Thursday 18 November 2010

Women say No to NATO


An anachronism of the Cold War

NATO was founded by the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and 9 other European countries, among them Italy, as an alliance against the countries of the soviet bloc. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, but NATO is still around, in fact it has expanded, adding countries from central and eastern Europe and from the Balkans.


… that's getting bigger all the time

Currently, NATO has 28 members, and there is an attempt to add Finland, Sweden, and some Mediterranean, North African, and Arab states. The middle east, including Israel is on its horizon.


… contrary to the spirit of the United Nations

The Secretaries General of the NATO and of the UN have signed a joint statement of cooperation, without the authorisation of the UN assembly. This puts the independence of the UN and its capacity to support international law at risk. I

… a force that is ever more prepared for war

NATO has fought wars outside its borders in Kosovo and now in Afghanistan and it is becoming an ever greater threat to world peace. Three quarters of all military spending is made by members of NATO.

...a nuclear bunker
NATO controls more than 11,000 French, British, and US nuclear warheads, deployed in different parts of Europe, including Italy with 90 nuclear warheads, in contempt of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (1975). A collection of signatures for a popular initiative law that would make Italy a nuclear free zone was ignored by our parliament.


Why women are protesting against NATO

In our country, military spending for NATO is growing all the time while there is a serious reduction in spending for goods and services that are really needed. This has a heavy impact on the lives of women. In a country of catastrophes, earthquakes, foods and neglect - Italy - there is a continual growth of militarisation instead of investment for a civilisation worthy of the name.



The war which is coming is not the first one. There were other wars before it. When the last one came to an end There were conquerors and conquered. Among the conquered the common people starved. Among the conquerors the common people starved too. Bertolt Brecht

With the bases and the military presence, sexual exploitation and violence against women increase. For example, the wars in the Balkans produced an enormous industry of sex and of trafficking women.


Women suffer more the effects of war. They are the majority of the civilian victims, of the refugees and displaced. Thousands are deprived of the means of survival, as has happened in Afghanistan where, in addition to the waste of resources for a war without sense or end, war has brough destruction and death

But women do NOT accept the role of VICTIMS. Rather, women have and can always have a key role in the prevention of conflicts, in reconciliation and the construction of peace processes.


As women, we do NOT recognise any role for NATO in our security, whihc can be achieved only by peaceful negotiation and nonviolent resolution of conflicts.

Why women are protesting today

At the NATO summit in Lisbon from 19 to 21 November, a new strategic concept is to be adopted. it will commit NATO more and more to strategies of militarisation. Among other things, the decision will be ratified to transfer all US nuclear war heads currently deployed in Europe to Aviano in Italy and to Turkey. While the Turkish government has at least imposed some conditions, the Italian government accepts in silence.







In tens of cities, in Italy and in Europe, in these days there are protests against NATO and its ever more threatening policies. Export of arms, nuclear weapons, military bases and subjection to the interests of the US are all a part of NATO.




Knowing the suffering caused by war from the Afghan women, we demand wthe withdrawal of Italian troops and all other troops from Afghanistan.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Bodies and Territories without War or Violence


Dear Friends of Women in Black all over the world.

First of all, we want to send you our greetings, always with the conviction that in every corner of the planet members of the Network are opposing the buildup of armaments, militarism, war and also all violence, convinced that any violent action against other human beings and nature, as well, is an affront to humanity and the planet, and this is why we are determined to eradicate violence from our lives and bodies. We know that this policy position keeps us united as sisters.

This letter is to communicate to you that, most unfortunately, conditions are not auspicious to have our Gathering of Women in Black in November of this year. We have had to make this decision because just a month and a half from the date of the event only six women had registered. After we sent out an SOS, the number rose to 16. We would have liked to receive a response from a significant number of women, but it didn’t work out that way.
We are aware of the difficulties that resulted from this decision, especially for the women who had purchased their ticket and we sincerely hope that they are able to obtain a new reservation. But after careful consideration, we felt that a gathering with 16 international women who are part of the movement, was not enough to carry out a task of this nature, as we understand that these gatherings are to redefine, exchange ideas, maintain the movement active in the world and, at the same time, for us, the women of Colombia, it was an act of international accompaniment against war, an internal armed conflict that has lasted for more than 45 years in Colombia and has left more than 4 million victims and great human degradation and social injustice.

With regard to the concerns expressed by some members of the Network on our ability to carry out this gathering, we want to tell you that it not for lack of ability, rather for lack of participation of the members of the Network that we have made this decision, as has been well expressed by some colleagues who have written that the situation should be analyzed from the point of joint responsibility, because in this process we have felt great silence from many. We were hoping for more support from the Network, especially with regard to encouraging women to come to the Gathering, so that it would take place with an appropriate representation of members of the Network.

Ruta Pacifica of Women has been part of the Network of Women in Black since 2001, and our participation was assured with approximately 300 women; we could have had more. But it really wasn’t a matter of an event for Ruta Pacifica but to carry out arrangements for the XV INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF WOMEN IN BLACK and for that we need the backing and participation of all.

