Anti-War Global rallies protest possible U.S. war on Iraq

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks
You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy

“The greatest crime since World War II has been U.S. foreign policy.”
— Ramsey Clark
former U.S. Attorney General

Rumsfeld: If we can't find weapons of mass destruction, that proves they have it.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 18, 2003) - Tens of thousands rallied in the capital Saturday in an emphatic dissent against preparations for war in Iraq, voicing a cry - ``No blood for oil'' - heard in demonstrations around the world.

A rally in the shadows of Washington's political and military institutions anchored dozens of smaller protests throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

In Washington, police said 30,000 marched through the streets, part of a much larger crowd that packed the east end of the National Mall and spilled onto the Capitol grounds.

``We stand here today, a new generation of anti-war activists,'' Peta Lindsay from International Answer, the main organizers, exhorted the spirited masses in a biting cold. ``This is just beginning. We will stop this war.''

Police reported few arrests in the rally, which preceded the march past Marine barracks to the Washington Navy Yard.

``We don't want this war and we don't want a government that wants this war,'' said Brenda Stokely, a New York City labor activist. A sign branded America, not Iraq, a ``Rogue Nation.'' Another said, ``Disarm Bush.''

Activists invoked the nonviolent legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on the long weekend that marks the civil rights leader's birthday, and booed President Bush, who was at Camp David, Md.

King's historic ``I have a dream'' speech rang out from the opposite end of the mall, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, before a crowd of more than 200,000 in 1963.

``Mr. Bush hung Dr. King's picture up in the White House last year but he need to hang up Dr. King's words,'' the Rev. Al Sharpton, a Democratic presidential candidate, told the demonstration.

Added civil rights activist Jesse Jackson: ``We march today to fight militarism, and racism, and sexism, and anti-Semitism, and Arab-bashing.''

Terrence Gainer, chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, said ``about 30,000 people moved out on the march route,'' a two-mile trek from the huge rally.

Bush believes that protesting ``is a time-honored part of American tradition and it's a strength of our democracy,'' White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo said.

Demonstrators hoped the protests and more ahead would win over an American public unsettled by the prospect of an Iraq war yet supportive of Bush's leadership. Some dared hope their activism would give his administration pause.

``Our voices ought to matter.'' said Joyce Townsend, 69, who came from Detroit on a bus with members of her church.

As with any big Washington rally, the main cause made room for other causes.

``The underlying motives for this government's actions have always been greed and racism,'' said Moonanum James of United American Indians of New England.

``In the spirit of Dr. King, in the spirit of Crazy Horse,'' he said, ``no blood for oil.''

In Portland, Ore., police said at least 20,000 people marched through downtown. The eclectic crowd included elderly women in wheelchairs, families with small children, couples with dogs and hooded protesters dressed in black.

Tens of thousands also demonstrated in San Francisco - a diverse collection of teenagers, retirees, seasoned activists and first-time protesters. Aris Cisneros, 38, brought his two young children.

``I want Bush to see that his people are against the war,'' he said. ``I want to show my children that they can stand up to stupidity.''

In Lansing, Mich., several hundred people met at a church before marching 20 blocks to the state Capitol. ``It's just great enthusiasm here, and a great spirit of peacemaking,'' said the Rev. Fred Thelen from Cristo Rey Catholic Church.

In Des Moines, Iowa, about 125 protesters marched two miles in a bitter wind that made temperatures feel below zero. ``Standing out in this kind of temperature is nothing compared to innocent people losing their lives in Iraq,'' said marcher Eric Kimmer, 32, a credit union worker.

About 400 people, many of them elderly, gathered in downtown Venice, Fla., to listen to anti-war speeches. ``America cannot unsheathe the sword, and tell the rest of the world to brandish plowshares,'' said Methodist minister Charles McKenzie.

Demonstrators staged peace rallies worldwide, events that typically drew hundreds or fewer.

But 5,000 people marched through downtown Tokyo, carrying toy guns filled with flowers and wearing face masks that parodied Bush.

Larry Holmes, speaking for organizers of the Washington rally, said protesters everywhere sense war is close.

``It seems like it has a momentum and a sense of inevitability, and so we're rushing against the clock,'' he said. ``So as they send the troops there and surround Iraq, we're sending the troops into the streets of Washington, D.C., so to speak.''

Three dozen people stood by the Vietnam War Memorial to show support for Bush's policy and offer a contrary voice to the blitz of demonstrations.

``The protesters don't understand the threat'' of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, said Scott Johnson, 55, a Navy veteran from Minneapolis. ``It's a war of liberation for people.''

Overseas, 60 protesters in Hong Kong shouted, ``War, no,'' and in Pakistan, the familiar refrain ``No blood for oil'' was heard - accusing America of wanting to attack Iraq only to control its oil wealth.

Police in the Netherlands detained 90 activists who tried to enter Volkel Air Force Base, where Dutch and U.S. forces are stationed, to conduct a ``citizens' inspection of American nuclear arms.''

More than 400 New Zealanders demonstrated in Christchurch. In Moscow, a few hundred people agitated outside the U.S. Embassy. Thousands of Canadian activists made their voices heard in Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Bush says Saddam has weapons of mass destruction and no qualms about using them on the United States, if he could. U.N. inspectors are in Iraq trying to find them.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Demonstrators gathered in Washington on Saturday to protest a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq with anti-war chants, placards and speakers chastising politicians.

Rally speakers were to include the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, actor Ossie Davis and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark

From Fran Lewine

In addition, similar rallies were planned and held in San Francisco, California, Chicago, Illinois, and cities in Mexico, Japan, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Belgium and Australia.

The organizers say Congress' Iraq resolution is illegal and U.S. President George W. Bush's threats of a possible war against Iraq do not represent the views of the American people.

Bush has described Iraq as part of an "axis of evil," a growing global threat because -- Bush has said -- Baghdad is developing weapons of mass destruction, biological, nuclear and chemical. Bush has demanded Iraq disarm itself or suffer consequences.

Iraqi officials have repeatedly denied developing or possessing such weapons.

Speakers and participants in the Washington rally were to include former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark; the Rev. Jesse Jackson; Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Georgia; Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of the Archdiocese of Detroit; the Rev. Al Sharpton, actor Ossie Davis and singer Patti Smith.

One spokesman said the rally is a rejection of what Bush pushed on Congress and Congress rubber-stamped.

Dozens of organizations and individuals have endorsed Saturday's march and rally.

Anti-war activists plan an anti-war referendum as well, with signed petitions and votes via computer on the Web site www.votenowar.org. An additional rally is scheduled in Washington in January followed by a "People's Peace Conference" to be attended by representatives of organizations that are backing the anti-war effort.

Demonstrators by the Hundreds Gather in D.C. to March Against Possible War With Iraq

W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 26 — Demonstrators by the hundreds gathered near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Saturday for what organizers pledged would be a loud, angry but nonviolent protest march against President Bush's pre-emptive war policies.

One graphic sign showed Bush's face at the end of two bright red bombs with the caption: "Drop Bush, not bombs." Another demonstrator's sign said: "Regime change begins at home." Bush administration policy holds that a "regime change" must come about in Iraq, by force if necessary.

Saturday's march around the White House coincides with anti-war demonstrations in San Francisco, Rome, Berlin, Copenhagen, Tokyo and Mexico City. Organizers say they expected the combined participation of hundreds of thousands of people.

Turnout was below expectations for the first overseas demonstration, a march through downtown Tokyo in which about 300 protesters sang anti-war songs and held up banners. One said: "Stop the war before it starts."

At the front of the marchers were three men, each wearing a paper mask depicting President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair or Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Demonstrators carried a papier-mache model of a Tomahawk cruise missile.

Thousands of people protested in northern Europe, but the turnouts were far below organizers' predictions.

In Germany, a crowd estimated by police at 4,500 people carried placards that declared "War on the imperialist war," "Stop Bush's campaign" and "No blood for oil," along with a few Iraqi flags, at Berlin's downtown Alexanderplatz ahead of a planned march past the U.S. and British embassies. Another 1,500 showed up in Frankfurt, 500 in Hamburg.

Rain poured on 1,500 demonstrators outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. In neighboring Sweden, more than 1,000 hit the streets in Stockholm.

Buses brought in hundreds of demonstrators, college students and out-of-town residents for Washington's rally. A man with a gray beard wore a pin on his cap that read "Dissent is patriotic" and carried a sign that read "Honor Wellstone: speak truth to power." Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., who voted against the congressional resolution authorizing force in Iraq, died Friday in a plane crash while campaigning for re-election.

Facing the traffic on nearby Constitution Avenue was a man in a smiling Bush mask, carrying a sign that read: "Bow to the New World Orderer."

While the marchers planned to demonstrate near the White House, the president and first lady Laura Bush were not at home to see or hear them. They flew Saturday from their Texas ranch to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the president was attending the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Among other things, Bush was seeking to rally fellow leaders behind his Iraq stance.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters marched peacefully on the White House on Saturday to express opposition to a possible U.S. attack on Iraq, some chanting slogans accusing President Bush of planning genocide.

Thousands more people took part in anti-war demonstrations in San Francisco, Berlin, Amsterdam and other cities.

"This is going to be an ugly, unnecessary fight. Most of the world is saying 'no' to it," civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson told the crowd at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. "Pre-emptive, one-bullet diplomacy, we cannot resort to that."

