Reclaim The Bases

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

War Resisters' International called for nonviolent action to Reclaim The Bases on the weekend 5/6 April 2003. In several countries all over the world actions took place - below is a brief list of actions we knew were planned. Please let us know if you also did something at a military base on the weekend 5/6 April 2003.

BRITAIN

In Britain all together 11 actions were to take place on the weekend. 2 more action will take place at another date, but related to Reclaim The Bases. For more information, see www.reclaimthebases.org.uk

Saturday 5 April 2003

Fylingdales US Space Command Base

(North Yorkshire Moors) Bring banners, flags, placards, drums ; bring foil covered kites and ballons. Free Fylingdales Network http://www.freefylingdalesnetwork.co.uk/neil_bye@hotmail.com Phone: +44 1287 660067

Fylingdales is an early warning station for ballistic missiles aimed at the United States of America. See the Free Fylingdales Network website for more information.

Devonport

(Plymouth) Weapons inspection, Plymouth Stop the War Coalition Phone : +44 1752 227 033 (Mat) Devonport is the largest naval base in Western Europe. Devonport is the base port of the largest ship in the Royal Navy, [many of which have been deployed to the Gulf]. See http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/1947.html for more information on Devonport.

RAF Stafford

(Stafford, Staffordshire) Vigil (12:00 - 13:00 Stafford Market) followed by march & close the base (Including NVDA work shop) Stafford Peace Council Phone : +44 845 3303877 / +44 7960 030038 (Alsion Crane) The Tactical Supply Wing is at RAF Stafford. Over 100 men and women have gone to the Gulf to maintain the battlefield helicopter force, including fuel resupply, storage and delivery. It will be an integral part of the deployments being made by all 3 forces. Stafford is also the major Equipment Supply Depot, and provides transport assistance for unit moves, and the handling of large or abnormal loads.

Portsmouth

NVDA Saturday 5 April 2003 Meet at 2pm at the main entrance of Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station. Portsmouth Resistance Portsmouth naval base is home to almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy's surface ships, and home-port to the three aircraft carriers. It is also home to the Fleet Headquarters, which joins together all the areas previously covered by the headquarters of the Surface Flottila, the Royal Marines, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Naval Aviation.

Sunday 6 April 2003

St Athans

(Glamorgan, South Wales) March and Weapons Inspection Sunday 6 April 2003 Cardiff Anarchist Network along with 'International citizens Weapons inspectors' http://www.geocities.com/bozavine/can, http://www.icwi.org RAF St Athan is the largest Station in the Royal Air Force. It is now the RAF's only aircraft maintenance unit. For more information see http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/st_athan/OurRole.html

Fairford USAF

(Fairford, Gloucestershire) Weapon's inspection Sunday 6 April 2003 Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors http://www.gwi.org.uk, info@gwi.org.uk USAF Fairford is the biggest bomber base in Europe and the only launch pad in the UK for direct air raids on Iraq. See the gwi website for more information.

Northwood PJHQ

(Northwood, London) Blockade, de-fence & autonomous actions Training on Saturday 5th of April, and action on Sunday 6th The d10 group, http://www.thed10group.org.uk, Voices in the wilderness UK, http://www.viwuk.freeserve.co.uk, Arrow, http://www.j-n-v.orginfo@thed10group.org.uk Northwood PJHQ is the British Permanent Joint Forces Headquarters - the heart of British military planning. See the d10 website for more information.

RAF St Mawgan

(Near Newquay, Cornwall) Demonstration Sunday 6th of April, 2pm Cornwall stop the war, http://www.cornwallstopwar.org phone Sarah +44 1872 571038 Betty +44 1326 377447 Sheila +44 1872 501462 Peter +44 1736 787056. '

RAF' St Mawgan is a forward operating base for US operations in Europe and Joint Maritime Communications Centre - a vital component of the US warfighting machine

RAF Molesworth

(Cambridgeshire) demo, vigil, seed planting Transport from Leicester available. Sunday 6th of April, 2pm to 4pm Leicester CND. email zinazelter@yahoo.co.uk or phone +44 116 247 0121 Molesworth is the American Joint Analysis Centre, and it is where the Regional Joint Intelligence Training Facility (RJITF) operates from. Molesworth is one of the few receivers of live images from spy planes, and also process all the information that comes into Menwith Hill - it is a vital part of Menwith and therefore the spying and targetting for this war.

RAF Cottesmore

TBA Sunday 6th of April (afternoon) Leicester CND email zinazelter@yahoo.co.uk or phone +44 116 220 3944 RAF Cottesmore is a key component of Joint Force Harrier, and is currently home to three squadrons of Harrier GR7 aircraft. A significant element of the Harrier force is now in the Gulf. For more information see http://www.raf-cott.demon.co.uk

RAF Brawdy

(Pebmrokeshire) Cyclists aged from 16 to 66 will carry a petition from local people to RAF Brawdy next Sunday as part of the Pembrokeshire Peace Initiatives continuing campaign against the Iraq war. At 12.30 Rev Chris Gillham of Tabernacle Congregational Church will lead prayers and a quiet vigil in Castle Square for all those affected by the war. Cyclists will leave the square at 1.00pm, carrying the petition, for the 12-mile journey to Brawdy where they will hand it in. For more information see www.pembspeace.org.uk

GERMANY

In Germany, a range of vigils, demonstrations, and nonviolent direct actions will be happening. Unfortunately, there is no central point of information.

