BY NORM DIXON
Just a month after more than 12 million people across the planet took part in the largest anti-war protest history in an attempt to prevent the United States' war machine decimating the people of Iraq, millions of people throughout the world mobilised again on March 14-16.
As on February 14-16, the largest mobilisations took place in Europe. The anti-war actions kicked off on March 14 with millions of workers downing tools for a symbolic 15-minute strike against the US war drive, called by the European Confederation of Unions.
In Spain alone, where the government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar supports US plans to attack Iraq, more than 5 million workers stopped work. Unions in Germany, Italy (where Silvio Berlusconi's regime also backs Bush to the hilt) and Switzerland also strongly participated.
On February 15, hundreds of thousands of protesters worldwide (based on the estimates of the mainstream media and police, who persistently underestimate the size of protests) took to the streets to oppose any US-led invasion of Iraq.
In Italy, 400,000 people descended on Milan from all corners of the country for a rally organised by Italy's biggest trade union confederation, the CGIL. CGIL head Guglielmo Epifani warned: "When the first bombs fall, this country will grind to a halt and the workers united will say no to war."
In Spain, 300,000 people marched in Barcelona and Madrid, according to police. Tens of thousands of people marched in dozens of other Spanish cities, including Moron de la Frontera, where the US Air Force is using a base for war preparations.
In Berlin, more than 100,000 people lit candles and formed a "chain of lights" that stretched 22 kilometres across the city, passing the US embassy and the famous Brandenburg Gate.
In other parts of Germany, 10,000 people rallied in Karslruhe and 4000 held hands to form a "chain for peace" in Nuremberg. Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters staged a sit-in at a US air base near Frankfurt from where US troops and military supplies are leaving for the Gulf.
In France, around 80,000 people turned out for a rally in Paris, while up to 200,000 turned out across France. "With or without UN, no to war in Iraq", chanted the Paris protesters. In Belgium, police said around 30,000 people marched through Brussels.
Some 20,000 people marched in Athens behind a giant replica of Picasso's celebrated anti-war painting, "Guernica". In the northern port of Thessaloniki, three anti-war marches merged at the US consulate, where an effigy of a missile was burned.
Protest were also held in Nicosia, Moscow, Bucharest, Copenhagen, and Stockholm.
In London, the Stop the War Coalition, the organisation that coordinated the 2-million-strong march on February 15, called on the people of Britain to "shut the country down" if war breaks out. "When the bombing starts, the country stops, simple as that", said the coalition's Mark Thompson on February 14. People are being asked to leave their schools and workplaces on the day war begins and assemble for a mass demonstration outside parliament at 5pm. An even bigger demonstration will be held on the Saturday following the start of war.
United States
Demonstrators also turned out across the USA. The largest demonstration was in Washington, where organisers said the number protesters exceeded the range of loudspeakers, which were set to handle a crowd of 100,000. The throng encircled the White House and the justice department.
"I'm amazed because this was done with only two weeks' notice and the crowd is so many more times our capacity", Sara Flounders, co-director of International Action Center, one of several groups that helped to organise the rally, told Knight Ridder newspapers.
"We shouldn't send [US troops} over there unless we know it's the right thing to do", Ferris Donoso of Rockport, Maine, told Associated Press. "These are people with families they've left behind. I'm not going to ask them to fight this war." She carried a sign reading, "Support our troops. Bring them home".
Tens of thousands of protesters also gathered in San Francisco to voice opposition to a new war on Iraq. Speakers included actors Danny Glover and Martin Sheen and musician Michael Franti of the group Spearhead.
Up to 10,000 people mobilised in Austin, in the US president's home state of Texas, to condemn the Bush administration's war plans.
The US anti-war movement has called for immediate protests across the US if a war on Iraq is launched. The next major demonstration will be on March 22 in midtown Manhattan, New York City, organised by United for Peace and Justice NYC.
Middle East and Asia
In Baghdad, hundreds of thousands turned out to vow to defeat any US attack on the country. In Sana, the capital of Yemen, tens of thousands heeded President Ali Abdullah Saleh's call to turn out for anti-war rallies. In Amman, Jordan, more than 5000 people — including Islamists and leftists — sharply criticised the Jordanian regime for its collaboration with Washington.
In Turkey, where the US is pressuring the parliament to allow the deployment of about 62,000 combat troops, 8000 people protested against the use of Turkish ports and air bases by the US military. Riot police blocked roads leading to the Mediterranean port of Iskenderun. Nevertheless, two dozen peace activists succeeded in chaining themselves to the wheels of a truck, blocking an entrance to the port, where US forces are unloading equipment ahead of a possible Iraq war.
In occupied Palestine, 2000 residents of the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip protested, chanting "No to the war for oil" and "Save the Iraqi children". In Gaza City, several hundred Palestinian women protested. Another 2000 demonstrated in Nablus, 1000 in Jenin and several hundred in both Ramallah and Hebron.
In Egypt, about 4000 demonstrators gathered in Cairo, chanting anti-US slogans and calling on Arab leaders to form a common front to avert a war.
There were also significant protests across Asia. On February 15, around 20,000 marched in Tokyo and 3000 protested in Bangkok. In Seoul, 2000 South Koreans threw paper doves into the evening sky. In New Zealand, more than 3000 people marched in Christchurch and 1000 in Dunedin. Protests were also reported in Vietnam, Hong Kong, India and the Philippines.
From Green Left Weekly, March 19, 2003.
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