From Washington DC to Pakistani to the UK the masses showed up to protest a possible war with Iraq and completed it’s first goal, that being taking control of the media for at least a day. It remains to be seen if the anti-war machine will now pick up steam or fizzle out.
any stories to share by those who attended one?
Utd, nobody should doubt that the opposition to war is gaining momentum throughout the world, in fact even in middle America the majority of the public do not believe there is any justification for war.. Also, its not just about gaining media coverage for a single day.. these individuals can make a difference at the next elections by voting against their Governments because of their pro-war stance, so many leaders will be carefully watching the situation. In Europe there is a huge wave of opinion against military intervention, so EU leaders will be very reluctant to support Bush in any unilateral declaration of war. Btw, there will be worldwide anti-war rallies planned in february which will be even larger the ones held yesterday.
Hundreds of Thousands Protest at Global Anti-War Rallies](VOA - Voice of America English News) VOA News 19 Jan 03
Hundreds of thousands of people turned out around the world Saturday to denounce President Bush and U.S. preparations to use military force to overthrow Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Tens of thousands braved subzero temperatures in Washington to hear antiwar speeches in front of the U.S. Capitol before a noisy but non-violent march to a major military installation nearby. Protesters came from as far away as the state of Alaska to carry signs declaring “no blood for oil” and “regime change begins at home.”
There were no official estimates of how many attended the marches and rallies, but organizers claimed a half-million people took part in Washington. Similar rallies took place across America throughout the day. A second round of protests is planned outside the White House and elsewhere on Sunday. A Newsweek magazine poll released Saturday says eight out 10 Americans support military action against Iraq if the United States is joined by its major allies and has the full backing of the U.N. Security Council.
However, 60 percent of those questioned also said it is more important to take more time to seek a diplomatic solution, while 35 percent said military force is the only way to deal effectively with Iraq. Rallies also were held in scores of cities in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast to pressure the Bush administration to seek nonviolent means to rid Iraq of its banned weapons of mass destruction.
I didn`t know there had been a war yet,for them to demonstrate against.
As far as i am aware,it is up to Saddam,if there is war or not,he could always save his people from that by just getting his family and get the hell out of dodge,then no war.
Tokyo
Lahore
Damascus
Beirut
Paris
UK
Calgary, Canada
California
Washington
Some of the regions involved in a world-wide protest against any invasion against Iraq.
In pictures: Anti-war protests, BBC, 18 January 2003
Anti-war protesters take to the streets, BBC, 18 January 2003
US braced for huge anti-war protests, BBC, 18 January 2003
i’ll include in this thread later a URL of one in the Image Forum that has some pictures from some of the protests.
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A war against Iraq will happen, possibily with UN approval.
500,000 Anti-War Protesters Demonstrate in Washington, 200,000 March in San Francisco Hundreds of Thousands More Demonstrate Around the World To Oppose U.S. War With Iraq
[thumb=A]peacedemo.JPG[/thumb]
International A.N.S.W.E.R.
Freezing every part of your body in sub-zero temperatures to stand up against a war that may occur thousands of miles away.
North rallies for peaceful resolution to Iraq crisis, CBC North
IQALUIT, Nunavut - People from across the north gathered on Saturday afternoon to protest against the possibility of war against Iraq. Despite frigid temperatures in some locations, hundreds made known their opposition to U.S. sabre-rattling and Canada’s involvement in the conflict.
The demonstrations were part of a international weekend of protest against war.
More than a hundred Yukoners took to the streets of Whitehorse, including well known Yukoners like Audrey McLaughlin and territorial NDP leader Todd Hardy.
Edie Crum was one of the protesters. She said her reasons to oppose a war in Iraq are deeply personal.“I have four beautiful grandsons of war age,” she says. “And they are all beautiful boys. I see no reason why they should go to any war started by those warmongers.”
In Iqaluit, 150 people of all ages and races braved -35C temperatures and took to the streets.Al Gabriel joined in the effort with his young daughter by his side.
“I think it’s deplorable what George Bush is trying to do in the name of capitalism,” he says. “I don’t think it’s about terrorism at all, it’s more about making sure the States continue to have access to oil.” The demonstrators warmed up in the parish hall at the end of the march, drinking coffee and listening to music as the Arctic sun began to set.
And while it wasn’t the largest demonstration, residents of Igloolik likely set the record for the northernmost protest against war when they marched in sub-zero weather at the geographic centre of Nunavut.
I find this to be funny. The rant of how many people showed up and the American middle class does not support Bush. Well we have a population of roughly 280 million people here and 6 or 7 hundred thousand showed up for these peace rallies. Well that means 279 million either support the president or just plain don’t care one way or the other. So what is the big deal, nothing was gained.