STOP THE WAR COALITION SPECIAL BULLETIN
PLEASE FORWARD AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE
25 February 2008
office@stopwar.org.uk
020 7278 6694
http://www.stopwar.org.uk

DON'T MISS THE WORLD AGAINST WAR TOUR

Eyewitness from Iraq and Lebanon - don't miss this unique
opportunity.

Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents
of the US occupation from the Middle East are coming to
Britain to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the
ground. The tour starts this Thursday and is a unique chance
to hear leaders of the resistance discuss the war and the
prospects for the opposition movements.

Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Hezbollah newspaper in
Lebanon, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the
popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.

Hassan Juma'a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation
and a leader of the campaign to stop the US led privatisation
of Iraqi oil.

Ibrahim Mousawi is defying a campaign by David Cameron to keep
him out of the country.

They will be joined at the first meeting in London on Thursday
by Tony Benn, journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Stop the War
Coalition Convenor Lindsey German.

This meeting is at Friends Meeting House, Euston, London NW1
this Thursday, 28 February at 6.30pm.

After that the tour will go to Bristol (Friday 29 February),
Birmingham and Manchester (Saturday 1 March), Cambridge and
Norwich (Sunday 2 March), Cardiff (Monday 3 March) and
Liverpool (Tuesday 4 March).

For details of these meetings please go to our website at
http://tinyurl.com/2hdyzo

Please publicise this tour as widely as possible.
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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER No. 1033
20 February 2008
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
T: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) EYEWITNESS FROM IRAQ AND LEBANON
2) MARCH 15: WORLD AGAINST WAR - DEMONSTRATE
3) PROTEST DAILY EXPRESS ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS

**********************************
1) EYEWITNESS FROM IRAQ AND LEBANON
The World Against War tour starts London, Thursday 28
February. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, leaders of
the opposition to US plans in the Middle East are coming to
Britain to tour the country, speaking about the reality of
the war on terror on the ground. This will be a unique
opportunity to hear from leading activists about the impact of
war and occupation in the region and the prospects for the
opposition.

Hassan Juma, President of the Iraqi Oil Workers' Union has
been a key figure in leading the successful campaign against
the US attempt to privatise Iraqi oil.

Ibrahim Mousawi is editor of the Hezbollah newspaper
Al-Intiqad and was a leading spokesperson for the successful
resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.

At the first meeting of the tour in London, they will be
joined by Tony Benn, Independent journalist Yasmin Alibhai
Brown and Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War
Coalition.

EYEWITNESS FROM IRAQ AND LEBANON
Speakers: Hassan Juma, President of the Iraqi Oil Workers'
Union, Ibrahim Mousawi, editor of the Hezbollah newspaper
Al-Intiqad, Tony Benn, Yasmin Alibhai Brown, The Independent,
Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition
THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 6.30PM
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, EUSTON ROAD
LONDON NW1 2BJ

The tour then continues to:
BRISTOL (Feb 29)
BIRMINGHAM (March 1)
MANCHESTER (March 1)
CAMBRIDGE (March 2)
NORWICH (March 2)
CARDIFF (March 3)
LIVERPOOL (March 4).

For more details, go to: http://tinyurl.com/2hdyzo

***********************************
2) MARCH 15: WORLD AGAINST WAR - DEMONSTRATE
Everything the two million marchers said on the demonstration
five years ago has turned out to be tragically accurate. Iraq
is a disaster created in Washington and London. There are as
many as one million dead and four million refugees as a direct
result of the occupation. Afghanistan is -- in the words of
the US based Afghanistan Survey Group -- 'becoming a failed
state'. Now it's official that the dodgy dossier that took us
to war had indeed been 'sexed up'. Meanwhile there has been no
apology and no public accounting for the lies and deceit that
took us into these dreadful wars.

Stop the War is asking all its supporters to do everything
possible to publicise our demonstration on March 15, the fifth
anniversary of the Iraq invasion, which is organised in
conjunction with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and
British Muslim Initiative. Coaches have already been booked
from 35 towns and cities with many more to follow (see
http://tinyurl.com/2hdyzo for updates).

Please contact the Stop the War national office (tel 020 7278
6694) for leaflets, posters, badges etc to pass to your
friends, workmates, classmates and colleagues. Please forward
this e-mail where you can. Contact your local Stop the War
Coalition group and join in their local activities for
building the demonstration (contact the StWC office for
contact details).

There will be WORLD AGAINST WAR demonstrations around the
world on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, with
events in close to 30 towns and cities already announced (see
www.theworldagainstwar.org).

