Events
There follows a bulletin of some major actions which we are aware of. There are sure to be others, and we should like to hear about them so that we can circulate news of them as well. Please email us with details
Countdown
to Hiroshima - CND
A
year long campaign in the run-up to the 60th Anniversary of the
dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in August 1945.
For
more information go to www.cnduk.org
or
call 020 7700 23 93
A
book of poetry has been published which was inspired by these events, No
More Hiroshimas by James Kirkup. Further information is available
simply click
here.
Towards
a World Without Violence
Barcelona,
Spain 23-27 June 2004
Please find some
information about our upcoming conference in Barcelona which is a
part of the exciting Barcelona Forum, a major 5-months cultural festival.
See www.barcelona2004.org
for
details of a draft programme click
here.
17 February 2004
Orion - a massive new laser plant planned for the Aldermaston nuclear
weapons site - has been withdrawn from the planning process by the Ministry of
Defence following legal arguments first raised by the network of Nuclear Free
Local Authorities[1].
[1] The network of 80 councils includes Slough and Reading, both of which
will host a march to Aldermaston from London between 9th and 12th April to
protest against nuclear weapons.
For more information contact: James Woolley 0114 220 4452 or e-mail office@nuclearpolicy.info
Website: www.nuclearpolicy.info
Invitation to the Meeting of the
European Network for Peace and
Human Rights (ENPHR)
29-30th April 2004, European Parliament, Brussels
Dear Friend,
We are pleased to inform you that we have successfully
negotiated facilities at the European Parliament for the next meeting of the
Network. The Parliament provided us with rooms and interpretation for our
meeting on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 April.
Since we met last June, there have been many important developments. A
number of Network members have been actively engaged on a project charting US
Military Bases around the globe, while others are preparing the World
Tribunal on Iraq. We are keen to hear first-hand reports of these activities,
as well as of other joint endeavours.
In another sphere, the continuing denial of basic human rights to people
detained at Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere constitutes a sustained breach of
international law. The report on the crisis in human rights and civil
liberties, and actions to buttress our rights and liberties, will again be
high on the agenda.
We have been working to realise the agreed meeting in the United States.
Joseph Gerson of the American Friends Service Committee has proposed that we
gather in Boston in association with the Social Forum there, which takes place
from 23 to 25 July. Please let us know if you would like to join us. Of
course, some difficulties have arisen as a number of people have told us that
they are reluctant to travel to the United States because of the visa process
and new rules regarding identification on entry to the country.
More generally, the nuclear threat, far from going away, becomes ever more
dangerous. Of course, our passions are naturally engaged by the war on Iraq.
But the principal dangers of proliferation do not come from so-called “rogue
states” anywhere in the world, but issue from some amongst the nuclear
powers themselves. A report on campaigns against nuclear weapons therefore
takes on especial significance, particularly as our meeting coincides with the
Preparatory Committee for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York.
In the Middle East, Israel’s undeclared yet expanding nuclear arsenal
creates enormous tensions in an area already convulsed by the war on Iraq and
the
onslaught against the Palestinian people. Mordechai Vanunu, who spent 18
years in prison for blowing the whistle on Israeli nuclear weapons, was
released in the days before our conference.
Thus, our draft agenda
included reports on:
The Nuclear Threat – New Weapons and Evolving Military
Doctrine
The US Global Bases Project
The World Tribunal on Iraq
Preparations for the Conference in the United States
The Legal Black Hole – Guantanamo Bay, Torture and
Trials
Yours sincerely,
Ken
Coates, Ken Fleet and Tony Simpson
Passed events with useful contacts and websites...
European Symposium: Terrorism(s), Definition(s), Origin(s), Solutions.
October 11-12 2002, Brussels (Belgium)
Information: cnapd.arnaud@skynet.be or +32 (0)2 640 52 62
Work & Welfare, Not Weapons - Saturday November 2.
Saw a conference on diversification from military production and the creation of a non-military economy, organised by Greater Manchester & District CND, CAAT, and
supported by National CND, Manchester City Council, and various Trades Union Branches
Stop the War - March on Washington, D.C.
The "War on Terrorism" Breeds More Terror
The White House promises a war without end. Under the pretext of strengthening security, our democratic rights are being further eroded, hundreds of people have been "disappeared" into jails and prisons, and corporate interests are shamelessly trying to use this crisis to their advantage. It is clear: unless we, the people of this country, rise up and come together now, the future for us and for people around the world is very bleak. But united, as we have done in the past, WE CAN MAKE CHANGE! There is an alternative!
