Millions join anti-war protests worldwide

BBC ^ | 02/15/03

[Pokey78]

Millions of people worldwide are joining in demonstrations against a possible US-led war against Iraq. Hundreds of rallies and marches are taking place in up to 60 countries this weekend.

Crowds have been gathering in London, where a rally culminating in Hyde Park is expected to draw more than half a million protesters.

Massive demonstrations - a day after UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix issued a largely positive assessment of the UN's disarmament process in Iraq - are also being organised in Rome, Berlin and New York.

Tens of thousands of people braved bitter weather to converge on the German capital from the east and west of the city.

Along with France, Germany has been one of the most vociferous opponents of war with Iraq.

The BBC's Ray Furlong in Berlin says a real cross-section of people are taking part in the demonstration - young students, families with children, as well as pensioners - reflecting the strong anti-war feeling that runs right through German society.

And demonstrators in Paris are preparing to march on the city's traditional rallying point - the Place de la Bastille.

Some of the first protests on Saturday were seen in New Zealand, as environmental pressure group Greenpeace flew a plane over Auckland harbour trailing a banner reading "No War, Peace Now".

About 5,000 marched through Auckland and a similar number in the capital Wellington.

Rallies are being held in several cities in Australia, where a protest in Melbourne on Friday drew a crowd estimated by organisers at 150,000 - the largest there since anti-Vietnam War marches 30 years ago.

In Seoul - capital of South Korea, one of the staunchest US allies in Asia - hundreds of demonstrators rallied, shouting chants such as "Bush, Terrorist!" and carrying banners urging "Drop Bush, not bombs".

Celebrities

In London, organisers are confidently predicting the country's largest anti-war protest.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has suffered a fall in popularity following his staunch support of US plans to launch military action against Saddam Hussein.

"We believe that the London demonstration will be one of the biggest and the most pivotal because the British Government is actively involved in the build up to war and the British people definitely do not want war," said Stop The War UK leader Andrew Murray.

Speakers at the rally in Hyde Park include Charles Kennedy, leader of Britain's second-biggest opposition party and US activist Jesse Jackson.

In New York a protest is scheduled to start at 1200 local time (1700GMT) near UN headquarters - the currently scene of intense diplomatic discussions following Friday's report by Hans Blix.

Celebrities and activists such as Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and black activist Angela Davis will be attending the demonstration.

And they be joined by some families of the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center, marching as "9/11 Families for Peace."

Say it with flowers

Anti-war activists in Turkey are calling on fellow citizens to simultaneously turn off all lights at 2000 local time (2200 GMT) as a novel sign of support for anti-war sentiment.

In Malaysia - a predominantly Muslim state - hundreds demonstrated outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur bearing banners and placards with slogans such as: "No war. Stop US aggression" and "No more blood for oil".

And in Thailand about 2,000 people - mostly Muslims - rallied in front of the US and UK embassies in the capital on Saturday.

Protests of varying sizes were also reported in: Japan, Nepal, India, South Africa, Cyprus, Spain, Syria, Egypt and Iraq.

The tiny South Pacific island nation of Fiji also saw its share of anti-war sentiment, with an anti-war group sending floral messages to foreign embassies urging them to put pressure on the US and its allies to avoid war.

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[txradioguy]

Excellent point and post Steel.

[The Iguana]

We should never have bothered with the U.N.

Every day we wait builds up opposition amongst the Bush haters and the America haters.

