RESIST THE DRONES FAIR - NO DRONES IN BATH - ORGANISING MEETING - SATURDAY 2nd JUNE - Manvers street Baptist church (1 minute walk from Bath Spa train station) – 11AM-4.00PM

Dear anti-militarist

As you may have seen, a large military fair - focusing on military and surveillance drones - is being held in Bath between the 25th and 28th of June. We intend to resist them, and want to bring together the biggest coalition of groups and individuals to educate, agitate, organise and make sure the death dealers' stay in Bath isn't a pleasant one!

As we speak, groups and individuals in Bath, including the local Stop the War Coalition are doing sterling work petitioning the council to scrap the conference (as it is being held in council-owned buildings). We hope that this tactic will encourage the council to see sense, but in case the fair does go ahead, we need to start organising ASAP to build the biggest and most effective response.

In an effort to make sure that resisting the drone conference is a process that includes as many different voices, groups and perspectives as possible, we are holding a planning day, where all groups and individuals opposed to the conference can kick-start the process of organising resistance/events. We would love it if you, and as many of your mates/representatives from your group as possible could make it along.

As you will probably know, drones are unmanned aerial weapons which have been indiscriminately terrorising, killing and maiming hundreds of civilians in countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The structure of the day is completely open, so if you have any amendments or suggestions, please drop us an email. At this point, we imagine the day will break down a bit like this -

MORNING SESSION – 11-12.30

*Introduction to the conference - who are the baddies/where and when will they be meeting?
*Feedback on progress so far - finding out the progress of petitions to the council etc
*Feedback from anti-drone conference protests in Bristol - what worked, what didn't?
*Events - coming up with ideas for protests/events and a timetable
*Any other ideas/ things that need to be discussed or have not been covered
*'To do list'
*people form working groups to complete tasks on the to do list

LUNCH - 12.30 - 1.15

AFTERNOON SESSION - 1.15 - 3.45

*Split into working groups
*Feedback from working groups and discussion of next steps

We hope you can make it along, and tell as many people as possible.

Cheers
Bath Stop the Drones

p.s. People of BANES can join the call to cancel this conference by signing the e-petition
at  http://www.democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgEPrtitionListDisplay.aspx