Press release from: Lakenheath Action Group, Fri 30th July 2004.
From Friday 6th to Mon 9th August, there will be a peace camp at USAF Lakenheath to remember the victims of the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Events will include remembrance vigils, street theatre, workshops, music, children's cooperative games and non-violent direct action.
From Friday 6th to Mon 9th August, there will be a peace camp at USAF Lakenheath to remember the victims of the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Events will include remembrance vigils, street theatre, workshops, music, children's cooperative games and non-violent direct action.
"The appearance of people was, well, they all had skin blackened by burns.
They had no hair because their hair was burned, and at a glance you
couldn't tell whether you were looking at them from in front or behind. They
held their arms bent like this, and their skin - not only on their hands, but
on their faces and bodies too - hung down" Hiroshima grocer.
We have chosen to remember the horror and suffering of nuclear weapons at
USAF Lakenheath because the U.S. keeps about 30 freefall nuclear bombs at
USAF Lakenheath for use under the NATO first strike policy. If nuclear
weapons are ever used again, they could be flown from Lakenheath, in other
words, nuclear bombs from Lakenheath could be used to make the next
Hiroshima.
"It is not enough to remember how terrible nuclear weapons are once a year
on the anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: we have to act to prevent
nuclear weapons from being used in the future. The nuclear bombs at
Lakenheath are completely illegal under international law. If they are ever
used they will cause generations of suffering, devastate the environment and
could start a nuclear war. The U.S. is the only country in the world to
have ever used nuclear weapons. Before the war on Iraq both the U.S. and
U.K. threatened to use them on Iraq. Since our governments do not act
responsibly, it is up to the people of Britain and America to make sure
that nuclear weapons are never used again." Zina Zelter, on behalf of LAG.
"It was claimed that the nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki to end the 2nd world war. Documents are now available which shows
this was not true ? Japan was already suing for peace. Similarly the war
on Iraq was justified on the grounds that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction
which threatened the West, this has also been found to be untrue. The
British and U.S. governments lie to their people and cause terrible
suffering with their foreign policies - why should we believe that they will
never use nuclear weapons again? We have to get rid of the U.S. and U.K.s
nuclear weapons as a first step towards making the world safer." Mell,
Theatre of War, who took part in the trespass at Lakenheath last October.
Contacts:
Mell on 01986 892 723 before and afterwards
The camp mobile 07743 482 709 during the camp
www.lakenheathaction.org
Info:
Admiral William Leahy, President Truman's Chief of Staff:
"The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no
material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already
defeated and ready to surrender."
General Dwight Eisenhower:
"Japan was at that very moment seeking some way to surrender with minimum
loss of face. It was not necessary to hit them with that awful thing."
Winston Churchill:
"It would be a mistake to suppose that the fate of Japan was settled by
the atomic bomb. Her defeat was certain before the first [atomic] bomb fell."
They had no hair because their hair was burned, and at a glance you
couldn't tell whether you were looking at them from in front or behind. They
held their arms bent like this, and their skin - not only on their hands, but
on their faces and bodies too - hung down" Hiroshima grocer.
We have chosen to remember the horror and suffering of nuclear weapons at
USAF Lakenheath because the U.S. keeps about 30 freefall nuclear bombs at
USAF Lakenheath for use under the NATO first strike policy. If nuclear
weapons are ever used again, they could be flown from Lakenheath, in other
words, nuclear bombs from Lakenheath could be used to make the next
Hiroshima.
"It is not enough to remember how terrible nuclear weapons are once a year
on the anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: we have to act to prevent
nuclear weapons from being used in the future. The nuclear bombs at
Lakenheath are completely illegal under international law. If they are ever
used they will cause generations of suffering, devastate the environment and
could start a nuclear war. The U.S. is the only country in the world to
have ever used nuclear weapons. Before the war on Iraq both the U.S. and
U.K. threatened to use them on Iraq. Since our governments do not act
responsibly, it is up to the people of Britain and America to make sure
that nuclear weapons are never used again." Zina Zelter, on behalf of LAG.
"It was claimed that the nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki to end the 2nd world war. Documents are now available which shows
this was not true ? Japan was already suing for peace. Similarly the war
on Iraq was justified on the grounds that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction
which threatened the West, this has also been found to be untrue. The
British and U.S. governments lie to their people and cause terrible
suffering with their foreign policies - why should we believe that they will
never use nuclear weapons again? We have to get rid of the U.S. and U.K.s
nuclear weapons as a first step towards making the world safer." Mell,
Theatre of War, who took part in the trespass at Lakenheath last October.
Contacts:
Mell on 01986 892 723 before and afterwards
The camp mobile 07743 482 709 during the camp
www.lakenheathaction.org
Info:
Admiral William Leahy, President Truman's Chief of Staff:
"The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no
material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already
defeated and ready to surrender."
General Dwight Eisenhower:
"Japan was at that very moment seeking some way to surrender with minimum
loss of face. It was not necessary to hit them with that awful thing."
Winston Churchill:
"It would be a mistake to suppose that the fate of Japan was settled by
the atomic bomb. Her defeat was certain before the first [atomic] bomb fell."