NO to NATO, NO to WAR

NO to NATO, NO to WAR
__________________________________

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NO to NATO, NO to WAR

NO to NATO, NO to WAR
__________________________________
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Americans Against the War statement concerning events at the NO to NATO protest in Strasbourg on April 4, 2009

Americans Against the War statement concerning events at the NO to NATO protest in Strasbourg on April 4, 2009

AAW is outraged by the state violence directed at thousands of peaceful demonstrators and dismayed that the major media saw fit not to interview the marchers, thus becoming complicit in the French government's determination to both stifle their message and to deny protesters their democratic rights.

In their efforts to grab resources such as oil, U.S. led Empire Builders use NATO troops to slaughter, wound and maim millions in order to crush any who dare resist US hegemony.

The demonstration in Strasbourg was held to oppose NATO, an aggressive, global, military alliance increasingly used by the U.S.A. to replace the United Nations. The thousands of heavily armed forces massed in Strasbourg to confront peaceful demonstrators is a reflection of NATO's strategy world-wide.

As Americans we are acutely aware that the repression ordered by Nicolas Sarkozy was linked to Barack Obama's mission in Strasbourg: to convince the other NATO members to increase the number of soldiers engaged in fighting US-led wars against the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

We are baffled that European leaders should so willingly support American wars and occupation which, as history shows, inevitably fail and leave a legacy of hatred for generations to come.

As residents of France, with it's long history of refusal to join NATO's military command, we deplore President Sarkozy's wanton disregard of the people's wishes.

In line with NATO's pro-active military strategy, which means to stop events before they occur, everything was done to prevent the Strasbourg protest from taking place: the city was put under siege; the local population was prevented from expressing solidarity; public transportation was shut down making it necessary for the protesters to walk for hours, past numerous police check points, to access the remote area where the imposed site for the demonstration was located. And even while these sabotaging tactics were implemented in Strasbourg, the police prevented a reported 7000 peaceful, fellow demonstrators from Germany from crossing into France although the Schengen Agreement supposedly enables Europeans to travel freely between EU countries.

In spite of all these hurdles, some 30,000 protesters in Strasbourg bravely cycled or walked for hours, past intimidating police forces, and finally reached the imposed site: a gravel pit in the middle of a post-industrial no-man's land. While assembled and trapped in that pit, trying to listen to speakers amid the roar of helicopters overhead, Sarkozy's forces repeatedly launched teargas grenades onto and at the peaceful demonstrators, including Americans Against the War members, who dared to say NO to NATO. Their attacks continued along the route of the subsequent march, where, in addition to teargas, they used flash bombs while keeping protesters penned in, having blocked off all possible exits.

Freedom is not for governments to grant: democratic rights exist to the extent that people demand and use them. Despite Sarkozy's attempts at sabotage, not only did we exercise our rights on April 4, but the multinational anti-war, anti-NATO groups have come away strengthened and more determined than ever to continue demonstrating for justice and peace.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Martin Luther King Jr.
assassinated April 4, 1967



APPEAL : AWOL US soldier André Shepherd needs asylum

APPEAL :
AWOL US soldier André Shepherd needs asylum

Sign the appeal here to the German government !
Send a postcard expressing your solidarity to André Shepherd !
Donate money for his legal expenses !

Appeal to the German Government
U.S. AWOL André Shepherd needs asylum !

On November 26, 2008, AWOL U.S. soldier André Shepherd applied for asylum in Germany. His tour of duty as a U.S. soldier in Iraq made him convinced that he could no longer participate in a war which breaks international law, or in actions that go against international human rights codes. Since he could not see any possibility of being recognized as a conscientious objector, he went AWOL and applied for asylum in Germany. In his appliction he refers justifiably to the European Union Directive for Qualification which have been in force since October, 2006. This Directive protects anyone who is compelled to withdraw from an illegal war or an illegal act within war and would expect prosecution.

If a soldier wants to observe international law in the Iraq War, he can come to only one conclusion: he has the duty to refuse to follow orders. In view of threatening criminal prosecution this is a courageous step. Therefore we appeal to you, grant André Shepherd asylum, thereby providing him the protection he needs.

