Press release Wednesday January 8th
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 a tour 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 spent much of December 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 12pm.

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



sign the pledge of resistance to the "war on terrorism"