"We must not be diverted. In two years we've lost 2 million jobs, unemployment is up, stock market down, poverty up," Jackson told a spirited crowd in Washington. "It's time for a change. It's time to vote on Nov. 5 for hope. We need a regime change in this country."

Congress has authorized the use of military force to achieve the administration policy of "regime change" in Iraq.

"If we launch a pre-emptive strike on Iraq we lose all moral authority," Jackson told the chanting, cheering throng spread out on green lawns near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In Washington, actress Susan Sarandon, who supports numerous liberal causes, accused Bush of having "hijacked our losses and our fears." Sarandon said terrorism could not be fought with violence and that most Americans did not want a conflict.

"Let us resist this war," Sarandon told the cheering crowd. "Let us hate war in all its forms, whether the weapon used is a missile or an airplane."

Demonstrators of all ages, many religions and many nationalities gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before marching behind Jackson to the White House. Bush, however, was in Mexico for a summit of Pacific Rim leaders.

The protesters brandished signs reading: "No Proof, No War," "Bush Sucks" and "Pre-emptive Impeachment." Some protesters carried Iraqi flags. "No war, no way," shouted a protester wearing a mask of Bush with horns and a pitchfork.

"George Bush, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide!" chanted the demonstrators, who were escorted by mounted U.S. Park Police and watched by 600 police officers along the route in the heart of the nation's capital.

Bush has made "regime change" in Iraq -- ousting President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) -- a policy of his administration. Bush has said that if the United Nations (news - web sites) fails to compel Iraq to give up any weapons of mass destruction -- chemical, biological or nuclear arms -- it possesses, the United States would do so by force if necessary. Congress has given Bush the authorization he sought to carry out a possible attack.

Police did not give an official estimate of the size of the crowd in Washington. Tony Murphy, an organizer of the event, told Reuters 150,000 people participated. Other observers put the figure between 40,000 and 50,000.

In San Francisco, known for its liberal politics and history of activism, a crowd that police estimated at about 42,000 marched near the city's historic Ferry Building to its Civic Center.

A group of about 20 children led the parade as protesters carried signs bearing pictures of Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld beneath the words "weapons of mass destruction." Other signs read: "No blood for oil" and "Regime change begins at home. Vote on Nov. 5," referring to the U.S. congressional elections.

In Germany, demonstrations were staged in about 70 towns and cities. The largest was in Berlin, where almost 10,000 people marched. In Amsterdam, some 4,000 people rallied in heavy rain to protest against U.S. policy.

In Washington, protesters called on Bush to spend the tens of billions of dollars that a war against Iraq could cost on social programs in the United States. They also argued that sanctions imposed on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites) should be lifted, blaming them for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians.

About 500 Iraqi exiles came to Washington to show support for efforts to remove Saddam from power.

Tamir Musa, an Iraqi who has lived in Michigan for 10 years, said, "The war is good if it goes to kill Saddam Hussein. He has a lot of bombs. He's terrorist number one."

"If violence fixed the problem, then Israel should be at peace," countered Rick Blumhorst of Kansas, a U.S. Gulf War veteran wearing his Army dress uniform. "Acting unilaterally, we're going to inflame the Muslim community."

More than 2,000 anti-war protesters rallied in a Seattle park Saturday, calling for an end to growing tensions between the United States and Iraq.

Rallies also were held in Washington, D.C., and other cities around the country.

Chanting "No War!" and "Peace Now!" the crowd converged on Denny Park, north of downtown Seattle, where Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., denounced the Bush administration's policies against Iraq.

"We must stop George Bush," McDermott shouted, prompting cheers and applause.

The protest coincided with anti-war demonstrations throughout the world -- among them protests in Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Rome, Berlin, Tokyo, Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Congress has authorized the use of military force to achieve the administration policy of "regime change" in Iraq and Bush's call to force out Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

After the anti-war speeches, the crowd marched peacefully toward downtown Seattle, carrying signs demanding no war and a model of the Earth, with about 50 Seattle police officers watching.

PARIS/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - France turned up diplomatic heat on the United States on Saturday to make changes to its draft U.N. resolution on Iraq, as anti-war protesters planned rallies in Washington and other cities around the world.

Protest organizers expressed hope that 100,000 people would turn out in the U.S. capital to express opposition to their government's threat to take military action against Iraq if it does not cooperate fully with United Nations (news - web sites) weapons inspectors.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told Europe 1 radio that France was willing to use the draft resolution put forward by the United States on Friday as a basis for seeking an agreement among the 15 members of the Security Council.

"We are going to try to work with the Americans on the basis of the text they have proposed. If we don't manage that, then we will obviously officially propose our own text," Villepin said.

De Villepin's comments added to efforts in New York by French and Russian diplomats on Friday to press Washington to make changes in its text, which is co-sponsored by Britain.

A resolution in the Security Council needs nine "yes" votes for adoption and no veto from its five permanent members, the United States, France, Russia, China and Britain.

Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, President Bush (news - web sites) sought Chinese President Jiang Zemin (news - web sites)'s backing for the new U.N. resolution demanding Iraqi disarmament.

Jiang met Bush on Friday at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. A senior Bush administration official said after the meeting the two leaders had discussed "fairly thoroughly" the U.S. quest to force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to give up his alleged stockpiles of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.

"China supports Iraq's strict compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions," Bush said after the talks.

"And today...I urged President Jiang to support a new Security Council resolution demanding Iraq fully disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction."

But the Chinese president was noncommittal, while China's ambassador to the United Nations voiced reservations about some of the wording of the U.S. resolution.

The proposed U.S. resolution before the Security Council would give arms inspectors far-reaching powers.

It also would declare Iraq in "material breach" of existing U.N. resolutions and would warn Iraq of "serious consequences" if it thwarts weapons inspections -- language Russia and France fear Bush could interpret as a trigger for military action.

China is widely expected to abstain in the Security Council but the United States wants as much support as possible.

Bush said the U.N. resolution "must be one which does the job of holding Saddam Hussein to account": "Let me put it bluntly," he said. "There must be consequences."

Russia and France have now each presented rival draft resolutions at the United Nations.

Russia, which has questioned whether Iraq still has any weapons of mass destruction, eliminates "material breach" and "serious consequences" in its draft. Russia's version also removes U.S. attempts to give U.N. inspectors broad new rights.

France, which sees its text as a bridge between the United States and Russia, also deletes "material breach" but includes a reference to "serious consequences." But, like Russia, the French draft retains current restrictions on inspectors searching Saddam's eight palace compounds.

Iraq agreed to give up chemical, biological and nuclear weapons following the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites) triggered by its invasion of neighboring Kuwait. The task of finding such arms was assigned to U.N. weapons inspectors, but they left in 1998 citing obstruction. Punitive U.S. and British bombing raids ensued.

Organizers of Saturday's planned Washington anti-war protest said similar events also were due in San Francisco, Mexico City, Copenhagen, Seoul, Tokyo, Berlin and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

They said protesters would call on Bush to abandon war plans against Iraq and instead spend the $200 billion they say the military campaign would cost on social programs at home.

Iraq on Saturday described the deliberations at the U.N. Security Council as a "grand farce" and warned that the outcome could determine the future of the world body.

"It puts the future of the United Nations in the balance because the American administration is now designing even the language in any resolution against us, exploiting the weak will of other members of the Security Council," Babel newspaper, owned by Saddam's eldest son, said in an editorial.

PISA, Italy - More than 3,000 Europeans shouting "Yankees Go Home!" gathered outside a U.S. military base Wednesday to protest U.S. threats to attack Iraq, kicking off five days of anti-war and anti-globalization events.

Helicopters hovered overhead and police in riot gear stood between protesters and the entrance to Camp Darby, a U.S. Army and Air Force base outside Pisa — an indication of tight security the government has mobilized for the larger anti-global meeting.

The meeting officially opened Wednesday evening in nearby Florence, and over the next five days is expected to attract thousands of anti-globalization protesters from around Europe for a series of discussions on globalization and a major anti-war protest Saturday.

Ahead of that, Italian unions organized the anti-war demonstration Wednesday at Camp Darby, which featured protesters from Greece, Spain, Italy and Britain toting banners saying "Drop Bush not Bombs!" and yelling "Yankees Go Home!"

"These are not wars against terrorism," protest organizer Piero Bernocchi of the Italian union group Cobas told the crowd. "These are wars to dominate the world, and for oil and money, terrorism is just an excuse."

Once the demonstration ended, hundreds of people boarded buses and trains bound for Florence to attend the opening of the larger meeting of the European Social Forum, the European branch of the World Social Forum, which meets annually in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The Florence meeting was allowed to go ahead despite the government's concern that the city's artistic treasures could be damaged by demonstrators who have mounted violent protests at similar anti-global meetings in Genoa, Italy, Nice, France, and Seattle, Washington.

Shops in central Florence shuttered their glass-front windows and at least one McDonald's took down its "golden arches" for fear the American fast-food chain could be a target of protesters.

"All this hype is due to what these people have done in other cities," said shop owner Michele Negri, explaining why he decided to keep his clothes store shut during the gathering. "We're scared. All our livelihood is in this shop."

Italian writer Oriana Fallaci, in a rare article published Wednesday in the Milan daily Corriere della Sera, urged Florentines to shutter everything — shops, restaurants, supermarkets — to show their "disdain" for the violent protesters.

Amid stepped up security and border patrols, demonstrators were arriving in Italy on Wednesday by bus, train, boat and even dinghy. The ANSA news agency reported that one group used a rubber boat to cross the French-Italian border to show how easy it was to elude the heightened border checks.

