From info at j-n-v.org Mon Apr 2 17:52:16 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (JNV) Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:52:16 +0100 Subject: [JNV] Maya & Mil Face Possible Prison Sentences/ JNV Appeal Message-ID: <4fcb257cc7df091a6a9d43ae6a4a3736@j-n-v.org> Dear All, Please find below: 1. JNV Appeal 2. Maya Evans and Milan Rai on trial next week 3. Events Listing Emily Johns Milan Rai Maya Evans *** Dear friends For the past four years Justice Not Vengeance has made a singular contribution to the anti-war and wider peace movements, providing ground-breaking analysis, inspiring presentations, powerful imagery and effective protest. Maya Anne Evans has become a household name for her stand against the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act (2005) (she has appealed her conviction to the High Court and is now taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights). Emily Johns has been one of the few British peace activists to visit Iran and talk to both officials and ordinary Iranians about the issues that confront us - and she has brought back a wealth of images that educate, inspire and move us to action. Milan Rai has written JNV anti-war briefings on a broad array of subjects, and spent time in Lewes Prison for his opposition to the war in Iraq. All three have toured the country (and North America, in Milan's case) speaking out against war and repression, against al-Qaeda terrorism and Western state terrorism. JNV also produced several publications last year; '7/7 The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War' by Milan Rai, 'Naming the Dead' by Maya Anne Evans and an 'Axis of Evil' Iran catalogue with images by Emily Johns. All are available via the JNV website. We are now making an appeal for financial support for us to be able to continue and improve our work. We need to replace a desktop computer and a laptop computer which are vital for our work. We need money to pay our landline and mobile phone bills, for our travel and basic office expenses. All this will cost around £4000 for this year, we believe. None of the three core JNV workers has received any pay for the work they have done over the past four years. We would like to be able to pay at least partial wages to them for at least half of the year. This would also cost around £4000. We would be very grateful if you could make a contribution towards this total. We haven't made an appeal for over a year, and we don't intend to appeal to you again for another year. We will email again in a week to let you know how the appeal is going. If everyone who receives JNV emails (over 3,000 people) were to donate something - anything - according to their ability, we would be able to reach this target and to put JNV on a sound footing, able to move forward confidently. Yours for peace and justice Emily Johns Milan Rai Maya Evans 2. Maya and Mil stand trial Tuesday 10th April 2pm Horseferry Magistrates Court charged with organising and participating in an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament during last October's "No More Fallujahs" anti-occupation camp in Parliament Square. The other 8 organiser of the event will be giving evidence at the trial whereby Maya and Mil will be defending themselves. Please show your support. 70 Horseferry Road Westminster SW1P 2AX 3. Events Listings April WALES Drawing paradise on the "Axis of Evil" Exhibitions and talks on Iran by artist and JNV activist EMILY JOHNS (support act: MILAN RAI) (see http://tinyurl.com/j7gmf). Exhibitions: Mon 2- Fri 13 Apr TENBY 10am- 5pm, Mon- Sat (closed Sun), Little Wedlock Gallery, Gumfreston, SA70 8RB (www.littlewedlockgallery.co.uk) Sat 14- Fri 27 Apr NARBETH Span Arts, Town Moor, Moorfield Road, SA67 7AG. Contact 01834 869 323 for times. Sat 28 Apr- Fri 4 May MILFORD HAVEN Friends Meeting House Priory Road Contact 01646 651766 for times. Talks: Mon 2 Apr TENBY 7.30pm St Johns Church. Tues 3 Apr MILFORD HAVEN 7.30pm Friends Meeting House Priory Rd. Wed 4 Apr ST DAVIDS 7.30pm For time and venue ring 0845 458 9572. Thurs 5 Apr NARBETH 7pm, Span Arts, Moorfield Road, SA67 7AG. For more info see www.j-n-v.org or call 0845 458 9571. SAT 7 April - Sat 21 April NATIONAL Vanunu Freedom (cycle) fride from FASLANCE TRIDENT SUBMARINE BASE to the ISRAELI EMBASSY. Contact 0207 607 2302 for more info. Tues 10 April LONDON Trial of JNV peace activists MAYA EVANS and MILAN RAI, charged with organising and / or participating in an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament during last October's "No More Fallujahs" anti-occupation camp in Parliament Square. 2pm, Horseferry Magistrates Court, 70 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2AX. We'd really appreciate your support. Tues 10 APR, ALDERMASTON: MASS NONVIOLENT BLOCKADE OF BRITAIN'S ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT. See www.tridentploughshares.org/aldermaston 11 - 17 ARPIL, LONDON: BIRDS OF WAR: HAWKS, DOVES AND ILLEGAL EAGLES. Exhibition of contemporary, visual artwork to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. A unique opportunity to view a dynamic collaboration between British and Iraqi artists. Times: Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun, 10am - 4pm. Venue: Candid Arts Trust, 3 Torrens St, Islington, EC1V 1NQ. Admission Free. See www.birdsofwar.org 13-14 APR, LONDON: "PEACE HISTORY": ENCOURAGEMENT AND WARNINGS. Two-day non-residential conference at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1. Organised by the International Peace Bureau and the Movement for the Abolition of War. See www.abolishwar.org.uk. APR - JUL, LONDON: 'BLOODY TERRORISTS' - TERRORISM IN CONTEXT. A series of public lectures chaired by Professor Ziauddin Sardar (School of Arts, The City University). All lectures: 6 - 8pm, Oliver Merton Hall, The City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB. - 25 Apr: 'Where Do Terrorists Come From?' by Milan Rai (Director, Justice Not Vengeance, and author of 7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War) - 9 May: 'Wretched Earth: Terrorism, Wretchedness and Political Philosophy' by Professor Ted Honderich (University College, London - 23 May: 'Terrorism and Islam: The British Muslim Experience' by Yahya Birt, (Director, City Circle and Research Fellow, Islamic Foundation) - 6 Jun: 'Martyrs of Postculture: Analysing the Terrorist' by Dr Richard Appignanesi (Associate Editor, Third Text) - 20 Jun: 'Reporting Terror: How the Media Covers Terrorism' by Professor Adrian Monck (Department of Journalism, The City University) - 4 Jul: 'Cultural Terrorism and Terrorism of Culture' by Ms Merryl Wyn Davies (anthropologist and writer, co-author of "Why Do People Hate America?" and "American Dream, Global Nightmare") 1 MAY - 2 JUN, LONDON: "FALLUJAH" PLAY written and directed by Jonathan Holmes. Based on research and interviews carried out by the Oxford Research Group, "Fallujah" presents verbatim testimony from those at the heart of the US siege of the city. Times: Mon-Sat, 7.30pm; Wed & Sat 3pm. Venue: The Atlantic Building, The Old Truman Brewery, 146 Brick Lane, E1 6RU. Tickets £20 / £18. Book now on 0207 930 3647 or via www.ica.org.uk. See www.fallujah.co.uk for more info. 14 MAY, BRISTOL: SECOND TRIAL OF TOBY OLDITCH AND PHIL PRITCHARD, two peace activists who entered RAF Fairford and attempted to disarm USAF B-52 bombers on 18th March 2003 (their first trial resulted in a hung jury). 