We had carried out the activities necessary to prepare for the Gathering. We just about had everything ready, a web page, pictures, strategy for publicity. We have conducted multiple negotiations, reserved places to accommodate you, proposed themes, methodology, symbolic proposals, translations, among other things, and because of that we reiterate our disposition and desire to undertake the Gathering for the third week of August 2011, the Network being in agreement, of course.

If, however, there is another proposal we ask that you let us know as soon as possible. Likewise, please let us know how you feel about coming for the date proposed in 2011, as you will surely understand that it would be very costly for us, at every level, to repeat this situation next year.
In addition, we would love to see materialize the proposal of the women of London that those who already have their tickets come to Colombia in November. It would be a great help if we could get together and contribute to the preparation of this Gathering, which is very important for us, and to participate in some activities on 25 November, Day of Non-violence Against Women.

We will return the registration fee to the women who ask for it. If you decide to postpone your trip, please let us know.

We reiterate that the postponement date for the XV International Gathering of Women in Black is 15-20 August 2011.

Please receive a sisterly embrace from Colombia.


Dear friends,

also we Italian Women in Black are really very sorry that the International meeting of Women in Black network had to be postponed to 2011.

We realize that it must have been a difficult decision for you, but we believe you have been brave and wise considering that the participation from the other continents was too low for the date of November 2010. We keep convinced that in Valencia the best choice was taken, therefore it is good to remain engaged for the Bogota meeting.

We have also praised how you were organizing it, both on the logistics level anf for the agenda you sent us, which looked very well structured and productive.

In an Italian national meeting at the end of October, we discussed the reasons why so few Women in Black enrolled for participation, in particular from Europe and we considered that it was a collective responsibility: we have not exchanged our minds, information and proposals on time, so the news that so few women had enrolled came totally unexpected. We must absolutely bear that in mind for the planning of the next meeting.

For August 2011 we need a much better and frequent coordination. It is true that the economical crisis has increased the constraints and difficulties, but we have a history of an active solidarity, for which more privileged women support women in more difficult situation. That must continue in a better organized way, circulating in the network not later than in spring 2011 both a sort of pre-enrolment to the meeting from the various countries and more information about the financial support that some group can provide to the organizing country and to other Women in Black from "difficult places" who wish to come to Colombia.

We also thank you for suggesting the month of August for our next meeting, as it is easier for women living in the north hemisphere to have time free from work engagements.

However, we believe that the participation of many women from the whole Latin America is very important, as we are all looking forward to such a great opportunity of exchanging and sharing your realities, the peculiarities of your movements, your visions and your modalities of action.

We appreciate Rebecca's suggestion and we hope that the women who have already purchased their flight tickets for this November can meet in Bogota for a first exchange with you, Colombian Women in Black and Ruta Pacifica, in view of the 2011 gathering. We are convinced that this can be a very useful preparation for all of us.

Hoping that from now onwards we are having a good way to Colombia next August, we are grateful to what you have done so far and you will be doing in the future. Please let us know what you expect from the international network so that we will be able to support you in the best direction you show us.

We all send you our love, friendship and solidarity

The Italian Women in Black network

Friday 12 November 2010

No to War, Yes to Culture


Saturday 6th November, in front of Novara prefecture, from 3pm onwards, the committee of teachers and teaching assistents with non-secure contracts and the students union held a protest with the slogan:'No to war, yes to culture', opposing the cuts to schools, universities, and research made by Minister of education Gelmini, at the same time as the ministry of defense is planning to buy 131 F35 fighter bombers and annual military spending amounts to 20 billion Euro.


In the midst of an economic crisis, the Berlusconi government has launched the greatest attack that any government in the history of the republic has made on the future of young people.

7,3 billion euro - thats the figure that the Minister of Education wants to cut. One billion, six hundred million in 2010 alone.

The same fate awaits universities and research, which must reduce spending by 810 million euro this year.

And then there are the 232 cultural institutes for which the ministry of culture has already cut funding.

And while savings ar
e made on the backs of students and workers, the 2010 budget for the ministry of defense will be 20 billion, while in the coming years 13 billion will be spent on buying 131 F35 fighter bombers.


All this despite the fact that according to our constitution: “Italy repudiate war”.

The start of assembly work on the F35s just at the beginning of this difficult year of new cuts is a curious coincidence. The area of Cameri airport, near to Novara, is only one of the places designated for this work.

What future do we want?

To oppose all of this, the committee of teachers and teaching assistents and the union of students state firmly:
  • NO to the teaching of use of weapons and the military culture, as poposed by the protocol of ministers Gelmini (education) and La Russa (defense)
  • Yes to quality schools with: laboratories, safe classrooms, classes that are not overcrowded, modern teaching methods.
  • NO to the purchase of the F35 fighter bombers and to every other useless military expenditure;
  • Yes to quality universities and to funding of research;
  • NO to the culture of fear and to the false rhetoric of security that creates useless armies;
  • Yes to an army of conscious citizens who are educated in the culture of legality and non-violence;
  • NO to theatres of war that leave behind them dead and displaced people and ruins;
  • Yes to theatres, to music, and to all that nourishes the civil consciousness of society and the people;
  • NO to schools that cut off support abandoning disabled students and their families;
  • Yes to schools that teach the value of integration and of dialogue between peoples.

