Upcoming Events

National Demo 24th September
Bring the Troops Home
Defend Civil Liberties
Defend the Muslim Community

Coach Tickets Available from the Campaigns Office UMSU
Campaigns@umsu.manchester.ac.uk
Call Rob on: 07930 953 265

Students £10, Waged £15, Solidarity £20

Departs 7.30am Student's Union

The crisis in Iraq is getting worse and no matter what Bush and Blair throw at it isn't going to get any better.  With the London bombings everything we said about making the world a more dangerous place has come true.  We need to bring the movement back to the streets to show their is an alternative to racism, war and violence.  

Manchester Central Rally

Tariq Ali, John Rees and others....

Friday the 9th of September venue tbc.

Join us for Tariq Ali's first visit to Manchester since 2001 and help us start the last push to publisise the demonstration on the 24th. Manchesters StWC rallies have a great reputation and rightly so.  600 people packed in to here Tony Benn and this time won't be any different.  Come here the arguments for why mobalisation now is so important, why we must defend civil liberties and the muslim community and why the troops must come home.

Past Events

"This was supposed to be one of the quickest wars," said Lance-Corporal Dennis Coats, 20. "We weren't anticipating on getting attacked so early, we weren't anticipating all this terrorist activity," 
-An American soldier misunderstanding the concept of terrorism.

National Protest in London

Saturday February 15th 2003.

Q: What do you call 2 million people marching in London?
A: A good start.
Congratulations to everyone who attended the demo in London - you have sealed your place in the history of not only our nation but of the world, taking part in the biggest political protest ever witnessed and sending a clear message from the good people of our nation 'Not in our names'; 'No to war'. The words of George Monbiot never rang truer, Tony Blair now cannot fail to know that his political future is on the line over the issue of war with Iraq, the papers have openly been discussing this, he is on the back foot, changing tack and claiming that we have a 'humanitarian duty'...to bomb innocent civilians, their homes, hospitals and schools. A good start indeed, yet there is still much to be done. The pressure has to be kept on Tony Blair, and let us not forget our own local MPs, who are elected to represent our will in parliament, for what use is a leader without a party? We have to make our own MPs understand that their political future is also on the line if they do not voice the opinion of the majority of their constituents and speak out against the US driven war of atrocity proposed on Iraq. It is important not to become either too complacent or too disheartened by the effect we have had on Tony Blair and the government in dissuading them of going to war with Iraq. We need only remember that in a true democracy power lies with the people and take this as a basis for further protest and build what is already a tremendous movement yet further. 2 million people on the streets of London is certainly a good start, now we need many times that in regional demonstrations (8th March and 1st April), and still more must take to the streets the day Blair finally shows where his true loyalties lie and drags us into war kicking and screaming.

"Even if we cannot stop the attack upon Iraq, we must ensure that it becomes so politically costly that there will never be another like it. And this means that the usual demos will no longer suffice." - George Monbiot.

Margaret Hodge MP - Minister for Higher Education 
Demonstrate 13th February!

Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Higher Education came to our university on the 13th February and received a very warm welcome from the students of Manchester. As her transport tellingly arrived at the back of the union building and she snuck in like a thief in the night, the cries of 'No blood for oil'; 'Books not bombs' and a multitude of others rang out through the cold Manchester night as a gathering of students on the front steps set the scene for what was to prove to be a rather curious experience for all involved. Faced with a hostile crowd, Ms. Hodge MP., detailed the governments proposals for higher education, and suggested it was the 'best package' available to prospective students in light of the current political and fiscal climate. Tellingly, she admitted that to achieve a free, publicly funded Higher Education was never going to be a priority of the government, as it is perceived in the government that it is not, and in the foreseeable future, will not be a priority for the general tax paying public. Which begs the interesting question, 'Why is her government taking us into a war that is opposed by an overwhelming majority of public opinion, and preparing to waste billions of taxpayers money to kill innocent civilians and unlucky conscripts?' Ms. Hodge MP., would have those with the audacity to question her on this proposed atrocity believe that the two issues of war and free education are unconnected. But surely if we have billions to spend on a war that flies in the angry face of public opinion, we have enough to subsidize the 400 million pounds that tuition fees raise every year. It is a sad day when the Minister for Higher Education openly admits that Higher Education is not a priority, when she should be doing her utmost to make it so, not sitting on her laurels and 'agreeing to disagree' with arguments to the contrary. Ms Hodge MP., left the building with a gaggle of security to the chant of 'Where've your morals gone? Where've your morals gone?' (where indeed?) and her driver proceeded to run through a red light and accelerate down Oxford Road with angry protests at his back.

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"I would never commit British troops to a war I thought was wrong or unnecessary. But the price of influence is that we do not leave the US to face the tricky issues alone.

"By tricky, I mean the ones which people wish weren't there, don't want to deal with and, if I can put it a little pejoratively, know the US should confront, but want the luxury of criticizing them for it."

- President Blair speaks

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