On 25th October, there will be a nonviolent direct action at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe) in Mons, Belgium. This is the NATO military HQ, and it is here that NATO makes military plans for the nuclear weapons stored at bases around Europe, and for the nuclear weapons based on Trident submarines on patrol in the North Atlantic. We are inviting people from around the world to enter the base in a nonviolent and accountable way, in order to carry out a citizens weapons inspection to uncover the plans for the use of illegal nuclear weapons of mass destruction. It’s time to “Get in SHAPE”.
Over the past few years, thousands of people have taken part in “Bomspotting” actions at Kleine Brogel in Belgium, where a number of US nuclear weapons are based. The last Bomspotting action at Kleine Brogel was attended by 2000 people, with more than 1000 people from across Europe being arrested for trespassing on the military base. In addition, thousands of official complaints have been laid against the presence of illegal nuclear weapons in Belgium. However, the Belgian government and its NATO allies remain silent on the subject, and the legal authorities refuse to begin an investigation into the legal status of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear weapons must be abolished worldwide- and for this reason we are broadening the focus of our actions, to include other places that are responsible for illegal nuclear weapons: SHAPE, the NATO military headquarters at Mons, in Belgium.
Want to join the action?
To make it easier for people from abroad to participate in the action, we will be organising an international convergence in Gent, Belgium, before and after the action. We can provide accommodation and food from 22nd October to 26th October. There will be action trainings, legal briefings and a chance to get to know more about the issues. Last year activists joined us from Finland, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Britain, France and the Netherlands.
There are already groups from several countries who are planning to come to the action, and many of them are organising transport to Belgium. There are contact details for Britain, Finland, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands available on the website
http://www.bomspotting.be. Get in contact with them if you would like to join the action.
If there is not a group coming from your country we can help you find the best way to travel, and we may be able to put you in contact with other people coming from your part of the world. Please send an email to
katri@motherearth.org so we can send you more information.
If you would like to organise transport to the action, let us know so that we can publicise it!
The programme for the days before and after the action will be:
Wednesday 22nd October- Arrival
Thursday 23rd October- Non Violence Training
Friday 24th October- Action preparation, formation of affinity groups for getting in SHAPE
Saturday 25th October- Get in SHAPE action!!! (in Mons)
Sunday 26th October- Evaluation and networking meeting
Why take part in a training?
Bomspotting is a non-violent direct action and we want to keep it that way. We hope that by taking part in the training people will be able to remain calm in any confrontation with the police and soldiers.
During the training we will have safe surroundings to practice how we will respond in situations that might arise during the Bomspotting action. From the last action we know that the response of the soldiers and police force on the base will be unpredictable. For this reason, we have to ensure that the behaviour of activists remains non-violent. Experienced activists will be able to give recommendations concerning your own safety during the action (what do when you are faced with dogs, horses, handcuffs etc.)
The focus of the training will be practical exercises (simulation and role playing) but the training also provides the space to discuss ideas concerning "non-violent direct action", and to talk about hopes and fears for the action. We will also look at the tasks that can be undertaken during the action.
During the action preparation there will also be a legal briefing session. You will also be able to find legal information on our website www.bomspotting.be
You can't be there?
If you can't manage to get to the action, we would encourage you to organise a support action. Organise a demonstration at your Belgian embassy, or if you come from a NATO member state, or from a country that possesses nuclear weapons demonstrate in front of the Ministry of Defence or your local nuclear weapons site.
Bring your friends and call attention to the breach of international law! Let us know how you get on.
The action is part of an international day of citizens weapons inspections. See www.motherearth.org/nuke/inspection.php for more details of how to support this day of action, or organise your own inspection action.
For more information about the action and the Bomspotting campaign, see www.bomspotting.be.
This action is organised by For Mother earth, Forum voor Vredesactie and Bomspotting.
Over the past few years, thousands of people have taken part in “Bomspotting” actions at Kleine Brogel in Belgium, where a number of US nuclear weapons are based. The last Bomspotting action at Kleine Brogel was attended by 2000 people, with more than 1000 people from across Europe being arrested for trespassing on the military base. In addition, thousands of official complaints have been laid against the presence of illegal nuclear weapons in Belgium. However, the Belgian government and its NATO allies remain silent on the subject, and the legal authorities refuse to begin an investigation into the legal status of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear weapons must be abolished worldwide- and for this reason we are broadening the focus of our actions, to include other places that are responsible for illegal nuclear weapons: SHAPE, the NATO military headquarters at Mons, in Belgium.
Want to join the action?
To make it easier for people from abroad to participate in the action, we will be organising an international convergence in Gent, Belgium, before and after the action. We can provide accommodation and food from 22nd October to 26th October. There will be action trainings, legal briefings and a chance to get to know more about the issues. Last year activists joined us from Finland, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Britain, France and the Netherlands.
There are already groups from several countries who are planning to come to the action, and many of them are organising transport to Belgium. There are contact details for Britain, Finland, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands available on the website
http://www.bomspotting.be. Get in contact with them if you would like to join the action. If there is not a group coming from your country we can help you find the best way to travel, and we may be able to put you in contact with other people coming from your part of the world. Please send an email to
katri@motherearth.org so we can send you more information. If you would like to organise transport to the action, let us know so that we can publicise it!
The programme for the days before and after the action will be:
Wednesday 22nd October- Arrival
Thursday 23rd October- Non Violence Training
Friday 24th October- Action preparation, formation of affinity groups for getting in SHAPE
Saturday 25th October- Get in SHAPE action!!! (in Mons)
Sunday 26th October- Evaluation and networking meeting
Why take part in a training?
Bomspotting is a non-violent direct action and we want to keep it that way. We hope that by taking part in the training people will be able to remain calm in any confrontation with the police and soldiers.
During the training we will have safe surroundings to practice how we will respond in situations that might arise during the Bomspotting action. From the last action we know that the response of the soldiers and police force on the base will be unpredictable. For this reason, we have to ensure that the behaviour of activists remains non-violent. Experienced activists will be able to give recommendations concerning your own safety during the action (what do when you are faced with dogs, horses, handcuffs etc.)
The focus of the training will be practical exercises (simulation and role playing) but the training also provides the space to discuss ideas concerning "non-violent direct action", and to talk about hopes and fears for the action. We will also look at the tasks that can be undertaken during the action.
During the action preparation there will also be a legal briefing session. You will also be able to find legal information on our website www.bomspotting.be
You can't be there?
If you can't manage to get to the action, we would encourage you to organise a support action. Organise a demonstration at your Belgian embassy, or if you come from a NATO member state, or from a country that possesses nuclear weapons demonstrate in front of the Ministry of Defence or your local nuclear weapons site.
Bring your friends and call attention to the breach of international law! Let us know how you get on.
The action is part of an international day of citizens weapons inspections. See www.motherearth.org/nuke/inspection.php for more details of how to support this day of action, or organise your own inspection action.
For more information about the action and the Bomspotting campaign, see www.bomspotting.be.
This action is organised by For Mother earth, Forum voor Vredesactie and Bomspotting.
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