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NO
STAR WARS TOUR
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Q:
How many unaccountable US personnel does it take to form an RAF base? From June 4th - 13th Yorkshire CND travelled the length and breadth of the UK from Faslane, West of Glasgow, to London (East of Aldermaston) to take the message of missile defence's threats to the people of the UK and the US military bases on our soil. At US base after US base we tried to hand in statements explaining our concerns, on the grounds that, since the bases have the letters "RAF" outside the front, they might want to show a degree of accountability to the people of the UK. At US base after US base we were told "don't waste your breath" (a direct quote). Many such envelopes will now have winged their way to the bases by post but the reactions of the US personnel that would speak to us (and many wouldn't) was representative of a wider desire by our own government to brush this issue under the carpet. Fortunately the ordinary folk of Britain were far more willing to listen. In total, hundreds came to the public meetings we held in towns near to the nuclear and missile defence hotspots we visited during the tour. Still more came to the stalls in the town centres to sign the new petition (available to download from www.cnduk.org or as an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/notosw) and to collect information. Watching the reaction of passers-by to phrases like "Keep Space For Peace" was fascinating. Many, once the phrase had registered, would rush over to the stall to sign the petition, unaware until that point that peace in space was even under threat. Throughout the tour we stuck stars to Faslane, took radiation readings at Fylingdales, evicted Menwith Hill, demonstrated in Leicester and at Feltwell and held a marvellous tongue in cheek pro-star wars rally right outside the US Embassy in London. The media turned out to many of the events and so the tour, and its message, reached thousands more through their papers, TVs and radios. The public know of "Star Wars" and they know there's a debate. They don't yet know all the facts or potential consequences. The tour helped to reinvigorate that debate but it is up to the members and supporters of NGOs like CND to ensure that the campaign gains the momentum it deserves. Roman soldiers used shields not to defend against attack by their foes, but to ensure that their own attacks were more effective and led to less casualties. If we are to live in a world free from a similar shield of epic proportions, and the consequences that that creates, then the campaign must continue and accelerate. CND and Yorkshire CND have produced new briefings on the subjects and flyers, stickers and a new petition are all there for use across the UK in the campaign. Please contact us to find out how you can help put a stop to the new threat to peace. Below is what happened... |
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In February this year the UK government gave the US the go-ahead to use the Fylingdales radar base in North Yorkshire for its controversial Star Wars missile defence system. The decision came after a long, hard campaign by CND to oppose any UK involvement in the system. A global missile defence system is a danger to international stability. Whilst the US argues that the system will be used to defend itself against strikes from "rogue states", the development of space weapons andthe potential use for the system as a war fighting tool are dangerously destabilising and threaten to provoke an arms race. |
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NO STAR WARS TOUR : June 4th - 13th 2003 This year CND is going on the road to take the campaign to the missile defence and nuclear hotspots across the UK. We're starting the tour at the Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland and winding our way down the UK to end up at the US Embassy in London on June 13th - the date the ABM treaty died in 2002. It was the killing off of this treaty that allowed Bush to push full steam ahead with Missile Defence. During the tour we'll be holding meetings, stunts, demos and stalls, taking the facts about star wars to the front line locations. To find out what it's all about, if we're coming to a town near you, and how to get involved, read on.
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Click on the links below to find our more about each hotspot, and why we're going there. If you'd like to get more information, or get involved, click here |
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1.
June 4th |
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About Trident is illegal under international law, the manufacture of Trident pollutes the environment with deadly radiation and it takes millions of pounds away from housing, hospitals and schools. |
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Why
are we going there? |
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Details of the day We'll visit Faslane and the peace camp and hand in a statement of opposition to missile defence and the UK's nuclear arsenal. After than, and a stall in Glasgow it's: PUBLIC MEETING - Missile Defence and Nuclear arsenals - a partnership for dominance - 7pm - at the STUC IN GLASGOW
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About |
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Why
are we going there? Details
of the day |
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Following a stunt outside Fylingdales and a stall in Pickering town centre, we'll be holding a meeting in Pickering: PUBLIC
MEETING AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION Speakers
The
campaign against Star Wars past and future Followed by a chance for the audience to view their concerns, ask questions and plan for the future. The day's events are being organised jointly with Fylingdales Action Network. More details soon.
