Greater Manchester CND What's On Guide. 1 Dec 2006

Upcoming Events

To find out about upcoming peace and anti-war events either phone or email the GMDCND office. If you would like to be added to an email mailing list to be notified of upcoming events please email us with "subscribe activist mailing list" in the subject line.

CND and OTHER ANTI-NUCLEAR RELATED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Anti-Nuclear Activities

Faslane 365

To view photo’s and read press reports from the Manchester blockade of Faslane go to www.faslane365.org/manchester. We will be going back in 2007 so contact us if you want to come too.

Dear friends in Great Britain!

WE URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER

- The governments of the Baltic States are planning a new nuclear power station in Lithuania. It will most probably be the same type as the one being built in Finland, an EPR 1.600 MW reactor, the biggest in the world

- A cable to transfer at least 1/3 of the produced electricity to Sweden is being planned

- In Sosnovy Bor, not too far from the Baltic States, new reactors are being planned

- In Finland one new reactor is being built and there are talks about 2 more

- In Finland and Sweden foreign companies are pushing for uranium mining

- IEA is pushing governments around the world to invest in nuclear power.

In order to stop all this nuclear madness we must co-operate. Please do your utmost to get signatures for the “1 million petition against nuclear power” in Europe. At the moment there are around 550,000 signatures.

In France around 174,000 signatures have been collected, in Finland 14,300, in Great Britain 4,588. There is much to be done in Britain.

Please sign the petition at www.atomstopp.com or www.million-against-nuclear.net

And ask all your friends and other contacts to do so too.

Tuesday 28th November Lobby Parliament against Nuclear Power:

Come to the mass lobby and join some of the leading experts on nuclear issues in persuading MPs to oppose the nuclear power provisions in the upcoming Energy White Paper. Book an appointment to see your MP that day, and invite her/him to the four presentations on nuclear power issues on the afternoon of the 28th.

Thursday 30th November, 8pm, Stockport Labour Club, Lloyd Street (off A6). Open meeting on Replacing Trident Discussion with Mike Hindley of CND. Hosted by Hazel Grove Labour Party

Local CND Groups welcome new members or visitors

Bolton CND

Meets 2nd Thursday of the month, 7.30pm. at Friends Meeting House, Silverwell St, Bolton. Contact Malcolm Pittock on 01204 522839, www.cndbolton.tc

Prestwich & Whitefield CND

Meets on the 1st Wednesday in the month, The Ostrich Pub, Ostrich Lane, Prestwich at 7.30pm. Call Cath on 0161 798 6565.

Saddleworth Peace Movement

For general group meeting dates please phone Steve on 01457 876013 or 01457 874578.

Salford CND

Next meeting Wednesday 20th December, 2pm-4pm, Broadwalk Library, Salford. Call Basil Landau on 0161 737 2388 for further details

Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group

Stall in Rochdale centre – last Sat of the month. Regular meetings every 2nd Wednesday of month. For details contact Philip on 01706 370712 or Pat on 01706 370117

Stockport Peace Forum

Stall every Saturday 11am – 1pm, Stockport Precinct. Next meeting contact Joan on 0161 427 1191

Marple CND

Regular stall every Saturday in Stockport Precinct, 11am to 1pm. Meets 2nd Weds in month. Contact Sheila on 0161 427 8427 for venue and time

Manchester CND

For next meeting date, venue and time contact Heide Connell on 0161 969 1724

OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES & NOTICES

Solid Earth presents Grounded - The Solid Earth Collective has released a charity CD to raise money for Medicins Sans Frontieres in Darfur. It is available to purchase online via Paypal or from the CND office by cheque (please make them payable to 'solid earth'). The CD costs £6 and £5 from each sale goes to MSF. Please include £1.50 p+p.

