From info at j-n-v.org Tue Apr 21 14:13:07 2009 From: info at j-n-v.org (Justice Not Vengeance) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:13:07 +0100 Subject: [JNV] End the War in Afghanistan Public Meeting/ "Unauthorised" Naming the Dead/ Free Hicham Yazza Message-ID: Hi All Here are some up and coming events to attend, the first 3 are supported by JNV and friends. JNV will be responding to the new Iran developments in the next week, also please note Hicham Yazza has been moved to Canterbury Prison. All the best Maya Evans Emily Johns Mil Rai (A) JNV supported events 1) Wednesday 22 April: End the War in Afghanistan. 7.30pm, Conway Hall, Lon= don. 2) Thursday 7 May: Court Appearance by Milan Rai. 2pm, Horseferry Magistrate Court, London. 3) Friday 8 May: "Unauthorised" Naming the Dead Ceremony. 10am - 12 noon, opposite Downing Street. (B) Other upcoming events (C) Hicham Yazza has been moved to Canterbury prison *** (A) JNV supported events 1) LONDON Wednesday 22 April: END THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN 7.30pm, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, WC1R. Wheelchair accessible. A public meeting with: - Peter Marsden (author of 'Afghanistan - Aid, Armies and Empires') - Jonathan Steele (Guardian reporter and author of 'Defeat: Why They Lost I= raq') - Andy Worthington (author of 'The Guantanamo Files') - Gabriel Carlyle (Voices UK). Organised by JNV, Voices and the Northwood Die-in Committee. 0845 458 2564. www.stopbombingafghanistan.org ABOUT THE SPEAKERS * PETER MARSDEN Peter Marsden was Coordinator for the British Aid Agencies in Afghanistan group from 1989 to 2005. Prior to that he spent 15 years working in poverty and health programmes here in the UK. He is the author of two books on Afghanistan: 'The Taliban: War, religion and the new order in Afghanistan' (Zed Books, 1998) and 'Afghanistan: Aid, Armies and Empires' (IB Tauris, 2009). * JONATHAN STEELE Jonathan Steele is a Guardian columnist, roving foreign correspondent and author. As a student he travelled to Mississippi to join the 1964 Freedom Summer registration drive in America's deep south. He was the Guardian's bureau chief in Washington (1975 to 1979) and Moscow (1988 to 1994), and since 9/11 has reported from Afghanistan and Iraq as well as on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. His books include 'Defeat: Why They Lost Iraq' (IB Tauris, 2008). * ANDY WORTHINGTON Andy Worthington is a freelance journalist and historian. His books include 'The Battle of the Beanfield' (Enabler Publications, 2005) and 'The Guant=E1namo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America=92s Illegal Prison' (Pluto Press, 2007). From March to October 2008 he was Communications Manager for Reprieve, the legal action charity that uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guant=E1namo Bay. His web-site is www.andyworthington.co.uk * GABRIEL CARLYLE Gabriel Carlyle is joint co-ordinator of Voices UK, and War News Editor for Peace News. Briefly jailed in 1999 and 2000 for anti-war actions, he travelled to Iraq with Voices in 2002, and is the author of the article 'Afghanistan, Six Years On: 13 Things You Should Know About Our "Good War"' (http://tinyurl.com/yuebuf) **** 2) LONDON Thursday 7 May COURT APPEARACE BY MILAN RAI. 2pm, Horseferry Magistrates Court, London. On 7 October 2008, Voices, JNV and friends held an "unauthorised" seven-hour name-reading ceremony opposite Downing Street, to mark the 7th anniversary of the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan (see http://tinyurl.com/cz5o5t). One of the participants (Milan Rai) has now been summonsed to appear in court, regarding his participation in this action. Please come along to support him if you can: 2pm, Horseferry Magistrate Court, Horseferry Road, London SW1. Milan will repeat is "crime" the following day, alongside Maya Evans, Gabriel Carlyle and friends (see [C] below). *** 3) LONDON Friday 8 May: "UNAUTHORISED" NAMING THE DEAD CEREMONY. 10am - 12 noon, opposite Downing Street. The 8 May 2009 will be the 2nd anniversary of the US bombing of Sarwan Qala in Afghanistan, in which over 50 civilians were killed (http://tinyurl.com/c3f9qr). It will also see the MoD launch its own range of =91HM Armed Forces=92 toys in an attempt to =91capture the imagination of a new generation of children=92 (http://tinyurl.com/datgwo). The toys will include an infantry soldier wearing the combat clothing and SA-80A2 rifle used by British troops in Afghanistan, and an RAF pilot. To mark this anniversary - and to resist the MoD=92s propaganda drive - Voices, JNV and the Northwood Die-in Committee, will be holding an "unauthorised" two-hour ceremony opposite Downing Street (10am - 12 noon), reading the names of Afghan civilians who have been killed by US/NATO forces - and British soldiers who have died - in the war in Afghanistan. Please join us or hold your own event on 8 / 9 May. Ready-to-use lists of names can be downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/6otodt. Please note that there is a risk of arrest at this event. For background on the Orwellian world of "authorised" protests see www.repeal-socpa.info. *** (B) OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday 25 April LONDON FARINGDON SN7 7JA. MTG. ACCESSIBLE. =93Taking Liberties=94. A public meeting on the erosion of our civil liberties. With Tony Benn, Scilla Elworthy, Henry Porter, Ed Vaizey MP. 2pm. Corn Exchange, Faringdon. More info: 01367 710 308; 01367 241 707; www.faringdonpeacegroup.org.uk LONDON NW1 1RG. CONF. Stop the War Coalition 7th Annual Conference. 10am. South Camden Community School, Charrington St. More info: 020 7801 2768; www.stopwar.org.uk LONDON EC2A 4LT. CONF. Women in Black one-day conference. 10am-4pm. IANSA, Development House, 56-64 Leonard St. 4pm-5.30pm. Social (musical entertainment provided). =A310/=A38/=A35 inc lunch. Bookings: 0781= 2 917 050; 07894 729 124; jo@alllondonhomeed.org.uk LONDON WC1. CONF. ACCESSIBLE. Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association Conference: Local twinning conference open to all. Special theme Education Links with Palestine. 10-4. SOAS, Thornhaugh St. More info: 0845 458 1167; www.camdenabudis.net LONDON E16 IXL. DEMO. East London Against The Arms Fair Musical Protest-Cancel the Arms Fair! 2pm-5pm. The ExCel Exhibition Centre western entrance, just off Custom House DLR station. More info: 07513 792 705; www.ELAAF.org LONDON N1 9DX. FILM. Reel News launch =96 exclusive video-reportage from the G20 and Strasbourg actions. 5pm. Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Rd, King=92s Cross. More info: 020 7837 4473; www.housmans.com SHEFFIELD S10 2SG. CONF. =93The World to Come?...Global Responses to Global Threats=94. With Paul Rogers (University of Bradford, Department of Peace Studies), Simon Barrow, (Ekklesia), Philip Austin (NFPB) & Claire Kumar (Christian Aid). St Mark=92s Centre for Radical Christianity, 4 St. Mark=92s Crescent. More info: 0845 643 4694; www.stmarkscrc.co.uk Sunday 26 April WORLDWIDE. Chernobyl Day. http://www.chernobyl.info LIVERPOOL. Chernobyl Reminder. 2pm. Peace Garden behind St George=92s Hall. Stalls, speakers and music. More info: Merseyside CND, 0151 709 3995, ext 252; www.mcnd.org.uk Monday 27 April LONDON. Round the World for Peace. Join Christian CND on a sponsored walk visiting London Embassies of Nuclear Weapons States and the New Agenda Coalition. 11am: short service in Dick Shepherd Chapel, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square. 12.15pm: walk begins. More info: Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 020 7700 4200/2393; http://ccnd.gn.apc.org Tuesday 28 April ILMINSTER. MTG. =93Time to abolish war and nuclear weapons=94. With Bruce Kent. =A32, including tea/coffee. 7pm. Minster Rooms. Pre-meeting: 6pm, Palestine/Israel group; everyone welcome there, too. More info:www.southsomersetpeace.infoaction.org.uk Wednesday 29 April LONDON N1 9DX. Elevator Gallery presents: =93Rhizomes, Relational Aesthetics and the Post-modern Condition=94. 