February 15, 2003
Awakened Woman's Circle is working for peace
Protests around the world
London: Make tea not war
by Katja Schmela
Around two million people took to the streets of London on February 15th , 2003, to oppose America's possible war in Iraq.
Police expected 500,000 people to gather for the peaceful march and the rally, but was slightly overstretched with the huge crowds forcing their way through the capital. Among the protesters were people from all over Britain, arriving on coaches and on the tube, almost bringing the street network and the transport system to a standstill.
The feeling against this war is strong across Britain and the whole world. Britons are disappointed by Tony Blair whom some of the protesters called BLIAR. "We elected Tony Blair and he has not listened to the people," said one of the protestors, Mr Khan (age 56).
Johanna Schmidt (22) said that she agrees with Germany not participating in the war: "You can't change anything by killing civilians. In my opinion America's economy depends on the huge weapon industry. I don't understand that they sell their weapons to their enemies just to get more money out of it."
"The war is wrong!" said Alice Taylor (29), who came to the demonstration because she thought "it might make people listen." Shaefi Ahmed (40) was not as optimistic as other protesters who were convinced that this demonstration would definitely stop the war. "It should stop the war going ahead, but I am sure that they will have a war. We try to do what we can in solidarity for the people in Iraq. There is no justification to kill thousands and thousands of people" he said.
Like him many protesters, young and old, did not just want to sit home doing nothing. Armed with signs with the inscriptions reading everything from "Make tea not war!", "If Chirac can back-track on Iraq then why can't Tony Blair?" to "Resist the myth that bombs are smart!" they have certainly made a slight bit of progress to a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis.
San Francisco
by Dianne Cawood
On Saturday I had the good fortune of attending a wedding in Sacramento of two old friends. On Sunday morning the wedding couple, another old friend, and I drove to San Francisco for the demonstration. It was magnificent in size, diversity, and creativity of signs, music, and attire.
Before leaving SD, I had found out the meeting places of the Friends (Quakers) and also of Starhawk, the Pagan who has written heartfelt and powerful statements for peace. However, the demonstration was so huge that we were unable to find either group. We assumed that we could wait for an hour or two on the march sidelines until they came by, but after 2 hours and with the sidelines becoming part of the march itself, my friends asked that we move on to the rally. My guess is that the rally was over or almost over when many groups, including the Friends, were still at the beginning of the march (for those of you who know SF, Friends had planned to meet at Spear between Mission and Market, just about a block from the beginning of the march).
The demonstration was inspiring in many ways, but the diversity was probably the most moving aspect of it. And so many groups had not even passed us by when we went on to the rally -- not just Friends and the Pagan Cluster, but the unions, gay pride, and many religious groups who had convened after an interdenominational service. But I saw more than enough to rejoice and to make me feel very proud to be part of humanity and an American.
And there was much joy, particularly from musicians -- classical, rock, rap, bluegrass, Jamaican, Chinese, Celtic -- and many percussionists all along the route and in the march itself. And I didn't even hear the planned rally music, including Joan Baez and Bonnie Raitt.
Some of the more humorous signs and "costumes" related to duct tape and plastic. "Not in my name" was plentiful, as was "no blood for oil." There were many "another patriot for peace" signs and quite a few Vets for peace, some in uniform. On the back of a wheel chair was a sign -- "the greatest disability is capitalism." There were several "who would Jesus bomb" signs.
An unusual sign was a crucifix about 20 ft high where the cross was covered with American flags -- the body of Christ was a white outline on which was written messages of peace to the President. There actually were multiple outlines of Christ's body that were being signed by demonstrators with the plan of delivering them to the White House.
An astounding group stood silently on the side of the march --s ix large figures -- probably about 10 feet high of women draped in mid-east dress, all in black, holding babies -- the mask faces full of pain and suffering.
A sign I liked much was "How did our oil get under your land?" There were several signs which read "I am pro life" with photos of war -- some of the folks with the pro-life theme signs carried dolls covered with "the blood of war." At the rally itself was a dove with a wing span of I think about 30 feet.
A unicyclist, clad in a hot pink body suit, "riding for peace" and many people on stilts with masks and signs, or bull horns, or percussion instruments helped to keep spirits light.
The shear waves of so many and such a wide variety Americans coming together to stand for peace was deeply moving.
AUSTRALIA
Published on Sunday, February 9, 2003 by The Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Australia)
750 Women Go Nude in Protest
HUNDREDS of women bared all today in a visual anti-war demonstration on a hillside near the northern NSW beach town of Byron Bay.
750 nude women form a heart around the words 'No War' on a hillside near the town of Byron bay, 700 kilometers (435 miles) north of Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003. The women said they wanted to send Prime Minister John Howard a message to recall Australian troops from the middle east. (AP Photo/Icon Images)
More than 750 female protesters shed their clothing during the protest, lying naked end to end on a grassy knoll on a private property, to form a heart shape around the words "No War" for an aerial photograph.
Australia has sent troops and approved an RAAF fighter squadron deployment to join US and British forces in the Gulf preparing for a possible war in Iraq.
But it has yet to publicly commit itself to joining any UN-approved or US-led military action in Iraq.
Today's larger-than-expected turnout for the 'Disrobe to Disarm', prompted by a similar protest in the US, even surprised organisers.
"I was completely overwhelmed," Australian jazz and blues singer Grace Knight, who led organisational efforts for today's protest, told AAP.
"I needed at the very least 67 women and I prayed for 250, and we got more than 750.
