[antiwar-van] *WEDNESDAY* MAWO Public Forum on Afghanistan

[Kira Koshelanyk]

* Please Forward Widely * 
 
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MAWO PUBLIC FORUM:
Canada Out of Afghanistan Now!
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WEDNESDAY May 6
6:30pm
Joe’s Cafe ~ in the large North Hall 
1151 Commercial Drive at William Street
 
Seven and a half years after the initial invasion of Afghanistan, the Canada, NATO, and US occupation of the country continues to fall into a catastrophic quagmire. The Afghan people’s right to self determination, basic human rights, and the right to live are every day being denied. Tens of thousands of Afghan civilians have been killed since the occupation began, in addition to 118 Canadian soldiers who have died in this war.
 
On Thursday, April 23rd Michelle Mendes, an intelligence specialist with the Canadian Forces was found dead in her base. The cause of death is still not released, however many news sources suggest a possible suicide. Ten days earlier on April 13th Karine Blais became the second female Canadian soldier to be killed from the war. "I think she did this for absolutely nothing… The Russians were in Afghanistan for many years and they couldn't push them back. I ask myself what Canada is doing," were the words from her godfather. His words reflect the thoughts of the majority of people in Canada, who are questioning Canada’s ongoing war in Afghanistan.
 
On the same day that Karine Blais was killed, in eastern Afghanistan occupation forces terrorised an entire village, murdering dozens of civilians and injuring many more. A 14 year old Afghan boy told the AFP News Agency “I don’t remember anything. I got to know here that my father, my mother, my brother and my younger sister have all been killed, and I am wounded.” A local woman told AFP “We were asleep and heard a strange noise and then the roof and walls collapsed… I was told nine people from my family were killed and wounded. I don't know who is dead, who is wounded and who is alive in my family.”
 
While the US, Canada, and NATO leaders continue to escalate their war drive in Afghanistan, and have expanded attacks now to Pakistan, we are seeing more frequent protests from Afghan and Pakistani people demanding their self determination. People in the US, Canada, and around the world must come together in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan to say no more to this war drive.
 
Multimedia, Speakers and Discussion
 
Topics of Discussion:
>> The deepening social, economic, and political crisis in Afghanistan
>> President Obama's escalation of war in Afghanistan
>> Expansion of war in Afghanistan and Pakistan
>> Canada's deepening quagmire in Afghanistan
>> What's next?
 
For poster click:
http://www.mawovancouver.org/materials/posters/090506forum.pdf
 
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MAWO ~ Mobilization Against War & Occupation
http://WWW.MAWOVANCOUVER.ORG 
info at mawovancouver.org 
P 604.322.1764 || F 604.322.1763
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