The Campaign to Close Guantánamo Bay Goes On...

Earlier this month, Guantánamo Bay marked its tenth year as an illegal detention and torture prison, where 171 prisoners still remain, largely without charge or trial. In spite of the recent setback posed by the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2012 by President Obama, effectively keeping Guantánamo Bay open and extending its regime of arbitrary detention indefinitely, the campaign to close Guantánamo Bay is very much alive, all over the world, and it needs YOUR support.

Wherever you are, join in local actions, start your own and see the list of actions (petitions/write to your political representative) below you can take from the comfort of your armchair/desk!

If you are in London, please join us for some of the following actions in February:
3rd February: 6-8pm: Candlelight vigil outside the US Embassy, London, to mark 5 years of the London Guantánamo Campaign’s regular “Shut Down Guantánamo!” demo With performers and poets, including Actors for Human Rights performing from The Rendition Monologues and actor Sergio Amigo reading poems by Guantánamo prisoners
http://london.indymedia.org/events/11454
http://www.facebook.com/events/283567015033347/

11th February: Guantánamo Chain Gang: Free Shaker Aamer (to mark Shaker’s 10th year in Guantánamo): ASSEMBLE 12 NOON outside NORTHCOTE RD BAPTIST CHURCH, NORTHCOTE RD, LONDON SW11 6DB – organised by the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign
Walking slowly in chains through the streets of Battersea and Clapham Junction to a rally at the Battersea Islamic Culture and Education Centre, Falcon Road, SW11 2PF

14th February: Guantánamo Chain Gang at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, W1A, 2pm – organised by the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign
On Tuesday 14 February, Shaker will have been in Guantanamo for 10 years. Please join us at the US Embassy, London, to hand in cards and petitions for President Obama.
Banners, drums and noise welcome.
More details: ssac.contact@gmail.com www.saveshaker.org

Online actions you can take:
- Get your MP to sign EDM 2558 tabled by Caroline Lucas MP to mark the 10th anniversary of Guantánamo Bay: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2558
Send a short e-mail/letter to your MP (find their contact details at www.theyworkforyou.com) reminding them that Guantánamo Bay has been open for 10 years now and is no closer to closure and two British residents, Shaker Aamer and Ahmed Belbacha, remain there, both held for over 10 years without charge or trial
- Sign Amnesty International’s petition: http://www.protectthehuman.com/petition_actions/10-years-on-end-detentions-at-guantanamo-bay?utm_source=aiuk&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=SWHR&utm_content=Gbaynib
- Sign the following e-petition to the White House asking President Obama to close Guantánamo and make good on the promise he made over three years ago to close it: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/close-guantanamo-now/6cMPlxQw If more then 25,000 signatures are received by 6 February, a response is guaranteed by the US government