The Italian government announced last month that for security reasons, it would suspend the Schengen Treaty ahead of the meeting. The treaty normally allows for no border controls when travelers go from country to country in the 15-nation grouping.

The government is hoping to avoid infiltration into Italy by members of the Black Bloc — the violent anarchists blamed for much of the damage in Genoa in July 2001 during a Group of Eight meeting.

Outside Camp Darby, the protest of about 3,000 people was peaceful, with demonstrators marching for a variety of causes: Palestinian statehood, a more equal, globalized world, Basque rights, and for the United States to call off its threatened war on Iraq.

Luca Guido, a 20-year-old student from Salerno in southern Italy, was sending several messages with his presence at Camp Darby.

"NATO (news - web sites) feeds the war for economic interests and is only pushed by financial groups," he said as he helped wave an enormous Palestinian flag.

Camp Darby, which was virtually deserted during the demonstration, is home to 400 logistical units. About 700 Italian civilians also work at the base, which has served in the past for shipping munitions in support of U.S. and NATO operations in the Balkans and other areas.

Thousands march peacefully through Florence in anti-war, anti-global demonstration

FLORENCE, Italy - Nearly a half million people from across Europe defied fears of violence and marched peacefully through Florence on Saturday in a carnival-like anti-war and anti-globalization protest.

The demonstration had sparked major security concerns in the art-rich city, particularly after a similar anti-global protest last year destroyed parts of Genoa. But the parade went off without major incident and police were barely visible amid the throngs of rainbow flag-waving demonstrators.

Police in Florence said about 450,000 people had taken part in the demonstration, the highlight of an anti-globalization gathering here that started Wednesday and ends Sunday. The figure was more than twice the number expected.

Demonstrators came from across Europe — Greece, Spain, Britain, Denmark and elsewhere — to protest U.S. policy on Iraq and the corporate interests of multinationals which they say harm the poor and the environment.

The demonstration came a day after the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution which gives Iraq a last chance to disarm or face almost certain war.

"We want to demonstrate that a different world is possible," said Noemi Cucchi, 31, who arrived in Florence on Saturday morning with her sister from the Italian port city of Ancona.

Headed by a banner reading simply "No War," and accompanied by drums and whistles, the marchers wound their way through the city as curious Florentines looked down from their apartment windows, many of them cheering and flying "No War" banners of their own. Some opened their doors to offer hot tea and food to the activists.

The atmosphere was relaxed and jovial, with demonstrators — some dressed as clowns — eating as they walked or roller-bladed along the march route, occasionally shouting "Hands off the Middle East" and "The real terrorist is the West!"

"I really just wanted to be a part of this," said a pink-haired Justine Trillaud, aged 16, who came to the march from Paris by bus with a group of about 20 people.

The throngs walked along Florence's Arno river for some of the 6 1/2 kilometer (4 mile) march and ended up near the soccer stadium for a concert.

Florence's center, with its narrow alleys, Renaissance buildings and art treasures, was off-limits to the protesters for security concerns. For the most part, the only uniformed police officers in sight were those near police vehicles that were parked off the main march route to block any demonstrators from getting through.

As another precaution, many shops in the fashionable streets remained closed, some putting metal or wooden shutters to protect their windows. The renowned jewelers' stores on the Ponte Vecchio, the three-arch bridge which is one of the city's landmarks, have kept their ancient-looking wood shutters down for days.

After weeks of debate over whether to allow the anti-globalization meeting, Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government gave approval, but imposed a strict security plan.

The air space above the city was closed to private aircraft. The Schengen Treaty — which normally allows for no border controls when travelers go from country to country in the 15-nation grouping — was also suspended.

The demonstration Saturday was seen as a major test for Italian police, still reeling from last year's Group of Eight summit in Genoa, where one protester was shot dead by a Carabinieri paramilitary officer and hundreds were wounded during violent clashes in the streets.

Images of wrecked banks, gas stations and stores in Genoa are still vivid for many Italians.

Many feared a repeat of that violence in Florence. But there has been a carnival atmosphere at the 16th century fortress in the northwestern part of the city which has served as the headquarters for the gathering, with food stands, exhibits and street theater sidelining the dozens of discussions held inside.

"I have never seen so many people and so few policemen at a demonstration!" said an incredulous Uwe Schurmann, from Oberhausen, Germany as he wound up the march. "I was a bit afraid, because they were saying this would be a 'Genoa-Two' but it's been very peaceful and I hope it stays that way."

Even a small anti-war demonstration in front of a U.S. military base Wednesday, which had sparked public security concerns, took place without a hitch.

The anti-globalization gathering, billed as the European Social Forum, is the European branch of the World Social Forum which meets annually in Porto Alegre, Brazil. It has drawn to Florence some 35,000 delegates from hundreds of associations.

LONDON (Jan. 25, 2003 ) - Waving goodbye to families and denouncing "imperialist" warmongering, the first convoy of Western volunteers set out from London on double-decker buses on Saturday to act as "human shields" against any attack on Iraq.

About 50 volunteers, ranging from a 19-year-old factory worker to a 60-year-old former diplomat, formed the first in a series of convoys organisers say will take hundreds of anti-war activists to Iraq.

Dismissed by critics as naively playing into Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's hands, the volunteers plan to fan out to heavily populated areas of Baghdad and other parts of the country as a deterrent to Western bombing.

"Our strategy is potentially dangerous but that is the risk we must take in standing beside our brothers and sisters in Iraq," said former U.S. marine Ken Nichols, whose Human Shield Action Iraq group is coordinating the London departures.

"We have been inundated by volunteers. This is just the first wave. I am calling for 10,000 to get down there and stop this war," he told Reuters.

Saturday's convoy -- like others being planned for early February -- will travel across Europe, picking up more people on the way, loading provisions and stopping to promote their cause.

Nichols' group is one of several around the world whose aim is to mobilise peace activists as human shields in Iraq and show solidarity with Iraqi people in the face of a possible U.S.-led war against Saddam.

The campaign has upset some among the thousands of Westerners detained by Saddam to act as shields against attacks after his 1990 invasion of Kuwait and during the 1991 Gulf War.

They feel the volunteers do not appreciate the seriousness of what they are doing and are unaware of their past suffering.

"The majority went through hell on wheels," said Steve Brookes, who ran a support group for British victims. "Of the 1,800 or so British hostages, most suffered from some form of post-traumatic stress."

Volunteers from Nichols' group, mainly from Western nations but including some from Turkey and China, insist they are not going to support Saddam but to try to prevent the death of innocent people.

"When we arrive, we will work out where the bombing is most likely to be, where there would be most casualties, and we will go there. Our purpose is to protect civilians," 32-year-old lecturer Uzma Bashir, from Yorkshire in northern England, told Reuters.

Many have had trouble convincing their families of the importance of their mission.

"Nine out of 10 of the people going as human shields are more scared of what their mothers say than the bombs in Iraq," said Bashir, who plans to join a second convoy from London.

In the Muslim world, the main rallying point for would-be human shields is in Jordan. There, a campaign led by leftist parties and civic bodies is seeking 100,000 volunteers.

Baghdad has said it will receive the volunteers with open arms and help them decide where to place themselves.

Washington and London are trying to garner international support for possible military strikes over Saddam's alleged programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations was an example of Alice in Wonderland-type propaganda. Reality has been turned upside down. At the very moment that Iraq, hobbled by 12 years of devastating sanctions and ongoing U.S. bombing, is surrounded by a heavily-armed invasion force of more than 100,000 troops, fighter aircraft, warships and high tech conventional missiles, and is threatened with a nuclear strike, Powell argued that Iraq poses a great threat to "peace."

The Pentagon has disclosed its plan to maintain peace by carrying out an opening blitzkrieg on Iraq of more than 3000 bombs and missiles in the first 48 hours. This plan is titled "Shock and Awe" by the administration. 300 to 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles will rip through Iraq on the first day of a U.S. assault, which is more than the number that were launched during the entire 40 days of the first Gulf War. On the second day, another 300 to 400 cruise missiles will be sent. "There will not be a safe place in Baghdad," said one Pentagon official. "The sheer size of this has never been seen before, never been contemplated before," the official said. One of the authors of the Shock and Awe plan stated the intent is, "So that you have this simultaneous effect, rather like the nuclear weapons at Hiroshima, not taking days or weeks but in minutes.'" (CBS News January 27, 2003, New York Times, February 2, 2003)

Several thousands demonstrate in New York's Times Square, in response to Powell's war speech. (Reuters/ Jeff Christensen) General Powell is routinely referred to in the media as the moderate or "dove" inside the Bush administration. It is important to remember that it is the same Colin Powell who, at a press briefing shortly after the conclusion of the 1991 Gulf War when asked his assessment of the number of Iraqi soldiers and civilians killed, which had been put at over 100,000, answered, "It's really not a number I'm terribly interested in." Is there justification for war? What Bush's war places in jeopardy is enormous. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis may be slaughtered. Tens of thousands of service members will be sent to risk their lives. The economic cost, estimated between $200 billion to $2 trillion will loot the U.S. treasury and mortgage future generations, depleting funds that could provide essential human needs such as education, healthcare, childcare and jobs.

