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Press release
Wednesday 30 January 2008

PARLIAMENT SQUARE PEACE PROTESTOR ON PEACE WALK TO OXFORD
Brian Haw to take part in historic peace debate at Oxford Union

Walk starts Monday 4 February, 10am, Parliament Square, London
Debate at Oxford Union Thursday 7 February, 8.30pm

On Thursday 7th February, Brian Haw will be taking part in a debate at the Oxford Union entitled 'This House Would Under No Circumstances Fight For Queen And Country'.

On 4 February at 10am Mr Haw will be leaving the site of his vigil opposite Parliament where he has protested against the government's foreign policy for over 6 years to walk with a group of supporters to Oxford. The peace walk will go through Uxbridge and High Wycombe and arrive in Oxford on 7 February.

The 'Queen and Country' debate marks the 75th anniversary of the famous 'King and Country' debate at the Oxford Union in 1933 when the vote was carried in favour of the motion that 'This House Would Under No Circumstances Fight For its King And Country'. [1]

This vote for peace among students became news around the world. The debate is being restaged 75 years, and many wars, later with prominent campaigners making the case for peaceful alternatives to war. [2] George Galloway MP, Walter Wolfgang and Scilla Elworthy will be speaking for the motion with Brian Haw. [3]

CONTACTS AND INFORMATION
Emma Sangster on 07791 486484 or info@parliament-square.org.uk.
For updates, see here.

The Oxford Union, Frewin Court, Oxford, OX1 3JB, 01865 24135

NOTES
1. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_and_Country_debate

2. This House Would Under No Circumstances Fight For Queen And Country. In Proposition: George Galloway MP, Walter Wolfgang, Scilla Elworthy, Brian Haw. In Opposition: Professor Michael Clarke, Col Bob Andrews, Nick Harvey MP. http://tinyurl.com/2ovsr3.

3. George Galloway is the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow and is a prominent opponent of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Walter Wolfgang was charged under the Terrorism Act after being removed from the Labour Party conference in 2005 for saying ‘Nonsense” during the Home Secretary’s speech. See 'Heckler returns to hero's welcome', The Guardian, September 29, 2005, http://tinyurl.com/8rhfb. Walter Wolfgang is now a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.

Scilla Elworthy is most recognised for her work in the field of Conflict Resolution. She founded and led the Oxford Research Group from 1982 and founded the charity Peace Direct in 2002. She was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize in 2003 and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times.