3RD NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION FOR GAZA

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1073 16 January 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

3RD NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION FOR GAZA
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
ISRAEL OUT OF GAZA NOW: LIFT THE BLOCKADE
ASSEMBLE BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE
PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON, W1A 1AA
(Nearest tube Oxford Circus)
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE

With over 1100 killed, 350 of them children, and over 5500
injured, the suffering in Gaza is beyond catastrophic. Israel
is ignoring the worldwide clamour for it to stop now and is
escalating its attacks.

A third national demonstration against Israel's barbarity and
war crimes has been called for Saturday 24 January in London
by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign,
British Muslim Association and many other organisations.

The demonstration will assemble at BBC Broadcasting House,
Portland Place, London, as a response to the BBC's largely
one-sided coverage of the Gaza massacre, allowing Israeli
spokespeople endless opportunities to propagate lies and
deception without challenge.

We will march from the BBC to Trafalgar Square. Further
details, including timings and route, will be available
shortly.

Stop the War calls on all its local groups and supporters to
start building now for what we need to make an even bigger
demonstration than the 100,000 who protested on 10 January.
Israel must be made to stop its carnage and we must show our
solidarity with the people of Gaza suffering unimaginable
atrocities.

Stop the War will publicise further details and updates by
email and on our website, as we get them.

GREEN PARTY CONFERENCE Motions to support

Green Party Spring conference 2009 20th – 23rd March, Blackpool Winter Gardens

Please support the following motions

C21 Migration motion (asks GPEW to support European GP migration policy)

C24 Campaigning for an alternative economic strategy (calls for a New Green
Deal broadened and reinforced in order to transform fundamentally, rather than simply to try to stabilise and regulate, the current financial and industrial system.)

Also remember

• Look out for amendments to C28 on Maternity Services which critics argue could introduce privatization


• Attend the SOC report (usually the first item of conference) for a challenge to disallowing the motion to afiiliate GPEW to the Convention of the Left

GAZA; Statement by Joseph Healy and fallback leaflet

We are calling on all Green Left supporters and riends to support as a priority the demonstrations taking place on Saturday against the war crimes and atrocities being inflicted by the Israelis on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza. The latest tonight is that a UN school clearly earmarked by the UN has been attacked and a large number of civilians sheltering inside, including many children, massacred. The UN has described it as a violation of international law.

The main demonstration called by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and CND will be in London. It will march from Hyde Park Corner (gather at 12.30pm) to the Israeli embassy in Kensington. Speakers, including Green MEP for London, Jean Lambert, will address the rally.

Leaflets and placards will be distributed by Green Left and Green Party members at the demo and Romayne Phoenix and others will send details of that later.

As the party's delegate to the Stop the War Coalition, I have found them more than willing to have a Green Party speaker on the platform. Contrary to what was stated on Derek Wall's blog, the reason why STWC had no party speaker last week at the demo in Trafalgar Square was because the party's national officers did not reach them in time. It is important to state this, as the impression could otherwise be given that STWC is somehow hostile, and this would strengthen the hands of those in our party who want to end our > involvement in this important campaigning organisation.

I am sure that there may be other local protests taking place across the country, such as the one in Brighton outside Lloyds Bank, at which Caroline Lucas is speaking. However, if possible, we are asking people to attend the large national demonstration in London - details of transport etc from local Stop the War groups.

It is vital that the Green Party's presence is clearly visible on this demo and that Green Left takes the lead in ensuring that it is. We have to send a clear signal from here that Israel's war crimes,
aided and abetted by Bush and Brown (whose UN ambassador has blocked the ceasefire moves at the UN) must be stopped.

Joseph Healy

Co-Convenor and Stop the War Coalition Delegate

(Joseph is also GPTU Treasurer but is not making the above statement in that capacity)

National Demonstration: Saturday 10 January: Stop the Massacre : Israel Out of Gaza Assemble 12.30pm Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, March to Israeli Embassy, London W8
• London Rally: Stop The Gaza Massacre, Thursday 8 January 7.30pm Friends Meeting House, Euston Rd, London NW1 2BJ
Speakers include Tony Benn, Tariq Ali, George Galloway MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP Organised by Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign Leaflet... Nearest tube: Euston
• Daily protests: Israeli Embassy 5 - 9 January, 5.30pm-7.00 pm, , High St, Kensington,W8

The following is Text for a fallback leaflet adapted from GPEW website, just in case the leaflet currently in preparation by head office is not available to all members.

