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No 97, September 2013 Editorial Recently WRI started the Twitter hashtag #EverydayMilitarism. Inspired by the popular #EverydaySexism trend, we encourage others to post about how militarism and military propaganda is present in their lives, as well as posting example of this ourselves. When you start to look for it, you can see military values infiltrating public and private lives in more ways than you could initially imagine. The publication of our book “Sowing Seeds: The Militarisation of Youth and How to Counter it” is in the same vein, denouncing the military presence and influence in education, in our social behaviour, in the entertainment industry, etc. The Action against NEAT in LuleÅ , Sweden. Photo: WRI book also highlights how spaces are being militarised ­ such as with war memorials or other symbolism of Resisting War and Preparation for War: war. There are also spaces whose primary motive for existence is to perpetuate the war machinery ­ Taking Back Militarised Spaces these spaces are the focus of this issue of The Broken Rifle. This issue of The Broken Rifle looks at special governmental measures (such as a actions against sites such as military bases, vote for the increase and the modernization Military bases are the clearest weapons production plants and state of war material, manoeuvres, dispatch of example of militarised spaces. In borders, and the role that they play in the military naval forces to a place where a this issue we have stories of bases preparation and implementation of war and strained situation has arisen, dispatch of in Okinawa, Colombia, Diego Garcia militarism. military forces to some colony), to prevent and Sicily. Military bases have such measures from being carried out by strategic importance for launching In July 1934, Bart de Ligt proposed to the demonstrations and strikes.” war operations, and the big International Conference of War Resisters' Action AWE is primarily about carrying out superpowers go to all lengths to International a Plan of Campaign Against All direct action against the establishments make sure they have bases in all War and All Preparation of War. The proposal where nuclear weapons are developed and regions from where they may launch included a long list of actions to undertake produced. attacks. WRI has always argued against war and preparation of war, divided De Ligt's proposals also include action that as well as foreign military into two main sections: actions in peace and “To disorganize as much as possible the bases, national bases are a problem actions in wartime, with the subdivisions of great mechanism of war, chiefly by seeking to too. They contribute to making individual and collective action. More than 50 paralyse transport” and military presence seem normal and years later, in 1987, it was a central focus for “Wherever it is possible to do so without the necessary – but it is not! a WRI seminar ­ Refusing War Preparations: risk of endangering human life, arms, Non­cooperation and Conscientious munitions and all war materials should be Establishments where weapons are Objection. I think it is about time for WRI to destroyed, etc., etc.” and for the produced are key in the war update this list. “Organization of international itinerary peace machinery chain. Here Angie Zelter crusades”. reports on the latest campaign I am writing as we prepare for an international On 2 September there will be a big blockade against nuclear weapons in the UK, action in the UK as part of the Action AWE of AWE Burghfield with activists from several targeting both AWE Aldermaston campaign, which focuses on campaigning European countries, building on international and AWE Burghfield. against Britain's renewal of the Trident cooperation of war resisters. nuclear weapon system. As Angie Zelter says Finally, Igor Seke reminds us of how in her article, these are crucial times for War resisters have developed over the years state borders are part of campaigning against nuclear weapons in the a rich and diverse repertoire of actions #EverydayMilitarism, and what more UK as “In 2016 the UK government will against war and its preparation. Many of dramatic example can we give than finalise the decision to build a new nuclear these actions fall under the list proposed by the Mexico–US border. weapons system to replace the present de Ligt, however, as times and warfare Trident system”. A disarmament camp will change, so does how we carry out our It is not enough knowing about how take place at AWE Burghfield which is actions. When de Ligt presented his proposal spaces are being militarised, it is responsible for the complex final assembly there was nothing like an online petition or also important to resist them, and in and maintenance of the warheads of nuclear social media campaign. As communication this issue you will read about how weapons while in service, as well as their was slower, calling for immediate groups