For more info and a preview please visit: http://www.solidearth.org/onlineshop

A Message from the Ceasefire Campaign

Dear friends,

The winds of political change are sweeping the United States. This month, the American people voted overwhelmingly to reject President Bush’s war in Iraq and the key architect of the war, US military chief Donald Rumsfeld, announced his resignation. This is the perfect time for a global public outcry to finally end this disastrous war.

To seize this opportunity, we are running an ad campaign in US and UK papers calling upon the US-led coalition to accept a larger role for the international community in finding a diplomatic solution, and a phased withdrawal of all its troops from Iraq. So far, almost 50,000 citizens from over 100 countries have signed on to the campaign – we need 100,000 signatures THIS WEEK so that our next round of ads can report a rising wave of global support. Please tell all your friends and family, and click below to the see the ad and endorse its call to action:

www.CeasefireCampaign.org

This is our chance to make sure the pressure of global public opinion is being felt by Coalition governments as they rethink their war in Iraq, pressing them to accept that they lack the legitimacy to bring stability and peace to the country, and that only a larger role for the international community in negotiating a political solution can stop the war.

We can reach our goal for this campaign by spreading the word. Please forward this email to as many of your friends and family as you can, and act now to add your voice to this urgent call for action:

www.CeasefireCampaign.org

This may be our best chance for peace yet. Let’s take it. With hope,

Ricken, Rachel, Paul, Tom, Amparo and the Ceasefire Campaign team

Call for a Change in EU Policy Toward Israel

Chris Davies, Lib Dem MEP for the North West, has been vociferous in criticising Israel and calling for a change in EU policy toward Israel, as the two attachments show.

On his website (www.chrisdaviesnep.org.uk) he writes in Notes from Palestine "The press release I issued on my return denounced Israeli policies that amounted to apartheid based on racism. Supporters of Israel's approach challenged my view and in the Jewish press and in private e-mails I was accused of many things, 'anti-semitic' being the first and in some ways most polite of these".

In view of this, I would like to encourage people to write to him in support, and pass this message to your contacts.

Greater Manchester Coalition to Stop the War

After the Time to Go Demo – organising in Greater Manchester

www.stopwar.org.uk

www.mancsagainsttanks.org

To all stewards from the demonstration, supportive trades union bodies, local groups, students unions, and campaign bodies, and our elected representatives.

Dear Brother/Sisters

Invitation to a meeting and a rally: Sunday 26th November.

At Manchester University Student Union, Wilmslow Rd, M13 9PR. (Opposite Dover St)

2-00pm – 3-00pm: Meeting: Building a stronger Stop the War Coalition

3-30pm – 5-00pm: Rally ‘Islamophobia and the War on Terror’

The Time to Go Demo in Manchester on 23rd September was a great success. We estimate that up to 50,000 people marched through the streets of Manchester. This demonstration was also a magnificent show of unity, where people of all races and religions and none, marched together for peace and in unity.

This was the first national demonstration called by the Stop the War Coalition, CND and MAB that took place outside of London. The Military Families Peace Camp was also a first for our city. These were both unique events in the history of Manchester.

We now face a number of new challenges in the anti-war movement. The head of the British army has now gone on record stating that the war and occupation of Iraq is a disaster, which entirely supports the arguments that have been put forward by the anti-war movement for the last three years. Yet at the same time, to deflect from the problems of Iraq and Afghanistan, we are witnessing an alarming rise of Islamophobia instigated from the very highest levels of government. In Eccles last month Worshippers were attacked whilst they prayed at their mosque. This is only one of many incidents that highlight the increase in Islamophobia.

We need to continue our campaigning.

Therefore we are setting up a broad based steering committee to better organise actions and events, whether national or local initiatives, to launch mobilisations, and to improve co-ordination. This delegate body would meet between 4 – 6 times a year.

Lyndsey German, convenor Stop the War Coalition, will introduce a discussion, after which we will elect a steering committee for the Greater Manchester Stop the War Coalition. After a break we will hold a public rally: ‘Islamophobia and the War on Terror’. Other speakers include Anas Al Tikriti, British Muslim Initiative and Sajjad Karim, the Lib dem MEP for the North West

Please do not hesitate to call one of us if you have any questions. We do hope you are able to attend.

