[antiwar-van] *Tomorrow* Federal Election Day PICKET ACTION (Vancouver) "Hey, Next Prime Minister of Canada: We demand Canada Out of Afghanistan!"

[Kira Koshelanyk]

Mobilization Against War and Occupation  - MAWO
www.mawovancouver.org | info at mawovancouver.org
604-322-1764

NEWS ITEM: MAWO STATEMENT
Monday, October 13th 2008

Hey, Next Prime Minister of Canada:
We Demand CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW!

Protest Against the War Drive and for Peace in Afghanistan on the Day of the Federal Election
PRESS CONFERENCE & PICKET ACTION
Tuesday October 14 - Federal Election Day
Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Centre
(1070 West Georgia St)

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PRESS CONFERENCE @ 12PM

Speakers:
~Lisa Barrett – Municipal Councillor of Bowen Island and former Mayor of Bowen Island,
Member of Code Pink Women for Peace
~Kira Koshelanyk - Executive Member of MAWO

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PICKET ACTION @ 12:15PM
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Press Contact: Kira Koshelanyk – 778.881.6156

On the day of the federal election in Canada, Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) is organizing a city-wide protest rally against the government of Canada’s war drive in Afghanistan. This protest will take place in front of the Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Center (1070 West Georgia St). This action is also demanding that the five major political parties take a stance on withdrawing Canadian troops UNCONDITIONALLY and immediately from Afghanistan.

Just last week, a senior commander of the British military, Brig. Gen. Mark Carleton-Smith, stated that an absolute military victory in Afghanistan is impossible. His statement was closely followed by similar remarks from the UN envoy to Kabul. This admission confirms what we have been saying for the last four years about the deterioration of life in Afghanistan and the opposition of the Canadian people to the war and occupation of Afghanistan. We have collected almost 15,000 signatures calling for troops out of Afghanistan in the Lower Mainland alone. As well, all new evidence exposed by various civilian and military authorities inside and outside of Afghanistan clearly proves previous findings by NGOs and human rights groups, as well as reports by soldiers themselves. This war and occupation has not meant progress for the people of Afghanistan, but destruction and a downward spiral of military occupation for the material interests and exploitation of resources by Canada, the US and NATO members.

On a day when millions of people across Canada will be going to the polls, this picket action will call attention to the absence of a major plan to end the war in Afghanistan. We do not want a war government, which we believe will be the result of this federal election. However, we believe further that people should vote and elect an antiwar government regardless of the results of the election. Don’t vote strategically, vote for humanity, for an antiwar government or for any party/parties that could get close to that. We want a government which will address the issue of the occupation of Afghanistan and represent the 56% of people in Canada who disapprove of Canada’s war in Afghanistan (CBC), by pulling troops out NOW. Already 10.5 billion taxpayer dollars have been spent on Canada’s war in Afghanistan, and the total spending is projected to be $22 billion by 2011. Why is this money going towards this war drive and its killing machine, while education, the condition of women and children, unemployment, homelessness, unresolved Aboriginal issues and healthcare all and all are deteriorating in Canada?

After seven years of occupation, what has come of the initial promises the government of Canada made of improving the lives of Afghan people?
What security has Canada provided for people in Afghanistan?
Where is the so-called liberation of women?
Where are the schools for children?
What democracy has the government of Canada provided for Afghan people?

The questions above are just a few of hundreds of questions that people of Afghanistan and the majority of working and poor people in Canada are asking. On August 22, another air strike killed 90 civilians in Azizabad, Afghanistan – 60 of them children and 15 women. How can the government of Canada claim that troops are in Afghanistan defending women and children when Canada/US/NATO are bombing Afghan women and children, turning these great, innocent people into pieces?

We do not want another government that will continue this brutality and crime of war against Afghan people. On the day of the federal election, Mobilization Against War and Occupation is calling on all peace-loving people to join us to say to the next Prime Minister of Canada that we are demanding Canada Out of Afghanistan NOW! Join us for this picket action on October 14, Federal Election Day.

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