7pm. Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Rd, King=92s Cross. More info: 020 7837 4473; www.housmans.com Thursday 30 April LONDON EC2N 4AG. CONF. ACCESSIBLE. =93New Approaches to Interfaith Leadership=94. A day to reflect on the characteristics and skills needed by interfaith leaders and to explore the St Ethelburga=92s Spectrum of building Inter-religious relationships. 10am - 4.30pm. St Ethelburga=92s. LONDON SE1 7SR. CONF. =93Climate change: Thinking outside the box=94. 9.30am - 5.30pm. International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment. Advance registration essential. More info: Neville Grant, 0208 858 8489; neville.grant@gmail.com Friday 1 May BRADFORD BD9 5BD. May Day fundraising concert. =A35: 01274 483861. 7pm. Manningham Mills Community Centre, Lylycroft Rd. Info: Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 01274 730 795; www.yorkshirecnd.org.uk MILTON KEYNES. MTG. Just Supper. 7.30pm. The Well, Willen. 8.15pm: Rev Eric Allen on =93Poetry After the Holocaust=94. More info/bookings: 01908 242 190; bookings@thewellatwillen.org.uk Saturday 2 May LONDON EC1. DEMO. May Day march. 12 noon. Clerkenwell Green. Speakers at rally include Tony Benn, Sheila Bearcoft, GMB/TUC president. WREXHAM. DEMO. May Day Peace Rally. Queens Square, 11am onwards. 2-3 May BRIGHTON BN1 4JA. CONF. Anti-Militarist Network gathering. Starts 10am, Saturday. Cowley Club Social Centre, 12 London Rd. Food and crash-pad convergence will be provided on a donation basis. More info: brightonconference@riseup.net. More info during weekend for crash-space: 07706 689 722. www.antimilitaristnetwork.noflag.org.uk Sunday 3 May LONDON. WALK. Walk in Peace. Meet 10.55am one-hour, single-file circular walk. Meet by =93Speakers Corner Caf=E9=94, just south of Speaker= =92s Corner, Hyde Park (Marble Arch tube). More info: 020 8755 0353; beatricemillar@freeuk.com; www.walkinpeace.co.uk Monday 4 May BRIGHTON. DEMO. Reclaim The Streets-style demo/carnival on Mayday against EDO- MBM/ITT, Brighton=92s bomb factory. Critical Mass meeting at 11 am at Brighton Station. Main event location tba. More info: Smash EDO, 07983084019; www.smashedo.org.uk MILTON KEYNES. Peace Picnic in the Park. 11 =96 2pm. Peace Pagoda, North Willen Lake. Music, poetry and readings in serene surroundings. Bring a rug, picnic and friends. 4-20 May NEW YORK. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee. Tuesday = 5 May NORWICH. MTG. =93UK: Armed and Dangerous.=94 With Anne-Marie O=92Reilly, CAAT=92s Local Campaigns Co-ordinator. 7pm for 7.30pm. Chantry Hall. More info: Campaign Against Arms Trade, 0207 281 0297; www.caat.org.uk Wednesday 6 May LONDON EC2N 4AG. MTG. ACCESSIBLE =93Confronting Violence in War.=94 With Major General Tim Cross and Scilla Elworthy. 6.30pm. St Ethelburga=92s (see box). Reservations: events@stethelburgas.org LONDON. MTG. 7pm: London Region CND Council. 8pm: Public Forum. Conway Hall, Red Lion Square. More info: 0207 607 2302; www.londoncnd.com 8-10 May ALDERMASTON. Women=92s Peace Camp. Please phone if planning to arrive on Friday. The camp is currently located at the A340 roundabout on the south-west corner of the base - opposite Cavella Park - and our banners are visible from the A340. More info: 07969 739 812; www.aldermaston.net/camp/visit.php Saturday 9 May SHEFFIELD. CONF. Paying for Peace =96 alternatives to military spending. 10am-4pm. Sheffield Central Quaker Meeting House. More info: Philip Austin at NFPB, nfpb@gn.apc.org WIMBLEDON SW19. FETE. ACCESSIBLE. =93Fete of the Earth=94. 11am-3pm. Plants, books, bric-a-brac, refreshments etc. St Georges Community Centre, St Georges Road. More info: 020 8543 0362. Sunday 10 May SALTAIRE. ACCESSIBLE. Day of Dance at the Victoria Hall. All proceeds go to Yorkshire CND, Oxfam, CAAT and the Chernobyl Children=92s Project. More info: Louise Eaton: 01484 664 265; or Denise at Yorkshire CND: 01274 730795. http://www.dayofdance.co.uk/ Monday 11 May LONDON E16. MTG. East London Against The Arms Fair Meeting. 7.30pm. The Garden Community Cafe, 7 Cundy Rd. Cafe telephone 020 7474 5257. More info: 0751 379 2705; ELAAF@hotmail.co.uk LONDON EC1M 6EL. MTG. =93The history and historiography of the Arab-Israeli conflict=94. With Professor Avi Shlaim. Friends of Le Monde Diplomatique Caf=E9 Diplo. =A33/=A32. 6.30pm for 6.45pm. The Gallery, 70/77 Cowcross St. More info: 07984 178 193; www.mondediplofriends.org.uk 11-15 May LONDON. TRAINING. ACCESSIBLE. International Alert training - Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations. =A3540/=A3325. More info: 020 7627 6838; www.international-alert.org Wednesday 13 May EDINBURGH EH1 1EL. MTG. =93Making arms, wasting skills: converting arms production to civil industries=94. With Steven Scholfield, author of Making arms, wasting skills; Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP for the Lothians, SNP; Steven Boyd, Scottish Trades Union Council; Anne-Marie O=92Reilly, Campaign Against Arms Trade. 7.30pm. Augustine Church Centre, 41 George IV Bridge. Organised by the Edinburgh Branch of the Campaign Against Arms Trade and Jubilee Scotland. More info: caatedinburgh@live.com Thursday 14 May HUDDERSFIELD. HD1 4TR. MTG. ACCESSIBLE. =93Looking forward to Guantanamo=94. With Moazzam Begg. 6th Annual Quaker Peace Lecture. 7pm: refreshments. 7.30pm: lecture. Huddersfield Quaker Meeting House, Church Street, Paddock. Hearing loop available. More info: 07792 309 897; cara@cooptel.net LONDON EC2N 4AG. THEATRE. ACCESSIBLE. =93A Mother Speaks.=94 Dealing with the devastating aftermath of gun crime. In association with The Okai Collier Company. 7pm. St Ethelburga=92s (see box). Reservations: events@stethelburgas.org 14-15 May LONDON EC2N 4AG. TRAINING. ACCESSIBLE. =93Refusing Violence.=94 A new two-day course for young people focusing on how to say =93no=94 to violence. By donation. 10am - 5pm. St Ethelburga=92s (see box). Reservations: events@stethelburgas.org. Friday 15 May EVERYWHERE. International Conscientious Objector=92s Day. www.wri-irg.org/co/15may.htm HAVANT. Conscientious Objectors=92 Day event at the Ninevah Gallery, The Pallant. 7.30pm. More info: 023 9234 6696; vida.henning@ntlworld.com LONDON EC2N 4AG. CONF. ACCESSIBLE. =93Story, Truth and Healing: Facilitating Spaces for Story Sharing.=94 Contemporary story-sharing and truth-telling methodologies developed in Northern Ireland and other conflict zones. With Maureen Hetherington (Towards Understanding and Healing, Northern Ireland). =A392. 10am-5pm. St Ethelburga=92s (see box). Please book: justine@stethelburgas.org 15-17 May READING. Is everybody happy? Tools for effective group work. Residential weekend workshop for year-long participants in Turning the Tide=92s year-long Nonviolence for a Change training course. More info: 020 7663 1061/1064; www.turning-the-tide.org Saturday 16 May BURFORD, OXON. Levellers=92 Day. www.levellers.org.uk/index.htm CARMARTHEN. Half an Hour for Peace. Event by the Carmarthen cell of Cymdeithas y Cymod. More info: Mererid Hopwood: 07855 868 077. LONDON EC2N 4AG. CONF. ACCESSIBLE. =93Muslims in Britain: Contemporary Issues.=94 =A317, includes coffee, tea and biscuits. 11am-5pm. (Please bring your own lunch.) St Ethelburga=92s (see box). Reservations: www.stethelburgas.org/islamautumn2008.html Saturday 16 May LONDON SW1V 4LY. CONF. Pax Christi Annual General Meeting. With Bishop Kevin Dowling, Diocese of Rustenburg, South Africa, Vice-President of Pax Christi International. 10.30am for 11am start. Holy Apostles Church Hall, 47 Cumberland Street, Pimlico, London. RSVP to Pax Christi, 0208 203 4884; admin@paxchristi.org.uk Tuesday 19 May LONDON EC2N 4AG. CONF. ACCESSIBLE. =93The Dynamics of Reconciliation: Building Relationships with the Other.=94 With The Irish School of Ecumenics. =A352. 