whitebeard

Don't curse the darkness, light a candle.

Hi all,

On December 1 there will be a "World Against War" conference in London, organized by the Stop the War Coalition. 
See message below and their web site: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/
I went two years ago and plan to go this year as well, also to help get the word out on the international demonstration in Vicenza, December 15.
Let me know if you plan to go, too!
Stephanie

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER No. 1027
23 November 2007
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
T: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) WORLD AGAINST WAR CONFERENCE: NEVER MORE NEEDED
2) NOVEMBER 24: IRAN NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
3) RHYTHMS OF PEACE CONCERT: 30 NOVEMBER
4) STOP THE WAR SEASONAL GREETING CARDS

**********************************
1) WORLD AGAINST WAR CONFERENCE: NEVER MORE NEEDED The
latest speakers added to the World Against War international conference in
London on Saturday 1 December are Mrs. Marzieh Mortazi Langroudi, a
leading member of the Iranian group Mothers Against War, Ibrahim
Mousawi the editor of Hezbollah's newspaper in Lebanon and Karamat Ali
from the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research. 

They join many other prominent peace campaigners -- from the Middle
East, Asia, the USA and around the world -- who will speak at the
conference and lead discussions on: * The current situation in Iraq * The
occupation in Afghanistan * The threats against Iran * US aggression from
Eastern Europe to Latin America. 

Among the speakers at the conference are Dennis Halliday and Hans Von
Sponeck, former United Nations representatives in Iraq, Hassan Jumaa,
President of the Basra Oil Workers Union, Jawad Al Khalassi, General
Secretary Iraq Foundation Congress, Hannah Ibrahim from Women's Will
Iraq, Ivona Novomestská, Czech No Bases Campaign, Brigitte Ostmeyer
from the new German Left party, Eqyptian MP Hamdeen Sabahy, Tony
Benn and Lindsey German from Stop the War Coalition, Mark Thomas,
campaigning comedian, George Galloway MP, Craig Murray, ex-British
Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Iraqi exile Sami Ramadani, and representatives
from United for Peace and Justice (USA), the Communist Party of Lebanon
and Venezuela's UNT union confederation. 

This conference was never more needed. George Bush has asked the US
Congress to add 196 billion dollars as a supplement to the 450 billion
dollars he has already got for war spending in 2008. He calls the
supplemental spending the "Global War on Terror Request" and it includes
plans for a new bunker busting bomb which could be geared toward
bombing underground targets in Iran. 

And Britain's prime minister Gordon Brown has now repeatedly stated his
support for Bush's horrifying plans for endless global war, based on what
Brown calls "our shared values and our shared destiny". 

The conference is open to all - whether delegates from political
organisations, trade unions, community groups and campaigns, or from
individuals. All Stop the War's local groups and affiliated organisations have
been asked to ensure that we have the widest possible representation at
this international peace conference, which will bring together peace
campaigners from across the world and which will be of paramount
importance in helping to devise the antiwar movement's strategy for
building international opposition to the intensifying warmongering of George
Bush and his allies.  Registration for the conference can be made online or
by telephoning the Stop the War Coalition national office (see below). 

THE WORLD AGAINST WAR
INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE
LONDON, SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER
WESTMINSTER CENTRAL HALL
(Details: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/)

TO BOOK ONLINE: http://tinyurl.com/2d9whw
TO BOOK BY PHONE: 020 7278 6694

ACCOMMODATION: If you can offer accommodation for international delegates attending the conference, please email office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 7278 6694.

RHYTHMS OF PEACE CONCERT: This takes place on Friday 30 November, the day before the conference. Tickets are going very fast for this not to be missed event. See below for booking.

**********************************
2) NOVEMBER 24: IRAN NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
With George Bush's ever intensifying threats against Iran and what the looming possibility of devastating air strikes in 2008, Stop the War is organising an Iran National Day of Action on Saturday 24 November, with activities taking place in towns and cities across the country calling for Britain to oppose any attack on Iran. If you would like to join the event in your area, call Stop the War's national office for contact details: 020 7278 6694.

