International Relations
REPORT 2003
The world is more dangerous
The year was of course dominated by the war in Iraq.
Tragically we failed to stop Tony Blair taking the country
into an illegal and disastrous war on the coat-tails of perhaps
the most right-wing US administration ever.
The branch and UNISON Scotland played an active part in building
the local and national coalitions formed to oppose the war;
and participated in the many events which demonstrated the massive
strength of feeling .
We organised a bus to the momentous demonstration in Glasgow
- the largest ever in Scotland - and many more members travelled
separately.
What we said before the war has been shown to be right. Replacing
domination by Saddam Hussain with domination by the USA has
not improved life in Iraq. The world is more dangerous, terrorism
is more of a threat, and crucially there were no weapons of
mass destruction.
A Labour government taking us into a war on false pretexts
with so little popular support; and the inability of British
democracy to assert our wishes, will have reverberations for
years to come. On the positive side the massive demonstrations
illustrated British people will act.
The branch continues to take part in these debates; for example
it sponsored the East Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition's peace
festival in September.
In another area of the Middle East, we watch Palestinian lives
being destroyed daily by the Israeli army, unchecked by its
main ally and funder, the USA.
Alongside these activities the branch maintains support for
a number of other campaigns, for example against repression
of trade unions in Colombia; and against globalisation measures
like GATS which threaten to impose privatisation in this country
as well as in the developing world.
There is an unlimited amount which can be done by active trade
unionists at the international level, and judging from the mobilisations
against the Iraq war there is enormous reserve of solidarity
within the membership.
I urge all branch members concerned about international issues
to contact the International Officer, to assist with co-ordination
of the branch's efforts.
Matthew Crighton
International Officer
top
|