GREEN PARTY CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE
06 JANUARY 2009
MEPs from the Green Party and other parties have demanded an emergency debate in the European Parliament on the Gaza crisis - and have been rebuffed.
Jean Lambert, London's Green Euro-MP, issued the following statement today:
"An immediate ceasefire is vital to prevent the further loss of innocent lives. Israel cannot justify this continued assault and the devastation it is bringing to the people of Gaza. The Greens called for an exceptional statement from the Council and Commission and an urgent debate on the crisis in the Parliament this week. It has been confirmed that the plenary debate will not take place, but an exceptional meeting of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee will be held tomorrow.

"Certainly this is not the time for the EU to be upgrading relations with Israel, indeed there is a case for examining the existing agreements. The EU needs a strong voice on this conflict, calling for a sustained ceasefire on both sides, since Hamas, too, bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians."
Jean, who was named Justice and Human Rights MEP of the year in 2005, added,

"Being in Gaza almost a year ago I witnessed the severe suffering of Palestinians as a result of the siege, and a lack of medical equipment and other essential supplies. The situation now must be unbearable, with many hundreds dead and thousands injured as a result of the air strikes and ground offensive.

"It is imperative that the provision of humanitarian aid takes into account the deficit of goods and services which existed prior to these latest attacks. As well as the emergency response, extensive supplies of health, housing and education resources will be needed to rebuild the lives and communities of those affected."

Contact the Green Party 1A Waterlow Road London N19 5NJ Enquiries: 020 7272 4474
office@greenparty.org.uk Press office:020 7561 0282

Event: Ecosocialism for the 21st century

Wednesday 10 December @ 7.30

Ecosocialism for the 21st century
A socialist response to climate change and the financial crisis

Speaker: Sean Thompson (Green Left)

Venue: Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1 (Warren Street tube)

Public borrowing, public spending and tax cuts to inject money into the economy so that people will spend, spend, spend. And of course most of what is bought is either useless, thrown away or environmentally harmful.

It is possible to have a society in which everyone's needs are met and which does not follow Gordon Brown's route of production, profit making and environmental degradation. Sean Thompson will explain how it is possible for working people not to pay the price for the capitalist crisis and to have an ecologically sustainable future.

greenwich mural workshop presents an exhibition of artworks 1975 to 2008

we are moving soon from macbean centre ....so
greenwich mural workshop presents an exhibition of artworks 1975 to 2008
macbean centre macbean street woolwich
parks
tiles
gardens
posters
playgrounds
mosaics
murals
banners
PRIVATE VIEW
15 DECEMBER 6 -9pm
come by overground to woolwich arsenal - 5 mins walk
come by tube from north greenwich by 272 or 161
come by any number of buses to woolwich to the stop by the station
come by vehicle via the A206 to macbean street - then into centre car park
tel: 020 8854 9266
email: carol@greenwichmuralworkshop.com
now! mon15th to sat 20th december
1 to 6 pm

See Pdf flyer at gmwexhibition3

URGENT - PRESS RELEASE

MAJOR PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION

1 December 2008


After 20 years, Greenwich Mural Workshop is closing down its Woolwich premises in December.

In one last splendid retrospective, an exhibition of its artistic production including posters, banners, mosaics, carnivals, playgrounds, parks and gardens can be seen at its Woolwich studio in the MacBean Centre, Macbean Street, from Monday 15th December to Saturday 20th December, 1 to 6pm each day. The exhibition is free and all are welcome.

The artist’s co-operative, which started in 1975, has worked with community groups all over Greenwich Borough, making murals to brighten estates, posters for events, banners for unions and action groups, playgrounds, gardens and parks for schools and tenants associations.

Carol Kenna and Steve Lobb founded the workshop, but during its 34 year history, dozens of other artists came to design and fabricate pictures, prints, constructions, and environments with them. Many fabulous artists, designers and craftsmen who worked with GMW, have gone on to establish great organisations of their own. But it was not only professional artists, countless apprentices were trained, residents of all ages learnt art skills, many going on to begin new careers. National Community Arts and Murals conferences were also organised by the group, and a national touring exhibition “Printng is Easy” – showed posters from community printshops from all over Britain.

