Vancouver, BC
Tuesday, October 14th 2008
Hey, Next Prime Minister of Canada:
We Demand CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW!
Protest Against the War Drive and for Peace in Afghanistan on the Day
of the Federal Election
PRESS CONFERENCE & PICKET ACTION
Tuesday October 14 - Federal Election Day
Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Centre
(1070 West Georgia St)
PRESS CONFERENCE @ 12PM
Speakers:
~Lisa Barrett – Municipal Councillor of Bowen Island and former Mayor
of Bowen Island, Local Coordinator of Code Pink Women for Peace
~Kira Koshelanyk - Executive Member of MAWO
PICKET ACTION @ 12:15PM
On the day of the federal election in Canada, Mobilization Against War
and Occupation (MAWO) is organizing a city-wide protest rally against
the government of Canada's war drive in Afghanistan. This protest will
take place in front of the Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Center
(1070 West Georgia St). This action is also demanding that the five
major political parties take a stance on withdrawing Canadian troops
UNCONDITIONALLY and immediately from Afghanistan.
Just last week, a senior commander of the British military, Brig. Gen.
Mark Carleton-Smith, stated that an absolute military victory in
Afghanistan is impossible. His statement was closely followed by
similar remarks from the UN envoy to Kabul. This admission confirms
what we have been saying for the last four years about the
deterioration of life in Afghanistan and the opposition of the
Canadian people to the war and occupation of Afghanistan. We have
collected almost 15,000 signatures calling for troops out of
Afghanistan in the Lower Mainland alone. As well, all new evidence
exposed by various civilian and military authorities inside and
outside of Afghanistan clearly proves previous findings by NGOs and
human rights groups, as well as reports by soldiers themselves. This
war and occupation has not meant progress for the people of
Afghanistan, but destruction and a downward spiral of military
occupation for the material interests and exploitation of resources by
Canada, the US and NATO members.
On a day when millions of people across Canada will be going to the
polls, this picket action will call attention to the absence of a
major plan to end the war in Afghanistan. We do not want a war
government, which we believe will be the result of this federal
election. However, we believe further that people should vote and
elect an antiwar government regardless of the results of the election.
Don't vote strategically, vote for humanity, for an antiwar government
or for any party/parties that could get close to that. We want a
government which will address the issue of the occupation of
Afghanistan and represent the 56% of people in Canada who disapprove
of Canada's war in Afghanistan (CBC), by pulling troops out NOW.
Already 10.5 billion taxpayer dollars have been spent on Canada's war
in Afghanistan, and the total spending is projected to be $22 billion
by 2011. Why is this money going towards this war drive and its
killing machine, while education, the condition of women and children,
unemployment, homelessness, unresolved Aboriginal issues and
healthcare all and all are deteriorating in Canada?
After seven years of occupation, what has come of the initial promises
the government of Canada made of improving the lives of Afghan people?
What security has Canada provided for people in Afghanistan?
Where is the so-called liberation of women?
Where are the schools for children?
What democracy has the government of Canada provided for Afghan people?
The questions above are just a few of hundreds of questions that
people of Afghanistan and the majority of working and poor people in
Canada are asking. On August 22, another air strike killed 90
civilians in Azizabad, Afghanistan – 60 of them children and 15 women.
How can the government of Canada claim that troops are in Afghanistan
defending women and children when Canada/US/NATO are bombing Afghan
women and children, turning these great, innocent people into pieces?
We do not want another government that will continue this brutality
and crime of war against Afghan people. On the day of the federal
election, Mobilization Against War and Occupation is calling on all
peace-loving people to join us to say to the next Prime Minister of
Canada that we are demanding Canada Out of Afghanistan NOW! Join us
for this picket action on October 14, Federal Election Day.