We are asking participants in local Don't Attack Iran events on 24 November to take photographs and email them to the Stop the War office for inclusion in reports that we will publish on our website next week: office@stopwar.org.uk

**********************************
3) RHYTHMS OF PEACE CONCERT: 30 NOVEMBER
Book now to avoid disappointment (see below). Tickets are going very fast for this Stop the War benefit concert, with its fantastic array of performers, from the world of the arts, journalism and politics , including actors Julie Christie and David Soul, writers John Pilger and Ahdaf Soueif and musicians Eugene Skeef and Dave Randall:

ANDREW MURRAY will introduce
* Actors, JULIE CHRISTIE, DAVID SOUL, JANET SUZMAN, PRUNELLA SCALES AND TIMOTHY WEST
* Campaigning journalist, JOHN PILGER
* US comedian DAVE LIPPMAN
* South African percussionist, EUGENE SKEEF
* Novelists, AHDAF SOUEIF and HAIFA ZANGANA
* Ex-Ambassador, CRAIG MURRAY
* Mezzo soprano, JANET SHELL
* Pianist & composer, KEITH BURSTEIN
* Cellist, CHARLES WATT
* Musician, DAVE RANDALL, (Slovo and Faithless)
* LINDSEY GERMAN, Convenor of Stop the War Coalition
* JOHN REES, Stop the War Coalition
* JEREMY CORBYN MP
* KATE HUDSON, Chair of CND
(SEE http://tinyurl.com/2htzjk for full details)

TICKETS £15. BOOK NOW:
ONLINE: http://tinyurl.com/2htzjk
BY PHONE 020 7278 6694
BY POST: Cheques made payable to 'Stop the War Coalition' and marked 'Rhythms of Peace'. Send to Stop the War Coalition, 27 Britannia Street, London WC1X 9JP.

**********************************
4) STOP THE WAR SEASONAL GREETING CARDS
Stop the War has produced antiwar seasonal greeting cares at £1 per card or six cards for £5 plus postage. To order ring 020 7278 6694 (See card artwork here: http://tinyurl.com/2wuy5v)

posted by: Whitebeard at 18:53 | link | comments |
iraq, us, peace, war, palestine, resisters

Shame! Vergogna!

Related links:

1. Palestinian refused entry to Israel dies of cancer

 

Na'al al-Kurdi, 21, died in Gaza of metastized testicular cancer on 18 Nov 2007. Israel has kept closed the Rafah Crossing, which is the crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, so treatment in Israel was Na'al al-Kurdi's only hope of survival. However, he was denied permission to leave the Gaza Strip for in Israel, on the grounds that he was - although bedridden and incapable of standing - a "security threat". Photo: Ynet.

2. Gazan cancer patient dies after being delayed entry into Israel for 10 days

Mahmoud Abu Taha, 21, died of cancer of the intestine on 29 October 2007. The Israeli General Security Service refused to allow him into Israel for treatment, even though he had an IDF permit to do so. Photo: Muhammad Sabah , B'Tselem.

posted by: Whitebeard at 18:56 | link | comments |
civil rights, israel, palestine, censored news

Speaking of (former) Sgt. James Circello,

I just got some good news about him from a Camp Casey friend. James went AWOL from Camp Ederle in
Vicenza last April. He has been speaking out against the war in the U.S.  with Iraq Veterans Against the War. Well, he decided to turn himself in at  Ft. Knox last week and this morning he was discharged. No court martial. He's out!

See his open letter to the U.S. government and a speech he made at the Oct 27 demo in New Orleans:
http://www.ivaw.org/user/560

See also plans from IVAW for a Winter Soldier assembly next march, similar to the gathering held during Vietnam, in which Vets and Iraqi and Afghan survivors will testify about their experiences and reveal the truth of occupation. You can sign a statement of support on their site:
http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldierstatmentofsupport 

And on a decidely sadder note, Ian from Verbania wrote (see below) asking about the story regarding suicides among Iraq war vets. Ian had troubles writing to the list and I had problems writing to Ian (my message bounced because of spam filters), so I'm sharing my response via the list.
This will give us all something to consider at our meeting next week.
Steph

Hi Ian,
CBS was the first to report on this. Staggering numbers: 120 per week in 2005! Here is an article from AFP:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jUtHzz80dkhT-nkIIbI4nsXXPGEw

Here's the original CBS video:
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB2-xER8NS8
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqFJAByDU40

(of course the reports only deal with the lack of care the vets are receiving when they get home and not the fact that they shouldn't have been sent in the first place!)

