Anti-war protests

Picture: JESS HURD HUNDREDS ATTENDED this anti-war rally in London last week

AROUND 700 people attended a rally in London last week called by the Campaign for Media Accuracy and Free Speech and supported by Media Workers Against the War. The rally was chaired by John Foster, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists. Speakers included journalist John Pilger and MPs Tam Dalyell, Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Benn. They called for more critical reporting of NATO's bombing and more coverage of the anti-war case.

Alice Mahon MP said, "This so called 'humanitarian war' has turned into a humanitarian disaster. If I could go and see the bloodstains in a bombed car factory, why couldn't the media? Why was the killing of children in Surdulica the fourth item on the news?"

• AROUND 150 people picketed the BBC in Manchester last week in protest at its coverage of the war. Now a rally of anti-war media workers is planned in the city for Thursday 27 May, 7.30pm, at the Mechanics Institute. Speakers include Tam Dalyell MP, John Foster of the NUJ and John Rees of Media Workers Against the War.
• SOME 60 people joined a picket of the BBC in Leeds last week. A delegation went inside to argue for more coverage of anti-war protests and events.
• ROTHERHAM NUJ has organised a debate about the war for Monday 17 May, 7.30pm, Rotherham Arts Centre. The speakers include John Foster.
• The North West Regional Council of UNISON passed a motion last week against NATO's bombing of the Balkans. After a debate the motion was carried by 95 votes to just five among delegates from UNISON branches across the region.
• AROUND 25 students attended a debate on the war at the University of North London last week.
• TWENTY students debated the war at a meeting in Islington Sixth Form Centre, north London, last week.
• OVER 20 people attended an anti-war meeting in Bootle, Merseyside.
• AROUND 25 school students attended a debate about the war at Finham Park School in Coventry.
• OVER 30 people attended an anti-war meeting in the Heeley area of Sheffield last Friday.
• A NUMBER of workplace anti-war groups have been set up. Inaugural meetings for Council Workers Against the War were held in Manchester, Stockport and Nottinghamshire last week. Some 11 teachers attended an anti-war meeting at North Wembley School last week.
• There is a meeting of Rail and Tube Workers Against the War on Tuesday 18 May, 6pm, at Unity House, Euston Road, London (nearest tube Euston). Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP, Mark Steel, Bob Crow.
• Edinburgh Campaign Against War in Europe has organised a one day conference, "Why is NATO Bombing Yugoslavia?" on 23 May. Speakers include Angus Calder, Tam Dalyell MP, Socialist Worker editor Chris Harman, Professor John Erickson, Donny Gluckstein and Mike Gonzalez. The conference will take place on Sunday 23 May, 9.30am to 4.30pm, University of Edinburgh Chaplaincy Centre, Bristo Square, Edinburgh. More details from Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, St John's Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 4BJ.
• Hackney Empire Benefit Concert, Sunday 23 May, 7.30pm. Tickets £8/£6, with Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith and others, plus speakers Germaine Greer, Diane Abbott and Tony Benn.