AMERICAN POLITICS:

ANOTHER SORT OF FIRST OF JULY:

Well now that the great raison d'être for America's far flung wars is safely swimming with the fishies it might just be time for that country to question why they continue to fight. A peace coalition called the Three Million Strong March On Washington is planning to drive this point home next July 1. Here's their announcement.

♠♦♠♦♠♦♠♦♠♦♠♦♠♦
Anti-War Rallies and Demonstrations
Friday, July 1 at 8:00am - July 4 at 4:00pm

---------------------------
Location Everywhere USA

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More Info

Glen Ford recently wrote in the Black Agenda that Americans no longer support the Anti- War movement because there is a Democratic President in office. Let's prove him wrong on his analysis. Party Politics Be Damned when it comes to war - we should all be working towards a more peaceful and just planet. www.htp://threemillionstrong.yolasite.com/organize-locally.php is an organize locally page for the Three Million Strong March on Washington. I challenge each of you to use it to organize an Anti-War rally in your area over the 4th of July weekend. Let's show the world what the American people are really about.

Three Suggestions -
1. You should be peaceful and respectful
2. You should not condemn our brothers and sisters in Uniform. They are not the problem of war, they are simply doing what they believe is right for their country.
3. Since this is the month President Obama has made clear he will begin withdrawal from Afghanistan, your protest/rally should reflect that.

Printable flyers at http://threemillionstrong.yolasite.com/organize-locally.php

Once you've organized please announce your action here, no matter how big or small...it's important, even if you only have a few folks, every person, or group of people count. Also - please photograph your action/s and send them to us --so we can organize pictures prior to, during, and after-wards.

CANADIAN POLITICS:
CANADA'S ROLE IN THE WAR IN IRAQ:


The Canadian army continues its role in the unwinable war in Afghanistan, with the federal Conservatives gradually "softening up" the public for participation that may last yet another decade (or until the USA realizes defeat and declares victory and gets out). This attempt at 'extension by attrition' is, of course, rather deceptive, but it is hardly the first instance of our federal government waging "war by deceit". Canada did indeed participate in the American invasion of Iraq, no matter how loudly the governments of the day stated that they were not a party to that conflict. Here's a new book out from the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) that lays out this hidden story.
◘○◘○◘○◘○◘○◘○◘○◘○


Canada at War in Iraq!
New 54-page COAT report‏

"At last the surprising truth of the Canada's military complicity in the Iraq War.
A cry for peace. Brilliantly orchestrated."
Victor Levant, author, Quiet Complicity: Canadian Involvement in the Vietnam War

Did you know that about 2,000 Canadian sailors -- aboard eight, multi-billion dollar Canadian warships -- participated in the Iraq War?
Or that Canadian pilots flew warplanes in Iraq-war missions, including U.S. C-17s, a British MR2 and Canadian C-130s and CP-140s?
Or that Canadian Army generals received Canadian and American medals after leading tens of thousands of troops in Iraq?

These are just a few of the surprising facts detailed in this new 54-page report:
"Operation SILENT PARTNER: Canada’s Quiet Complicity in the Iraq War"
This report, published by the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT), will be mailed to subscribers of Press for Conversion! this week. (Would you like a copy? See below for details.)

COAT's latest publication is the most comprehensive resource available on the role of Canada's Navy, Air Force and Army in the Iraq war. It contains many original, previously-unpublished articles, with over 300 references, and is illustrated with dozens of photographs showing:
* high-ranking Canadian military officers involved in the Iraq war,
* the U.S., Canadian and British medals they received for their roles in Iraq, and
* Canadian warplanes and warships that were deployed by Liberal and Conservative governments alike.

Preview some of the articles in this issue

When Liberal politicians proclaimed that Canada was refusing to join the U.S. “Coalition of the Willing” against Iraq, many Canadians were understandably proud. Unfortunately, it was all a smoke-and-mirrors game. In reality, Canada did join the Iraq war in 2003 and has contributed in many significant ways ever since. However, Canada's quiet complicity in the Iraq War has gone largely unnoticed. By exposing the remarkable yet largely-unknown history of Canada's participation in the Iraq war, we can try to avoid a similar fiasco from happening again. Please learn more, and help...

Be among the first to read this latest COAT exposé. Order a copy of this issue ($8) or subscribe ($25). (Subscribers receive copies of four different issues.)
Visit the COAT website and use Paypal, a safe easy way to send money online. Or, simply mail a cheque to COAT, at 541 McLeod St., Ottawa ON K1R 5R2.

cheers,
Richard Sanders
Coordinator, COAT

P.S. A limited number of free copies are available for journalists, and activists who will help spread the word. Reply to this email asap if you'd like a sample copy of this issue.

P.P.S. This report was kindly printed by the Canadian Labor Congress (CLC) and the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

P.P.P.S. Press for Conversion! makes a good stocking stuffer.

HUMOUR:

REMEMBER:

CANADIAN POLITICS INTERNATIONAL POLITICS:

NO TO ATTACK ON KANDAHAR:

It's summer, and an old general's fancy heavily turns to thoughts of mayhem. Or at least that is the way it is in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan as American troops and their various bands of mercenaries prepare to once more launch attacks. Heaven help the civilians in the way. The Canadian organization 'Cease Fire' has a petition to the various political parties asking that the carnage be cancelled. Here's the story.