10.30am-4pm. Please book in advance. St Ethelburga=92s (see box). Wednesday 20 May EXETER EX2 4HU. =93Witnessing Reality: Experiences in Israel/Palestine=94. Paul Raymond reports on recent work on Ecumenical Accompaniment. 7pm. Exeter Friends Meeting House, Wynard=92s Lane. More info: Exeter UNA; 01395 271731; n.harrower@btinternet.com (C) Free Hicham Yazza One of the founders of the Nottingham Student Peace Movement has been imprisoned as the result of a vindictive campaign by an embarrassed government. Last May, Nottingham University administrative worker and editor of the campus peace magazine Ceasefire Hicham Yezza was wrongfully arrested and detained for six days for handling an al-Qa'eda training manual - a publicly available document which had been downloaded from a US Justice Department website. He was printing it out for a colleague researching terrorism - something a tutor immediately testified to. After an international outcry, Hicham and his friend, student Rizwaan Sabir, were released, but the embarassed authorities immediately tried to pursue Hicham for unrelated immigration 'offences'. See this Guardian article for coverage of the initial incident: The case finally came to court in February, and on 12 February, after a surprisingly brief trial (the judge cut the presentation of complex evidence down to one day), Hicham came closer to being deported from Britain after a jury found him guilty of lying to immigration officials about the expiry of his visa =96 =93securing avoidance of enforcement action by deceptive means=94. Nottingham University peace activists believe the immigration charges are an attempt by the government to smear Hicham and distract attention from their initial blunders and repressive actions. It is clear that he failed to get a stamp from the authorities extending his stay in the UK; it is equally clear that, as his lawyer told the court: 'He did not in any way try to hide his identity and, if he had done things properly, he would have been granted in all likelihood the right to stay in this country.' See the Nottingham Evening Press (you can comment on the article): On 6 March, Hicham was sentenced to a completely disproportionate nine months in prison. He is understood to be preparing to appeal. a) Please donate to Hicham's legal fund. Sort Code: 400205 Account Number:81474715 IBAN number: gb44midl40020581474715 International Swift Code: midlgb2140c b) Please write to Hicham A cheerful, chatty, colourful postcard - without too much hero worship or commiseration - or a letter describing what you are doing for peace, with some stamps enclosed, are often the best. Hicham's new address: Hicham Yezza XP266 HMP Canterbury 46 Longport Canterbury Kent CT1 1PJ From info at j-n-v.org Tue May 26 15:04:20 2009 From: info at j-n-v.org (Justice Not Vengeance) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 15:04:20 +0100 Subject: [JNV] Northwood Die-in / JNV SOCPA case dismissed / Unarmed Forces Day / PN Summer Camp / Peace Prisoner Moved Message-ID: 1) Northwood Die-in 2) Peace prisoner moved 3) Unarmed Forces Day 27 June 4) Peace News Summer Camp 23-27 July 5) JNV SOCPA case dismissed 7 May 6) Unauthorised name-reading 8 May 7) Milan Rai letter published in FT ----- Dear friends, We hope you find these items useful. Best wishes Maya Evans, Emily Johns, Milan Rai ----- 1) Northwood Die-in A Die-in for NATO's victims in Afghanistan TOMORROW 27th May Northwood Military Base LONDON On 27 May 2007, forty-seven Afghan civilians were killed when a US war plane bombed a wedding party in Afghanistan. Thousands more have been killed by US/NATO forces since the 2001 invasion. The use of air power, and the human carnage it causes, is central to the occupation of Afghanistan. As one senior NATO official explained: =93[W]ithout air, we=92d need hundreds of thousands of troops.=94 A BBC poll published on 13 November showed that 68% of people in Britain think all British troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan within 12 months. Join us tomorrow Wednesday 27 May 2009 for an act of nonviolent civil disobedience at Britain=92s military nerve centre in Northwood, demanding an end to the bombing and the withdrawal of all British troops from Afghanistan. Meet 11 am at Northwood tube station (Metropolitan line), London for a procession to the gates of Britain=92s military nerve centre (and NATO Regional Command). Wear wedding clothes (which you don't mind getting damaged). Supported by CND Tonight Tuesday 26 May: Training Workshop and Legal Briefing for the Die-in. 7.30pm, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Crashpad accommodation available after this workshop/meeting . More info see www.stopbombingafghanistan.org ----- 2) Peace prisoner moved Hicham Yazza moved to Canterbury prison One of the founders of the Nottingham Student Peace Movement, Algerian-born Hicham Yezza, was imprisoned on 6 March as the result of a vindictive campaign by an embarrassed government. Last May, Nottingham University administrative worker and editor of the campus peace magazine Ceasefire was wrongfully arrested and detained for six days for handling an al-Qa'eda training manual - a publicly available document which had been downloaded from a US Justice Department website. He was printing it out for a colleague researching terrorism - something a tutor immediately testified to. After an international outcry, Hicham and his friend, student Rizwaan Sabir, were released, but the embarassed authorities immediately pursued Hicham for unrelated immigration 'offences'. Please write to Hicham at his new address A cheerful, chatty, colourful postcard - without too much hero worship or commiseration - or a letter describing what you are doing for peace, with some stamps enclosed, are often the best. Hicham Yezza XP9266 HMP Canterbury, 46 Longport, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PJ ----- 3) Unarmed Forces Day 27 June The British Government is holding an Armed Forces Day on 27 June. Peace News is calling on peace groups and individual activists around the country to celebrate Unarmed Forces Day instead! Unarmed Forces Day is a celebration of the power of nonviolence, and a protest against an attempt by the British government to shore up support for its unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by rallying the British public around the armed forces. Hold your own event - register it at www.unarmedforcesday.org.uk as a comment - and hand out copies of Peace News. If you want to join Peace News at the national Armed Forces Day event in Chatham Docks, meet 10am at the ticket office, Victoria train station, London, for the journey to Chatham for two hours leafleting, followed by a peace picnic (bring food to share). For more information about the Chatham Docks event, see the 'National event' item on: www.armedforcesday.org.uk Our website: www.unarmedforcesday.org.uk Contact on the day: 07980 748 555. ----- 4) Peace News Summer Camp 23-27 July Join people from across the broad spectrum of the British peace movement for five days of exploration, celebration and empowerment. Bring your contribution to a hothouse of creativity, a small self-governed society run by democratic camp meetings, a viable example of the kind of world we are trying to bring about. The Peace News Summer Camp helps build a radical movement for the future by building a living community today. We will be learning from other movements, struggling with challenging issues, creating more cohesion in a segmented peace movement and debating nonviolence. Workshops will range from theoretical discussion (an introduction to Chomsky=92s Politics) to practical planning for actions later in the year. Fifty years of activist experience will be represented, along with fresh faces and new blood. Fed by local organic fruit and veg (lovingly cooked by the wonderful Veggies of Nottingham), we=92re camping in a family-friendly and renewably-powered way from 23-27 July near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, to make the world a