UK Anti-militarism Feature Archive
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Smash EDO Carnival Against the Arms Trade
28-05-2008 22:36
Every bomb that is dropped and every bullet that is fired in the name of this war of terror has to be made somewhere and wherever that is it can be resisted...
On the 4th June, Smash EDO, a campaign group aiming to shut down EDO MBM, a Brighton based arms manufacturer, will be holding a Carnival Against the Arms Trade aiming to highlight the level of public opposition to the factory and be an oppurtunity to take creative direct action against the arms trade.
The Carnival will include live music, a critical mass and with a unifying theme of red. Smash EDO are calling for activists to come from around the country to join the carnival and help close down EDO.
Resources: Flyer for the Critical Mass | Webpage for the carnival - Info on accomodation and transport | Press Release for the Carnival | More Info about the Smash EDO Campaign (pdf) | Info about the Merger with ITT (pdf)
Links: Smash EDO | EDO MBM | Smash EDO Indymedia topic page
Previous features: On the Verge - The Film They Tried to Ban |Singers Arrested Outside Arms Factory | Smash EDO Action Camp: Shut down the Brighton bomb builders | Lebanon War protesters - Not Guilty! | EDO CORP: 2006 Alternative Report | 2007 Is The Year To Shut EDO Down | EDO MBM Injunction crumbles | EDO MBM desperate to stop protests as resistance increases | Smash EDO Take On The Law | Harassment Law Used Against Anti-War Campaigners | Campaign to Smash Edo | Arms company shut down
Protesters Return to Nottingham Weapons Manufacturer
09-05-2008 08:13
On Tuesday May 6, anti-arms trade activists returned to the offices of small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch, Nottingham Small Arms Facility, Unit 3, Easter Park, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2PX (map). Campaigners met at Abbey Bridge before marching to the office where they staged a protest. A similar event had been held at the same location in July last year.
Despite remaining entirely peaceful, the protest was heavily policed and campaigners were graced by the presence of a team of Evidence Gatherers from Nottinghamsire Police alongside PC Ian Skivens (CO5494) from the Metropolitan's Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) and PC Paul Mather (4551) from Staffordshire Police.
Upcoming Event: Heckler & Koch Campaign Meeting, Tuesday May 13, 8pm at the Sumac Centre. See article for more info.
Audio: as featured in #5 the June Show ~ Riseup! Radio
Newswire: Smash EDO interview | You can have your pigs back Boris | Surveillance at Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham | Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham | No arms trade - Shut Down Heckler & Koch! Demonstration Tuesday May 6th
Previous Feature: Protesters Target Nottingham Weapons Manufacturers
Links: NottsAntiMilitarism | Campaign Against the Arms Trade | FIT Watch | Heckler & Koch | Wikipedia on Heckler & Koch
Trident Activists Blockade Rolls Royce in Derby
30-04-2008 18:52
On Monday April 28, activists from Trident Ploughshares blockaded the Rolls Royce factory at Raynesway, Derby. Using two concrete lock-ons, chains and bike locks they were able to disrupt the facility for five hours. A specialist police cutting team had to be brought in from Staffordshire to chisel out those using the lock-on. The factory was targetted because it is used to make and test the reactor which power Britain's nuclear submarines. As such it is a vital part of the programme to replace the Trident missile system.
Trident Ploughshares spokesman Malcolm Carroll said: "We view our peaceful protest as a major success. We have highlighted our views that Rolls-Royce is acting immorally by building reactor cores for Trident submarines' nuclear weapons system. This is the first time that we have brought this type of protest to Derby and it may not be the last. Hundreds of people used this form of mass blockade at the Trident nuclear base at Faslane, in Scotland, over a year-long period called Faslane 365. Who is to say that we can't have a Derby 365?"
