Trades Union Congress takes place in Brighton this coming week. The Stop the War Coalition is calling for all who are opposed to the present pro-war government to join them in lobbying the TUC over the motion "Defending Manufacturing Jobs" that is being put forward.

This motion calls for "immediate increases in defence spending". This is a very dangerous development in the working class movement and must be opposed.

The Stop the War Coalition say: "Any increase in military spending can only come at the expense of public welfare spending which affects all working people. The government is talking of increases in arms spending to 3% of GDP. This would require either a 5% increase in income tax or equivalent spending cuts on a devastating scale. Already, Britain spends more of its wealth on the military than most NATO members."

Stop the War also point out that British lethal aid to Ukraine is also being used to prolong the conflict there, when a ceasefire and negotiations are needed instead.

Stop the War say: "We believe it is vital that the trade union movement is seen to stand for peace and for the social priorities of the British people."

Join the lunchtime rally to say no to military spending! Join the lobby outside the TUC Congress in The Brighton Centre on Tuesday October 18 at 12:30pm!

Reflecting on 20 years of Drone Targeted Killing

An online webinar entitled "Pandora's Box" is being organised by Drone Wars UK on November 3, 7pm (GMT).

The organisers write: "November 3 this year will mark 20 years since a remotely-controlled drone was first used to carry out an extra-judicial killing 'beyond the battlefield'. While drones had previously been used in warzones, this was the first time a drone had been used to hunt down and kill specific individuals in a country in which the US was not at war.

"Since then, an untold number of such operations have taken place across the globe with a significant number of such strikes also causing serious civilian casualties. Despite huge controversy the United States continues to engage in such killings (even while arguing publicly such actions are 'limited') and the practice has now spread amongst other drone operators including the UK, France and Turkey.

"In this important online webinar, Drone Wars has invited a number of experts to mark 20 years of drone targeted killings, to offer some reflections on the human, legal and political cost of the practice and to discuss how we can press the international community to ensure that drone operators abide by international law in this area."

Speakers:

Agnes Callamard, Secretary General, Amnesty International. Ex Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions (2016-2021)
Chris Woods, Founder of Airwars, author of 'Sudden Justice: America's Secret Drone Wars'
Bonyan Jamal, Yemen-based lawyer and Legal Support Director with Mwatana for Human Rights, Yemen
Kamaran Osman, Human Rights Observer for Community Peacemaker Teams in Iraq Kurdistan
Chair: Chris Cole, Director, Drone Wars UK

Climate Crisis Global Day of Action during Cop27

November 12 will see mass mobilisations across Britain and put thousands of people on the streets to demand climate justice in solidarity with the Global Day of Action called by Egyptian groups at COP27. One local Climate Action Group pointed out: "From the national and global cost of living crisis, climate impacts in the global south and the demand for climate reparations, and the urgent need to end fossil fuel extraction and for a workers-led justice transition - we will rise up together and fight for justice." Activists in London are set to gather at the Shell Building at noon on that day.

The Cop27 UN climate talks run from November 6-18 in Sharm el-Sheikh, hosted by the Egyptian government.

Shining a Spotlight on Military Drones

A public meeting is taking place in Lichfield, where UAV Engines manufactures Elbit's military drone engines in nearby Shenstone. It will take place on Saturday, November 26, from 3:30pm - 5:30pm at The Hub at St Mary's, Market Street.

Chris Cole of Drone Wars UK will speak on: a new generation of lethal weapons, used to massacre people remotely. Abas Mobarak a British-Palestinian will speak from his family's personal experience of living under the drones made by UAV Engines.

The meeting is also being supported by Lichfield Concern for Palestine, and South Staffs Palestine Solidarity.

ShareThis

Link to Full Issue of Workers' Weekly

RCPB(ML) Home Page

Workers' Weekly Online Archive