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About
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Again, despite the "RAF" at the front, the UK government is only told what they "need to know" and MPs are not allowed in to the base. Menwith Hill is also the European Ground Relay Station for the Space-Based Infra-Red system (SBIRS). This system, split in to SBIRS High and STSS (Space Tracking and Surveillance System - previously called SBIRS Low), tracks the movement of missiles through and above the atmosphere and tries to identify dummy and decoy missiles. The system is currently over-budget and behing schedule, but it is key to the US's missile defence plans. Why
are we going there? Details
of the day |
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THE CHANGING FACE OF MENWITH HILL JUNE 6TH @ 7.30PM - FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE - Queen Parade, Harrogate -
It's the world's biggest spy base FIND OUT WHAT THE BASE DOES, HOW IT'S CHANGING AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU Speakers:
Including
exhibition from Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases: Meeting organised by Harrogate Quakers, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Harrogate and Knaresborough Peace Group - More details 01274 7307095. |
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About
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However, in view of the declining fortunes of the civilian products and services sector, the company sees the future of its "Forever New Frontiers" strategy (as in its logo) in landing more government defence contracts. In 1997, Boeing was awarded the National Missile Defence Lead System Integrator contract, initially for $1,5 bn, with a follow on contract in 2000 worth $6 bn. The NMD programme involves the development and testing of a potential system to detect, track and destroy incoming Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles before they reach the USA. Just recently, in December 2002, the Bush Administration announced that it is moving forward the target date at which the system is to become operational to 2004. The Boeing Company, as Lead Integrator, is also the Prime Contractor with the responsibility of doling out subcontracts to its main competitors (TWR; Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and others). As Lead Integrator it is responsible for the development and integration of the NMD elements, notably the Ground-Based Interceptor, X-Band Radars, Battle Management Command (BMC3, with TWR) Upgraded Early Warning and Interfaces to Spacebased Infra Red System Satellites (with Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon). Why
are we going there? Details
of the day |
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Following a stunt and stall in Sheffield town centre, After Iraq-Where Next? Space Weapons & US Military Power Speakers: Venue: Blind Institution, 5, Mappin Street (off West Street, Sheffield) 2.00pm - 4.00pm, Saturday, 7 June 2003 |
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About Croughton also provides Atlantic and European communications, and long range radio communications to Southwest Asia. |
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Croughton is also a key link centre for the EC-135 'flying war rooms' based at Mildenhall, Suffolk, as the European airborne command post system. It is a major satellite communications ground station linked to the US Defence Satellite Communications System, and part of a global network of computer data switching centres. It runs a long range radio system for nuclear bombs called 'Giant Talk' or 'Scope Signal III'. Croughton's role as a major CIA communications centre (under the cover of the US Air Force base) was identified by former CIA executive Victor referred to a CIA agent radio centre about a hundred miles from London, and near 'Banbury Cross'. CIA covert communications satellites enable agents or implanted sensors in hostile territory to communicate to US controllers by direct satellite link. An agent's satellite link transmitter can be carried in a small suitcase; US covert communications links of this kind were used in 1982 by SAS teams operating in the Falklands war. Croughton is directly linked to its 'transmitter annexe' at Barford St John, a few miles west. Staff at Croughton include both military personnel and 'civilian' staff of the Department of Defense, who operate some of the base satellite communications equipment including a satellite tracking dish, installed in the early 1970s, and concealed inside a white radome. US-owned and run microwave communications links converge on Croughton from GCHQ Cheltenham (via Leafield, Oxon), High Wycombe, (via Upper Heyford), Molesworth and other USAF bases (via Daventry), and Barford St John. The links are all encrypted (encoded), preventing signals from being intercepted and understood by others. This system, called the Digital European Backbone, reached its northern and western limit at Croughton in 1983. DEB's most important connections go to command headquarters and other communications centres, especially satellite terminals. More than 100 DEB sites have been built, some 12 of which are interconnection points to other NATO or national communications systems. Other facilities at Croughton include the Global Command and Control System for communications with transatlantic and other flights and communications links for the military computer network called WMCCS ('Wimex') - the world-wide military command and control system. Why
are we going there? |
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Missile
Defence and weapons in Space - the New threat Speakers: 7.30pm at Friends Meeting House in St Giles, Oxford FREE and Open to all |
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Why
are we going there? Details
of the day |
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About On June 13th 2002 the USA finally withdrew from the ABM treaty - giving them the freedom to chase the missile defence dream. This June 13th we'll be in London to mark that important date. UK involvement in missile defence came about after what the MOD called a "consultation period". |
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This consultation had no official deadline or procedure and NGOs like CND were left wondering quite what to do with it. We took the bull by the horns and spent what turned out to be a limited time doing all we could to make use of the "consultation". Submissions to the MOD and defence select committee, invitations to the Defence secretary to join a debate in Pickering and direct lobbying of MPs and ministers fell on deaf ears. The consultation was announced shortly before the Christmas and New Year break. Almost immediately after the break Hoon announced that he was "minded" to give the US the go-ahead for use of Fylingdales for the system. Shortly after that, he did so. The MOD spent most of last year spinning and avoiding questions on missile defence. They spent just a few days of this year giving it the nod
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THE GRAND FINALE: PRO-MISSILE
DEFENCE RALLY
with MARK THOMAS Join Osama Bin Laden, Big Business men and women, Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong-Il, the US Air Force, George Bush and Tony Blair as they go to the US Embassy to demonstrate FOR Missile Defence! With all the profit that the arms corporations could make, the instability that the system will create, the arms race that will be provoked and the proof to Osama Bin Laden that he was right about US bullies all along, it's no wonder they're all so supportive of the idea. That's why on June 13th - the 1st anniversary of the death of the ABM treaty, they'll be outside the US Embassy calling for missile defence as loud as they can! Join them dressed as a terrorist, soldier, businessperson, tyrant ... turn the facts on their head and see the truth from their eyes!
organised by CND |
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Join us during the tour at one of the public meetings, or come and get more information from a stall in the town centres along the route. For more information to get involved in helping in the local areas, contact CND on 0207 7002393 or Yorkshire CND on 01274 730795 or information@yorkshirecnd.org.uk |
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