Newswire: trident protesters arrested out side rolls royce derby | Notts Indymedia Anti-Militarism Topic Page
Previous features: Strident students blockade at Faslane | Protesters take action at Derby nuclear plant | Nottingham folk succesfully blockade nuclear submarine base in Scotland | Nuclear? No thanks! | Derbyshire police go over the top again
Other Coverage: BBC Derby | Derby Evening Telegraph
Links: Faslane 365 | Rolls Royce | Trident Ploughshares
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Student Hunger Strike for Palestine
24-04-2008 00:01
Two student activists at the University of Nottingham have been on hunger strike whilst camping on campus since Tuesday the 22nd. The hunger strike will last until the end of the week and has been taking place in front of the main library (the Hallward) on University Park Campus.
The hunger-striking students, and many others, are concerned about the most recent, particularly inhumane, and on-going “Siege on Gaza”, the continued Israeli aggression in the area, and the proliferation of arms as a result of the arms trade, which leads to the deaths of innocent people not only in Palestine, but in situations of military oppression around the world.
Brighton Tubas Solidarity Group Visit to Palestine
16-04-2008 10:01
A delegation of seven people from Brighton arrived in the Tubas region of occupied Palestine last week. The delegation is part of the project by the Brighton-Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group. The group's aims are to highlight Israeli war crimes against Palestinians in the region, raise awareness about life under occupation and create practical solidarity links between grassroots organisations in Brighton and Tubas region.
Reports from the Delegation in Palestine: Teaching King Lear in Occupied Palestine | The Breadbasket of Palestine | Resourcefulness and Tenacity | Jordan Valley 2008 | Smashed To Pieces and Bled Dry | Day 5
Press Releases from the Brighton-Tubas Solidarity Group: Education and Resistance in Occupied Palestine | Palestinian Village Denied Water and Threatened with Demolition
Links: Brighton-Tubas Blog | Brighton-Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group | Palestine Solidarity Campaign | International Solidarity Movement in Palestine | Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign | Stop the Wall in Palestine
Nottingham And Leicester Join Aldermaston Anniversary
28-03-2008 16:03
At Easter 1958 the recently formed Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) organised a march from London to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment close to Aldermaston in Berkshire, England. On March 24 2008 CND marked the anniversary of this event by returning to the base. Protesters from around the country formed a four and half mile long human chain around the base, symbolically closing it.
A contingent from Nottingham and Leicester went along to participate in the protest. They joined protesters from the East of England at the "Boiler House" gate to express their opposition to the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system and call for nuclear disarmament.
Audio: Nottingham, Leicester and Lougborough Join Aldermaston Blockade - an audio piece
Photos: Aldermaston Anniversary
Newswire: Nottingham, Leicester and Lougborough Join Aldermaston Blockade - an audio piece | 50th Anniversary of founding of CND - event in the Market Square | The Bomb Stops Here: Surround the Base | Notts Indymedia Anti-militarism Topic Page
Links: Aldermaston 2008 | Aldermaston Women's Peace camp | CND | Nottingham CND | Leicester Mercury Coverage: 1 | 2
Round-up of "World against War" protest
21-03-2008 23:00
Tenthousands of people demonstrated for peace during the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War launch [ archive | M18 2003 protests | No War F15 2003 protests ] in London, Glasgow , Nottingham, Cambridge , Wrexham and Edinburgh as part of the 'World Against War' events [ US protests summary ]. The main demonstration on Saturday, 15th of March 2008 in London, was called by the Stop the War Coalition, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the British Muslim Initiative, and heavily controlled by police, who arrested four people for watching the Forward Intelligence Team.
Pics [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ] video: [1] reports: [ 1 | 2 ]
Other IMC's reports: [ Madrid | Barcelona | Belgium | Euskal Herria | Puerto Rico | Torun (Poland) ]
Five years on...
20-03-2008 17:30
It is now five years since the invasion of Iraq and its consequences are obvious for all to see. Estimates of the death toll, suggest that more than a million Iraqis may have been murdered since the invasion. In addition, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that more than 2.2 million Iraqis are internally displaced, with a further 2 million having fled to neighbouring states, particularly Syria and Jordan. The explanation for these stark figures lies in the surge in sectarian conflict, widespread state repression, ongoing US-UK military operations, endemic criminality and growth of Islamic fundamentalism, all of which have been facilitated, if not actively encouraged, by the US-UK occupation.
