Women Say No to NATO – WILPF, WIB and others – 20th November 2010
Between 11 am and 3 pm this Saturday, November 20, a small group of women will be mounting a peaceful and picturesque demonstration in central London against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Fourteen women wearing lettered T-shirts will spell out the message “SAY NO TO NATO”, at a sequence of sites in the pedestrian areas of the South Bank, Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Our aim is to catch the attention of passers-by and inform them with leaflets about the danger to peace and security NATO represents.
NATO Summit this weekend. Our action marks NATO’s biennial Summit Meeting this weekend. Heads of State will assemble in Lisbon, Portugal, to approve a new ‘Strategic Concept’, which is expected to affirm NATO as an expanding, ambitious, aggressive and nuclear-armed military alliance, seeking to control the world in the interests of the USA and other privileged nations.
As women we say ‘No to NATO’ because military expenditure steals money from the education, health and housing services badly needed by women, who carry the main burden of domestic life. In war, women suffer displacement, rape, loss, injury and increased responsibilities. In NATO member states its military bases are a source of social stress in our neighbourhoods, of toxic pollution, sexual exploitation and violence. But women are not just victims. Many have the skills and experience to play, and do play, a key role in conflict prevention, conflict reconciliation and peace building.
End the war in Afghanistan. Our action is also timed to coincide with the Stop the War Coalition’s march and rally to end the war in Afghanistan, a cause we warmly support and to which we add our voices. At a terrible cost to Afghan people, particularly women, NATO is fighting an aggressive and futile war, far out of its supposed area, and contrary to its supposed purpose of collective defence.
We call for:
· NATO troops to leave Afghanistan on terms that secure women’s safety and well-being;
· NATO to curb its ‘out-of-area’ operations and observe international law;
· NATO to be phased out and replaced by non-military cooperation for peace and justice, facilitated by the United Nations, in which women may play a full part.
We are women of four organizations active against militarism and war:
· Women in Black against War http://www.womeninblack.org.uk
· Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom http://www.ukwilpf.org.uk
· Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp http://www.aldermaston.net
· An affinity group of Trident Ploughshares http://www.tridentploughshares.org
Contacts:
· Cynthia Cockburn
· Angie Zelter
For more information on ‘Women Say No to NATO’ see http://www.wloe.org
