Russian media highlights McDonald's 'bombing raid'

The weekly protests in Moscow city centre against Bush's war are now gaining momentum. Socialisticheskoe Soprotivleniye (the Russian section of the CWI) once again headed the anti-war protests in Moscow on Saturday 5 April. Pictures.

Rob, Moscow, 7 April 2003

South Africa: Township demonstrates against the war

About 5 000 anti-war protestors marched from Klipspruit West, Eldorado Park, to Lenasia, south of Johannesburg. The march was led by the contingent of South African Human Shields who had returned from Iraq earlier in the week the march, and received a warm welcome from the protestors. A Human Shield spokesperson gave a harrowing account of her experience of the horror of the situation facing the Iraqi people.

Weizmann Hamilton, Johannesburg, 7 April 2003

Kashmir CWI members protest against the war

Pictures

CWI online, 2 April 2003

Spain: General strike called

Reflecting the massive opposition of Spanish people to the war in Iraq, the UGT - socialist trade union confederation - has called a two-hour general strike on Thursday 10 April.

Tony Saunois, CWI, 1 April 2003

Kazakhstan: Almata protesters disrupt US ambassador's television appearance

Anti-war protesters in Kazakhstan burst into a television studio last week where the US ambassador was speaking about the war in Iraq. The protesters, all CWI members, unfurled a 'No to war' banner, which was seen by millions of viewers on three channels across the country.

CWI online, 1 April 2003

Toronto marches and talks back

An anti-war rally took place last Saturday, 29 March, at Dundas Square, in downtown Toronto. The mood was angry against the continuing bloodshed in Iraq.

Andy Lehrer, Socialist Alternative, Toronto

Melbourne protesters block prime minister's function

Last Friday night, 28 March, the Socialist Party (SP - CWI in Australia) led a demonstration of over 500 outside a Liberal Party function where the Prime Minister, John Howard, was guest speaker.

Socialist Party, Melbourne, 31 March 2003

Kashmiris demonstrate against the US war in Iraq

Over one hundred secondary school students and workers took part in a demonstration against the war on Saturday 22 March, organised by the Kotli branch of the Jammu and Kashmir National Awami Party (JKNAP). 

CWI, Pakistani Occupied Kashmir, 27 March 2003

More school strikes in Melbourne

Three thousand mainly school students, after leaving school to strike against the war, marched through Melbourne on Wednesday 26 March against the war on Iraq. The numbers were slightly down on the last school student strike, but the participants were angrier and more militant. 

Socialist Party members, Australia, 27 March 2003

Northern Ireland demonstrates

Over 5,000 people demonstrated through the streets on Belfast on Saturday, 22 March, to express their opposition to the continued bombing of Iraq. Although this demonstration was smaller than that on 15 February, the mood was angrier and more determined.

Peter Hadden, Socialist Party, 25 March 2003

Anti-war protests and pickets in South Africa

Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM - CWI in South Africa) and Socialist Student Movement, both affiliates of the Anti-War Coalition, joined the demonstration on Day X at the US Consulate in Johannesburg.

Weizmann Hamilton, Johannesburg

Anti-war movement comes onto the streets of Lisbon

The main avenue in Lisbon - Avenida da Liberdade - was flooded by 90,000 people saying ‘No to War!’ last weekend. The three left parties in parliament – the Socialist (social-democratic) Party, Communist Party and Left Bloc - the CGTP (Portuguese TUC), and more then 140 organisations of all kinds, called for this demonstration.

Francisco Raposo, Alternativa Socialista, Lisbon, 25 March 2003

CWI pickets US Embassy in Almata, Kazakhstan

Members of the CWI and the youth organisation ‘Young Guard’ organised a protest against US aggression in Iraq on 21 March.

Andrei Grishin, Almata and Rob Jones from Moscow, 25 March 2003

Thousands brave torrential rain to protest at US Air Base in Italy

On 23 March, about 20,000 protesters from all over Sicily marched on the Sigonella US Navy Air Base. The base has operated since 1959 after US - NATO agreements. It is situated in Eastern Sicily, 16 km west of Catania and under the shadow of Mount Etna. 