This carnage has not taken place without opposition. The anti-war movement globally, nationally and locally has campaigned against US-UK imperialism in Iraq since the possibility of an attack was first mooted shortly after September 11th. The movement's concerns echoed in Nottingham as they did elsewhere, encouraging many local residents to get active.
Newswire: Stop the War: Five Years on (report) | Stop the War: Five Years on (photos 1) | Stop the War: Five Years on (photos 2) | Notts Indymedia Iraq Topic Page
Links: Nottingham CND | Nottingham Stop the War Coalition | Nottingham Student Peace Movement | Veggies Against War
Sheffield military recruitment centre blockaded
18-02-2008 20:31
On Friday 15th Feburary protestors from the Sheffield Activist Network (SAN) blockaded the city's military recruitment centre on Church Street [ photos | video ]. The protest was to mark the 5th anniversary of the 2003 F15 protests against war with Iraq.
The BBC has reported that two activists were remanded into custody on Saturday and a third was due in court on Monday.
Other recent Sheffield protests against war include invasion of a lecture on aerial warfare and the disruption of arms dealers at a careers fair.
International Actions against Israeli Apartheid
16-02-2008 17:22
The period leading up to Valentine’s day saw actions against Israeli apartheid taking place in the USA, England and Belgium. A week of action had been called against the import of Israeli flowers for Valentine’s Day. The call to action was against Carmel-Agrexco, the 50% state owned Israeli export company, and in support of a boycott of apartheid Israel.
On Friday 9th February Belgian activists blocked trucks at Agrexco’s depot in Liege, On Monday in Hayes, Middlesex, Activists blocked the entrances and exits of Agrexco’s UK headquarters. Some activists opted for another Valentine’s day target, the Israeli diamond trade: In London Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods picketed Lev Leviev’s new store while activists from Adalah in the US targeted Levievs’ New York branch. Leviev, an international diamond merchant, is responsible for developing illegal settlements on Palestinian land near the West Bank Villages of Bil In and Jayouss. His New York store has been targeted for several months by anti-apartheid activists.
Reports: Report of the Belgian Carmel-Agrexco action | Photos| Videos - 1 2 3 4 5 | Report of the London Carmel-Agrexco Action - 1 2
Previous: Original call to action against Agrexco | Previous Actions against Carmel-Agrexco 1 2 3 4 | London Pickett of Lev Leviev’s Store (+ Video) | Report of the US Picket (+ Video | Pictures)
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Protest against secret Nato summit on Afghanistan
12-12-2007 22:05
About thirty committed activists protested against the NATO meeting at the Craigiehall Army Barracks near South Queensferry in Edinburgh. The demonstrators blocked the main road to the meeting, which is attended by defence ministers from eight NATO countries, and other senior political and military officials who discuss the current situation in Afghanistan.
Protest:
[ report of early morning actions | report and pics | leaflets in NATO hotel | Indymedia Scotland feature | details of protest | announcing article ]
Background links:
[ The Senlis Council | RAWA on US worsening human rights situation | Taliban control more than half of Afghanistan: IMC Germany | Womankind: Taking Stock | Canadian Peace Alliance | Imc Germany: There is no end to Afghanistan | Le Monde Diplomatique french/german/english | icasualties | Why are we in Afghanistan? | Just Foreign Policy]
Grassroots Solidarity Against the Occupation
24-10-2007 20:36
The Jordan Valley, part of which is situated in Tubas region, has been de facto annexed by Israel. The Israeli occupation forces using land expropriation, house demolitions, militarisation of vast swathes of land and enforcing a system of pass laws reminscent of apartheid South Africa are attempting to make life impossible for the Palestinians. The aim is to bleed Palestinians out of the valley, leaving those who remain there to provide a workforce to serve the needs of the Israeli agricultural companies who profit from land stolen from the indigenous Palestinian population.