[Pokey78]

Protesters hold banners during an anti-war demonstration in London, February 15, 2003. Millions of people took to the streets of towns and cities across the globe on Saturday to demonstrate against a looming U.S. led war on Iraq in the biggest protests since the Vietnam war. REUTERS/Stephen Hird

An Indian leftist activist wears a headgear during an anti-war rally in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta February 15, 2003. About 10,000 Indian leftist gathered near the U.S. educational and cultural offices in Calcutta to protest against a possible U.S.-led strike on Iraq. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw

An anti-war protestor wearing a mask of U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) joins a demonstration against war on Iraq in London February 15, 2003. Millions of people are expected to take to the streets of towns and cities across the globe on Saturday to demonstrate against a looming U.S. led war on Iraq in the biggest protests since the Vietnam war. REUTERS/Peter Macdiarmid

[txradioguy]

I still think sometimes that the President did it on purpose to expose these people who smile at us for the camera. then stab us in the back when the lights go off.

[Pokey78]

Demonstrators burn the U.S. flag covered in Nazi insignia in front of the U.S. embassy in Zagreb, on February 15, 2003. Almost 10,000 Croats participated in an anti-war protest on Zagreb's main square and in front of the U.S. embassy. REUTERS/Nikola Solic

---

Time for some comic relief:

U.S. civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson smiles during an anti-war demonstration in London February 15, 2003. Millions of people are expected to take to the streets of towns and cities across the globe on Saturday to demonstrate against a looming U.S.-led war on Iraq in the biggest protests since the Vietnam war. REUTERS/Stephen Hird

[TontoKowalski]

Johnie, I can't disagree with the general line of your thinking, but I want to tell you up front that I've reported your post as containing an over-the-top profanity, and I suspect it will be pulled shortly.

And, no, I'm not rubbing your nose in it, just wanting to point out, man-to-man, that use of that language is a violation of the use agreement.

[txradioguy]

Jessee's gonna have LOT of explaining to do when his judgement day finally rolls around. Wonder who he's gonna have a harder time looking in the eye, St. Peter or Dr. King?

[Pokey78]

A huge banner that reads ' NATO - U.S.A.- E.U=WAR=BARBARISM, fight for peace and for civilization', hangs below the hill of the Acropolis in Athens February 15, 2003. Thousands of Greeks are expected to take part in todays anti-war rallies held in Athens and northern town of Thessaloniki. REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis

[Pokey78]

A Malaysian protester holds an anti-war placard next to an Osama Bin Laden (news - web sites) T-shirt during a rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003. Around a thousand Malaysians on Saturday gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy here to protest against the looming U.S.-led war against Iraq. (AP Photo/Teh Eng Koon)

[Dionysius]

A dreaming old cleric named Tutu
O'er paradise soars in a U2
He's reluctant to share
This recurring mightmare
'Cause all heaven is red, white and blue, too!

[Steel Wolf]

I just don't feel like taking on the entire world and becoming a universally hated pariah. Being shut out of the global economy would be a death blow.

Doing the right thing is often a great way to become unpopular. The rest of the world may very well not support us on this. Their people will vent, complain, and fuss, and their governments will bluster. They care about perception, not principle.

If you think that any of these near failing socialist states are going to commit economic seppuku over their 'moral stand' over the war in Iraq, guess again. Even if Germany, France and Belgium impose sanctions on us, the rest of the world would greedily take up the slack.

[txradioguy]

There is a point here ickey. When you add it up, there are more people and countries that support the U.S. than are currently opposed to us. Having a background in journalism let me tell you how the media has spun these war protests. They are focusing only on the protesters, their views and civilians who are sympathetic to their side. The reporters write their stories in such a way to give the impression to the average listener or viewer that the view of what really is a small majority of the world, is the sentiment felt and held by almost everyone on the entire planet. Whether you have realized it or not, you are the victim of "spin". Still not convinced? Then ask yourself, surely there must be people supporting us around the world, even if it's only a thousand people. Why isn't there any mention on this in the media? Why isn't there any mention of the 40+ countries that have and are showing support for us? Why is the media only focusing on the 2 or three countries opposing us?

[txradioguy]

oops...that should have read "small MINORITY of the people"

[Dionysius]

A reverend idjit named Jesse
Felt war with Saddam would be messy
He developed the hots
To preach to the Scots
And now he's sleeping with Nessie!