10am, Bristol Crown Court, The Law Courts, Small Street, BS1 1DA. Support welcome: the trial is scheduled to last for several days. For background info on the trial see www.b52two.org 14 MAY, LONDON: BOOK LAUNCH OF 'IRAQI WOMEN' BY NADJE SADIG AL-ALI. 'An extraordinary book ... Particularly sobering is the author's balanced and sensitive analysis of the negative effects on women's rights and lives of the decade of sanctions and the current US-British occupation' - Lila Abu-Lughod, Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies, Columbia University. 5.30 - 8pm, Khalili Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1. 2 JUN, EASTBOURNE: PEACEMAKING IN PALESTINE. Talk by John Lynes (Christian Peacemaker Teams). michael3col@yahoo.co.uk or 01323 430040. 11 SEPT, LONDON: DISARM DSEI. Day of action outside Britain's biggest arms fair. See www.dsei.org From info at j-n-v.org Mon Apr 2 20:00:58 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (JNV) Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:00:58 +0100 Subject: [JNV] Re: JNV Appeal Message-ID: <5d5699e54297c5fee6137264b075f6c6@j-n-v.org> Dear all, Many apologies for missing out our contact details from the previous message. If you are able to make a donation - of whatever size - please make it out to 'JNV' and send it to us at: 29 Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN38 0HE. If you feel able to offer continuing support through a monthly standing order (of whatever size), our bank details are: Justice Not Vengeance, A/C 78520921 Nationwide Building Society, 40 London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea East Sussex TN37 6AN Sort code 07-00-55 For whatever support you are able to give, we are very grateful. Yours for peace Maya Evans, Emily Johns, Milan Rai ----- Original Message ----- From: "JNV" To: "Announce JNV" Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 5:52 PM Subject: [JNV] Maya & Mil Face Possible Prison Sentences/ JNV Appeal Dear All, Please find below: 1. JNV Appeal 2. Maya Evans and Milan Rai on trial next week 3. Events Listing Emily Johns Milan Rai Maya Evans *** Dear friends For the past four years Justice Not Vengeance has made a singular contribution to the anti-war and wider peace movements, providing ground-breaking analysis, inspiring presentations, powerful imagery and effective protest. Maya Anne Evans has become a household name for her stand against the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act (2005) (she has appealed her conviction to the High Court and is now taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights). Emily Johns has been one of the few British peace activists to visit Iran and talk to both officials and ordinary Iranians about the issues that confront us - and she has brought back a wealth of images that educate, inspire and move us to action. Milan Rai has written JNV anti-war briefings on a broad array of subjects, and spent time in Lewes Prison for his opposition to the war in Iraq. All three have toured the country (and North America, in Milan's case) speaking out against war and repression, against al-Qaeda terrorism and Western state terrorism. JNV also produced several publications last year; '7/7 The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War' by Milan Rai, 'Naming the Dead' by Maya Anne Evans and an 'Axis of Evil' Iran catalogue with images by Emily Johns. All are available via the JNV website. We are now making an appeal for financial support for us to be able to continue and improve our work. We need to replace a desktop computer and a laptop computer which are vital for our work. We need money to pay our landline and mobile phone bills, for our travel and basic office expenses. All this will cost around £4000 for this year, we believe. None of the three core JNV workers has received any pay for the work they have done over the past four years. We would like to be able to pay at least partial wages to them for at least half of the year. This would also cost around £4000. We would be very grateful if you could make a contribution towards this total. We haven't made an appeal for over a year, and we don't intend to appeal to you again for another year. We will email again in a week to let you know how the appeal is going. If everyone who receives JNV emails (over 3,000 people) were to donate something - anything - according to their ability, we would be able to reach this target and to put JNV on a sound footing, able to move forward confidently. Yours for peace and justice Emily Johns Milan Rai Maya Evans 2. Maya and Mil stand trial Tuesday 10th April 2pm Horseferry Magistrates Court charged with organising and participating in an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament during last October's "No More Fallujahs" anti-occupation camp in Parliament Square. The other 8 organiser of the event will be giving evidence at the trial whereby Maya and Mil will be defending themselves. Please show your support. 70 Horseferry Road Westminster SW1P 2AX 3. Events Listings April WALES Drawing paradise on the "Axis of Evil" Exhibitions and talks on Iran by artist and JNV activist EMILY JOHNS (support act: MILAN RAI) (see http://tinyurl.com/j7gmf). Exhibitions: Mon 2- Fri 13 Apr TENBY 10am- 5pm, Mon- Sat (closed Sun), Little Wedlock Gallery, Gumfreston, SA70 8RB (www.littlewedlockgallery.co.uk) Sat 14- Fri 27 Apr NARBETH Span Arts, Town Moor, Moorfield Road, SA67 7AG. Contact 01834 869 323 for times. Sat 28 Apr- Fri 4 May MILFORD HAVEN Friends Meeting House Priory Road Contact 01646 651766 for times. Talks: Mon 2 Apr TENBY 7.30pm St Johns Church. Tues 3 Apr MILFORD HAVEN 7.30pm Friends Meeting House Priory Rd. Wed 4 Apr ST DAVIDS 7.30pm For time and venue ring 0845 458 9572. Thurs 5 Apr NARBETH 7pm, Span Arts, Moorfield Road, SA67 7AG. For more info see www.j-n-v.org or call 0845 458 9571. SAT 7 April - Sat 21 April NATIONAL Vanunu Freedom (cycle) fride from FASLANCE TRIDENT SUBMARINE BASE to the ISRAELI EMBASSY. Contact 0207 607 2302 for more info. Tues 10 April LONDON Trial of JNV peace activists MAYA EVANS and MILAN RAI, charged with organising and / or participating in an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament during last October's "No More Fallujahs" anti-occupation camp in Parliament Square. 