Stop the War website
A Festival for Peace
Building a Culture and Vision for Peace in Europe. Cluj Napoca, Romania
The Peace, Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR), Youth Action for Peace (YAP), TRANSCEND – A Peace and Development Network for Conflict Transformation by Peaceful Means –, and Living Bridges International (LB) organised the first European youth Festival for Peace in Cluj-Napoca, Romania in April 2002.
The Festival for Peace is a European-wide initiative to mobilise youth organisations, the peace, human rights, environment and women’s movements, cultural foundations, civil society organisations, artistic groups, and citizen’s movements to co-operate and share the experience of building a culture of peace, of celebrating diversity and human rights, and working for social justice, social peace, and living democracy in Europe and the world.
For Mother Earth
Pace/Peace Roundtable and the Italian Co-ordinating Committee of Local Authorities for Peace. Tavola della Pace/Peace Roundtable is the co-ordinating body of more than 800 associations, local authorities and religious and civic organizations promoting peace, human rights and solidarity .
Peace Round Table
Don't Start Wars: CND
Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, assemble 12 noon.
CND march and rally against Star Wars, nuclear weapons and US foreignpolicy.Speakers include Tam Dalyell MP, Bruce Kent, Caroline Lucas MEP, Alice Mahon MP, Andrew Murray (Stop the War Coalition), Afif Safieh, (Palestinian UK Representative) and Carol Naughton (CND Chair).
Contact CND
020 7700 2393
In the weeks since September 11, demonstrations in favour of peace have attracted tens of thousands of supporters across Europe from Amsterdam to Athens. In the United States, tens of thousands of people have joined peace demonstrations.
We print below the message of support sent by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation to the Mass Rally for Peace in Athens on 29th September. This is followed by a report from Amsterdam where peace campaigners gathered the next day, on 30th September. This gives something of the flavour of one of the growing list of actions in favour of peace.
Message of support to the Mass Rally for Peace, Athens, 29 September 2001
Following the destruction of the World Trade Centre and the demolition of part of the Pentagon, people throughout the world expressed their horror, and their sympathy for the victims. But now the threats of retaliatory action are becoming more and more insistent, giving rise to a realistic fear that soon many more innocent people will be killed in an escalating spiral of violence. If this were to happen, it is just as likely to increase as to diminish the numbers of people who embrace terrorism, thus aggravating the spread of irrationality and fear.
The rational response to these horrors is to take the problem to the United Nations, and seek to reach a universal general agreement on the necessary measures to combat terrorism. Why does the United States not do this? The answer to this question is contained in the answer to another. Why do the Americans seek to tear up the treaties which have, up to now, albeit inadequately, controlled the nuclear arms race? They are bent upon removing the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in order to launch what they call "Missile Defence", but which is more commonly know as "Son of Star Wars". This is really an advance programme for war-fighting in and from space, using powerful lasers and other novel instruments of mass destruction. This is contrary to the commitments of the Outer Space Treaty.
The American leaders are followed by some in Europe in thinking that terrorist attacks can be met simply by force. But such force could easily make things much worse. It will not address the problems which cause profound alienation throughout whole regions of the world: notably the continuing sufferings of the Palestinian people. Conflict rages throughout the Middle East, and can easily be escalated by new military actions, either on the part of the United States, or other external powers.
Armaments budgets are increasing when they should be cut. But arms spending is protected by World Trade Organisation rules. This is now a pressing priority for the global anti-capitalist movement.
Above all, we need to join together to create and safeguard a democratic space in which people can develop rational responses, and look for peaceful alternatives.
Ken Coates Chairman Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation
Over ten thousand people filled Amsterdam's medieval central square, the Dam, on Sunday 30 September. They were there for an open air meeting for peace, against all terrorism, and against xenophobia. It had been organised with no help from corporate/quasi governmental media; by the Internet/e-mail in spite of Carnivore/Echelon; by putting up posters, in spite of police not liking that sometimes. It was the biggest peace action in The Netherlands since the 1980s, when half a million people marched against deploying NATO nuclear missiles in The Netherlands. It brought veterans of these marches, and later campaigns against the Gulf War and 1999 Yugoslavia war, together with young to very young people.
Over 150 organisations supported it, from Afghan refugees in the South Eastern Netherlands to Filipino migrant workers in the Western Netherlands; from youth movements to now aging resistance fighters against Hitler's occupation in The Netherlands, 1940-1945. "Justice, not revenge" was often heard.
