Press Release
From DAWA

Based in Auckland, Direct Anti-War Action (DAWA) is a United Front of various groups and individuals formed to organise direct action to stop the New Zealand government's involvement in the war on Iraq. We support the building of a broad anti-war movement in New Zealand, and think the big marches recently seen around the country were brilliant. But we think that the anti-war movement needs to take a step from symbolic actions like marches to direct action that actually stops the military machine in its tracks.

Let's face it; we can't rely on pressuring Helen Clark and the UN to act as forces for peace. We need to take things into our own hands by organising strikes and blockades to stop frigates and planes leaving for the Gulf, to close down US bases in New Zealand, and to force the Clark government to withdraw all diplomatic support for the US war drive and UN sanctions against Iraq. We need to revive the proud tradition of direct action which made the anti-Vietnam War and anti-Springbok Tour protests such a powerful force in this country.

Workers around the world are showing the way to stop the war with their own direct action - in Britain, train drivers have refused to move ammunition bound for the war, and their union, which has an anti-war resolution on its books, has backed them up. In Western Australia, 75,000 workers from nine unions have pledged to go on strike the minute any attack on Iraq begins, whether or not it is sanctioned by the UN. In Ireland, mass pickets have forced the US government to stop using the Shannon Air Base to move troops and supplies to the Middle East.

On March the 2nd at 12noon DAWA plans to picket the Whenuapai Air Base, in protest at the sending of Orion planes to the Gulf as part of the Clark government's commitment to George Bush’s War of Terror. On the same day, Christchurch activists will be picketing the US air base at Harewood. We call on the anti-war movement in other centres to stage similar actions as part of a national day of direct anti-war action.

To join us in organising for direct action to stop the war go to: www.yahoogroups.com/dawa_nz

A planning meeting for the Whenuapai action will be held this Wednesday 26th of February, 7.30pm at Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road.

DIRECT ANTI-WAR ACTION MASS PICKET
WHENUAPIAI AIRBASE, SUNDAY 2ND MARCH
STOP THE ORION. NO NZ SUPPORT FOR THE COWARDLY WAR ON IRAQ

TRANSPORT POINT: TRADES HALL 147 GREAT NORTH RD 11.00AM
RALLY POINT: 12.00 MIDDAY WHENUAPAI VILLAGE
TRAVEL ISSUES PH JEAN: 268-4364 AFTER 6.00PM

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