------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Jan. 9, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
13 COUNTRIES AND GROWING: INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS SET FOR JAN. 18-19 By John Catalinotto As of Dec. 31, anti-war demonstrations have been scheduled in at least 13 countries for the weekend of Jan. 18-19, which is the 12th anniversary of the first U.S. assault on Iraq. The appeal for these actions originated with the International ANSWER coalition in the United States. ANSWER is organizing national demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco on Jan. 18 to demand "No war on Iraq." These are expected to be the largest such protest actions so far in the United States as the growing anti-war movement tries to stop a Bush administration hell- bent on war. The 13 countries are Egypt, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Russia and the United States. ANSWER organizers expect that anti-war movements in other countries will also take on this effort, especially as the threat of war grows closer. U.S. military bases are targets of the demonstration in several countries. Groups from many other countries have sent statements of solidarity or have publicized ANSWER's call. The call for the Egyptian demonstration comes from the Cairo Conference, held on Dec. 18-19, which also issued a call for international demonstrations on Jan. 18-19. The International Action Center web site at www.iacenter.org contains a report on the conference, the conference declaration and other documents. In Belgium, the Stop USA (United States of Aggression) Coalition has called a demonstration in Brussels for Jan. 19. The slogans are "No war," "No sanctions" and "Stop the bombardment." The Belgian demonstration also supports a Palestinian state and the resistance of the Palestinian people. More information and posters can be found at www.stopusa.be/. In Spain at least two major actions are planned. On Jan. 19 a coalition of anti-war and social groups is holding a protest demonstration at the Torrejon airbase to "Stop the war on Iraq before it starts." It will demand "No more blood for oil," "No participation by the Spanish state" in the war, "No to NATO, bases out" and "Against globalization, a Europe run by capital and war." A national discussion of the threatened war takes place on the previous day. In Zaragoza, Spain, on Jan. 18, a group of conscientious objectors to the war will present their pledge of resistance to the government of that city. Anti-war groups plan demonstrations across Canada on Jan. 18-19. In Italy there have been various appeals for demonstrations. A coalition, also named ANSWER, has called a demonstration at Camp Ederle near Vicenza in northern Italy. Its statement says, "Our goal is to stop the war that Bush and his allies (among whom are our own Berlusconi) want to unleash at all costs against Iraq, with immediate repercussions in all of the Middle East. Their real goals are to continue to assert control of the oil resources of the region, and to have a free hand with the Palestinians, with Iran, with Syria, with the countries in the Caspian Sea region." For more information, see: www.venetocontroguerra.net. The Anti-imperialist Camp will support Jan. 18 demonstrations in Italy and Austria and "will organize or take part in sit-ins, demonstrations and meetings already planned." In Japan, different coalitions will be holding regional demonstrations in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and other major cities on both Jan. 18 and Jan. 19. Some will also demand that U.S. bases leave Japan, especially Okinawa, where there is a strong popular movement against the U.S. occupation. In Indonesia, an organization in Bandung, West Java, pledged to demonstrate on Jan. 18. In Britain, there will be a regional demonstration in Yorkshire on that day, plus a weekend of protest and civil disobedience in London at the Northwood Military Base. French groups that held a protest in Marseilles Dec. 28 protesting the passage of a U.S. battle group led by the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman plan to protest again on Jan. 18. In Germany, a group in Heidelberg will demonstrate at the U.S. military headquarters. Web sites of groups based in Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Italy and other places around the world are publicizing the ANSWER protest. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
