PRESPECTIVE FROM FAIRFORD
dwilson | 29.01.2003 14:24
Sunday, 26 January 2003
Fairford, Gloucestershire
'For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.'
Edmund Burke 1729 - 1797
The Gloucester Weapons Inspectors, CND, revived Greenham Common women, Buddhist monks, students, school children, pensioners and many others numbering 1,500 marched last Sunday from Fairford Village to the largest RAF/USAF bomber base in Europe. This will be where the USAF station their B2
stealth bombers which will darken the skies of Iraq with death and destruction in the event of war.
I went to Fairford to help a friend of mine who was filming for the Indymedia network, the picturesque Cotswold countryside fractured by this enormous death-organising camp.
On arrival at the main gates to the base the protest soon became a celebration of life. There were musicians performing with a PA powered by two clowns peddling a tandem cycle, and topped with a small wheel that drove
a water mill that blew out large bubbles; unicyclists, stilt-walkers, drummers and white-suited "arms inspectors". Two girls arrived peddling a mobile brazier that was hardly needed as the weather on this January day was as clement as the gathering.
Protestors started festooning the outer perimeter with antiwar messages, peace symbols, flowers, prayers and prayer flags and less-than-adulatory messages to our leaders, George and Tony. A group of women wove an enormous
peace symbol on the wire with straw and wool. When we left that evening the main gate to the base and much of the surrounding perimeter fence had been transformed with notices reminding us this was Ministry of Defence property
lost under a sea of life, colour and humour.
Meanwhile the "arms inspectors" set off with their wire-cutters to break into the base and carry out their own UNofficial inspections for Weapons of Mass Destruction. 40 got in and one we met had made it into one of the
hangers where he was chased by two policemen. After being tackled to the ground, one of the PCs pulled him up, and gave him a hug. "Well done," he said. "You're doing the right thing".
To a group of smiling coppers I said, "See you in London on 15th" to which one replied, "I'd be there with you, but I'm on duty that day." It was clear to us all that the police, at least here in Gloucester, were quite
unlike anything experienced by us Londoners with the Met . The most hostile remarks we got were, "Can't give you my private opinion now, not until dinner time."
We interviewed school children and grannies, Greenham Common veterans and students, even an ex-RAF/BA pilot wearing a sign saying "Pilots Against the
War", who told us that he had 40 volunteers prepared to fly over Fairford. As we set off along the perimeter road a BMW drew up; its occupants dressed as though they were looking for the nearest Countryside Alliance demo. They
removed their hand-made anti-war posters from the boot and strode briskly over to the main gates. Set to one side were The Stroud Peace Group serving free teas. They had clearly brought their trestle table and tea urns from the village hall.
And the bombers have not yet arrived The organisers expect that each Sunday will see an increase in their numbers. Take a day out in the country and help the anti-war struggle - and remember to take your wire-cutters.
Information on Fairford and the protests
Fairford is the biggest bomber base in Europe and has recently been upgraded to a forward base for the B-2 Stealth bombers as well as the smaller B-1 and
older B-52 bombers. There are only three forward bases for the Stealth Bombers, two on British territory, at Fairford and Diego Garcia, the third is in Guam. These bombers are nuclear capable and the B-2 has test dropped
B61-11 nuclear bunker busters. The B61-11 is the only US nuclear weapon still deployed outside US borders and there is already a stockpile in this country.
Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors are an open group of concerned citizens with no affiliation to any political party or pressure group. They employ a refreshingly humorous approach to the serious business of weapons
inspection. Dressed in white decontamination suits they carry inspection equipment made from household appliances. Their sophisticated equipment includes smart bomb intelligence testers, hypocrisy detectors and collateral
damage anticipation indicators.
Contacts
Ann Pettitt - 01559 384671
Dave Cockcroft - 07768 418960
Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors - email:
info@gwi.org.uk website:
www.gwi.org.uk
If you are able to access video images check out the Fairford video on:
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=51601&group=webcast
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=51601&group=webcast
Fairford, Gloucestershire
'For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.'