2pm, Horseferry Magistrates Court, 70 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2AX. We'd really appreciate your support. Tues 10 APR, ALDERMASTON: MASS NONVIOLENT BLOCKADE OF BRITAIN'S ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT. See www.tridentploughshares.org/aldermaston 11 - 17 ARPIL, LONDON: BIRDS OF WAR: HAWKS, DOVES AND ILLEGAL EAGLES. Exhibition of contemporary, visual artwork to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. A unique opportunity to view a dynamic collaboration between British and Iraqi artists. Times: Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun, 10am - 4pm. Venue: Candid Arts Trust, 3 Torrens St, Islington, EC1V 1NQ. Admission Free. See www.birdsofwar.org 13-14 APR, LONDON: "PEACE HISTORY": ENCOURAGEMENT AND WARNINGS. Two-day non-residential conference at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1. Organised by the International Peace Bureau and the Movement for the Abolition of War. See www.abolishwar.org.uk. APR - JUL, LONDON: 'BLOODY TERRORISTS' - TERRORISM IN CONTEXT. A series of public lectures chaired by Professor Ziauddin Sardar (School of Arts, The City University). All lectures: 6 - 8pm, Oliver Merton Hall, The City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB. - 25 Apr: 'Where Do Terrorists Come From?' by Milan Rai (Director, Justice Not Vengeance, and author of 7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War) - 9 May: 'Wretched Earth: Terrorism, Wretchedness and Political Philosophy' by Professor Ted Honderich (University College, London - 23 May: 'Terrorism and Islam: The British Muslim Experience' by Yahya Birt, (Director, City Circle and Research Fellow, Islamic Foundation) - 6 Jun: 'Martyrs of Postculture: Analysing the Terrorist' by Dr Richard Appignanesi (Associate Editor, Third Text) - 20 Jun: 'Reporting Terror: How the Media Covers Terrorism' by Professor Adrian Monck (Department of Journalism, The City University) - 4 Jul: 'Cultural Terrorism and Terrorism of Culture' by Ms Merryl Wyn Davies (anthropologist and writer, co-author of "Why Do People Hate America?" and "American Dream, Global Nightmare") 1 MAY - 2 JUN, LONDON: "FALLUJAH" PLAY written and directed by Jonathan Holmes. Based on research and interviews carried out by the Oxford Research Group, "Fallujah" presents verbatim testimony from those at the heart of the US siege of the city. Times: Mon-Sat, 7.30pm; Wed & Sat 3pm. Venue: The Atlantic Building, The Old Truman Brewery, 146 Brick Lane, E1 6RU. Tickets £20 / £18. Book now on 0207 930 3647 or via www.ica.org.uk. See www.fallujah.co.uk for more info. 14 MAY, BRISTOL: SECOND TRIAL OF TOBY OLDITCH AND PHIL PRITCHARD, two peace activists who entered RAF Fairford and attempted to disarm USAF B-52 bombers on 18th March 2003 (their first trial resulted in a hung jury). 10am, Bristol Crown Court, The Law Courts, Small Street, BS1 1DA. Support welcome: the trial is scheduled to last for several days. For background info on the trial see www.b52two.org 14 MAY, LONDON: BOOK LAUNCH OF 'IRAQI WOMEN' BY NADJE SADIG AL-ALI. 'An extraordinary book ... Particularly sobering is the author's balanced and sensitive analysis of the negative effects on women's rights and lives of the decade of sanctions and the current US-British occupation' - Lila Abu-Lughod, Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies, Columbia University. 5.30 - 8pm, Khalili Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1. 2 JUN, EASTBOURNE: PEACEMAKING IN PALESTINE. Talk by John Lynes (Christian Peacemaker Teams). michael3col@yahoo.co.uk or 01323 430040. 11 SEPT, LONDON: DISARM DSEI. Day of action outside Britain's biggest arms fair. See www.dsei.org ________________________________________ Sent via the Justice Not Vengeance announcements list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.j-n-v.org/mailman/listinfo/jnv-announce. JNV's website is at http://www.j-n-v.org From info at j-n-v.org Thu Apr 12 02:05:13 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (JNV) Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 02:05:13 +0100 Subject: [JNV] JNV Appeal / 10 April Trial / Key Telegraph Poll / How to donate Message-ID: <02fcf1156c42582b8d8a6e9b617e8bca@j-n-v.org> 1) JNV APPEAL GOING STRONG - MORE DONATIONS WELCOME Justice Not Vengeance issued an appeal for financial support on 2 April (17 months after our last appeal). By 11 April, we had received £1,553 in cash and cheques. We are extremely grateful for the very generous support we've had from 23 supporters so far. We welcome warmly further donations to help move us towards our goal of £4,000. If everyone who receives this email (who has not already donated) was to make some contribution, of whatever size If you value the work of JNV in art, protest, or analysis, we ask you please to give as generously as you can. (Details of how to donate are at the end of this email.) Thank you, Maya Anne Evans Emily Johns Milan Rai 2) JNV TRIAL BREAKS UP IN CONFUSION Maya Anne Evans and Milan Rai were meant to have been on trial yesterday (10 April), facing a maximum penalty of 51 weeks in prison, but the proceedings broke down in something of a judicial farce. No trial was held, and no date was fixed for it to recommence. The sticking point was Maya and Mil's refusal to give their dates of birth to the court (as they had done in their earlier court SOCPA cases), which Judge Newton decided to treat as contempt of court, sending them to the cells for an hour, postponing the trial, and setting a date (Friday 20 April) for a new trial on the charge of contempt of court. The charge of organizing an unauthorized demonstration was also inexplicably dropped at the last moment. For a full account of the hearing by Milan Rai, please click on the link on our home page www.j-n-v.org. 3) TELEGRAPH POLL - BRITISH PUBLIC REJECTS GREAT POWER STATUS The Daily Telegraph commissioned a YouGov poll which was published on 5 April 2007. Anthony King, professor of government at Essex University, summarized parts of the poll for the Telegraph: 'The figures set out in the chart attest to the existence of a public opinion strikingly at odds with the views of Tony Blair and other major party leaders. Asked straightforwardly whether we as a nation should go on trying "to punch above our weight" internationally, a clear majority, 55 per cent, say "No". Only 30 per cent take the opposite view, with the remainder unsure.' 'Only a minuscule seven per cent think Britain "should try to expand its military influence in the world, if necessary by increasing spending on the armed forces" and only 19 per cent appear content with Britain's present role. Instead, two voters in every three believe Britain is already over-extended and should reduce its overseas commitments, should spend less and should not worry if British influence is thereby diminished.' 'The findings reported in the section of the chart headed "Involvement in foreign conflicts" point in the same direction. Although a majority of YouGov's respondents sympathise with continuing British involvement in purely peace-keeping operations, an even larger majority - nearly three quarters of those questioned - are emphatic that Britain "should be reluctant to become involved in any foreign conflict unless it is absolutely clear that it is in Britain's own interests to do so".' 