Thursday 4 November 2010

Are we at war?



This is the question that was posed in parliament following the latest deaths of Italian soldiers in Afghanistan. An though since 2003 it's been called a “peacekeeping mission”; in reality the mission was always under military command, in particular under NATO command, and the logic with which it was carried out was always the logic of war; and we are seeing the effects of it.





Drawing by a 12 year old Afghan



One very significant piece of information is how the Italian involvement has grown over the years in terms of men and monex: from the contingent of 1000 soldiers in 2003 we arrived at 3900 in 2010, and 4500 are planned for 2011, while the costs have gone from 100 million Euro in l 2003 to 675 million Euro in 2010. Between 2003 and the present day, 90,000 men have served in the theatre of operations and tours of duty have gone from four to six moths. Since the start of the mission, the total cost has been 3 billion 100 million Euro.

To get an idea of what would happen if we reversed the logic, as the coordinator of the Italian Disarmament Network writes, “Military spending is a disadvantage... disarment and peace are not only right for thouse who believe in them, but also sensible: in ten years global military spending has grown by 50%, from 1000 to 1500 billion, but employment in the arms industry has decreased", while the same money invested in society would bring “a doubling of jobs and growth 1.5 times the average economic growth”.

In addition to the exorbitant costs, we know that the information that we are given hides the reality of what is happening, and those like Emergency, who expose the truth, are subject to censure, criticisms, and attacks. Now, documents are emerging - kept secret until now - about the tens of thousands of civilian victims and about the responsiblity of troops from different countries, including Italy.

For years, they told us that the aim of the mission was to bring democray and peace to Afghanistan to promote women's rights. Only because of our direct relationships with Afghan women's associations have we been able to follow the situation that faced them and to recognise the capicit for active, non-violent resistence of the population and the courage of the women that permits them to say openly that they want the end of the war, of the military occupation, and of the war lords and opium lords who are clearly supported by the US.

These women are a point of reference for the entire population because of the capacity that they have demonstrated to interpret their pain and provide for their own needs: from this has come the founding and operation of women's associations for education of girls and boys, which were already clandestinely active under the Taleban regime - a political and humanitarian commitment full of difficulties and grave risks.

With fighting in progress, women are robbed of the possibility to express themselves. Together with children they are the target of massacres, which they know to be cruel and useless.

We must support the Afghan women and the civil society and determinedly demand the end of the occupation of Afghanistan and the withdrawal of Italian troops and those of other countries.

Monday 1 November 2010

Set Peace Free

On October 11, Abdallah Abu Rahmah was sentenced by an Israeli military tribunal to 12 months in prison for his involvement in the non-violent popular struggle against the wall and the settlements in Bil'in.

Abdallah Abu Rahmah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee for non-violent resistence was arrested last year by soldiers in a night raid at his home. He was then arraigned in an Israeli military court on charges that were without any basis, including having thrown stones at soldiers during a demonstration and possessing weapons.

Abu Rahmah was cleared of both these charges but found guilty of having organised illegal demonstrations and having incited people to participate. Abu Rahma's case is an example of the Israeli military legal system that operates in the West Bank, and which has the clear aim of silencing the legitimate political dissent of the population.

The conviction has been strongly criticised at international level: Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foriegn Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, expressed her concern "the possible imprisonment of Mr Abu Rahma is intended to prevent him and other Palestinians from exercising their legitimate right to protest against the existence of the separation barriers in a non violent manner."

EU diplomats were present at all the hearings of the trial. Catherine Ashton's statement was followed by a similar statement from the Spanish parliament.

Unfortunately, the Italian government has not made any such declaration. The American group , Jewish Voices for Peace, have organised a letter writing campaign aimed at many governments, including Italy.
Click here to send a letter to Franco Frattini.




"Freedom' - Without Walls, Without Borders"

....is written on the banner held by activists during a protest in the centre of Tel Aviv for the liberation of all political prisoners.

Solidarity with the mourning mothers in Iran

The Italian Women in Black extend their solidarity to the Mothers of Laleh Park (the mourning mothers in Iran) who are supporting Zhila Mahdavian, mother of Hesan Tarmasi and Akram Neghabi, mother of Saeed Zeinali, who have been imprisoned for defending their sons, held in the terrible Iranian prisons. They demand that they be freed as soon as possible and that the Iranian government respect human rights, women's rights, and the right of mothers to defend their children.

Akram Neghabi is the mother of Saeed Zeynali- a student who was arrested 11 years ago. Since then, his mother has not had any news of him.

Zhila Mahdavian is the mother of Hesam Tarmasi; Hesam was arrested by security forces during the protests following the elections. He was releasted, but since then has been in hospital with serious problems of the kidneys and liver.


These mothers and families are trying to find the truth about the killing, imprisonment and disappearance of their loved ones. They want answers from the government and they demand the liberation of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.