Disrupt the Masters of War : nonviolent direct action at British military HQ
voices UK | 19.12.2002 14:08
Press release Thursday December 19th
Voices in the Wilderness UK
0845 458 2564/ 0794 7839992
www.voicesuk.org
Disrupt the Masters of War :
Anti war activists plan weekend of nonviolent direct action at British military HQ
As The British military mobilises to meet George Bush’s order to head for the Gulf, anti war activists are mobilising for a weekend of non-violent protest and civil disobedience against the war on Iraq at the Permanent Joint Headquarters of the British Armed Forces at Northwood, North West London. The weekend of action January 18th –19th coincides with the anniversary of the 1991 Gulf bombing and a protest march expected to number near 500,000 in Washington DC (1).
The weekend of action, called by direct action groups Voices in the Wilderness UK (2), ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots of War) and the d-10 group, will include tours of the base, a mass blockade, a mass breaching of the Official Secrets Act, non-violence trainings and autonomous affinity group actions.
Northwood is the command post for British rapid deployment forces and would play a key role in directing British forces in any attack on Iraq. Officers from Northwood are already in Qatar participating in a US wargame Operation Internal Look (OIL), preparing for the invasion of Iraq (3).
The main events for the media are:
Friday January 17th 7.30pm, Conway Hall, Holborn , London. Public meeting and sanctions breaking auction.
Saturday January 18th 12 noon. OPERATION INTERNAL LOOK- (OIL) Inspecting the war machine. Activists will bring giant binoculars, telescopes and cameras and inspect and record the workings of the base, breaching the Official Secrets Act. Assembling Northwood main gate.
Sunday January 19th 11 am. MASS BLOCKADE and PROTEST, assembling Northwood Tube (Met Line) and walking up to the base where the gates will be blocked. The mood will be lively, creative.
There will also be a multi faith service Sunday at one of the side gates.
Voices spokespeople available for interviews and advanced media work.
Call 0845 458 2564/ 0794 7839992
(1) for details of US event see
http://www.internationalanswer.org/
(2) for details of UK events see www.voicesuk.org
(3) Guardian December 5th Iraq in sights as US and British practise in Qatar http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,853965,00.html
(4) For more info on role of Northwood see http://people.freenet.de/ask/e_northwood.html
Voices in the Wilderness UK
0845 458 2564/ 0794 7839992
www.voicesuk.org
Disrupt the Masters of War :
Anti war activists plan weekend of nonviolent direct action at British military HQ
As The British military mobilises to meet George Bush’s order to head for the Gulf, anti war activists are mobilising for a weekend of non-violent protest and civil disobedience against the war on Iraq at the Permanent Joint Headquarters of the British Armed Forces at Northwood, North West London. The weekend of action January 18th –19th coincides with the anniversary of the 1991 Gulf bombing and a protest march expected to number near 500,000 in Washington DC (1).
The weekend of action, called by direct action groups Voices in the Wilderness UK (2), ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots of War) and the d-10 group, will include tours of the base, a mass blockade, a mass breaching of the Official Secrets Act, non-violence trainings and autonomous affinity group actions.
Northwood is the command post for British rapid deployment forces and would play a key role in directing British forces in any attack on Iraq. Officers from Northwood are already in Qatar participating in a US wargame Operation Internal Look (OIL), preparing for the invasion of Iraq (3).
The main events for the media are:
Friday January 17th 7.30pm, Conway Hall, Holborn , London. Public meeting and sanctions breaking auction.
Saturday January 18th 12 noon. OPERATION INTERNAL LOOK- (OIL) Inspecting the war machine. Activists will bring giant binoculars, telescopes and cameras and inspect and record the workings of the base, breaching the Official Secrets Act. Assembling Northwood main gate.
Sunday January 19th 11 am. MASS BLOCKADE and PROTEST, assembling Northwood Tube (Met Line) and walking up to the base where the gates will be blocked. The mood will be lively, creative.
There will also be a multi faith service Sunday at one of the side gates.
Voices spokespeople available for interviews and advanced media work.
Call 0845 458 2564/ 0794 7839992
(1) for details of US event see
http://www.internationalanswer.org/ (2) for details of UK events see www.voicesuk.org
(3) Guardian December 5th Iraq in sights as US and British practise in Qatar
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,853965,00.html (4) For more info on role of Northwood see
http://people.freenet.de/ask/e_northwood.html
voices UK
e-mail:
voices@voicesuk.org
Homepage:
www.voicesuk.org