better place. Full details: www.peacenewscamp.info ----- 5) JNV SOCPA case dismissed >From Indymedia, 5 May 2009 This is to let you know about a thoroughly successful court hearing I had today. Below is the press release that Gabriel put together and circulated (two photographers showed up and a Press Association reporter doggedly sat through the entire afternoon to catch my brief appearance). The reason I was in court was because of a name-reading for victims of the Afghan war, a commemoration held on 7 October last year opposite Downing Street. At the event (which fellow JNV-er Maya Evans had organized, rung up and told them she was organizing-but-not-applying-for-permission-for) I was asked by a police officer for my name (and probably my address - I'm a little hazy about the details). I gave my name but I wasn't arrested. I thought no more about it until a month ago when I got a letter from Horseferry Road Magistrates court asking me to attend, as I was being prosecuted for participating in an unauthorized demonstration in the vicinity of Parliament, an offense under the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act (2005). The date was set as 7 May. I was very puzzled as I had never been arrested, never been charged, had had no dealings with the police or the courts. Suddenly I was being prosecuted? It didn't make sense. I dutifully rang up to check it was really happening. 'Court 7', I was told= . When I got to court today at 2pm, the photographers made me walk up to the court house again, and then sit underneath the magistrates' court sign. Gabriel, Sue, Eric and Chris were there to support me (thank you!), and we settled in for the afternoon. As predicted, I was the last case to be called. The usher made some remark about how he was waiting for the prosecutor, that's why we were delayed. I have no idea whether that was just a sop, or whether there was some reality to it. (I think people who are represented by lawyers get heard earlier as the barristers can put pressure on lowly court officials, which us unrepresented folk can't do. They say people who represent themselves in court have a fool for a client.. and perhaps a numskull for a lawyer.) The District Judge (magistrate) was Caroline Tubbs, who I have encountered before, the last time after another magistrate had blown his top because I refused on civil liberties grounds to give my date of birth to the court. He was sure this was against the law. I was sure it wasn't. At the next hearing, he'd been replaced by DJ Tubbs, who avoided the question of date of birth entirely. Today, DJ Tubbs again skipped over the date of birth question, and also my address, the other usual identifier. She asked my name, and then whether I was ready to plead. I said I was a bit confused about the process. After a bit of to and fro, I explained the situation, that I'd not been arrested or charged at any point. The clerk, the prosecutor and the magistrate all studied the paper work (which I was given a copy of). The clerk and the judge had to explain a couple of times to the prosecutor that none of the bits of paper he had handed over were signed. They needed to be signed. For example, where it said I should sign for the charge, or for my bail conditions. It wasn't signed. Where it should be signed by the officer who had charged me. It wasn't signed. Nothing pertinent was signed. It was a shambles. DJ Tubbs looked at the paperwork one last time and said: 'Out of time. Case dismissed.' It was more than six months since the 'offence' had happened, and I hadn't been charged - I couldn't now be charged. So I couldn't be tried. Gabriel nudged me in the back and I asked for my costs to be paid - around =A312 for the train ticket from Hastings. The order for costs was made and it was Peace Movement 3 - Crown Prosecution Service 0. Interestingly, the police took no action against Maya, even though she rang them to tell them she was organizing 7 October. Just another of the bizarre inconsistencies which make up the story of SOCPA. I can't help feeling this botched attempt may be the last attempted prosecution under SOCPA. I think maybe the system is dying not with a bang, but with a whimper. If we all get arrested and prosecuted for name-reading tomorrow that will larn me! Cheers Milan Rai Justice Not Vengeance ----- 6) 8 May Name-reading passes without incident Indymedia 8 May 2009: We showed up opposite Downing Street at 10am this morning to read the names of Afghan civilians and British soldiers who've died in the war. Dozens of police walked by. A host of diplo cops watched us from around the Downing Street gate. Maya Evans, Gabriel Carlyle and myself had written an open letter to the police in advance, notifying them that we were organising this name-reading remembrance ceremony, but refusing to apply for police permission. No police officer approached us. No police officer talked to us. No police officer arrested us or tried to stop us using a loudhailer to shout the names of the dead across the road into Downing Street. Using a megaphone is specifically banned under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act. Section 137 is all about loudspeakers and how they cannot be used in the 'restricted zone' around Parliament: 137 (4) A person who operates or permits the operation of a loudspeaker in contravention of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to=97 (a) a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, together with (b) a further fine not exceeding =A350 for each day on which the offence continues after the conviction. About 18-20 came to the protest, the largest name-reading we have ever organised. Different people took turns reading the names and holding the megaphone (and the umbrella). Afterwards we gathered in a circle and shared our thoughts about the event. Maya thanked everyone for coming, and we all re-dedicated ourselves to ending this war. So, after the case dismissed yesterday (see other post), it's Peace Movement 5 - SOCPA 0. (Goal 1: not having to give a date of birth at the hearing; Goal 2: having the case dismissed; Goal 3: getting defendant's expenses paid by the court; Goal 4: holding an unauthorised event without any police interference; Goal 5: operating a megaphone to remind our rulers of hundreds of deaths they have caused - without any hindrance from the police.) SOCPA seems to have withered away. Now it's just a matter of the State.... ----- 8) Milan Rai letter published in FT Published Monday 25 May 2009, currently on the FT.com website: Sir, One crucial element was missing from James Blitz's thoughtful review of the current defence debate (=93Testing Waters Ahead=94, May 21): the British public. There is no doubt that a strategic review of national security policy is long overdue. The question is whether it will be grounded in democratic politics, or whether military policy will continue to be a cosy chat involving figures such as Derek Marshall of the Society of British Aerospace Companies, who wrote in to support the idea of a strategic defence review, no doubt hoping to maintain (or increase) military spending (21 May). The public has a different position. In a YouGov poll published in April 2007, 55 per cent of respondents said that Britain should not continue trying =93to punch above our weight=94 internationally, as against 30 per cent holding the opposite view. Sixty-five per cent agreed that =93Britain is already over-extended, Britain should reduce its commitments, spend less and not seek to have as much military influence in the world as it has at present.