[Peace-discuss] Fw: [pf] The Day the Earth Stood Still: An international sick-out

[Joan Cole]

>
http://www.onlinejournal.com/Commentary/Weinstein011603/weinstein011603.html
> The Day the Earth Stood Still: An international sick-out
> By Rita Weinstein
> Online Journal Contributing Writer
>
> January 16, 2003-Anybody out there remember the classic sci-fi film by
that
> name? In it, an alien landed a spacecraft on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
> and asked to be allowed to speak to the UN to deliver a warning: disarm or
> you will be destroyed.
>
> The alien, Klatu, didn't specify by whom the destruction would take place.
> He did make it plain that we would certainly do it to ourselves, even if
no
> one "out there" did. Klatu never made it to the UN, but he was able to
> demonstrate to the world that those who sent him meant business. He caused
a
> shutdown of all power throughout the globe at a specified time on a
> specified date. From cars to trains to wristwatches, everything came to a
> halt.
>
> On Saturday, January 18, there will be very large anti-war demonstrations
in
> Washington, DC, San Francisco, and in cities across America. According to
> George Monbiot of The Guardian (Jan. 7, 2003), "On January 18,
demonstrators
> will seek to blockade the armed forces' joint headquarters at Northwood,
in
> north London. Three days later, there'll be a mass lobby of parliament; at
6
> pm on the day the war is announced, protesters will gather in almost every
> town centre in Britain. On February 15, there'll be a massive rally in
> London." There will also be demonstrations in cities throughout Europe on
> February 15.
>
> Here's the idea: a global work stoppage, an international sick day if you
> will, to take place on Friday, February 14 (or on the day after the
> nighttime bombing begins, if Bush starts the war prior to February 14) to
> protest the war on the world currently being waged by the Bush
> administration. Monbiot goes on to add, "The [Campaign for Nuclear
> Disarmament] and the Stop the War Coalition have suggested an hour's
> stoppage on the day after the war begins. Many activists [in the U.K.] are
> now talking about building on this, and seeking to provoke wider strike
> action-even a general strike."
>
> So, in England, a kind of "sick-out" movement is building. If we can get
the
> ball rolling here for a coordinated "sick-out" across America, a
full-blown
> "sick-out" day-in essence, a general strike of protest-could sweep across
> England, Europe and the rest of the globe.
>
> It is we, the folks who show up for work every day, who are providing the
> tax dollars to pay for this war on the economy, the environment, worker
> safety, civil rights, and on the poor. We are the ones who keep the
machine
> up and running. We are the ones whose children are being short-changed on
> education, health care, and clean air and water. We are the ones who will
> reap the whirlwind (or will be sucking wind) when the bill for the
> administration's misguided and dangerous policies comes due.
>
> A general strike early in the last century brought down the Tsar of all
the
> Russias and changed nearly a century of history. The Communist Party came
> crashing down in Poland thanks to the solidarity of its workers. If we
> choose peaceful noncooperation in maintaining a system badly in need of
> course correction, we may surprise ourselves at how quickly change can be
> effected. No organization is necessary, in fact it would probably be
> counter-productive. Just start forwarding this article. Let's all get
truly
> sick and tired of it all on February 14, 2003 (or on the day after bombing
> begins), and make it the day the Earth stands still. Go out there and get
> sick!
>