take on different forms of decommissioning. This campaign resonates international solidarity actions would reach resistance against war and the with one of de Ligt's proposed actions: very few people compared to today. The preparation for war. Javier GÁrate “On the occasion of parliamentary decision or continued on page 2 Resisting war and the preparation for war Continues from page 1 sophistication of some of today's direct ACall forAction atAWE Burghfield 26thAugust to actions would have been unthinkable at the time, and that these actions could be reported and broadcast live as they are 7th September 2013 happening to the whole world was just In 2016 the UK government will finalise It is not just the General­Secretary getting A new grass­roots campaign called Action science­fiction. These are times of the decision to build a new nuclear frustrated with the nuclear weapon states. immediateness and overload of AWE (Atomic Weapons Eradication) has weapons system to replace the present The majority non­nuclear states are now recently formed to take up this struggle information. Nowadays the message you Trident system. The nuclear submarines actively campaigning for an international want to convey has to fit within the 140 and to combine the strengths of as many that carry Trident are getting old, so the treaty to ban all nuclear weapons. “Three peace and justice groups as possible. Not characters of Twitter, and if you can catch government has pledged to finalise in four governments support the idea of a one moment of someone's attention, only UK groups but also European contracts to replace them in 2016 in order treaty to outlaw and eliminate nuclear groups, including those in Germany, are that's already success. It is time that as to build a new generation of nuclear weapons.” war resisters we come up with a 21st being asked to join this campaign and weapons at an estimated cost of £76–100 come and help out. Action AWE is Century Campaign Against All War and billion. This is more than the current However, unless there is a massive Preparation of All War. dedicated to halting nuclear weapons planned public spending cuts of £81 movement, including nonviolent direct production at the Atomic Weapons billion. If the contracts go ahead, the action, by civil society, all the nuclear However, even though warfare is Establishment factories at Aldermaston warheads would be designed and weapon states will modernise and replace and Burghfield. Groups and individuals changing (in particular with the manufactured at AWE (Atomic Weapons their nuclear arsenals and more states will robotisation and privatisation of war) the started organising their own autonomous Establishment) Aldermaston and build their own. The bad example of the actions and events from February 2013, military still depends on some basic pillars Burghfield, in Berkshire, about 50 miles original 5 nuclear weapon states (USA, that support it. You need people to fight when the Campaign launched. They are west of London. Russia, France, China and the UK) raising awareness of the catastrophic (fewer and fewer though), a war continuing to depend on nuclear weapons infrastructure (bases, equipment)¸ a war humanitarian consequences of nuclear Such a replacement and modernisation of has not only encouraged Israel, India, weapons and exerting political pressure economy (money for war from taxes, a nuclear weapon system would be illegal Pakistan and North Korea to acquire them private investments, etc.) and a war for Britain to end the production, and undermine international law as it but is inciting ever more states to join in. replacement and deployment of Trident discourse (war propaganda). As war Graffiti on the Wall in Bethlehem. Photo: H Brock breaches the commitment to nuclear resisters we try to tackle all of these and to join other countries in negotiating a disarmament that all nuclear weapon In the UK, anti­nuclear activists (including global treaty to ban nuclear weapons. pillars, but we also know that some are visit Metelkova Autonomous Social Centre equipment in bright pink. Or think of the states made under the Non­Proliferation those who supported Trident easier or more effective to target. Over the ­ formerly the northern headquarters of images on the Israeli Separation Wall Treaty (NPT). The world is in a very Ploughshares and Faslane 365) helped course of the years, carrying out actions Trident Ploughshares is one of the groups the Yugoslav People's Army but, at the (and not just those 'copyrighted' by dangerous situation caused by the long galvanise public opposition to Trident. supporting Action AWE and they are at particular places has been a common initiative of then WRI Council member Banksy). delay in implementing Article VI of the This succeeded to the extent that the approach, as it is something tangible you organising a 2 week International Marko Hren, taken over 20 years ago and NPT.

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