"What that tells me is that 750 women came and took the opportunity to get quite uncomfortable in a field - I know I felt quite uncomfortable - because we thought that was the only way we could get the federal government's attention."
Also See:
Baring Witness website
Naked Ploy Is Latest Threat in Oil Wars
TORONTO
FEMINISTS RISING AGAINST WAR (FEMRAW)*
MARCH ON FEB 15
From the dawn of time women's gifts have been creating and sustaining community, and women have struggled to make the world a better place. Today, feminists in diverse communities all over the world are articulating new forms of protest, refusing war and all forms of violence, protecting the environment and all life, creating new multi-centred and diverse political spaces, and defining innovative egalitarian politics of care, community, compassion and connectedness.
Patriarchy's house must be dismantled.
It is important that feminist voices be heard in anti-war protests and that feminist visions help shape the future.
If all feminists (and feminist sympathizers) at anti-war rallies around the world identify ourselves by wearing something pink, we will see each other and be seen; and our power will be felt.
Toronto Women for a Just and Healthy Planet,
For Feminists Rising Against the War (FEMRAW)*
*FEMRAW is the name of feminists' collective visibility and power.
Feel free to call your own FEMRAW actions.
USA - Midwest Women LIE Naked in the Snow for Peace
Champaign-Urbana, IL - 26 January 2003 - A group of women from central Illinois felt compelled to use the shock of their naked bodies to send a message to the world that the women of Americaís heartland oppose a US-led war against Iraq. Rather than staying warm at home, they went out into below-freezing temperatures to be vulnerable for peace. Lying on a freshly snow-covered ground with sub-zero wind chills, they linked together to form the word "PEACE."
This photo marks the 9th photo contribution in a spontaneous series that began as a pro-peace demonstration staged on November 12th by a Baring Witness group from Marin County California. On that first action, 46 women posed naked in the word ìPEACEî; a second event grew to 96 women in late December and was accompanied by a concurrent group of 24 men who also staged a pro-peace protest by forming a peace symbol with their naked bodies.
This startling form of protest has inspired people all over the world to stage similar protests against war. From Salt Lake City, Utah to McCurdo Station, Antarctica and from Gainesville, Florida to East Sussex, England - the international spelling bee is spelling out the pro-peace message with their bodies.
PEACE - it's such a simple word, but it has so many connotations in the current political climate. "You're either with us or against us" has become national rhetoric, and so, it takes a certain amount of courage to speak out against war these days. For a group of middle-American scientists, teachers, home-makers, librarians, journalists, entrepreneurs, mothers and students ranging in age from 20-62 to act out publicly, stripped of clothing in the winter cold takes even more courage.
Photo available online at www.ucimc.org/newswire/display/9041/index.php More information on Baring Witness available at www.baringwitness.org.
TEXAS!
Peacemaking Women in Austin, Texas
In Austin (deep within the belly of the beast) our work is gathering momentum. There is much peacework being done here. D'Ann Johnson and Alan Pogue just returned from a peacemaking trip to Iraq with photos by Alan and essays by D'Ann which make it impossible for people to not see the horrible effects of sanctions and war on human beings who happen to be born and live in Iraq. Bombing continues to escalate making the Jan 27th or any other "start" date just another war machine lie.
Women in Black has increased our vigils to one every day, noon, at the capital. We have been holding these vigils every Wednesday at noon since the week after 911. We are planning a performance art memorial service to honor the children in Iraq who have died from sanctions and bombing on the main bridge here across the Colorado River and a media campaign including billboards against war. And we are organizing a lobbying campaign to occur before and after our vigils at the capital. Our Women in Black Austin egroup has 75 members who participate in these events. We dress in black and carry a "Women in Black Stand for Peace" banner at demonstrations, marches and rallys in Austin, which occur on a regular basis. There is talk of starting a rolling fast and constant vigil here in front of the capital, but it hasn't yet begun. We have had some success encouraging other anti-war groups to include women in their speaker rolls at events. That said, except when we gather in women's circles for peace, many of us experience overwhelm at the enormity of the empire's control over media and military. We are encouraged by recent studies that say activism is good for our health. I for one believe it, am full of despair unless I am working for peace, for environmental protection, and again and still for women's rights.
Tonight we stand in a vigil between 6 and 7pm in solidarity with women across the country standing, marching and otherwise working to stop this horrible momentum towards war with Iraq.
Blessings
Susan Bright, poet
a member of the Women In Black vigil group in Austin, Texas
US - Marin County Women Protest
A group of 20 women wearing black long clothing, walking in slow motion holding bloody doll babies in their arms and men following them in black clothing, walked to village shopping center in Marin last weekend. The effect was powerful and undoubtedly effective. We had anti war signs on our clothing and penetrated the hearts of people who usually would not see things like this. Some people started crying or held their babies tight kissing them after seeing us. We are getting a permit for Saturday Jan 25 to do the same thing. Carpool and meet us in front of Macys at Corte Madera village center at 2:00 p.m. Come with a life size doll, wrapped in bloody white sheet and your own message against war and establishment, wear black. On the 18 we are inviting as many women possible to walk in this fashion with us with one huge powerful thing added: Every woman will have one breast exposed. Long black dresses or ropes, bloody dead babies in our arms, one breast exposed walking in grief, symbolically very powerful and meaningful, very serious and against the war. This action connects the unreasonable women's nudity with the seriousness of our message about the damages of war.