Forthcoming events

We have a bunch of events to which all are welcome:

1. Palm Sunday - March 24th - Faith and Resistance Reflection Day Email us, or telephone 020 8 348 8212, if you are interested in coming. Susan Clarkson (Oxford CW) will speak about her recent trip to Afghanistan and Ciaron O'Reilly will lead reflections on Palm Sunday scriptures, resistance to empire and solidarity.

2. Stations of the Cross of Non-Violent Love around the 'Geography of Suffering' in central London. Thursday March 28th (Holy Thursday) Starting 12noon opposite Downing Street , will finish between 4pm and 5pm. Our prayer and witness will be based around using the stations of the cross written by Emanuel Charles McCarthy, and reflections on our context and location. For more information, read this.

3. Easter Monday, April 1st: Some of us will be going to Aldermaston for a CND and Action AWE protest: We will be at Tadley Gate, which is the 'Faith Gate', from 12noon - 2pm. There are coaches going from London and elsewhere. For more info, read this.

4. on April 27th, 'Ground the Drones' protest: some of us will be going to this Stop the War organised event at RAF Waddington near Lincoln, where British drones are being controlled from. There are coaches going from London. For more info go here.

Recent round-up

Lots has been going on lately but the webmaster has been on sabattical so it's time for a round-up.

Bradley Manning's 1,000th. day in U.S. military custody was marked in solidarity actions in 70 cities around the world on Saturday Feb 23rd. On that morning activists moved around central London from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace staging Bradley Manning solidarity vigils and distributing flyers.

Vigils of solidarity with Assange have been ongoing at the Ecuadorean embassy. You can see recent pictures of six months of solidarity.

The video below chronicles the return of Deirdre Clancy and Ciaron O'Reilly of the Pitstop Ploughshares community to Shannon Airport on Sunday 3rd February, on the 10th. anniversary of the action that disabled a U.S. Navy warplane en route to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This small airport in "neutral" Ireland became a major hub for the U.S. invasion, occupation and looting of Iraq. Most U.S. troops who deployed to the invasion and occupation of Iraq passed through Shannon Airport where their troop carriers were refeueled On Feb. 3rd 2003, the Pitstop Plougshares were charged with $2.5 million "criminal damage" followng their nonvolent disabling of a U.S. Navy warplane. Initially remanded in Limerick Prison they were brought to trial three Itmes over the following three years at Dublin's historic Four Courts. In 2006 following two mistrials, the Ploughshares - Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran and Caron O'Reilly - were unanimously acquitted of all charges by a Dublin jury. Accordng to WikiLeaks released Dubln U.S. embassy cables, the action and acquittal sent shock waves through the U.S. and Irish government war conspirators.

On 7th February, the Oxford Union held the debate This House Would Not Fight for Queen and Country. Amongst those speaking for the motion were Ben Griffin, former SAS soldier, member of Veterans for Peace, and friend of the LCW. A transcript of his inspiring speech can be found here. Despite Ben's stirring words the motion was defeated on the night.

964 days for Bradley Manning, and counting...

On Bradley Manning's 964th day of imprisonment without trial anti-war activists, including veterans of the wars in Afghanistan & Iraq, held a solidarity vigil outside the U.S. embassy in London. Meanwhile at Ft. Meade Maryland/ USA Bradley's defense was arguing for a dismissal of charges on the bases of a lack of a "speedy trial".

At the London vigil silence was observed for Aaron Swartz, as folks reflected on the powers and pressures arraigned by empire against people they label as an obstacle to power.

[Video and further photos of London solidarity vigil | Report from Bradley Manning pre-trial hearing at Ft. Meade | For more info about solidarity for Bradley, contact Veterans for Peace in the UK |

Photo above courtesy of London Friends of WikiLeaks]

Bradley's in jail for us, we're on the loose for him