In addition to the large London demonstration people also gathered at Menwith Hill to show their opposition to the current war and Americas Star Wars programme.

Menwith Hill in Yorkshire is one of an international network of spy bases that receive information from satellites. It is an essential part of the Bush’s plans to militarise space and to the US and UK’s current war effort. The base is set to expand both due to the Star War’s programme and because of the success of German peace campaigners in shutting a US spy base in their country due to public pressure. Whilst this is bad news in terms of Menwith Hill in the short term, it does show what campaigning can do.

The demonstration and protest was peaceful and without incident. The Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) had called, unusually, for people not to enter the base due to heightened security and tension. Given that the ministry of defence police inside the perimeter fence made a very public show of their machine guns this seemed wise. A group of protesters organised a game of football in the MOD car park immediately in front of the base. This had particular symbolic significance because CAAB campaigners have been arrested for simply stepping on to the car park in the past.

Lacking ‘star’ speakers, what one person described as a people’s parliament, was convened. Many people with a wide range of backgrounds spoke movingly and informatively about the Star Wars programme and the current war. It demonstrated for me just how much wisdom and knowledge ordinary activists and campaigners have. It is impossible to summarise all that was said but one important point was that Bush was using the current crisis to push forward with Star Wars and it looks as if Blair will agree to all of the USA’s demands. Star Wars is not about defence, it certainly would not have stopped the attacks on September 11. Star Wars is about developing the capability to launch the sort of attacks we are seeing on Afghanistan from space. It is about global military domination. Whatever, happens in the current crisis it is important that the campaign against Star Wars continues.

The stupidity of the US/UK’s technological and military approach to solving problems caused by poverty and oppression was underlined by the success of CAAB activists and others in getting past the base security. These campaigners, invariably women, often pacifists are inspirational. We learnt that one of the main organisers of CAAB, Lindis, had succeeded in getting right inside the key bunker, where all the information processing is done by computers, where she confronted four astonished American Service personnel. This shows that the US and UK’s military machine is as vulnerable to terrorism as the skyscrapers.

Lindis, was not present at the demonstration because she had been arrested a couple of days previously because of her campaigning. CAAB campaigned tirelessly against US military bases in Britain for years and years, and no doubt when some of the noisier political groups have moved on to the next big thing after this war, they will continue to do so. I, for one, feel humbled by their commitment. Check out their website below for more info on Star Wars and how you can support them morally and financially.
Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases
Indigo, 8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 IHQ, UK
Tel No. 01943 466405 or 01482 702033
Fax No. 01482 702033
E-mail:  caab.lindis_anni@virgin.net
 http://www.gn.apc.org/cndyorks/caab/

The protest at Menwith was the lead item on the local Yorkshire news so was a very valuable addition to the anti-war message coming from the much bigger demonstration in London.

Also a big shout of thanks for Veggies from Nottingham for their amazing catering.