Large Peace Action Against Hidden Training Area

Over 150 peace activist from 17 countries will take action against the military training area NEAT in northern Sweden on Tuesday (26 July).

"NEAT is used by NATO to fine tune their unmanned aircraft for assignations.  They transform murder into a click on a computer screen" said Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer from the USA.

The action will be one of the largest acts of anti-war civil disobedience in Europe in recent years, with many of the activists planning to enter the "protected area" around the base, where they will risk arrest. Outside the base, there will be a carnival, street theatre and plans to paint the area pink to draw attention to this secretive military training ground.

"The Swedish state is renting out Norrbotten [the northern region of Sweden] and Lapland to other countries to train for war.  We, as people who live here should not accept this." said Pia Silverstrand from Boden in northern Sweden.

The aim is to mark NEAT with the colour pink and place the training area, and the Swedish involvement in war preparations, on the map. This starts on Tuesday morning with a "die in" at midday with person after person falling to the ground "dead" to symbolise the victims of the wars Sweden helps prepare and perpetuate. Every "victim" will then be given a pink helium balloon, with the balloons then being released together to indicate our hopes for a demilitarised world.

"War starts here.  We can stop it here" said Angie Zelter from England.

Notes to Editors

The media are welcome to attend the big action at NEAT on Tuesday.

In addition to the large action, smaller groups are planning to go in to the protected military area also later in the week.  Contact us for more information.

The action includes people from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Spain, UK, Venezuela, Chile, Paraguay Columbia, South Korea, Israel, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sudan.  Also taking part in the week long peace camp were activists from USA, Australia, Turkey and France.

The action is organised by the anti-militarist network Ofog, who for over a decade have worked with opinion building and nonviolent civil disobedience against militarism in the whole of northern Europe and have disarmed weapons intended for export to value of several million SEK.

Spokespeople

Media contact number (Swedish, English): +46 (0)733 81 53 61
Angie Zelter (English): +46 730 746206

More information:

Website:          http://warstartshere.com
Email:              info@ofog.org
Telephone:      +46 (0)733 81 53 61