Henry Silke, ‘Lotta per il socialismo’, Catania, 25 March 2003

A hundred thousand on the streets on Day X in Switzerland

The ‘Blick’ newspaper – Swiss equivalent of the Daily Mirror - estimated that on Day X 100,000 Swiss people took to the streets, the majority of whom were school students and students. The biggest student demo was in Bern, attended by over 15,000, but there were marches and rallies in every major town, and many smaller ones: Zurich 7000, Luzern 8000, Lausanne 5000, Geneva 8000, Neuchatel 3000, Winterthur 3000. The evening protests were all smaller by comparison.

David Hofman, Basel, 25 March 2003

Boston students walk out against Bush

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) was on spring break for Day X, but we decided to go ahead with the walkout on Monday 24 March.  Four activists met over the weekend to organise the walkout, 10 people showed up to help advertise for the walkout in the morning, and 250-300 walked out. It was a very spontaneous action, many showed up today thinking the walkout was not going to happen.

Patrick, Socialist Alternative, Boston, 25 March 2003

Spain: One million on the streets

In Madrid up to 1 million took to the streets against war on 22 March, according to the organisers (20,000 according to the government!).

Chris, Spain, 24 March 2003

Scotland: Protesters besiege New Labour conference

New Labours' conference in Dundee was besieged by three days of mass protests. Fire-fighters, pensioners, and council workers all showed their anger at Blair's policies. Above all, it was a chance for a new generation to protest against war - school pupils and students - whose voices echoed around the city square, chanting: "Peace! Not War!"

International Socialists, Dundee, 24 March 2003

Ireland: Joe Higgins, condemns war

Socialist TD (MP), Joe Higgins, condemns war in parliament debate

CWI online, 24 March 2003

New Zealand Momentum is building for anti -war movement

The first cruise missiles began to rain down on Baghdad at around 3pm Thursday (NZ time), leaving local anti-war activists with very little time to mobilise people for the emergency anti-war rallies that were scheduled to take place in more than 13 towns and cities right across the country.

Tim Bowron, Socialist Alternative, Dunedin, 24 March 2003

Japan: Osaka city sees biggest demonstration so far

On 23 March, the CWI in Japan, Kokusai Rentai, participated in an anti-war demonstration in Osaka. It was the biggest in the city so far. Around eight thousand participated.

Kokusai Rentai, Osaka, 24 March 2003

Italy: "When the war starts our world stops"

With these words workers and young people from all over Italy took to the streets in what is the biggest anti-war movement in history. Almost immediately, after news of the first bombings, action was taken on the streets.

Henry Silke, Lotta per il socialismo, Catania, 24 March 2003

Czech Republic: CWI takes initiative in anti-war protests

The Day X demonstration was big for Prague, but the second day of the war saw as many, if not more, out on the streets demonstrating. All the main political parties were there and all the small liberal and Christian organisations also turned out.

Vasek Votruba, Socialisticka Alternativa Budoucnost, Prague, 24 March 2003

Brazil: Thousands take to the streets of Sao Paulo

Despite driving rain over 15,000 youth took to the streets on Friday 21 March, in Sao Paulo, to protest against the start of the war against Iraq. Thousands more have taken to the streets in other cities throughout Brazil - including Rio do Janiero. Protests were also reported in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia.

Socialismo Revolucionario members, Sao Paolo, 24 March 2003

Australia: 30,000 protest in responce to Brussels trade unions’ call

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Sydney, Sunday 23 March, in yet another huge anti-war rally.

Paul and Robin, Socialist Party, Sydney, 24 March 2003

Belgium: Caterpillar factory strikes against the war

Workers at the steel factory, Caterpillar, in Gosselies (near Charleroi) put down tools in protest against the war with Iraq", reports Belgian news agencies.

