[antiwar-van] Moblization Against War and Occupation

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Announcing the Formation of Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)

Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) held our first meeting on Wednesday October 29, 2003 to answer the question asked by the anti-war demonstration on October 25: Where is the anti-war movement in Vancouver going?
Despite the escalation in organized resistance to occupation on the ground in Iraq and the near constant war in Palestine, the speakers at the October 25th demonstration focussed on domestic Canadian issues, speaking against Paul Martin as the next Prime Minister and against the Star Wars Missile Defense Program. The lack of representation of the politics of people in struggle against war and occupation in Iraq and Palestine amongst the speakers contrasted with the anti-war mood of the march and the people at the demo. This contrast made it clear that there is a definite need for a new anti-war group in the city to represent the politics of people in struggle and to build a movement on that basis. 

A meeting was called to organize a demonstration on November 22nd against the war and occupation in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan by the Student-Youth Committee Against War and was held at the Britannia Community Centre. Emphasized at this meeting of people including representatives from high schools, college and university student unions, indigenous organizations and grass roots anti-war and social justice groups was the importance of focussing on war and occupation. The extention of these politics to the 'war at home' against the attacks on the rights of immigrants and refugees and for self determination for indigenous nations in Canada was also discussed as crucial to include in the November 22 demonstration. As Curtis Clearsky from Native Youth Movement - Vancouver said, "We have to see the war in Iraq as part of the 500 year old colonial occupation of Canada, and vice versa."

The Student - Youth Committee Against War (SYCAW) is a group of students and young people who came together after a series of forums and events were organized on 10 different campuses around the lower mainland in the middle of September. SYCAW called the November 22 demonstration as part of a campaign to get young people and students involved in a leadership position in the anti-war movement. From talking to people during and after the October 25 demonstration, it was clear that the organizing of the demonstration had to be opened up broadly to anyone interested in organizing against war and occupation.
The Student - Youth Committee is still organizing a 'Youth Against Occupation' conference in the downtown UBC Robson Square campus on November 29th to bring together students and young people interested in organizing against war and occupation to talk about strategies and organize.

MAWO is dedicated to building a movement against war and occupation in the streets, campuses and workplaces of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Anyone interested in getting involved in this movement is welcome and encouraged to come to the next MAWO meeting: Wednesday November 5th, 6:30pm at the Britannia Community Centre (just West of Commercial Drive and Napier St: 1661 Napier St) in the Learning Resources Centre (just below the library). 

NOVEMBER 22 MARCH AND RALLY
1PM VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

THE WAR IS NOT OVER! 
END THE OCCUPATIONS OF IRAQ, PALESTINE AND AFGHANISTAN! 
STOP THE WAR AT HOME AND ABROAD! 
Stop attacks against immigrants and refugees! Self-determination for indigenous people!


MAWO prtial endorsement list:      the Langara Students Union, Native Youth Movement - Vancouver, the Indigenous Environmental Network, UBC Environment Centre, Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice, the Iranian Committee Against War, UBC Women's Centre, Youth-Third World Alliance, UBC Social Justice Centre, The Purple Thisle Youth Centre, Redwire Native Youth Media, Friends and Family of Mexican Political Prisoners, UBC Africa Club, Student-Youth Committee Against War 

To add your group to the list of endorsers of MAWO or for information, contact:
mawoinfo at yahoo.ca
Shannon Bundock
604-340-9670
Kira Koshelanyk
778-881-6156


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