PETITION : NATO tries to halt Strasbourg demonstration - Keep Strasbourg an open city!

PETITION :
NATO tries to halt Strasbourg demonstration
Keep Strasbourg an open city !


To: The President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy

We the undersigned protest at NATO and the French authorities threat to ban the international 'No to NATO, No to War' demonstration in Strasbourg on Saturday 4 April. We protest at the fact that NATO's 60th anniversary meeting will be held inside a Red Zone that encompasses the whole of the city centre and that even Strasbourg residents will need a special pass to come and go in their own city.

We demand that the authorities lift the threat to exclude the international peace demonstration from the city. We demand that Strasbourg remains an open city.
Sincerely,
to sign go to: PETITION

Sarkozy designates special envoy to Afghanistan

Afghanistan : Sarkozy désigne un émissaire spécial
Sarkozy designates special envoy to Afghanistan
Pierre Lellouche, député UMP de Paris, expert des questions de défense et de l'Otan apprécié aux Etats-Unis, a été choisi par Nicolas Sarkozy pour endosser le rôle de représentant spécial de la France pour ce pays et pour le Pakistan. Read
more

March with UFPJ on Saturday, April 4th
New York City
It is Time to End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
It is Time to Address the Economic Crisis by Cutting Military Spending
More here

Return to NATO worries French

Return to NATO worries French
14 February, 2009, 12:50
President Sarkozy’s decision to bring France fully back into NATO is
making waves in French politics. Read more here.

NATO and the French authorities are threatening to ban the international 'No to NATO, No to War' demonstration in Strasbourg
on Saturday 4 April. NATO's 60th anniversary meeting will be held inside a Red Zone that encompasses the whole of the city centre. Even Strasbourg residents will need a special pass to come and go in their own city. Now the authorities are threatening to exclude the international peace demonstration from the city. The international coalition calling the demonstration are organising a wave of protest at this attack on the right to demonstrate.
Sign the petition at here
Write to the President of France here

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Iraq Veterans Against the War invites you to a hearing in Freiburg, Germany on March 14, 2009
Soldiers and veterans will share the truth about wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) invites you to hear the hard truth about what is really on happening on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, day in and day out, from American, British and German veterans.

Winter Soldier Europe will feature veterans’ testimony in Freiburg, Germany, on March 14, just weeks before NATO has its annual summit in southern Germany. More here

UPDATE NO to NATO CAMPAIGN 18 feb

LATEST Communique: No to war – No to NATO
Results of Planning MEETING in Strasbourg February 14 and 15 2009


Five hundred people coming from 19 countries met for the activist conference at Marc Bloch University in Strasbourg, on February 14 and 15 2009, invited by the International Coordinating Committee * « No to war-No to NATO » and hosted by the “Collectif de Strasbourg anti-OTAN” against NATO, to prepare the activities of the counter- summit on NATO’s 60th anniversary which will be held in Strasbourg in April 1-5. More here

Conscientious objection in the European Union

WHAT IS THE STATUS of Conscientious objection in the European Union ?

Excerpt: Only in the EU Member States Netherlands, Germany and Britain exists a right to conscientious objection for professional soldiers. None of the other 24 EU Member States know this basic right. This is in contradiction to the resolution of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which concluded in 1998 that “that persons performing military service may develop conscientious objections”.

Read more here

AGENDA in Strasbourg and BADEN-BADEN:

NO to NATO, No to WAR
AGENDA in Strasbourg and BADEN-BADEN:
Saturday April 4, 2009 : Demonstration
Thursday and Friday April 2-3, 2009 : International Conference
Wednesday thru Sunday April 1-5, 2009, direct action and civil disobedience and an international resistance camp

Actions in Strasbourg and Baden- Baden 2009

According to previous discussions of the international preparatory committee the protest activities for the NATO summit 2009 are currently consisting of:
-_The international resistance camp (from 1st April 09 until 5th April) with various cultural and qualitative events and actions.
-_An international Counter conference (Beginning: Friday 3rd April 09 and Sunday 4th April, concrete schedule not agreed yet) will serve to analyze NATO policies and strategies, as well as the discussion about alternatives and a long term action planning of the peace movement.
-_The Highlight will be the international demonstration „No to War – No to NATO“ (Saturday, 4th April, beginning: 3pm in Strasbourg )
-_Saturday morning will be all about „actions of civil disoebidience”, blockades and encirclements.

