Reclaim The Bases

Nonviolent actions at military bases on 5/6 April 2003 - world-wide!

War Resisters' International calls for nonviolent action at military bases world-wide on 5 and 6 April 2003. On these pages you will find some reports from inspiring actions, and some resources for planning actions, and contacts for groups organising nonviolent actions.

War Resisters' International's website will also carry updated information on Reclaim The Bases actions all over the world.

Citizens' Weapons Inspections

Citizens' weapons inspections highlight the hypocrisy of those states who want to go to war against Iraq, in order to - as they say - disarm Iraq.

In Britain, Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors carried out several weapons inspections at RAF Fairford. The most recent one took place on 23 February, when people took down the main gate and entered the base.

Weapons inspections also took place at USAF Volkel in the Netherlands (see picture below), New Zealand, and the USA. A Citizens' Inspection Handbook is available on the Internet at http://www.motherearth.org/nuke/inspectbook.php.

Citizen inspector at Volkel
Civilian inspector on Volkel military base, The Netherlands

Nonviolent blockades and other actions at military bases

Nonviolent blockades are the classic form of civil disobedience or nonviolent action, especially for mass-scale actions. Blockades of military bases and headquarters took place in many countries. On 7 October 2002, 160 protesters blockaded USAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, Britain. A second blockade took place on 3 February 2003. On 15 January, 4 activists were arrested during a blockade of New Boston Air Station, USA. On 19 January, 400 activists blocked the Permanent Joint Forces Headquarters in Northwood, London in Britain. 70 arrests were made. On 22 February, 3,000 people blockaded the main gate of US Rhein-Main Airbase in Frankfurt, Germany. It is impossible to mention all the blockades here. Other actions at military bases include entering a base, i.e. in order to disarm

Blockade of Rhein-Main Airbase, Germany, on 17 January 2003 (arbeiterfotografie.com)

military equipment, or to blockade the runway. Activists in Ireland achieved that Shannon airport is no longer used for US Navy transport planes. This was possible due to a combination of nonviolent direct action and disarmament actions, lobbying, demonstrations, calls to police to investigate the illegal use of Shannon airport, and many other actions.

Disruption of military supplies

Action at Schiphol airport, The Netherlands, 25 February 2003

In many countries there are no bases used for the war on Iraq. Here military transports can become a focus for action. But even in countries where bases are used, military supplies can be an important focues.

In Belgium, the port of Antwerp is used for shipments of US military equipment from Europe to the Gulf. On several occasions activists blockaded trains to the port: on 16 February, trains were stopped, and a trainstopping weekend also took place on 1/2 March 2003. In the Netherlands, groups blockaded trains with military supplies to the port of Rotterdam, and also focused their action on Shiphol airport, used for military transports to the Gulf.

Military transport in Italy

In Italy, a peace camp was set up next to an important military train line, and several trains have been stopped so far.

Other actions

A wide range of actions is possible. In Paddington, Australia, activists staged a Reclaim the Streets party in front of their military barracks. In many cities Army Recruitment Centers were shut down. And vigils were held at military bases or other military facilities.

All these actions help to confront the military with our opposition to the war, and to raise awareness about the military infrastructure used for the war.

Reclaim The Streets party in Australia, 15 February 2003

News page

A comprehensive digest of direct actions against war preparations can be found at http://www.reclaimthebases.gzzzt.net/news.html.

Reports from the 5 and 6 April events

On this site; follow the link.

Contacts:

Belgium: For Mother Earth, http://www.motherearth.org
Forum voor Vredesactie, http://www.vredesactie.be

Britain: Reclaim The Bases, http://www.reclaimthebases.org.uk
Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors, http://www.gwi.org.uk
Berkshire Citizens Inpsection Agency, http://www.risc.org.uk
International Citizens' Weapons Inspectorate, http://www.icwi.org

Germany: Resist - sich dem Irak-Krieg widersetzen, http://resistthewar.de
Arbeitsgruppe Aktionstag

Italy: Disobbedienti, http://www.disobbedienti.org/
Movimiento Nonviolento, http://www.nonviolenti.org
Diserta la Guerra

Netherlands: Platform Tegen de 'Nieuwe Oorlog', http://www.wereldcrisis.nl/

USA: War Resisters League, http://www.warresisters.org
Iraq Pledge to Resistance, http://www.peacepledge.org
Rooting Out Evil, http://www.rootingsoutevil.org

International: War Resisters' International, http://wri-irg.org. Contact War Resisters' International for contacts in other countries.

Resources:

Peace News' tools pages offer a wide range of resources for nonviolent actions at bases. Check out http://www.peacenews.info/tools/index.php for a listing of available resources (all as PDF files).

War Resisters League's nonviolence training manual is available at http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/Guidelines.html