'Substantial majorities think British troops should be withdrawn from both Afghanistan and Iraq more or less immediately.' The actual question is: 'Should British forces continue to be deployed in Iraq/ Afghanistan for at least the next year or two, or should they be brought home more or less immediately?' British forces should continue to be deployed: Iraq 29% Afghanistan 33% They should be brought home soon: Iraq 59% Afghanistan 53% Don't know: Iraq 13% Afghanistan 14% The anti-war movement represents the mainstream, the majority of opinion. The full results of the poll are available as a pdf from: 4) HOW TO DONATE If you are able to make a donation - of whatever size - to support our work, please make your cheque out to 'JNV' and send it to us at: Justice Not Vengeance, 29 Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN38 0HE. If you feel able to offer continuing support through a monthly standing order - again, of whatever size - our bank details are: Justice Not Vengeance, A/C 78520921 Nationwide Building Society, 40 London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea East Sussex TN37 6AN Sort code 07-00-55 Many thanks for all your work, and for whatever support you are able to contribute. best wishes Maya Anne Evans Emily Johns Milan Rai From info at j-n-v.org Wed May 2 18:40:35 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (JNV) Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 18:40:35 +0100 Subject: [JNV] Peace Prisoner / Mil & Maya News / JNV Appeal Success / Mass Action Proposal / Events Message-ID: Contents: 1) Peace Activist in prison - please write today 2) Peace Activists not in prison - Mil and Maya walk free (for now) - Mil's blog 3) JNV Appeal ends - in success! 4) Mass Nonviolent Civil Disobedience - a proposal and an open letter 5) Events - the Voices in the Wilderness UK events list *** 1) PEACE ACTIVIST IN PRISON: Please send him a colourful postcard today! Fr Martin Newell, WW7472, HMP Brixton, Jebb Avenue, London SW2 5XF Yesterday (1 May) peace activist and Catholic Priest Martin Newell was sentenced to 14 days in prison for a December 2004 peace protest outside the Ministry of 'Defence'. He will be released between 7am and 10am on Friday 4 May (he should be released Monday, but as it's a Bank Holiday he gets out earlier!). On December 28th 2004, the Catholic Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martin and six other people mostly from the radical "Catholic Worker movement", converted the lawn outside the Ministry of Defence (MoD) opposite Downing Street into a war cemetery in memory of the dead of the invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq. Fr Newell was writing "Remember the Innocent – Stop the War" and "Remember Iraqi War Dead" on the wall of the MoD as a memorial to the dead, when he was stopped by police. Prayers of remembrance and repentance were also said. He was later found guilty of criminal damage at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court, Westminster and ordered to pay £660 compensation to the MoD. He has refused to pay this as a further act of non-co-operation with the war on Iraq. The director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (and JNV Board of Advisors member) Chris Cole recently spent two weeks in HMP Wandsworth after also refusing to pay compensation. For more information on Martin's stand, and on the Catholic Worker movement, please visit http://www.londoncatholicworker.org OR visit http://catholicworker.org *** 2) PEACE ACTIVISTS NOT IN PRISON Our apologies for not sending an email sooner to report on the 20 April 'trial' of JNV activists Maya Anne Evans and Milan Rai. There is a long report on the JNV website (see http://www.j-n-v.org), but the short version is that the court once again backed down and failed to take action against Maya and Mil for refusing to give their dates of birth. Their SOCPA trial is now set for 28 August, and Maya is still banned from central London (the entire borough of Westminster) until then. Due to an oversight by the court, Mil is on unconditional bail, free to enter the City of Westminster. As the prosecution has dropped the charge of 'organizing an unauthorized demonstration', the maximum penalty the pair face is a fine - for 'participating in an unauthorized demonstration in the vicinity of Parliament'. (Incidentally, as well as editing Peace News, Mil is also doing an occasional blog at http://www.ukwatch.net .) *** 3) JNV APPEAL ENDS - IN SUCCESS! During April JNV made an appeal for funds to help keep us going through the year. We are very grateful for the extraordinarily generous response you have collectively made. We asked for £4000 to replace ageing desktop and laptop computers which are vital for our work; to pay for our landline and mobile phone bills; and for our travel and basic office expenses. By the middle of the month, we had reached this goal. We also asked for £4000 to pay at least partial wages to JNV workers for at least half of the year. By the end of April, we had also reached and passed this goal - which we had considered extremely ambitious. We have been overwhelmed by your response, and we are moved by your support more than we can say. We pledge to make every penny of your donations work for peace and justice. Yours gratefully, Maya Anne Evans Emily Johns Milan Rai *** 4) MASS NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AT THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE - A PROPOSAL TO STOP THE WAR The upcoming change in Labour leadership should be an opportunity for a radical change in British foreign policy: withdrawing British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, scrapping Trident, and making a firm public commitment not to support any future attack on Iran. Instead Tony Blair’s replacement by Gordon Brown – the man who bankrolled and supported all Blair’s wars – means that it will be business as usual. The anti-war movement must respond by stepping up its resistance. In a recent open letter six prominent figures in the anti-war movement join us in calling on the Stop the War Coalition 'to organise mass nonviolent civil disobedience at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth this September' - an action that would complement and extend STW's existing lobbying of Labour MP's, Councillors and Constituency Officers (see http://tinyurl.com/2vb9s3). We strongly urge all members of the Coalition to support this call, and all groups on the STW Steering Committee to raise this matter at this Saturday’s (5 May) Steering Committee meeting. A sample motion to this effect, which could be tabled and voted on at this meeting, is reproduced on the JNV website (see http://www.j-n-v.org). Gabriel Carlyle (Voices UK) Milan Rai (JNV) --- CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AT THIS SEPTEMBER’S LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE: AN OPEN LETTER FROM GEORGE MONBIOT, HAIFA