BY DEBRA PAYNE
NOTTINGHAM — On January 25, 500 people gathered here to rally against the impending US-British war on Iraq. The action was organised by the local Stop the War Coalition. There were many banners from the groups in attendance, but the predominant slogan was "not in my name".
After an opening song by the Nottingham Clarion Choir, Dave Green the Fire Brigade Union spoke. The FBU is in the midst of a long and bitter struggle with the British Labour government over jobs and wages. The government is threatening to reduce the number of firefighters by the equivalent of 150 fire stations. Similar attacks on wages and conditions are being repeated across the British public sector. The government's refusal to fund pay increases for the firefighters is in direct contrast to the billions of pounds that Prime Minister Tony Blair is prepared to spend on the war, Green noted.
Many speakers expressed the view that London and Washington's true goal in attacking Iraq was to control its oil fields and strengthen Western imperialism.
A representative from Students Against the War also contrasted Blair's willingness to spend billions to slaughter Iraqis to its decision to make students pay 3000 pounds per year for their education.
It was felt strongly by many speakers that the people do have the power to stop Iraq being attacked. Those present were urged to do all they could to stop the war, especially help organise a massive turnout for the February 15 anti-war rally in London.
Many coaches have already been organised to take protesters to the British capital. Organisers hope that February 15 will be the biggest anti-war rally ever seen in Britain. They also predict that a 10-million-strong "army of peace" worldwide will take part in protest actions on February 14-16.
Other speakers at the Nottingham rally were from the national Stop the War Coalition, the Nottingham Jewish Peace Campaign, a Muslim representative, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, an Iraqi-Kurdish socialist and Alan Simpson, the left-wing anti-war Labour MP for Nottingham.
The impressive line-up of speakers all delivered the very powerful message: "Build the London demo". Afterwards, I joined the people who lined up to buy coach tickets to London.
We are making a difference.
[Debra Payne is in Nottingham as an exchange teacher from Newcastle, NSW.]
From Green Left Weekly, February 5, 2003.
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