Ground the Drones - sign the petition

Stop Britain being a launchpad for killer drones: We call on the government to abandon the use of drones as a weapon of war.

Signed by: Chris Cole (Drone Campaign Network); Jeremy Corbyn (MP for Islington North); Lindsey German (Convenor, Stop the War Coalition); Kate Hudson (CND); Rafeef Ziahdah (War On Want).

Add your name to the petition at www.stopwar.org.uk/drones

This spring, the UK will double its number of armed Reaper drones in Afghanistan and will for the first time begin operating drones over Afghanistan from a new facility at RAF Waddington near Lincoln.

CND, Drone Campaign Network, Stop the War Coalition, War on Want and others will protest against the drones at RAF Waddington, Lincoln on the 27 April.

Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela

The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who died on Tuesday will be mourned by those in the anti-war and peace movements. Chavez was a strong opponent of the War on Terror, opposed the intervention in Iraq, was critical of any attempt to intervene in other countries of the Middle East such as Iran.

Chris Nineham, who met him as part of an anti war delegation in Caracas in 2006, wrote: 'He had a real grasp of the dynamics of imperialism, recognising with a certain humility that the war in Iraq, and the opposition to it, were key factors holding the US back from intervening against his government.'

Opposition to the war on terror here helped play a part in that process. The Stop the War Coalition sends its best wishes and deepest condolences to his family and all who mourn him in Venezuela and internationally.

Benefit evening: TEN

Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London, Sunday 7 April 6pm

A benefit evening of ten x ten minute pieces to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and to celebrate our enduring anti-war movement.

New plays, music, poetry, comedy and performance from: Richard Bradbury, Aidan Casey, Janie Dee, Stella Duffy, Brian Eno, Shappi Khorsandi, Alan Franks, Muzz Khan, Roger Lloyd Pack, Peter Lynam, David Mumeni, Ahmed Mukhtar, Shelley Silas, Ralf Togner, Timothy West, Jan Woolf, Saadi Yusef and surprise guests.

Tickets from £20. Book now on 020 7565 5000 or visit the Royal Court Theatre web site

Events in your area:

• Birmingham - 14 March Public Meeting: Mali, western intervention and the spread of war
• Brent - 11 March Public Meeting/AGM: 10 years on: The consequences of invasion and occupation of Iraq
• Brighton - 19 March Public meeting: Stop the Spread of War
• Cardiff - 28 February Public Meeting: Israel/Palestine - How Can There Be Peace?
• East London - 7th March: Activist planning meeting
• Edinburgh - 16 March: Islamophobia Awareness Conference
• London Goldsmiths College - 11 March: Film Screening: The Battle of Algiers
• North London - 26 March public meeting: 10 Years on From Iraq - Stop the Spread of War

Full details of these meetings can be found on our Local Events page.

If you would like to organize a public meeting to mark the anniversary of the Iraq invasion in your area please telephone 020 561 9311. We can arrange speakers for your local meeting and provide resources for launch events of new books including The People v. Tony Blair and How a Century of War Changed the Lives of Women.