No to War

With Billy Bragg and London Mayor Ken Livingstone at the
Peace Reception on 14 Feb 2003.

With Actress and peace activist Vanessa Redgrave
and London's Deputy Mayor, Nicky Gavron

On Saturday, 15 February 2003, I was part of the peace march in London...one of the two million marchers who were changing history. The night before I was talking with Ken Livingstone, and he told me that he expected half a million people to march. When, the next day, he announced from the stage in Hyde Park that we had become two million, I think all of us felt the spark of freedom in our hearts burst into flame - a flame of home, a belief that people power could change the world.

Julie with fellow protesters outside Houses of Parliament

From the speakers on stage, we heard reports of marchers all over the world and that the numbers in Rome had exceeded two million. It was as though the human spirit had awakened and come alive.

Someone read a message from Yoko Ono. It said, "When you dream a dream alone, it is a dream. When you dream a dream together, it is reality." That's it! The seeds planted in the 60's has taken root and now songs of peace and freedom are being sung across the globe. The dream of the 60's is becoming real.

The politicians say that the demonstrators won't make a difference, but I don't believe it. We are no longer just a bunch of hippies and left wing loonies. We are teachers, scientists, children, housewives, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Scottish Nationalists, Labour - old, new, and re-inspired. We are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Quakers, Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus...we are young and we are old.

As CND's Bruce Kent says, "We are the majority." As George Galloway says, "We are voting with our feet."

Julie marched alongside CND leader Bruce Kent in the London anti-war rally on 15 Feb 2003

The age of Aquarius has arrived. We have choices, and we are making choices. We choose peace not war; we choose food not bombs; we choose truth not lies; we choose compassion not fear; we choose not hate but love, love, love.

George Bush Sr and George Bush Jr and all the warmongers tell of a new world order. Their idea of a new world order is not only the possession and control of the world's oil resources, but their plan is to keep the world at war for years and years; and, in so doing, build their economic imperialism in which the wealth of the world is in the hands of a few men and their henchmen.

We can turn the tide. We can stop the rot. We can free the people.

Julie gets the message out through song on the streets of London

The powers that be - George W Bush and his buddies - are powerful and manipulative. They have the US media in their pockets. They bribe world leaders with money, arms, and the drug of power. But we are stronger. The truth is stronger than lies.

In the words of Bob Dylan:

"Come you Masters of War,
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the bombs.
You that hide behind walls,
You that hide behind desks.
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks."

Yes!!! We can see through their masks and the smoke screen of propaganda and misinformation.

On 15 February 2003, the world woke up - woke from a sleep induced by genetically modified food, pesticides, video games, junk TV, junk food, junk newspapers...

President Bush says he would rather the American family be more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons. You can see why when the 8 year old daughter of Homer and Madge Simpson writes in her school essay:

"The price of democracy is eternal vigilance."

The spirit of Ghandi, of Martin Luther King and of John Lennon is with us now.

Julie Felix
21 Feb 2002

Julie sang Masters of War at London Mayor
Ken Livingstone's PEACE RECEPTION

Check out the following websites for more information:
www.cnduk.org
www.viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
www.commondreams.org
www.faxyourmp.com
www.caat.org.uk