BY PIP HINMAN
SYDNEY John
Pilger has confirmed he will speak at the Walk Against the War on November
30, the city's first major protest rally opposing the looming war on Iraq.
The protest has bought together anti-war, community, solidarity, trade
union and church groups in a new coalition. The rally is being organised
around the demands No war on Iraq and No Australian involvement.
Pilger leads a growing list of prominent people, including civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and actor Susan Sarandon in the US and Dr Rowan Williams, the next Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, who are taking strong stands against their governments rushing to war. Pilger is also involved in the British anti-war movement and addressed 400,000 protesters in London on September 28.
For all the achievements of the movement against the Vietnam War, it did not get underway until four years after the Americans had invaded, Pilger commented. Today, under countless banners, from the anti-globalisation movement to the Stop the War campaign, the new movement, drawing millions all over the world, may well be the greatest. We need it urgently.
Other speakers at the November 30 rally include: Bishop Pat Power; Sharan Burrow, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions; actor John Howard; Sheikh Taj Aldin Alhilali; and Palestinian activist Rawan Abdul Nabi. Some keynote performers, including Jenny Morris, are also offering help on the day.
The Walk Against the War is one of nine rallies scheduled during a national weekend of action against the war on Iraq. The details of all these actions are advertised on page 11.
To find out more or to assist in publicising the rally, please email <nov30walk@yahoo.com.au> or ring Nick Everett on 0409 762 081, Hannah Middleton on 0418 668 098 or Alison Lyssa on (02) 9389 2084.
From Green Left Weekly, November 13, 2002.
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