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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[guitfiddlist]

The United States has never been so universally hated in its 200+ year history. Some governments support us at the moment by the vast majority of common folk (from extensive polling data) around the world are anti-American. I just find this too serious to ignore.

How badly was the USSR hated during its murderous tenure? These little pissant spoiled brats only hate us because they have the luxury of doing so.

[eddie willers]

Bravo.

[arete]

The United States has never been so universally hated in its 200+ year history. Some governments support us at the moment by the vast majority of common folk (from extensive polling data) around the world are anti-American. I just find this too serious to ignore.

CNN providing good coverage of the protests. Called the NYC protest as larger and more successful than anticipated. They mentioned that groups represented included the military families against the war and a group from the survivors of 9/11 called "Peaceful Tomorrows". They interviewed a lady who's son was killed at the WTC and she said no way would her son want war in his name. Streets and filled across the globe with people not supporting aggression. It is going to make a huge impact.

Richard W.

[Pokey78]

Communist demonstrators hold red flags, portraits of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and a sign reading 'America, Hands off Iraq,' as they hold a rally protesting war against Iraq outside the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003. Some 1,000 hardliners took part in the demonstration. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Alice, center, from United States, no other details given, burns a makeshift U.S. flag during an anti-war, pro-Iraqi rally by Palestinians and foreign peace activists in the refugee camp of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Saturday Feb. 15, 2003. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) </center?

[Indy Pendance]

Ickey, Were you around when Ronald Reagan was president? Do you remember the protests staged around the world in the 80's? They were as bad then as now. Funny how Europe never changes, or never learns from it's mistakes.

[old school]

Bravo!

[eddie willers]

It is going to make a huge impact.

On whom?
If your answer isn't "Bush" it makes no difference whatsoever.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

The United States has never been so universally hated in its 200+ year history. Some governments support us at the moment by the vast majority of common folk (from extensive polling data) around the world are anti-American. I just find this too serious to ignore.

Why do those polls always come from liberal papers? Why do the majority of Euopean countries support us?

[niteowl77]

Alice, center, from United States, no other details given, burns a makeshift U.S. flag during an anti-war, pro-Iraqi rally by Palestinians and foreign peace activists in the refugee camp of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Saturday Feb. 15, 2003.

Oooh! Yet another nicely-composed staged photo from our friends at the AP. Alice appears to be one of our home-grown professional haters, and has a very expressive face. It's lovely to have someone of such obvious spirituality surrounded by impressionable children... maybe their regularly scheduled indigenous hate coaches were out for the day.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Bush better get on with this Iraq war.

Otherwise, you can bet the rent, world opinion will change the course.

Personally, I don't give a rats ass about world opinion, but It will have an effect.

If I had it my way, I would pull our troops out of all countries and turn American into a country with real borders and and put America first for a change. Screw these nations that hate us. Let's keep our food and our money right here.

Being dependant on these nations will eventually paint us into a corner. A corner that we do not want to be in. It will only get worse. Most countries want to see us on our knees. Bet on it.

I say, turn our front door into a freaking gun port.

IMHO.

[CubicleGuy]

If nothing else, recent developments have demonstrated to me the urgent need of the U.S. to get out of the U.N.!

Without the U.N., the American President is left completely bereft of any justification at all for marching into Iraq. At that point, it just becomes one nation attempting to exert its will over another.

No, Bush is not about to throw away his "permission slip" for doing what he wants to do.

[arete]

If your answer isn't "Bush" it makes no difference whatsoever

More important than GW -- the real brain trust -- Carl Rove.

Richard W.

[zeaal]

There were billions more who did not participate in anti Bush, anti American, anti war rallies all over the world and especially right here in America because they disagree with the protests and the message.

[joyful1]

Guess we need to get favorable world opinion before we start protecting ourselves.

Thank you Colin Powelll.

[old school]

Gore would have been an appeaser; and as corrupt as his predecessor Clinton! He would not have been met by wild protests; but by throngs, wild with adoration, because of his very own anti-Americanism! I just heard on Fox, that these world-wide protests are not against America, or the American people, but against "Bush" and "his" war. What they don't understand is, that George W. Bush is "our" President; and that he represents "us," not some third-world, ante-diluvian, commie, mudhole. Those protesters are mean! And, as we all know, "mean people suck!"

[stands2reason]

"This is real. People are have been persuaded and are upset." "My stands: Pro-Clinton"

You might want to start looking past the surface, especially in the world of politics and propaganda.

[joyful1]

My,how America is hated throughout the world.

Many in those crowds would kill us if they could.

[old school]

Well, I guess I'm just thoughtless! But, I believe that I hail from a time long since passed, when "America" didn't need anybody's "permission" to do anything! Pardon my temerity! I thought we were different!

[Bars4Bill]

This one's my favorite -- clearly shows the intelligence level of the protesters.