The worst refugee crisis in human history, which saw a much-reported rising in 2015, is still happening today. As of May 28, 2019, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) reported 26,537 refugees had arrived in Europe in 2019. This crisis has received less and less coverage in mainstream media, along with the media silence around the root causes for this crisis - imperialist wars and occupations which have made homelands inhabitable and forced people to become refugees. So far in 2019 Afghanistan has the highest number of refugees arriving in Europe – the country which the U.S. and its allies have been occupying since 2001.
What has been the answer of imperialist countries to this human tragedy, that they themselves are the cause of through these brutal wars? More war, occupation, crippling sanctions and military interventions.
The U.S. government has also re-escalated its dangerous warmongering against Iran. Since the U.S. unilaterally abandoned the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, the people of Iran have faced tightening sanctions, sabotage, and increased provocation by the United States. The U.S. government recently sent new aircraft carriers and B-52 bombers towards the Persian Gulf and has also reportedly discussed a plan to deploy 120,000 troops to the Middle East.
The U.S. government have also set their targets south to Venezuela, with years of support and funding for violet right-wing forces in Venezuela, sanctions and economic warfare, and a vicious media manipulation campaign. In recent months the U.S. government has backed a failed coup attempt in Venezuela, and even threatened military intervention against Venezuela with U.S. government statements that “all options on the table”.
On May 24, 2019, Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO), Vancouver’s antiwar coalition, organized its monthly antiwar rally and petition campaign. It was impossible to walk through busy downtown Vancouver’s Robson Square without seeing banners and picket signs reading “No War on Iran!” and “U.S./Saudi Arabia Hands Off Yemen!”. An information table was set up, attracting people who stopped to talk to organizers, pickup antiwar literature and find out about how to get involved in antiwar activities. Teams of activists approached passersby, collecting petition signatures demanding that Canada end it's $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. These consistent, monthly actions are an important way to reach out to the general public in Vancouver and to encourage more people to get involved in the antiwar movement. This rally and petition campaign came to a close, promising to be on streets month after month until these criminal wars and occupations are ended!
Join the next antiwar event or action! Visit www.mawovancouver.org, follow MAWO on Facebook or on Twitter @MAWOVan
Follow Janine on Twitter: @janinesolanki
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