[van-announce] February 15th - Solidarity with Europe Opposed to War on Iraq

[resist admin]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jef Keighley" <keighley at caw.ca>

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE FEBRUARY 15TH PEACE MARCH AND RALLY - NO WAR
ONIRAQ

George W. Bush continues to defy intelligent thought and beats the drums of
war louder, ever louder!  European Peace activists are calling on people
around the world to make Saturday, February 15th, 2003 another major
International Day of Opposition to War on Iraq.  We intend to join with them
and demostrate that Canadians have a strong voice among the world's
peoples.

As each day and each week passes, more and more people across Canada,
around the world and within the United States are speaking out for Peace
and saying No to War on Iraq.  France and Germany are joined in opposition
to Bush's war. Because they know their respective populations adamantly
stand for Peace and oppose war.  In Britian, George W's 'poodle', Tony
Blair, continues to back the ill fated US war plans despite the opposition
within his own Labour Party and the popular opposition to war increasingly
expressed by the British people.  In Canada, the effects of public action
and opinion are shaping the political landscape:  Defense Minister
McCallum floats the trial balloon that Canada might join the US, with or
without a UN mandate.  Public opinion boils over in disgust.  Letters,
telephone and talk show calls flood in.  Days pass and Chretien
'clarifies' Canada's position that Canada would require a united UN
position prior to war action.  We are begining to win the battle for the
hearts and minds of Canadians to oppose war and wage peace, and because of
that, the electoral opportunism of the political apparatus is responding,
but not fast enough.  We need to turn up the political pressure.  We need
to increase our public presence in the streets. We owe it to the people of
Iraq.  For Peace, Justice and Morality we can do no less!

The November 17th Peace Coalition in Greater Vancouver, will join with
like minded Canadian in towns and cities across the country, with our
Brothers and Sisters in Europe, in solidarity with the men, women and
especially the children of Iraq and the Middle East to turn up the
political heat, to increase the public pressure.  How?  A February 15th
March and Rally to say No to War On Iraq.

Saturday, February 15th, 2003

No War On Iraq March and Rally

Assemble at Canada Place Trade and Convention Centre at 12:30 pm - just
west of the Sea Bus/Sky Train Terminal on Cordova. March from Canada Place
at 1:00 pm - past the US Consulate and the British Consulate. Rally at the
Vancouver Art Gallery 2:00 pm

If you were at the November 17th or the January 18th Peace March and
Rallys you know how elated and powerful it feels to be part of thousands
of people in the streets speaking out for Peace and Justice.  We only have
3 weeks to organize this next important action.  We ask that you help us
spread the word far and wide to make the February 15th Peace March and
Rally - No War On Iraq a success.  Send this email to family and friends,
co-workers and more.  We will have a poster available by next Wednesday
for distribution. If you want a PDF - Printable Data File version of the
poster which you can download, print out and distribute it - in your
organizations, in laundromats, around high schools, major bus stops,
anywhere that people gather, let us know.  Kate Roussos, from the
Unitarian Church, has generously agreed to staff the End the Arms Race
office at the Maritime Labour Centre, which EAR has graciously made
available to the November 17th Peace Coalition, from January 30th - tel:
604 687-3223, fax: 604 687-3277.

Our November 17th Peace Coalition Meetings take place on Wednesdays, from
5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Maritime Labour Centre, 111 Victoria Drive,
Vancouver - at Pandora, 2 blocks north of Hastings Street.

In Solidarity,

Jef Keighley,
CAW Canada & November 17th Peace Coalition