The planning will be further concretized, supplemented in several points and changed. Current information at: www.no-to-nato.org
Premières organisations signataires:
ACG, ACDN, Alternative Libertaire, ACCA, Les Alternatifs, ANECR, ATTAC, Américains contre la guerre (AAW), ARAC, Collectif des Iraniens contre la guerre, Collectif. Faty Koumba, Collectif la Guerre Tue, Congrés national d’Afghanistan, DIDF, Droit-Solidariteé, Femmes solidaires, FSU, Initiative Féministe Européènne, IPAM/CEDETIM, Iraq Veterans against the War Europe LCR, MRAP, Le Mouvement de la Paix, M’PEP, NPA, organisation Femmes égaliteé, PCF, PCOF, PG, UJFP , Union pacifiste, Union syndicale SOLIDAIRES, Les Verts...

Appeal : No to war - No to NATO

INTERNATIONAL APPEAL
agreed in Stuttgart 5th October 2008
No to war - No to NATO


On the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the NATO military organisation, we appeal to all people to come to Strasbourg and Baden-Baden 2009, to protest against NATO’s aggressive military and nuclear policies, and assert our vision of a just world free of war.

NATO is an increasing obstacle to achieving world peace. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has reinvented itself as a tool for military action by the “international community”, including the promotion of the so-called “war on terror”. In reality it is a vehicle for US-led use of force with military bases on all continents, bypassing the United Nations and the system of international law, accelerating militarization and escalating arms expenditure – NATO countries account for 75% of global military expenditure. Pursuing that expansionist agenda since 1991, designed to advance strategic and resource interests, NATO has waged war in the Balkans, under the guise of so-called “humanitarian war”, and has waged seven years of brutal war in Afghanistan, where the tragic situation is escalating and the war has expanded into Pakistan.

In Europe NATO is worsening tensions, feeding the arms race with so-called “missile defence”, a massive nuclear arsenal and a nuclear first strike policy. EU policy is increasingly tied to NATO. NATO’s ongoing and potential expansion into eastern Europe and beyond, and its “out of area” operations are making the world a more dangerous place. The conflict in the Caucasus is a clear indication of the dangers. Each advance of the NATO border increases the possibility of war, including the use of nuclear weapons.

To achieve our vision of a peaceful world, we reject military responses to global and regional crises – these are part of the problem not part of the solution. We refuse to live under the terror of nuclear weapons, and reject a new arms race. We must decrease military expenditure – directing resources instead to meeting human needs. We must close down all foreign military bases. We oppose all military structures used for military intervention. We must democratise and demilitarise the relations between peoples and establish new forms of peaceful cooperation to build a more secure and just world.

We call on you to spread this message in your communities and movements, to come to Strasbourg and Baden-Baden and to make this vision a reality. We believe that a world of peace is possible.

No to war - No to NATO.

The activities during the anti-NATO protest will include

a demonstration on Saturday 4th April 2009,
an international conference from Thursday 2nd April to 3th Friday April,
direct action and civil disobedience,
and an international resistance camp from Wednesday 1st April to Sunday 5th April.


