Teach-in on occupied Iraq in London

by: Liz Davies

London: Following a successful teach-in in December 2004, Iraq Occupation focus group have decided to hold another one at the University of London Union entitled ‘Voices from Occupied Iraq’ on 26 November 2005.

You may remember that they held a very successful teach-in last December. Over 250 people attended and heard a broad spectrum of voices and views as to how to campaign against the occupation. They had guests from US Military Families Against the War, along with the author Christian Parenti, activists Sami Ramadani and Haifa Zangana and Paola Gasparoli from A Bridge to Baghdad, which is an Italian Non-governmental organization. This year, they are hoping to stage a similar event, but to concentrate on bringing speakers who are active against the occupation in civil and political forums in Iraq. They are inviting a spokesperson from the General Union of Oil Employees in Iraq, with whom they have strong links, and also are contacting human rights and women’s rights activists. They hope to bring over eyewitnesses to the destruction of Fallujah, which the teach-in is marking by being held exactly one year after the devastating assault on the city. To stage this event and particularly to pay for fares from Iraq requires money. Iraq Occupation Focus is an entirely self-financing group, made up of volunteer activists. They are scheduling number of fund-raising initiatives, but there is an immediate need for financial donations to make this vitally needed event a success. Please consider a contribution to this event, no matter how small. Any organisations agreeing to sponsor the event, which would require a minimum contribution of £50, would be listed as sponsoring organisations in all of the publicity. They could also discuss arranging for your campaigning and publicity material to be displayed at the event.
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The themes will be corporate invasion; democratic, civil and human rights and resistance. Registration is at 10am, while the teach-in begins at 1030am and ends at 5pm. The cost of registering is between £3 and £7. Creche facilities are available if booked in advance. To register in advance, or for further information contact Iraq Occupation Focus, www.iraqoccupationfocus.org or PO Box 44680, London N16 7XX. Any donations should be sent as cheques payable to Iraq Occupation Focus at Iraq Occupation Focus, PO Box 44680, London, N16 7XX.

The confirmed speakers are a representative from General Union of Oil Employees, Basra, Ismeel Dawood, a human rights activist in Baghdad, Rahul Mahajan, publisher of Empire Notes blog and reporter from Iraq, Jeremy Dear, General Secretary National Union of Journalists, Gilbert Achcar who is the author of The Clash of Barbarisms: September 11 and the Making of the New World Disorder, Professor Kamil Mahdi, Exeter University Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, Sami Ramadami who is an Iraqi-born activist, lecturer and regular contributor to the Guardian and Haifa Zangana who is an Iraqi-born novelist, activists and former political prisoner in Iraq as well as being a regular contributor to the Guardian.

Source: liz@lizdavies.demon.co.uk or iraqfocus@riseup.net