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Tony Benn Calls For Non-Violent Direct Action

James Venables | 14.06.2002 22:55

NATIONAL INFO : www.stopwar.org.uk

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------------------------
STOP THE CITY IF IRAQ IS ATTACKED
----------------------------
At the National Stop-The-War Demo on March 2nd, Tony Benn issued a call for action over U.S & U.K plans to bomb Iraq. We have launched a major campaign to back Tony Benn's
proposals. This is what he said;

"I agree we need trade union pressure. I agree with Tariq Ali that we must take to the streets. I want to go further. I am an old man. I look back at my life & wonder if we could have done more.
We must do more till the people we elect take notice. Every year for Armistice Day we stop to remember the dead. I have a proposal to make.
The moment the bombing of Iraq begins, we should stop for one hour. We should remember the women of Baghdad who will be widows, the children who will become orphans.
I've never said this before. Non-violent resistance to the government will show they cannot claim to do this in our name. We should stop the buses, stop the trains, stop the schools.
Everyone here should raise the threat of war in their schools, places of worship, where they work & live. We could be facing a Third World War, triggered by stupid men."

On the evening following the outbreak of war we call on everyone to converge at the Bristol Peace Vigil. On May Day we proved we can stop this city. We will do so again if Iraq is attacked.
-----------------------------
PEACE VIGIL : Mon-Fri 5.30-6.30 & Sat 3.00-4.00
(opposite the Hippodrome, city centre)
These times will be open-ended in the event of war
------------------------------------

James Venables
- Homepage: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

That's going to be too late !!

15.06.2002 12:30

That's going to be too late !!
That's going to be too late !!

Title of graphic reads: -

US-NATO-EU: Cruise-Aid before International Law?


The objective here should be to stop the war-crime BEFORE it takes place, and save the lives of the multitude of victims already scheduled, not salve your consciences by stopping work for 1 hour, after the butchery has commenced !!

The time for effective action on the streets, blockade of a city, whatever, is NOW, ferchrissakes. NOW we can still move public opinion and thereby reluctant warmongers away from this madness, not after the jingoistic war-fever has set in and the cruise-missiles and mini-nukes are whirling down.

Get real, people, get organised NOW, get out NOW, and quit waiting for straw-men like Benn for so-called 'initiative'!

If Benn had half-a-brain, he would see that much more is needed - I assume he's not stupid, so this whole thing looks to me like a deliberate ploy to draw force away from any effective efforts to prevent the planned war-crimes. Either that or his brain has been short-circuited to his ass from too many parlimentary luncheons.

This reeks to high heaven of a, witting or otherwise, establishment shunt.

People, please examine carefully your ultimate objectives before falling for this scam - but certainly do get active - there is a large movement the world over determined to stop the slaughter these madmen plan - get connected, get effective strategy and get it out!!

Let's stop the perversion of International Law as an excuse for mass-murder!!

Stopping work for an hour when it's already rolling has to be the LEAST of our efforts, OK?

BlackPope

PS: No hard feeling, Mr. Benn, but you are way outta touch.

BlackPope
mail e-mail: BlackPope@opera.com
- Homepage: ahriman.com


I agree. Too late

15.06.2002 13:36

True enough, when Mr Benn says he wonders if he could have done more, he echoes the thoughts of all socialists in the post war years. we could all have done more, (excepting perhaps trotsky, che guevara and sartre,) and we now see the world moving to an entirely new phase (i call this era ''AFBW'' After the Fall of the Berlin Wall, with 1990 as a Year Zero, making 2002 my Year 12 AFBW.)
Yes, Mr Benn is an old man, he couldve done more, and he's too late. Perhaps that goes for most of us.

G> H> Ujikop


PS Witty banner though

15.06.2002 13:38

o well, we just have to keep trying isuppose...

G H Ujikop


How about - Start Trying !!

15.06.2002 15:22

it's time to get of our asses here people!!

BlackPope


Doing a Wedgy

16.06.2002 00:29

So Anthony Wedgewood-Benn has finally realised the error of his ways?

Well no, wedgy still thinks appealing to governments and capitalists is the way forward. It's capital and state which cause the wars, appealing to them for 'CONstraint' is bollox. Wedgy, and other professional careerists like Tariq Ali were made redundant a long time ago.

Sack all politicians - Do it for Yourself.

Projectile Vomiter


IN DEFENCE OF TARIQ ALI

17.06.2002 12:06

Hey, wasn't Tariq Ali the founder of the VIETNAM SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN and a driving force behind the '68 attempt to storm the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square, when street fighting was brought to London.
Wasn't he a member of the International Marxist Group?
I'm not sure what his political views are now, but I've always assumed that he is committed to revolutionary change and not radical reformism (mass-action + Parliament) favoured by Tony Benn.
Answers please!
I know a bit about Tariq Ali's past, but where does he stand now politically?

ANTONIUS CLIFFUS JNR.


Tariq Ali

17.06.2002 19:35

Tariq Ali was a very prominent figure in the anti-U.S. movement of the 1960's. His intention was to fly the NLF flag from the flagpole of the U.S. Embassy in 1968. In other words he wished to haul down the flag of one oppressor of the working class and replace it with another. All that university education and no common sense. Typical middle-class leftie I suppose.

Ronnie.


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