STOP THE WAR COALITION

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER No. 1146  
22 March 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER  
1) AFGHANISTAN DAY OF PROTEST: 27 MARCH  
2) JOE GLENTON DEFENCE CAMPAIGN  
3) PALESTINE PROTEST AT MAYOR OF JERUSALEM VISIT  
4) DEFEND THE GAZA PROTESTORS
5) LONDON DEBATE ON AFGHANISTAN

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1) AFGHANISTAN DAY OF PROTEST: 27 MARCH

NATO forces are gearing up for a massive offensive on Kandahar
in the next few months. Even in advance of that the death toll
is rising -- 30 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan  
since the start of the year.

As the general election approaches, Stop the War groups will  
be campaigning to force the issue of Afghanistan onto the  
political agenda.

On March 27 there will be a Troops Out of Afghanistan day of  
action. Local Stop the War groups will be organising protests
and petitioning local MPs. Many local groups are organising  
hustings debates and public meetings in the next few weeks.  
Contact the Stop the War office for details of events in your
area: Email: office@stopwar.org.uk.  Call 020 7801 2768.

As part of our campaigning, Stop the War is producing a "Costs
of War" leaflet, a questionnaire to put to all candidates  
standing in the election and a new pamphlet on Afghanistan.  
They will be available this week from the national office.

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2) JOE GLENTON DEFENCE CAMPAIGN

Colchester Stop the War is organising a weekend of protest  
27/28 March in support of Joe Glenton, the British soldier who
has been jailed for refusing to fight in Afghanistan (DETAILS,
UPDATES & PETITION)

SATURDAY 27 MARCH  11.30AM-1PM
MASS LEAFLET AND PETITION FOR RELEASE OF JOE GLENTON  
ELD LANE, COLCHESTER  
ESSEX CO1 1LS

SUNDAY 28 MARCH 1.30PM
PROTEST OUTSIDE JOE'S PRISON  
MILITARY CORRECTIVE TRAINING CENTRE  
BERECHURCH HALL ROAD  
ESSEX CO2 9NU

For more details and to get involved, contact Kate, tel: 07834
218 711, email: stwcolchester@hotmail.co.uk

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3) PALESTINE PROTEST AT MAYOR OF JERUSALEM VISIT

Despite international pressure, the Israeli government
continues its persecution of the Palestinians, making a  
mockery of any talk of a peace process. Not only did they  
announce a huge new settlement in East Jerusalem last week,  
but the Israeli police have been brutally attacking people  
protesting against plans for a new synagogue right next to the
Al Aqsa Mosque. In addition, four Palestinian youths have been
shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the last few days.

On Monday 22 march, Nir Barkat -- the Mayor of Jerusalem  
directly responsible for the new settlements -- is visiting  
London. We are urging all our supporters in London to join the
protest outside Chatham House, where he is speaking.

MONDAY 22 MARCH 5PM  
CHATHAM HOUSE
10 ST JAMES'S SQUARE  
LONDON SW1Y 4LE

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4) DEFEND THE GAZA PROTESTORS

A defence campaign has been set up for the protestors who have
been charged with offences at the Gaza demonstrations in  
January 2009. (DETAILS, UPDATES, PETITION:  
http://bit.ly/d1FqIA )

More than 20 of the 78 people charged have been sent to prison
in an unprecedented campaign by the police. Almost all of  
those charged are Muslims. The campaign to defend the
protestors has resulted in some good press coverage, and one  
of the first defendants to plead not guilty was acquitted last
week.

Please sign the petition in defence of the protestors, which  
will be delivered to the Home Office at a protest on Tuesday  
30 March, 4.30pm.

SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE:  http://bit.ly/ccjdN8

DOWNLOAD THE PETITION FOR PRINTING: http://bit.ly/b1KAxH  
We are asking our supporters to download the petition for  
collecting signatures as widely as they can. Please send them
to the Stop the War office in time for the 30 March protest at
the Home Office.

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5) LONDON DEBATE ON AFGHANISTAN

In the run up to the imminent general election, in which all  
the main parties will be supporting the war in Afghanistan,  
Stop the War is organising a series of debates around the  
country. Details for the debates will be posted on our website
as they become available.

The details of the London debate are:

WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL 7PM
DEBATE: Should the Troops be in Afghanistan?  
SPEAKERS: Mehdi Hasan from the New Statesman, Professor  
Christopher Coker from the London School of Economics, Martin
Cakebread from the National Defence Association, and Lindsey  
German Convenor of Stop the War  
VENUE: The Old Cinema lecture theatre, Westminster University,
309 Regent Street, W1B 2UW.

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