On February 15th the largest ever mobilisation against war will take place with simultaneous mass demonstrations in capital cities across the globe to protest against US plans to attack Iraq. The protests are aimed at stopping the current US war drive on Iraq. A war on Iraq will certainly lead to thousands of civilian deaths and cause chaos across the Middle East.
The call for the day of action comes from the European Social Forum held in Florence last November where 60,000 delegates from Europe and across the world met to discuss global injustice and the war and one million people took part in a protest against war on Iraq.
The International Day of Action has now been taken up by anti war activists and organisations across the globe. Mass protests have been organised in every major European capital and a number of US and Canadian cities.
The call has now also been endorsed by a conference of anti war activists that took place in Cairo in December. This important gathering brought together delegates from across the Middle East, with representatives from the leading anti war organisations in Europe. The conference included Egyptian parliamentary representatives, prominent individuals such as Dennis Halliday and Hans Von Sponeck, both former UN officials in Iraq, and former Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella who was elected President of a new International Coalition Against US Aggression on Iraq.
Finally, the call for Feb 15th is almost certain to be endorsed by the World Social Forum meeting in Porto Allegre next month, which will add the involvement of many Latin American countries to the day of action.
Coalitions of all anti war groups and organisations are now being formed in countries across the globe to ensure an enormous mobilisation on Feb 15th. Ten million are expected to march in Europe alone on that date
Here in Ireland, the Irish Anti War Movement and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance have joined forces to organise solidarity with the International Day of Action. This will take the form of a national demonstration in the capital at 2pm on Sat Feb 15th from Parnell Square finishing with a city centre rally and followed by a free concert.
We call on all those opposed to the US war drive on Iraq to make their vioce heard and join the protest on Feb 15th in Dublin.
We are seeking people and groups who will agree to sponsor the National
Demonstration against war on Iraq on Saturday 15th of February 2003
on the following basis;
1.That we oppose the military assault on Iraq by the USA and it's allies.
2. That we oppose the anti-Islamic racism arising out of the current war drive.
3. We also call for a halt on attacks on civil liberties and the right to protest under the guise of the "war on terrorism".
4. We seek justice for the Palestinian people.
5. We seek to develop peaceful alternatives to war to address the reasons for injustice and conflict in the world.
6. We seek an end to the use of Irish airports and airspace by the US military and oppose any Irish involvement in a war on Iraq.
To add your name/organisation to the list of sponsors Tel:087-6329511 or e-mail info@irishantiwar.org
Sponsors for Feb 15th International Day of Action in Ireland include:
Start Date: 2003-01-10 01:00:00-05
End Date: 2003-02-09 01:00:00-05
Created By: Web Master
Comments
Would it be possible to provide a freefone line so that those who are unable to attend the protest, could register their solidarity with the marchers?
Created By: Teresa McKearney