CWI online, 24 March 2003

Belgium: Police attack Brussels anti-war demonstrations

On Day X we left with an anti-war demo from the French-speaking ULB University. There were some 1,000 students and school students joined us. We discussed with the police to be able to go the Luxemburg Square where the European parliament is situated. At that very moment Tony Blair was present at the European parliament. The police told us they would react very strongly against the demo if we went there. To avoid problems we decided to demonstrate at the US embassy.

Karim Brikci, LSP/MAS Brussels, 24 March 2003

Belgium: 30,000 protest in  response to Brussels trade unions’ call

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called a demonstration in Brussels on 21 March. The demo, backed by the three main Belgian trade unions, was meant to be a protest against the GATS agreements in the World Trade Organisation. The trade unions however decided to turn the demo in an anti-war action.

CWI members from Brussels, 24 March 2003

United States: Half a million march in NY City

There was a massive demonstration in New York City on 22 March. Reports vary, but estimates range from 200,000 to 500,000 anti-war participants at the protest.

Byran, Socialist Alternative, NY, 24 March 2003

Germany: 50,000 Youth strike against the war in Hamburg

Today, March 24, in Hamburg, Germany, 50,000 school students, apprentices and other students supported a local strike call made by Youth against War (Jugend gegen Krieg, JgW).

YAW members, Hamburg, 24 March 2003

Belgium: Caterpillar factory strikes against the war

Workers at the steel factory, Caterpillar, in Gosselies (near Charleroi) put down tools in protest against the war with Iraq", reports Belgian news agencies.

CWI online, 24 March 2003

Stop the war in Iraq Thousands march in New Zealand

ON 15 March there was a new wave of anti-war action in New Zealand, mainly in South Island. In Christchurch, about 3,000 took part in a march against the war.

Johan Sand, Socialist Alternative, Dunedin, 20 March 2003

Stop the war in Iraq Spontaneous school walk outs in Britain

Socialist Party member, Steve Bush, describes a spontaneous school strike against war that took place yesterday in the town of Tiverton in Devon, England.

Steve Bush, Devon, 19 March 2003

Stop the war in Iraq Big turnout at Brazilian university to hear the socialist case against war

The CWI in Brazil, Socialismo Revolucionario (SR), held a very successful public meeting earlier this week on the war on Iraq at the University USP, in San Carlos, in the State of Sao Paulo. Over 130 students and teachers attended the packed meeting.

Tony Saunois, Sao Paulo, 19 March 2003

Stop work to stop the war Teachers' union in London school supports students' walkout

A teachers' union in a school in Hackney, East London, has announced its backing of a half day strike by students on Day X. Furthermore the local union will ask all its members to also come out with the students on the day a war begins.

Hannah Sell, Socialist Pary, England and Wales, 18 March 2003.

‘Build homes don’t bomb them’ demands Toronto rally

More than 10,000 workers, students and activists marched through Toronto, in Canada, on the 15 March anti-war protest organised by over 40 labour and community groups under the slogan ‘Build homes don't bomb them’.

Andy Lehrer, Toronto

No to war in Iraq Millions demonstrate worldwide on 15 March

On 15 March millions of people marched against imminent war in over 2,000 cities worldwide. Below we carry reports from CWI members of important protests in Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Japan and Greece.

CWI Online, 17 March 2003

Spain and Italy Strikes and demonstrations

Fifteen minute work stoppages and factory gate meetings will be taking place across Spain and Italy at midday, Friday 14 March, to protest against the war plans of the USA. The three major trade union federations in Italy – Cgil, Uil and Cisl – and the two major union federations in Spain – the UGT and the CCOO – have responded to the European Trade Union Confederation decision of last week by making this call.

Clare Doyle, CWI, 13 March 2003.

Germany Trade unionists organise action

In Germany the trade unions, under pressure from the anti-war movement, were forced to mobilise to the big demonstration in Berlin on 15 February . In some other cities and regions they mobilised to local demos or even to the demo in Brussels, Amsterdam and Luxembourg. Ver.di Cologne for example sent a coach to Brussels on 15 February. 

