BY MICHAEL JAMES
Sudbury?s Anti-War Mobilization coalition is determined to continue fighting the good fight, despite the fact the war in Iraq is now in full swing.
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The coalition?s goal is to establish and maintain a daily presence in the community until peace is achieved in Iraq |
Why bother, one might ask? Clearly, United States president George Bush has demonstrated his indifference to world opinion?
According to Sudbury?s Anti-War Mobilization member Gary Kinsmsn, it?s a righteous cause.
?We feel the war on Iraq is unjust, illegal and racist,? Kinsman said. ?We continue to voice our opposition to the war in the hopes of stopping it or limiting it, and maybe our collective actions will prevent it from happening again in the future.?
Towards that end, Sudbury?s Anti-War Mobilization coalition launched a peace vigil at last Friday afternoon in front of the Armed Forces Recruitment Centre in the Brady Plaza.
According to Kinsman, the coalition?s goal is to establish and maintain a daily presence in the community ? at least, from 3-6 p.m. ? until peace is achieved in Iraq.
?The Paris/Brady Street location will act as a meeting place for protesters to congregate with signs, receive the most up-to-date information on future initiatives and demonstrate a visible opposition to the war in Iraq,? Kinsman said.
A number of speakers from Sudbury?s union movement, as well as members of its student movement, addressed Friday?s rally.
While Kinsman admitted Sudbury?s anti-war movement may not be as well organized as those in other Canadian cities, he places part of the blame on the city?s mainstream media, who he feels have given Sudbury?s anti-war movement short shrift.
And while he acknowledges the war may have demoralized some peace activists, he is encouraged by the Laurentian University Faculty Association?s recent $1,000 donation towards Sudbury?s anti-war movement.
?There are between 100 and 150 people in the community actively involved in the anti-war movement,? he said. ?In February, there were about 500 people who attended the rally, despite the freezing cold. The mainstream media seems to be of the opinion that these numbers are insignificant.?
Now, with the rising death toll in Iraq, Kinsman feels it is more important than ever for people to demonstrate their moral outrage.
And he?s not happy about the Canadian government?s evasiveness over the actual function, and, indeed, location of the 31 soldiers who make up Canada?s elite Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2).
?It?s pure hypocrisy,? he said. ?We?re calling on the Canadian government to withdraw these troops immediately.?
