[JNV] Save Afghan Asylum Seeker Facing Removal/ Peace News Summer Camp/ Unarmed Forces Day

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 22:54:20 +0100

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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

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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 &amp; What Price Nuclear=
 Weapons Conference 4) 27 June: Celebrate Unarmed Forces Day 5) Help =
CND at this summer&#39;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&#39; 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 &quot;sign in&quot; 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 &amp; Immigration, Oxford, at <a href=3D"mailto:g.shajko@visaimmigr=
ation.co.uk">g.shajko@visaimmigration.co.uk</a> 
*** 2) 23 - 27 JULY, OXFORDSHIRE: COME TO THE PEACE NEWS SUMMER CAMP=
!<a href=3D"http://www.peacenewscamp.info">www.peacenewscamp.info</a> <b=
r>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 <a href=3D"http://www.peacenewscamp.info">www.peacenewscamp.info</=
a> 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 <a href=3D"mailto:promos@peacenews.info">promos@peacenews.info</a> (08=
45 458 2564) with your address and how many fliers / posters you can use.<b=
r>
*** 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: <a href=3D"http://www.vertigomagazin=
e.co.uk">www.vertigomagazine.co.uk</a> 
 ** 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&#39;s death=
, to celebrate and discuss the enduring legacy of one of the most influenti=
al radical writers and thinkers in history, at Islington&#39;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; =
<a href=3D"http://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk">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 &amp; 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.<b=
r>
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 <a hr=
ef=3D"mailto:campaigns@cnduk.org">campaigns@cnduk.org</a> Hannah Tweddell o=
n 01274 730 795 or <a href=3D"mailto:hannah@yorkshirecnd.org.uk">hannah@yor=
kshirecnd.org.uk</a> 
 (b) What price nuclear weapons? The recession, government spending =
and Trident replacement CND&#39;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 <a href=3D"mailto:gavin@compassonline.org.uk">gavin@comp=
assonline.org.uk</a> 
*** 5) 27 JUNE: CELEBRATE UNARMED FORCES DAY The 27 June 2009=
 will see the first UK &#39;Armed Forces Day&#39;, with events around the U=
K (<a href=3D"http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk">www.armedforcesday.org.uk</=
a>). The=A0 day&#39;s official purpose is &#39;for the nation to show our s=
upport for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces 
community&#39;. In reality, it is about shoring up support for Britain&#39;=
s unpopular wars and its militaristic foreign policy (for analysis and back=
ground see this extract from the 55th Voices newsletter:=A0 <a href=3D"http=
://tinyurl.com/ar9yct">http://tinyurl.com/ar9yct</a>) 
 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 <a href=3D"mai=
lto:voices@voicesuk.org">voices@voicesuk.org</a> *** 6) HELP CND =
AT THIS SUMMER&#39;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: <a href=3D"mailto:mellcndeast@cnduk.org">mellcndeast@cnduk.org</a>=
 or 0845 337 0282 *** 7) SEND A POSTCARD TO PEACE PRISONERS HICHA=
M YEZZA &amp; 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 (<a href=3D"htt=
p://decommisioners.wordpress.com">http://decommisioners.wordpress.com</a>).=
 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&#39;s &#39;Die-in for NATO&#39;s Victims in Afghanist=
an&#39;, held outside Britain&#39;s military nerve centre in Northwood. See=
 <a href=3D"http://www.stopbombingafghanistan.org/report_northwood.htm">www=
.stopbombingafghanistan.org/report_northwood.htm</a> for reports and pictur=
es. 
The six, who have been charged with &#39;fail[ing] to comply with a conditi=
on imposed by a senior police officer under Section 14 of the Public Order =
Act 1986&#39;, 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&#39;T* NEE=
D AN ARMED FORCES DAY) From the current issue of Peace News (<a href=
=3D"http://www.peacenews.info">www.peacenews.info</a>): 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 =
 =A0

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