Peace and Justice v War and Poverty

As the Green Party's delegate to the Stop the War Coalition, I am flagging up these forthcoming events organised by STWC. By the way, we had a really good fringe organised by Green Left at Green Party conference with Andrew Murray, Chair of STWC. Andrew spoke about the real dangers of NATO expansion and the fact that the UK could have been at war with Russia last August, if Georgia had been a NATO member. This is the scale of the danger facing us at present.

So although most of the focus of the coming G20 protests will be on the economic aspects of it, the dangers of wars and the increasing involvement of the military industrial complex in driving forward the war agenda is central. There is a real danger that, like the 1930s, rearmament and war could become a part of the economic agenda. It was not Rossevelt's New Deal which brought the US out of depression in the 30s but the massive arms production programme leading up to World War II, and the full scale war economy which followed. We must continue to oppose war on all fronts.

1) GET READY FOR A WEEK OF PROTEST
2) SAT 28 MARCH: PUT PEOPLE FIRST DEMONSTRATION
3) MON 30 MARCH: PUBLIC MEETING: MEET THE RESISTANCE
4) TUE 31 MARCH: STOP THE WAR PRESENTS LOWKEY
5) WED 1 APRIL: YES WE CAN DEMONSTRATION
6) THURS 2 APRIL, 11AM PROTEST AT THE EXCEL CENTRE
7) APR 3-5 NO TO NATO INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATION

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1) GET READY FOR A WEEK OF PROTEST

Stop the War's main event at the G20 is the YES WE CAN
demonstration which starts at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square
at 2.00pm on Wednesday 1 April.

But we have a week of protest coming up at the G20 and NATO
(details below). It is crucial we make sure the world's
leaders can't escape the massive opposition to the wars they
are waging.

For more information on any of these events please contact the
Stop the War office on 020 7801 2768 on or check the
website http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

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2) SAT 28 MARCH: PUT PEOPLE FIRST DEMONSTRATION

Stop the War is encouraging its supporters to join this
demonstration called by the TUC and NGO's calling for Jobs and
action on poverty and the environment.

We will be forming an anti war/solidarity with Palestine
contingent on the demo. Look for the Jobs Not Bombs banner,
meet at Temple Tube 10.30 am.
http://www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk/

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3) MON 30 MARCH: PUBLIC MEETING: MEET THE RESISTANCE
THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE & JUSTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Come and hear elected representatives from the resistance in
Palestine and Lebanon.

Speakers:
HUSSEIN EL-HAJJ HASSAN MP
Lebanon’s Loyalty to the Resistance Parliamentary Bloc
HASAN KHREISHI
Vice President of the Palestinian Legislative Council
JEREMY CORBYN MP
Stop the War Coalition
JOHN REES
Vice President (Europe) Cairo Conference
DYAB ABOU JAHJAH
International Co-Ordinator of the International Union of
Parliamentarians For Palestine
SUKANT CHANDAN
English Chair of IUPFP

Time: 7pm
Date: Monday 30th March
Place: Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London (nearest
tube, Euston or Euston Square)
Entrance £2

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4) TUE 31 MARCH: STOP THE WAR PRESENTS LOWKEY
Tears to Laughter, a benefit and launch party for Lowkey's new
single and for the G20 protests. Featuring Faith SFX and
Shadia Mansour.
8pm, Vibe Bar, Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL 8pm.
Contact the Stop the War office on 020 7801 2768 to book your
ticket.

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5) WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL: YES WE CAN DEMONSTRATION
Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, End the Siege of Gaza,
Make Jobs not Bombs, Abolish nukes, End Arms Sales to Israel.

Assemble 2pm US Embassy Grosvenor Square.

The demonstration will start by handing in a message to Barack
Obama at the US embassy. We will then march through central
London at the moment the world leaders' arrive and Obama meets
Gordon Brown at Downing Street.

3.30 RALLY IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. Speakers include Tony Benn,
Arthur Scargill, Daud Abdullah from the Muslim Council of
Britain, anti debt campaigner Susan George, and Keith Sonnet
from UNISON. Performers include Palestinian singer Reem
Kolanai and rapper Lowkey.

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6) THURS 2 APRIL, 11AM PROTEST AT THE EXCEL CENTRE
Details to be announced.

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7) NO TO NATO INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATION

FRIDAY 3 APRIL: 6am Victoria Embankment. Join the coach for
Strasbourg No To NATO protests. Book online at
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/ or by phone on 020 7801 2768

SATURDAY 4 APRIL: NO to NATO International Demonstration,
Strasbourg

SUNDAY 5 APRIL: Strasbourg Counter Conference

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