Report on the work of the Tyneside Stop the War Coalition 2006-2008
AGM Report given in March this Year - Useful in summing up our work and developing our work in 2009
Over the last seven years the movement has organised hundreds of events of all kinds and some of the most significant protests of modern times around the principles that this war on terror is “Not in our name”, “Occupation is not liberation” and that “Another world is possible”. This focus on the necessity for another world rather than just opposing their wars was very noticeable in what people said, the reports and video made by the stop the war coalition at the world against war demonstration on March 15th. In November 2006 TSWC moved and passed at the national stop the war conference in London a motion on the necessity to establish an anti-war government that does not allow its troops to occupy foreign soil, recognises the integrity and sovereignty of other nations and for a foreign policy that resolves conflicts through diplomacy and peaceful means. This is entirely the sentiment being expressed on the world against was demonstration. Pro-war government has to go and an anti-war and pro peace movement should establish countries and a world where wars are an anachronism. For the first time in modern times, you could say, there is a practical programme and unity for an anti-war government which is not some marginalised pacifist programme but a practical programme taken up by the movement which engages people from the armed forces to the peace camp. There are different views on how this will be achieved but make no mistake this is a common cause and common aim for all peace loving people
As you know since the last AGM in October 2006 an even more conscious attack has been launched on people of Islamic faith in Britain and throughout the world. In Britain it has clearly been an attempt to try and destroy the coherence of the people in resisting their war programme and their programme to attack everyone’s human rights in society. It has been virulently spearheaded by the mass media and at times a frenzied campaign reminiscent of the Nazis. As you know the anti-war movement to its great credit has stood firm on this defending everyone’s right to conscience, in a reflection of what is best in society and a modern world that it unity of all the people in defence of their rights and the rights of all. We responded to that taking part in the national events such as the Peoples Assembly in London against the attack on people of Islamic faith as well as the activities on Tyneside. Most recently we organised a very successful public meeting at which Moazzam Begg and others who spoke in spoke in Newcastle to a packed audience on this question. Also, at the 2007 National Conference of the Stop the War Coalition it passed our motion on defending the rights of all as integral to the success of the anti-war movement.
That National Stop the war conference last year was a very crucial conference, if not the most crucial, for the Stop the War Coalition, coming six years after its founding and with the stepping down of Tony Blair and the claims of the new Prime Minister that he was disengaging from Iraq. If you remember it was two weeks after the they tried and failed to ban the National Demonstration on October 8th at the opening of Parliament under Brown. Almost his first act was against us – that is very telling of how the big parties will continue to behave. I think it could be said that it reflected the whole trial of strength with these warmongers in which 5,000 people gathered at the opening of Parliament and called for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and to oppose any attack on Iran. They never declared the march legal but allowed it to go ahead. My understanding is that the world against war demonstration on March 15th two weeks ago also did not have the permission of the state but they chose at this time not to ban it. This shows the depths to which the ruling circles are sinking in order to pursue their pro-war programme but more importantly it shows that the people will not tolerate these attacks on their right to take a stand against war and occupation.
Can I just mention what I think the significance of the national Stop the War movement and its conference last year and subsequent events that have been organised this year by the national movement and on Tyneside. It shows democracy is taking shape in the movement in the form that the state has no legitimacy in trying to ban our demonstrations and that conference gave a warning on any further attempts to stop our right to demonstrate opposition to their wars and occupations.
Secondly, conference also gave a warning against attempts by the government to support an attack on Iran. In fact, I think this was probably its greatest contribution in that it clearly reflected the resolve of the British people to oppose any attack on Iran by this Anglo-US Alliance or to engage in any demonisation of Iran as part of these war preparations.
Thirdly, the conference condemned the US and British government for the millions they have slaughtered in this "war on terror", as well as the atrocities and torture, and attacks on civil liberties and rights of the people at home.
