In February this year the UK government gave the US the go-ahead to use the Fylingdales radar base in North Yorkshire for its controversial Star Wars missile defence system. The decision came after a long, hard campaign by CND to oppose any UK involvement in the system. A global missile defence system is a danger to international stability. Whilst the US argues that the system will be used to defend itself against strikes from "rogue states", the development of space weapons andthe potential use for the system as a war fighting tool are dangerously destabilising and threaten to provoke an arms race.

Hundreds march against star wars at Fylingdales, on the North York Moors, June 2002

NO STAR WARS TOUR : June 4th - 13th 2003

This year CND is going on the road to take the campaign to the missile defence and nuclear hotspots across the UK. We're starting the tour at the Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland and winding our way down the UK to end up at the Ministry of Defence in London on June 13th - the date the ABM treaty died in 2002. It was the killing off of this treaty that allowed Bush to push full steam ahead with Missile Defence. During the tour we'll be holding meetings, stunts, demos and stalls, taking the facts about star wars to the front line locations. To find out what it's all about, if we're coming to a town near you, and how to get involved, read on.

Click on the links below to find our more about each hotspot, and why we're going there. If you'd like to get more information, or get involved, click here

1. June 4th
Faslane and Glasgow
2. June 5th
Fylingdales and Whitby
3. June 6th
Menwith Hill and Harrogate
4. June 7th
Sheffield University
5. June 9th
Leicester Space Centre & Molesworth
6. June 10th
Feltwell, Lakenheath and Bury St Edmunds
7. June 11th
Croughton and Oxford
8. June 12th
Aldermaston and Reading
9. June 13th
Ministry of Defence and London

About
Faslane is home to the UK's weapons of mass destruction - the Trident nuclear submarine system. The UK government spends £1.5 billion on our behalf every year sustaining Trident. Each of the four submarines can fire up to 48 nuclear warheads, and the UK has 200 of these warheads to use, with the total destructive power equal to 1,400 Hiroshimas. Tony Blair says: "These are enormously difficult decisions, but yes, you have to envisage circumstances in which your nuclear deterrent could be used".

Trident is illegal under international law, the manufacture of Trident pollutes the environment with deadly radiation and it takes millions of pounds away from housing, hospitals and schools.

Why are we going there?
Missile defence is one major part of the US vision of complete military dominance - what they call "Full Spectrum Dominance". Trident is another. "Full spectrum dominance" is complete military supremacy over land, sea, air, space and information. With this degree of control the US administration hopes to secure and control its economic interests throughout the world. Missile Defence - being a platform for pre-emptive strikes against other states and a key phase in the weapon-isation of space - is integral to this dominance. Trident, the nuclear submarine system capable of firing 48 nuclear warheads each isanother key part of the US dream of military supremacy. A missile defence shield will allow US and UK forces to fire pre-emptive nuclear strikes against targets, and defend against limited retaliation. By visiting Faslane on the Missile defence tour, we're emphasising the link between Star Wars, Nuclear dominance and the US doctrine of complete military supremacy.

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Details of the day

We'll visit Faslane and the peace camp and hand in a statement of opposition to missile defence and the UK's nuclear arsenal. After than, and a stall in Glasgow it's:

PUBLIC MEETING

- Missile Defence and Nuclear arsenals - a partnership for dominance

- 7pm - at the STUC IN GLASGOW

FYLINGDALES - JUNE 5th

About
Fylingdales is a ballistic missile early warning radar on the North York moors, near to Whitby and Pickering. The UK government granted the US permission for its use in missile defence in February of this year. The radar will be used to spot and monitor the movement and trajectory of inter-continental ballistic missiles in specific stages during their flight. As the US's own radars cannot see all the way around the Earth it needs radars in specific points around the globe to see its blind spots. Fylingdales is one such rada

Why are we going there?
CND, along with military specialists and local people, believe that its use in the system will make the base, and the surrounding area, a target. After all, if you intend on attacking the US, you would be wise to knock out its shield first. The base has had a lot of publicity over the last year and we intend to keep it on the map. As an integral part of the missile defence system, opposition to its role is important.

Details of the day

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Following a stunt outside Fylingdales and a stall in Pickering town centre, we'll be holding a meeting in Pickering:

PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION
THE CHANGING FACE OF FYLINGDALES
- Parish Hall, Hallgarth, Pickring - 7.30pm

Speakers
- Missile Defence and Space
- Dave Knight
CND Vice-President and Global Network United Nations Representative.

The campaign against Star Wars past and future
- by Fylingdales Action Network and Yorkshire CND

Followed by a chance for the audience to view their concerns, ask questions and plan for the future.

The day's events are being organised jointly with Fylingdales Action Network. More details soon.

