The Yorkshire region of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will demonstrate this Saturday outside the joint US/UK radar base of RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire, as part of ‘Keep Space for Peace Week’ . The radar has been upgraded in recent years to form part of the greatly destabilising US ‘Missile Defence’ system, which risks triggering a new nuclear arms race between the US and Russia.
The radar, which is integrated into ‘U.S. Space Command’ sits in an 120ft tall truncated pyramid overlooking the coast near Whitby. A US-funded upgrade programme was completed in August of last year to replace all the major tracking, data and intelligence systems at the base, readying it for integration into the US Missile Defence system.
Demonstrators will be joined by Ivona Novomestská, a campaigner and representative of the ‘No to Bases’ movement from the Czech Republic, where the US plans to build a new Missile Defence radar station despite the opposition of 70% of the public. Also speaking will be Kate Hudson (Chair of CND), Martin Hemmingway (Green MEP candidate) and Lindis Percy (CAAB – Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases).
Dave Webb, Vice Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and convenor of Yorkshire CND, said “We are extremely concerned that the US military is intent on expanding their missile defence system into Europe and developing systems that are the first step towards placing weapons in space.”
He continued, “On Saturday we will be joining the global protest against these moves. We will be one of nearly one hundred protests and demonstrations at bases and corporations and within communities to highlight the dangers of the increasing threats to peace that these developments bring. People from around the world – from the US to the Czech Republic, from India, Australia, South Korea and here in the UK have been giving the same message all this week – let’s keep weapons and war fighting away from the heavens and work together to Keep Space for Peace”.
Date: Saturday 11th of October
Time: From 1pm
Location: RAF Fylingdales, on the A169, nr. Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7NT
Map: Gmaps
For more logistical details please contact Yorkshire CND on 01274730795 or info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk
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Notes to Editors:For further information and interviews please contact Ben Soffa, CND’s Press Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 35,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere.
Keep Space for Peace Week is held each autumn to help build consciousness about the need to prevent a new arms race in space. Events are held around the world. It is co-sponsored by the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom and Europe for Peace.