A human chain, dispatches of bags of rice and tags tied to railings will be the tools of peaceful demonstration across South Lakeland as people take part in a worldwide day of action over war in Iraq.

As thousands are expected to converge in anti-war rallies at London and Glasgow Saturday, Kendal protesters have chosen to join hands against military action.

"The human chain will be to show solidarity people holding hands rather than fighting each other," said John Coopey, of the Kendal branch of the Stop the War Coalition.

Mr Coopey said protesters would gather at 11am to start the chain along Finkle Street in a show of "unity and strength".

Throughout the day anti-war postcards will also be handed out at the United Reformed Church, Highgate, for dispatch to Government ministers while campaigners will be out and about "making their presence felt" with songs and chanting.

But it is still unclear as to whether Kendal will host more militant actions, including lying in the roads a suggestion made at a meeting last week where diverse organisations, including the United Nations Association of South Lakeland (UNASL), CND and The Religious Society of Friends united under the Stop the War banner.

Veteran Kendalian CND campaigner Jean Ward believed those who were keen to carry out potentially risky direct action were heading to Glasgow.

Ms Ward said four coaches from north Cumbria were transporting campaigners to Glasgow tomorrow (Saturday) while another four from Barrow and five from Lancashire were off to London.

Among the London marchers will be South Lakeland's Euro MP Chris Davies. The Liberal Democrat politician has chosen to protest as has his party leader Charles Kennedy.

A somewhat smaller scale march is to be held in Sedbergh, where Ian McPherson has organised a rally starting at 11am from the Joss Lane car park.

In separate action, UNASL is suggesting people put half a cup of uncooked rice in a plastic bag wrapped in paper with the message: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them (Romans 12:20). Please send this rice to the people of Iraq; do not attack them." The bags are to be posted to 10 Downing St.

Americans successfully used this tactic in the 1950s, bombarding President Eisenhower with rice bags. When recommended by his generals to use atomic bombs in the conflict against Chinese communists, the President is said to have concluded that as long as Americans were so interested in having the US feed the Chinese, he certainly wasn't going to consider using nuclear weapons against them.

Meanwhile, people up and down the country are being urged to express their feelings about a second Gulf War by writing their sentiments on a tag and tying it to railings, similar to the postings that spontaneously sprung up at Ground Zero after September 11.

In Coniston, sculptor Linda Inman is backing the Voices on the Railings' idea which is

being circulated via e-mail and originally emanated from anonymous internet site www.ontherailings.org.uk.

"As there is no opportunity for public debate I feel it is important that we air our thoughts and concerns. By saying nothing we become responsible for it," said Mrs Inman, who has delivered 600 tags to homes around Coniston which she hopes people will tie to railings at Coniston Bridge on Saturday.

Tagging' has already begun in Ulverston, where labels have been fastened to the chains of the War Memorial and campaigners will be providing tags in The Gill, by the Cumbria Way marker on Saturday.

In reply to an e-mail, those behind the ontherailings' website said tagging was not an "anti-war" protest but was designed to "create the kind of informed and reflective public debate which Blair has bypassed".

"The millions of people who won't attend the London march are no less concerned about Britain starting a war. But many of us don't feel sure enough about the issues to join the march and declare that Blair is wrong. We need public discussion to help us to think about what Britain is doing."

February 14, 2003 09:30