Dear friends, I am passing on this message from Nick Everett, a co-convenor of Sydney's Walk Against the War Coalition. This is the coalition which organised some of the very successful Sydney rallies against the war on Iraq this year and last.
Nick is seeking support for the motion below which will go to the coalition's next meeting in a couple of weeks. The motion explains the context for this call for unity. Of course, everyone has the right to set up whatever new organisation they wish. That is not in question here. What is, is the exclusion of some forces on political grounds. This will narrow and weaken the peace movement at a time when we have to be ready to take on the next challenge - to get the occupying troops out of Iraq and champion the right of Iraqis to self-determination. Please send this on to interested people, and groups, and encourage them to respond - including by sending a message to Walk Against War via its website (details are below). Thanks, In solidarity, Graham Matthews Socialist Alliance, Melbourne ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FOR A UNITED ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT! NOTICE OF MOTION Walk Against the War Meeting, August 18, 2003 Dear friend, On Monday, August 18 at 6.30pm at Trades Hall a special meeting of the Walk Against the War Coalition will be held to decide the Coalition's future. Bruce Childs and Hannah Middleton, two of the three co-convenors of the Walk Against the War Coalition, will be arguing that the Coalition - which has functioned as a single, united coalition reflecting the broad range of organisations involved in the anti-war movement in Sydney - is now redundant. They have given notice of a motion (posted to the Walk Against the War list on July 18) calling for "two-thirds of the funds [of the Walk Against the War Coalition to] be transferred to the Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition, after the Walk Against the War Coalition has met its other obligations". The Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition (SPJC) was initiated by Bruce Childs, Hannah Middleton and others on July 7 at a meeting that was kept secret from the majority of affiliates of the Walk Against the War Coalition, effectively splitting the anti-war movement. The meeting adopted a charter with the controversial position of support for "a strong UN oversight in Iraq". The role of the UN in Iraq has been the subject of much debate in the movement both here and internationally. But the Walk Against the War Coalition has to date not allowed this difference to split the peace movement. However, the SPJC's adoption of this position splits the anti-war movement at a time when opposition against the US occupation is mounting and the movement needs to be able to respond with a united voice. The SPJC's operating rules provide its coordinating committee - elected for a term of one year - effective control over who may become an affiliate of the coalition. We urge you to oppose this move to split the anti-war movement and support the following motion: "This meeting of the Walk Against the War Coalition notes the success the Coalition has achieved in uniting diverse elements of the Sydney anti-war movement, reflected in successive mobilisations of tens of thousands of opponents of the war between November 2002 and April 2003. The mobilisation of 500,000 people in Sydney on February 16 was an expression of peoples power against the Howard government's support for war on Iraq made possible by the unity of the anti war movement. "This meeting reaffirms the Walk Against the War Coalition's commitment to building an inclusive and united anti-war movement and rejects any attempt to dispense with the Coalition's funds." Moved: Nick Everett Co-convenor Walk Against the War Coalition Endorsed by: Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific; Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group; Sawayan Coalition for Palestine; Socialist Alliance; Ashisha Cunningham (Chippendale-Darlington Peace Group*); Bashir Sawalha (NSW Greens*); Bob Gould (Bookseller); Daniel Jardine (Vice-President, General Staff, Macquarie University Branch, NTEU*); Jamal Daoud (NSW Greens*); Jenny Long (Secretary, Education delegates committee, PSA*); Leonore Gouldthorpe (Pittwater for Peace*); John Morris (Councillor, NSW Teachers Federation*); Leon Parissi (Central Councillor, PSA*); Les Gray; Liam Mitchell (delegate, AMWU*); Marie McKern; Melanie Sjoberg (Secretary, Housing delegates committee & Womens Councillor, PSA*); Mike Waterman (Convenor, Newtown Peace Group*); Noreen Navin (Peace Contact, Executive, Canterbury-Bankstown Teachers Assoc*); Steve Painter (St George Greens*); Susan Price (Vice-President, UNSW branch, NTEU*). *Organisations listed for identification purposes only. To add your endorsement email <[EMAIL PROTECTED] or phone 0409 762 081. Feedback can also be sent directly to the Walk Against the War Coalition's website <http://www.nswpeace.org/site/feedback.html > . . -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