[Indy Pendance]

Check this list of sponsers from the last anti-american rally.

Res. for a Proletarian Int'list Campaign Against the U.S.A.-Led Imperialist War of Global Terrorism

Signatories:

1. Anticapitalist National Assembly,Italy
2. Anti-Imperialist Revolutionary Forum, Nepal
3. Association of Refugees from Latin America and the Carribean (ARLAC), Belgium
4. Cercle Henri Barbusse, France
5. Chad Action for Unity and Socialism (ACTUS)
6. Colonel Taher Sangsad, Bangladesh
7. Comité d’initiative pour la formation du parti communiste, Haiti (COIFOPCHA)
8. Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist (revolutionaries)) (KPML(r)), Sweden
9. Communist Party of Albania
10. Communist Party of Cuba
11. Communist Party of Germany (KPD)
12. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) – Janashakti
13. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) - Red Flag
14. Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain
15. Communist Party of the Philippines
16. Communist Workers and Peasants Party, Pakistan
17. Communists in Struggle, France
18. Coordination of Communist Militants, France
19. El Machete, Mexico
20. Fensuagro, Colombia
21. FPC – PT, Democratic Republic of Congo
22. Freedom Road Socialist Organisation, USA
23. Jatio Shromik Jote (National Trade Union Federation), Bangladesh
24. Karl Marx Society, Hungary
25. Lalkar, United Kingdom
26. Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Ecuador (PCMLE)
27. Mesa de Refundación Comunista, Spain
28. Nepalese Communist Party (Mashal)
29. Nepalese People’s Progressive Forum
30. New Communist Party Netherlands (NCPN)
31. National Democratic Front of the Philippines
32. Partido de la Liberación, Argentina
33. Partido Proletario del Perú
34. Partido Revolucionario de Liberación, Argentina
35. Ray O. Light Group, USA
36. Resistencia Comunista de Colombia
37. Rete dei Comunisti, Italy
38. Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist)
39. Revolutionary Movement 8 October, Brazil
40. Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front (DHKC), Turkey
41. Russian Communist Workers’ Party
42. Soccorso Popolare, Italy
43. Stalin Society, United Kingdom
44. Workers’ Communist Party (AKP), Norway
45. Workers’ Party of Belgium
46. Workers’ Party of Korea
47. Workers World Party, USA

(list of 26th June 2002)

For further evidence who is behind this:

Contribution to the International Communist Seminar

Fifth paragraph from the bottom, article dated April 15, 2002:

On April 5, 10,000 people demonstrated for the Palestinians in New York in a demonstration called by the ANSWER coalition. On April 12, mosques and Islamic centers in New York brought out 20,000. On April 20, well over 100,000 people marched in Washington DC and 35,000 in San Francisco in the largest pro-Palestinian demonstration in U.S. history.

[old school]

You mean, kinda like Israel? No sweat! The United States is unlike any other Country. Believe me! I've been around the world; and we don't want to align ourselves with the likes of any of those freakazoids depicted in the photos!

[geedee]

Wonder who he's gonna have a harder time looking in the eye, St. Peter or Dr. King?

Do you think THIS character really cares?

[Pokey78]

A Westerner holds a protest sign as he joins thousands of Thais during a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003. Thousands of Thais, joined by a large contingent of Westerners, marched Saturday morning to the United States Embassy to kick off a day-long demonstration against a U.S.-led war on Iraq. (AP Photo/Vinai Ditthajohn)

A peace demonstator holds a placard depicting Japanese Prime Miniser Junichiro Koizumi, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il greeting each other during their peace rally in front of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003 , appealing to stop a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Japanese and American demonstrators hold up placards in front of the U.S. embassy in Tokyo February 15, 2003 in protest against a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq. Hundreds of people assembled in front of the embassy, shouting anti-war slogans and appealing to President Bush; 'no war on Iraq!' REUTERS/Eriko Sugita REUTERS