Creative-i

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) VOTERS TURN AGAINST WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
2) NAMING THE DEAD CEREMONIES WHEN THE 200TH SOLDIER DIES
3) SERVING SOLDIER REFUSES TO RETURN TO WAR
4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

*********************************

1) VOTERS TURN AGAINST WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

The latest opinion poll in The Independent carried the headline, “Voters turn against war in Afghanistan”. Despite the pro war propaganda campaign it reported that 52% of the British Public want the troops home now. See bit.ly/2QXiDj

This was confirmed by anti-war activists petitioning up and down the country last weekend. All reported a fantastic response. The report from Worcester was typical: “We collected more signatures and gave out more leaflets than at probably any point in the four years we have been doing street stalls” See groups campaign report: bit.ly/WlzDW

The government has declared ‘mission accomplished’ but even it had to admit they have only ‘cleared’ an area the size of the Isle of Wight of 500 Taliban, deploying 9000 troops to do so, at a cost of 22 soldiers killed and hundreds more wounded.

And what effect has the fighting had on the Afghan people? At a packed Stop the War meeting in London last week, Afghan MP Malalai Joya explained how the occupation was a disaster for the Afghan people and is driving the country backwards. “We always reject occupation and foreign domination,” she said, calling for solidarity from the anti-war movement.

“I know there are millions of British people who want to see an end to this conflict as soon as possible. Together we can raise our voice for peace and justice.” See bit.ly/2x33Fz

Stop the War is encouraging its supporters across the country to get in touch with their local anti-war group and help the campaign in your area. If you would like to get involved, contact the national Stop the War office for details of a local group in your area: Email office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 7801 2768.

*********************************

2) NAMING THE DEAD CEREMONIES WHEN THE 200TH SOLDIER DIES

Currently the lives of 191 British soldiers have been wasted in this terrible, pointless, war. Local anti-war groups will be holding Naming the Dead ceremonies in every area the weekend after the 200th soldier is killed.

*********************************

3) SERVING SOLDIER REFUSES TO RETURN TO WAR

At the Stop the War rally featuring Malalai Joya in London last week, Lance Corporal Joe Glenton became the first serving British soldier to speak out publicly against the Afghan war. Joe faces court martial and a possible two-year prison term after going on the run rather than return to Afghanistan.

Joe says he gradually became aware that justifications for occupying Afghanistan were ringing hollow. “The Afghan people were attacking us, even though our politicians said we were going in to help them. It came as a real shock”

“That’s when I became aware that there was something seriously wrong with the war,” he says.

Joe will attend a court martial hearing next Monday We are asking all our supporters to send messages of complaint, for forwarding to the Ministry of Defence, to joeisinnocent@hotmail.co.uk

Watch Joe’s speech at the Stop the War meeting here: bit.ly/1vyX7b

*********************************

4) JOIN STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER

Twitter is currently a fashionable obsession in the mainstream media, but don’t let that put you off joining what is developing into a very useful means of communication for campaigns like Stop the War.

You can join Stop the War on Twitter here: It’s free! twitter.com/STWuk

Here’s a simple guide to using Twitter for complete beginners: bit.ly/6r4g8

Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/STWuk