Governments aren’t just supporting existing wars; they seem intent on preparing for more.
Trump has supported Israel’s bombing of Gaza and Lebanon, attacked Venezuela, declared
war on Iran and threatened Cuba and Greenland.
In Europe, military expenditure is up 60% compared to 2020 yet last year’s Brussel’s summit
promised €800 billions of increased spending on weapons. Conscription for military service
among young people is already happening in France and Germany.
In the UK, Starmer’s government is complicit in the genocide on Gaza, a supporter of Israel’s
wars, and craven in its willingness to let Trump attack Latin America and use British RAF bases
to attack Iran. UK spending on armaments is increasing sharply as cuts to welfare and public
services are imposed, profits for UK weapons manufacturers are booming and now Keir
Starmer has announced a military “gap year” scheme for under-25s.
Yet polls suggest 65% of Britons support banning arms sales to Israel; 60% think the war on
Gaza is not justified and at least 50% oppose the war on Iran and the use of UK air bases by
the USA.
In the face of this drive to war, and the racist division it fuels, a mass movement against
militarism and war is essential. That’s why we’re holding a public meeting on Thursday 16th
April with leading figures from the anti-war, peace and trade union movement from Britain and
Europe with:
Fran Heathcote – General Secretary: Public & Commercial Service Union
Carmen Wilson – Director: Demilitarise Education
Lindsey German – Convenor: Stop the War Coalition
Hannes Kramer – School Strike Against Conscription (Germany)
and contributions from:
Daniele Obono – National Assembly Deputy, La France Insoumise (France)
& Siân Berry – Green Party Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion
Come and join us: we invite every student, worker, trade unionist, and anti-war activist to attend and discuss if and how a world without war is possible.
Lower your guns and raise our wages!