Daily Reports from the delegation in Palestine: This is Life in the Jordan Valley| Day 2 - Al Jiftlik| Nowhere to go |Ein Al Beide women’s group: ‘To exist in this region is resistance!’ | Settlers shoot at Internationals and Children | Life in the Women's Prison | Education in Violence | A Tale of Two Worlds | Life, Birth and Death in the Jordan Valley | Settlement Slavery | Settler Violence, Army Collusion and Justice| Palestinian Farmers Under the Occupation
Press Releases from the Delegation: Collective Punishment in Al Masra'a | British Citizen Arreted in Al Masra'a Now Released Three Brighton Residents On Trial in Jerusalem tonight for ‘Taking Part in an Illegal Demonstration’| Israeli Military and Settlers Shoot Live Ammunition at Brighton Delegation | Palestinian Farmers Denied Access to their Olive Trees| Brighton Delegation Marches in Solidarity with Imprisoned Hunger Strikers| Brighton Residents Visit Palestine|
Brighton-Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group| Stop the Wall in Palestine | Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign |
Confrontation with authorities in Parliament Square
17-10-2007 20:26
On 8th October, the day that the British Parliament resumed after its Summer recess, a thousands of anti-war protesters marched into Parliament Square. They were joined by people who demanded the basic freedom to be able to protest peacefully without prior police permission or conditions.
In the past demonstrators in London have been arrested, charged and fined or imprisoned simply for reading out a list of names or for carrying an innocuous banner, under the draconian SOCPA legislation brought in by Prime Minister Blair's government and carried on by his successor Brown. Since a raid on protesters' legitimate encampment in the Square by Mayor Livingstone's Greater London Authority (GLA) team on 17th August, a surrounding metal barrier has been erected which severely inhibits the ability to demonstrate there.
Timeline: [ 14.55 | 15.40 | 16.15 | 16.30 | 17.15 ]
Video: [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ]
Pictures: [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ]
Texts: [ Monopoly on Protest: Open Letter to CND and the Stop the War Coalition | What's wrong with Stop the War Campaign? | SOCPA - STWC 'ban' was bollocks ]
Singers Arrested Outside Arms Factory.
10-10-2007 21:03
5 people were arrested after singing 'We Are the Champions' at a karaoke themed demo at EDO MBM's Brighton arms factory. The police reacted to the cringe-worthy songs by arresting some demonstrators under noise byelaws and then imposing conditions to prevent the warmongers hearing an encore. Those who didn't move along were nicked, while the sour-faced managing director looked on. | Video
This major police response to a bit of a sing-song follows a successful blockade of the factory last week. All doors into the building were glued shut and two people locked themselves to the front doors with D-locks. This forced the managing director to smash his own window to get in and delayed the manufacture of deadly bomb components, which loses the company both profit and popularity with clients. | Video | Update: 5 Protestors have been charged with 'Conspiracy to cause Criminal Damage', and face a jury trial.
As EDO's profits slide, the campaign against them is building. Campaigners are looking forward to the traditionally lively Haloween demo on the 31st October, when the ghosts of EDO' s victims (and a host of weird and wonderful beings) come to haunt them.
smashEDO protestors have observed that the police are using increasingly repressive measures to deal with the protests, and one compared police behaviour that was common prior to the attempt to injuct protests in 2005. At the hearings, it became apparent that the police had urged EDO MBM to seek the injunction. The case collapsed, costing EDO MBM much money. Since then the company's fortunes have taken a number of knocks. Campaigners have vowed to keep up the pressure until the arm's manufacturer closes the factory.
Links:
Peace Camp 2005 | Peace Camp 2007 | Student Blockade | Campaigners breach security | Court Victory for Right to Protest |
DSEi - Thursday 13th: Protests At The Gala Dinner
13-09-2007 16:59
The week of actions against the DSEI arms fair continued on Thursday night. The most powerful weapons buyers and sellers gathered at the Dorchester Hotel in London's Park Lane for a luxury dinner with arms deals on the side. The DSEi/DMA dinner is an important part of the DSEi week, both for networking within the arms industry and as an opportunity to make agreements for weapons sales, perhaps over a glass of blood-red wine.