Yours in peace,

Nahella Ashraf, 07976 616 091 nahella_ashraf2002@yahoo.co.uk

Ron Senchak, 0161 286 9848 redron1@ntlworld.com

North West Representatives on the National Steering Committee of the Stop the War Coalition

We are Many, They are Few – Manchester Demo 23rd September 2006

Make sure you own a piece of history and purchase one (or more) of a limited edition of 1,000 commemorative posters from the Labour Party Conference demo’, 23rd September. You have never seen Deansgate look so good!! Contact Jacqui or Doug at GM&D CND office 0161 273 8283

Sunday 26th November, 2 p.m. Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess St. M1 6DD. Manchester. Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia Public Meeting

Last year millions demonstrated in Ethiopia for human rights and democracy: hundreds were killed and 40,000 imprisoned. One of the targets was the independent trade union was the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association, which had its meetings broken up, activists arrested and killed. Jason Travis from Bolton NUT will give an eyewitness account of how the union’s General Assembly was broken up by armed police.

Also speaking eyewitnesses from Ethiopia

Please support this meeting. Thousands of activists are still imprisoned and your support is needed.

How to get there:

From Picadilly Gardens walk down Portland St and turn left on to Princess St. The Mechanics Institute is on your left just with entrance on Major St.

Tuesday November 28th, 7pm to 9pm at the office of Friends of the Earth, Friends Meeting House, Mount Street. Richard Starkey from The Tyndall Centre, talking about personal carbon allowances - his research subject.

Wednesday November 29th is the UN day for Palestine - Please lobby your MP!

Palestinians are facing a humanitarian catastrophe following the blockade imposed by the EU, US and Israel, suffering what the World Bank describes as an 'unprecedented economic depression'. Access to food, water and electricity is severely restricted in the Gaza Strip. Israel is assaulting basic democratic rights by imprisoning elected representatives of the Palestinian people, launching military assaults on the West Bank and Gaza which have killed over 300 Palestinians since June, and continuing to build the Apartheid Wall and settlements.

The lobby of Parliament is taking place on the UN's international day for Palestine. We are calling urgently for everyone to contact their MP to tell the British government to work to end the blockade on the Palestinian people, act on the decision of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to release the Palestinian parliamentarians held by Israel, and to end its arms trade with Israel.

The purpose of the lobby is to meet your MP and explain to them why you feel that these issues must be addressed immediately, calling on them to take action. Ideally please come to London and meet your MP in Parliament

For many of you who simply can’t get to London on a workday, please either make an appointment to see them in the constituency (most MPs see constituents on Fridays or Saturdays) or write to them to express your support for the Palestinian people and demand that they take action.

LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER

We would like to ask you to please contact your MP to make an appointment for the Lobby on 29th November as soon as possible.

The purpose of the lobby is to meet your MP and explain to them why you feel that these issues must be addressed immediately, calling on them to take action. Showing there is strong support for Palestinian human rights makes a difference!

Saturday 2nd December - NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AT RAF BRIZE NORTON (OXFORDSHIRE).

Supported by National Stop The War Coalition & National CND.

Coach from Chorlton Library - full details to follow.

Minibus from Central Manchester. Contact Jacqui or Doug at Greater Manchester & District CND office 0161 273 8283

RAF Brize Norton is the base from which all British troops are flown to Iraq & Afghanistan, & where they return to (alive & dead).

This National Demonstration to the gates of the base is to demand immediate withdrawal of British troops.

RAF Brize Norton is also being used to refuel American military flights transporting munitions between Kelly air force base in the USA to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, taking bombs to be used by the Israeli Defence Force in the war in Lebanon. A similar demonstration was held last year when the response from the people of Carterton, the largely military town which lies next to the airbase, was very positive.

