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International Days of Action
Support US refusenik Lt Ehren
Watada
4 & 5
February 2007 |
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Participating countries so far: England,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Uruguay, USA |
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Lt
Watada & his mother
Carolyn Ho |
“This
is a war not of self-defense but for profit and
imperialistic domination…
If soldiers stood up and threw their weapons down,
no president could ever initiate a war of choice
again.”
Ehren Watada.
“As the first
commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq,
Lt. Watada speaks for all men and women in uniform
who oppose this illegal and immoral war. He is
being made an example of to suppress dissent among
other officers and the rank and file.”
Carolyn Ho |
No soldiers, No wars
Refusing is
an act of conscience and courage. Lt Watada risks four years
in jail when he goes to court martial on 5 February for
refusing to go to Iraq and for inviting other soldiers to
refuse too. He asks the anti-war movement to support
refusers by supporting their families: “For soldiers
to stop fighting, they must have the unconditional support
of the people. ...Convince them that no matter how long they
sit in prison… their families will have a roof over their
heads, food in their stomachs, opportunities and education.”
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See/read Ehren’s amazing speech at
www.thankyoult.org |
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Lt Watada
speaks for refusers everywhere. Some are killed for
refusing. Many are jailed, like Halil Savda in solitary
confinement in Turkey and hundreds of Israeli conscripts.
Many seek asylum in other countries. Behind this army of
refuseniks is an immense support network of families and
friends, led mostly by women.
Invest in Caring Not Killing
Over
650,000 Iraqi people, mainly civilians, and over 3,000 US,
British and other soldiers have lost their lives in this
occupation. The US alone spends $8.4 billion a month in this
war, while each day women, children and men are getting
poorer in a world increasingly devastated by global warming
and West-inspired wars. We need this money to care for
people and the environment. Refuseniks like Lt Watada are a
crucial part of our movement. Wherever we are, whatever else
we believe, supporting him contributes to the struggle for
survival and against war.
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Sunday 4
February 2 - 4 pm
Outside
Tate Britain Gallery, Millbank
Anti-war Community Picket and
Open Mic
in
support of the principled and courageous stand of
Ehren
Watada and Brian Haw.
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Brian Haw protesting since June 2001 |
Before the war started, the Global Women´s Strike
joined Brian Haw in Parliament Sq for a weekly
picket. Every Wednesday for three years, women, men
and occasionally children used our sound system to
protest – Iraqi women, Brian and a number of
veterans and refusers were regulars. Last year, a
new law banned demonstrations without police
permission for 1 km round Parliament Sq, and police
removed most of Brian´s anti-war display. A replica
by Mark Wallinger is now displayed at the Tate, and
we will picket outside. |
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Monday 5
February 12 – 2 pm
Parliament Square – opposite the “White House annex”
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Ever
since MPs voted for war in Iraq, it has been clear that the
White House is where decisions are made and that Parliament
is little more than its annex. As part of the ongoing
protest of Brian Haw and of the People’s Strike for Peace,
we demand that Lt Watada be freed from all charges at
his court martial on 5 February. If you cannot be with us
that day, please send messages of protest to the US
military authorities. See
www.refusingtokill.net. |
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Organised by the Global Women’s Strike
and Payday men’s network
Tel 0207 482 2496
womenstrike8m@server101.com
Tel 0207 209 4751
payday@paydaynet.org
www.globalwomenstrike.net
www.refusingtokill.net |
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