WORLD AGAINST WAR DEMONSTRATION
Troops Out Of Iraq And Afghanistan. Don't Attack Iran. End The
Siege Of Gaza.
SATURDAY 15 MARCH
ASSEMBLE TRAFALGAR SQUARE, 12 NOON

***********************************
3) PROTEST DAILY EXPRESS ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS
The Daily Express regularly splashes its front page with
titles such as "Christmas is banned. It offends muslims.",
"Muslim plot to behead Briton." These disgusting attacks are a
threat both to the muslim community and to all those who value
our civil liberties. The National Union of Journalists at the
Express has been campaigning against these racist stories.

The Stop the War Coalition, together with Media Workers
Against the War, the Stop the War Muslim Activists Network and
the British Muslim Initiative have called a picket outside the
Daily Express Office from 12.30-2pm on Thursday 21 February.

Thursday, 21 February 12.30-2pm outside the Daily Express
office, the Northern Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street,
London, EC3R 6EN.
Nearest tube: Monument
MAP: http://tinyurl.com/387eah
LEAFLET: http://tinyurl.com/2uv7rq

Please join us if you can and publicise as widely as possible.

***********************************
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STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER No. 1032
09 February 2008
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
T: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) AFGHANISTAN - THE TRUTH IS OUT
2) MAKE FEBRUARY 15 IRAQ DAY
3) WORLD AGAINST WAR TOUR
4) NEW STOP THE WAR PAMPHLET
5) ILLUMINATIONS: A STOP THE WAR BENEFIT
6) STOP THE THEFT OF IRAQ'S FUTURE
7) EVENING OF POETRY & MUSIC FOR IRAN

******************************
1) AFGHANISTAN - THE TRUTH IS OUT
******************************

We're "winning the battle" in Afghanistan, Gordon Brown told
parliament last December. In January, George Bush told the US
Congress, "Afghanistan… is now a young democracy where people
are looking to the future with new hope".

But now the truth is out. Three recent reports all reach the
same conclusion. The US led forces in Afghanistan are not
winning and the country faces a humanitarian disaster. Which
is why Condoleezza Rice flew to London this week for an
emergency meeting with Gordon Brown, to discuss escalating the
war, with more troops and more bombers.

Meanwhile, the United Nations reports that Afghanistan is the
fourth most impoverished country in the world, with life
expectancy falling to 43 and health services now virtually
non-existent (http://tinyurl.com/ypk5pv).

As for Iraqis, under George Bush's supposedly successful troop
"surge", they face new levels of desperation and insecurity.
In a country which once had the most advanced national health
system in the region, cholera and other waterborne diseases
are rife. Pollution levels are critical, with the water
system contaminated by sewage and rubbish piling up in the
streets. Two thirds of Iraqi children have no school place and
unemployment remains at 60 percent. (See
http://tinyurl.com/2zc2bu)

And, as if the immiseration of the region was not desperate
enough, we have the continuing tragedy in Palestine, where --
despite condemnation by the United Nations -- George Bush and
Gordon Brown are giving unqualified backing to Israel, whose
brutal siege of Gaza violates numerous international laws and
is starving the imprisoned people of food, medical supplies
and basic amenities.

This is the background to the international WORLD AGAINST WAR
protests which will mark the fifth anniversary of the Iraq
invasion, and in particular the UK national demonstration in
London on Saturday 15 March, which has been called by Stop the
War Coalition, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the
British Muslim Initiative.

Coaches bringing protestors from the length and breadth of
Britain have already been booked in 28 towns and cities and
many more will be added in the coming weeks. The Stop the War
website has full details of coaches booked, which will be
regularly updated: http://tinyurl.com/2da68c

If your area does not yet have coaches arranged, contact the
Stop the War national office, which will help you find a coach
near you: email office@stopwar.org.uk; tel 020 7278 6694

JOIN THE WORLD AGAINST WAR GLOBAL PROTEST
SATURDAY 15 MARCH - ASSEMBLE 12 NOON
TRAFALGAR SQUARE, LONDON
TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
DON'T ATTACK IRAN - END THE SIEGE OF GAZA

******************************
2) MAKE FEBRUARY 15 IRAQ DAY
******************************

Stop the War is asking its supporters to commemorate the great
two million strong demonstration of 15 February 2003 -- the
largest protest in British history -- by making its fifth
anniversary next Friday A DAY FOR IRAQ.