Details call Mark 07765 122 829

Visit our local website http://mancsagainsttanks.org/

National http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

Every Friday 5.00pm - 6.30pm Brooks Bar, outside the Whalley Hotel Whalley Range for Peace and Justice continue to maintain their weekly vigil against the occupations of Iraq and Palestine, against all acts of terror, for the defence of civil liberties, peace and security. Support from motorists and passers by is as noisy as ever in the two and a half years (including Xmas and New Year) we have been doing this. All welcome.

Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign monthly Meetings will be on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Friends Meeting House, Manchester

Saturday 2nd December. Campaign against Climate Change national meeting in Sheffield. So far two people from Manchester have decided to go. Anyone else who'd like to come email Ewa so we can arrange common transport for comradely fun and fiscal advantage. ewa.silverlode@ntlworld.com

Saturday 9th December - 12 midday at the Friends Meeting House, Mount St, Manchester. AWARD-WINNING GUATEMALAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN MANCHESTER. Accused of terrorism during a campaign to raise awareness about the rights of Indigenous communities in relation to the mining industry, Guatemalan Human Rights activist- and first woman in 500 years to have held the position of Indigenous Mayoress - is visiting the UK to collect the International Service Human Rights award. As part of her visit Dominga Vasquez will be visiting Manchester, and will be giving an informal presentation about her struggle and the human rights situation in Guatemala. Dominga Vasquez is a hugely inspirational woman, in the face of death threats, intimidation and racisim, and the threat of legal proceedings against her, she continues her work for justice and human rights in Guatemala. Don't miss the chance both to hear Dominga speak and to welcome this amazing woman to Manchester.

8th to 11th December 2006 (Lucknow, India) at the 7th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World (7-12 December, 2006)

We take great pleasure in inviting your proposal for presentation and workshops at the 3rd Global Symposium: 'Towards a New World Civilization'. Organized by the World Unity and Peace Education Department of City Montessori School (CMS) at the World Unity Convention Centre in Lucknow city (India). There is no registration or participation fees. All delegates from abroad will be provided with complimentary boarding and lodging facilities along with transport within Lucknow city (Local Transport). The delegates will be required to manage their own travel expenses to and from Lucknow city.

World Unity Convention Centre (WUCC)

CMS Girls Degree College, LDA Colony, Kanpur Road, Lucknow INDIA

Phone: +91-522-2636244, 2638483, 2638738, 2638606

Fax: +91-522-2638008, +91-522-2635497

Email: info@gpwd.org Web: www.gpwd.org/symposium

Friday 13th-Saturday 14th April 2007, Imperial War Museum, London. Peace History: encouragement and warnings. A conference organised by the International Peace Bureau and Movement for the Abolition of War. Speakers confirmed so far include Dr Verdiana Grossi, University of Geneva and Dr Peter Van Den Dungen, University of Bradford. More details as they develop at www.abolishwar.org.uk

Job Opportunity with Olive Co-operative in Manchester

Job Title: Tour Manager

10 – 15 hours per week

This is a crucial position within Olive Co-operative, taking the lead role in organising study tours to Palestine and Israel and delivering a high quality service to our customers, suppliers and partners.

The successful candidate will have experience of independent travel and/or work in Palestine and Israel, with knowledge of some of the Palestinian, Israeli and international organisations working in the area. They will be a confident, efficent and self-motivated individual, with outstanding communication skills. They will also have a strong commitment to co-operative working.

Olive Co-operative is currently able to pay its standard rate of £6/hour. The successful candidate will be based at the place of their choice in the UK, visiting the Olive Co-operative office (15 minutes walk east of Manchester Piccadilly station) at least every two months.

Applications are by email only to mary@olivecoop.com, to be received by noon on Saturday November 25th, 2006. Interviews will be held during the weekend of December 2nd, 2006. We regret that we are unable to pay for transport to interviews; under special circumstances alternative arrangements may be discussed.