From: Stop the War Coalition <office@stopwar.org.uk>
Date: 28 January 2009 22:54:00 GMT
To:
Subject: BBC and Sky: What is wrong with you people?
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1081 29 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) BBC AND SKY: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?
2) HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED?
3) OBAMA'S FIRST ACTS OF WAR
4) NATIONWIDE PROTEST IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
5) GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA
6) SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN: A PLAY FOR GAZA
7) STOP THE WAR NEEDS OFFICE AND STORAGE SPACE
8) YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP: NO. 1744
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1) BBC AND SKY: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?
"What is wrong with you people?" These were the words of actor
David Soul, when complaining to the BBC about its refusal to
broadcast an emergency aid appeal for the people of Gaza.
The protests over this decision have come from every corner of
British society. There has been almost universal outrage, from
the Archbishop of Canterbury to writers and actors who say
they won't work for the BBC again, from college students
occupying their colleges to tens of thousands complaining to
the BBC, from the occupations and protests at BBC offices
across Britain to hundreds of individuals saying they are
cancelling their TV licences and Sky subscriptions.
Many thanks to all the supporters of Stop the War who have
helped build this campaign to get the BBC and Sky to reverse
their decision. That may not have been achieved yet but the
scale of the protest has generated colossal publicity for the
DEC emergency appeal which will be reflected in the donations
they receive and which will be rushed to Gaza to help bring
shelter, food, fuel and medical supplies to a traumatised and
devastated people.
For reports on the different protests around the country and
to view the appeal that the BBC and Sky wouldn't show, go to
the Stop the War website: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/
For a short, moving film which documents the carnage of the
last month and the opposition to it around the world,
including the demonstrations in London, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/brk78r
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2) HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
The Palestinian cause has never received such widespread
support as has been mobilised over the past weeks. Israel may
have reigned back the full power of its military might for now
but Palestine is still subject to endless occupation, siege
and ethnic cleansing. The campaign for Palestinian rights must
be maintained.
Hundreds of people have contacted Stop the War in the last
month asking how they can help in our activities, enquiring
about Stop the War groups in their area, seeking information
about public meetings, asking how they can set up a local Stop
the War group or organise a petition or a collection for Gaza
or to report activities in their locality.
If you would like information on any aspect of our work and
how you can be involved, please contact our national office:
email office@stopwar.org.uk; phone 020 7278 6694.
VOLUNTEERS MEETING
Stop the war has been inundated with people volunteering to
help us in our anti-war activities. Volunteers who live in the
London area and want to get involved in any way are invited to
a Stop the War Activities Meeting on Thursday 5 February at
the Indian YMCA. 41 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 6AQ
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3) OBAMA'S FIRST ACTS OF WAR
Within days of taking office Barack Obama sanctioned two
missile attacks in Pakistan, which killed dozens of civilians.
Obama also announced the doubling of US troop numbers in
Afghanistan to 60,000, making it clear that his war policies
are no different from those of George Bush.
Obama's vice president Joe Biden says there will be an
"uptick" in the military campaign in Afghanistan which makes
more important than ever the protests now being planned in
Britain for Obama's first visit here in April.
It is essential that the anti-war movement mobilises the
widest opposition to the war in Afghanistan - which is
unwinnable even if the invaders knew what "winning" would look
like. Obama's intention is to escalate the war dramatically,
with the inevitable slaughter of Afghan civilians, already
being killed in their hundreds.
Stop the War and CND are now planning their demonstration in
London when Obama joins other heads of government at the G20
meeting on April 2. Following the G20 protest there will be
three days of anti-war events in Strasburg, when Obama will
join in a celebration of the NATO on the 60th anniversary of
its founding. We will be publishing full details soon.
Stop The War Pamphlet:
AFGHANISTAN: WHY WE SHOULD GET OUT
Available from the national office: email
office@stopwar.org.uk or phone 020 7278 6694
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4) NATIONWIDE PROTEST IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
The supposed political apathy of students has been exposed as
nonsense in the rush of activity across the country in the
past month, with 18 occupations of universities by students
campaigning for Gaza, and more protests to come. The students'
demands include an end to universities investing in arms
companies which supply Israel, funding of scholarships for
Palestinian students and sending old books and computers to
Gaza.
Five of these occupations have already succeeded in winning
their demands, at SOAS and LSE in London and at Oxford, Essex
and Sussex universities. For more details of the student
campaign for Gaza, visit our website:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/
Stop the War is organising a student activists' meeting on
Saturday 7 February for students to meet and discuss how to
spread and co-ordinate their campaign of action for Gaza and
against the war in Afghanistan.
STUDENT ACTIVIST CONFERENCE
SATURDAY 7 FEB 7: 12 NOON - 4.00PM
CLORE MANAGEMENT CENTRE RM B01
BIRKBECK COLLEGE, MALET STREET
LONDON WC1E7HX
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5) GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA
Even before the controversy of the DEC emergency aid
broadcast, there was widespread criticism of the reporting of
Israel's onslaught on Gaza. Media Workers Against the War is
hosting another of its very impressive public meetings, titled
GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA, in London on Monday 2 February.
The speakers include Gerald Kaufman MP, whose blistering
attack on Israel's barbarity in the House of Commons was
widely reported (see video here: http://tinyurl.com/bz32ao)
Other speakers include Seumas Milne from The Guardian and
Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet.
GAZA - FAILED BY THE MEDIA
PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY
7.00PM ALL WELCOME
Speakers:
Seumas Milne, The Guardian
Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Richard Horton, The Lancet
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, NUJ
Lauren Booth, Press TV
A Palestinian Journalist (tbc)
Jane Shallice, Stop The War Coalition
OLD CINEMA LECTURE THEATRE
WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY
309 REGENT STREET LONDON W1B 2UW
Nearest tube: Oxford CircusS
Map: http://tinyurl.com/dj6ywh
MORE DETAILS: Email info@mwaw.net, Tel 07801 789 297
Hosted by Media Workers Against the War: http://www.mwaw.net/
See also The Media Workers Against the War article:
EIGHT REASONS WHY THE BBC IS WRONG ON GAZA
http://www.mwaw.net/2009/01/26/gaza-appeal/
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6) SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN: A PLAY FOR GAZA
Seven Jewish Children is a ten minute history of Israel,
ending with the bombing of Gaza. The playwright Caryl
Churchill says of her play, "It came out of feeling strongly
about what's happening in Gaza - it's a way of helping the
people there. Everyone knows about Gaza, everyone is upset
about it, and this play is something they could come to. It's
a political event, not just a theatre event."
There are 13 performances, 6 - 21 February at the Royal Court
Theatre in London. For more details and how to book:
http://tinyurl.com/dnjty3
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7) STOP THE WAR NEEDS OFFICE AND STORAGE SPACE
Stop the War must unavoidably move from its current office at
the UCU union's building in Kings Cross, where we have been
for a number of years. We are very grateful for the support
UCU has given us in providing a national office. The UCU
building is soon to be closed and Stop the War is looking for
new premises in London. If any of our supporters knows of
office space which would be suitable for Stop the War, please
contact: email office@stopwar.org.uk or phone 020 7278 6694.
We are also looking for temporary storage space to house our
resources (merchandise, placards, printed materials etc). We
need space the equivalent of a double lockup garage. If you
know of any available storage facilities, please contact the
national office.
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8) YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP: NO. 1744
"The rocket barrages which are getting closer and closer to
populated areas cannot go unanswered," said US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton in her first news conference. No prizes
for guessing which country she meant (clue: not the one she
should have been talking about).
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