CANCANCAN
Help Stop the Attack on Kandahar
Send your letter to Stephen Harper and all party leaders

Your help is needed. Civilians are paying a heavy price in Afghanistan as thousands of U.S. Marines, leading Afghan and Canadian troops, prepare to attack Kandahar and surrounding areas.



Please send your letter to Stephen Harper and all party leaders, calling on them to urge the U.S. and NATO to call off the attack and make sure that Canadian forces are not involved in the offensive.

With the attack looming, aid agencies are warning about more casualties. “More troops have led to more fighting, which has always left more casualties,” said the International Committee of the Red Cross this week.

This week an Afghan human rights group reported that 1,074 civilians have been killed and more than 1,500 injured in war-related incidents this year.

Most of the casualties were caused by insurgents fighting Western forces, like Canada. But still, the U.S. and NATO forces were responsible for more than 200 civilian deaths.

In a desperate attempt to regain the upper hand, the U.S. general leading the Afghan war is considering lifting restrictions on the use of heavy weapons and air strikes when civilians are close to the fighting. This will mean many more civilian deaths.

CANCANCAN

THE PETITION:

Please go to this link to sign the following petition to the leaders of Canada's federal parties and to your MP.

CANCANCAN

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

I urge you to tell the U.S. and NATO to call off the attack on Kandahar, and to ensure that Canadian troops are not involved in the planned offensive.

Countless civilians are at risk. More than 2,400 civilians were killed last year in fighting by both sides. Now, the U.S. general leading the attack is reportedly considering allowing greater use of heavy weapons and air strikes when civilians are present during fighting.

Please stop the bloodshed, and end Canada’s war in Afghanistan right away.
++

Cher premier ministre Harper

Je vous conjure de demander aux États-Unis et à l’OTAN de décommander l’attaque contre Kandahar et de vous assurer qu’aucun soldat canadien ne sera engagé dans cette offensive planifiée.

La vie d’innombrables civils est en jeu. Plus de 2400 civils ont été tués l’an dernier dans les combats initiés par les deux parties en présence. Aujourd’hui, on apprend que le général américain qui dirigera l’offensive envisage de recourir de façon plus intensive aux armes lourdes et aux frappes aériennes, alors que des civils sont autour pendant les combats.

Nous vous prions de mettre un terme au bain de sang et de cesser immédiatement la guerre du Canada en Afghanistan.

CANADIAN POLITICS-OTTAWA:

CANSEC IS COMING-OPPOSE IT:

The following call to oppose the upcoming 'Cansec' arms fair in Ottawa comes from the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT). Those who profit by selling the mechanisms of deaths, the arms traders, may qualify as the lowest examples of human life on Earth. Look to following to see how you can help oppose them.

+++++++++++++++

Oppose the CANSEC War Machine!‏

Learn more about CANSEC and join the campaign to oppose it.
CANSEC is Canada's largest and most important War-Industry Trade Show. It's coming to Ottawa next week. Wherever you may be, please join the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) in opposing this blatant symbol of Canada's role in the burgeoning international arms trade.

For more info., see the list of weblinks at the end of this email to learn more about CANSEC and how you can help COAT to expose and oppose it!

Here is a media advisory that COAT released yesterday.

Rally for Peace – Oppose the CANSEC War Machine
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/MediaAdvisory.htm

Ottawa – Peace advocates, human rights groups and environmentalists, are gathering to denounce CANSEC 2010, our nation’s largest weapons trade show. CANSEC is a symbol of Canada’s commitment to the business of war and our role in the profitable, international arms trade.

Richard Sanders of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade says, “CANSEC is a blatant manifestation of our country's part in fuelling major global conflicts through the sale and export of weapons systems and their components.”

This year's effort against CANSEC is the latest chapter in a struggle that began over two decades ago when the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) campaigned against ARMX, a now-defunct arms bazaar. COAT's work against ARMX led the City of Ottawa to ban arms exhibitions on municipal property. CANSEC is returning to Lansdowne June 2 and 3, because last year City Council overturned this municipality's historic 20-year ban on weapons shows.

“This trade show is a symbol of Canadian government subsidization of an industry involved in producing and promoting weapons of destruction,” added City Councillor Alex Cullen, candidate for Mayor in the 2010 municipal election. “It graphically illustrates the part we play in aiding and abetting wars and human rights abuses.”

CANSEC exhibitors supply parts and services for many of the world’s deadliest weapons systems used in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza and elsewhere around the world. Research by COAT names 60 CANSEC exhibitors supplying parts for weapons systems in Iraq. That war alone has killed 1.3 million since 2003. Diane Holmes, City of Ottawa Councillor says, “These weapons and weapons systems have caused destruction around the world. They have taken an immeasurable toll on the lives and livelihoods of innumerable innocent people, their families and their children.”

Peace groups, human rights and environmental groups, will hold a RALLY for PEACE on June 2, 2010 at Lansdowne Park on Bank Street, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Politicians, citizens, poets and musicians will speak against profiting from war weapons, and for peace in the world.