A big sign on the central stage said: No xenophobia, no war. Smaller signs said: War means death for many, profits for some [in the armaments industry]. Drop the debt, not the bombs. No crUSAde [in English]. Love power. No to NATO military action. All the arms we need [picture of people embracing]. Terror does not bring peace; neither does imperialism. US terror policy is source of terrorism. Think of the children. Against patriarchy. Violence never solves anything. Fight war, not wars [from British anarchist punk band Crass]. Quotes from Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan (Don't follow leaders). An Eye for an Eye makes everyone blind (Socialist Party). No War (Kurdish League). Six thousand Americans not more important than six thousand Afghans. "Mr Bush, Thou shall not kill either." And about Bush's Italian fellow `crusader' against what he considers `inferior' Islamic people, Berlusconi: A world without Berlusconi is possible. Berlusconi, from Genua to worse [in Genua, Berlusconi's police killed Carlo Giuliani, who fought for African immigrants]. There were flags of Palestine; of Kurdistan; of Che Guevara; of the Puerto Rican island Vieques wounded by US Air Force bombs; a big white dove of peace on a pole.
Shortly before 14 h., the meeting chair for the Platform Against the 'New War', Ms D. de Jongh of the Guatemala solidarity committee, welcomed the people. Then, the peace song Blue Balloon, sung by. Frank Bilsen, with Mohamad Sayid Khan from India accompanying him on South Asian string instrument. Blue balloons with the continents in green, floated around the stage.
Then, Carolien van der Stadt, of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), spoke. She quoted, to loud applause from the crowd, East Timorese women who commemorated the victims in New York by laying flowers, but also said: We have never asked for bombs on Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, when its US supported Suharto dictatorship occupied our country and massacred its people! And women from Kosovo, who said: Terrorists are not states. States should not become terrorist. Ms Van der Stadt concluded: NATO doctrine will never bring peace; neither will Bush's Son of Star Wars plan.
Then, Harir Faquiri spoke, for the Afghan Women's League. Until she was eight, she had lived in Afghanistan. Now, she is one of the ten thousands of Afghan refugees in The Netherlands. She said to applause the Dutch media should stop equating the Taleban with Afghans, or Muslims, in general. The United States government had supported false "freedom fighters". Also the Northern Alliance, whom they start to support now, have a terrible record of killing, ethnic mass rape, and giving women a status lower than an animal's. Like the Taleban, the Northern Alliance have practically no support among Afghan refugees in The Netherlands. When Western leaders denounce "International terrorism" this is like an empty sound to Afghan refugees. We remember their arms deals. They have never supported pro-democracy Afghans.
Then came Henk Oosterling, philosopher of Erasmus University in Rotterdam, denounced the media for pretending wars are like video games. And Bush, for his "Wild West" rhetoric of "Wanted: dead or alive", killing suspects before any court can decide about guilty or not guilty. Meanwhile, the governments make the taxpayers pay for the air line corporations. Like the US "war on drugs" in practice became a war on democracy, so will the "war on terrorism". We should not forget that today's "globalization" and its privatization is the heir to colonialist, imperial history. We should stop proclaiming "superiority" of Western over so called "primitive"civilizations. Oosterling concluded to thunderous applause: "We want global justice! Not "Infinite Justice""!
Then, the choir Jan en Alleman from The Hague sang. They sang the Peace Song, of the 1980s anti-cruise missiles march: "We fight the armaments ... Economic interests lead to risks of war." Then, a Japanese song, about never again nuclear bombs after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The next speaker was Lambrecht Wessels, of the Interkerkelijk Vredesberaad (IKV). Some twenty years ago, the IKV had a mass base among Christians; however, while that base shrunk, leaders edged closer to government policies. Wessels was the only one of the speakers, poets and musicians on the stage whose viewpoints many in the audience were unhappy about. Though the IKV had not signed the "Anti New War" platform, both the organizers and the IKV wanted Wessels at the rostrum as a mark of diversity.
Then, Saskia Kouwenberg spoke, ex observer in East Timor, and the Moluccas. On the Moluccas, military and financial elites abuse religious differences between Muslims and Christians, who had always gone on well together, to set people against each other. Now, the world threatens to become somewhat similar like the Moluccas. Bush says: "Either you are with George W. Bush, or you are with the terrorists". Well, Ms Kouwenberg said, as an anti-terrorist: Mr Bush, I am NOT with you!