MENWITH HILL - JUNE 6th

About
Menwith Hill is the largest suveillance and spy station in the world. Despite the letters "RAF" at the start it is in all practical senses a US base. One of its roles is to intercept and analyse 3 million electronic messages sent in Europe, North Africa and West Asia every minute. Satellites in space and a comlex dictionary programme "Echelon" in Menwith Hill monitor e-mails, telephone calls, text messages and faxes for key words, phrases and dates. Any communication with the relevant data is intercepted and sent to the US for analysis.

Again, despite the "RAF" at the front, the UK government is only told what they "need to know" and MPs are not allowed in to the base. Menwith Hill is also the European Ground Relay Station for the Space-Based Infra-Red system (SBIRS). This system, split in to SBIRS High and SBIRS Low, tracks the movement of missiles through and above the atmosphere and tries to identify dummy and decoy missiles. The system is currently over-budget and behing schedule, but it is key to the US's missile defence plans.

Why are we going there?
For reasons similar to Fylingdales - this is an absolutely essential missile defence base on our soil. It is a target to enemies of the US and so makes the people of Yorkshire a target. It is integral to US plans for Star Wars, and as such, deserves our attention.

Details of the day
Will include a stunt at the base as well as a public meeting in Harrogate:

THE CHANGING FACE OF MENWITH HILL

JUNE 6TH @ 7.30PM - FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE - Queen Parade, Harrogate

- It's the world's biggest spy base
- It's the brains of war, vital to the Iraq war
- It's a key military base for missile defence
- It's officially an RAF base and its doors are closed - even to UK politicians
- It's on UK soil - but it's unaccountable, undemocratic and shrouded in secrecy

FIND OUT WHAT THE BASE DOES, HOW IT'S CHANGING AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU

Speakers:
PHIL WILLIS MP
DAVID GEE Manager of Peace and Disarmament programme - Quaker peace and social witness Professor
DAVE WEBB University of Leeds, Global Network Against Nuclear Power & Weapons in Space Followed by a chance for you to ask questions.

Including exhibition from Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases:
MENWITH HILL - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Meeting organised by Harrogate Quakers, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Harrogate and Knaresborough Peace Group - More details 01274 7307095.

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About
The Boeing Company is the world's leading aerospace company, the largest manufacturer of satellites, commercial jetliners and military aircraft, and the global market leader in missile defence, space flight and launch services. It is the US largest exporter and, since the acquisition of McDonnell Douglas in 1997, the US second largest defence contractor, after Lockheed-Martin. In 2001 its revenues were of the order of $58 bn., roughly evenly split between the civilian side (i.e. commercial airliners, mostly) and the defence side.

However, in view of the declining fortunes of the civilian products and services sector, the company sees the future of its "Forever New Frontiers" strategy (as in its logo) in landing more government defence contracts. In 1997, Boeing was awarded the National Missile Defence Lead System Integrator contract, initially for $1,5 bn, with a follow on contract in 2000 worth $6 bn. The NMD programme involves the development and testing of a potential system to detect, track and destroy incoming Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles before they reach the USA. Just recently, in December 2002, the Bush Administration announced that it is moving forward the target date at which the system is to become operational to 2004. The Boeing Company, as Lead Integrator, is also the Prime Contractor with the responsibility of doling out subcontracts to its main competitors (TWR; Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and others). As Lead Integrator it is responsible for the development and integration of the NMD elements, notably the Ground-Based Interceptor, X-Band Radars, Battle Management Command (BMC3, with TWR) Upgraded Early Warning and Interfaces to Spacebased Infra Red System Satellites (with Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon).

Why are we going there?
"Boeing Corporation - the prime contractor for Star Wars has entered into a collaborative enterprise with the University of Sheffield and South Yorkshire business to develop an Aerospace Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) new Sheffield Airport. Research conducted by Sheffield CND shows a clear link between the division within the Boeing Corporation handling Star Wars work and the developing AMRC project. The AMRC itself could go on to become the hub of the UK's high-tech industrial interest in Star Wars that is expected as a reward to the Government for its unconditional support for missile defence. The Star Wars tour is going to Sheffield to expose the connections between Star Wars, the Boeing Corporation, and the University of Sheffield's Aerospace Manufacturing Research Centre.

Details of the day

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Following a stunt and stall in Sheffield town center,

PUBLIC MEETING - The Corporate Face of Missile Defence

With expert speakers from Sheffield CND and Campaign Against Arms Trade

1pm - 4pm Saturday June 7th - Blind Insitution on Mappin Street, Sheffield.

NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE & MOLESWORTH - JUNE 9th

About
Leicester's National Space Centre was opened in June 2001, at a cost of £52 million, mainly lottery money.. Leicester CND says " we had been taking an interest in it since they learnt about it when our local council put £2 million of Leicester money into it. It is closely linked with the Leicester University Space Research Centre. The first part of the Space Centre to appear in Leicester was the Challenger Learning Centre, the only Challenger Centre outside North America. These Challenger Centres were set up after the Challenger blew up in 1986 killing 7 including a teacher.

'RAF' Molesworth, the former cruise missile base in the 1980s, remains under US control. As Leicester CND explains "We had understood that it was part of Missile Defence. Now we find what an important part it is. On a Radio 4 File on Four programme earlier this year, they visited the base with Duncan Campbell, investigative journalist.

He said "Molesworth is collating and sorting all of the different intelligence information from field troops, from human agents, specially from the spy satellites, the listening satellites and the looking satellites, together with information coming in from the rest of the world. Putting it all together and sending it all as fast as it can to people who may be operating in the Middle East, in Afghanistan or preparing to support these operations. It is the hub of American Intelligence in Europe " Moleswoth, with two nearby stations, has 300 British personnel and over 1,000 Americans. It is of great stategic importance to the Pentagon."

Why are we going there?
The Challenger event at the space centre had been designed as a NASA PR job to excite US children about space and to encourage their parents to put their tax dollars back into space research. These centres are a charity and work to a set pattern. Our concern both with the Challenger centre and the main Space Centre is that they do not address the negative aspects of space research and space travel i.e. that the main focus is military. The rocket tower holds two former missiles USAF Thor Able, on display as lifting the first weather satellite (which of course will have been for military purposes, not so that we knew whether or not to take our umbrella out that day), and Blue Streak Britain's only attempt to get into the Space business, first as an intercontinental nuclear weapon, secondly as a civil rocket. Bruce Gagnon co-ordinator of the Global Network sees these centres as a softening up process for the space industry.

Details of the day
Will include a stunt outside the centre, a town centre stall and a meeting in the evening on the UK and missile defence - speakers include Carol Naughton (CND Chair) and Alan Simpson MP..

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Following a stunt and stall in Leicester Town Centre:

PUBLIC MEETING

"Missile Defence and Weapons in Space:
the US War on the World"

With Carol Naughton (CND Chair) and Alan Simpson MP

7pm - Friends Meeting House, Queens Road, Leicester

FELTWELL & LAKENHEATH - JUNE 10th

About
Feltwell is the Deep Space Tracking System & Low Altitude Space Surveillance System centre in Norfolk. Run by the The 5th Space Surveillance Squadron the site detects, tracks and identifies deep space satellites using the Deep Space Tracking System and low altitude satellites using the Low Altitude Space Surveillance system. Deep space objects are those with orbits that take more than 225 minutes to rotate the earth. Satellites are categorized as low altitude if their orbit is generally less than 225 minutes. The base apparently allows the US to "remain aware of international space activity"

Lakenheath has always been the primary and most important tactical nuclear bombing base in Europe, hosting long-range F-111 fighter bomber aircraft through the early 1990’s, and today, hosting the F-15E Strike Eagle. It is the sole remaining base in the UK used to store US nuclear weapons . It's mission is "To provide responsive air combat power, support and services to meet our Allies' and our nation's international objectives."

Why are we going there?
Although CND has so far been unable to get official confirmation from the UK government, Feltwell is strongly suspected of being another key missile defence base like Menwith Hill and Fylingdales. The base is secretive and little is known about it's links to the system. Like Menwith Hill, it is a US military base in all but name, with almost entirely US staff working there. It would probably be used to track mid-flight missiles and to detect decoys sent to confuse the system's monitoring abilities.

As with Faslane, Lakenheath is a symbol of US militarism and aggresive foreign policy. Missile Defence is a key part of the ongoing dream of complete military dominance - "full spectrum dominance". Lakenheath, as home to the US's nuclear missiles in the UK, is another key part of that bigger dream.

4pm - Demonstration at Feltwell Main Gate on the B1112

then

PUBLIC MEETING - US Missile Defence - a Menace to the world
with Bruce Kent

7.30pm at Friends Meeting House, St John Street, Bury St Edmunds (doors open 7pm)

FREE and Open to all (free parking in the evening on nearby St Andrews Street)

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CROUGHTON - JUNE 11th

About
This major US Air Force communications base was opened in 1950 to support the permanent return of Strategic Air Command nuclear bombers to Britain. Special facilities now operated from highly secure areas at the centre of Croughton include CIA agent and satellite communications, and the US Presidential emergency radio communications code-named MYSTIC STAR.

Croughton also provides Atlantic and European communications, and long range radio communications to Southwest Asia.