For more information, media contact :
Richard Sanders, Coordinator, Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) and Editor, Press for Conversion! magazine;
Tel: (613) 231-3076

Renseignements médias:
Hélène Lebrun, les Soeurs du Sacre-coeur de Jesus;
Tel: (613) 237-6607

Inquiries:
website: http://coat.ncf.ca
email: overcoat@rogers.com

===============================================================

Learn more about CANSEC and COAT's campaign

CANSEC is Canada's largest and most important War-Industry Trade Show.
Please join the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) in opposing it.

Here is an annotated list of weblinks about CANSEC and how you can help expose and oppose it:

Summary Article: What is CANSEC, and why do we oppose it?
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/CANSEC2010article.htm

"CANSEC: War is Business" (50-page COAT publication. Get the nitty gritty)
http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/64/64.htm

"Rally for Peace," June 2, 5-7 pm, Ottawa
Includes a list of speakers, poets and musicians, and links to their websites.
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/Rally.htm

Spread the word about COAT's "Rally for Peace"
Fliers: http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/fliers/fliers.htm
Posters: http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/Posters.htm

Other antiCANSEC events: What to do in Ottawa on June 2, 2010
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/June2events.htm

Decorate CANSEC's Fence: Submit graphics/statements online, or bring them yourself.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116566681687834&v=wall&ref=ts

How you can help: Join the opposition to CANSEC, wherever you are!
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/OpposeCANSEC.htm

CANSEC 2010 Exhibitors: Links to info about 275 exhibitors and their websites.
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/CANSEC2010Exhibitors.htm

"Peace Bus" from Toronto to Ottawa, June 2: All aboard for the antiCANSEC rally
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/TOPeaceBus.htm

Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade website (for CANSEC updates and more)
http://coat.ncf.ca

Support COAT: Donate, subscribe, order "CANSEC: War is Business"
http://coat.ncf.ca/support_us/support_us.htm

AMERICAN POLITICS:

NON-VIOLENT RESISTERS REPORT TO JAIL:

Four people who participated in non-violent direct action against the School of the Americas last November are now either imprisoned or due to report to jail soon. Here's their stories from the School of the Americas Watch.

SOASOASOASOASOASOA
Prisoners of Conscience‏
You can jail the resisters... but you can't jail the resistance! .

The four courageous advocates who took action against the School of the Americas this past November are in sights of the U.S. Government.

Nancy Gwin, a peace activist from central New York, reported to Danbury Federal Prison in Connecticut. Gwin will serve 6 months in federal prison for her nonviolent action to protest the School of the Americas. Gwin said the school's closure would send a powerful message to Latin America. "To say, 'We are closing this school to make an equal relationship with you,'" she said. "It's a small step, but it says we're looking for a new future."

As Gwin reports, the fate of Michael Walli, remains unclear. Walli also participated in the action with Gwin and told Magistrate Faircloth that if he was released he would not return voluntarily to Columbus for trial this past January 25th. Faircloth issued a bench warrant for Walli's arrest and this past Tuesday, March 2nd, Federal Marshalls knocked on the door of Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in Washington D.C. to take Walli into custody. After being held in the D.C. jail for three days, Walli was released on his own recognizance by D.C. Federal Judge Facciola. He was asked to return to court on March 12th to decide whether or not he will be transferred to Georgia to appear in front of Magistrate Faircloth. Faircloth is responsible for the harsh 6 month prison sentences of the other three advocates.

Franciscan Catholic Priest, Fr. Louis Vitale, was recently transferred from a county jail in Cordele, Georgia to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta. It is likely that Vitale will continue to be transferred, during his sentence, until he reaches a Federal Prison on the West Coast.

Ken Hayes, an SOA Watch National Council member, has also heard from the federal government and is scheduled to report to prison on March 16th. Hayes, 60, is a long-time peace and justice activist from Austin, Texas and a leader in the local Austin SOA Watch group.The action of the SOA Watch 4 gives us hope and inspires us to do all we can to close the School of the Americas once and for all.

CANADIAN POLITICS:

WAR IS BUSINESS:

'War is Business' is a new online resource now available from the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT). Concerned about the growing militarism is Canada ? check out this resource. here's the blurb.

CPCPCPCPCPCPCP

"WAR is BUSINESS" New ONLINE Canadian resource‏:
"WAR is BUSINESS" A new ONLINE RESOURCE for Canadian activists, researchers and the media

Read it now ---> http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/64/64.htm

Few Canadians know much about this country's war profiteers, or the billions in military technologies that they export to dozens of countries at war. Between 2003 and 2006, Canadian war industries exported at least $7.4 billion in military hardware to 62 countries with troops fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti and elsewhere.

And, the Canada Pension Plan forces us to invest in many of the world's largest weapons manufacturers. Taxpayers are also complicit in the immoral business of war, because -- for many decades -- Canadian governments (Liberal and Conservative) have transferred billions in publicly-funded corporate welfare to this country's most profitable arms exporters.

Learn about Canada's war industries, what they produce, where it is exported and how the government is aiding and abetting the whole sordid process. Find out about the government-funded lobby group that represents 700 Canadian war industries and their huge arms bazaar, called CANSEC, which is returning to Ottawa municipal property, June 2-3, 2010.

"CANSEC: War is Business," is the latest 50-page issue of Press for Conversion!, a magazine published by the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT).

This new resource -- including all of the articles, photos, graphics, cartoons, tables and charts focusing on Canada's major role in the international arms trade -- is NOW ONLINE:

http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/64/64.htm

If you haven't already SUBSCRIBED, please consider doing so! http://coat.ncf.ca/support_us/subscribe.html

Thanks for supporting COAT's efforts!