=94 Sixty per cent believed the correct response to military overstretch is to =93reduce Britain=92s commitments overseas so that British forces do not become involved in crises overseas=94. Milan Rai, Co-editor, Peace News (This was published at the top of the letters page as the lead letter. Interestingly, today there is a follow-up letter from Harry C. Blaney III, of the 'Center for International Policy' in Washington DC, which tries to answer this letter without referring to it. Mil has written a response to Blaney, which is unlikely to be published.) From info at j-n-v.org Fri Jun 5 22:54:20 2009 From: info at j-n-v.org (Maya Evans) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 22:54:20 +0100 Subject: [JNV] Save Afghan Asylum Seeker Facing Removal/ Peace News Summer Camp/ Unarmed Forces Day Message-ID: <2bc196bf0906051454p22fc56d6je83aeae9fd60ac40@mail.gmail.com> --001636427659510645046ba0ef4c Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear All Please find below a list of events and actions to get involved with. Most urgently send an email to assist an Afghan asylum seeker to stay in th= e country, he is facing deportation this Tuesday. Hope to see you at some of these events All the best Maya Evans Milan Rai Emily Johns *** 1) Urgent Assistance for Asylum Seeker facing removal this Tuesday 2) 23 - 27 July, Oxfordshire: Come to the Peace News Summer Camp! 3) 8 June, London: These are the Times - Tom Paine Remembered 4) 13 June CND Events: No to Defence Missiles at Fylingdales & What Price Nuclear Weapons Conference 4) 27 June: Celebrate Unarmed Forces Day 5) Help CND at this summer's festivals 6) Send a postcard to peace prisoners Hicham Yezza, 7) Six arrested at Northwood Die-in 8) Why we need an Unarmed Forces Day (and why we *don't* need an Armed Forces Day) 9) Emily Johns' prints on Ken Sara Wiwa are now available via the JNV website *** 1) URGENT ASSISTANCE FOR ASYLUM SEEKER Rahmat Nazari is an Asylum Seeker from Afghanistan, who has been living in the UK for about 6 years, is facing removal from the UK on Tuesday 9 June. His lawyer says that the only hope for him to stay is for people to write voicing their opposition to this removal. Last week, Rahmat was detained at a routine "sign in" session, and taken to Tilsley House Detention Centre, near Gatwick. The reason given for his detention, which he explained, is that he was claiming he should be allowed to stay in the UK as he has family, an uncle, living here. His Uncle has now moved on, and so his claim for asylum has been refused. During this time, he has been an invaluable support to the Catholic Worker community at St Francis House, not only doing more than his fair share to keep the community going, but supporting and encouraging other asylum seekers there, who are exremely vulnerable. More than that, he has been a great support to the wider asylum seeker community in Oxford, an= d is a well known and popular face throughout Oxford. Send an email voicing your objection to his removal to Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds. You can email this to his solicitor, George Shajko of Visa & Immigration, Oxford, at g.shajko@visaimmigration.co.uk *** 2) 23 - 27 JULY, OXFORDSHIRE: COME TO THE PEACE NEWS SUMMER CAMP! www.peacenewscamp.info Join people from across the broad spectrum of the British peace movement fo= r five days of exploration, celebration and empowerment. Bring your contribution to a hothouse of creativity, a small self-governed society run by democratic camp meetings, a viable example of the kind of world we are trying to bring about. The Peace News Summer Camp helps build a radical movement for the future by building a living community today.We will be learning from other movements, struggling with challenging issues, creating more cohesion in a segmented peace movement and debating nonviolence. Workshops will range fro= m theoretical discussion to practical planning for actions later in the year. Fifty years of activist experience will be represented, along with fresh faces and new blood. Fed by local organic fruit and veg (lovingly cooked by the wonderful Veggie= s of Nottingham), we=92re camping in a family-friendly and renewably-powered = way from 23-27 July near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, to make the world a better place. Entrance to the camp costs =A315-=A350 depending on income. For all the det= ails see www.peacenewscamp.info HELP NEEDED WITH PUBLICITY!Fliers and posters for the camp are now available. If you or your group are going to an event where you couild distribute these - or if you have a mailing coming up this month - then please e-mail promos@peacenews.info (0845 458 2564) with your address and how many fliers / posters you can use. *** 3) 8 JUNE, LONDON: THESE ARE THE TIMES =96 TOM PAINE REMEMBERED Readings an= d Discussion to mark the 200th anniversary of Tom Paine=92s death 9 =96 10.30pm, Monday 8th June 2009, Old Red Lion Theatre, Angel, London. Presented by Vertigo Magazine: www.vertigomagazine.co.uk ** With Tony Benn, sculptor Michael Sandle, publisher Tony Simpson, musicia= n Elizabeth Green and Neil Sheppeck of Love and Madness Theatre, alongside contributions from actor and playwright Jack Shepherd and writer Mike Marqusee ** An intimate event, on the 200th anniversary itself of Tom Paine's death, to celebrate and discuss the enduring legacy of one of the most influential radical writers and thinkers in history, at Islington's Old Red Lion Theatre, where Paine actually wrote some of his profoundly important work The Rights of Man. Featuring a rehearsed reading, directed by and featuring Neil Sheppeck of Love and Madness Theatre, of Jack Shepherd=92s play In Lambeth, imagining a meeting between William Blake and Tom Paine. Tickets: =A37, =A35 (concs. Please provide or bring evidence when booking).= Box Office: 020 7837 7816; www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk Note: there is a strictly limited capacity. Please book early and arrive promptly. Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NJ. Tube: Angel Buses: 19, 30, 38, 43, 56, 73, 153, 214, 341. *** 4) CND EVENTS 13 JUNE: NO TO US MISSILE DEFENCE AT FYLINGDALES & WHAT PRICE NUCLEAR WEAPONS? (a) Demonstration at Fylingdales radar base 12.30, Saturday 13th June Ellerbeck Bridge on the A169, Saltergate, Goathland, Near Whitby Rally and march to the gates of Fylingdales Speakers include Jana Glivicka (Ne Zakladnam), Fabian Hamilton (Yorkshire Labour MP), Martin Hemingway (Yorkshire Region Green candidate in European elections), direct action activists Sylvia Boyes and Lindis Percy, Kate Hudson, CND Chair and Dave Webb, Yorkshire CND Chair. The demonstration takes place just one week after the European elections. Already the Czech government has been forced to withdraw US Missile Defence agreements with the US due to popular opposition, recent polls show people in Poland continue to oppose their governments agreement and President Obam= a is now scaling back Missile Defence commitments made by George W. Bush. With significant opposition to the system across Europe, the proposed bases in Poland and the Czech Republic may never be built. But there are already two bases in Britain at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill. Join CND at the Fylingdales radar base to send a message to Gordon Brown an= d Barack Obama =96 No to US Missile Defence! Contact: Ben Folley on 0207 700 2393 or campaigns@cnduk.org Hannah Tweddell on 01274 730 795 or hannah@yorkshirecnd.org.uk (b) What price nuclear weapons? The recession, government spending and Trident replacement CND's breakout session at the Compass Annual Conference Saturday, June 13, 2009 At 11:15:00 AM Duration: 1 Hour Speakers Kelvin Hopkins MP and Professor Paul Dunne, Department of Economics, University of West England, Bristol.Chaired by CND Vice-Chair Sophie Bolt.To attend this session you need to register for the Compass Annual Conference. Further details available from Compass, visit their conference website or email Gavin Hayes at gavin@compassonline.org.uk *** 5) 27 JUNE: CELEBRATE UNARMED FORCES DAY The 27 June 2009 will see the first UK 'Armed Forces Day', with events around the UK (www.armedforcesday.org.uk). The day's official purpose is 'for the nation to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community'. In reality, it