Signatories: (as of 18th December 2008)
International: Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space /// International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, Europe (IALANA) /// International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility (INES) /// International Peace Bureau (IPB) /// No Bases Network /// Women’s International League for Peace and Justice (WILPF) /// Circulo Latinoamericano de Estudios Internacionales (CLAEI) /// Anti-imperialist camp
Afghanistan: Afghanistan Socialist Organisation /// Left Radical of Afghanistan ///
Austria: Linkswende ///
Belgium: attac Vlaanderen /// Bombspotting /// CADTM Belgium (Committee for the Abolition of the Third World Debt) /// Coordination Nationale d’Action pour la Paix et la Démoratie (CNAPD) /// Comité de Surveillance OTAN /// Christenen voor het Socialisme /// Intal /// Links Ecologisch Forum /// Une autre Gauche /// Forum voor Vredesactie /// Socialistische Arbeiderspartij (SAP) /// vrede ///
Canada: Canadian Voice of Women for Peace ///
Czech Republic: Neradaru /// Socialisticka Solidarita ///
Denmark: Aldrig Mere Krig (AMK) /// Enhedslisten de Rod Gronne / Red-Green Alliance /// Faellesskabet for Menneskets Udvikling /// Nej til Krig / No to War ///
France: Association des Combattants de la Cause Anticoloniale (ACCA) /// Agir Contre la Guerre (ACG) /// Americans Against the War France (AAW) /// Association Nationale des Elus Communistes et Républicains (ANECR) /// Association des Médecins Français pour la Prévention de la Guerre Nucléaire (AMFPGN) /// Association Nationale des Elues Communisteset Républicains /// Attac France /// Attac Strasbourg /// Colectif des Traxieurs contre la Guerre /// Dissent France /// Droit Solidarité France /// Fédération Syndicale Unitaire (FSU) /// Initiative Feministe et … /// IPAM/CEDEAM /// La guerre tue /// Les Alternatifs /// Ligue communiste révolutionnaire (LCR) /// MARS – Gauche Republicaine /// Monde sans guerres et sans violence/// Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l'Amitié entre les peuples (MRAP) /// Mouvement de la Paix /// M´PEP France /// Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste (NPA) /// Parti Communiste Français (PCF) /// Parti Communiste des Ouvriers de France (PCOF) /// Pour la République Sociale (PRS) /// Union Juive Francaise pour la Paix (UJFP) /// Union Pacifiste de France (UPF) ///
Germany: Aachener Friedenspreis /// Aktionsbündnis gegen die NATO und die Sicherheitskonferenz /// Antimilitaristische Gruppe Münster /// Attac Germany /// Bund für Soziale Verteidigung (BSV) /// Bundesausschuss Friedensratschlag /// Bundeswehr wegtreten /// Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft, Vereinigte Kriegsdienstverweigerinnen (DFG-VK) /// Deutscher Friedensrat /// Die Linke –Bundespartei /// Die Linke LV Bayern /// Die Linke LV BaWü /// Dortmunder Friedensforum /// Europäische Friedensforrum (EFF) /// Friedensnetz Baden-Württemberg /// Grüne Jugend Bundesverband /// Friedensplenum/Antikriegsbündnis Tübingen /// Hamburger Forum /// Heidelberg Forum gegen Militarismus und Krieg /// Informationsstelle Friedensarbeit /// Informationsstelle Militarisierung (IMI) /// Internationale Ärzte für die Verhütung des Atomkrieges, Ärzte in sozialer Verantwortung (IPPNW) /// International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA), German section /// Internationale Frauenliga für Frieden und Freiheit (IFFF) /// Internationale Sozialistische Linke /// Internationaler Versöhnungsbund (VB) /// Interventionstische Linke (il) /// Karlsruher Friedensbündnis /// Kooperation für den Frieden /// Kulturvereinigung Leverkusen /// Kultur des Friedens /// Linksjugend [solid] /// MC Brigadistas /// Mönchengladbacher Friedensforum /// Münchner Friedensbündnis /// Münchner Bürgerinitiative für Frieden und Abrüstung (BIFA) /// NaturwissenschaftlerInnen-Initiative / Verantwortung für Frieden und Zukunftsfähigkeit (NatWis) /// Netzwerk Friedenskooperative /// Netzwerk Friedenssteuer /// Ostermarsch Komitee Ruhr und Rhein /// Pax Christi Deutschland /// Republikanischer Anwaltsverein (RAV) /// Résistance de deux rives /// Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung BaWü /// Trägerkreis Atomwaffen abschaffen /// Vereinigung der Verfolgten des Naziregimes Bund der Antifaschistinnen und Antifaschisten (VVN) /// Werkstatt für Gewaltfreie Aktion Baden (WfgA) /// Würselener Initiative für den Frieden /// Zukunftskonvent Berlin
Greece: Campaign Genoa 2001 /// Greek Social Forum /// Stop the War Coalition Greece /// GSEE Greek General Workers Confederation (Privat Sector) /// ADEDY, Civil Servants Confederation /// EKA, Athens Labour Center /// AGSSE, Confederation of Pensioneers /// OTOE, Federation of Bank Employees unions /// OLME, Federation of Public High School Teachers /// DOE, Federation of Primary school teachers /// POEDHN, Federation of hospital workers /// EINAP, Athens and Pireaus hospital doctors union /// OENGE, Hospital doctors federation /// POE-OTA, Federation of municipality workers /// POST, Federation of post workers /// OMYLE, Federation of port workers /// GENOP-DEH, Federation of public power company workers /// POS, Federation of railway workers /// OME-EYDAP, Federation of workers working in the water company /// POEDXB, Federation of workers in the chemistry industry and