Cheers,

Richard Sanders

Coordinator, Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT)

Editor, Press for Conversion!

P.S. Dozens of previous issues of COAT's magazine are also online -- full text -- at COAT's website:

http://coat.ncf.ca

HAITI:

Four of COAT's publications focus exclusively on Canadian complicity (and particularly CIDA's despicable role) in backing the 2004 coup that overthrew Haiti's elected government and imposed a brutal dictatorship:

**Lies without Borders: How CIDA-funded 'NGOs' waged a propaganda war to justify Haiti’s 2004 coup

http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/63/63.htm

**Putting the Aid in Aiding and Abetting: CIDA's Agents of Regime Change in Haiti's 2004 Coup

http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/62/62-TOC.htm

**CIDA's Key Role in Haiti's 2004 Coup d’état: Funding Regime Change, Dictatorship and Human Rights Atrocities, one Haitian 'NGO' at a Time

http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/61/61-TOC.htm

**A Very Canadian Coup d’état in Haiti: The Top 10 Ways that Canada’s Government Helped the 2004 Coup and its Reign of Terror

http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/60/60.htm

CANADIAN POLITICS:

CANADA: WAR SPENDING BEATS THE ENVIRONMENT:

There is a persist myth about Canada as "the peaceable kingdom", a myth hardly born out by the facts, especially as successive Liberal and Conservative governments have done their best to be good mercenaries in the American war in Afghanistan. Just how far off this myth is from reality is shown by the following from the Canadian anti-militarist group Cease Fire.

††††††††††††††††††

Environment Spending Dwarfed by Rising Defence Budget:

Read the media coverage of the new report that appears in more than 30 newspapers across Canada:Ottawa Citizen Canwest News Sun Media

I want to let you know about a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives by Rideau Institute senior adviser Bill Robinson.

The report shows that Canada’s rising National Defence spending is $21.185 billion in 2009-2010, making Canada’s rank 13th highest in the world, and 6th highest among NATO’s 28 members, dollar for dollar.

Bill Robinson says the rise in defence spending is an indication of the government’s priorities. “Government spending on National Defence is twenty times that of federal Environment Department spending,” said Robinson. By comparison, the Department of the Environment was allocated only $1.064 billion.

The report, “Canadian Military Spending 2009,” notes that Department of National Defence spending has increased by 9.6% over last year, or $1.8 billion. ”The government could have doubled its planned multi-departmental spending on climate change initiatives this year had it not increased military spending by that amount,” added Robinson.

Canada has spent $23.1 billion in successive increases to National Defence spending since the outset of the Global War on Terror in 2001 (calculated by comparing spending to date above the 2000-01 budget). Roughly half of that amount has been spent on the Afghanistan war.

In historical terms, military spending today has surpassed Cold War spending in 1989 by 22%, and Canada is committed to increased spending under the Conservative government’s Canada First Defence Strategy.

“If the extra $130 billion to $155 billion that Canada will spend over the next 18 years as a result of its post–Cold War military budget buildup were spent instead on aid, it would be enough to nearly triple Canadian development assistance over that period, enabling us to meet and even exceed the 0.7% target and to provide additional resources for climate change aid,” said Robinson.

“Canadian Military Spending 2009” is published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Bill Robinson is a defence analyst and senior adviser of the Rideau Institute.

In peace,

Steven Staples,

Ceasefire.ca

ANTI-MILITARISM CANADA:

HELP RODNEY WATSON:

The struggle against militarism is worldwide. Many other animal species "wage war" despite the illusions of some primitivists. The human situation, however, is unique because of our ability (inevitable!!! for those who who imagine that simply eliminating a technology by some miraculous universal religious renunciation) to form "coalitions"

will prevent war. Of course it won't ! The ability to prevent war in the future will require a very hard look at human nature, a hard look that my own "nutty comrades" of the primitivist strain obviously think is unnecessary. All that, of course, is irrelevant to our present situation where the actions of an anarchist movement are tiny to say the least. The dream world of parts of the American anarchist movement (I can only hope that the majority in a "country" that is better described as a "continent" have more common sense) is irrelevant to any political issue whatsoever. At its crudest, "if some idiot living in the" luxury" of a technological city wants to use the internet to propagandize for "the end of civilization" then "hypocrisy" is the least of the sins that can be attributed to such an idiot. The following is an internet appeal from the War Resister's International for solidarity with Rodney, who has claimed sancuaryin a Vancouver Church.

The following is a very special appeal for an American of conscience who has claimed sanctuary in a Canadian Church. I urge not just my Canadian comrades to support him. That much is obvious. I also urge our American comrades to do the best they can for this "good man".YES, such a campaign is "very liberal", but it is not from the perspective of the individual involved. this guy has come up here to escape killing Innocent people out in Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't expect my general readers to believe in political rhetoric, either that of the average leftist or my nutty comrades. Or my own for that matter. All that I would ask is that you consider the following appeal for a man who does not want to be a murderer and support him. This is plain language. Here is the story and appeal.