is about shoring up support for Britain's unpopular wars and its militaristic foreign policy (for analysis and background see this extract from the 55th Voices newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/ar9yct) In response, Voices will be joining Peace News on 27 June at the national Armed Forces Day event in Chatham Docks, to give out free copies of the latest PN (whose front-page editorial - see [F] below - concerns the need for an Unarmed Forces Day). If you would like to come and join us, then please meet us at 10am on Saturday 28 June at the ticket office, Victoria train station, London, to travel to Chatham for two hours spreading the message of peace, followed by peace picnic (bring food to share). Night-before accommodation available if necessary. Call: 0845 458 2564. On the day: 07980 748 555 or e-mail voices@voicesuk.or= g *** 6) HELP CND AT THIS SUMMER'S FESTIVALS Plans are afoot for CND to attend several festivals this year including Shambala, the Greenpeace Fair and Glastonbury. At Glastonbury, CND will hav= e two areas =96 an information tent close to the Pyramid Stage and a campaign= ing tent in the Green Futures field? Their main focus this year is to raise awareness and get people involved in the =93No Trident Replacement=94 Campaign.The MoD=92s first report on the replacement process (called the =93Initial Gate=94) is due in September this year =96 the government wants = =93behind the scenes decision making=94. We cannot allow this.If you are attending Glastonbury and would like to help us raise awareness please come along to one of the CND tents. You could even dress up as a mad scientist with Theatre of War for a couple of hours! Contact: mellcndeast@cnduk.org or 0845 337 0282 *** 7) SEND A POSTCARD TO PEACE PRISONERS HICHAM YEZZA & ELIJAH SMITH * HICHAM YEZZA, a Nottingham University peace activist, was briefly detaine= d last year on trumped-up anti-terrorism charges, and is now in prison for immigration =93offences=94. Please write to Hich: XP9266 =96 Yezza, Cell C3= -5, C Wing, HMP Canterbury, 46 Longport, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PJ. * ELIJAH SMITH: On the 16th of January 6 people broke into an arms factory near Brighton, owned by EDO MBM/ITT, in an attempt to try and prevent the supply of weapons being used for war crimes in Palestine ( http://decommisioners.wordpress.com). They brought the factory to a standstill causing =A3300,000 worth of damage. Today, one of the six remain= s on remand in Lewes prison. Please send cards of support to: Elijah Smith VP 7551 HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1EA *** 8) SIX ARRESTED AT NORTHWOOD DIE-IN Six people were arrested at last Wednesday's 'Die-in for NATO's Victims in Afghanistan', held outside Britain's military nerve centre in Northwood. Se= e www.stopbombingafghanistan.org/report_northwood.htm for reports and pictures. The six, who have been charged with 'fail[ing] to comply with a condition imposed by a senior police officer under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986', have been bailed to appear at West Herts Magistrates Court at 10am o= n Monday 29 June. *** 9) WHY WE NEED AN UNARMED FORCES DAY (AND WHY WE *DON'T* NEED AN ARMED FORCES DAY) >From the current issue of Peace News (www.peacenews.info): Britain doesn=92t need an Armed Forces Day, recently invented by Gordon Bro= wn. We already have Remembrance Day. What Britain needs is an Unarmed Forces Day - when we can remember those people, like Tom Hurndall, Rachel Corrie, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Martin Luther King and Mohandas Gandhi, who dedicated their lives to nonviolent social change. Unarmed Forces Day is a Peace News initiative. It is a celebration of the power of nonviolence, a call for real support for our damaged veterans, and a protest against an attempt by the British government to shore up support for its unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by rallying the British public aroun= d the armed forces. OPPOSING THE WARS Gordon Brown is perfectly aware that there is already almost-universal respect for the British armed forces. A January 2008 poll for the army foun= d that 95% of Britons said they =93respect=94 soldiers and 90% said they =93a= dmire=94 the army and see soldiers as =93the epitome of heroism=94. It is Gordon Brown=92s war in Afghanistan that is unpopular. Two-thirds of British people believe that Britain and the US should be =93willing to talk to the Taliban in Afghanistan in order to achieve a peac= e deal=94, according to a Sunday Times poll (15 March). In a November 2008 BB= C poll, 68% of Britons said British troops should withdraw from Afghanistan within 12 months. PUBLIC OPINION Actually, it=92s more than just one war. Britain=92s entire arrogant and aggressive foreign policy is unpopular among British people. In March 2007, a Telegraph poll asked whether people agreed with this statement: =93Some people say that, although Britain is now only a middle-ranking power, Britain should as a nation continue to try to =91punch above its weight=92 =96 that is, ha= ve more influence in the world than our military and economic strength would seem t= o indicate.=94 55% said no, Britain should not =93punch above its weight=94. Only 30% said= we should. 65% agreed that: =93Britain is already over-extended, Britain should reduce its commitments, spend less and not seek to have as much military influence in the world as Britain has at present.=94 60% said that because of military overstretch, we should: =93Reduce Britain= =92s commitments overseas so that British forces do not become involved in crise= s overseas.=94 OUR POWER If there is a =93strategic defence review=94, as some are calling for, it m= ust take account of the wishes of the British people. If there are constitutional changes in the wake of the expenses scandal, they should include the reform Gordon Brown promised: that the decision to make war should become a matter for parliament. Public opposition to the Afghan war may already be having an impact. Gordon Brown is said to have shocked the MoD at the end of April by rejecting its call for 2,000 more troops to be sent to Helmand province in Afghanistan. DISGRACEFUL TREATMENT What about those who are still suffering because of their service in Helman= d =96 and in Iraq? At the end of February, lance corporal Johnson Beharry, ba= dly injured in Iraq in incidents that won him the Victoria Cross, and still suffering mental anguish, said: =93Those who are still serving get some for= m of help for combat stress but even those who are serving don=92t get enough support.=94 He called the lack of care from the government =93disgraceful= =94. The government also shamefully failed Tom Hurndall, the British peace activist who was shot and fatally wounded by an Israeli military sniper in Rafah, Gaza, on 11 April 2003, while escorting Palestinian children. The power to inspire Tom Hurndall and Rachel Corrie, the US peace activist crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in Rafah on 16 March 2003, are shining examples of nonviolence in action. They have a place of honour, alongside Abdul Ghaffar Khan, =93the Muslim Gandhi=94, who led a mass nonviolent movement for justice in Pakistan, and = who was rewarded with prison and exile. WE DEMAND PEACE If the lives of such people mean anything, it is a burning demand to base our national security on justice for all; it is a demand to reject the ways of domination and violence. Instead, we hear general sir Richard Dannatt, head of the British army, saying on 15 May: =93the weight of likelihood is that intervention and stabilisation operations will be the pattern for the future, and with increasing frequency.=94 In other words, Dannatt said: =93Iraq and Afghanistan are not aberrations = =96 they are signposts for the future.=94 We say: =93No!=94 --001636427659510645046ba0ef4c Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear All

