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Newsletter - 15th December 2015
Campaigning for a peaceful New Year.
Stop the War would like to thank all our members and supporters for all their work over the past year. It has been a remarkable year, which has seen our former chair receive an overwhelming mandate in his election as leader of the Labour party. It has also seen the recent vote in parliament for Britain to take part in the bombing of Syria, despite our best efforts to stop it.
Our organisation has been under attack from large parts of the mainstream media, from the right wing and also from some pro war Labour MPs. They do not want a strong anti-war movement which makes it voice heard. Although the government carried the vote two weeks ago, it did so in the teeth of much opposition, both in and outside Parliament. The large majority of Labour MPs, and of the Shadow Cabinet, voted no to the airstrikes, in line with wider Labour opinion. Our lobbying and protests played a key part in winning arguments with a number of MPs.
We are very pleased that in response to the vote on Syria and those recent attacks we have seen an unprecedented rise in Stop the War membership and activity across the country. We would like to thank all of you who have joined or donated in recent weeks. It is more important than ever that together we continue to build a strong anti-war movement in the UK. If you have not yet received your membership confirmation letter and card please do not worry, it is on its way. We are trying hard to process all recent memberships as quickly as possible.
We have repeatedly made our positions on the war in Syria clear, most recently in John Rees' For the avoidance of doubt article and in a statement last week. That the media largely chose to ignore them speaks volumes about its pro war agenda.
We have held a series of demonstrations over past weeks both in London and across the country. On Saturday, several thousand people joined us to march to Downing Street where we heard a message of solidarity from Jeremy Corbyn alongside many other speeches, which can be seen here. Jeremy was also the guest of honour at our very successful fundraising dinner last Friday.
In the new year, there will be continuing protests and campaigning against the bombing. There is also the mass demonstration against Trident on February 27th, which Stop the War is fully supporting. It is clear that international and foreign policy issues will continue to hit the headlines over the next few months, and we have to be prepared to combat the pro war pro nuclear weapons agenda. A #StopTrident activist meeting in preperation for the demonstration is taking place in London this evening, further details below.
What you can do
Campaign and get involved: join your local group. If there is not one near you, consider helping to set one up.
Hold a public meeting in your local area or college to explain the case against bombing Syria.
Leaflet and petition in your local shopping centre. You can also sign our online 'Not in my name' petition here.
Lobby your MP if they voted yes. If they voted no, keep them up to date with your activities and any useful information.
Mobilise alongside CND locally to build the #StopTrident demonstration on 27th February. Book coaches now if you are outside London.
Hold a fund raising event for Stop the War or donate online.
Invite a Stop the War speaker into your school/college/ trade union branch.
Join Stop the War or give membership to a friend for Xmas.
Stop Trident Activist meeting
Stop The War is urging all its supporters to go to this very important meeting in preparation for the crucial Stop Trident demo on 27th February. 2016 is going to be the year when the decision on Trident replacement is made and it is important we hit the ground running in the New Year. Please go along to see how you can get involved.
Tonight 6.30pm @ Friends House, 173-177 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2BJ
Join Stop the War
Stop the War has no wealthy backers. Since our founding in 2001, our campaigns and small office have been funded entirely by our members, supporters and affiliated organisations. We need your support.
In the words of writer A. L. Kennedy:
Stop the War is a valuable source of information and a vital voice for peace and creative thinking in the UK and beyond. In a landscape dominated by lazy mainstream journalism, political spin and aggressively entitled commercial interests Stop the War's work is growing all the more precious.
Please help sustain our vital work opposing the UK government war policies, by becoming a member or by making a donation.
• Join Stop the War »
• Make a Donation »
Stop the War has no wealthy backers. Since our founding in 2001, our campaigns and small office have been funded entirely by our members, supporters and affiliated organisations. We need your support.
In the words of writer A. L. Kennedy:
Stop the War is a valuable source of information and a vital voice for peace and creative thinking in the UK and beyond. In a landscape dominated by lazy mainstream journalism, political spin and aggressively entitled commercial interests Stop the War's work is growing all the more precious.
Please help sustain our vital work opposing the UK government war policies, by becoming a member or by making a donation.
• Join Stop the War »
• Make a Donation »