Saturday 5 April 2003

Herford

Vigil at the Harewood barracks, 11am

Info Berthold Keunecke, Kirchenkreis Herford, Hansastrasse 9, Herford, tel +49-5221-998557, email bkeunel@kk-ekvw.de

1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment is part of British Forces Germany, is one of the two fighting Divisions that the United Kingdom fields, and is based in the picturesque town of Herford. The Signal Regiment is split over two camps, Hammersmith and Harewood Barracks, whilst Divisional Headquarters is based in nearby Wentworth Barracks. The Signal Regiment's role is to provide close support to the Divisional Headquarters, and part of the communications infrastructure supporting the Division. It does this both in barracks and when deployed on exercise or operations.

Ramstein

peace vigil at US Airbase Ramstein, Western gate, 3pm Info Christoph Fuhrbach, phone +49 6371 912589, email chfuhr@web.de Ramstein airbase is one of the main US bases in Germany [http://www.ramstein.af.mil]

Heidelberg

Demonstration against the war. Assemble 1pm, Bismarckplatz, march to US headquarters in Heidelberg. Info http://www.stattweb.de/index.htm The US Army Headquarters [http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/] (USAREUR) maintains a forward-deployed combat force, trained and ready; prepared for immediate power projection in order to conduct and support the full spectrum of joint and multinational operations; conducts engagement activities, protects U.S. forces & resources, conducts sustaining base operations & ensures the readiness & well being of its personnel, in the theater, or elsewhere as directed.

Mannheim

Blockade of the US Spinnelli barracks in Mannheim, organised by Unabhaengige KriegsgegnerInnen Mannheim. 12pm. Info gegenkrieg_ma@yahoo.com The Spinelli Barracks in Mannheim, Germany [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/spinelli.htm]. It is the point where the wholesale logistics system for virtually all classes of supply arrives in Europe from CONUS. The location is a true logistics hub with its own rail spur, access by road and autobahn, proximity to inland waterway for barge traffic and near major U.S. Air Force Bases of Ramstein and Rhein Main. The location facilitates reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOI) operations. The 574th Supply Company's home station is Spinelli Barracks. The 293d Base Support Battalion maintains command, control, and coordination (C3) of the railhead located at Coleman Barracks and Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim. These facilities are dedicated to support contingency operations and are currently configured to support deployment/redeployment of forces

Sunday 6 April 2003

Dresden

Officers' School of the German army, Marienallee, 3pm. "kreativ statt oliv an der Offiziersschule". Among other things: food not bombs, football in front of the gate, antimilitarist walks, and creative nonviolent action http://www.free.de/Zope/terminal

Frankfurt (Rhein Main airbase)

Ecumenical prayer for peace at the main gate of Rhein Main airbase. 2pm. Info Pax Christi Bistumstelle Limburg, Daniel Stieger, Dorotheenstrasse 9, 61348 Bad Homburg, phone +49 6172 928679, fax +49 6172 20519, email friedensarbeiter@pax-christi.de, http://www.pax-christi.de The 469th Air Base Group is Rhein-Main's host unit, supporting 30 associate units and organizations and more than 3,000 military, civilian, contractor and family members. Its mission is to maintain an infrastructure ready for major airlift contingencies and to provide quality base operating support. The vision: Team Rhein-Main ... the model for theater-wide airlift contingency support built on teamwork,quality of life and innovation. [http://www.rheinmain.af.mil]

GREECE

There is a massive event organised by a large part of the Greek anti-war movement next weekend, 5-6 April, at the Souda American military base in Crete.

Info email greekco@hotmail.com

The mission of US Forces at Sigonella, Rota, and Souda Bay is to provide Command Control and Logistics Support to US And NATO Operating Forces. These three facilities are undergoing a transformation from Maritime Patrol Airfields to Multi-role Hubs providing crucial air-links for USAF strategic airlift in support of CENTCOM and Africa Area contingency operations. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/souda-bay.htm]

ITALY

Aviano

Sunday 6 April 2003

"March - Way of the Cross" from Pordenone to the USAF (U.S. Air Force) Military Base in Aviano. The march will start at 2 pm. Meeting place is in front of Pordenone's Cathedral and Townhall. The way is 12 km long and the march will arrive, nearly at 6 pm, in front of the runway and nuclear places of USAF Military Base in Aviano. INFO: "Beati i costruttori di pace" Friuli - Venezia Giulia Pordenone, tel. +39 434/578140 Centro di accoglienza "E. Balducci", Zugliano - Udine, tel. +39 432/560699

JAPAN

Yokosuka

Daily appeal in front of the U.S. Naval Base [http://www.cfay.navy.mil/], Weekdays from 6:00 p.m., Sat & Sun from 4:00 p.m. Organized by: Hikaku Shimin Sengen Undou Yokosuka (Nuclear-Free Declaration Civil Action of Yokosuka) TEL&FAX +81 46 825-0157

USA

Sunday 6 April 2003

Indian Island Naval Magazine

(Jefferson County, Washington State) The Jefferson County Nonviolent Direct Action Group will stage a "Naming and Transformation Gathering" at the gate to dedicate both a new name and new purpose for the base: The Cedar Island Center for Nonviolence and Peace.

The Indian Island Naval Magazine is one of 17 US Strategic seaports. Strategic seaports are U.S. ports designated to support major deployments under the National Port Readiness Network.

contact: Raven, All My Relations (360-344-4267)