GMW’s first project was designing and painting murals with people of Meridian Estate in Greenwich. Three landmark murals were created; “Peoples River” and the anti-nuclear “Wind of Peace” on Creek Road and “Towards the Good Planet” on Thames Street, opened by Oscar winning actress, Glenda Jackson. A courtyard scheme and a park - converted from a junkyard - was devised with the tenants and carried out by Greater London and Greenwich Councils.

More mural projects followed: Floyd road and Rathmore Youth Centre murals in Charlton; Anti Racist and Kingsman Green murals in Woolwich; Glyndon Estate murals in Plumstead; and Yarnton Way, Binsey and Limestone Walks’ murals in Thamesmead. Many began to be made in tile, and in mosaic; a visually stunning and hard-wearing medium. These materials were used in skills courses for young unemployed and in dozens of Greenwich primary schools, some of which, James Wolfe, Timbercroft, Boxgrove and Cardwell schools, will be on show at the exhibition.

The community printshop began in a flat rented from the GLC on the Meridian Estate. Graphic artists Lulu Ditzel and Rob Finn joined and ran the printshop, which grew quickly, advancing in techniques and skills in new premises at The Albany. When GMW moved to The Macbean Centre, Rob and Lulu left to set up on their own. Rick Walker took over the printshop and with new photographic facilities and satirical flair, brought a different, distinctive style to poster-making in the borough. With Carmen Diaz, Bernadette O’Donoghue, Lyn Medcalf and Howie Jeavons, the printshop produced hundreds of posters calling for social and political action and advertising events and meetings and entertainments. These posters are now highly valued and will soon become part of the national collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Banners made for local community action, protest marches and tenants groups concerned a wide variety of issues and campaigns; anti-poll tax, anti-racist and domestic violence being amongst the most prominent. Also important were banners promoting women’s rights, welfare rights and solidarity with the miners. Banners both traditional and new in style were made also for several major trades unions.


GMW artists were greatly committed to the environment and devised “Vision for Woolwich” and “Where Land Meets Water”, grand scale conferences at the University and the Town Hall leading to specific development and planning proposals for the town. Gardens and playgrounds were designed and realised for several local primary schools, and two run down, neglected parks - Twinkle Park and Charlotte Turner Gardens in West Greenwich, brilliantly resurrected by GMW working with local people.
Recently the Workshop, with David Ireland Landscape Architects, has prepared designs for Plumstead Gardens and St Nicholas Churchyard and Gardens in Plumstead, for which first stage work is due to commence next year.



For more information and pictures
CONTACT: CAROL KENNA OR STEVE LOBB ON 0208 854 9266
email: carol@greenwichmuralworkshop.com

Informal meet with green paraphernalia after CCC march December 6 2008

I hope to see some of you on the march on Saturday. Can I suggest an informal get together about 4pm at St Stephen's Tavern on Bridge St for anyone who wishes?

I know that people from outside London will be coming so it might be a chance to say hello until next year. Best to meet downstairs in back bar for disability access. Will be carrying/wearing green paraphernalia.

Cheers
Joseph Healy Treasurer
Peter Murry Secretary

Jean Lambert's letter to Press re CCC march 6/12/2008

Letter sent to London papers


Dear Editor,

On Saturday 6th December, many thousands of Londoners will be joining millions around the world to voice their concerns about climate change.

Climate change is a global problem with local consequences, some of which we are already witnessing, such as increased flooding, storms and droughts, leading to higher insurance costs, problems with food production and water scarcity.

This December, critical decisions will be made on the future of climate change policy. UN negotiations are now underway in Poznan to agree international plans to follow Kyoto and crucial votes will take place in the European Parliament on a new climate package.

The global day of action is an opportunity for all citizens to demand leadership from their Governments and elected politicians to achieve the best outcomes.

We need rapid action on climate change and I encourage everyone to take part in the climate march in London, which is likely to be the biggest event in Europe. The action will begin at Grosvenor Square at 12pm, with several high profile, inspirational speakers. For more info go to www.campaigncc.org


Regards,

Jean Lambert
London's Green Party MEP