05/06/08
PRESS RELEASE EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew Beckett or Chloe Marsh
07875 708873
smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk
www.smashedo.org.uk
PRESS RELEASE EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew Beckett or Chloe Marsh
07875 708873
smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk www.smashedo.org.uk
Death of Marie Vesco
The death of Marie Vesco, aged 19, en route to the Carnival Against the Arms Trade outside the Arms Factory EDO-MBM, has been a blow to everyone involved in the campaign. Marie and her friends were cycling from London to Brighton to participate when her bicycle was hit by a car. Marie was a committed anti-war activist with the Whitechapel Food Not Bombs and the Brixton Reclaim Your Food groups. Her commitment against climate change and war was what motivated her and her 11 companions to cycle from London to Brighton for the protest.
A close friend of Marie’s said, “She was a very warm and generous person who was always laughing and always made people laugh. She had just moved in with her boyfriend and had plans to open a social centre. She was very giving and always lent a helping hand. Things will never be the same without her.”
The fact that she was killed on the roads, whilst cycling lawfully and safely, speaks volumes about the priorities of the British government. Whilst arms dealers are subsidised to the tune of billions of pounds, the relatively small amount of money that it would take to provide safe cycle lanes for bikes is held back.
Andrew Beckett, Smash Edo press spokesman said “EDO’s weapons are used in wars that are fought for oil to fuel the automobile industry that is burning up the planet and responsible for countless deaths. The Smash Edo campaign is ready to give any support they can to Marie’s friends and fellow campaigners.
There was a minute’s silence on the Level where protesters gathered after the demonstration in her honour.
Notes for Journalists
The Company
EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole UK subsidiary of huge U.S weapons manufacturer EDO Corp.From their base in Moulescoombe Brighton, EDO MBM manufacture vital parts for the Hellfire and Paveway weapons systems,laserguided missilesused extensively in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Somalia. EDO Corp were recently acquired by ITT in a multi-billion pound deal. ITT's links to fascism go back to the 1930s. The founder Sosthenes Behn was the first foreign businessman received by Hitler after his seizure of power.
The Campaign
There has been active campaign against the presence o f EDO MBM in Brighton since the outbreak of the Iraq war.Campaigners include students, Quakers ,Palestine solidarity activists, anti-capitalists and academics. Despite an injunction under the protection of harassment act (which failed) and over forty arrests the campaign is still going strong.Their avowed aim is to expose EDO MBM and their complicity in war crimes and to remove them from Brighton. They hold regular weekly demos outside the Moulescoombe factory on Wednesday's between 4 and 6.
The death of Marie Vesco, aged 19, en route to the Carnival Against the Arms Trade outside the Arms Factory EDO-MBM, has been a blow to everyone involved in the campaign. Marie and her friends were cycling from London to Brighton to participate when her bicycle was hit by a car. Marie was a committed anti-war activist with the Whitechapel Food Not Bombs and the Brixton Reclaim Your Food groups. Her commitment against climate change and war was what motivated her and her 11 companions to cycle from London to Brighton for the protest.
A close friend of Marie’s said, “She was a very warm and generous person who was always laughing and always made people laugh. She had just moved in with her boyfriend and had plans to open a social centre. She was very giving and always lent a helping hand. Things will never be the same without her.”
The fact that she was killed on the roads, whilst cycling lawfully and safely, speaks volumes about the priorities of the British government. Whilst arms dealers are subsidised to the tune of billions of pounds, the relatively small amount of money that it would take to provide safe cycle lanes for bikes is held back.
Andrew Beckett, Smash Edo press spokesman said “EDO’s weapons are used in wars that are fought for oil to fuel the automobile industry that is burning up the planet and responsible for countless deaths. The Smash Edo campaign is ready to give any support they can to Marie’s friends and fellow campaigners.
There was a minute’s silence on the Level where protesters gathered after the demonstration in her honour.
Notes for Journalists
The Company
EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole UK subsidiary of huge U.S weapons manufacturer EDO Corp.From their base in Moulescoombe Brighton, EDO MBM manufacture vital parts for the Hellfire and Paveway weapons systems,laserguided missilesused extensively in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Somalia. EDO Corp were recently acquired by ITT in a multi-billion pound deal. ITT's links to fascism go back to the 1930s. The founder Sosthenes Behn was the first foreign businessman received by Hitler after his seizure of power.
The Campaign
There has been active campaign against the presence o f EDO MBM in Brighton since the outbreak of the Iraq war.Campaigners include students, Quakers ,Palestine solidarity activists, anti-capitalists and academics. Despite an injunction under the protection of harassment act (which failed) and over forty arrests the campaign is still going strong.Their avowed aim is to expose EDO MBM and their complicity in war crimes and to remove them from Brighton. They hold regular weekly demos outside the Moulescoombe factory on Wednesday's between 4 and 6.
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It Is Well With My Soul
06.06.2008 07:15
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.'
Horatio G. Spafford
Though I did not know her personally, I knew her face and name
My thoughts and love go to her family and friends
Soul Child
this is tragic
06.06.2008 10:12
anonymous
bonne voyage
06.06.2008 22:25
we will carry the flame that burnt in your heart and the love you had for life
as cyclists we are all vulnerable before the car.
Pour la famille de Marie, je vous envoie mes plus sincères condoléances
Je te souhaite une bonne voyage
with Love
Michel
mike
e-mail:
mike@changingworlds.info
Devoted to making the world better
07.06.2008 10:20
Save Sipson
Manchester critical mass
25.06.2008 12:05
Nes
Homepage:
http://www.ibikemr.org.uk