Saturday, February 15, 2003

This proclamation came from AP, I believe, and was
echoed elsewhere.  So the organizers' goal was
realized.  

The statistics below come from: San Francisco
Chronicle (sfgate.com; mostly AP); Washingtonpost.com;
NYTimes.com (by far the most conservative and
pro-administraton reporting); San Jose Mercury News
(bayarea.com). 

350 cities worldwide
150 cities in the U.S.

Rome 1 million (police est.), 3 million (organizers)
London 750,000, largest ever in London
Madrid 660,000 (police est.), 2 million (organizers)
Barcelona 500,000 (police est.), 1 million (org.)
Across Spain: 55 cities, several million
Amsterdam 70,000
Berlin 500,000 at least
Paris 100,000 to 200,000
NYC 100,000 (police est.), 500,000 (organizers)
  Archibishop Tutu spoke in front of U.N.
Los Angeles 30,000 (police est.), 100,000 (organizers)
Toulouse, France 10,000
Oslo Norway (*) 60,000
Brussells, Belgium (*) 50,000
Stockholm, Sweden (*) 35,000
Dublin, Ireland 80,000
Bern, Switzerland 40,000
Glasgow, Scotland 30,000
Copenhagen, Denmark 25,000
Vienna, Austria 15,000
Montreal 20,000
Toronto 15,000
Cape Town 5,000
Johannesburg 4,000
Tokyo 5,000
Dhaka, Bangladesh 2,000
Prague 500 (???weird it's so low)
Mexico City 10,000
Tel Aviv 2,000 Israelis and Palestinians marched 
  together
Kiev, Ukraine 2,000
Cyprus 500
Athens several thousand
Puerto Rico 900
Brazil 1,5000
San Jose, California 3,000
Santa Cruz, California 5,000

It must be noted in the interest of fair reporting
that demonstrations NOT associated with International
A.N.S.W.E.R. were planned for the same day, just to
take advantage of the spotlight and to try to confuse
people.  Namely, people marched in Bagdhad (tens of
thousands) in support of Hussein, and there was a huge
anti-war and anti-US demonstration in Damascus, Syria,
probably 200,000.  

OK, now I'll switch over to mrm commentary. 

Of course, the best is yet to come, with the Feb 16
S.F. demonstration.  Not only do we have the best
weather ( (*) above means really cold conditions) but
we have the singers, actors, poets, street performers
and all around creative energy of the bay area.  For
example the S.F. Mime Troupe has a new slogan: No More
Chanting.  You  have to love a rally that lifts your
spirits as much as the S.F. rallies do.   Like I think
I mentioned before, the S.F. march was moved from Feb
15 to Feb 16 on account of the fact that Feb 15 was
already set aside for the Chinese New Year's Day
Parade.   I personally don't have any costume to wear
or any sign to brandish, I'm just going as yet another
citizen opposed to war: Not In My Name. 

I know people are cynical and say that this stuff
doesn't matter BUT the largest ever march in London
history and the biggest gathering of people in Berlin
since the fall of the wall have GOT to appear on the
CIA's radar and the Pentagon's radar.  I tend to
believe the CIA has a very heavy hand in this
particular conflict.   Well, let's face it, they tend
to be pretty involved in all our conflicts. 

Oh, one other thing.  It is probably hard to
distinguish anti-war sentiment from anti-Bush
sentiment and (overseas) general anti-US sentiment. 
People are tired of the U.S.' unilateral and
high-handed approach to any and all global issues,
including, yes, Kyoto.  Now, it might come as a shock
to the official pollsters to realize there is such a
thing as anti-Bush sentiment in the U.S., but it's
time for them to wake up.   Certainly overseas he is
viewed with perplexity and anger.   Well, those famous
2-out-of-3 Americans who are in favor of bombing Iraq
would do well to pay attention to our allies and
fellow western civ. democrats.   They might be
surprised at what they learn and might not just parrot
whatever the TV news heads say. 

over and out, it's early yet but I'm getting psyched
for the march so I'll go to bed early.