Since the last AGM of Tyneside Stop the War Coalition we have organised a number of important events with the view to strengthening the coalition in the north east area. It has not just been about national events important as they are. In this period we have seen the growth and continuation of the work of peace groups and anti-war groups in the north east area. Work we know about has been ongoing in Hexham, South Tyneside, Durham, Whitley Bay, Berwick and Sunderland.
As always, it has been important to maintain a strong Tyneside Stop the War Coalition. We have met every month either in the form of steering group or general discussion meetings. At the beginning of last year we organised a successful public meeting in Newcastle on the 6th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq – Don’t attack Iran and troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, there was a die in July and that was followed by what we called an autumn of resistance. On September 17th the NUS and students withdrew the right of the TA to attend the fresher fare and Newcastle College. On October 21st there was a successful anti-war concert - end occupations. On November 14th this was followed by a protest against Blair’s visit to South Shields.
Since the last AGM we have run regular Saturday stalls. These stalls have continued to keep the stop the war agenda firmly in the eye of the people of Tyneside. But apart from that they have had an even more important effect. As you will hear about particularly over this period there has been an attempt to suppress the stalls by the local authorities. They have used the excuse of the bye laws on street collections to try and stop stalls at the monument. However, inspite of all this we have maintained regular stalls when we have needed to and nobody should be discouraged from attending the stalls because they are well organised. In terms of finance this is one source of funds but not the main source.
What has been the stalls main contribution? Over the last year we have collected thousands of signatures against the war. If we have the numbers we will give them to you but what the stall has shown time and time again is how many people are opposed to the pro-war programme. In particular, we can remark on the number of working class women whose sons, or daughter, are in the armed forces and who vehemently oppose them being sent abroad either as invaders, or as occupiers. This has reaffirmed to us over and over again that this is a broad coalition of people who are against the war and who want peace.
Coming onto what I think the stalls most important contribution has been over this year we have to look at two years ago. Basically we had a small email list that we had no control over as a coalition. It was an autonomous discussion list but not very active of around 50 people had been involved since the start of the coalition. We decided to create a new list as an urgent priority. Through the stall literally hundreds of signed up to get on the Tyneside Stop the War Coalition mailing list. This list now stands at around 600 people many new people from all walks of life and with youth very well represented.
Firstly, this list has become crucial for the Stop the War Coalition getting its message across in the north east and opposing the disinformation of the mass media.
Secondly it has become a vital for organising and mobilising people especially at short notice and when events unfold. When Israel carried out its outrageous attack on Lebanon in 2006 500 people attended the rally against the war many through the email list that existed then. The Anglo US alliance has been unable to carry further such obvious aggression since then but more recent events have also demonstrated the importance of this in mobilising people such as the Moazzam Begg meeting being one example.
We have work to do to improve this. We have paid attention especially for this agm to mailing lists for the trade unions and churches for example but I think that this needs to be organised and systematised so has to better organise ourselves as a broad coalition. Similarly, we need to solve the problem of a website.
Returning to the stall we have to also decide how to take this forward. In recent times it has tended to fall on too few people and particularly one person. We need to look at why we have the stall and what aim it has. Clearly the petition programme has run its course for now. Most people have signed the petition several times over. So, how do we take the stall work forward. It think the stall is important but it needs all our support on how to improve it and make it effective in our present work.
We said that the present steering Committee would not pre-discuss any agenda other than to report on the work and organising the AGM. We organised the agm with the aim of reaffirming the broad character of the anti-war movement on Tyneside. That does not mean necessarily that we are expecting everyone and all the organisations who have been involved, or who taking an anti-war stand to attend this meeting or that even all of those active at our events will attend. It means that we are reaffirming the Tyneside Stop the War coalition as a broad inclusive coalition of all the anti-war forces and this is a project that we took up at the beginning of the year. It is up this AGM how this should continue and be further developed.
The agenda for the AGM is open to the meeting decide and you will set this agenda and decide how the Tyneside Stop the War Coalition conducts its affairs and what arrangements should be put in place over the coming year.
As Convenor/chair since the last AGM I have reported on the work of the coalition so it is now down to all of us to elect a chair for the AGM and propose the agenda.
Roger Nettleship