ZANGANA ET AL. On 28 February 2003, US soldiers fired on a crowd of unarmed demonstrators outside a school in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, killing thirteen civilians, including two schoolchildren. Two days later, a US soldier fired a machine gun at another group of unarmed demonstrators outside a US army base. These incidents, and similar killings in Samarra and other towns in the 'Sunni Triangle' - for which no US soldier was ever put on trial - played a critical role in sparking the Sunni insurgency against the US/UK occupation. To date, at least 186,000 Iraqis have been killed by US-led forces (according to a Lancet-published study that we now know was regarded as 'robust' by the Ministry of Defence). The proportion of Iraqis who regard it as acceptable to attack 'coalition forces' has tripled from 17% in 2004 to 51% in 2007. We demand a fundamental change in British foreign policy, not merely a change in the leadership of the party in Government. We demand a commitment to peace and justice. This means withdrawing all British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan (as favoured by over 53% of British people in a recent YouGov poll), rejecting the renewal of Trident nuclear submarines, and publicly opposing any US assault on Iran. If these changes are not made then we call on the Stop The War Coalition to organise mass nonviolent civil disobedience at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth this September. Nadje al-Ali (author 'Iraqi Women: Untold Stories from 1948 to the Present'), Iain Banks (author), Gabriel Carlyle (Voices UK), Denis Halliday (former UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq), George Monbiot (author), Milan Rai (JNV), Hans von Sponeck (former UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq), Haifa Zangana (author 'Women On a Journey: Between Baghdad and London') *** 5) FORTHCOMING EVENTS (Followed by regular events) MAY - JUL, LONDON: 'BLOODY TERRORISTS' - TERRORISM IN CONTEXT. A series of public lectures chaired by Professor Ziauddin Sardar (School of Arts, The City University). All lectures: 6 - 8pm, Oliver Merton Hall, The City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB. - 9 May: 'Wretched Earth: Terrorism, Wretchedness and Political Philosophy' by Professor Ted Honderich (University College, London - 23 May: 'Terrorism and Islam: The British Muslim Experience' by Yahya Birt, (Director, City Circle and Research Fellow, Islamic Foundation) - 6 Jun: 'Martyrs of Postculture: Analysing the Terrorist' by Dr Richard Appignanesi (Associate Editor, Third Text) - 20 Jun: 'Reporting Terror: How the Media Covers Terrorism' by Professor Adrian Monck (Department of Journalism, The City University) - 4 Jul: 'Cultural Terrorism and Terrorism of Culture' by Ms Merryl Wyn Davies (anthropologist and writer, co-author of "Why Do People Hate America?" and "American Dream, Global Nightmare") 19 APR – 19 MAY, LONDON: CALLED TO ACCOUNT: THE INDICTMENT OF ANTHONY CHARLES LYNTON BLAIR FOR THE CRIME OF AGGRESSION AGAINST IRAQ - A HEARING. Verbatim play based on a non-official hearing earlier this year. Mon 8pm & midweek 2pm: £8.50. Tues/Wed 8pm & Sat 4pm: £13. Thur/Fri 8pm: £15. Sat 8pm: £18 Midweek mats 9 & 16 May. Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR. See www.tricycle.co.uk or 0207 328 1000. 9 MAY, AROUND THE UK: STW PUBLIC MEETINGS ON IRAN. * 9 May: Westgate Hall, Canterbury Kent, 7.30pm * 9 May: Goldsmith’s College, Ian Gulland lecture theatre, Whitehead Building, Lewisham Way, London SE14, 7.30 pm. With Moazzam Begg. 07725 805 871 See www.stopwar.org.uk or 020 7278 6694. * 9 May: 7.30pm, Westgate Hall, Canterbury, Kent. With Guest Speakers Andrew Murray (STWC) and Mehri Henerbon Holliday (Campaign Iran). Contact Joel 07786367975 1 MAY - 2 JUN, LONDON: "FALLUJAH" PLAY written and directed by Jonathan Holmes. Based on research and interviews carried out by the Oxford Research Group, "Fallujah" presents verbatim testimony from those at the heart of the US siege of the city. Times: Mon-Sat, 7.30pm; Wed & Sat 3pm. Venue: The Atlantic Building, The Old Truman Brewery, 146 Brick Lane, E1 6RU. Tickets £20 / £18. Book now on 0207 930 3647 or via www.ica.org.uk. The 1 and 2 Jun performances will be accompanied by a discussion with Dahr Jamail, Jo Wilding and Rana al-Aiouby: from 9pm on 1 Jun, 5.30 - 6.30pm on 2 Jun. See www.fallujah.co.uk for more info. 5 MAY, LONDON: FILM SCREENING OF “OMAR DEGHAYES: THE SEARCH FOR JUSTICE” followed by a panel discussion with Sarah Teather MP. Victoria Brittain and a speaker from the Save Omar Campaign. Omar Deghayes is one of the British residents currently being held without charge or trial in Guantanamo Bay. 4-6pm, Gladstone Park Primary School, Sherrick Green Road, NW10 1 LB (tube: Dollis Hill). Organised by the London Guantánamo Campaign. 07809 757 176. 9 MAY, LONDON: PROTEST OUTSIDE THE AGM OF ARMS DEALER BAE SYSTEMS, one of the UK's leading war profiteers (BAE has a multi-billion dollar contract with the Pentagon to re-fit the Bradley fighting vehicles being used in Iraq and Afghanistan). From 9.30am, Queen Elizabeth Centre, Broad Sanctuary, SW1P 3EE (tube: St James' Park). Protest org. by Campaign Against Arms Trade: www.caat.org.uk. 12 MAY, LONDON: "NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION' WORKSHOP WITH TURNING THE TIDE. One of a series of monthly 1-day workshops for those interested in learning about tools for radical change. £20 per workshop. Follow-up workshops on 9 Jun, 7 Jul, 8 Sept and 20 Oct [CHECK DETAILS]. For more info contact Turning the Tide, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. 020 7663 1064/1061, sophier@quaker.org.uk or visit www.turning-the-tide.org. 12-13 MAY, LONDON: CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE at the London School of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2. www.campaigncc.org. 14 MAY, BRISTOL: SECOND TRIAL OF TOBY OLDITCH AND PHIL PRITCHARD, two peace activists who entered RAF Fairford and attempted to disarm USAF B-52 bombers on 18th March 2003 (their first trial resulted in a hung jury). 10am, Bristol Crown Court, The Law Courts, Small Street, BS1 1DA. Support welcome: the trial is scheduled to last for several days. For background info on the trial see www.b52two.org. 14 MAY, LONDON: BOOK LAUNCH OF 'IRAQI WOMEN' BY NADJE SADIG AL-ALI. 'An extraordinary book ... Particularly sobering is the author's balanced and sensitive analysis of the negative effects on women's rights and lives of the decade of sanctions and the current US-British occupation' - Lila Abu-Lughod, Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies, Columbia University. 5.30 - 8pm, Khalili Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1. 14 MAY, LONDON: “THE BATTLE OF THE STORY: USING THE POWER OF STORYTELLING FOR EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGNING.” A free one-day workshop for grassroots anti-war activists. 