the refineries /// POSPERT, Federation of workers in the radio and the television /// OIYE, Federation of Private Sector Employees /// OIELE, Federation of Private High Schoolteachers /// SIEL, Union of Private High Schoolteachers of Athens and Pireus /// POSE-IKA, Federation of workers in IKA /// POSYPPO, Federation of workers in the Ministry of Civilization /// OSYO, Federation of workers in the Ministry of Finance /// POE-DOY, Federation of tax employees /// OLP, Port Workers Federation /// Greek Oil Company Workers Union /// National Bank of Greece Workers Association /// Agricultural Bank of Greece Workers Association /// Bank of Greece Workers Association (Greek Central Bank) /// Attica Bank Workers Union /// Union of the employees in the Agricultural Insurance Company /// National Bank of Greece (Cyprous Department) Workers Union /// Altec Workers Union /// Union of workers in the Agia Olga Hospital /// Union of workers in the Local Government of Nea Ionia /// Athens Lawyers Association /// Pireus Lawyers Association /// Association of students in the Athens University of Economics (ASOEE) /// Association of Athens Law University students /// Association of the studenst in the Architecture Department of the NTUA (National Technical University of Athens) /// Chania Elementary School Teachers Union /// Chania Federation of High SchoolTeachers /// Chania Labor Center /// Chania Doctors Union /// Union of the workers in the General Hospital of Chania /// Union of workers in the Chania Prefecture /// Chania Firefighters Union /// Chania taxi drivers union /// Chania Cooks Union /// Chania Postal Workers Union /// Committee against Military Bases and Foreign Dependency /// Chania Immigrants Forum /// Chania Ecological Initiative /// Association for animals protection /// Rethymnon Labor Center /// Association of the employees of Rethymnon Local Government /// Rethymnon Federation of Highscholl Teachers /// Union of hospital workers /// Association of Creta University Postgraduate Students /// Association of Soclology Students /// Association of Pedagogic Students /// Association of Psychology Students /// Greek Social Forum (Rethymnon) /// Radical Left Students Association (AEP-EAAK) /// Iraklion Labor Center /// Civil Servants Union /// Iraklion Teachers Union /// Iraklion Federation of High SchoolTeachers /// Union of tax employees /// Association of Biology Students /// Association of Physics Students /// Ioannina Labor Center /// Ioannina Teachers Union /// Association of Doctors in the Hospitals of Ipirous /// Union of Metal Workers of Ipirous /// Association of Ioannina University Teachers /// Association of Students Residents in the Domboli Dormants /// Pakistani Community of Ioannina /// Radical Left Municipality Groups (DRASI-NORASI) /// Colaboration for Change /// Ioannina Social Forum /// Local Government of Prevesa /// Prevesa Labor Center ///
Guinea: Centre d’Etude et de Recherche pour l’Intégration régionale et le Développement de l’Afrique (CERIDA) ///
Iraq: Makhmour Organisation for Human Rights ///
Ireland: Irish Anti-War Movement /// Peace and Neutrality Alliance ///
Italy: Collettivo Bellacio Grecia /// Confederazione COBAS - Confederazione dei Comitati di Base /// Fiom CGI /// Sindicatio del Labarotori Intercategoriale
Japan: The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs ///
Macedonia: Mirovna Akcija (Peace Action)
Mauretania: Le réseau de la Société Civile Mauritanienne pour la Promotion de la Citoyenneté (RPC) ///
The Netherlands: Internationale Socialisten /// Freedom, Nederland /// Kerk en Vrede /// Nederlands Palestina Komitee /// PAIS - War Resister’s International, Netherlands /// Platform tegen de 'Nieuwe Oorlog' / Anti War Coalition /// VD - Anti-Militaristies OnderzoeksKollektief (AMOK) /// Women’s International League for Peace and Justice (WILPF), Dutch section ///
Niger: RNDD (Reseau National Dette et Developpement) ///
Norway: Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees
Philippines: Stop the War Coalition ///
Poland: Inicjatywa Stop Wojnie / Stop the War Initiative ///
Russia: International Federation for Peace and Conciliation (IFPC) /// International Federation for Peace and Conciliation, St. Petersburg section /// IPPNW, Russian Affiliates /// Social Ecology Foundation /// Social Movemenet "Alternatives" ///
Switzerland: Gruppe für eine Schweiz ohne Armee (GSoA) /// Humanistische Partei der Schweiz
Spain: Alternativa Antimilitarista – Moc Network /// Center of Peace Studies / Catalan Stop the War Coalition /// ESK Union, Basque country Firma /// apoyo campaña contra OTAN /// Josep Bel coordinadora Sindicato cobas (comisiones de Base de España) /// Plataforma Aturem la Guerra ///
Turkey: Global Peace and Justice Coalition of Turkey ///
United Kingdom: Campaign for the Accountability of America Bases (CAAB) /// Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) /// City of Leicester NUT /// CND, West Midlands /// Bertram Russel Peace Foundation /// Dundee Trade Unions Council /// Leicester Social Forum /// Red Pepper Magazine /// Stop the War Coalition ///
United States: Code Pink /// Global Exchange /// Institute for Policy Studies Iraq Veterans against the War (IVAW Europe) /// Peace Action /// United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) /// US Peace Council /// (to be continued)