What circumstances could justify these certain risks and losses? None that were presented by Powell. Laying out his case, Powell presented no threat issued by Iraq against the U.S. or anyone else. Powell's presentation had a two-fold purpose. It was not merely to "make the case" for war, it was also intended to redirect the attention of the people of the U.S. away from the Bush administration's real objectives in recolonizing the Middle East. Using smoke and mirrors and misdirection, Powell engaged in dramatic fear-mongering, even going so far as to reference the anthrax attacks that originated in the U.S. from U.S. stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, to suggest that bombing Iraq will make the U.S. safer.

During his entire presentation Powell never mentioned the word "oil," and yet the whole world knows that Bush and his corporate clients are already drawing up plans for the seizure of Iraq's oil reserves. For public consumption the talk is disarmament or democracy, but behind closed doors, the administration is meeting with oil industry executives to divide up Iraq's oil fields. (Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2003). Far from democracy, Bush intends to install a U.S. military dictatorship under General Tommy Franks to rule Iraq. In his column of February 5th, Thomas Friedman, Iraq invasion cheerleader, approvingly laid out the future for Iraq, "Iraq will be controlled by the iron fist of the U.S. Army and its allies, with an Iraqi civilian 'advisory' administration gradually emerging behind this iron fist to run daily life..."(New York Times, February 5, 2003)

Powell has presented no threat, no plan, no capability. Is there justification for waging a first strike war of aggression, for bombarding the people of Iraq with massive firepower? Who really poses the greatest threat to world peace?

Powell's presentation was much about Iraq's hypothetical and in any case much diminished weaponry, while the Pentagon is preparing to launch a devastating attack on Iraq using very real weapons of mass destruction - possibly including nuclear weapons. On the issue of weapons of mass destruction, Powell asserts that the Iraqi government may hope to possess nuclear weapons someday. It has not been lost on the whole world though that in recent weeks, the Bush administration has left open the option of actually using nuclear weapons against Iraq in the coming conflict and reserves for itself the right to carry out first strike nuclear war against even non-nuclear countries as part of a new military doctrine recently announced by the Pentagon.

Powell claims that if the U.N. does not support U.S. military aggression and conquest of Iraq, in violation of its Charter, that it will lose its "relevancy." History will remember with great irony Colin Powell's statement that we must stop the leader who "has pursued his ambition to dominate Iraq and the broader Middle East using the only means he knows, intimidation, coercion and annihilation of all those who might stand in his way."

The Bush Administration is not racing to deter an imminent danger posed by Iraq. They are racing to prevent our movement from becoming an insurmountable obstacle to war. Let's all pledge to intensify our work in these crucial coming days and weeks.

Raining on a parade--or, in this case, an anti-war march--isn't likely to win one popularity contests. But somebody has got to raise the alarm. The upcoming Oct. 25 march in Washington DC is being billed as a revitalization of the movement which made history with coordinated worldwide protests against the looming US-led assualt on Iraq Feb. 15. But the new mobilization actually represents a dangerous step backwards for the anti-war forces in the US.

This effort displays more sanctimony than analysis, and the sloppy thinking in evidence is unlikely to do more than further marginalize opposition to the occupation of Iraq. The new campaign is failing on three broad imperatives that are essential for an effective movement. Without principled alliances and moral consistency we have no authority to criticize Bush's policies. Without a realistic sense of our own power we are dooming ourselves to a cycle of empty (if self-righteous) enthusiasm followed by burn-out and demoralization. And without asking the tough questions we stand zero chance of ever coming up with meaningful answers.

One of the reasons Feb. 15 represented such an important step forward for anti-war organizing in the United States was the emergence of the new coalition United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), which coordinated the protests nationally. Prior to this, most national anti-war organizing fell under the auspices of International ANSWER. The dirty open secret on the American left--universally, but rarely openly, acknowledged--is that ANSWER is led at its core by an outfit called the International Action Center (IAC), which is itself a front group for the reactionary and Stalin-nostalgist Workers World Party. What nobody wants to say out loud is clearly evident: IAC and Workers World support genocide.

IAC's frontman, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, is a founding member of the International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic, and IAC routinely dismissed accounts of the atrocities against Bosnian Muslims and Kosovar Albanians as imperialist "lies." Even now, IAC supports Milosevic almost without reservation, portraying him as a defender of socialism. During the worst of the Bosnia bloodshed, IAC4s Clark travelled to Bosnia to meet with Serb strongman Radovan Karadzic (now indicted on war crimes charges) and offer his support.

Workers World also supported Deng Xiaoping in the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, portraying the protesters as "counter-revolutionaries."

In 1991, Workers World split the movement aganst Desert Storm by refusing to condemn Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. In the ensuing years, Clark and IAC dismissed human rights allegations against Saddam as more imperialist propaganda.

Workers World Party--whose cadre such as Brian Becker are ANSWER's most visible spokespersons--is a vigorous apologist of mass murder.

The progress that was made in the Feb. 15 mobilization towards bringing legitimate leadership to the anti-war movement has now been reversed, as UFPJ and ANSWER have joined forces for the Oct. 25 rally.

The movement has squandered its moral credibility by accepting ANSWER's leadership. We have no authority to oppose US occupation and aggression in Iraq when we are literally rallying around leaders who actively supported occupation and aggression in Bosnia and elsewhere--even in Iraq, where Workers World has asserted that Saddam's gassing of the Kurds was just another imperialist lie.

The frequent response to this criticism is that nobody will notice that our movement is led by genocide-apologists, and it is more important to oppose the occupation of Iraq. This cowardly and hypocritical position undercuts our effectiveness by giving our enemies an iron-clad accusation of double standards to use against us. Moreover, the willingness to throw principles to the wind makes us look desperate--like what, in fact, we have largely become: a movement with no real faith in its own power.

The cynicism which has led to the tactically and ethically disastrous alliance with ANSWER is, paradoxically, the flipside of a naive utopianism. "People marched and demonstrated a whole lot to try to stop the war, and we weren't able to," UFPJ's Leslie Cagan was quoted in the Washington Post Oct. 19. "That had, I think, for some segments of the activist community, a little bit of a demoralizing effect."

The notion that the Feb. 15 mobilization was going to "stop the war" is a simple denial of political reality. Equally so is the notion that the mobilization was not worthwhile because it failed to "stop the war."

Millions worldwide in the streets clearly would not deter Bush, but it almost certainly helped sway others in positions of power to rein in the worst excesses of what Bush had planned. The "shock and awe" bombardment of Baghdad was to have dwarfed the massive aerial bombardment of 1991's Operation Desert Storm, with Pentagon officials actually calling it a "21st Century Blitzkrieg." In the actual fact, far fewer missiles fell on Baghdad in 2003 than in 1991. The London Times reported May 2 that the Pentagon cut the planned bombing campaign in half after the commander of British forces in the Persian Gulf argued that it would have disastrous political consequences. Many factors doubtless played into this thinking, including the threat of unrest in the Middle East, the risk of defection or destabilization of pro-West Arab regimes--and, we can safely assume, the global wave of protests.

The Feb. 15 mobilizaiton probably saved countless Iraqi lives. And--if we could build on the progress intelligently--it would put us in a stronger position to oppose the current occupation.

By setting up unrealistic expectations, we assure our own demoralization and burn-out. We have to accept that the struggle against US imperialism will probably persist for generations, and we are in it for the long haul. This means resisting the temptations of self-delusion and easy answers.

Sound-bight pseudo-analysis is an inherent danger of activism, which must be guarded against at all times. Slogans like "Bring the troops home" and "US out of Iraq" are handy for fitting on a placard, but they inevitably dodge the really tough questions. Having now plunged Iraq into social entropy, destroyed the country's infrastructure and brought to a boil myriad ethnic and religious conflicts which had been simmering under the Saddam dictatorship, it might be the height of irresponsibility for the US to just unilaterally withdraw. It would, in fact, be a violation of the responsibilities of an occupying power under international law.

We must be clear that US imperialism will never act in the interests of the Iraqi people, whatever rhetoric about "freedom" and "democracy" is cynically employed. Empires act in the interests of empire: they always have and always will. But a unilateral withdrawal which allows genuinely freedom-hating jihadis to take power would not be in the interests of the Iraqi people either. "US out of Iraq" only works as a demand if we have some kind alternative to offer.

We are not going to arrive at answers to such difficult questions merely by thinking about them--and we have largely failed to do even that. We can only begin to find alternatives to support in Iraq by opening a dialogue with pro-democracy, anti-occupation Iraqis, either on the ground in Iraq or in exile. The work of the San Francisco-based Open World Conference of Workers to seek out and support dissident unionists in Iraq is a step in this direction. So is the Independent Media Center network's effort to support a Baghdad IMC. But the mainstream anti-war movement has dodged its responsibility on this front, the leaders being apparently too pre-occupied with maintaining and strengthening their own position of leadership.

Whatever happened to CARDRI, the Committee Against Repression and for Democratic Rights in Iraq, the progressive London-based exile group that opposed both the Saddam dictatorship and US imperialist designs in the 1980s? Does CARDRI still exist? Are any of its members still vocal and active? It is from such voices that we must seek leadership--not from the self-appointed cadre of Workers World, or even the comparatively innocuous Leslie Cagan.

I offer that the alliance with ANSWER may actually make the Oct. 25 mobilization more counter-productive than worthwhile, but I am aware that many dedicated and sincere activists will be attending despite misgivings. At a minimum, I hope I have provided some fodder for serious discussion on the bus ride to Washington.

Peace activists march in Washington on Saturday.Protesters rally in Washington, San Francisco

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 — To chants of "Impeach Bush," thousands of anti-war protesters rallied in the nation's capital Saturday and delivered a scathing critique of President Bush and his Iraq policy.