10am - 5pm, Old Truman Brewery – 146 Brick Lane , London E1. Workshop run by Isabelle Fremeaux (co-founder of 'The Laboratory of the Insurrectionary Imagination') and Tim Markham. Part of the 'Fallujah' month of events (see 1 May - 2 Jun listing above). Contact i.fremeaux@bbk.ac.uk 16 MAY, LONDON: FOREIGN POLICY AFTER BLAIR. Public meeting organised by Hackney Stop the War. Venue: the Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road, Lower Clapton, E5(buses 106, 253, 254, 242, 38, 55, 48, S2). Time: 7.30pm. With Craig Murray (former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan), Adam Price MP (secretary Stop the War parliamentary group), Walter Wolfgang (vice-president CND, vice-chair Labour CND, Labour NEC) and Chris Nineham (national officer Stop the War). 18 MAY, FARINGDON: MAKING WAR OR PEACE? AFGHANISTAN ... IRAQ ... IRAN ... WHAT ARE WE DOING? Public meeting with Jo Wilding, Ed Vaizey MP (Con.), Paul Ingrams (BASIC), and perhaps a spokesperson from the Defence Academy. 7.30pm, United Church , Coxwell Street, Faringdon. Org. by Faringdon Peace Group. 01367 240508 or www.faringdonpeacegroup.org.uk. 19 MAY, HAMPSTEAD: CHALLENGING OPPRESSION WORKSHOP. Training to empower people working for social change with the practical tools and analysis of active nonviolence. 10.30am – 5.15pm, Hampstead Friends Meeting House, 120 Heath Street, Hampstead NW3 1DR. £20 / £10. For bookings and further details contact Turning the Tide: 020 7663 1061. Org. by 'Peaceful Aloud' and Quaker Peace and Social Witness. 23 MAY, LONDON: SCREENINGS OF 'A LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER' AND 'TESTIMONIES FROM FALLUJAH' followed by discussion with 'A letter ...' director Julia Guest. 7.30pm, ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Box Office: 020 7930 3647 / Switchboard: 020 7930 0493. Tickets: 8 pounds / 7 pounds. www.ica.org.uk 24 MAY, LONDON: GUANTANAMO BAY - CLOSE IT DOWN. Talk with speakers Moazzam Begg and Sadat Sayeed. 6.30pm, London South Bank University Keyworth Centre. See http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/about/maps.sht. 27 MAY, LONDON: PARTY4PEACE. Benefit gig at THE BEDFORD, Balham SW12 with doors open at 7pm and live acts from around 7.45pm onwards. Acts confirmed include David Knopfler, Sam Beste, Graham Hodgin and drama from 'Subverse'. Political stalls and guest speaker. For info contact: ray.sil@btopenworld.com 28 MAY - 2 JUNE, BRIGHTON: TENT STATE UNIVERSITY UK: "EDUCATION NOT WAR." Noam Chomsky will speak via video link and dozens of academics and activists will lead discussions at an 'alternative university', organised by a group of Sussex staff and students. University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton. web@tentstate.org.uk JUNE, LONDON: "WAR IS STILL THE ISSUE" PEACE CAMP IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE. See Off Blair With Brian Haw! The Camp will begin at 12 noon, the Saturday before Brown is scheduled to become leader (probably Saturday 16 June, contact 0845 458 2564 to confirm) and run until 12 noon the day after he becomes leader. Please note that this is an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament: a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to 1000 pounds. See www.voicesuk.org or 0845 458 2564. 2 JUN, EASTBOURNE: PEACEMAKING IN PALESTINE. Talk by John Lynes (Christian Peacemaker Teams).Friends Meeting House, Wish Road, Eastbourne. michael3col@yahoo.co.uk or 01323 430040. 4 JUN, LONDON: TALK BY INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST DAHR JAMAIL (IRAQ DISPATCHES) with Tariq Ali and Haifa Zangana. Time and venue tbc. See www.iraqoccupationfocus.org.uk. 9 JUNE, LONDON: 40 YEARS OF OCCUPATION IS ENOUGH! National demonstration and rally against the Israeli occupation. 1.30pm, Trafalgar Square. Org. by the ENOUGH! coalition. 12 JUNE, LONDON: HOW PEOPLE CAN INFLUENCE THE UN ON HUMAN RIGHTS. Talk by Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International. 7pm, Friends House, Euston Road, London. Contact 0208 399 2547 or info@action-for-un-renewal.org.uk. 17 JUNE, MILTON KEYNES: 27TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE MILTON KEYNES PEACE PAGODA with Buddhist ceremony, speaker from Faslane 365 and a multi-cultural celebration. 10.30am - 3.30pm, Peace Pagoda, Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, MK15 0BA. Lunch provided. 01908 663652. 7 JULY, FARINGDON: 26TH GRAND PEACE FETE. 2-5pm, Coleshill. See http://tinyurl.com/yp5lm2 for map. 01367 241 707. 6, 10 AND 11 JULY, BURY ST EDMUNDS: TRIAL OF THE LAKENHEATH EIGHT - eight peace activists charged under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act for entering USAF Lakenheath and chaining themselves to the gates of a munitions storage area to stop the movement of cluster bombs. Bury St. Edmunds Magistrates' Court, Shire Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1HF. Support welcome! Contact 0845 337 0282 or mellcndeast@cnduk.org. 14 - 21 AUGUST: CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION 2007. www.climatecamp.org.uk. 11 - 14 SEPT, LONDON: PROTESTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DSEI - Britain's biggest arms fair. See www.dsei.org and www.caat.org.uk. 27 OCT, LONDON: STOP THE WAR NATIONAL CONFERENCE. 1 DEC, LONDON: INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE. Org. by STWC. *** REGULAR EVENTS EVERY FRIDAY, LONDON: ANTI-GUANTANAMO BAY PROTEST OUTSIDE THE US EMBASSY. 6-7pm, outside the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, W1 (nearest tube: Marble Arch). Organised by the London Guantanamo Campaign. 07824 386 747 or london_gitmo@yahoo.co.uk. EVERY MONTH, LONDON: MONTHLY MEETINGS OF IRAQ OCCUPATION FOCUS. Second Thursday of every month: 10 May, 14 Jun, 12 Jul, 9 Aug, 13 Sept, 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 13 Dec. All meetings 7.30pm, Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1T 6AQ. See www.iraqoccupationfocus.org.uk EVERY MON-SAT, BRISTOL: PEACE VIGIL. Running since a few days after 9/11. 5.30-6.30pm (Mon-Fri) & 3-4pm (Sat). City Centre, opposite The Hippodrome, St. Augustines Parade. EVERY MONTH, ALDERMASTON: NEW MONTHLY CAMP AT BRITAIN'S ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT (AWE) to add further pressure to the /Block the Builders/ campaign to halt development of the next generation of nuclear weapons. Contact 0845 4588 368 or www.blockthebuilders.org.uk. EVERY SUN, LONDON: FREEDOM TO PROTEST PICNICS in Parliament Square. In defence of the right to protest, recently criminalised under s132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005). Bring food, drink and music to share. 1.30pm, Parliament Square, Westminster. For more info contact 0785 439 0408, marshall_darkness@hotmail.com or visit www.peopleincommon.org EVERY WED, MOULSCOMBE: NOISE DEMO OUTSIDE EDO MBM - 'an arms company that makes bomb parts used in the Iraq war' (Guardian). 