WRI/PEACE NEWS Gulf Crises Mobilisation UPDATE LIST
23 February 1998
PLEASE SPREAD FAR AND WIDE!
This list is compiled from emails we get from
pacifist organisations and activists around the
world who are protesting against the military
build-up in the Gulf. It is a PARTIAL LIST and
being added to daily.
Please help me keep it updated by sending short
and SUCCINCT additions,corrections, etc.
Updates will be sent once or twice a week to this
mailing list and anyone else who asks to be on it.
(Send requests to warresisters@gn.apc.org, "Gulf
mailing list" in the Subject line.)
There is a LOT happening in response to U.S. and
British aggression toward Iraq! Hopefully, diplomacy
will prevail and there will soon be no more need for
these updates...
****************************************************
SUCCINT BRITISH REPORT:
There have been vigils in most major towns and cities in England,
Scotland and Wales.
On Saturday 14 February 2-3000 people took part in an "Encirclement
of the Ministry of Defence buildings in central London. About 500
people then took part in a spontaneous "die-in" in Whitehall. Nine people
were arrested.
On Monday 16 February 100 people took part in a 5-hour blockade
of the British Joint Rapid Deployment Force HQ at Northwood,
north London. Both gates were shut - by bicycle locks and sit-down
blockaders. No traffic entered for five hours. Only three people
were arrested.
On the same day 20 people trespassed at Fylingdales US communications
base in the north of England.
On 20 February women from Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp took
part in a "citizens' inspection" of Aldermaston Atomic Weapons
Establishment.
On 21 February about 500 people took part in a demonstration opposite
Whitehall. A funeral procession with mock coffins was stopped
from reaching Parliament.
A massive demonstration in central London is being planned for
28 February (tel +44 171436 4636).
A 24-hour vigil, with blockades, is planned at Northwood for 1-2 March.
Women in Black are holding weekly vigils in the centre of London.
The last one (18 February) was attended by over 100 women.
If there is any bombing, people will vigil in their town and city
centres at 6.00pm, and there will probably be nonviolent direct
action at Northwood.
The National Peace Council has compiled a detailed list of
local British contacts:
NPC, 88 Islington High St, London N1 8EG, Britain
tel +44 171 354 5200
fax 354 0033
email: npc@gn.apc.org
The latest issue of Peace News (no 2423, March 1998) has
reports and pictures from around the world. Sample copy
available: Peace News, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DY,
Britain (tel +44 171 278 3344; fax 278 0444; email
peacenews@gn.apc.org).
National Emergency Coalition to Stop the War Against Iraq
U.S.
CONTACT: International Action Center
39 West 14 Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@iacenter.org
http://www.iacenter.org NOTE: The list below is just one section
from a larger list updated daily on this website
phone: (212) 633-6646
fax: (212) 633-2889
So far, demos have been held in AT LEAST 60 towns, cities,
etc. - arrests only in DC that we know about so far...
The National Emergency Coalition comprises over 40 organisations
and individuals and is sponsoring local protests in more than
50 cities between February 17-24 prior to the mass demonstrations
on February 28. The Coalition sponsored a February 17
protest at 5 pm at Times Square in New York. The group will
also rally at Times Square on February 21.
For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Brian Becker/Deirdre Sinnott/Kadouri Al Kaysi
Attention: News Editor (212) 633-6646
Thousands will Demonstrate on February 28 in First National
Protests Opposing New U.S. War on Iraq. The newly formed
National Emergency Coalition to Stop the U.S. War Against
Iraq has set two national anti-war protests on February 28,
1998, for New York City and San Francisco.
OTHER ACTIONS AROUND THE U.S.
San Francisco Bay Area(includes San Francisco, Berkeley,
Santa Cruz)
San Francisco
Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.
US Federal Bldg, 450 Golden Gate
Information: 415/821-0458, 650/326-8837
Feb 28 at Noon
Dolores Park, Dolores & 19th Streets
San Francisco
Rally and March
Info: 415/821-6545
If the Bombing Starts:
Weekday, Rally at 5 p.m.
Weekend, Rally at 12 Noon
Both at Powell & Market, San Francisco
Call 415/821-6545 to Confirm Time
Berkeley, California
Feb 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Town Hall Meeting sponsored by Berkeley City Council.
Santa Cruz, California
Feb 23 at 2 p.m.
Demonstration at Bay Tree Bookstore on UC campus. Day
bombing starts: 11 a.m. demonstration at this bookstore and
at 4 p.m. in downtown Santa Cruz at Clock Tower at Pacific
and Water Streets. E-mail: scawdi@hotmail.com
New York City
Feb. 21, Mobilization for Feb 28
Call: 212/633-6646 or
E-mail: iacenter@iacenter.org
Feb 28
March from Times Square to US Mission at UN
New York City
Washington, D.C.