Please find below a list of events and actions to get invol= ved with.

Most urgently send an email to assist an Afghan asylum se= eker to stay in the country, he is facing deportation this Tuesday.

Hope to see you at some of these events

All the best

Maya= Evans
Milan Rai
Emily Johns
***

1) Urgent Assistance for A= sylum Seeker facing removal this Tuesday
2) 23 - 27 July, Oxfordshire: C= ome to the Peace News Summer Camp!
3) 8 June, London: These are the Times - Tom Paine Remembered
4) 13 June= CND Events: No to Defence Missiles at Fylingdales & What Price Nuclear= Weapons Conference
4) 27 June: Celebrate Unarmed Forces Day
5) Help = CND at this summer's festivals
6) Send a postcard to peace prisoners Hicham Yezza,
7) Six arrested at = Northwood Die-in
8) Why we need an Unarmed Forces Day (and why we *don&#= 39;t* need an Armed Forces Day)
9) Emily Johns' prints on Ken Sara W= iwa are now available via the JNV website
***

1) URGENT ASSISTANCE FOR ASYLUM SEEKER

Rahmat Nazari is a= n Asylum Seeker from Afghanistan, who has been living in the UK for about 6= years, is facing removal from the UK on Tuesday 9 June.

His lawyer = says that the only hope for him to stay is for people to write voicing thei= r opposition to this removal.

Last week, Rahmat was detained at a routine "sign in" session= , and taken to Tilsley House Detention Centre, near Gatwick.=A0 The reason = given for his detention, which he explained, is that he was claiming he sho= uld be allowed to stay in the UK as he has family, an uncle, living here.= =A0 His Uncle has now moved on, and so his claim for asylum has been refuse= d.

During this time, he has been an invaluable support to the Catholic Wor= ker community at St Francis House, not only doing more than his fair share = to keep the community going, but supporting and encouraging
other asylum= seekers there, who are exremely vulnerable. More than that, he has been a = great support to the wider asylum seeker community in Oxford, and is a well= known and popular face throughout Oxford.

Send an email voicing your objection to his removal to Afghanistan on h= umanitarian grounds. You can email this to his solicitor, George Shajko of = Visa & Immigration, Oxford,
at g.shajko@visaimmigration.co.uk
***

2) 23 - 27 JULY, OXFORDSHIRE: COME TO THE PEACE NEWS SUMMER CAMP= !www.peacenewscamp.info
Join people from across the broad spectrum of the British peace movement = for five days of exploration, celebration and empowerment. Bring your contr= ibution to a hothouse of creativity, a small self-governed society run by d= emocratic camp meetings, a viable example of the kind of world we are tryin= g to bring about. The Peace News Summer Camp helps build a radical movement= for the future
by building a living community today.We will be learning from other movemen= ts, struggling with challenging issues, creating more cohesion in a segment= ed peace movement and debating nonviolence. Workshops will range from theor= etical discussion to practical planning for actions later in the year. Fift= y years of activist experience will be represented, along with fresh faces = and new blood.
Fed by local organic fruit and veg (lovingly cooked by the wonderful Veggie= s of Nottingham), we=92re camping in a family-friendly and renewably-powere= d way from 23-27 July near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, to make the world a bett= er place.
Entrance to the camp costs =A315-=A350 depending on income. For all the det= ails see www.peacenewscamp.info
HELP NEEDED WITH PUBLICITY!Fliers and posters for the camp are now av= ailable. If you or your group are going to an event where you couild distri= bute these - or if you have a mailing coming up this month - then please e-= mail promos@peacenews.info (08= 45 458 2564) with your address and how many fliers / posters you can use. ***

3) 8 JUNE, LONDON: THESE ARE THE TIMES =96 TOM PAINE REMEMBERED = Readings and Discussion to mark the 200th anniversary of Tom Paine=92s deat= h

9 =96 10.30pm, Monday 8th June 2009, Old Red Lion Theatre, Angel, = London. Presented by Vertigo Magazine: www.vertigomagazine.co.uk

** With Tony Benn, sculptor Michael Sandle, publisher Tony Simpson, mus= ician Elizabeth Green and Neil Sheppeck of Love and Madness Theatre, alongs= ide contributions from actor and playwright Jack Shepherd and writer Mike M= arqusee **
An intimate event, on the 200th anniversary itself of Tom Paine's death= , to celebrate and discuss the enduring legacy of one of the most influenti= al radical writers and thinkers in history, at Islington's Old Red Lion= Theatre, where Paine actually wrote some of his profoundly important work = The Rights of Man.
Featuring a rehearsed reading, directed by and featuring Neil Sheppeck of L= ove and Madness Theatre, of Jack Shepherd=92s play In Lambeth, imagining a = meeting between William Blake and Tom Paine.
Tickets: =A37, =A35 (concs.= Please provide or bring evidence when booking).Box Office: 020 7837 7816; = www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk<= /a>
Note: there is a strictly limited capacity. Please book early and arrive pr= omptly.
Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NJ. Tube= : Angel Buses: 19, 30, 38, 43, 56, 73, 153, 214, 341.
***

4) CND = EVENTS 13 JUNE: NO TO US MISSILE DEFENCE AT FYLINGDALES & WHAT PRICE NU= CLEAR WEAPONS?

(a) Demonstration at Fylingdales radar base 12.30, Saturday 13th June <= br>Ellerbeck Bridge on the A169, Saltergate, Goathland, Near Whitby
Rall= y and march to the gates of Fylingdales Speakers include Jana Glivicka (Ne = Zakladnam), Fabian Hamilton (Yorkshire Labour MP), Martin Hemingway (Yorksh= ire Region Green candidate in European elections), direct action activists = Sylvia Boyes and Lindis Percy, Kate Hudson, CND Chair and Dave Webb, Yorksh= ire CND Chair.
The demonstration takes place just one week after the European elections. A= lready the Czech government has been forced to withdraw US Missile Defence = agreements with the US due to popular opposition, recent polls show people = in Poland continue to oppose their governments agreement and President Obam= a is now scaling back Missile Defence commitments made by George W. Bush. With significant opposition to the system across Europe, the proposed bases= in Poland and the Czech Republic may never be built. But there are already= two bases in Britain at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill.
Join CND at the = Fylingdales radar base to send a message to Gordon Brown and Barack Obama = =96 No to US Missile Defence! Contact: Ben Folley on 0207 700 2393 or campaigns@cnduk.org Hannah Tweddell o= n 01274 730 795 or hannah@yor= kshirecnd.org.uk


(b) What price nuclear weapons? The recession, government spending = and Trident replacement CND's breakout session at the Compass Annual Co= nference Saturday, June 13, 2009 At 11:15:00 AM Duration: 1 Hour
Speaker= s Kelvin Hopkins MP and Professor Paul Dunne, Department of Economics, Univ= ersity of West England, Bristol.Chaired by CND Vice-Chair Sophie Bolt.To at= tend this session you need to register for the Compass Annual Conference. F= urther details available from Compass, visit their conference website or em= ail Gavin Hayes at gavin@comp= assonline.org.uk
***

5) 27 JUNE: CELEBRATE UNARMED FORCES DAY

The 27 June 2009= will see the first UK 'Armed Forces Day', with events around the U= K (www.armedforcesday.org.uk). The=A0 day's official purpose is 'for the nation to show our s= upport for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces
community'. In reality, it is about shoring up support for Britain'= s unpopular wars and its militaristic foreign policy (for analysis and back= ground see this extract from the 55th Voices newsletter:=A0 http://tinyurl.com/ar9yct)

In response, Voices will be joining Peace News on 27 June at the nation= al Armed Forces Day event in Chatham Docks, to give out free copies of the = latest PN (whose front-page editorial - see [F] below - concerns the need f= or an Unarmed Forces Day).
If you would like to come and join us, then please meet us at 10am on Satur= day 28 June at the ticket office, Victoria train station, London, to travel= to Chatham for two hours spreading the message of peace, followed by peace= picnic (bring food to share). Night-before accommodation available if nece= ssary.