4-6pm, EDO MBM, Home Farm Road. Contact 07891 1405 923. www.smashedo.org.uk FIRST SUNDAY OR EVERY MONTH, LONDON: WALK IN PEACE. A slow, silent walk for peace in peace.Meet at 11.00am, Speakers Corner Café, Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, London. (Nearest tube Marble Arch) Walk for an hour returning to starting place at 12 noon. Contact: Clare 020 8755 0353 or e-mail beatricemillar@freeuk.com. EVERY TUESDAY, MENWITH HILL: DEMO OUTSIDE THE US SPY-BASE used for (amongst other things) intelligence and surveillance gathering in the Middle East. 6-8 pm outside the main entrance to Menwith Hill Nr Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Contact the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases: www.caab.org.uk FIRST SAT OF EVERY MONTH, EASTBOURNE: PEACE VIGIL OUTSIDE EASTBOURNE LIBRARY. 5-6pm. Organised by Eastbourne for Peace and Liberty. Contact michael3col@yahoo.co.uk or 01323 430040. UNTIL 27 AUG, LONDON: STATE BRITAIN. Art exhibit by Mark Wallinger recreating peace campaigner Brian Haw’s vigil display as it was prior to its destruction by police last year, including over 600 weather-beaten banners, photographs, peace flags and messages from well-wishers. 10am - 5.50pm, Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG. See http://tinyurl.com/2xmlu5. -- Justice Not Vengeance www.j-n-v.org 44 (0)1424 428 792 44 (0)7980 748 555 From info at j-n-v.org Sat Jun 23 22:04:04 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (Justice Not Vengeance) Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 22:04:04 +0100 Subject: [JNV] Iran News / Blair-Brown Events / JNV Events & News Message-ID: <467D8AC4.60609@j-n-v.org> Dear all Please accept our apologies for the long gap in our communications. We've experienced painful and drawn-out technical problems which we hope are sorted out now, giving us back an email account and this announce list. This is a very long email containing A) information about the current state of the Iran 'negotiations' B) details of anti-war protests to mark the Brown coronation C) some upcoming events with JNV participation D) some recent events that had JNV participation We hope you find it interesting and useful. Best wishes Emily Johns Maya Anne Evans Milan Rai ****** A) Iran: A Freeze for Peace - From Confrontation to Compromise? As JNV has noted in past Briefings, there are plenty of proposals on the table which could help to break the Iran logjam. This is a short note on the current state of play. There are two live issues: the numbers of centrifuges Iran might operate for uranium enrichment, and the way in which Iran might be prepared to suspend centrifuge operation in order to reach a lasting resolution to the crisis. The declared US objective is to have no operational centrifuges in Iran, and to get Iran to completely suspend enrichment as a precondition to any negotiations. (See Briefing 95: Designed To Be Refused for more details.) Most countries recognize that these are not reasonable goals, and that some form of compromise is going to be necessary. Iran has indicated possible flexibility on these two issues. For example, 'In July [2006], Sadegh Kharazzi, a former [Iranian] ambassador to Paris... told the FT the leadership was ready to negotiate a deal in which Iran limited enrichment inside the country to "some 100" centrifuges.' (FT, 13 Sept. 2006, p. 9 - Briefing 96) In Briefing 96, we pointed out that Iran was seeking pre-negotiations on exactly what 'suspension' would mean, while holding out the offer of up to two months' suspension during negotiations. Later, a proposal was put for mutual suspension - suspension of sanctions on Iran by the Security Council and suspension of uranium enrichment by Iran: 'The IAEA chief, Mohamed El-Baradei, called at the weekend for a "timeout" in the worsening confrontation in an attempt to enable both sides to save face and climb down. But the Americans rejected the proposal.' (Guardian, 31 Jan. 2007, p. 17 - Briefing 102) Now the effort is to stop further deterioration of the situation - US allies are exploring the idea of a watered-down 'time-out'. There would be no further Security Council sanctions, and in return Iran would hold off on expanding its enrichment programme. This is being called a 'freeze for peace'. The US is reportedly 'still very skittish' on this possible fragmentation of its hard-line coalition. Yesterday (Friday 22 June), the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei had a two-hour meeting in Vienna with Ali Larijani, Iran's chief negotiator - representative of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The meeting continued today (Saturday). Two weeks ago, ElBaradei spoke out strongly against war: 'The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Thursday an attack on Iran over its refusal to freeze programs that could make nuclear weapons would be "an act of madness," an indirect warning to the United States and Israel.' ElBaradei said: 'said any use of force to shut down Iran's nuclear programme "would be catastrophic, it would be an act of madness, and it would not solve the issue".' ***** B) Blair Out, Brown In 1) 23-28 June: The 'War Is Still The Issue' Peace Camp, London AND associated events 2) 24 June: Stop The War Demonstration, Manchester 1) 23-28 June: The Parliament Square Camp www.WarIsStillTheIssue.org SEE OUT BLAIR On 27 June Tony Blair will finally step down as PM and Gordon Brown - the man who bankrolled and supported Blair's wars - will take his place. Brown will have a choice to make. Will he be Tweedledum to Blair's Tweedledee, or will he transform the Labour agenda from pro-war to pro-peace? At this crucial moment the anti-war movement needs to stand up and be counted. We need to stop Brown from choosing business as usual: more war, more terror, more nukes and more restrictions on civil liberties. SEE IN BROWN Join us this June for a five-day Peace Camp in Parliament Square to celebrate Blair's departure and demand that Brown: * withdraws all British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan * scraps Trident * makes a public commitment that the UK will not support a future attack on Iran JOIN BRIAN By the time of the camp, Brian Haw will have spent over 2,200 days in Parliament Square demonstrating against sanctions, war and occupation in Iraq. By camping alongside Brian in this critical week we will express our solidarity with him, and signal to politicians and journalists that WAR IS STILL THE ISSUE - for Blair, and now for Brown. PEACE CAMP TIMETABLE Starts: 12 noon, Saturday 23 June Monday 25 - Tuesday 26 June: Limbo in Westminster Wednesday 27 June: Tony Blair goes to Buckingham Palace to hand in his resignation. Brown takes over. Finishes: 12 noon, Thursday 28 June Please note that this is an 'unauthorised' demonstration within 1km of Parliament and that under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act it is a criminal offence to participate in such a demonstration (max fine £1000). This protest supported by JNV, London Catholic Worker and Voices UK. Maya reports on the first day: 'There were about 14 of us there, with a gazebo. It