DEMANDING AN end to the U.S.-led occupation and the quick return of American troops, the demonstrators gathered on a sunny fall day at the Washington Monument to listen to speeches and songs of peace.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who's running for the Democratic presidential nomination, exhorted the crowd not to be content with the gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. "Don't give Bush $87 billion, don't give him 87 cents, give our troops a ride home," Sharpton said to loud cheers from the crowd.

The protest drew a diverse crowd — young, old, veterans, relatives with loved ones in the armed forces and American Muslims. They waved signs reading "Make Jobs Not War" and "Bush is a liar" as they marched in a giant circle toward the White House, on to the Justice Department and then back to the Washington Monument.

The Secret Service placed obstacles to keep the protesters from marching directly in front of the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue. Bush was spending the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.

Michael McPhearson, a veteran from the 1991 Persian Gulf War, denounced the president, saying he had misled the nation. "You have butchered the truth, George Bush."

Organizers expected more than 30,000 would turn out for the protest, but the crowd — which filled the area between the monument and the Ellipse near the White House — appeared much smaller. Because the U.S. Park Police no longer issues crowd estimates, the size of the crowd could not be verified. International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and United for Peace and Justice, which organized the protest, also planned a mass demonstration in San Francisco for later in the day.

Some demonstrators at the Washington rally acknowledged that the crowd was lighter than previous protests during and before the war.

"Now, I think it's more regroup, rethink," said Army veteran Tom Palumbo of Norfolk, Va.

At one point during the afternoon, a shouting match erupted between an anti-war crowd and counterdemonstrators holding "Trust Jesus" signs. Police moved in on horses to separate the two sides. No arrests were made.

Before the rally, about 200 protesters played songs, listened to drummers and rallied for peace in a park about 20 blocks north of the White House. The crowd at the Black Voices for Peace rally then marched down past the White House to join the larger demonstration at the Washington Monument.

The D.C. chapter of Free Republic, an independent grass-roots conservative group, gathered dozens of people at the U.S. Capitol to show support for Bush and the troops in Iraq.

"Whether or not the war should have started is a moot point," said Eric Campbell, a 32-year-old who served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. "We have to stay if anything for the Iraqi people."

• Democratic candidate Wesley Clark takes the hot seat to explain why he should be the next president. Hardball, Friday, 7 p.m. ET

For the second time this year, pro-military supporters have crashed an anti-war protest in Reno, taunting peace activists and chanting "USA.''

But unlike the March 22nd peace rally, pro-troop supporters kept a distance and failed to stop today's anti-war demonstration at the federal courthouse. There were no reports of any physical violence or arrests.

Federal police estimated that 100 anti-war protesters and 50 counter-demonstrators turned out at the rally against President Bush and his Iraq policy. Similar demonstrations were held across the country Saturday.

One group of counter-demonstrators stood about 50 feet away during the protest, while a larger group stood across South Virginia Street.

In March, about 200 pro-military demonstrators crashed the anti-war protest, drowning out about 150 anti-war protesters' hymns and speeches with chants and taunting.

WASHINGTON - Vietnam veteran David Cline sees resemblances between the war in Iraq and the one in which he almost lost his life.

"This has got a lot of eerie parallels to what we went through," Cline said.

As president of Veterans for Peace, Cline planned to join protesters today to demonstrate against the war.

Organizers predicted more than 30,000 people would turn out in Washington for a march and speeches calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Thousands more were expected to flock to San Francisco for the biggest protest there since April, when more than 10,000 people filled the streets.

In Albuquerque, a peace demonstration, "Bring the Troops Home," was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Wyoming Boulevard and Copper Avenue northeast.

"The U.S. government has no right to try and recolonize Iraq," said Peta Lindsay, national youth and student coordinator for International Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, which is organizing the protests with another group, United for Peace and Justice.

ANSWER coordinator Brian Becker said the antiwar movement has gained more support since May 1, when President Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq.

"With each passing month, more and more Americans become disillusioned with the occupation of Iraq," Becker said.

To counter the antiwar demonstrations, the Washington chapter of Free Republic, an independent grass-roots conservative group, also planned a rally for today at the U.S. Capitol, where organizers expect about 1,000 people.

"We support our troops and the commander in chief and their mission," said Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of the group.

The antiwar rally at the Washington Monument was to be followed by a march to the White House and Justice Department. Speakers include former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and Martin Luther King III.

Organizers said most of the protesters will be high school and college students coming from more than 140 cities in the United States and Canada. Becker said Muslim groups, veterans and families who have loved ones in Iraq or in the military also plan to attend.

"We feel compelled to take part in this because we think this war is wrong," said Charley Richardson, one of the co-founders of the group Military Families Speak Out. "It never should have been fought in the first place."

For the West Coast protest, ANSWER and several other groups have arranged transportation and logistics for protesters from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and 27 California cities.

In light of recent historical events, three important dates mark this coming weekend. On Friday, October 24th, the world celebrates United Nations Day, its 58th birthday since its founding in San Francisco . On Saturday, October 25th, tens of thousands of people will have taken to the streets protesting the continuing war in Iraq and the Israel wall, and calling on US forces to come home. On Sunday, October 26th, Ramadan will come to the Muslim world. This will be a markedly new Ramadan, the first Ramadan Iraqis will have under occupation – an occupier who neither understands nor is equipped to cope with the cultural implications of this holy month.

The choice of October 25th as a day of protest against events in Iraq and Palestine may have been coincidental but is poignant nonetheless.

In late 2002 and much of the first quarter of 2003, millions of people around the world protested against the then-imminent invasion of Iraq . They came from all walks of life: housewives, pastors, priests, clerics, imams, heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals, paupers and princes, actors and thespians, mechanics and taxi-drivers, children and elderly, military servicemen, women, members of the hippie generation, and former United Nations weapons inspectors.

They clogged up subway systems and transportation lines; they brought the cities of Rome , Madrid , London , Paris and countless others to a standstill.

They protested at what they saw an unjust cause, an untenable war and a belligerent alliance of Anglo-Saxon leaders and the oil consortiums that backed them.

They burned figures in effigy, chanted peace songs and used their naked bodies to spell out the word PEACE.

The anti-war movement, which spanned the globe, was joined at the hip, thanks to the Internet. It was the first time in history that the people of the world came together under one banner – peace – and for a common cause – attempting to change foreign policy.

Their failure, however, is a far more important lesson to journalists, historians, academics and policy-makers. It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that public opinion can be steamrolled by a negligent and often stoic media.

The media proved it was hostile territory for those wishing to speak out against the drivel coming from the pro-war Bush administration. To the shock of most in North America , free speech, the right to refuse and the right to object all of a sudden became social offenses. Those in the media who dared ask the right questions were ostracized. Some were fired. Some have been effectively excommunicated. Those who touted the official anti-Iraq stance hook-line-and-sinker were given promotions

Actors who proved to the world that they were not petty were labeled idiots. Even worse, some were labeled anti-American or “unpatriotic.” Labeling someone unpatriotic became akin to labeling someone anti-Semitic; and everyone shuddered.

The memories of the pain inflicted by the tragic events of 9/11 were regurgitated through every media outlet. You can’t question Bush, look at 9/11. You can’t say Iraqis may be telling the truth, look at 9/11. Look, 9/11, nuke Iraq . They hit us in 9/11, let’s kill those bastards.

Despite the hostility, the taunting and the ridiculing by the media, the anti-war activists plowed on. Despite the censorship, the pulling down of websites with alternative views who dared publish pictures of Iraqi strife, many continued to deliver their anti-war message.

They warned of a travesty in Iraq . They pointed to horrendous civilian deaths, a breakdown in civil society in Iraq , the potential of a civil war, and the threat of cantonization and balkanization.

The media made it easy for those confused and undetermined to loathe the anti-war activists. Hackers and anarchists, they were called. Communists, flag-burners. All of a sudden McCarthyism was in full swing.

And so the military onslaught pushed through, and with a bloodthirsty battle-cry of shock and awe, Iraq was invaded.

The short war was a success; the media screamed the first few weeks after the Saddam statue fell.

More than 9,000 Iraqis dead is not a success. America chokes every time someone mentions 9/11 where some 3,000 innocents died, but 9,000 Iraqis is a joyous celebration. Today, human rights organizations estimate some 20 Iraqis killed a day. Add to that the two or three US soldiers killed, and dozens wounded every day; and Iraq looks like a meat grinder.

Iraq is potentially on the verge of civil war. The weapons of mass destruction for which the war was fought with such righteousness and clamor are nowhere to be found. They were destroyed, we are now told. Or moved. Or beamed elsewhere by Scotty.

Rape is the freedom that awaits the women of Iraq. During the Afghan military operations, First Lady Barbara Bush spoke about the plight of Afghan women and the need to liberate them. Today, much to her shame and discredit, she is mute over the plight of Iraqi women, who were the most liberated in the Arab world. Today they hide; they don’t go out. Iraqi women who long to return to their country from exile are warned not to. But these are not the stories the media wants you to know.

No, many stories go untold. A BBC reporter spoke up at a recent CPA press conference, carried live on Arab news networks, saying he had witnessed an elderly Iraqi man get run over by a US soldier driving an Humvee. The soldier did not stop. Iraqi civilians begged other soldiers to take the man to a hospital. The US soldiers balked for an hour. The man then died. Untold story. Definite tragedy. And then they say Al Jazeera is inciting Arab masses.