A Stop the War delegation, led by Tony Benn, will hand in an
open letter to Gordon Brown at Downing Street at 11am on
Friday 15 February (see http://tinyurl.com/yres94)

Look out for protests in your area, organised by your local
Stop the War group (see http://tinyurl.com/3a5vyp), take a
petition based on the Gordon Brown open letter round your
college/workplace/ school, encourage everyone you know to wear
anti-war badges (Stop the War has a special offer on its
enamel badges, 15 badges for £5, available from the national
office, tel 020 7278 6694. )

******************************
3) WORLD AGAINST WAR TOUR
******************************

Stop the War has organised a series of meetings around the
country to hear anti occupation leaders from the Middle East,
who are coming to Britain in the run up to the fifth
anniversary of Iraq invasion. Speakers include Hassan Juma'a,
President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation and Ibrahim
Moussawi, Editor of the journal Al-Intiqad in Lebanon, linked
to Hezbollah, who will be joined by activists and authors on a
tour of the UK, which opens with a rally in London on Thursday
28 February (see below).

Meetings will take place in the following cities:
London , 28 February
Bristol , 29 February
Birmingham , 1 March
Manchester , 1 March
Cambridge , 2 March
Norwich, 2 March
Cardiff , 3 March
Liverpool , 4 March

For more details of meetings in your area, see:
http://tinyurl.com/2hdyzo

LONDON WORLD AGAINST WAR RALLY
THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY, 6.30PM
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, EUSTON ROAD
Speakers:
HASSAN JUMA'A President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation
IBRAHIM MOUSSAWI Editor of the journal Al-Intiqad in Lebanon
YASMIN ALBHAI BROWN Journalist
TONY BENN
LINDSEY GERMAN Convenor, Stop the War coalition

******************************
4) NEW STOP THE WAR PAMPHLET
******************************
FIVE YEARS ON - WHY WE ARE STILL MARCHING
Preface by TONY BENN - cover design by DAVID GENTLEMAN

PRICE £1. BULK ORDERS 50P FOR 10+ COPIES (PLUS POSTAGE)
Order now if you would like copies sent to you in time for 15
February anniversary events (see above)
TO ORDER CALL 020 7278 6694

******************************
5) ILLUMINATIONS: A STOP THE WAR BENEFIT
******************************

Illuminations, the third in Stop the War's highly successful
and much praised series of events at St James's Church in
London's Piccadilly, will take place on Thursday 24 April.
Already confirmed to appear are composers Michael Nyman and
Keith Burstein, writers A L Kennedy, who has just won the UK's
most prestigious literary prize, Eugene Skeef and Haifa
Zangana, poet Adrian Mitchell, journalists Martin Bell, Yasmin
Alibhai-Brown and Dr Richard Horton (editor The Lancet),
singer Janet Shell and Stop the War convenor Lindsey German.
More to be announced shortly.

Participants have chosen a story, poem, song or piece of music
which has changed their life in some way, and which they
return to again and again. Demand for these events is always
very high and early booking is very advisable.

ILLUMINATIONS: A STOP THE WAR BENEFIT
THURSDAY 24 APRIL ST JAMES'S CHURCH
197 PICCADILLY, LONDON W1J 9LL
APPEARING:
Composers MICHAEL NYMAN and KEITH BURSTEIN
Writers A L KENNEDY, EUGENE SKEEF and HAIFA ZANGANA
Poet ADRIAN MITCHELL,
Journalists MARTIN BELL, YASMIN ALIBHAI-BROWN and DR RICHARD
HORTON (editor The Lancet)
Singer JANET SHELL
Stop the War convenor LINDSEY GERMAN
More to be announced shortly.

Tickets: £15 / £12
SPECIAL OFFER: Buy your ticket before 1 March for £10.
TEL: 020 7278 6694
ONLINE: http://tinyurl.com/2dsj3a

******************************
6) STOP THE THEFT OF IRAQ'S FUTURE
******************************

SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY:
DAY OF NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION
HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL
See http://www.handsoffiraqioil.org/

Saturday 23 February is a national and international day of
protests against moves by the US and British governments and
by multinational oil companies to steal Iraq's oil assets. The
protests are taking place around the country and have been
organised by the Hands Off Iraqi Oil campaign (HOIO), which is
a coalition opposing any foreign domination of Iraq's oil
reserves and is supported by Stop the War.

