Local Peace Events

A few peace events coming up which may be of interest (via Lewisham & Greenwich CND):

• The next Lewisham and Greenwich CND business meeting is on Tuesday 15th June in Mr Laurence's Wine Bar, 391 Brockley Road, London SE4 2PH at 7pm.
  

• On Wednesday 16th June, at St. John's Church, Lewisham Way, SE8 4EA, South East London Palestine Solidarity Campaign is holding its AGM at 7pm with a report on the Gaza Flotilla at 7.30 pm. There will be an eye witness account from Alex Lort-Phillips who was on the Mavi Marmara. Frank Barat from the Russell Tribunal on Palestine will provide further information on the siege and the occupation. All are welcome to both the AGM and report on the Gaza Flotilla.

• On Tuesday 15th June, at Mr Laurence's Wine bar from 6pm until 7pm, there will be an organization meeting for the Hiroshima Day commemoration on Tuesday 3rd August in Charlton House at which an atom bomb survivor (Hibakusha) will speak. This will be the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the bomb, and probably our last opportunity to hear about the effects of an atom bomb from somebody who was there.
  
  The Charlton House Hiroshima day commemoration will continue with an evening of music and poetry organised in collaboration with The One World Club - a club of musicians and poets which meets at the Mitre in Greenwich every Thursday evening - see . If you would like to help organize this event, please come at 6pm.
  

• Lewisham United Nations Association AGM: the Lewisham branch of the United Nations Association will hold its AGM on Thursday 17th June 2010 at 7,30pm in the Civic Suite of Lewisham Town Hall.
  
  Immediately following the brief AGM, Lord Hannay, Chair of UNA-UK will speak on "A nuclear free world and how to achieve it". The event will be chaired by Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham. The evening will will conclude with music by the Lewisham choir with a conscience, The Strawberry thieves, and a light supper.
  

Sarah in Palestine

Sarah, a friend who lives and works in Lewisham and who I know through Lewisham Oxfam Campaigns, is currently in Palestine - part holiday, part study and volunteering. She is writing a blog which can be found here.

Ugly Rumours - Tony Blair at Number 1?

Sounds like the anti-war/peace demo on Saturday went well, apart from the usual wrangling between organisers and police over how many people took part. I was at a councillor training day in Blackheath so couldn't make it. Thanks to Natalie for posting this photo to the Green Party members' site.

Someone has set up a spoof version of Tony Blair's university band 'Ugly Rumours' and released a cover of Edwin Starr's "War (what is it good for)". If you would like to see it at number one in the charts to coincide with the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and the day when MPs are voting on Trident, go to the Ugly Rumours Website for details of how to download the track. It costs £1.50 and all profits go to the Stop the War Coalition, apparently. The video on the website features George Galloway and Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of aforementioned PM.

Trident/Iraq Demo Saturday 24th February

National demo against the planned Trident replacement and continued occupation of Iraq this coming Saturday. Assemble 12 noon, Speakers' Corner. Rally in Trafalgar Square. Billed to be a big one. Not sure where Lewisham and Greenwich CND and Lewisham Stop the War are meeting up - anyone?

Lewisham Peace Council Inaugural Meeting

The inaugural meeting of Lewisham Peace Council is taking place this Thursday (25th January), 7.3opm at Lewisham Town Hall, Catford . All welcome. If you are unable to attend but have suggestions or comments please contact Lewisham CND.

Agenda includes introduction by Chair of Lewisham United Nations Association, a short speech from the Young Mayor of Lewisham (to be confirmed), Bromley Peace Council experiences (Anne Garrett),
working groups and objectives for the first year, constitution discussion, including proposed dates for next meetings, concluding summary by Chair of the inaugural meeting, food and drink in the foyer, songs from the Strawberry Thieves and street theatre performance ‘Bethlehem’

No Justice, No Peas!

I attended the annual Lewisham Peace Vigil yesterday, organised by Lewisham and Greenwich CND together with Stop the War. I think this is the fourth one now and it's a bit depressing that the same wars that prompted us to start it are still rumbling on. We met outside the library then walked down to the market area carrying lanterns which spelled out 'No justice, no peace', although the person with 'ce' was a little bit behind the others so some shoppers looked a bit puzzled about what the protest against peas was all about. Music was provided by the Strawberry Thieves Socialist Choir. Attendance was a little down on previous years, but it's always a busy day in the year for people to make it.

Interesting posting on Ruscombe Green about 2 campaigns calling for people to send fruit to the government. The Burma Campaign is calling for the UK government to ban British companies from investing in Burma, while the other, Blair's Banana Republic has been set up in response to the decision by the PM not to allow the police to investigate allegations that BAE Systems bribed Saudi Officials to secure a deal to sell them fighter jets. But hey, on the upside, shares in BAE Systems rose 7% on the announcement, which is good for Lewisham Council's Pension Fund, which invests in the company. Not so good for whoever the Saudis may decide to bomb with them, of course. Just seen that Matt and Richard have written about this whole Blair & BAE fiasco.

BTW, this is my 100th posting, and to celebrate the fact, I'm going to take a break from blogging until the new year. Happy Christmas and a peaceful new year to everyone.