Anti War Greetings from Germany

I spent last night leafleting Brixton Underground station for the 'Troops out of Afghanistan now' demonstration being organised by Stop the War Coalition on Saturday. It is vital that we get a good turnout and demonstrate to the government and the warmongers that there is growing support for the anti-war movement and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

The issue of the war loomed large in the recent German general election and was one of the reasons why Die Linke, the Left Party, did so well as the only party with a clear anti-war policy and a demand that German forces withdraw from Afghanistan. However, there are many within the German Green Party, Die Grunen, who think likewise. The group who are pressing for a change in policy in the German Greens are called 'Die Grunen Friedensinitiative' and are mainly based in Munster, a city with many radical Greens. They have sent the following message of support for Saturday's march and will be trying at the German Green Party conference to get a change in policy. The war is growing increasingly unpopular in Germany also. They have also asked us a send a message of support for the anti-war demands to the German Green Party conference in Rostock.

Dear Joseph,

we send to you our best wishes for the demonstration at Saturday "Bring the troops home from Afghanistan". We would like to encourage you and our friends of the British greens and the British peace movement to send a powerful anti-war-signal to Europe from your demonstration. A success of your demonstration will be a strong support for us and the German peace movement.

The same weekend we have the national conference of the German green in Rostock, and Sunday we discuss Afghanistan. It's our hope, in Rostock will also be seen a sign of peace, the demand for a withdraw short-term, e.g. meaning in the next 6 months.


Best wishes

Wilhelm Achelpöhler
Grüne Friedensinitiative