Activists are planning to disrupt a major military live-firing exercise on the Cape Wrath ranges in the north of Scotland from the 29th June to the 10th July before they sail to the Gulf. As well as ten warships from the US, the UK, France, Denmark and Sweden the exercise will also involve paratroopers landing in nearby Loch Eriboll.
The Joint Maritime Exercise will start around the 1st of July when four warships will start shelling the coast of the most northerly point of mainland Britain. Aircraft are also expected to be involved. The US Navy have been under pressure to find alternative areas to use for live firing exercises after protests following the death of locals and the discovery that depleted uranium shells had been used at their ranges in Puerto Rico.
Scottish peace activists will be setting up a two-week long peace camp in the vilage of Durness from Saturday 29th July and plan to try to disrupt the exercise by trespassing onto the ranges. The area being used for the exercise is on of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the British Isles containing the highest cliffs in the UK home to thousands of sea-birds, long stretches of sandy beaches and heather-clad moorland.
It’s thought that the exercise will be part of the ‘work-up’ for the US Navy warships prior to their deployment to the Gulf and possible involvement in attacks on Iraq.
Transport will run from Glasgow to Durness (about three hundred miles north of Glasgow) to set up the peace camp and to take part in actions on the 4th July.
For the camp you will need warm and waterproof clothes, sleeping bag, tent and money for the food kitty. The campers have been given permission to use land near to the ranges.
For more details phone either Scottish CND on 0141 423 1222 or Faslane Peace Camp on 01436 820901.