CPCPCPCPCPCP

USA/CANADA: War resister Rodney Watson in church sanctuary in Canada
2009 US war resisters Rodney Watson decided to seek sanctuary in a church in Vancouver, Canada, rather than face deportation to the United States to face desertion charges. Rodney Watson, who is originally from Kansas City, Kansas, enlisted in the US Army in 2004 for a three-year contract with the intentions of becoming a cook since he wanted to serve the troops in a non-combat capacity.

I n 2005, he was deployed to Iraq just north of Mosul, where he was put in charge of searching vehicles and Iraqi civilians for explosives, contraband and weapons before they entered the base. He was also expected to “keep the peace” by monitoring Iraqi civilians who worked on the base and fire his weapon at Iraqi children who approached the perimeter.

After his first tour was over, Watson was informed that he was instead being Stop-Lossed as the Army intended to have him serve beyond the date of his contractual obligation with the military. On two-week leave, he decided not to return to his base at Fort Hood, Texas, and instead fled to Vancouver, B.C. in 2006, where he lives with his Canadian born partner and their infant son.

In a September 2009 press conference, Watson - who is African-American - described his experience in Iraq, “I witnessed racism and the physical abuse from soldiers towards the civilians. On one occasion, a soldier was beating an Iraqi civilian, calling him a sand-nigger and threw his Qur’an on the ground and spit on it. The man was unarmed and he was just looking for work on the base. He posed no type of threat. He was beaten because soldiers brought their personal racist hatred to Iraq.”

He has been living in refuge at the First United Church in Vancouver, B.C., since 18 September 2009. He was welcomed with open arms and publicly declared sanctuary on Monday. Sarah Bjorknas from the Vancouver arm of the WRSC notes that Watson was issued his deportation order before his case could be resolved through the courts.

Watson wishes to remain in Canada because of his objection to the Iraq War but his passion for his infant son remains the strongest pull.

At the press conference, Watson’s voice trembled, “I don’t want to be torn away from him. I want to be there for him during his first steps, every waking moment, I want to be there. And I know if I’m deported, it is to prison and I will not be able to see any of those moments for who knows how long, for God knows how long.” If convicted of desertion as a felony charge he will not be able to cross the border to visit his son.

War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to Rodney Watson:

Rodney Watsonc

c/o First United Church Mission

320 E Hastings St

Vancouver, BC V6A 1P4

Canada
War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, demanding to halt the deportation of Rodney Watson and other war resisters to the United States

.Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street

Ottawa

K1A 0A2

Fax: +1-613-941-6900

A protest email can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/node/9046.
Andreas Speck

War Resisters' International

ANTI-MILITARISM-TURKEY/ISRAEL:

TURKISH DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF ISRAELI WAR RESISTERS:

Over the years many brave Israeli citizens have refused compulsory military service in their country's continued aggression against their Palestinian neighbours. Two recent ones, now prisoners of conscience, are Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David. The country of Turkey also has compulsory military service, and its troops are often used in equally brutal campaigns against that country's Kurdish minority. As in Israel many Turks have refused military service and been imprisoned for it. Anti-militarists in both countries see their struggle as a common one. Here, from the A-Infos website is the story of a recent demonstration in Istanbul in support of their Israeli fellow resisters.

A few notes on sources. The Israeli anarchist group, from which one of the resisters comes from is the Anarchists Against the Wall. The War Resisters International and the War Resisters Turkey (website in Turkish) also supported the protest. Note the prominent role played by anarchists in the protest. Turkey has a vibrant and growing anarchist movement, very much unknown in the outside world because of the large language barrier.

AMAMAMAMAM

Turkey- Istanbul: Freedom for Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David!:

On 30 October a group of Turkish antimilitarists gathered at the front door of Israel Consulate of Istanbul and declared their support to two Israeli conscientious objectors, Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David* who arrested last week for to object war politics of Israeli governments against Palestinian people. -- In the meeting that realized for the invitation of WRI (War Resisters’ International) a Turkish antimilitarist, Özgür Bircan also declared his conscientious objection. The members of LAF (Anarchist Activity Lycee), high school students same as Efi and Or, attended the meeting with the placards written “Reject! Resist! Refuse!” and “Do not go for service, do not shed your brothers’ blood”. ---- After reading the declaration of Shministim, Turkish antimilitarists said these briefly:

"We, the Turkish antimilitarists, with the invitation of WRI, gathered today to protest Israeli government and give our support to Israeli conscientious objectors Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David. As you know UN accused Israeli government and Hamas committing war crime at Gaza recently. Israeli conscientious objectors do not want to participate this crime. Wars are meant to be destruction for both humanity and nature and therefore we call all human beings not to go for military service and not to participate this crime.

Besides we want to conduct our support to all conscientious objectors arrested or suppressed for refusing to go for military service because of their political, moral or religious beliefs. We want Azerbaijani objectors Mushfiq Mammedov, Sakhetmurad Annamamedov who declared will not go for military service because they are Jehovah’s Witnesses, four Turkmenistanian objectors, South Korean objector Jungmin Oh and Belarusian objector Dzmitry Smyk released.

Özgür Bircan, who declared his conscientious objection in the meeting, said these briefly:

I, Özgür Bircan, object wearing uniforms; taking and giving orders; to be obliged to ‘learn’ using arms; applying this ‘knowledge’ if required, on people whom I did not know and see before; and to be part of one of the ideal citizen formatting institutions of yours.