This is the Iraq all the anti-war activists warned us about. This is the Iraq many marched to help save. They did not march for Saddam, nor Tariq Aziz, nor Ali Baba. They marched for the people of Iraq , for human civility and morality, and for world justice.

Now, the Bush administration admits they never linked Saddam to the perpetrators of 9/11. How dare they! How dare they speak out now after countless deaths! What of the Iraqis who died, the American and British soldiers who died needlessly?

Where is the media? Why does it not question, investigate, explore and vindicate?

The media owes every one of the millions of anti-war activists and demonstrators an apology. The Bush, Blair and Howard administrations should apologize for lying to the world, and then collectively resign into the dustbin of history from whence they came.

Now, we hear talk of Iran and Syria , and their threat to world peace. Complacency, ignorance and intolerance are the greatest threats to world peace.

Firas Al-Atraqchi is a Canadian journalist of Iraqi heritage. Holding an MA in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has eleven years of experience covering Middle East issues, oil and gas markets, and the telecom industry. You can reach him at firascape@hotmail.com.

Information on Campus and Community Activism on Iraq: Organized by State
(45 States, 200+ listings)

Last update: 23 October 2002

AK:
Fairbanks
Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details

Valdez:
Contact Nancy Lethcoe: awss@alaska.net or 907-835-5175

AL:
Pax Christi, Huntsville:
October 8: Weekly Tuesday event: expecting 200 people
Contact: Johnny Zokovitch, Communications Director, Pax Christi USA: johnnypcusa@yahoo.com or (352) 271-6941
www.paxchristiusa.org

Birmingham:
Sep. 30: Delivery to Senators of List of Reasons Not to Escalate War in Iraq
Federal Building, 1800 5th Avenue North @ Noon
People in Birmingham, AL are invited to join Rev. Elaine Blanchard from Pilgrim Congregational Church at noon on Monday, September 30, to go inside the Federal Building at 1800 5th Ave North to deliver to the offices of Senators
Sessions and Shelby a list of reasons why the United States should not escalate its war activity against Iraq.
Contact Rev. Elaine Blanchard, Pilgrim Congregational Church: EBlanchard@bham.rr.com

AZ:
Northern Arizona University
700+ marched to protest Bush when he visited AZ to support Rich Ronzi’s campaign.
Contact Brian Maclean: peaceful_warrior7@yahoo.com or Professor Carol Thompson: carol.thompson@NAU.EDU

Desert Concerns, Flagstaff
Conact Philippa Winkler: pjw3@dana.ucc.nau.edu or Daniel Robicheau: danrobicheau@hotmail.com

Tucson:
Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details

Turnwind
529 N. 6th Avenue ,Tucson, Arizona 85705
Contact Jordan: 520-388-5633 or turnwind_az@yahoo.com

Arizona Alliance for Peaceful Justice
P.O. Box #27737,Tempe, AZ 85285
Contact Richard Scott: (480) 894-2024, rscotttoo@hotmail.com or info@azpeace.org

End the Economic Sanctions Against the Iraqi People - Valley Coalition
14175 W. Indian School Rd. B4 #184, Goodyear, AZ 85338
Website: http://www.protectchild.org
Contact Janet Olson: 623-925-0131 or webmaster@protectchild.org or Sherry Bohlen: 480-497-6541

CA:
Occidental College, Pasadena
Organizing an Occidental student coalition against a war in Iraq with other students and still deciding on plan of action
Contact Rakrian Biko Nagara: nagara@oxy.edu or 323-256-6869

UC-Santa Cruz:
Latest:
October 6th- Justice not Vengeance Protest in San Francisco (Union Park?)
Monday 7th- walkout (at noon) in protest of war against Iraq
There are also fliers up about a University wide walkout/strike the day we begin bombing Iraq.…
Contact Abbey Simmons: abbey_treehugger@hotmail.com

Cal State San Marcos-San Diego
Wednesday October 17 the Progressive Activists Network (Cal State San Marcos- San Diego) held a War Awareness Forum. Our campus is only 13 years old and I believe this was the first ever student run forum on our campus. We held it outside in the school plaza and at its peak we had a captive audience of well over 100 students and faculty (we're a small state school). Our panel consisted of a green party candidate for city council, the director of a local activist organization, and three professors with PhD's in history, political science, and foreign affairs. During the event we handed out literature about why we should not invade Iraq. It was a great way to start to something we hope to make a consistent addition to our campus.
Contact Manal Yamout: MYrun013@msn.com

Crafton Hills College, Yucaipa
Brand-new SPAN chapter at a junior college. SPAN has been working with one student there, Zoe Momsen, who is probably not as far along in the process since her group just got approved and is starting to get organized, but she’s definitely working on an Oct. 7 teach-in.
Contact Zoe Momsen : zoeluvsandy@yahoo.com

The Great S.I.T. for Peace--A Mass Silent Meditation
San Francisco Civic Center
Endorsed by Global Exchange, The Women's Building, The Black Law Student's Association (B.L.S.A) and Center for Education and Social Action at New College of California.
Tues., OCT. 8, 2002 7a.m. to 7p.m. – San Francisco Civic Center, Grove and Larkin Sts
Contact Imanigayle Gillison imanigayle@yahoo.com

San Francisco:
Oct. 26 National March and Rally to Stop the War Before It Starts
11 AM Rally at Justin Herman Plaza (Market Street at the Embarcadero)
March to Civic Center Plaza --1 PM Rally at Civic Center
Contact: http://www.internationalanswer.org or call 415-821-6545.
Event endorsers include: International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)
Marin Peace and Justice Coalition, Global Exchange, Green Party USA, Pastors for Peace,
Black Voices for Peace, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Muslim Student Association of the US,
Rev. Jesse Jackson, San Francisco Labor Council, and many others

UC Berkeley:
Contact Mo Simpson: berkeleyjustice@yahoo.com
Or Chris Michael at Global Exchange: peace@globalexchange.org or 800-497-1994

Santa Monica:
October 14: Coffee House Teach-In
The Urban Coffeehouse, 3301 Pico, 7 PM - RSVP
Please join singer Brenna Sahatjian of Venture, CA and other performers for a coffee house event on October 14th. This teach-in, which is a benefit for LA International Action Center, will
focus on the impending War with Iraq and what we can to do about it.
Coffee House Teach-Ins c/o Venice United Methodist Church,
1020 Victoria Ave. , Venice, CA 90291
Contact Andrew Kay Liberman: futurevisionactions.fva@verizon.net

Santa Monica College:
We are putting together a speakers bureau, and have put on one Coffee House Teach-In, another tonight, in South Central; another coming up on Veteran's Day, in Santa Monica.
We are calling Veteran's Day a National Day for Teach-Ins
Come to the 2nd Coffee House Teach-in, FRIDAY night, in Ingelwood, at Cafe Future, 1314 N. La Brea, 7 - 10 pm, RSVP: (310) 203-1542. Music, speakers, poetry, vets speak out:
"The Power of Prayer to End the War."
* We'll be on Japanese American TV, Ch 18, Sat. night, or check your cable station, at 10 pm, Saturday night,
* Also a great article was written 10/17 in the Santa Monica Bay Week on our first teach-in, last Monday night.
Contact Andrew Liberman: futurevisionactions.fva@verizon.net

Other Events in CA: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details
Fresno
Marin
Oakland
Palo Alto
Pasadena
Riverside
Santa Rusa
Walnut Creek

CO:
Fort Lewis College, Durango
Delivered a lengthy, thoughtful statement opposing the war with petitions signed by nearly 700 people to the offices of our 3 congressional reps today. They requested responses be faxed to Rep. Scott McInnis' office (the only local office currently open) by noon tomorrow (10/8). The local paper is doing a story on the event in tomorrow's paper and a follow up on the responses we receive.
Contact Kalin Griggs: grigg_k@fortlewis.edu or 970-247-7641
(Southwest Colorado Peace Coalition)

Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Denver
Help Organize Peace Events!
Contact: 303 444 6981
www.rmpjc.org
www.ccmep.org

Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace (CCMEP)
901 West 14th Avenue, Suite 7, Denver, CO 80204
www.ccmep.org
Contacts: ccmep@hotmail.com or (303) 320-5994
Bob Choflet: bchoflet@yahoo.com or 303-863-8689
Stephanie Phibbs: stephaniephibbs@hotmail.com or 303-320-5994
Mark Schneider : dogbuckeye@yahoo.com or 720-956-0700

Tikkun Community "Perspectives on Peace", Boulder
October 19-20, 2002 - Boulder, Colorado
Approaching the issues of peace . . .with open hearts . . . from multiple points of view. Throughout the day, interweaving experiential components and
guided imagery (create and sustain a lived experience of peace and joy) as well as discussions, break-out sessions.
Information on website: www.CJJP.org
Contact: 303-823-5233 or 970-223-8944

Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, Colorado Springs
www.pikespeakjusticeandpeace.org
1603 Cheyenne Blvd, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
Contact ppjpc@juno.com or 719-577-9132
Susan Gordon : sgordon@bwn.net or Shea Pickelner: s_pickelner@hotmail.com

CT:
Wesleyan University
Working with colleagues and students, on anti-war activities. Open campus meetings, student coalition against war.
Contact Peter Mark, faculty member: pmark@mail.wesleyan.edu
Or Rob Rosenthal, faculty member: rrosenthal@mail.wesleyan.edu