Croughton is also a key link centre for the EC-135 'flying war rooms' based at Mildenhall, Suffolk, as the European airborne command post system. It is a major satellite communications ground station linked to the US Defence Satellite Communications System, and part of a global network of computer data switching centres. It runs a long range radio system for nuclear bombs called 'Giant Talk' or 'Scope Signal III'. Croughton's role as a major CIA communications centre (under the cover of the US Air Force base) was identified by former CIA executive Victor referred to a CIA agent radio centre about a hundred miles from London, and near 'Banbury Cross'. CIA covert communications satellites enable agents or implanted sensors in hostile territory to communicate to US controllers by direct satellite link. An agent's satellite link transmitter can be carried in a small suitcase; US covert communications links of this kind were used in 1982 by SAS teams operating in the Falklands war.

Croughton is directly linked to its 'transmitter annexe' at Barford St John, a few miles west. Staff at Croughton include both military personnel and 'civilian' staff of the Department of Defense, who operate some of the base satellite communications equipment including a satellite tracking dish, installed in the early 1970s, and concealed inside a white radome.

US-owned and run microwave communications links converge on Croughton from GCHQ Cheltenham (via Leafield, Oxon), High Wycombe, (via Upper Heyford), Molesworth and other USAF bases (via Daventry), and Barford St John. The links are all encrypted (encoded), preventing signals from being intercepted and understood by others. This system, called the Digital European Backbone, reached its northern and western limit at Croughton in 1983. DEB's most important connections go to command headquarters and other communications centres, especially satellite terminals. More than 100 DEB sites have been built, some 12 of which are interconnection points to other NATO or national communications systems.

Other facilities at Croughton include the Global Command and Control System for communications with transatlantic and other flights and communications links for the military computer network called WMCCS ('Wimex') - the world-wide military command and control system.

Why are we going there?
Croughton shrouded in mystery even more so than Feltwell. Its links to Missile Defence have not been proven and, once again, questions in the House of Commons are met with empty responses. The base's links to space monitoring and communications mean that there is a real chance that the base will play a key role in the system, either as a front line monitoring station or as a data relay station. It's certainly one to watch and we're visiting the base to remind them that we're watching.

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Missile Defence and weapons in Space - the New threat
Is Croughton part of the new global weapons system?

Speakers:
Carol Naughton (Chair CND)
Local MP
Gawain Little (Oxford CND and Youth)
Neil Kingsnorth (National CND Missile Defence Campaigner)

7.30pm at Friends Meeting House in St Giles, Oxford

FREE and Open to all

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ALDERMASTON WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT - JUNE 12th

About
As they put it themselves, "AWE covers the whole life-cycle of nuclear warheads, in a single organisation. This includes initial concept, research and design, through component manufacture and assembly, to in-service support and, finally, decommissioning and disposal". Aldermaston is the UK's nuclear bomb factory.

Why are we going there?
As the UK ties itself ever more closely to US foreign policy and becomes ever more dependent on US military hardware and software for the viability of its own military, so our military and our bomb factory become just another part of the US dream of full spectrum dominance. Missile Defence, Faslane and Aldermaston are tied together in a bigger picture of US military supremacy.

Details of the day
Will include a stunt at the base and a stall in nearby Reading.

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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE and US EMBASSY- JUNE 13th

About
The Ministry of defence is the home and decision making body for the UK's military. Responsible for making the top decisions that take us to war with Iraq, missile defence and a nuclear capability amongst others. They are the key body that ties us so closely with US foreign policy. The US Embassy is other half of that line (axis?).

Why are we going there?
On June 13th 2002 the USA finally withdrew from the ABM treaty - giving them the freedom to chase the missile defence dream. This June 13th we'll be in London to mark that important date. UK involvement in missile defence came about after what the MOD called a "consultation period". This consultation had no official deadline or procedure and NGOs like CND were left wondering quite what to do with it. We took the bull by the horns and spent what turned out to be a limited time doing all we could to make use of the "consultation".Submissions to the MOD and defence select committee, invitations to the Defence secretary to join a debate in Pickering and direct lobbying of MPs and ministers fell on deaf ears. The consultation was announced shortly before the Christmas and New Year break. Almost immediately after the break Hoon announced that he was "minded" to give the US the go-ahead for use of Fylingdales for the system. Shortly after that, he did so. The MOD spent most of last year spinning and avoiding questions on missile defence. They spent just a few days of this year giving it the nod.

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GET INVOLVED!

Join us during the tour at one of the public meetings, or come and get more information from a stall in the town centres along the route. For more information to get involved in helping in the local areas, contact CND on 0207 7002393 or Yorkshire CND on 01274 730795 or information@yorkshirecnd.org.uk

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