For full details of the day of action see the HOIO website:
http://www.handsoffiraqioil.org/

******************************
7) EVENING OF POETRY & MUSIC FOR IRAN
******************************

George Bush's recent statements show he is still intent on
attacking Iran. To help fund its campaign opposing these
threats Campaign Iran has organised an evening of poetry and
music on Friday 22 February 7pm

EVENING OF POETRY & MUSIC FOR IRAN
BRUNEI GALLERY, SOAS,
THORNHAUGH STREET, RUSSEL SQ
LONDON WC1H 0XG

MUSIC FROM:
Sam Fathi - Tambur and Daf (Persian)
Somaye - Tombak and voice (Jazz and Persian)
Jose Navarro - Guitar and flute (Peruvian)
Varol Uzun - Tambur and voice (Turkish)

POETRY FROM:
Soheila Ghodstinat - Iranian poet
Xanthe Gresham - Story Teller (Shahnameh)

IRANIAN BUFFET PROVIDED

TICKETS:
£10 / £7 conc
ADVANCE SALE ONLY
ONLINE: http://www.campaigniran.blogspot.com/
POST: Cheques to SOAS Student Office, Campaign Iran, PO Box
50396, London, W4 1WU
TELEPHONE: 07847 460781

50p booking fee for telephone and online purchases
All proceeds to Campaign Iran
A Deeper Productions presentation

******************************
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STOP THE WAR COALITION
4 FEBRUARY 2008
w: www.stopwar.org.uk
p: 020 7278 6694
e: office@stopwar.org.uk

PROTEST: CONDOLEEZZA RICE NOT WELCOME HERE
DOWNING STREET 12 MIDDAY - 3.30PM THIS WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY

Condoleezza Rice is coming to London for a panic summit with the US's number
one ally in the War on Terror. The reason? Afghanistan is now a disaster as bad
as Iraq.
Canada is threatening to pull out of Afghanistan altogether, Germany has
refused US orders to go south, and the British army is being fought to a
standstill by the Taliban.

Stop the War is asking for people to come and protest at Downing Street to
demand
all the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan and for an end to the 'special
relationship'. We have been told Rice will be going to Downing Street between
12 and 3.30. Please bring banners.
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ACTION ALERT: CONDOLEEZZA RICE IN LONDON
JOIN THE PROTEST ON WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY

The Afghanistan war is at last getting mainstream coverage, as
the US led occupiers are having to admit that the attempts to
pacify the country, largely by terror bombing raids, are
failing. With defeat looming, as it always has for every
attempt in history at occupying Afghanistan, George Bush is
desperate to get other countries to deploy more forces. But
instead of responding to his pleas, the "coalition" countries
are falling out amongst themselves, with Canada now
threatening to withdraw all its troops, and others, like
Germany, saying they will not send troops to South
Afghanistan, where much of the fighting is taking place. (See
http://tinyurl.com/2q24oh)

As Bush tries to stave off disaster in Afghanistan,
Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, flies to London
next week to talk to Gordon Brown -- George Bush's closest
ally -- to find a way to send more troops to Afghanistan. With
UK defence minister Des Browne saying recently that Britain
could be in Afghanistan for decades
(http://tinyurl.com/2lhmqj), Rice will try to get Gordon Brown
to commit more troops now, as a lever to get other countries
to increase their deployment.

Stop the War Coalition is calling an emergency protest on
Wednesday 6 February. We do not yet have details of Rice's
meetings with Gordon Brown but we anticipate that our protest
will be at Downing Street, the timing to be announced as soon
as her plans are known.

PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR OUR EMAIL GIVING DETAILS OF THE PROTEST
AGAINST CONDOLEEZZA RICE'S VISIT. WE WILL ALSO POST
INFORMATION AS WE GET IT ON OUR WEBSITE:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

Bush's only aim for both Iraq and Afghanistan has been to keep
the wars going till the end of his presidency. This aim is
unravelling in Afghanistan, which is why Condoleezza Rice will
be in London next week. But she will also be here to discuss
Iraq, with the recent bombings in Baghdad giving the lie to US
claims that the US troop "surge" is bringing stability to the
country. And Iran will also be on her agenda, with recent
statements by George Bush showing he is still itching to
launch an attack.

We must ensure that Rice is left in no doubt that the majority
of the British people have consistently opposed George Bush's
warmongering. When Rice visited the UK in 2006 it turned into
a public relations fiasco, as anti-war protestors followed her
everywhere she went (see http://tinyurl.com/2nj5fb). We aim to
do the same this time.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE NOT WANTED HERE
END THE WARS IN AFGHANISTAN & IRAQ NOW
PROTEST WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY
(Details of location and time to follow shortly.)
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