Feb 21
12 Noon Rally at Dupont Circle
1 p.m. March to White House
2 p.m. Rally at Lafayette Park
Tel: 202/544-9355
Ashville, NC
Every Friday, vigil at 12 Noon at Vance Monument, Pack
Place, Downtown
Baltimore, MD
Feb 20 at 5:30 p.m., Rally at Homewood Friends Meeting at
3107 N. Charles St.
E-mail: maxo@igc.apc.org
Phone: 202/882-9649; 410/323-7200
Clam Lake, Wisconsin
Feb. 22 at Noon
Project ELF site.
E-mail Jeff Leys at Jleys@execpc.com
Phone: 608/226-0425
Indianapolis, Indiana
Every Wednesday, 4:30-6 p.m. Rally at Federal Building,
corner of Pennsylvania & Michigan Streets.
E-mail: jze@indy.net
Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 25, Noon
Protest and Seminar
Room 232, The Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh University
Call: 1/888-NOTOWAR
Web: http://www.notowar.com
Portland, OR
Feb 23 at 7 a.m.
Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway, Portland
US Ambassador Bill Richardson at hotel.
Call Peace & Justice Works: 503/236-3065
E-mail: copwatch@teleport.com
Portland, OR
If US bombs Iraq, meet same day at 4-6 p.m. at Federal
Building, SW 3rd and Jefferson. If bombing starts after
6 p.m., meet next day. Call for info: 503/236-3065.
E-mail: copwatch@teleport.com
Providence, RI
Every Friday, vigil in front of Federal Building at Kennedy
Plaza, Providence, 4:30-5:30 p.m. E-mail: stone@soup.org
St. Louis, MO
Feb 27, 4:30-6
Rally at Federal Court House at
Market and Tucker Streets
E-mail: mvtanna@artsci.wustl.edu
Tucscon, AZ
Weekly demonstrations on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. in front of
US Federal Bldg on West Congress & Granada
Day of bombing: Meet at 4:30 pm at the Federal Building
Feb 28, Peace Fair
March 1 at 2 pm: Rally at Davis Monthan Air Force Base.
Assemble at Craycroft Gate (Craycroft & Golf Links). Call
520/628-8659 or 520/323-8697 for information.
Also E-mail: nukeresister@igc.org
Winter Park and Orlando, Florida
Every Wednesday, 10 p.m. Weekly vigil, front lawn of Rollins
College, 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park, FL. tel: 407/671-2904.
E-mail: mmalfa@rollins.edu
*******
JAPAN
Hiroshima, Japan
Everyday: Leaflet at Center of City of Hiroshima.
E-mail: yuasa@cniri.go.jp
Tokyo, Japan
Feb 21
Evening demonstrations organized by Network for Disarmament
Catch Peace, in Shibuya.
E-mail: tamaki@ab.mbn.or.jp
*******
A Bridge to Baghdad
ITALY
Contact: Tel 00396-6780808 (Ornella)
fax 00396-6793968
email VOLUNTARY HUMAN SHELDS FROM ITALY AGAINST THE NEW US MILITARY
AGGRESSION TO IRAQ
The italian association "A Bridge to Baghdad" is organising
groups of "Voluntary Human Shelds" going to Iraq to "protect
civil objectives from the new US bombing". The VHS will STAY
on the bridges, the electric plants, the hospital, the schools
and everywhere there are civil installations necessary to the
life of people.
"We are going to Iraq to make everybody remember that the
bombing will kill civil people. With our white and western
persons we want to make visible the bodies of Iraqi children,
women, men that are usually not visible to the white and
western eyes".
The first groups of Voluntary Human Sheld will leave from Italy
next Sunday, 22 february and Sunday, 1st march.
*******
More info from activists in
CANADA
There will be a blockade of the War Department in Ottawa at
8:15 a.m. on Friday Feb. 27th. People from across Ontario
and from Quebec are going to be participating. Busses will
be leaving from Toronto on the 26th. There will be
a non-violence training in Ottawa the evening of the 26th.
Two churches have agreed to provide overnight sleeping space
the night of the 26th.
For more information, call 416-651-5800 or email either
or .*******
Peace Movement Aotearoa
NEW ZEALAND
Contact: PO Box 9314, Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand.
tel +64 4 382 8129; fax +64 4 382 8173;
email the national networking group for peace people
NOTE: This report is updated quite frequently; please contact them
directly if you want to receive the more frequent updates.
