Tomorrow I shall be taking part in the protest outside the Ministry of Defence in support of a brave man and soldier, Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who because he spoke out against this war at the anti-war march several weeks ago (having been told not to) has now been arrested and faces very serious charges. The poll in the Independent today and the discussion tonight on Channel 4 News (appropriately enough on Armistice Day) indicates the growing opposition in Britain to the war.
Caroline Lucas MEP has issued the following statement and information on the protest is also below. I hope that all who stand for justice and for the rights of those, like Joe Glenton, who speak truth unto power, will come and support him there.
Green leader praises arrested soldier's "heroic resistance" to Afghanistan war
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Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP has sent a personal message of support to Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who was arrested yesterday on charges of desertion following his refusal to return to fight in Afghanistan - and for his appearance at an anti-war demonstration last month.
In her email to the soldier, she said: "I would like to express my admiration for your decision to take a courageous and principled stand against the war in Afghanistan. You have the support of the many people in the UK and abroad who passionately oppose this ongoing conflict, which increasingly appears unwinnable.
"The US-led invasion of Afghanistan has resulted in a tragic loss of life, an ever-more dangerous and unstable country, and the installation of a fundamentally corrupt political leadership. Those on both sides continue to lose their lives on a daily basis - while the idea of promoting peace feels very far away.
"At the very least, the brave men and women who sign up to be sent into conflict - to risk their lives on the front line - deserve to be told the truth about the war they are fighting in and what they are fighting for.
"L/Cpl Glenton, I hope your heroic resistance to the reckless and misguided foreign policy played out in Afghanistan will increase the pressure on the UK Government to accelerate an exit strategy and withdraw our troops."
In response to the arrest of L/Cpl Glenton, Stop The War Coalition has arranged an emergency protest to take place tomorrow (Thursday 12 November) outside the Ministry Of Defence in Whitehall at 5pm. For more information, visit the STWC website - http://www.stopwar.org.uk/
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Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP has sent a personal message of support to Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who was arrested yesterday on charges of desertion following his refusal to return to fight in Afghanistan - and for his appearance at an anti-war demonstration last month.
In her email to the soldier, she said: "I would like to express my admiration for your decision to take a courageous and principled stand against the war in Afghanistan. You have the support of the many people in the UK and abroad who passionately oppose this ongoing conflict, which increasingly appears unwinnable.
"The US-led invasion of Afghanistan has resulted in a tragic loss of life, an ever-more dangerous and unstable country, and the installation of a fundamentally corrupt political leadership. Those on both sides continue to lose their lives on a daily basis - while the idea of promoting peace feels very far away.
"At the very least, the brave men and women who sign up to be sent into conflict - to risk their lives on the front line - deserve to be told the truth about the war they are fighting in and what they are fighting for.
"L/Cpl Glenton, I hope your heroic resistance to the reckless and misguided foreign policy played out in Afghanistan will increase the pressure on the UK Government to accelerate an exit strategy and withdraw our troops."
In response to the arrest of L/Cpl Glenton, Stop The War Coalition has arranged an emergency protest to take place tomorrow (Thursday 12 November) outside the Ministry Of Defence in Whitehall at 5pm. For more information, visit the STWC website - http://www.stopwar.org.uk/
Joseph Healy, Green parliamentary candidate for Vauxhall, will be attending the rally.
EMERGENCY PROTEST AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEFEND LANCE CORPORAL JOE GLENTON
THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER, 5PM
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, WHITEHALL
(OPPOSITE DOWNING STREET)
Facebook Event - Please circulate: http://bit.ly/2h9IOf
*******************************
1) ANTI-WAR SOLDIER ARRESTED: PROTEST NOW
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion
charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been
arrested and charged with five further offences for leading
Stop the War's demonstration in London on 24 October and for
expressing his opposition to the media in defiance of orders.
The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in
addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could
get if the desertion charge is upheld.
Joe's mother, Sue Glenton, has spoken out against his arrest:
"You've got government ministers, army commanders and MPs
speaking every day in support of the war. What's so scary
about a Lance Corporal having his say? My son is only speaking
out for what he thinks is right."