And here's an article on truthout about a soldier who went AWOL to get treatment and was just arrested:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/111507B.shtml

Steph

On 16 Nov 2007 at 10:14, Ian Naysmith wrote:

I just read in today's LaStampa that the # of suicides for soldiers serving/served in Iraq is over 6,400.  Number actually killed in Iraq isover 3,800.
Since my Italian is not very good yet, I am not clear as to the exact details of the article.  Would like to know if anyone can help clarify this for me?
Ciao grazie,

Ian Naysmith
Verbania, Italia

posted by: Whitebeard at 00:36 | link | comments |
iraq, us, civil rights, democracy, war, censored news, resisters

Thank you from Italy

Shangai 2007

Read the NY Times article here.  "This isn't a free-speech issue," said Jan Martel, president of the United States Bridge Federation, the nonprofit group that selects teams for international tournaments. "There isn't any question that private organizations can control the speech of people who represent them."  And hers aren't the worst of the comments.

You can contact the US Bridge Federation on their "contact us" page.  Tell them to join the world, and cease disciplining the team.

Debra Sweet,
Director, The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime

“By trying to address these issues in a nonviolent, nonthreatening and lighthearted manner,” the French team wrote in by e-mail to the federation’s board and others, “you were doing only what women of the world have always tried to do when opposing the folly of men who have lost their perspective of reality.”

Ms. Rosenberg said the team members intended the sign as a personal statement that demonstrated American values and noted that it was held up at the same time some team members were singing along to “The Star-Spangled Banner” and waving small American flags.

“Freedom to express dissent against our leaders has traditionally been a core American value,” she wrote by e-mail. “Unfortunately, the Bush brand of patriotism, where criticizing Bush means you are a traitor, seems to have penetrated a significant minority of U.S. bridge players.”

Sylicon Valley 2007

I do remember me that in my youth...

 
Mexico 1968

 

posted by: Whitebeard at 09:57 | link | comments |
us, civil rights, democracy, resisters

 

Dear List:
        I'm grateful to Stephanie Westbrook for the link to the interview with James Circello.
        She is right to suggest prudence in implementing the idea of a GI Rights Hotline. Still, Italy is the home of so many US bases that it seems logical to do something along the line of what Nancy from Florence and Logan of Iraq Veterans Against the War suggest in this country. In Germany too, where, as I understand it, down-range troops are sent for R&R at a base (I don't remember where) with lots of psychiatrists and psychotherapists to help them with their problems. I have not seen the cards Stephanie and Nancy passed out in Vicenza (and do read their report on that venture at http://www.peaceandjustice.it/vicenza-4thofjuly.php!) but besides furnishing contact information for people in the US, it would be useful to inform those under arms about how veterans are being treated -- or if you prefer, not treated when they are sick. Over a third of the vets from the first Gulf war -- the cakewalk, you remember! -- have mental or physical disability, and here we are only referring to the cases acknowledged by the government institutions like the Veterans' Administration. One out of four homeless in the US are war veterans, and the  number of vets from service in Afghanistan and Iraq is increasing rapidly. Of homeless female vets, 40% claimed they had undergone sexual harassment or worse down range. As James Circello writes, "I saw kids turn into animals. Members of my own unit, whom I will never speak negatively about, doing things that one day I know will haunt them." I could go on, but my point is that many of the young men and women who have enlisted are callow, just as I was at that age, when I proudly donned my ROTC uniform. They need someone to give them counter-information with respect to what their recruiters told them. And in case they do want to follow James Circello's good-sense example, I'm sure it would not be hard to suggest places they could turn to in Italy for aid and abettance (so to speak). This falls short of a hotline but goes beyond the present situation in which contacts between the peace movement in Italy, including USC4P&J, and US troops in Italy would seem to be limited, except for Nancy and Stephanie's initiative in Vicenza.
        Yours,
                Gordon Poole

At 09.25 04/10/2007, Stephanie Westbrook wrote:

Hi Martina,

Thanks for your message. I share your thoughts on the importance of the
military resistance movement. 

On the GI Rights Hotline, we´ve never been approached by them. In
Florence this past June, we had a casual conversation with Phil, who live in
Naples so you probably know him, Nancy from the group in Florence and
Logan, member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Logan brought up the
idea of creating a hotline in Italy. Nancy and I expressed our doubts on
getting enough trained people to make the *very serious* commitment
required of operating a hotline long term, how to pay for it, etc. 

