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This Happened

This Happened - February 15: Largest Peace Demonstration Ever

On this day, 20 years ago, it is estimated that more than 10 million people participated in demonstrations around the world, considered the largest coordinated peace demonstrations in history.


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What was the purpose of the peace demonstration of 2003?

The purpose of the demonstration was to protest against the impending invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies.

Where did the peace demonstration of 2003 take place?

Demonstrations took place in hundreds of cities worldwide, including major cities such as London, Rome, Paris, Berlin, and New York. It was organized by a coalition of anti-war groups, peace organizations, and individual activists.

What was the outcome of the 2003 peace demonstrations?

The demonstration did not stop the invasion of Iraq, which began on March 20, 2003. However, it did raise awareness and generate significant public opposition to the war.

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FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainians In Occupied Territories Are Being Forced To Get Russian Passports

Reports have emerged of children, retirees, and workers being forced by the Russian military and occupying administration to obtain Russian Federation passports, or face prison, beating or loss of public benefits.

Image of a hand holding a red Russian passport.

Russian passport

Iryna Gamaliy

It's referred to as: "forced passportization." Reports are accumulating of police and local authorities in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine requiring that locals obtain Russian passports. Now new evidence has emerged that Ukrainians are indeed being coerced into changing their citizenship, or risk retribution from occupying authorities.

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Ever since late September, when President Vladimir Putin announced Russia hadd unilaterally annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson), Moscow has been seeking ways to legitimize the unrecognized annexation. The spreading of Russian passports is seen as an attempt to demonstrate that there is support among the Ukrainian population to be part of Russia.

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