Blood thirsty masters of this world, we are expecting you to the front lines of wars. We, the conscientious young people of the world will not be the participants of your bloody wars, power struggles, we object wars and militarism. I object wars and militarism.

If we need to create heroes for ourselves, my heroes are these two teenagers who met confinement at their early ages since they refuse to be part of that ferocity in Palestine. They are the saints of modern world. Our hearts are with Efi, Or and the whole people objecting to participating in wars.

=====================================

* Of the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-POLAND:

PROTEST AGAINST US VP VISIT TO POLAND:

Ah, the joys of 'Imperialism-Lite'. The new Democratic Administration in the USA is gradually creeping up to its first year in power, and very little has changed in terms of US policy towards the rest of the world. Yeah, President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize despite the fact of having accomplished nothing. America's two foreign wars continue and will do so for the foreseeable future. The immovable object of Israeli/Palestinian peace remains just as unachievable as it has been for decades. No doubt others have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for empty words, but this may be most glaringly empty award in history. Meanwhile the one substantial change in US policy ie backing down from an anti-missile system in eastern Europe may not be as substantial as its appears, as the following story hints at.

The following came to Molly's attention via the A-Infos website. It is originally from the Polish anarchist news site Centrum Informacji Anarchistycznej.

@@@@@@@@@@

Poland, NO TO PATRIOTS! Anarchist Antimilitarist Action During Biden's Visit to Warsaw:

On Oct. 21, US Vice-President Joe Biden visited Poland as part of a four-day visit to Central Europe and the Balkans meant to seal various sorts of military deals in the region. The Campaign Against Militarism protested during his visit with the Prime Minister.

---- Before the protest, one activist accidentally met Biden on the way to an announced trip to the monument of the Heros of the Warsaw Ghetto and came within arms reach of the VP with a banner reading "No Patriot Missiles". Poland is trying desperately to obtain Patriot Missiles. Previously the US had offered its ass-licking ally only training versions of the missiles, without any real warheads.

---- Upon arrival at the Prime Minister's Office, the police, secret service, etc. etc., tried to detain the first protester and claim that there could be no protest.

The person naturally refused to be led to the police wagon and journalists became interested in this action. When more people arrived, the police tried parking police vans in front of the protesters, which, although a decidedly modest group of people, were apparently not to be shown to the US Vice President or the media. The police also tried to block the banner, but one person jumped out around them with another banner. All the time the police were harassing and trying to block the protesters, which pissed one journalist off so much that he called the police headquarters complaining. Journalists also had reasons to be pissed off: the government announced that yes, they can go to a "press conference" with Mr. Biden - but nobody would be allowed to ask any questions.

And there are lots of questions to be asked. Nobody knows much about the SM3 IB, the version of anti-ballistic missile which Poland may receive sometime after 2018 since it is still in testing. Nobody knows about the warheads on the ten Patriot missiles Poland is supposed to get (at a cost of 300 million dollars for just the missiles) or what exactly the US soldiers at the military base scheduled to open next year in Poland really will be doing. And nobody knows for sure what America's missile defense plans in the region really are.

Eventually the cops had to leave the protesters alone.

In the meanwhile, the case of some people arrested in Slupsk in March 2008 after a demonstration against the planned missile shield is finally in court. So far, people are only denied the charges; witnesses will be heard next week.

Leaflet: No to Patriots!

The Campaign Against Militarism strongly protests against the location of Patriot and SM3 IB rockets in Poland. All of these rockets, regardless of their kind, are instruments of war and imperialist politics. War is killing in the interest of governments, power elites and business. In wars the ruling classes always win, and normal people always lose.

The military policy of the USA has for a long time rested on the promotion of the arms industry, to profit corporations. Wars are conducted ensure corporate profit, foreign governments are overthrown for the same reasons. The Polish government, supporting the military adventures of the ISA like the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq often says outright that they are in it for the profit (for example for contracts in Iraq), or for strengthening their relations with the USA. We oppose Poland's participation in these criminal campaigns,

No to Polish and American Imperialism!

No to Pro-War Manipulation!

No War for Profit!

No More Hate Wars!

Campaign Against Militarism

http://cia.bzzz.net/no_to_patriots_antimilitarist_action_during_bidens_visit_to_warsaw

CANADIAN POLITICS/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS:

AFGHANISTAN AND CANADA:

The following announcement is from the Canadian anti-militarist group CeaseFire.ca . They have a new book out, 'Afghanistan and Canada'. Canadians generally like to feel oh-so-superior to Americans, but our actions, as mercenaries for the American Empire, in the seemingly endless Afghan war have been less than exemplary. Read all about it. Here's the announcement.

CPCPCPCPCPCPCP

New Book: Afghanistan and Canada:

Contributions by Tariq Ali, Peggy Mason, Walter Dorn, Stephen Cornish, Murray Dobbin, Linda McQuaig, and others

I am very pleased to tell you that a new book is available that examines positive alternatives to the terrible war in Afghanistan.

My co-editor, Lucia Kowaluk, and I asked writers and experts from across Canada to give us their analysis of the war, and suggest how Canada can best work to bring peace to this troubled country.

The result is Afghanistan and Canada: Is There an Alternative to War? (Black Rose Books, 2009).

I have signed several copies, which I want to make available to you.