The next speaker was Celine van der Hoek, of the Anti Fascist League (also active against the Yugoslavia war). She told how she in her youth had to hide for Hitler's Nazis. How she eventually landed in a concentration camp, and was one of few survivors. She reminded the audience that Emperor Nero himself burned Rome, and blamed others, his powers. The hysterical war propaganda of today reminds me of the 1933 Reichtstag Fire, made by the Nazis themselves; the prelude to World War II. That war started with supposedly Polish soldiers, really Germans, attacking Gleiwitz (Glywice) radio station. People, oppose today's hysteria, bringing back yesterday's fears! Stop the war drive of Bush and his Dutch supporters! There should only be one kind of politics; humane politics, fairly sharing the riches of the world. Unlike now, when billions become victims of globalization and capitalism!"
After the strong applause for Celine had died down, the Dutch Moroccan band 'Lozanne' played a mix of Northern African rai music with Spanish flamenco, setting the crowd dancing. After them came Abdou Menehbi, of the Euro-Mediterranean Migrants' Center. He strongly condemned Dutch racists who [like during the 1999 war] thought they could ride the tide of war hysteria. They burnt an Islamic school, where days before, teachers and students had commemorated the victims of New York. They daubed an Islamic school with "USA", "White Power", and Celtic crosses. They twice attacked a Syrian Orthodox church. Arrogance is the best ally fundamentalists can wish for. Menehbi said: "Stop terrorism! But, stop it everywhere. Stop oppression of so called developing countries. Remember what the Palestinians have to suffer. Western countries, change your foreign policy! When Dutch prime minister Kok says: "We are at war" this is perceived as Islam=terrorism. We should stop this equation. The Dutch media wrongly accused Moroccans in Ede, teachers in Almere, Palestinians, of being pro-terrorism. Prime Minister Kok should know that unconditional support for the Bush administration's road to war will deeply split Dutch society. The bitter fruits of military attacks will be more terrorists, not ending terrorism. No war!
Next came Frans Bloem, a Dutch born singer/songwriter, living in New York, with a view of the Twin Towers. He had just heard the authorities were allowing him to move back into his appartment. He sang "Help is on its way", dedicating it to the victims in New York, and oppressed people everywhere in the world.
Then, Meindert Stelling, Dutch Air Force captain (retired), military law specialist, and chair of Lawyers for Peace. He said international law prohibits to wage an aggressive war. This was especially confirmed at the post 1945 Nurnberg and Tokyo tribunals, punishing Axis leaders for aggressive war. Only self defence is legal; revenge is not. 11 September 2001 was a criminal, not a military, attack. The UN Security Council did not give the US government a mandate for a military attack. Do not let international law become another victim, along with innocent Afghan civilians.
Next came a puppet show by Micha Kluft. Puppet shows are a tradition on the Dam in Amsterdam since the seventeenth century. The hero of Dutch puppet shows is Jan Klaassen, a poor, simple man. He has to fight joining the army, militarism (a general) and the "Dood van Pierlala", Death (a skeleton). Jan asks Death: "Are you Bin Laden? Are you Bush?" In the happy end, Jan is reunited with his wife Katrijn.
Then came Harry van Bommel, Member of Parliament for the Socialist Party. He had an "An eye for an eye makes everyone blind" sticker on. He rejected the "Wild West rhetoric" of George W. Bush, "Wanted: Dead or alive." The Socialist party opposes having the Netherlands join a war through NATO. The United Nations, not the United States, should end terrorism. No to terrorism; no to war! Stop war mongering!
Like Van Bommel, the next speaker, Nuri Karabulut, chair of the Democratic League of Workers from Turkey in The Netherlands (DIDF) had also been there during the 1999 protest on the same Dam square against NATO's war. The violence in New York was horrible, Karabulut said. However, it should never be used as a pretext to make more innocent people suffer. Terrorism feeds on a background of imperialism. Let us not forget that the US government used to support Bin Laden. Now, there is clamor for more power for secret services like the CIA, the very CIA who sponsored Bin Laden and the Taleban. We should oppose attacks on citizens' freedoms. No to a national ID card; no to more powers for the Dutch secret service. No to racists, like the Turkish Gray Wolves and their Dutch counterparts. The power elites should stop manipulating religious differences between Christians and Muslims to foment unrest and war. Not just the democratic rights of immigrants; the democratic rights of all are in danger. We should oppose the mass `downsizing' for workers, and the cuts in collective services. After Karabulut, everyone danced to the Latin American music of the Fanfare van de Eerste Liefdesnacht.
