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| Volume 56 Number 26, September 12, 2026 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
On Tuesday, September 1, some 40 people took part in the Newcastle Conference Against War at the Tyneside Irish Centre. Following one of the most significant events in recent times, the Westminster International Anti-War Conference on June 20, the Newcastle conference raised its voice against war and genocide, the growing nuclear threat, and for peace. This was part of the growing surge of meetings and actions across the country, actions that are being organised on common dates - from the international March for Palestine on October 10 to the worldwide weekend of mobilisation against militarisation and conscription on November 21-22 - forming a developing calendar of resistance that unites workers, youth, peace organisations and anti-war movements in every country.
The keynote speakers were Fran Heathcote, General Secretary of the PCS union; Malek Mohammed, Newcastle Palestinian Forum in Britain; Marika Asgari, Newcastle University UCU; and Alex Snowdon, Sunderland NEU. The meeting was chaired by Roger Nettleship of Newcastle Stop the War.
The conference discussion raised some very important questions on building Stop the War and bringing everyone together in the anti-war movement into a united front against war and for peoples' rights. This is a vital question with the many meetings and actions taking place as part of the international movement against war. Questions around the merging movements in support of Palestine and for welfare and against warfare converging into such a front, combating militarism embedded in the universities and schools - not a youth for war or conscription! - how to get wider opposition in the trade unions and workers' movement, as well as opposition at the TUC Congress, to militarism of the British state and its war industries - all this was discussed. The meeting raised questions of the damage done by militarisation, damage to the environment, and by the promotion of all the lies that justify increasing weapons production to "create jobs". In opposition to these lies the call must be for an alternative economy that meets the needs and welfare of all.
Throughout the conference, actions supporting the Palestinian people were maintained as a first priority of the anti-war movement. At the same time, participants took up actions supporting Iran, Cuba and other countries under attack by the US, Britain and other Western powers, including opposing NATO's dangerous interventions and escalations against Russia and its support for the war in Ukraine. Questions were also raised about upholding the rights of all, especially the most vulnerable under attack - such as the blaming of immigrants for the problems in society - used to divide people's resistance to war and the ruling elite's attacks on the rights of all.
Work in progress...
(Newcastle Stop the War)