Actions in Strasbourg und Baden- Baden 2009

According to previous discussions of the international preparatory committee the protest activities for the NATO summit 2009 are currently consisting of:
-_The international resistance camp (from 1st April 09 until 5th April) with various cultural and qualitative events and actions.
-_An international Counter conference (Beginning: Friday 3rd April 09 and Sunday 4th April, concrete schedule not agreed yet) will serve to analyze NATO policies and strategies, as well as the discussion about alternatives and a long term action planning of the peace movement.
-_The Highlight will be the international demonstration „No to War – No to NATO“ (Saturday, 4th April, beginning: 3pm in Strasbourg )
-_Saturday morning will be all about „actions of civil disoebidience”, blockades and encirclements.

The planning will be further concretized, supplemented in several points and changed. Current information at: www.no-to-nato.org

Support this Call!
Name/Organistion___________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________
City/Postcode/Country:_______________________________________________________
Tel./eMail:__________________________________________________________________
Organisations please sent your agreement to: hr.braun@gmx.net

Contact to the Coaltion:
1._ IALANA, Reiner Braun, Glinkastr. 5-7, D-10119 Berlin, phone: +49/30/20654857,
fax: +49/30/20653837, eMail: hr.braun@gmx.net (languages: deutsch/english)
2._ Le Mouvement de la Paix, Arielle Denis, 9, rue Dulcie September, F-93400 Saint-Ouen,
phone: +33/1/40120912, fax : +33/1/40115787, eMail: Arielle.Denis@mvtpaix.org (languages: français /english)
account for donations:
Monty Schädel – Peter Delis, Acc-No. 1202 0065 48, Sparkasse Frankfurt 1822 (BLZ 500 502 01), IBAN DE02 5005 0201 1202 0065 48, Keyword: „60 Jahre NATO NO“

http://www.no-to-nato.org