Newsletter on NATO
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1. Why we oppose NATO - briefing
2. Craig Murray to speak at anti NATO meeting - Tues 17th Feb
3. What is happening in Strasbourg - program
4. Coach details from Manchester - practicalities
5. Help finance our peace delegation to Strasbourg - £ appeal
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1. NATO is the western military alliance which has troops fighting in Afghanistan. President Obama will speak at NATO's 60th birthday summit in early  April. He has just committed thousands more US troops to go to Afghanistan. He
wants more European NATO troops from Britain, Germany and France to join a new 'surge' of troops there. More soldiers will mean more casualties. Two thirds of British people are opposed to Britain having troops in Afghanistan.

Barack Obama promised to end the war in Iraq and was elected as the 'anti war' candidate. He now plans to escalate the war in Afghanistan, which has already spread to Pakistan where the destruction from bombs targeted  by US drones resembles that we just saw when Israel bombed Gaza last month.

Anti war protesters from across Europe will be demonstrating outside the NATO summit when it meets in Strasbourg, France on the 4th April. STWC and CND in  Manchester are sending a coach to join the NATO protests and an alternative summit. Why not join us for 5 days of protest and resistance. A better world ispossible.

Hear the case against NATO at our No to NATO! public meeting and find out full details of the coach to Strasbourg.
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2. Craig Murray to speak at anti NATO meeting

When the army in Uzbekistan tortured opponents of the Eastern European regime, our UK amassador refused to remain silent, after speaking out he lost his job. Now, as a former diplomat, he is a regular speaker at anti war rallies.

Craig will join a platform of speakers at a public meeting:

No to NATO ! End the 'war on terror'!

7.00pm Tuesday 17th March

Manchester University, Samuel Alexander Building
Lime Grove, behind the Students Union Building, M13 9PL

Doors open 6.30pm for campaign stalls and books

Speakers
Craig Murray, ex-Ambassador to Uzbekistan
Betty Hunter, Chair, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Rae Street, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
John Rees, Stop the War Coalition

With Safia Balatter, from the UoM Student Occupation

Public Meeting organised by the Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Greater Manchester
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3. What is happening in Strasbourg?
No to NATO: Strasbourg 1st – 5th April

Protest: Friday 3rd April
Evening Protest at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting and gala Dinner,
Baden-Baden

Protest: Saturday 4th April
am: Blockade of NATO summit in the Palace de Congres, Strasbourg
1pm: International demonstration in central Strasbourg

Alternative Summit
Friday 3rd April: Alternative Summit - Strasbourg
10am-1pm: A critical history of NATO
2pm-7pm: Workshop groups-A World Without NATO

Alternative Summit
Sunday 5th April
10am-12 noon: 60 years of NATO are enough
12:30pm-2pm: NATO overcome-The challenge for politics and the peace movement
2:30pm-4pm: Peace Assembly

There will also be a festival, discussions and events at the
International Village of Resistance camp in Strasbourg from 1st April.
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4. Coach details from Manchester - practicalities

The Manchester coach will leave Thursday morning at 9am. We will
travel down to join the protests at the G20, and then on to Strasbourg
arriving Friday. We will return Sunday after the Counter Summit, and
travel back to Manchester for arrival on Monday.

The standard coach ticket price is £70 return.
With sponsorship and fund raising some seats will be available at £50
or £30 for students and unwaged The solidarity price is £100.

Accommodation
At the International Village of Resistance which will be accommodating up to
5,000 people in Strasbourg from 1st-5th April. There will also be emergency
over spill camp accommodation in Kehl and Baden-Baden for 3rd/4th April. We
have details of hostels and cheap hotels too.

You will need a UK passport, or one which is suitable for travel in the
European Union. We will travel as a delegation with mutual support. Book a
place on the Manchester coach.

Book your place on the coach call Jacqui at GM&D CND 0161 273 8283
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Make checks to 'CND'. Post GMDCND, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a
Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR  You can pay at the public meeting or the
BBC vigils.

Further details to come. Check website.
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5. Help finance our peace delegation to Strasbourg - £ appeal

If you are unable to attend this protest but would like to support the
Manchester delegation why not contribute financially. There are many young
people and students who are keen to go who will find it difficult to finance
the trip.

Send cheques made out to 'CND' write NATO Appeal on the back and post to
GMDCND, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
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Compiled by Mark Krantz,
Convener Greater Manchester Stop the War Coalition
07765 122 829