Ursel Beck, SAV industrial organiser, 13 March 2003

Belgium Unions call national student strike

The youth section of the social democratic nation trade union federation (ABVV) has called a national school student and higher education student strike on Friday 21 March. The appeal has received the support of the national anti-war coalition.

CWI online, 12 March 2003

Sweden Local unions demand action against war

While local union branches start to get involved in the anti-war campaign in Sweden, the national leadership of LO (trade union federation) is falling way behind. Three big branches of Seko (Communications Workers' Union) have carried a resolution demanding their national union to organise a 24-hour strike on Day X (when the war starts). The branches are one branch of underground train drivers and two postal workers' branches in Stockholm.

Arne Johansson, Stockholm, 12 March 2003

Northern Ireland Over ten thousand school students protest against war

Over 10 000 school students took part in the walk outs, rallies or in other forms of protest in the schools on 5 March.

From The Socialist, 8 March 2003

Toronto students walk-out

This week, 150 students walked out of classes at York University in Toronto to join a world-wide student day of protest against the war in Iraq. Students marched through various buildings of the university and through several lecture halls urging more students to join. Information pickets had been set up in the morning blocking several roads entering the university with picketers delaying individual vehicles by three minutes before letting them enter.

Andy Lehrer, Socialist Alternative, Toronto, 7 March 2003

England and Wales Student strikes

Reports from International Socialist Resistance, the anti-capitalist youth organisation which has organised a Youth against the War campaign responsible in many areas for the strike call to students on March 5th.

CWI online, 6 March 2003

Ireland Successful anti-war action

Youth Against the War, the campaign set up by Socialist Youth, the Irish section of ISR, organised a successful walkout of school students in North Dublin yesterday. At 12.30 school students walked out of their school and assembled at the County Council Offices in Swords town centre to protest at the drive to war on Iraq and the shameful role of the Irish government in allowing US warplanes refuel in Shannon Airport.

Matt Waine, Dublin, 6 March 2003

Stop work to stop the war, Greece: Unions call for strike action on Day X

The Civil Servants union in Greece, led by the opposition in PASOK (the party in government) has passed a resolution calling on its members to take strike action on Day X.

The National Federation of Doctors working in the public health system has decided to organise a 24-hour strike on Day X to protest against the US war on Iraq.

The union in Greek Petroleum, the biggest petrol supply company in Greece and publicly owned has called on all petroleum workers to come out on strike on Day X.

CWI online, 6 March 2003

Nigeria NANS says no to war on Iraq

Zone D of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) issued the following statement in February 2003. Zone D, covering south-west Nigeria, is one of the four zones within NANS and is led by members of Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM). The following is a statement expressing the opposition of NANS Zone D to the war in Iraq.

CWI online, 5 March 2003

Ireland The Irish anti-war movement and Shannon airport

The use of Shannon airport in the west of Ireland by the US military has become a very controversial issue. As part of international and commercial agreements, Shannon has been used by military powers for more than forty years. However in the heightened atmosphere surrounding the war on Iraq, the majority of people in Ireland are opposed to the use of Shannon by the US military.

Kevin McLoughlin, Socialist Party, Ireland, 5 March 2003

Sweden 10,000 school students on strike in Stockholm against the war at lunchtime today

Sergels square in the centre of Stockholm was filled with school students who demanded an immediate stop to preparations for war against Iraq.

Elin Gauffin, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden), 5 March 2003

Stop work to stop the war Communication Workers vote for protest action on Day X

At a meeting on Thursday 27 February of the National Committee of the Communication Workers' Union in Britain, a resolution for action against war was moved by Socialist Party member, Bernard Roome, and agreed unanimously.

Socialist Party, England and Wales, 28 February 2003

Stop work to stop the war Clerical workers plan action

In Minneapolis the Clerical Workers at the University of Minnesota organized in AFSCME 3800 have taken a strong anti-war position and have endorsed the city-wide student walkout that members of Socialist Alternative (CWI's affiliate in the US) are organising.

