[antiwar-van] For Immediate Release: Rally Against Canadian Imperialism!

[Kira Koshelanyk]

                                      Mobilization Against War & Occupation 
– MAWO
                       www.mawovancouver.org | info at mawovancouver.org | 
604.322.1764

August 27, 2005
News Item
For Immediate Release:

Rally Against War and Occupation on August 27:
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) Demands:

“Canada Out of Afghanistan!”
Call for an Independent Public Inquiry Into the Canadian War Drive in 
Afghanistan!

US/UK Out of Iraq!
Stop the war at home and abroad!

Media Contacts: Nicole Burton  604.710.4994   or   Adrian Swanston 604 422 
8535

Saturday, August 27th
3pm
Vancouver Art Gallery
(Georgia St. and Howe)

Featured speakers:
Larry Smallwood (Telecommunications Workers Union – TWU)
Ben West (Capilano Students Union Chairperson) and;
Leaders from the Muslim and Indigenous Community and anti-war activists

---------------------------------------------------

“Why is the Canadian military in Afghanistan? Why has the Canadian military 
budget been doubled? Who made these decisions? When were they discussed in 
parliament? Why don’t people in Canada know what the Canadian government is 
doing?”

On Saturday August 27th, these questions are bringing people in Vancouver to 
the streets against the Canadian occupation of Afghanistan while continuing 
to demand: “US/UK out of Iraq!”

Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) will continue its action 
against the escalating Canadian war drive with a rally on August 27 at 3pm 
at the Vancouver Art Gallery. After three weekly picket actions at the 
Canadian recruitment center over the last month, August 27th is the next 
major day of action against the Canadian war drive in Afghanistan and Haiti 
and the US/UK occupation of Iraq.

“The deployment of 2000 more Canadian soldiers to Afghanistan raises huge 
concerns that will affect every person living in Canada, not to mention the 
already suffering people of Afghanistan,” said Nicole Burton, coordinator of 
MAWO’s “Operation: Canada Out!” campaign. “This is a major decision in which 
taxpayers in Canada have had no voice, and there are questions that need 
answering. Why are they sinking millions of dollars into ‘killing people’ in 
Afghanistan, as General Hillier said, while they cut services in Canada? The 
government is at war on people in Afghanistan and in Canada.”

At Saturday’s rally MAWO will also maintain its demand for an end to the 
occupation of Iraq.

“The so-called elections in Iraq changed nothing and the current so-called 
‘democratic constitution’ drafting will change nothing,” said Adrian 
Swanston, MAWO spokesperson. “The only thing that will improve the situation 
of occupation, death and destruction for people in Iraq will be an end to 
the US/UK occupation. This must also serve as a lesson for the Canadian war 
makers in Afghanistan.”

Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) and Saturday’s rally will 
also be joining a Canada-wide call for an independent public inquiry into 
the Canadian government’s involvement in the occupation of Afghanistan and 
the undemocratic and extra-parliamentary means in which this military action 
was planned and carried out. MAWO is encouraging other organizations and 
individuals to endorse the call and campaign.

-30-

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