was a very positive atmosphere, and we were not approached by the police so there were no arrests. If people are coming to stay, they should bring waterproof tents because the ones provided... ' Camp-related events in Parliament Square unless marked otherwise. Every Day 9am: 'Reflections on the nonviolent Jesus' with an activist from the Oxford Catholic Worker. Saturday 23 June * 12 noon, start of the 'War is Still the Issue' peace camp, a five-day unauthorized protest to celebrate Blair's departure. Sunday 24 June * 4pm: As Blair is replaced as Labour Party leader but remains PM Westminster enters limbo. Join the world's first anti-war limbo dance! * 6pm: Take part in a reading of Aristophanes classic play, Lysistrata, about an anti-war sex-strike [not a demonstration]. Monday 25 June * 2pm: Climate change workshop with an activist from the World Development Movement [not a demonstration] * 6.30pm onwards: Poetry, performance etc... with the 'Monday Love' team [not a demonstration] Tuesday 26 June * 2pm: Workshop on Britain's nuclear weapons with an activist from Aldermaston Women's Peace Campaign [not a demonstration] * 6.30pm: 'A Warning to the Usurper.' Poetry and song with the Poets for Peace [not a demonstration] Wednesday 27 June * 10am: Military Families Against War demo in Downing St [authorised]. * 11.30am: As Tony Blair attends his final Prime Minister's Questions, join TweedleBlair and TweedleBrown in the Square. Thursday 28 June * Brown's first full day as Prime Minster. * 12 noon: end of 'War is Still the Issue' peace camp. For future actions see www.WarIsStillTheIssue.org. 2) The Manchester Stop The War Coalition Demo "Change Policy, not just Leader" http://www.stopwar.org.uk Stop The War says: we need a change of policy, not just a change of leader. We need the new Prime Minister to break with the disasters of Blair's foreign policy. It means: > withdrawing all troops from Iraq > ending the occupation of Afghanistan > saying no to any attack against Iran > pulling out of the reckless 'Star wars' project > supporting justice for the Palestinian people. Demo at Labour's Leadership Conference, Manchester Assemble Albert Square, Manchester 12noon ***** C) Other Upcoming Events with JNV Participation: 1) ON THE CONDITIONS OF POLITICS 28 June, London (Milan Rai) JNV Coordinator and Peace News editor Milan Rai is speaking as part of an unusual art-related event organized by the Serpentine Gallery: 'On the conditions of politics', 10 am - 5 pm, £10 / £8 concessions (bookings Ticketweb 08700 600100 www.ticketweb.co.uk or via the Serpentine Gallery 020 7402 6075) Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Nearest tubes: Holborn, Russell Square and Chancery Lane This conference is associated with an exhibition 'The 7 Lights' by US artist Paul Chan, held at the Serpentine Gallery in London. More details about the conference and the exhibition from 2) LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, Planning Meeting 30 June, Bournemouth (Milan Rai and Maya Anne Evans) A planning meeting for Mass Civil Disobedience at the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth this September. Unless there is a radical change in British foreign policy in the next few months, the anti-war movement must organise mass civil disobedience at this September's Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth. A discussion document regarding such an action has been produced by JNV's Milan Rai and an organising meeting will take place in Bournemouth on Saturday 30 June. Please send feedback and comments on the discussion document to voices AT voicesuk.org. If you are interested in attending the 30 June meeting in Bournemouth please e-mail voices AT voicesuk.org or ring 0845 458 2564. You can also pledge now to take part in such an action by signing a "Who Who Would Gandhi Bomb, Gordon?" postcard (see below). Copies of the card are available free from Voices: voices AT voicesuk.org or 0845 4582564. Please specify how many cards you want. 3) CALLED TO BE PEACEMAKERS, 20-22 July, Swanwick, Derbyshire (Maya Anne Evans) 'Called to be Peacemakers. Who, me?'An ecumenical conference to explore the Christian vocation of peacemaking. It is you, me us who are the peacemakers, it is not something left for 'others' to do. Conference organised by Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation England for the National Justice and Peace Network. Venue: Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire 20 - 22 July 2007 Main speakers: John Dear S J Jesuit priest, pastor, peace activist and writer currently co-ordinates Pax Christ New Mexico, worked in Central America,Middle East, Philippines; Zoughbi Zoughbi, a Palestinian Christian born and raised in Bethlehem, founder and director of Wi'am, the Palestinian Centre for Conflict Resolution Testimonies to be given by: Norman Kember, hostage in Iraq for 118 days; Maya Evans, a young woman,the first person to be arrested under new security laws for reading out names of Iraqi dead at Downing Street; Ihtisham Hibatullah a Muslim, member of the Muslim Association of Britain. Booking form from the National Justice and Peace Network ****** D) Recent Events involving JNV On 18 May, Maya and Mil, who were the first people to be convicted of participating (Maya) and organizing (Mil) unauthorized demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament under the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act, set a new precedent. They became the first people to be convicted at the same trial of both participating in and organizing unauthorized demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament (in connection with No More Fallujahs ). That's right: two people, four charges, four convictions. The same District Judge who convicted Maya the first time gave Maya (and Mil) a lower penalty for the two 'offences' than she had for the one 'offence' in the first trial! Both activists were fined £100 with no court costs for the two 'crimes' (Mil was given £350 fine and £150 court costs for just 'organizing' last time.) On another note, the last month has also seen Emily Johns and Milan Rai continuing their intermittent tour of Wales giving talks about Iran in connection with Emily's stunning 'Drawing Paradise on the "Axis of Evil"' exhibition. (See JNV site for images and text.) Many thanks to our generous Welsh hosts! In the last month Maya has also attended the premieres of both the mainstream feature documentary 'Taking Liberties' and Rikki Blue's Indymedia guerrilla documentary 'SOCPA - The Movie' (she was on the panel for a discussion after the latter). Maya and Mil have also been attending trials supporting other SOCPA protesters. At the last such event, Adam Twine, arrested at No More Fallujahs in October, had his case dismissed for lack of evidence against him! On 18 June, Mil was honoured with a Pax Christi Peace Award at the Pax Christi AGM. (A photo of this year's Peace Award winners is at ) Justice Not Vengeance www.j-n-v.org