Ty Moore, US, 28 February 2003

Germany Youth Against War organises national day of action

The recently launched campaign Youth Against War has organised a successful day of action on February 25^th. The campaign was recently launched by different school students’, students’ and appretices’ anti war committees – many of them initiated by members of SAV (Sozialistische Alternative - German affiliate of the CWI) and Resistance International (German affiliate of International Socialist Resistance, the international anti-capitalist youth organisation).

Sascha Stanicic, Sozialistische Alternative, Berlin, 26 February 2003

Germany 10,000 school students on strike in Stuttgart

More than 10,000 school students went on strike with university and apprentice students joining the protests in Stuttgart today. The strike was part of a national day of action on February 25th, organised by Youth Against the War with demosntrations and protests in about ten cities. The demonstration was loud and lively, with protesters carrying placards and banners opposing the war.

Sozialistische Alternative, Stuttgart, 25 February 2003

Melbourne kicks off anti-war weekend with huge protest

Media estimates put the number of anti-war demonstrators in central Melbourne today (14 February) at between 100,000 to 200,000. Organisers are quoted as saying the demonstration was well over the 200,000 mark.

CWI online, London, 14 February 2003

Anti-war campaigning in Germany

The latest opinion poll by the weekly magazine ‘Stern’ says that 71 percent of Germans are opposed to the war. Local demonstrations of up to 10,000 are taking place on an almost daily basis. Last weekend saw more than 30,000 marching on two demonstrations against the war in Munich while an annual Nato conference was taking place. One demonstration – significantly the bigger one – was marching against the Nato meeting while a second demonstration which was called by the trade union leadership and the Social Democrats was opposed to the war on Iraq but not against Nato. Yesterday (February 13) saw a school students’ strike of more than 7,000 in the city of Bremen.

Sascha Stanicic, Berlin, 14 February 2003

Germany - Bremen school students strike!

On February 13, 7-9000 youth, most of them school students, demonstrated in Bremen against the war. In fact this was the first school students strike against the war on Iraq.

Vivien, Bremen, Sozialistische Alternative (SAV), 14 Ferbruary 2003

Ireland - Socialist member of parliament champions mass opposition to war

On 11 February, Socialist Party TD (member of parliament), Joe Higgins, made a speech in the Dail (Irish parliament) following the announcement of the German, French and Russian governments' proposals to increase the number of weapons inspectors to Iraq and to send UN troops to Iraq as well.

CWI online, 13 February 2003.

South Africa - No to US imperialism's war against Iraq

The following leaflet was produced by the Democratic Socialist Movement, the CWI's South African affiliate in preparation for the anti-war demonstrations there on February 15.

Published by Izwi la basebenzi, Democratic Socialist Movement - CWI (South Africa), 13 February 2003.

Australia - Students set to strike against war...unions discuss industrial action...US navy dissent

Socialist Party members (CWI in Australia) recently launched the Youth Against War campaign (YAW) and have called a schools' strike in Melbourne for tomorrow, 14 February, on the same day as a massive demonstration in downtown Melbourne. CWI online will carry reports of the Melbourne protests, which mark the beginning of huge anti-war protests across the world this coming weekend.

CWI online, 13 February 2003

Moscow - End Putin's war in Chechnya, no to US war in Iraq

Supporters of the CWI in Russia, 'Sotsialisticheskoe Coprotivleniye', participating on the 1 February anti-Chechen war demonstration in Moscow. Sotsialisticheskoe Coprotivleniye called for an end to Putin's war in Chechnya and opposed US war plans for Iraq. Picture, 45KB

CWI online, 13 February 2003

Munich - Tens of thousands demonstrate against NATO's war drive

Members of the SLP (Sozialistiche LinksPartei, Austrian section of the CWI)- and ISR-comrades from Vienna and Salzburg joined German CWI and ISR members in the SAV and 'WI!' (International Resistance), in the anti-war and anti-Nato demos held in Munich  last Saturday.