We suggested the better route being to support the hotline by making it
known to soldiers in Italy so they can call or email the folks in the U.S.
who´ve been trained to respond. In fact, Nancy and I entered the Ederle
base in Vicenza while open to the public on the 4th of July specifically to
give out cards. (see our report: http://www.peaceandjustice.it/vicenza-
4thofjuly.php) And Maria and I traveled from Rome to Livorno to give them
out at the "American Beach" of the Camp Darby base in July. I have also
left stacks of the cards with the folks in Vicenza. This is something you
could definitely do in Naples, as well. 

In any event, since you´re in Naples and can´t come to meetings, why don´t
we start a discussion via email on this project and how our group in Rome
could be involved? Those who are interested, please contact Martina
directly and we´ll start a mini-list to discuss what it would take to setup the
hotline and who has time to commit: mbottine@email.smith.edu 

For more info on the GI Rights Hotline: http://www.girights.org/

And on a side note, see this video by James Circello, who went AWOL from
the Ederle base in Vicenza in April 2007:
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/445/1/

Thanks again, Martina.

Stephanie

Date sent:      Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:47:31 -0400
From:   "Martina Bottinelli" <mbottine@email.smith.edu>
To:     <gilbert@fol.it>,<members@peaceandjustice.it>
Subject:        Re: [USC4P&J Members] ...GI Rights HotLine...

Dear fellow Peaceniks, 

             After reading the petition John Gilbert sent to the mailing
lists entitled "Leading Americans Ask U.S. Military to Refuse Orders to
Attack Iran" (see attachment if you haven't already received it), I was
hit by its importance. With this imminent threat to attack Iran, I
realized the role of the GI Rights HotLine and other such groups that
support military resistance (such as The Central Committee for
Conscientious Objectors, Courage to Resist, Center on Conscience and
War, and the Military Law Task Force of the National Lawyers Guild) is
really the key to the anti-war movement. More so than at the beginning
of the Iraq war (when many people still believed that mass mobilization
could bring an end to the war), today, after a failed attempt, the role
of the military Resisters is really coming to the surface. Iraq Veterans
for Peace are at the center of the Movement, there is no denying it.
           I don't live in Rome and thus can't attend group meetings,
but I've heard that the GI Rights Hotline has asked USC4P&J to support a
HotLine here in Italy. I'm wondering why the group decided (as I'm sure
it was a collective decision) to decline this offer -is it the immense
responsibility of such a task? I would really urge that we don't miss
out on this offer, as it is the most important tool in the anti-war
movement. Not to mention for local battles on the bases here in Italy,
especially Vicenza. Personally, I would be very interested in being
involved in the setting up of a Hotline, no matter how demanding it
might be. Discarding of such an opportunity to set up a long term
structure in the movement towards peace, such as a permanent HotLine,
seems a grave strategic mistake. If I'm mistaken about this issue,
please let me know; the grapevine is never the best structure for
passing and receiving information.

In Peace,
Martina Bottinelli
3391392341
L'Università degli Studi di Napoli L'Orientale

posted by: Whitebeard at 20:27 | link | comments (1) |
iraq, us, civil rights, democracy, war, censored news, resisters

War Made Easy

Hi,   Just wanted to say the film is also online if you can't get to the theater:
Thanks,   Greg Clay

The film is also available on line at Google Video:   here.  

posted by: Whitebeard at 10:52 | link | comments |
us, civil rights, democracy, war, censored news, resisters

Eyes Wide Open

Dear all,

Our Eyes Wide Open documentary film series continues on Wednesday, November 14 at 7pm with "War Made Easy: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death" by Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp.

War Made Easy (2007)
Wednesday, November 14, 7pm
Linux Club
Via Giuseppe Libetta, 15c
(Ostiense, metro Garbatella, see directions below)

Film synopsis:
"War Made Easy brings to the screen Norman Solomon's insightful book with an analysis of the strategies used by administrations, both Democratic  and Republican, to promote their agendas for war from Vietnam to Iraq. By  familiarizing viewers with the techniques of war propaganda, War Made  Easy encourages us to think critically about the messages put out by  today's spin doctors - messages which are designed to promote and  prolong a policy of militarism under the guise of the "war on terror.

War Made Easy reaches into the Orwellian memory hole to expose a 50-year pattern of government deception and media spin that has dragged the United States into one war after another. Narrated by actor and activist Sean Penn, the film exhumes remarkable archival footage of official distortion and exaggeration from LBJ to George W. Bush, revealing in stunning detail how the American news media have uncritically disseminated the pro-war messages of successive presidential administrations."