New Haven:
An anti-war rally on the green attracted a diverse crowd of 1000 protesters who were eager to speak out against Bush's war, despite the rainy weather.
Contact Sam Bernstein: samuel.bernstein@yale.edu

Yale University
At Yale University, over 200 people packed an over-filled anti-war teach-in sponsored by the Ethnicity, Race, and Migration department and the Yale Peace Coalition. A panel of Yale professors spoke out against the war on Iraq, expressing the need for mass education combined with action in order to counter Bush's insane war drive. The Yale Peace Coalition has obtained 1200 signatures in opposition to the war from students and faculty over the last two weeks. It is currently organizing another teach-in featuring professors and activists, to be followed up with a rally in the center of campus. It is also organizing two buses to head down to the national anti-war demonstrations on October 26 in Washington, DC.
Earlier actions gathered hundreds of signatures after just a couple days of tabling. The last meeting of the Yale peace coalition had around 20 or 30 people attend. They are trying to have more of a presence on campus in terms of Tshirts, buttons, pins, armbands, posters, etc. They are also trying to coordinate with New Haven Activists to plan for an emergency rally in the event of a declaration of war etc.
Contact Chesa Boudin: chesa@yale.edu , 203 436-1193 (Is available to be a spokesperson to the media) Or Sam Bernstein: samuel.bernstein@yale.edu

Eastern Connecticut State University
Contact Greg Andrews: mtuchols@cox.net

Hartford: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details
Westport: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details

DC:
American University
Kay Spiritual Center-- Washington, DC 20016
Events: October 15 7-11 PM
Contact Erika Newport, NRDI: nrdi@wesleysem.edu or 202-885-8648

Gallaudet University
Chapel room-- Washington, DC
Events: October 8 7-9 PM
Contact Erika Newport, NRDI: nrdi@wesleysem.edu or 202-885-8648

GW University
Western Presbyterian Church (on campus)-- Washington, DC
Events week of October 7
Contact Erika Newport, NRDI: nrdi@wesleysem.edu or 202-885-8648

Howard University
Contact Erika Newport, NRDI: nrdi@wesleysem.edu or 202-885-8648

Wesley Theological Seminary
Courtyard—Washington, DC
Events: October 3 noon
Contact Erika Newport, NRDI: nrdi@wesleysem.edu or 202-885-8648

Georgetown Law Center--Students for peace and justice:
In collaboration with the American Constitution Society, the Muslim Law Students Association, the Middle Eastern Law Society, and the International Law society, they are currently working on putting together a weekly series on the issue of foreign policy towards Iraq. Every Wednesday through October in anticipation of the anti-war demonstrations at the end of the month. On October 16^th, some high profile speakers representing both hardliners and more moderate internationalists will speak at a panel discussion entitled “US INVASION OF IRAQ DEBATE”
Complementing this event will be a series of other events in the weeks following. Such as the

The "Reel Iraq" Independent Film Festival (GU Law Center)
-Tuesday Oct 22: "Genocide by Sanction" ---- 12:15 - 1:30 pm --- McDonough 200
with introduction and discussion led by Sarah Sloan (two-time delegate under Iraq sanctions delegate and youth organizer for ANSWER)
-Wednesday Oct 23^rd: "Hidden Wars of Desert Storm" ---- 1:20 - 2:20 pm ---- McDonough 206
with introduction and discussion led by Institute for Policy Studies representative
- Thursday Oct 24^th: "Let Iraq Live" ---- 1:30 - 2:30 pm ---- McDonough 200 with introduction and discussion led by Sara Powell (Washington Report on Middle East Affairs)
- Friday Oct 25th ---- 12:30 - 1:30 pm ---- McDonough 206 Footage of interviews taken at the United Nations Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and World Civil Society Forum 2002 session in Geneva: With Mouna Al-Jubouri, Dean of Sciences at University of Baghdad on the use of depleted uranium weapons during the Gulf War; and Shakiral Dujally, Director of Iraqi Democrats Association on democratic opposition parties in Iraq

Contact Tarek Maassarani: tfm6@bulldog.georgetown.edu

NETWORK/PAX CHRISTI
October 9: Network, Leadership Conference of Women's Religious (LCWR) and Pax Christi USA: LOBBY DAY TO OPPOSE WAR ON IRAQ in Washington, DC
Contact Johnny Zokovitch, Communications Director, Pax Christi USA
johnnypcusa@yahoo.com or (352) 271-6941
www.paxchristiusa.org

International ANSWER Coalition:
Saturday, Oct 26
Anti-war Rally in DC
Check out www.internationalanswer.org for details

FL:
Bandenton: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details
West Palm Beach: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details

Pax Christi, Palm Beach
October 7 visits to Congressional Reps
Contact: Johnny Zokovitch, Communications Director, Pax Christi USA,
johnnypcusa@yahoo.com or (352) 271-6941
www.paxchristiusa.org

Broward Anti-War Coalition
[Contact information Coming soon]
Check www.endthewar.org

Community Coalition Against War and Terrorism
c/o United Methodist Church
1320 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL
Website: http://www.geocities.com/ccawt2/index.htm
Contact: Roger Otterson at ccawt2@aol.com

Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice
P.O. Box 336, Graham, FL 32042
Participating Cities: Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Broward County, Miami, Delant, Deltona.
Contact Carol Moseley at earthweaver@juno.com or 386-532-1161/ 352-468 2610

November Third Committee, Tampa:
Rally at Central Command
Website: http://www.macdillpeacerally.org
Contact 727-826-6960 or info@macdillpeacerally.org

Miami:
Rally! No US War in Iraq
October 26, 2 - 5PM
Torch of Friendship, Sponsored by Concerned People Opposed to US War in Iraq and the Miami Coalition Against the War
Contact Kevin Blair: kmblair@mindspring.com

Tampa Bay Peace Education Program
Friends Meeting House, 130 19th Ave Southeast, St Petersburg, FL 33705
Oct. 26 event, Circus McGurkis, and antiwar activities tied in to it. We are also planning a big rally at MacDill AFB on Jan 18 in conjunction with the Washington DC event. Info on that at www.circusmcgurkis.org/peaceaction We are coordinating the Iraq Peace Pledge locally. We are a project of the St. Petersburg Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and our regular monthly planning meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month.

Join the Oct. 26 antiwar events at Tampa Bay's most famous peace and justice happening:
The annual Circus McGurkis - the time and place for peace for 31 years

Those who are familiar with Circus McGurkis, the People's Fair, know that it has always (for 31 years!) been an event that promotes peace and rejects conflict and war as a way to resolve interpersonal or international problems. However, this year that will be particularly true as the day of Circus is also the day of a major antiwar rally and march to the White House in Washington, DC, with similar actions in communites across the nation. In conjunction with these actions, and in keeping with its traditional peace theme, the 31st annual, ever-more incredible Circus McGurkis will feature some focused activities that will offer attendees a way to be connected to the antiwar efforts happening elsewhere. (Of course, Circus organizers encourage activists who are able to attend the DC action to do so, and to carry all our sentiments with them.)

The Tampa Bay Peace Education Program, co-sponsor of the event, will have a table devoted to the Iraq Peace Pledge campaign. The Peace Pledge is a project of the Campaign of Conscience, which is sponsored by a number of religious and pacifist organizations. "I support peace for Iraq," the pledge states. "I grant permission to use my name and city publicly as an opponent of the ongoing economic and bombing war on Iraq, and any escalation of that war." There will also be literature offering information about the situation with Iraq, the Middle East, the war on terrorism and the many upcoming local, state and national events directed at preventing the escalating violence. At roughly 11:00 AM, the scheduled start of the DC rally, there will be a march though the park with banners, flags and placards calling for peace and justice. Those who want to participate should gather at the Quaker circle of tables at the east end of the park at 10:45 AM.
Related links:
Circus McGurkis: www.circusmcgurkis.org
Tampa Bay Peace Education Program: www.circusmcgurkis.org/peacepages
Peace Pledge Campaign: www.endthewar.org or (local) www.circusmcgurkis.org/peaceaction
Oct. 26 National Action: www.internationalanswer.org

If you should have any questions about Circus McGurkis, the Iraq Peace Pledge campaign, or other related matters, please e-mail peace@circusmcgurkis.org
Or contact Rena Guay at peacearena@peacebydesign.net or 727-823-2113 and Christine O'Brien at 727-327-6726

Pax Christi - Florida Chapter
2465 Tracy Lane, Deltona, FL 32728
Contact Ingrid Swenson, State Chair at nosnews@mpinet.net or 386-532-1161

GA:
Athens: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details

Atlanta:
No War on Iraq Rallies--Sponsored by American Friends Service Committee- Atlanta
Rallies oustide Zell Miller’s office at the corner of Peachtree and 14^th St, Colony Square
Every Friday; noon-1:00PM

Conscience International
4685 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road,. A-7, Atlanta, GA 30338
Website: www.guidestar.org
Contact Jim Jennings: Tel: 770-454-9109/ Fax: 770-936-0996 or conscience@usa.com

STAND (Students Take Action for New Directions)
464 Cherokee Avenue, SE, Suite 201, Atlanta, GA 30312
Mission: to empower young women to act politically to promote peace, equality, and progressive social change. We work on legislation, action alerts, Capitol Hill alerts,                       tabling and anti-war rallies. We also conduct workshops. STAND is a program of WAND- Women's Action for New Directions is a national organization whose mission is to empower women to act politically, to reduce militarism and violence and to redirect excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs.
Website: www.wand.org
Contact tel: 404-524-5999/ fax: 404-524-7593 or stand@wand.org

HI:
Honolulu, island of Oahu, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. gather at Ala Moana Park for speeches, musics, skits and assembly prior to march on the Ala Moana Shopping Center (largest shopping center in the State of Hawaii).The coalition doing the organizing includes the AFSC, People's Fund and various Hawaiian activist groups. (http://globalhope.blogspot.com ).
The hot-line to call for updated information is (808) 534-2255

Hilo, island of Hawai'i, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. Assemble at Mooheau Bandstand, Bay Front. For details of co-sponsors, speeches, music and other activity, click on: http://kanaka.org/peace-rally.htm

Hilo, island of Hawaii, Weekly Peace Vigil, rain or shine, now entering it's second year (started on Sept. 12, 2001). Every Friday, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the downtown Federal Building (Hilo Post Office).
For details, click on http://maluaina.pitas.com or phone (808) 966-7622.