Reports from Austria and Germany, 13 February 2003.

Britain - Youth against the war

EVERY DAY more and more young people are getting involved in the anti-war movement. International Socialist Resistance (ISR) and Socialist Party members and supporters have been helping organise school and college walkouts against the war across Britain.

Clare James - ISR national co-ordinator, Britain, 9 February 2003

CWI campaigns for 15 February

It is estimated that millions of people will protest against war on 15 February, and similar numbers on 'Day X' (the first day of a US war), possibly making these the largest single day protests in world history.

CWI online, 6 February 2003

Ireland Building Youth Against War

This month 12 years ago, the US launched a brutal war on Iraq that resulted in the deaths of 250,000 people. Now George Bush junior is planning an equally horrific war to defend the interests of US imperialism in the region. The right wing Fianna Fail government of Bertie Ahern in Southern Ireland has dragged Irish people into this bloody drive to war by allowing US warplanes refuel at Shannon Airport. Members of Socialist Youth, the youth wing of the Socialist Party in Ireland, describe recent campaigning activities against the war plans of Bush and Ahern.

Cillian Gillespie and Chris Loughlin, 6 February 2003

10,000 demonstrate in Brussels

On 19 January 10,000 people demonstrated in a national anti-war demonstration in Brussels. The collaboration of the Belgian government, by allowing US troops and military transports to use the Antwerp harbour, and the international aspect of the demonstrations (the huge international demonstrations of the 18 January were all over the news), helped to create such a good turnout of protesters.

Geert Cool, Gent, 24 January 2003.

No to war: A weekend of huge international protests

Last weekend saw mass protests in North America, the Middle East, Europe and Australasia against Bush's war plans.

Hundreds of thousands braved zero temperatures in Washington DC to show their opposition to the Republican Administration. Many other protests took place across the US, including in San Francisco, representing the largest anti-war demonstrations in North America since the Vietnam War. This tears apart the media myth that there is overwhelming support in the US for Bush's war aggression. In fact, as polls indicate, the majority of US workers are opposed to a 'unilateral strike' by US imperialism in the Middle East and greatly fear the consequences of an attack.

CWI members took part in many of these huge protests, including in Washington DC. Over the next few days we will publish first hand reports, beginning with Canada, New Zealand and, a first for CWI online, a song!

CWI online, 21 January 2003.

US Huge anti-war demo in Washington DC

On 18 January, the growing anti-war movement in the US took another important step forward when a crowd estimated at over 200,000 braved the cold and marched on the Naval Yard in Washington DC. The protest was very diverse with large numbers of high school and college students but also many veterans of the 60s antiwar movement and many people who had never been to a demonstration before in their lives. Meanwhile, another 50,000 people rallied in San Francisco, and thousands more demonstrated in Portland, Oregon and other cities across the US.

Tom Crean, New York, Socialist Alternative (CWI’s affiliate in the US)

Australia Anti-war message brought home to army

Members and supporters of the Socialist Party (Australian section of the CWI) joined with the Victorian Peace Network to hold a protest outside the outside the Army Recruiting Office in Bourke St, Melbourne on 17 January.

SP members, Melbourne, 20 January 2003.

Britain Building a mass anti-war movement

AS THE US and Britain begin to mass their forces on the borders of Iraq, the Stop the War Coalition held its national conference on 11 January. PAULA MITCHELL reports on this stage in the development of the anti-war movement in Britain.

From The Socialist, paper of the Socialist Party, CWI in Britain. 17 January 2003.

New Zealand Organisers of anti-war petition attract 300 signatures in Dunedin

An article from the Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) which highlights the campaigning work by the newly formed CWI group in New Zealand against the war plans of Bush. The CWI in New Zealand also campaign against the neo-liberal policies of the New Zealand Clarke Labour government and calls for the creation of a new mass socialist alternative.

CWI Online, 15 January 2003