DECEMBER 2009

Glasgow Stop the War CoalitionIn this newsletter:

1 Opening of Gaza Now Exhibition, 11 December 2009
2 Why have 100 British soldiers died in Afghanistan this year?
3 UPDATE: Joe Glenton – arrested for speaking out against war
4 Financial Appeal and Stop the War Christmas cards

1 Opening of Gaza Now Exhibition

Glasgow Central Mosque
Friday 11th December
5.30pm - 8.30pm (Refreshments & food)
Note start time - 5.30pm sharp (doors open 4.30pm)

A Picture Exhibition on the 1st anniversary of Gaza War (Pictures taken by Edinburgh Direct Aid while on their Aid/humanitarian mission - earlier this year).

Opening ceremony with Denis Rutovitz (Founder of Edinburgh Direct Aid), Pauline McNeil (Chair of Palestine Cross Party Group), Nicola Sturgeon (Deputy First Minister), Ismael Patel (Founder of Friends of Al Aqsa), Dr Colin Cooper (Aid Envoy to Gaza Glasgow) , Dr M S Kauser (Central Mosque Secretary) and live link with Gaza. Exhibition from Fr 11 Dec - Fri 18 Dec

2 Why have 100 British soldiers died in Afghanistan this year?

Gordon Brown claims the 100th British soldier to die this year in Afghanistan died "doing what is right for Britain". He didn't. He died to save the face of politicians like Brown who cannot face admitting that the 100th soldier to die lost his life in a pointless war, as did all the other British soldiers and countless thousands of Afghans who have been killed in the past eight years.The hundredth British soldier to die in Afghanistan this year was killed because Gordon Brown refuses to learn the lesson of history: that the people of Afghanistan never accept occupation by foreign powers.He died fighting to support one of the most corrupt governments in the world, which is dominated by war lords and drug traffickers and which has no legitimacy following a breathtakingly fraudulent election.Gordon Brown says the 100th soldier died to safeguard Britain against terrorist attack. But no Afghan has ever attacked Britain or any other country.He died, says Brown, to help defeat al-Qaeda. But more British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in 2009 than the total number of al-Qaeda in the country, which the US government admits is just a few dozen.He died according to Brown helping to bring stability and security to Afghanistan. But it is the eight years of war that is the cause of the insecurity, having brought nothing but ever increasing levels of death and devastation.Brown says the 100th soldier died because the British army has a mission to train Afghan security forces to take responsibility for fighting the forces opposing occupation. But all there is to show after eight years of "training" Afghans to replace British soldiers is a phantom army and ghost police force. Nato instructors openly admit it is a hopeless task, but Brown says this is the escape plan for bringing British troops home from Afghanistan. By increasing to over 10,000 the number of British troops sent to kill and be killed in Afghanistan, Gordon Brown has condemned many more soldiers and countless Afghans to die in an unjustified and unwinnable war.The truth is Britain has no national security interests in Afghanistan. The war is being continued for no other reason than to save the face of politicians and military commanders who cannot faceadmitting defeat after eight years of conflict which has brought only mass slaughter and devastation to Afghanistan.The 100th soldier to die this year did so on a sea of lies about why Britain is fighting a war in the world's second poorest country, against a people who are no threat to any other country and who only want to be free of foreign occupation. Campaigning to bring the troops homeTo mark the 100th death this year, Stop the War groups across the country will hold vigils and naming the dead ceremonies, at which the names of all 100 soldiers killed will be read out, together with the names of 100 Afghans to represent the countless thousands who have died.On Monday 21 December, many military families will join with former soldiers to deliver Stop the War's Bring the Troops Home petition to Gordon Brown at Downing Street. In the coming months Stop the War will be intensifying its campaign to bring pressure on the Gordon Brown's government to withdraw all British troops from Afghanistan, which all opinion polls show is supported by an overwhelming majority of the British public.We are a few months away from a general election and Stop the War plans to hold protests, lobbies and other events across the country to ensure that every politician standing for office knows that if they support the sensless war in Afghanistan they are opposing the view of most people whose vote they are seeking.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE TO BRING THE TROOPS HOMEhttp://www.petitiononline.com/mfaw09/petition.html

3. UPDATE: Joe Glenton – arrested for speaking out against war

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton was arrested for refusing to return to Afghanistan, leading an anti-war demonstration and speaking to the media in defiance of orders.He is being held in an army jail while he awaits trial for charges which carry a sentence of up to 10 years.LATEST NEWS 09.12.09: Joe was released today from prison on very restrictive bail conditionsMessages of support can still be sent to: defendjoeglenton@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Court hearing Wednesday 16 DecemberJoe appears before a judge for a preliminary hearing of his case. Stop the War will organise a picket of the court in support: Wednesday 16 December, 9.30am, Office of the Judge Advocate General, 81 Chancery Lane, London WC22A 1BQ. Please join us if you can.

• Email: Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworthr@parliament.uk

• Write: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB • FAX: 020 7218 6538• Petition: Download the Defend Joe Glenton petition...

Joe Glenton's mother, Sue Glenton, has highlighted the hypocrisy in the silencing of her son: "You've got government ministers, army commanders and MPs speaking every day in support of the war. What's so scary about a lance corporal having his say? My son is only speaking out for what he thinks is right." - Sue Glenton

The following message has been received from Malalai Joya, the Afghan MP who has been called "the bravest women in Afghanistan", and who has received numerous international awards for her defence of human rights:"
Dear Joe, Stay strong! The majority of the Afghan people are with you and we respect and admire the stand you have taken. When there is no justice, it is better for honest people to go even to jail rather than go to war. Down with the occupation. I send you my warmest greetings and solidarity." - Malalai Joya

5. Financial Appeal and Stop the War Christmas cards

In the last few months Presidents Obama’s surge of troops to Afghanistan, the growing death toll of soldiers and Afghan civilians, the bombing of Pakistan and Gaza earlier this year have demonstrated that the need for a thriving Stop the War Coalition is as great as ever.Recently we sent a coach to the National demonstration to get the Troops out of Afghanistan in London, led by led by Lance Corporal Joe Glenton -- the first serving soldier in the British army to join an anti-war march - http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1561/1/ .We have received great support from trade unions, peace and groups working for social justice and you as an individual, over the years and together we have achieved much.We would like to continue being able to respond as we did earlier this year, when we seen the bombing of Gaza and the biggest ever wave of protests since the invasion of Iraq. The anti-war movement needs to be both organised and mobilised.Printing leaflets, petitions and posters; booking buses to get to the demonstrations; meetings and event room hires all cost well spent money and keep our movement organised, united and mobilised.
Please consider making a donation to Glasgow Stop the War Coalition.

DONATE ONLINE: http://glasgowstopwar.express.iristickets.co.uk

BY POST: Cheques made to 'GLASGOW STOP THE WAR COALITION' C/o Dave Sherry, Branch Secretary, TGWU Scottish Housing Branch, TGWU Offices, 290 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4LD. (drop us a quick email to let us know you’ve sent it)

IN PERSON: TEXT 07912348366 and we will arrange collection.Go to www.stopwar.org.uk and for more info on the Stop the War Coalition and its activities.

Get your Christmas Cards at – http://glasgowstopwar.express.iristickets.co.ukDesigned by supporters of Stop the War in Glasgow you get 9 cards for £4.50 with £1.00 postage costs.Please forward and circulate this email to all your contacts.

Post the following to on your facebook – checking out the latest Glasgow Stop the War newsletter at http://glasgowstopwar.blogspot.com/

Get involved in the campaign to bring the troops home

Email: glasgowstopwar@gmail.com