Hilo, Island of Hawaii, Not-in-Our-Name newspaper ad project. For details, click on http://no-war.blogspot.com or see below

UH-Hilo and Hawaii Community College
http://globalhope.blogspot.com/
Global Hope, an official UH-Hilo and Hawaii Community College student club, has initiated a project to publish a full-page statement of conscience in the Oct. 27 Hawaii Tribune Herald with names of Big Island supporters, similar to the 3/4 page ad that ran in the Oct. 9^th Star Bulletin.
Over 20,000 Americans have already signed the statement (see at http://no-war.blogspot.com/). The goal is to persuade at least 300 Hawaii residents, especially Big Islanders, to send in $10. This would yield $3,000, the cost of a full page ad in the Tribune Herald.
Please make your check out to: Global Hope and mail it to: P. Frierson, P. O. Box 375, Pepeekeo, Hi., 96783 to arrive no later than the Sat. Oct. 19 mail delivery.
Contact Pamela Frierson, Christian Science Monitor: Pfrier@aloha.net or email globalhopehawaii@yahoo.com

Malu Aina Peace Education Organization
Anti-War Peace Rally, Sat. Oct. 26 to coincide with peace marches in San Francisco and D.C. the same day. Gather at Mooheau Bandstand (Bayfront) at 10 a.m. for the rally. Speakers, music, displays, free ribbons. The rally is coordinated by Malu Aina Peace Education Organization.
Contact: info@malu-aina.org or (808) 966-7622

IA:
Iowa State University
Time For Peace/Alliance For Global Justice student groups:
1) We have protests every Wed. night at 5:30 PM and every Sun. night at 6:30 PM. We hold these protests along the major street that runs through campus town.
2) We are sending a bus full of students/faculty to Washington, D.C. on the 26th of Oct.
3) Also on Oct. 26th, there will be a protest/march in Des Moines at the federal buildings to coincide with the rally in Washington. In addition, a number of us will be participating in civil disobedience at the Iowa Air National Guard.
4) We have organized an "Outreach Team" that will travel to a number of small towns in the area and let residents know that there ARE people who oppose the war. We will have information available, including pamphlets (with reasons why we should oppose the war) and contact information (so that if someone wants us to come and talk to their group, they can give us a call). We will also encourage people to share their views with us, and we will be there to listen compassionately to what they have to say (we have found that by listening compassionately to them, they will be more likely to listen to us). We may also organize formal debates at the public libraries if we have enough time to plan ahead. This "Outreach Team" will start its mission sometime in the coming weeks (probably on the weekend of Nov. 1-3).
5) We have been working with the religious institutions in Ames, and will continue to work with them (and with institutions in nearby towns) in the coming months. We are trying to gain support from them, and we have sent out a petition letter to them, along with a note that we are available to speak to their congregation if they should so choose. In addition, we are trying to get peace discussion groups started within the various institutions, hoping that
this will arouse interest.
6) Recently, we had two artists set-up a "Protest Sign Station" on campus where people came by and created protest signs for our bi-weekly protests and also for the protest in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 26th.
7) We also talked to the Ames Public Library and asked them if they could set-up a nonviolent literature display, and they happily agreed to do this.
Contact Jon Meier jonmeier@iastate.edu

Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids
Dates: 10/4-10/11
On October 4 at 2:30 Anti-War demonstrators (Including some Kennedy Campus Greens) in Cedar Rapids, IA will be meeting downtown to protest a possible war with Iraq and will visit Tom Harken's and Jim Leech's offices. As well, Kennedy High School Campus Greens in Cedar Rapids, IA, along with other students, will be wearing arm bans to show support for non-violent alternatives to the war on terror and to protest a possible war on iraq, from October 7 to 11. We will also be tabling and distributing literature.
Contact Kevin Owens: Kevo50@aol.com

IL:
The University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
Will be holding an Oct. 7 event, a kind of combo teach-in and march/rally.
Contact Matt Reichel: reichel@students.uiuc.edu.

University of Illinois-Chicago –Anti-war group is currently organizing a Chicagoland student anti-war protest and trying to contact as many Midwestern student groups as possible.
Contact Jessica Maiorca: j4essica@hotmail.com

University of Chicago
Distributed information to student activists and journalists
Contact Elizabeth Bellis: eobellis@uchicago.edu

Knox College
On Oct. 7th Knox College had a showing of First Monday's film on the Patriot Act and a discussion/organizing meeting about how to protect civil liberties.
On Oct 20th Knox College had a community conversation/faculty-student panel on
issues related to Iraq.
Several student groups are planning anti-war events for the near future.
Contact Elizabeth Smith : eesmith@knox.edu or Steve Cohn--faculty member scohn@knox.edu

Wheaton College, Wheaton
Contact Ryan Shiffer: ryanshiffer@yahoo.com

Black Hawk College, Moline
Date: 10/7; Time: 11:30 to 1:30 PM
We are having a No War On Iraq demonstration on our campus with guest speaker Jay Robinson. Jay Robinson has been a peace activist in Iowa for over 20 years and is currently the Green Party candidate for governor (Iowa). We will also have local artists performing music, talks, and poetry. I would also like to have an open mike time for anyone to play music and/or speak their mind.
Contact Sonny Kunchick: fredkunchick75@hotmail.com

Palatine: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details

Loyola University Chicago-Lakeshore
On our campus, we have an anti-war movement starting, and I was hoping to get some information on other movements and what everyone is planning after the week of action. We held a teach-in on Monday Oct. 7, and that was well attended and very successful.
Contact Jacqueline Boyd: jboyd@luc.edu

IN
Goshen College (Goshen, IN)
We had our teach-in on the war and civil liberties Oct 11 and 12. It went really well. We had a panel on Iraq: David Cortright, president of the Fourth Freedom Forum, gave an academic perspective against the war. Dr. Rick Hostetter, MD, a cancer doctor who went to Iraq last year to assess the medical situation, shared information about the Iraqi people and their nation. Cliff Kindy, from Christian Peacemaker Teams, who will leave tomorrow for Iraq, invited everyone to go on delegations to Iraq throughout the coming year. We then had Doug Hostetter, who took aid to refugee camps in Afghanistan last year during U.S. bombing, and returned to Kabul this past summer, spoke of the legacy that is left U.S. military intervention. He advocated a different approach to relations with the people of nations like Afghanistan and Iraq where citizens live in terrible poverty. The following day we began with a panel on the USA PATRIOT act with two local lawyers, on a democratic congressional candidate. Later, Cynthia Mahmood, professor of anthropology at Notre Dame who studies the cultural contexts of violence, spoke on Al Qaeda and worldwide Islam. Mahmood has researched and traveled extensively in Asia. She has also interviewed Islamic militants on many trips.

Goshen is also sending 12-30 students to D.C. on October 26th. Look for them! We have also been getting out in the streets around here in Chicago and South Bend. There will be a protest in Fort Wayne on Oct 26th to correspond with the one in D.C. We'll probably send a carload or two there as well, for people who can't spend the whole weekend away
Contact Celeste Kennel-Shank: celestegks@goshen.edu or Emily Miller:
emilykm@goshen.edu

Earlham College, Richmond
Oct. 7 week teach-in. Working with EPIC and Goshen College
Contact Caitlin Macklin: macklca@earlham.edu

Anderson University
Contact JoAnna Woodruff: jrwoodruff@anderson.edu

Indianapolis: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details
Lafayette and W. Lafayette: Check www.unitedforpeace.org for details

KS:
Wichita State University
The Peace and Social Justice Center (staff@peacecenter.net) has organized a series of events to mark the anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
1. Tuesday afternoon there will be demonstrations downtown at rush hour with signs against the war in Iraq, from 5:00 to 6:00.
2. There are monthly protests in front of the McConnell Air Force Base.
3. On September 11th, there will be a Quaker style meeting of the contemplative kind at 6:00 p.m.
4. Finally on October 6th, a townhall meeting at Wichita State University
5. Also the Wichita Greens are organizing an additional event on September 11th:
a demonstration together with the Campus Greens and a group of faculty called the Peace and War Group, to be taking place on the WSU campus in the afternoon, either a walk with banners or/and a huge line of people holding hands together for several minutes.
Contact Brigitte Roussel, Associate Professor of French: (316)978-6658


RAMSEY CLARK International Action Center	REV. JESSE JACKSON Rainbow Push Coalition	REV. AL SHARPTON National Action Network	SUSAN SARANDON


Lion King Hyenas	Goosestepping Soldier	Pink Floyd - The Wall Hammers Marching

Global rallies protest U.S. war on Iraq