Here we give you a roundup of some of the good stuff that’s going on ... yes – it really does exist! Two recent US opinion polls have shown that most Americans think the Iraq war was a mistake. A USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll showed that 52% of Americans believed it was a mistake sending troops to Iraq and a Washington Post/ABC News poll showed that 55% felt the Iraq war was not worth fighting. Meanwhile, a poll commissioned by the Campaign Against Arms Trade has blown away government myths about arms exports. The poll shows that a significant proportion (22.8%) of the public believes the political influence of arms companies is the main reason the government supports arms exports –– as opposed to Government stated reasons such as jobs, promoting security abroad and maintaining the UK’s own supplies. The poll also reveals that more than half the public (50.6%) oppose the use of civil servants to promote arms companies exports. The Phone Coop –– the UK’s only telecommunications co-operative – has just reported its sixth year of growth. A customer-owned telecommunications business based on ethical values, the Phone Coop counts numerous co-operatives, charities and not-for-profits – including Peace News – amongst its customers. PN receives a proportion of the value of all your calls when you sign up through us, see http://peacenews.info/info/index.php for details. And finally, the really good news… another victory for direct action: Bolivian President Carlos Mesa has announced the immediate cancellation of Aguas del Illimani's (part-owned by French water giant Suez Lyonnaise) contract to provide water to Bolivian residents following a sustained campaign of protests, general strikes and road blockades by community groups and residents angry that their bills have increased by some 35% with 200,000 people being left with no access to water at all.
Topics: Arms trade, Social struggles