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A VIEW FROM THE AUDIENCE
by Hilda Meers At the Aberdeen Music Hall, fifty of us find seats. Faces I know. Faces I don't. Ages? A wide range. The mood, serious, as Penny Howard reminds us, more than 1,000 additional troops from our North-East have just been sent to Iraq. Rose Gentle, who has come up from Glasgow, tells us the troops are stressed out and beginning to speak out. Sticking up for them, and for the Iraqi people, we should tell Tony Blair No more killing, give him a date for bringing the troops home - like now. Speakers stressed the human cost of war. The Lancet report figure of over 100,000 Iraqi dead is now quite outdated, 2,030 US soldiers are dead and over 15,000 are injured. Ninety-seven British soldiers have been killed in the 31 months of the war and occupation in Iraq. We need more people to stand up and say, "not one more life, not one more day". We should support the resistance of British and American soldiers. In the US increasing numbers of soldiers are going AWOL, or seeking refugee status in Canada rather than stay trapped in an unjust war. Here in the UK, soldiers are leaving the army; some in command posts have resigned. Brave men refuse further stints in Iraq, while 82% of Iraqis strongly oppose the presence of foreign troops in their country. Keir McKechnie spoke of the troops-out movement's international character, and the need to help give troops the confidence to speak out, by backing the Military Families' Campaign. We also want the protest in Edinburgh on November 12th to be MASSIVE. The discussion was wide-ranging and well-informed including contributions from several former soldiers. There was strong support for the Military Families Campaign and those who have the courage to support the troops by speaking out against the war. The meeting was very inspirational and will help Aberdeen make a strong contribution at the November 12 Stop the War Demonstration. BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW! Justice for Gorden Gentle Cycle for Peace The Justice for Gordon Gentle campaign invites you to take part in a sponsored Cycle for Peace. The event will take place on Sunday 28 August 2005 on the Island of Cumbrae, which is located at the mouth of the Clyde estuary. We will start at 1 pm on the island from the village of Millport. Rose Gentle, the mother of Gordon Gentle, is demanding justice for her son who was killed in Iraq on the 28 June 2004. Rose believes her son died for a lie and since then Blair & fellow war criminal Bush have just kept on lying while innocent people keep dying, including now on the streets of London. The Justice for Gordon Gentle campaign has seen Rose standing in the recent general election & speaking at hundreds of meetings & rallies across the UK. She will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with all those in the anti war movement including Muslims & other people of faith, trade unionists & anyone else who demands peace & justice. Rose along with other military families has launched legal action against Tony Blair in the attempt to bring him to account for his war crimes. Like any campaign this costs money and if Rose wins the right to challenge Blair in court, this could cost thousands of pounds. With recent events in London it is important we redouble our efforts to bring about peace & get the troops out of Iraq. Along with 75% of the British public we believe this is the only way to bring peace to the people of Iraq & the UK. Please come and back the campaign & join our Cycle for Peace What you need to know & do If 100 people took part and sponsored themselves £1 for each mile of the 11-mile route this would bring in £1100 for the campaign. Of course we hope that more people will take part & each person will raise more than £11. The cycle route is circular with gentle gradients & should be within reach of most people. The route is also very beautiful with views out to the mainland, the Isle of Arran & the Isle of Bute. Bike hire & getting there You can bring your own bike or hire one from one of the three cycle hire shops in Millport. Hire costs are around £3.50 for two hours which gets you round the island at a leisurely pace (please let us know if you need to hire a bike so we can give the hire shops prior warning). The shops have a limited number of tandems & trailers – these are great for children who are not confident to cycle on their own. A 15 minute ferry ride from Largs brings you on to the island and a short bus ride (£2 return) takes you to Millport. If you are on your own bike it's a four mile ride to Millport. We will aim to get the 12 noon, 12.15 & 12.30 pm ferries on 28 August. This will cost £4 return per passenger (£6 if you take your own bike). Children under 5 years go free and children 5 to15 years pay half the adult fare. Travel to Largs Justice for Gordon Gentle Campaign Coaches The coaches will leave George Square, Glasgow @ 10.30 am. We are hoping to get them sponsored by a trade union. In that case it will only cost £ 3.00 for adults with children going free & all proceeds going to the campaign. Trains From Glasgow Central it will cost £6.75 cheap day return. If you want to take your bike you need to reserve your place. Phone 0845 601 5929 or go to www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/index.php to check timetables. Car There is ample cheap car parking in Largs & free spaces if you park down a side street. (We recommend you do not take your car on the island - apart from the cost they are a nuisance to cyclists.) Students, Unemployed and People on low wages We realize that for some people the cost of transport and bike hire will be a barrier to them taking part. In this case you can, if you need to, use some of the sponsor money that you raise to pay for your transport and bike hire. If you do so please make sure that you explain this to the people who are sponsoring you. For
a sponsor sheet please e-mail ianandmitch@yahoo.co.uk
or justiceforgordongentle@yahoo.co.uk |
MFAW page relating to candidates standing in the May 2005 general election.