Then, Menno Sijtsma, a non violent anarchist, of the Zin! Society. He said terrorist criminals should be punished; however, also those in high places in Western countries. The life of every person killed on Iraq is worth as much as of every person killed in the Twin Towers.
Jasper Fastl is chair of the Young Socialists, linked to the Partij van de Arbeid [Social Democrats; biggest party in Dutch coalition government]. Fastl regretted that Prime Minister Kok, PvdA party leader, was not there alongside him. Terrorism, Fastl said, can thrive if there is an abyss between rich and poor. This split is both in Western countries internally, and world wide. Bush's and NATO's arrogance does not face this. NATO has never yet solved a problem. We should oppose a national ID card in The Netherlands. We should oppose media lies against young Moroccans living in The Netherlands. Media-demonized Muslims are we ourselves; their struggle is our struggle, long live international solidarity!
Then, the Chilean exile guitar player Marim Bula played Latin American songs: No a la guerra! Ending the song with a loud: VIVA CUBA! He reminded people 11 september was also when the CIA supported the putsch by Pinochet, leading to ten thousands of dead Chileans. He predicted the forces of peace would win eventually. So, he ended his performance with Venceremos, the song of the Unidad Popular coalition of murdered Chilean President Salvador Allende.
Next, the African poetess Lennie St. Luce with her strong voice read her poems, in English: "Freedom will only be there, when killing Black men will be considered as important as killing White men." Terrible as the deaths in the WTC were, the building was not a symbol of democracy, but of capitalist inequality. "Love more! We don't want another war!"
Next came Yvonne Breuk, director of the Humanist Union, saying No war in my name. And no playing off of people in The Netherlands with different views on religions, against one another!
Wim Lankamp, of the Dutch Palestine Committee oppposed the "New War"where CNN wants to lead us to. We must strive for justice. For 53 years, the rights of Palestinians are denied. The WTC in New York was a crime; so were the massacres in Sabra and Shatila camps.
South East. Then, Imam Hamza Zaid lead a prayer for all victims of violence, New York and elsewhere, followed by silence to commemorate.
Then, as the band Jamesz played blues music, people lighted candles on the Dam. The peace movement will continue, with marches in other cities in The Netherlands this week. The very day the US attacks militarily, demonstrators will go to Museumplein, Amsterdam, 19 h; US Embassy, The Hague, 19 h; Martini Tower Groningen. They will also hang out white sheets everywhere out of windows as signs for peace.
The annual Conference of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
(www.space4peace.org) took place in Leeds in Yorkshire in the North of England, on Friday 4th- Sunday 6th May 2001. The location was very significant as it is close to the Fylingdales early warning radar station and the Menwith Hill communications interception base, which both form part of the US National Missile Defence architecture. Conference themes included NMD or "Son of Star Wars" as well as the deployment of weapons in space.
The conference was hosted by Yorkshire CND and Scientists for Global Responsibility.
YORKSHIRE CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT E-mail: cndyorks@gn.apc.org Website:
http://www.yorkshirecnd.org.uk
Postal Address: 22 Edmund St, Bradford, BD5 0BH. Tel. 01274-730795 / Fax. 01274-414413
There was also an important event in Spain on Sunday 1st April 2001. The annual March for Peace took place in Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz, Spain, to call for the removal of foreign military bases from the Iberian peninsula. US submarines, including nuclear-armed boats, use the Rota base there. The march was organised by a coalition of groups. Participation from outside the region was warmly invited, as are messages of support (which may be sent care of organizacion@iu-lv-ca.es).
The Greek political party, SYNASPISMOS held a conference on Depleted Uranium and related peace issues, in May, 2001
The Peace & Neutrality Alliance (PANA) was established in 1996 to advocate an independent Irish foreign policy, maintain Irish neutrality, and promote the United Nations and the OSCE as the institutions through which Ireland should pursue its security concerns. It represents a wide range of NGO's, peace groups, political parties and individuals that support its objectives.
PANA campaigned for a NO vote in the Referendum on the Nice Treaty due in June. It is seeking a re-negotiation of the Treaty so that a Protocol can be added similar to that the Danes already have which would exclude Ireland from the preparations of the European Rapid Reaction Force.
PANA requests your support by e-mail to the PANA International Secretary, Con Maxwell and to the PANA Chair, Roger Cole. More information is available from Roger and Con. Also, please consider sending a financial donation, however small , to PANA, 113 Springhill Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland (e-mail: silchester@eircom.net).
PANA emphasise that it is very important to e-mail news of international support direct to the main Irish news media such as:
Please pass on news of the campaign in Ireland to all your national and international contacts.
