|
|
|
CND in the News
CND in the News: 21-27 April 2005
…………………………………………….
1 Dozens at anti-war demonstration
BBC News, 24 April, 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/4475039.stm
Dozens of demonstrators have taken part in a protest outside an RAF base
over Britain's role in Iraq. At Saturday's rally at RAF Brize Norton in
Oxfordshire, an effigy of Tony Blair was pulled down, mimicking the toppling
of a Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad. Organisers claimed about 100 people
took part, but police said the number was about 60.
A spokesman for RAF Brize Norton said: "It was a peaceful protest
outside the gates that didn't cause any trouble." Before the demonstration,
campaigners met with local people, members of the forces and their families.
Not hostile
Kate Hudson, chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND),
which organised the protest, said the aim had been to raise awareness
of the role of the base in ferrying British troops to Iraq.
She said: "The main focus of the protest at the base was calling
to bring the troops home.
"Although it was a protest at the base, it wasn't hostile to the
forces. It had a peaceful atmosphere and was very positive because it
was actually going out to talk to people, not just sitting at a base complaining."
……………………………………………..
2 RAF Base Targeted by Anti-War Campaigners
The Scotsman, Sat 23 Apr 2005
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4448009
Around 100 anti-war campaigners staged a rally today at an RAF base used
to fly British soldiers to and from Iraq. CND organised
the protest at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire which involved an effigy
of Tony Blair being pulled down, mimicking the toppling of a statue of
former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
Kate Hudson, chairman of CND, said the event had been
aimed at raising awareness of the role of the base in ferrying British
troops to Iraq.
Prior to today’s demonstration, campaigners have been meeting with
local people as well as members of the forces and their families to discuss
the role of UK forces in Iraq.
She said: “The main focus of the protest at the base was calling
to bring the troops home.
“Although it was a protest at the base, it wasn’t hostile
to the forces. It had a peaceful atmosphere and was very positive because
it was actually going out to talk to people not just sitting at a base
complaining.
“It was about communicating with people and they certainly responded
in an interested and engaged way.”
Ms Hudson said the campaigners had been banned from handing out leaflets
by Thames Valley under section 12 of the Public Order Act 1986. She said:
“This appears to be because the police wanted to prevent us from
acting in a way that could be seen as inciting disaffection but seeing
as we were there to inform people this seemed pretty heavy handed.”
A spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition, which supported today’s
event, said: “It is our chance to really build bridges with people
with links to the military who know how wrong the war and occupation are,
and how cynically they’ve been used. ”
Our second aim is to raise public awareness about the role of this enormous
air base in ferrying British troops to Iraq.”
……………………………………………..
3 Focus on peace
27 April 2005
http://www.herts24.co.uk/content/stevenageherald/news/story.aspx?brand=CMTOnline&category=newsstherald&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newsstherald&itemid=WEED27%20Apr%202005%2010%3A16%3A57%3A007
PEACE was high on the agenda at a school citizenship day. Stevenage Coalition
for Peace dropped in to John Henry Newman School in Hitchin Road to let
students know about the work it does in the town. Schools organiser Malcolm
Chapman said: "The students were from Years 7, 8 and 9 and they had
some really good questions and comments. "We were talking about the
career side of education. The military go into schools to recruit and
we want to send people in so students see that there are careers in peace
and reconciliation out there too." The Stevenage Coalition for Peace
has members who belong to other peace organisations including CND,
Amnesty International, the Movement Against War and the Stevenage Kadoma
Link organisation.
On May 16, the coalition is playing host to Guardian correspondent and
author Gary Younge. Mr Younge, the son of campaigner Reba Younge, was
born and brought up in Stevenage, but now lives in America. The coalition's
Pat Akhurst said: "He often writes for The Guardian on the situation
in America so is well qualified to discuss the relationship between Great
Britain and the United States." Mr Young will speak at the Friends
Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, at 7.30pm.
Any school that would like the Stevenage Coalition for Peace to visit
to talk to students should call Malcolm on 01438 721435.
……………………………………………..
Back to Top
| |