A protest outside the hotel was called, and a Bikes Not Bombs Critical Mass gathered at the South Bank to move towards Park Lane. Earlier in the day the Princess of Wales fountain was dyed blood red to remember victims of cluster bombs, whilst police activity continued in Rampart Street where several people were searched and one arrested in relation to the DSEi protests.
Reports: Anti DSei Critical Mass penned under s12/14 | Disrupting the DSEi Dinner at the Dorchester Hotel
Timeline Of Events: See full Ticker
For further information, see Disarm DSEi and Indymedia's DSEi topic page.
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DSEi - Tuesday 11th: Actions Against The Arms Fair
11-09-2007 08:33
The security cordon around DSEi, the "fastest-growing defence show in the world." was breached shortly after 7.30am this morning, when a group of about 20 activists ran into the car park of the ExCeL Centre in London's docklands, where the exhibition opened today. A solidarity blockade of BAE took place in Manchester. About 80 people joined a CAAT march and rally, and about 50 cyclists arrived at Custom House DLR station from a critical mass style ride that left Bank tube station mid-morning. Space Hijackers managed to get a tank and sound system to the main entrance of ExCeL, after diverting the police with a decoy tank. They auctioned off the tank and invited the 200 strong crowd to a party against the arms fair so to let the fair's delegates know what they think about their murderous business.
Timeline Of Events: See full Ticker
Reports: A day at DSEI | London Catholic Workers Expose Rivers of Blood at DSEi | Dsei security not fit for purpose
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Video
Outline of Day Events:
17:30: Protestors have been shouting slogans and jeering arms fair delegates as they leave via Canning Town DLR station. One banner reads "Stop Dealing in Death". The area is still full of police who continue to stop and search small groups of protestors, but most delegates have now left.
17:00: Critical Mass has moved off towards Canning Town. Tank has left the West Entrance.
16:30: Many police reported to be at Canning Town station which is used by the delegates to leave the arms fair
16:00: The tank was sold for $50 [.wav audio report]. The party continues.
15:45: Critical Mass has arrived at the West Gate, where police are placing barriers around the tank and protestors. The auction of the tank starts at 16:00 [.wav audio report]
15:10 The second tank has now been driven off the low loader and has approached the West gate of DSEi where it has parked blocking the mini roundabout entrance [.wav audio report]. The turret is facing the arms fair, music is blasting out and a 'For Sale' sign has been hung on the side. [Aduio reports: 1 | 2]
14:25 Another rogue tank has been spotted on a low loader lorry heading towards DSEi. Protestors are now following behind it. The Space Hijackers tank in Lochnagar Street in undergoing a lengthy police inspection. [.wav audio report]
14:10 After negotiating a planned route with the police the Space Hijackers Tank finally moved off, but has now been stopped after advancing only around 10 yards. A police officer has just said that they intend to carry out a vehicle check on the tank and may also search the 9 or so occupants of the tank - he estimated this could take up to an hour. [.wav audio report]
14:00 Around 80 people are protesting outside Custom House DLR (Docklands Light Railway) station next to DSEi. They were joined by some of the cyclists who were on an earlier critical mass type demonstration. There are reports of police searching people coming off the DLR.
For further information, see Disarm DSEi and Indymedia's DSEi topic page
Contribute your news direct via the blasted reporting number 0207 043 3783, plus check out 'the streets' SMS news alerts.