1) WELLINGTON PROTESTS
MONDAY 16 FEBRUARY : 7-30am to 2pm, outside Bowen House (cnr
Lambton Quay and Bowen Street), protest vigil - no military
action against Iraq, organised by Campaign against Militarism,
Mark Roach, tel (04) 383 5091;
TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY : 12-30pm, rally at parliament as
parliament opens ...protesting any NZ involvement in military
action against Iraq and an immediate end to the sanctions
(except on weapons), peace people will be leafletting in and
around the rally. Organised by Waiwhetu/Lower Hutt Peace
Group, Arthur Quinn, tel (04) 567 0533.
2) NATIONAL NEWS ROUNDUP
Protests were held in Auckland and Christchurch on 13
February, peace people around the country have been writing
to MPs, ministers, newspapers, Ambassadors and the British
High Commisioner for some weeks now demanding an end to
threats against the people of Iraq by the 'coalition' forces;
urging that diplomatic solutions only be used to resolve the
current and future crises; demanding an immediate lifting of
all sanctions (except those on weapons); urging those Security
Council members who are also bristling with weapons of mass
destruction to lead by example and start genuine moves towards
disarmament themselves; pointing out that if these same
nations didn't go around selling (and giving away) the
weapons in the first instance then these situations could be
avoided and so on.
Following Jenny Shipley's rather breathless announcement
that Clinton had rung her to seek NZ's backing for military
action, ... it is now apparent that Monday's Cabinet meeting
will make some decision as to whether a) the NZ govt supports
military action at all; and b) whether the NZ govt will give some
kind of military support to it - possibly a field hospital unit.
The Gang of Seven (CND, WILPF, Waiwhetu/Lower Hutt Peace Group,
Peace Action Upper Hutt, Architects against Nuclear Arms,
Veterans for Peace and Peace Council Aotearoa) have issued
press releases ...and put in a submission to Monday's Cabinet
Meeting. Alyn Ware (very fortuitously visiting from New York),
Kate Dewes (Peace Foundation) and others involved in the
World Court Project follow-on have also faxed and written
all Ministers in preparation for the Cabinet meeting, and
many other peace groups and individuals have written to their
'favourite' Ministers urging them to oppose any NZ govt
support for further military action.
*******
League of the Last Days
Washington, US
contact: MTwain OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, USA, February 20th, 1998 -- Early
this morning, the armory of the 2nd Battalion of the Washington
State National Guard in Olympia was "bombed" to protest the
imminent bombing of Iraq. A joint force comprising the
Vancouver-based Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the
heretofore unknown Department of Perception Management --
Olympia Branch (DPM-OB) claimed responsibility in a
communique sent to the Olympian and Seattle
Post-Intelligencer newspapers.
The joint force "bombing" was conducted in black and green
spraypaint. Slogans included "No Blood for Oil," "Stop the
Killing Machine" as well as a mysterious symbol which Olympia
police officials described as "a circled letter A." The
armory stores tanks, jeeps and other material for the local
National Guard. While the armory is not a direct US military
target, Secretary Kropotkin of DPM-OB vowed to increase the
scope of their "attacks" if the US-led bombing of Iraq
commenced.
*******
9. from Ellen Elster, activist and WRI Executive Board member
NORWAY
Monday 16th Febr. there was a demonstration outside the
American Embassy, with appeals to both the American and
the Norwegian government not to intervene. Despite of the
very short notice around 1.000 people met, which is very good
in our context, and around 22 organisations gave their support.
Now a broad-based coalition will plan for more organised activities,
while there are also plans for some spontanious activities if the
bombing should start.
*******
D.C. Coalition To Stop the U.S. War on Iraq
Washington D.C., US
The D.C. Coalition To Stop the U.S. War On Iraq is sponsoring
a RALLY and MARCH to protest the possible use of U.S.
military force in the Persian Gulf on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY
21st.
Schedule:
12:00pm -- Rally/Speak Out in Dupont Circle
1:00pm -- March to the White House
2:00pm -- Rally at Lafayette Park
For information or to volunteer, call: (202) 544-9355
*******
Women Against Military Madness, Minneapolis
U.S.
CONTACT: ?
We have two events this week. On Wednesday, 2/4,7pm-9pm, as
part of our weekly WAMM Forum, there is a presentation on
"The motivations and effects of US policy on Iraq" presented
by Kathy Haddad, Dominique Najar and Alan Dale. This event
will be held in Sabathani Center, (WAMM's office building)
310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis. The second event is a
demonstration and protest against US war threats against Iraq.
This event will be held on Friday 2/6, 4:30 pm at the New
Federal Building is on 4th St and 3rd Ave. in downtown
Minneapolis."
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War Resisters' International
5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX, Britain
Ph: +44 171 278 4040; fax: +44 171 278 0444;
email: warresisters@gn.apc.org
VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE at http://www.gn.apc.org/warresisters
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