Edmund Burke 1729 - 1797
The Gloucester Weapons Inspectors, CND, revived Greenham Common women, Buddhist monks, students, school children, pensioners and many others numbering 1,500 marched last Sunday from Fairford Village to the largest RAF/USAF bomber base in Europe. This will be where the USAF station their B2
stealth bombers which will darken the skies of Iraq with death and destruction in the event of war.
I went to Fairford to help a friend of mine who was filming for the Indymedia network, the picturesque Cotswold countryside fractured by this enormous death-organising camp.
On arrival at the main gates to the base the protest soon became a celebration of life. There were musicians performing with a PA powered by two clowns peddling a tandem cycle, and topped with a small wheel that drove
a water mill that blew out large bubbles; unicyclists, stilt-walkers, drummers and white-suited "arms inspectors". Two girls arrived peddling a mobile brazier that was hardly needed as the weather on this January day was as clement as the gathering.
Protestors started festooning the outer perimeter with antiwar messages, peace symbols, flowers, prayers and prayer flags and less-than-adulatory messages to our leaders, George and Tony. A group of women wove an enormous
peace symbol on the wire with straw and wool. When we left that evening the main gate to the base and much of the surrounding perimeter fence had been transformed with notices reminding us this was Ministry of Defence property
lost under a sea of life, colour and humour.
Meanwhile the "arms inspectors" set off with their wire-cutters to break into the base and carry out their own UNofficial inspections for Weapons of Mass Destruction. 40 got in and one we met had made it into one of the
hangers where he was chased by two policemen. After being tackled to the ground, one of the PCs pulled him up, and gave him a hug. "Well done," he said. "You're doing the right thing".
To a group of smiling coppers I said, "See you in London on 15th" to which one replied, "I'd be there with you, but I'm on duty that day." It was clear to us all that the police, at least here in Gloucester, were quite
unlike anything experienced by us Londoners with the Met . The most hostile remarks we got were, "Can't give you my private opinion now, not until dinner time."
We interviewed school children and grannies, Greenham Common veterans and students, even an ex-RAF/BA pilot wearing a sign saying "Pilots Against the
War", who told us that he had 40 volunteers prepared to fly over Fairford. As we set off along the perimeter road a BMW drew up; its occupants dressed as though they were looking for the nearest Countryside Alliance demo. They
removed their hand-made anti-war posters from the boot and strode briskly over to the main gates. Set to one side were The Stroud Peace Group serving free teas. They had clearly brought their trestle table and tea urns from the village hall.
And the bombers have not yet arrived The organisers expect that each Sunday will see an increase in their numbers. Take a day out in the country and help the anti-war struggle - and remember to take your wire-cutters.
Information on Fairford and the protests
Fairford is the biggest bomber base in Europe and has recently been upgraded to a forward base for the B-2 Stealth bombers as well as the smaller B-1 and
older B-52 bombers. There are only three forward bases for the Stealth Bombers, two on British territory, at Fairford and Diego Garcia, the third is in Guam. These bombers are nuclear capable and the B-2 has test dropped
B61-11 nuclear bunker busters. The B61-11 is the only US nuclear weapon still deployed outside US borders and there is already a stockpile in this country.
Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors are an open group of concerned citizens with no affiliation to any political party or pressure group. They employ a refreshingly humorous approach to the serious business of weapons
inspection. Dressed in white decontamination suits they carry inspection equipment made from household appliances. Their sophisticated equipment includes smart bomb intelligence testers, hypocrisy detectors and collateral
damage anticipation indicators.
Contacts
Ann Pettitt - 01559 384671
Dave Cockcroft - 07768 418960
Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors - email:
info@gwi.org.uk website: www.gwi.org.uk
If you are able to access video images check out the Fairford video on:
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=51601&group=webcast http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=51601&group=webcast
dwilson
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