Past coverage: 2001 | 2003 | 2005 Links: Nottingham Disarm DSEi | Space Hijackers | CAAT | London CAAT
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Smash EDO Action Camp: Shut down the Brighton bomb builders
26-08-2007 17:32
From 27 to 30 August, Smash EDO held an action camp in the Wild Park, close to Mouslecoomb Station in Brighton. The camp aimed to be a time to hold creative direct actions against the arms trade and a forum to discuss the anti-arms trade movement, but on Tuesday afternoon police forcibly moved in and removed the camp's infrastructure using a nineteenth century by-law. Despite police repression most campers remained put, new provisions were brought in, and activists maintained the camp whilst carrying out a series of daily actions:
Timeline of Events:
Monday 27th: Opening and vigil (pix)
Tuesday 28th Morning: Rooftop protest | Afternoon: Police threaten camp | Tents standoff at smashEDO Camp | Camp still resisting and actions will continue! | Bikes against bomb factories
Wednesday 29th: Camp continues despite police repression | Demo at EDO 8am [Report] | Action Update at 6pm
Thursday 30th: Actions continue as camp draws to a close
Friday 31st: Final action from the camp outside EDO MBM in Moulescombe
Reports Still Coming In: Barricade Building and Attempt to Breach EDO's Security
Press Releases: Anti Arms Trade Campaigner Plan Action Camp | Smash EDO Camp Continues Despite Police Eviction Attempt
Details of the camp | Directions to the camp
Schnews Report: Tents Stand Off
Two Days of Action Against the Arms Trade
07-08-2007 17:18
Following a call-out from Disarm DSEi, a wave of autonomous actions against the arms trade took place around the UK over the weekend of 28-30 July, 2007. Actions included a protest at Heckler & Koch's small arms factory in Nottingham; visits to arms manufacturer Raytheon and mercenary company Erinys in London and to arms factory EDO MBM in Brighton; an Anti-DSEi stall in Brick Lane, East London, to raise funds for the Space Hijackers to 'buy a tank'; and protests at the MOD Defence Export Services Organisation and the adjacent armed forces recruitment centre.
But this is just the beginning; activists are flexing their muscles ready to take on the world's largest arms fair when it returns to the Excel Centre in East London on 11th-14th September. For further information, see www.dsei.org.
Links: Disarm DSEi | Space Hijackers | Smash EDO | CAAT | London CAAT
Protesters Target Nottingham Weapons Manufacturers
24-07-2007 23:14
About 30-40 people gathered at the UK headquarters of Heckler & Koch, the world's second-largest manufacturer of handguns, assault rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers. It was recently found out that their HQ is based on an industrial estate in Lenton, Nottingham so some people decided to pay them a visit...
There were about the same amount of police officers as protesters, in an attempt to keep them off the actual estate where the company is based. There was also the honour of the Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) who travelled all the way from London for the event. The demonstration was called by the Nottingham group of 'Disarm DSEi' which is a grassroots campaign against the UK’s largest arms fair, at which Heckler & Koch will be exhibiting their weapons later this year.
Photos: Protest at Heckler & Koch : Pictures
Audio: Interview with one of the protesters - mp3 3.4M | What are we here for? - short speech - mp3 1.8M
Links: Nottingham Disarm DSEi Group | Demo Annoucement | Press Release (PDF) | Heckler and Koch Q and A (PDF) | Wikipedia on Heckler & Koch
Full article | 1 addition | 2 comments
Two arrested at the annual 'Independence From America' protest
07-07-2007 17:35
The Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases' (CAAB) annual Independence From America demonstration at NSA Menwith Hill was the first where protestors were not allowed to circumnavigate the base due to a Section 12 order. There were two arrests, one for wearing a shirt with the word "fuck" on it and the second for arguing against the arrest. The rally at the start was addressed by Alan Bennett and Mark Steel and the marchers from Footprints for Peace [ 1 | 2 ]. A Declaration of Independence was read out, "we... do solemnly demand the return of the land, once within the boundaries of the ancient townships of Birstwith, Felliscliffe, Norwood and Menwith, now occupied by the United States National Security Agency and their military forces.". There was a heavy police presence, food was provided by Veggies and Yorkshire CND had a stall.
Report | Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Audio: 1 | 2 | 3 | 2006 Feature