Call: 0845 458 2564. On the day: 07980 748 555 or e-mail voices@voicesuk.org
***

6) HELP CND = AT THIS SUMMER'S FESTIVALS

Plans are afoot for CND to attend sev= eral festivals this year including Shambala, the Greenpeace Fair and Glasto= nbury. At Glastonbury, CND will have two areas =96 an information tent clos= e to the Pyramid Stage and a campaigning tent in the Green Futures field? T= heir main focus this year is to raise awareness and get people involved in = the =93No Trident Replacement=94 Campaign.The MoD=92s first report on the r= eplacement process (called the =93Initial Gate=94) is due in September this= year =96 the government wants =93behind the scenes decision making=94. We = cannot allow this.If you are attending Glastonbury and would like to help u= s raise awareness please come along to one of the CND tents. You could even= dress up as a mad scientist with Theatre of War for a couple of hours!
Contact: mellcndeast@cnduk.org= or 0845 337 0282
***

7) SEND A POSTCARD TO PEACE PRISONERS HICHA= M YEZZA & ELIJAH SMITH

* HICHAM YEZZA, a Nottingham University p= eace activist, was briefly detained last year on trumped-up anti-terrorism = charges, and is now in prison for immigration =93offences=94. Please write = to Hich: XP9266 =96 Yezza, Cell C3-5, C Wing, HMP Canterbury, 46 Longport, = Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PJ.

* ELIJAH SMITH: On the 16th of January 6 people broke into an arms fact= ory near Brighton, owned by EDO MBM/ITT, in an attempt to try and prevent t= he supply of weapons being used for war crimes in Palestine (http://decommisioners.wordpress.com).= They brought the factory to a standstill causing =A3300,000 worth of damag= e. Today, one of the six remains on remand in Lewes prison. Please send car= ds of support to: Elijah Smith VP 7551 HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, Sus= sex, BN7 1EA
***

8) SIX ARRESTED AT NORTHWOOD DIE-IN

Six people were arres= ted at last Wednesday's 'Die-in for NATO's Victims in Afghanist= an', held outside Britain's military nerve centre in Northwood. See= www= .stopbombingafghanistan.org/report_northwood.htm for reports and pictur= es.
The six, who have been charged with 'fail[ing] to comply with a conditi= on imposed by a senior police officer under Section 14 of the Public Order = Act 1986', have been bailed to appear at West Herts Magistrates Court a= t 10am on Monday 29 June.
***

9) WHY WE NEED AN UNARMED FORCES DAY (AND WHY WE *DON'T* NEE= D AN ARMED FORCES DAY)

From the current issue of Peace News (www.peacenews.info):
Britain doesn=92= t need an Armed Forces Day, recently invented by Gordon Brown. We already h= ave Remembrance Day.
What Britain needs is an Unarmed Forces Day - when we can remember those pe= ople, like Tom Hurndall, Rachel Corrie, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Martin Luther K= ing and Mohandas Gandhi, who dedicated their lives to nonviolent social cha= nge.
Unarmed Forces Day is a Peace News initiative. It is a celebration of the p= ower of nonviolence, a call for real support for our damaged veterans, and = a protest
against an attempt by the British government to shore up suppo= rt for its unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by rallying the British p= ublic around the armed forces.

OPPOSING THE WARS
Gordon Brown is perfectly aware that there is alre= ady almost-universal respect for the British armed forces. A January 2008 p= oll for the army found that 95% of Britons said they =93respect=94 soldiers= and 90% said they =93admire=94 the army and see soldiers as =93the epitome= of heroism=94.
It is Gordon Brown=92s war in Afghanistan that is unpopular.
Two-thirds = of British people believe that Britain and the US should be =93willing to t= alk to the Taliban in Afghanistan in order to achieve a peace deal=94, acco= rding to a Sunday Times poll (15 March). In a November 2008 BBC poll, 68% o= f Britons said British troops should withdraw from Afghanistan within 12 mo= nths.

PUBLIC OPINION
Actually, it=92s more than just one war. Britain=92s = entire arrogant and aggressive foreign policy is unpopular among British pe= ople. In March 2007, a Telegraph poll asked whether people agreed with this= statement: =93Some people say that, although Britain is now only a middle-= ranking power, Britain should
as a nation continue to try to =91punch above its weight=92 =96 that is, ha= ve more influence in the world than our military and economic strength woul= d seem to indicate.=94
55% said no, Britain should not =93punch above it= s weight=94. Only 30% said we should.
65% agreed that: =93Britain is already over-extended, Britain should reduce= its commitments, spend less and not seek to have as much military influenc= e in the world as Britain has at present.=94
60% said that because of mi= litary overstretch, we should: =93Reduce Britain=92s commitments overseas s= o that British forces do not become involved in crises overseas.=94

OUR POWER
If there is a =93strategic defence review=94, as some are = calling for, it must take account of the wishes of the British people.
I= f there are constitutional changes in the wake of the expenses scandal, the= y should include the reform Gordon Brown promised: that the decision to mak= e war should become a matter for parliament.
Public opposition to the Afghan war may already be having an impact. Gordon= Brown is said to have shocked the MoD at the end of April by rejecting its= call for 2,000 more troops to be sent to Helmand province in Afghanistan.<= br>
DISGRACEFUL TREATMENT
What about those who are still suffering becau= se of their service in Helmand =96 and in Iraq? At the end of February, lan= ce corporal Johnson Beharry, badly injured in Iraq in incidents that won hi= m the Victoria Cross, and still suffering mental anguish, said: =93Those wh= o are still serving get some form of help for combat stress but even those = who are serving don=92t get enough support.=94 He called the lack of care f= rom the government =93disgraceful=94.
The government also shamefully failed Tom Hurndall, the British peace activ= ist who was shot and fatally wounded by an Israeli military sniper in Rafah= , Gaza, on 11 April 2003, while escorting Palestinian children.
The powe= r to inspire Tom Hurndall and Rachel Corrie, the US peace activist crushed = to death by an Israeli bulldozer in Rafah on 16 March 2003, are shining exa= mples of nonviolence in action.
They have a place of honour, alongside Abdul Ghaffar Khan, =93the Muslim Ga= ndhi=94, who led a mass nonviolent movement for justice in Pakistan, and wh= o was rewarded with prison and exile.

WE DEMAND PEACE
If the live= s of such people mean anything, it is a burning demand to base our national= security on justice for all; it is a demand to reject the ways of dominati= on and violence.
Instead, we hear general sir Richard Dannatt, head of the British army, say= ing on 15 May: =93the weight of likelihood is that intervention and stabili= sation operations will be the pattern for the future, and with increasing f= requency.=94
In other words, Dannatt said: =93Iraq and Afghanistan are not aberrations = =96 they are signposts for the future.=94
We say: =93No!=94


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