I know that you will enjoy the contributions by Michael Neuman, Murray Dobbin, D’Abord Solidaires, John W. Warnock, Tariq Ali, Échec à la Guerre, Stephen Cornish, Linda McQuaig, Ira Basen, Ligue des droits et libertés, Richard Preston, Cheshmak Farhoumand-Sims, Asad Ismi, Rose Marie Whalley, John Foster, A. Walter Dorn, Pierre Beaudet, Claude Castonguay, Richard Preston, Peggy Mason, and many others.

We have opened a section of Ceasefire.ca called Ceasefire.ca Gear, where you can pick up great other great books, Ceasefire.ca pins, and even campaign tools.

I hope you enjoy it.

In peace,

Steven Staples, Ceasefire.ca

P.S. If you live in the Ottawa region, we are hosting a book launch on Friday, October 2. Please join us.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT/ANTI-MILITARISM-JAPAN:

ANARCHIST PROTEST IN HIROSHIMA:

Like many years before anarchists in japan will protest once more in the city of Hiroshima. They are protesting not just against the historical use of atomic weaponry against this city by the USA but also against its long connection with militarism, both in the past and in the present. As has always been the case the anarchists are the only consistent opponents of militarism in all its forms. The following is the story from the Asian Anarchist Network. It has been edited, as best I can, for English grammar.

@@@@@@@@@@
@narchy in Hiroshima‏
Comrades & Friends;

This year, a part of anarchists living in the Japanese islands will be in front of Motoyasu-bridge, Hiroshima City. For over 20 years, a part of the militant anarchists living in the Japanese islands have done fierce agit-proping against the faked "peace", and have fierce brame (???"-Molly) about the faked "peace city". Hiroshima City is a city bombing by an a-bomb of the U$A. However, the city has also been an important military headquarters since the early 20 century, and near the city, there are 2 important navy base of Japan (Kure/Edajima Japanese navy base) and the U$ marine corp (Iwakuni City). From these bases, they have departed to the terrible warfare in Afghanistan/Iraq for over 19 years.

Anyway, at 8:15am on this morning, we will shout to the prime minister asou/mayor of Hiroshima City about fake peace in front of "Heiwa park=(peace park)" with our black flags. Thanx.

In struggle against faked peace.(rebel_JILL/ a day laborer)

ANTI-MILITARISM:

NEW ANTI-WAR MUSIC VIDEO:

It may not get play on MTV, but this looks interesting. Here's the lowdown from Ottawa's Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT).

XXXXXXXXXXXX

COAT's first anti-war music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEFQXyLucyk

Click above to view this anti-war music video that I put together using excerpts from tunes by Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. This was done for the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) which is now involved in a campaign to expose CANSEC 2009, Canada's largest war-industry exhibition and trade show. Please join our efforts!

http://coat.ncf.ca

I'll be showing this video in Ottawa tomorrow night (Friday, June 12) during a slide show that I'm presenting on the role of CANSEC exhibitors in fueling war.

http://coat.ncf.ca/ARMX/cansec/slides.htm

About the Images

All of the major weapons delivery systems (war planes) shown in this video are embedded with numerous military components manufactured in Canada by corporate exhibitors that showcased their wares at CANSEC 2009 in Ottawa, May 27-28. http://coat.ncf.ca/ARMX/cansec/topCANSEC.htm

http://coat.ncf.ca/ARMX/cansec/CANSECweapons.htm

And, what's more, almost all of these weapons systems are made by prime US war contractors that Canadians are forced to invest their retirement savings in, thanks to our government's Canada Pension Plan!

The automatic weapons shown in this video are produced and exported by Colt Canada, which also exhibited its products at CANSEC.

The victims of war seen in this video live in war zones fueled by Canadian military industries, primarily Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza.

Join Us in Opposing CANSEC!

Sign our ONLINE PETITION to stop the City of Ottawa from hosting future war industry trade/export bazaars.

http://prax.ca/coat/No-Arms-Shows

View thousands of petition signers and their comments

http://prax.ca/view/coat/No-Arms-Shows

Contact Ottawa's Mayor and City Council

http://coat.ncf.ca/ARMX/ContactCity.htm

If you're in Ottawa, join the bevy of peace activists "speaking truth to power" at City Hall on Monday, June 15.

http://coat.ncf.ca/ARMX/cansec/CityHall.htm

Make a donation to support COAT's work

http://coat.ncf.ca/support_us/support_us.htm

Yours sincerely for peace

Richard Sanders

coordinator, COAT

P.S. And, thanks to Rew MacCrimmon for splicing the audio track together!

CANADIAN POLITICS/ANTI-MILITARISM:

NO MORE MURDER OF AFGHAN CIVILIANS BY CANADIAN BOMBERS:

The following appeal is from the anti-militarist group Cease Fire.

WWWWWWWWWW
Stop Canadian Air Strikes‏
The military wants to send our CF-18 fighter bombers to Afghanistan.

Tell Prime Minister Harper that we do not want this major escalation of our combat role.

Action Alert:
Stop CF-18 warplanes from being deployed to Afghanistan
Send your letter to Stephen Harper right away



As you may have heard on the news, up to 100 Afghan civilians are feared dead as a result of U.S. air strikes.

Now, I am writing to alert you of a potential major escalation of Canada’s war in Afghanistan: Canadian fighter-bomber warplanes.

