A World Without War Conference
International Conference for a World Without War organised by the Global Peace and Justice Coalition held in in Istanbul at Bilgi University on 4th of March. International Conference for a World Without War Held in Istanbul on 4th of March. International Conference for a World Without War organised by the Global Peace and Justice Coalition held in in Istanbul at Bilgi University on 4th of March.
The conference moderated by Bülent Aydın and Yıldız Önen from the Coalition, started with the speeches given by author Adalet Ağaoğlu, painter Mehmet Güleryüz and artist Memet Ali Alabora. The speakers were, Lindsey German from the Stop the War Coalition in England, Celeste Zappala from the Military Families Speak Out in America and Ahmad Shayegan from Iran.
Author Adalet Ağaoğlu said that there was several threats today and firs of them was USA capitalism.
Painter Mehmet Güleryüz said “this is a very complicated period. And what makes this period complicated is USA. The attack against the Muslims is very important and as artists we have to be against this. We have to against the plans of USA about Middle East”.
And Memet Ali Alabora called everybody to the demonstration which is going to be held in İstanbul against the occupation on the 18th of March.
After these speeches, we watched the cd about the boots demonstration which Celeste Zappala brought from America.
The first speaker Lindsey German from the Stop the War Coalition in England said, “I am here as a representer of the majority of English people who are against the war policy of Tony Blair. Yesterday Tony Blair said that only god could judge him about Iraq. I think we do not have to wait this long. Three thousand people died at the 9/11 attack. But after that hundreds of thousand people died in Afghanistan, in Iraq because of America’s war policy. Now Bush threatens Iran with the excuse that Iran has nuclear weapons. We should not forget that it is America which has got nuclear weapons and it is the only country which used nuclear weapons against civilians during the second world war. There is nor democracy, neither freedom in Iraq now. It is so obvious that this war is about power rather than freedom or democracy. You can ask that what we can change by demonstrating. Think of that there is no movement against the war. If this happened Bush would attack Venezuela. Secondly, if there was no movement against the war, Iraqi people feel themselves lonely while they are resisting. Thirdly, no matter how much we demonstrates in our own countries, on the 18th of March 2006 we will be millions in the world who marched against the war and occupation.”
The second speaker, a physics professor from Iran, Ahmad Shayegan said, “The main aim of Bush is not prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons, but creating a new crisis in the Middle East just as such America had done during Iran-Iraq war. The powerful countries, such as America, profits this kind of crisis. There is no deference between Ahmedinejad and Bush, because Ahmedinejad also use this crises against his own people. So, we should not only be against wars, but also the main causes of these wars.”
The third speaker from the Military Families Speak Out in America, Celeste Zappala said, “I am very happy to be with you at the press conference about the thir anniversery of 1st of March. İt gave me a hope that people can change everyting when they are together. I have been always part of peace movement. My son Sherwood Baker died ibn Iraq in 2004 while he was guarding a group who was searching for weapons of mass destruction. When we burried him, kneeld nxet to his couffin and I swore that since now I will always tell the truth about the war. In America, we have been accused ofbeing unpatritic, because we are campaigning agains this immoral war in Iraq. But sometimes, the truth is more powerful than the accusations. Bush says that he is fighting against fascist muslims. Who are thet? Are they Iraqi people whose lifes is being destroyed by America? Are they Afghani people whose lands and houses are being destroyed by Busy? It is the duty of American anti-war movement that make more people against the war. I want to end my words by saying that, If we are not, who; ıf not now, when?”.
After a fifteen minutes break, the speakers answerd the questions. Then Yıldız Önen from the Global Peace and Justice Coalition invited everybody to the ‘Peace Fair’ which is going to be held İn İstanbul between 11-17th of March and to the demonstration which is going to be held in İn İstanbul on the 18th of March.
150 people participated to the conference.