good enough for central London!
It's time to give up this fantasy of "workers consciousness". This stuff was dubious in the nineteenth century - now it's positively ludicrous. When Karl Marx said that "history repeats itself - first as tragedy, then as farce", this is the farce. It won't be the unions who stop this war - it will be autonomous individuals standing up for their rights . . . remember that there is a long tradition of individualistic protest in this country - look at the Poll Tax Riots of the fourteenth century, the Levellers, Diggers, Ranters etc.
Don't be afraid to grasp the nettle - this isn't about taking part - it's about WINNING.
D.A.A.W.N!
Anarchist Rioter