The Greek philosopher Heraciltus said: "Change is the only constant in life".
Change is happening right now.
For good and for ill, a week ago, Iran has reestablished deterrence in the Middle East. It sent up a billion dollar firework display and handed Israel the bill. It showed that even the psycho Netanyahu is unable to respond however he wishes - and he has had to delay his assault on Rafah.
Every life Israel takes damages its soft power, its moral authority - and makes it more enemies. One life in the name of imperialism is one life too many but the tide is turning.
Relatively speaking, Russia, China and Iran are cautious and responsible powers - and they’re reshaping everything.
In Britain, we are so used to complaining “the tories the tories the tories” but I tell you friends in a few short months that stain will be an irrelevance. Then instead of Richy Sunak we will face very new challenges in the form of a Labour Party led by Sir Kid Harmer.
The antiwar movement plays its part. We cannot solve everything but we do have an effect. In 2003 we marched and they say it didn’t stop the war on Iraq. Maybe not but it probably did help stop a war on Iran in 2008, when the US was considering it.
And I know for sure that protests stopped US/UK military strikes on Syria in 2013. What did it take? Just a few thousand people writing to their local politician!
In 1975 our ally Indonesia committed genocide in East Timor. There wasn’t even a street movement for the East Timorese - there wasn’t even any news coverage! But with two decades of work a tiny group of academics, including Noam Chomsky, ultimately caused the US to cut support and end the invasion.
We didn’t win in 2003 because you can’t turn out for a day and hope that makes the point. Pressure has to be sustained. This is why when people say the problem is bigger than Netanyahu I say yes - but he is at least at the root. Let’s get rid of him, as everybody - even people with very different views on this issue - wants. Then we can see what chinks of light are opened up.
Over the years I’ve learned that antiwar protestors are committed, joyful - and right. Even at a local protest like this, we are playing our part.
Friends, we are not going through the motions. Israel is going through the motions!
Ours is not the hopeless cause. Israel is the one with a hopeless cause - of death and mayhem!
We are joyful. And I’m proud to be joyful with you!
Many of the powers-that-be know they are soon the powers that were. That’s why they’re banning Tiktok, that’s why Netanyahu is ranting about campus protests, that’s why Suella Braverman calls this a “hate march” - does this feel like a hate march to you?
"Change is the only constant in life". The villains of this world are concerned. They should be - a lot of them, at least, are about to lose.