Needed: Visible Resistance Against the Occupation of Afghanistan

Date: September 30, 2009 at 10:50:57
From: Debra Sweet - WCW, []
Subject: Needed: Visible Resistance Against the Occupation of Afghanistan

From New York City, where the UN General Assembly opened, to Pittsburgh, where the G20 nations are meeting, there is protest of the terrible results of the US/NATO "war on terror," of the role of governments in endangering the planet through saving capitalism at the expense of the people.

There are very serious threats to the people of the Middle East coming out of the White House. The renewed threats on Iran for having nuclear capability, coming from a president who is not widely despised as George Bush was, are of great concern. As the Obama administration considers how to "win" in Afghanistan, the proposal was floated by Joe Biden that, instead of more troops going to Afghanistan, more focus and money should be put into increasing unmanned drone attacks on Pakistan, and supporting the illegitimate government there.

Read up: Ken Theisen:
McChrystal Report Leaked to Advance Escalation of Afghan War

Lina Thorne:
U.S. War, Occupation Deepen the Bitter Oppression of Afghanistan's Women: This Must End

2 Weeks of events protesting the occupations of Afghanistan & Iraq & threats to Pakistan & Iran:

Thursday October 1 10pm EST/7pm PST Special Conference Call for activists & thinkers. Everyone invited to call in for a discussion of what we can all do to stop the the occupations. World Can't Wait organizers will present plans for ongoing outreach & engagement. Write Debra at debrasweet@worldcantwait.org for information on participating.

Washington DC:

On the weekend of October 3/4--
Military Families Speak Out and American Friends Service Committee will be undertaking the first Eyes Wide Open Exhibit showing the Cost of War in Afghanistan. Over 830 pairs of combat boots representing the fallen troops in Afghanistan and 100 shoes, a fraction of those civilians killed during 8 years of war and occupation will be displayed on the Ellipse, south of The White House. World Can't Wait will be there to ask the public, "Why did all these people die?" 9am Saturday through 3pm Sunday.

Sunday October 4 --
World Can't Wait presents a discussion "Afghanistan: Our Responsibility to Humanity to Stop the US Occupation" featuring Cindy Sheehan, Gareth Porter, and Debra Sweet. 6-8 pm. Georgetown University, room TBA. Come, learn, and help develop arguments as we go out among people with the message that the occupations and torture must stop.

Monday October 5 --
Join World Can't Wait, Veterans for Peace, Witness Against Torture, Activist Response Team & many other groups as part of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance action protesting the 8th anniversary of the occupation of Afghanistan.

10:00 am McPherson Square 15 St NW & I St.
11:30 am March to White House.
12:00 pm White House at Lafayette Square.

Cindy Sheehan & Ann Wright, who will have just landed from a trip to Afghanistan, will address the crowd. The coalition is planning varied actions of non-violent civil resistance. Supporters, people to do outreach to the public, and photographers are all needed.

World Can't Wait will be displaying the Museum of U.S. Torture, detailing the techniques authorized and used against detainees by the White House torture team. While all these techniques should /only/ be in museums, we have a president who just announced he will continue to detain people indefinitely on the same authority Bush used. Detention facilities in Bagram, Afghanistan, have been doubled, and Obama administration plans to look into even investigating those who authorized torture is being continually narrowed.

To join the World Can't Wait contingent and play your part in the "museum," (wearing orange jumpsuits, carrying display boards, or being part of theater) email sharon@worldcantwait.org. Housing at St. Stephens Church available Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Nationwide:

Tuesday, October 6 ---
Day of Resistance to Military Recruiters in High
Schools. We Are Not Your Soldiers! No matter where you are, you have a voice! Whether we resist military recruiters has everything to do with the future we'll get.

On Tuesday, October 6 students can:

* Wear an orange bandanna or ribbon (the color against torture and war) to show there's a movement
* Show a film of Iraq veterans telling about the war crimes the US military committed.
* Invite anti-war veterans to talk to your class or assembly. WeAreNotYourSoldiers.org
* Confront military recruiters at your school or in the mall, telling them why you refuse to sign up, so that other students hear your side.
* Protest at a military recruiting office and call the media to let them know why.

Everyone can help. Download flyers, video to show in classes at www.wearenotyoursoldiers.org

Wednesday October 7 --
Visible Resistance in public places, vigils, rallies on the anniversary of Afghanistan occupation in 2001. It's not too late to plan an event now...

Example: New York City 5:00 - 7:00 pm Participants will come dressed for a wedding party to the great hall of Grand Central Station. Those of us who pay attention know what happens to wedding parties in Afghanistan when the US decides civilians should not gather in large groups; but the general public in the US doesn't necessarily know. Bring cameras and be ready to play a variety of roles, including talking with the public about why the US occupation of Afghanistan must end.
See MORE Events.
The American Friends Service Committee is also organizing vigils, see.

Saturday October 17--
National day of local and regional actions against war and occupation.

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