See a review of the film: It didn´t start with Iraq by Robert Jensen
http://tinyurl.com/2lsupf

Join us this Wednesday for an interesting documentary followed by a lively discussion. And come with us for a pizza afterwards in a local pizzeria.

Linux Club requires an 8 Euro/year membership card (valid for the calendar year).

Getting to Linux
By metro: B line to Garbatella, exit towards Ostiense, cross the tracks via the overpass, walk straight to via Ostiense, turn left to via Libetta, then left to Linux Club.
By bus: Buses 23 and 769 run along via Ostiense. Bus 280 gets you as far as the Piramide, one metro stop away.

Upcoming films:
Nov 28, Thanksgiving Special: The Future of Food
Dec 12, Season Finale: Jesus Camp

See our web site for more information and the full program, which runs through December 12, 2007: http://www.peaceandjustice.it/film-series6.php

See you Wednesday!

Chérine, David, Gene and Ilona (Film Committee)
--
U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome
info@peaceandjustice.it
http://www.peaceandjustice.it

posted by: Whitebeard at 20:44 | link | comments |
us, war, censored news, resisters

posted by: Whitebeard at 16:34 | link | comments |

Pakistan

Dear friends,

Add your name to the global Pakistan emergency petition by clicking below: "We, the undersigned, call on all nations to condemn General Musharraf's crackdown, and to suspend military aid to Pakistan until the constitution is restored and free, fair elections are ensured."

Pakistan is on the brink: unpopular president General Pervez Musharraf has imposed a state of emergency, sacked the Supreme Court, shut down the media and basic freedoms, and imprisoned democratic opposition leaders. The general blames his actions on an imagined coalition of terrorists and independent-minded judges -- but his real fear may be losing absolute power.

Elections are planned for January 2008 -- they must not be postponed. But martial law and the imprisonment of democratic opposition leaders don't make for a free and fair vote either. So we're calling on the international community -- particularly the US Congress, which has voted Musharraf billions of dollars in military aid over the last six years -- to use all its leverage for swift elections and restoring constitutional protections. Click below to sign our petition immediately, then tell your friends so they can do the same --

http://www.avaaz.org/en/emergency_pakistan

We just received this email from Asma Jahangir, head of the Pakistani Human Rights Commission and the UN's Special Rapporteur for freedom of religion worldwide. Now under house arrest in Lahore, she's one of many Pakistanis urgently asking the world community to raise our voice:

There is a strong crackdown on the press and lawyers... The Chief Justice is under house arrest (unofficially). The President of the Supreme Court Bar (Aitzaz Ahsan) and 2 former presidents, Mr. Muneer Malik and Tariq Mahmood have been imprisoned for one month under the Preventive Detention laws...

There are other scores political leaders who have also been arrested. Yesterday I was house arrested for 90 days... the President (who has lost his marbles) said that he had to clamp down on the press and the judiciary to curb terrorism. Those he has arrested are progressive, secular minded people, while the terrorists are offered negotiations and ceasefires.

Lawyers and civil society will challenge the government and the scene is likely to get uglier. We want friends of Pakistan to urge the US administration to stop all support of the instable dictator, as his lust for power is bringing the country close to a worse form of civil strife...

--Asma Jahangir
Lahore, Pakistan

General Musharraf claims that martial law is necessary to combat extremist terror. But it just doesn't add up. Musharraf retains strong links with the Pakistani Taliban (see PS below). His emergency powers are being directed only against the democratic opposition, free press and judiciary – just days before a scheduled ruling on whether Musharraf could run for president while remaining army chief. In an August poll, too, Pakistanis rated "ensuring an independent judiciary, free press and free elections" as their top priority.

Right now, leaders around the world are deciding how to respond. The General is dressing up his crackdown in the rhetoric of "anti-terrorism" because Musharraf and his military supporters depend on foreign military aid and international recognition to maintain their legitimacy. That's why we have to speak out now.

The world can't ignore the threat of chaos in Pakistan, or the voices of our fellow democrats there. Let's come together as we did on Burma, and move our governments to act. In these crucial early days, the voice of the world's people has tremendous power. Let's use it. Sign the petition and tell your friends today -

http://www.avaaz.org/en/emergency_pakistan

With hope,

Paul, Pascal, Galit, Ricken, Graziela, Ben and the whole Avaaz team

PS for more background on Pakistani polls and Musharraf's links to the Pakistani Taliban, see: http://www.avaaz.org/blog/en/pakistan

posted by: Whitebeard at 10:01 | link | comments |
democracy, war, resisters