The military is engaging in a lobbying campaign to have a squadron of our CF-18 Hornet fighter bombers deployed to Afghanistan.

The planes would be used to attack suspected insurgents and to fight with Canadian and U.S. troops engaged in search and destroy missions. But they will also kill untold numbers of Afghan civilians in these attacks.

The deployment of CF-18 fighter bombers would be a major increase in our combat role in Afghanistan, and should be opposed by Canadians. Please send your letter to Prime Minister Harper right away.

Bombing runs by similar warplanes used by the United States and other Western forces have killed hundreds of civilians, including women and children. As well, U.S. pilots have already killed five Canadian soldiers.

According to the United Nations, 530 Afghan civilians were killed by U.S. and NATO air strikes in 2008, a 65 per cent increase over 2007. Experts all agree that the growing number of civilians killed by air strikes is eroding Afghan support for foreign troops.

Canadian warplanes should never be part of these deadly bombing and strafing runs in Afghanistan. How many deaths of innocent Afghans would be on our hands?
We need to push back against the military lobby by sending a strong signal to the Harper government, and the military, that we do not want Canadian CF-18 fighter bombers sent to Afghanistan.

Thank you for doing what you can to end Canada’s war in Afghanistan.
In peace,
Steven Staples,
Ceasefire.ca

WWWWWWWWWW

THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to the Canadian government.

WWWWWWWWWW

Dear Prime Minister Harper,
I oppose the deployment of CF-18 fighter bombers to Afghanistan.

Air strikes are the leading cause of civilian deaths from NATO military operations. Canada cannot claim to be defending Afghan women and children while coalition air strikes killed more than 500 civilians in 2008, according to the United Nations.

I urge you to state clearly that Canada will not deploy CF-18 fighter-bombers to Afghanistan. Furthermore, your government should support a diplomatic end to the conflict, and bring Canadian troops home as soon as possible.

I look forward to your reply.
------------------------------------
Monsieur le Premier ministre,
Je m’oppose au déploiement des chasseurs bombardiers CF-18 en Afghanistan.

De toutes les opérations militaires de l’OTAN, les frappes aériennes sont celles qui font le plus de victimes parmi les civils. Le Canada ne peut pas prétendre défendre les femmes et les enfants afghans alors que, selon les Nations Unies, les frappes de la coalition ont fait plus de 500 victimes chez les civils en 2008.

Je vous demande avec instance de déclarer clairement que le Canada ne déploiera pas de chasseurs bombardiers CF-18 en Afghanistan. De plus, votre gouvernement devrait aider à trouver une issue diplomatique au conflit, et rapatrier nos soldats dès que possible.

Espérant avoir une réponse de vous, je vous prie, Monsieur le Premier ministre, d’agréer mes salutations respectueuses.

LOCAL EVENTS-WINNIPEG:

MYTHS FOR PROFIT:

Coming up tomorrow down at the Rudolph Rocker Cultural Centre, 81 Albert St.. Myths for Profit is a film examining Canada's war industry and the myth of the "peaceable kingdom". Here's the details...

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Myths for Profit- Film Screening and Discussion:
Host:
Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre
Type:
Music/Arts - Exhibit
Date:
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Time:
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:
The Rocker
91 Albert st., 3rd floor
Winnipeg, MB
Description
MYTHS FOR PROFIT

Film Screening and Discussion

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre

3rd Floor, 91 Albert Street

8:00pm - 10:00pm

$5 Suggested Donation

Filmmakers Amy M. Miller and Boban Chaldovich will be in Winnipeg as part of a cross-country tour promoting and discussing their film MYTHS FOR PROFIT.

‘MYTHS FOR PROFIT' is a dramatic exposé which explores 'Canada’s role in Industries of War and Peace’. Through diverse interviews and case studies this documentary unveils specific interests and profits made by certain corporations, individuals and agencies within Canada. The Canadian government and the military would like us to believe that we are altruistic peacekeepers helping people around the world. But is this accurate?

'MYTHS FOR PROFIT' examines how these misconceptions are maintained and who stands to gain by perpetuating them. By understanding the systems of power in Canada we can move forward in challenging how they operate and collectively create change.

MYTH 1) 'Canada is a peacekeeping nation' examines the changes within the Canadian military policies and what has been the agenda of these actions. From the historical beginnings of peacekeeping, to the recent missions, the documentary takes a critical look to the motives behind these actions. Particular focus is given to the role Canada has taken in NATO, the current perpetual war in Afghanistan, and how Canada played a pivotal role in pushing the policy of ‘humanitarian bombing’ in Yugoslavia in 1999.

MYTH 2) 'Canada’s military purpose is defence' By investigating the magnitude of the Canadian military industrial complex, this section probes the intersecting relationships between various government agencies and corporations as well as public complicity in this vast industry.

MYTH 3) 'Canada's aid is helping people around the world' investigates how various government agencies and ministries have specific agendas they are implementing around the world. The active role taken on in regional development banks, to the policies pushed by Export Development Canada are designed and carried out to ensure a free market neo-liberal agenda in different countries, regardless of the negative effect they may have on the communities and environment they impact. This includes how Canada’s development agency’s (CIDA) tied and phantom aid function in post and present conflict zones.

For more information visit:

http://www.wideopenexposure.com/M4P.php> >