Joe's arrest and imprisonment are signs of panic by the
government and military commanders, faced with an ever growing
majority of the British public opposing the war and an
increasing number of prominent voices in the media calling for
the withdrawal of British troops.
A poll published in the Independent shows that only one in
five voters believes that Britain's military presence in
Afghanistan is helping to protect the country from terrorism,
as Gordon Brown insists. The same poll shows that 48 percent
of voters think the war in Afghanistan increases the risk of
domestic terrorist attack.
Stop the War has launched a campaign to defend Joe Glenton and
his right to freedom of speech. (For updates see
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/.)
A protest has been called outside the Ministry of Defence in
Whitehall on Thursday 12 November at 5pm and we list below
what you can do to support the only serving soldier who has so
far had the courage to stand up for what many in the army
believe; that this is a futile and unwinnable war.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
* EMERGENCY PROTEST AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
If you live in London, please try to join the protest on
Thursday 12 November, 5pm, at the Ministry of Defence,
Whitehall (opposite Downing Street)
FACEBOOK EVENT (Please circulate): http://bit.ly/2h9IOf
* WRITE TO DEFENCE SECRETARY BOB AINSWORTH
EMAIL: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworthr@parliament.uk
WRITE: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building,
Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB
FAX: 020 7218 6538
* COLLECT PETITION SIGNATURES
The Defend Joe Glenton petition can be downloaded here:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb
* WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO JOE GLENTON
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton
Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)
Berechurch Hall Camp
Colchester
Essex CO2 9NU
* EMAIL SUPPORT
defendjoeglenton@gmail.com
DEFEND LANCE CORPORAL JOE GLENTON
THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER, 5PM
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, WHITEHALL
(OPPOSITE DOWNING STREET)
Facebook Event - Please circulate: http://bit.ly/2h9IOf
*******************************
1) ANTI-WAR SOLDIER ARRESTED: PROTEST NOW
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion
charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been
arrested and charged with five further offences for leading
Stop the War's demonstration in London on 24 October and for
expressing his opposition to the media in defiance of orders.
The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in
addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could
get if the desertion charge is upheld.
Joe's mother, Sue Glenton, has spoken out against his arrest:
"You've got government ministers, army commanders and MPs
speaking every day in support of the war. What's so scary
about a Lance Corporal having his say? My son is only speaking
out for what he thinks is right."
Joe's arrest and imprisonment are signs of panic by the
government and military commanders, faced with an ever growing
majority of the British public opposing the war and an
increasing number of prominent voices in the media calling for
the withdrawal of British troops.
A poll published in the Independent shows that only one in
five voters believes that Britain's military presence in
Afghanistan is helping to protect the country from terrorism,
as Gordon Brown insists. The same poll shows that 48 percent
of voters think the war in Afghanistan increases the risk of
domestic terrorist attack.
Stop the War has launched a campaign to defend Joe Glenton and
his right to freedom of speech. (For updates see
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/.)
A protest has been called outside the Ministry of Defence in
Whitehall on Thursday 12 November at 5pm and we list below
what you can do to support the only serving soldier who has so
far had the courage to stand up for what many in the army
believe; that this is a futile and unwinnable war.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
* EMERGENCY PROTEST AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
If you live in London, please try to join the protest on
Thursday 12 November, 5pm, at the Ministry of Defence,
Whitehall (opposite Downing Street)
FACEBOOK EVENT (Please circulate): http://bit.ly/2h9IOf
* WRITE TO DEFENCE SECRETARY BOB AINSWORTH
EMAIL: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworthr@parliament.uk
WRITE: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building,
Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB
FAX: 020 7218 6538
* COLLECT PETITION SIGNATURES
The Defend Joe Glenton petition can be downloaded here:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb
* WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO JOE GLENTON
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton
Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)
Berechurch Hall Camp
Colchester
Essex CO2 9NU
* EMAIL SUPPORT
defendjoeglenton@gmail.com
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