[CPT-UK] 7 October action

[Dora-Marie Goulet]

Hello one and all!

It's a heavy rain falling today in London, but I'm feeling optimistic.
Two weeks ago I attended a meeting of a faith-based environmental group.
The chairperson made the point that in terms of building the world we
want it is key to remember that the process of how we try to bring about
change is as significant as any actual change that may occur as a result
of our actions.  In a real sense, the process is the change.  I found
this encouraging.

In light of that thought, it is my pleasure to invite you all to gather
on Oct. 7th (a Sunday) at St. Ethelburga's (www.stethelburgas.org, it's
near Bank tube) to mark the 6th anniversary of the most recent invasion
of Afghanistan.  The vigil will start with a multi-faith service, and be
followed by a walk across central London, ending in Trafalgar Square.

It would be great to see as many of you there as possible.  If anyone is
interested in being involved in the multi-faith service, do let me know.

In peace,
Dora-Marie



London Mennonite Centre

rooted in the Anabaptist tradition 

cultivating Christian discipleship as a way of life

 

Dora-Marie Goulet
Interfaith Justice & Peace Liaison

14 Shepherds Hill
LONDON
N6 5AQ
United Kingdom

London Mennonite Trust, Registered Charity No: 227410
VAT Reg No: GB 696 9270 70 

www.menno.org.uk
dmgoulet at menno.org.uk

tel: 
fax: 

08454 500 214    From overseas:  +44 20 8340 8775
020 8341 6807                            +44 20 8341 6807 

 
7 OCTOBER: 'STOP BOMBING AFGHANISTAN' PEACE WALK AND VIGIL ON THE SIXTH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2001 INVASION

Meet 10am, Sunday 7 October
Saint Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate,
EC2N
4AG (tubes: Bank, Liverpool St)

"They destroyed my family, my home, my life. I have nothing left" - Agah
Lalai, whose wife, father, grandfather, grandmother, three brothers, and
four sisters were killed by a US airstrike on 8 May [1].

STOP THE BOMBING
According to the UN mission in Afghanistan, more Afghan civilians have
died
at the hands of US/NATO forces in the first six months of this year than
were killed by the Taliban [2]. In one single incident this June, 25
civilians - including nine women and three young children - were killed
by a
bombing raid called in by British forces, one of just hundreds of such
airstrikes in recent months [3].

TROOPS OUT
In a March poll, 53% of the British public said that all British troops
should be withdrawn from Afghanistan 'more or less immediately' [4].
This
May the upper house of the Afghan Parliament passed a motion calling for
a
military cease-fire and a date to be set for the withdrawal of foreign
troops [5].

Join us on Sunday 7 Oct - the sixth anniversary of the 2001 invasion -
for a
peace walk through London to demand an end to the bombing of Afghanistan
and
the withdrawal of British troops. Please wear black or white if
possible.

This action organised by Christian Peacemaker Teams UK,  the London
Catholic
Worker, the Oxford
Catholic Worker and Voices UK. Contact s 0845 458 2564 or
www.voicesuk.org.

NOTES
[1] 'Afghans blame Nato, the invited peacekeeper, for civilian deaths',
The
Times, 24 May 2007, http://tinyurl.com/2vhyfx
[2] 'Errant Afghan civilian deaths surge', LA Times, 6 July 2007,
http://tinyurl.com/2b4pww
[3] '25 Afghan civilians die in NATO crossfire', International Herlad
Tribune, 22 June 2007, http://tinyurl.com/269ytv
[4] YouGov poll, 26-28 March 2007, http://tinyurl.com/24rear
[5] 'Afghan lawmakers call for ceasefire', Associated Press, 9 May 2007,
see
http://tinyurl.com/39lmtq