Text Fwd: UK Trident accident

* Text Fwd by Stephen Kobasa and Frank Cordaro on April 3, 2011

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/trident-sub-crippled-in-accident-1.1094250


Trident sub crippled in accident
EXCLUSIVE BY ROB EDWARDS ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
3 Apr 2011

ONE of Britain's flagship Trident submarines is limping back to its home port on the Clyde this weekend after suffering an embarrassing accident at sea.

The Sunday Herald can reveal that HMS Vengeance has had to cut short a training exercise in the North Atlantic because its propeller became blocked by debris during bad weather late on Thursday evening.

The vessel - which is powered by a nuclear reactor and can carry up to 48 Trident nuclear warheads as well as conventional Spearfish torpedoes - is returning to the Faslane naval base on Gareloch to have the problem checked.

The Royal Navy accepted that the incident was unfortunate but stressed that there had been no injuries and that there were no implications for nuclear safety. It was a "mechanical issue", a naval spokesman said.

Sources told the Sunday Herald late on Friday that there had been an incident involving a Trident submarine. This was later confirmed by the Royal Navy's spokesman.

He said: "HMS Vengeance was on a training exercise in the northern exercise area when she suffered a reduction in her propulsion. There was a blockage in the propulsor and it was found to have been fouled by an object as a result of which there was a reduction in propulsion. It slowed her down."

HMS Vengeance, like the other three Vanguard-class nuclear subs, is usually driven by a propulsor, a large encased propeller at the rear. It also has two auxiliary retractable propulsion motors, sometimes known as "egg whisks". Experts say the boat will probably now be powered by the auxiliary motors to avoid further damage to the
propulsor.

The navy spokesman added: "She is returning to Faslane on the surface under her own power. Investigations will take place Š It is not foreseen that it will have any impact on her programme, at this stage anyway."

The navy rarely admits precisely where submarines are at sea, and would not say exactly when HMS Vengeance was expected back at Faslane, or when she was due out again. Some evidence suggests, however, that she was meant to go out on patrol next week.

John Large, a consultant on nuclear safety, said the incident would have been "a scary moment for the crew".

He added: "There will be red faces in the navy about this. One of our top-secret stealth submarines was suddenly crippled at sea, making her a lame sitting duck on the surface."

The propulsor could have been fouled by some discarded fishing gear, or perhaps a steel hawser, he suggested. "It would have to be something quite heavy, and it could cause serious damage."

John Ainslie, co-ordinator of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "The loss of power on HMS Vengeance could have left the vessel at the mercy of the wind and the tide Š it is a frightening prospect."

Another Trident submarine, HMS Vanguard, collided with a French nuclear sub in the North Atlantic in February 2009. Last October, Britain's newest nuclear sub, HMS Astute, ran aground near Skye during trials.

Text Fwd: Wikileaks Cables Reveal Foreign Office Mislead Parlaiment Over Diego Garcia 위키 릭스는 디에고 가르시아에 관해 외교 사무소가 영국 의회에 오도 했음을 폭로

* Image source & caption: same as the link
'WikiLeaks cables suggest the Foreign Office knows its plan
to declare Diego Garcia a marine park will end any chance of islanders winning the right to return Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian'

____________________________________________________

* Text sent from Martha Duenas with the below quoted on Dec. 4, 2010

'The displacement of the Chagossian people of the island of Diego Garcia is justified using references to "strategic" purposes and "security." These are the exact terms used in the rationale & promotion of the military buildup in Guam. The British Indian Ocean Territory - BIOT which encompasses the 55 islands surrounding and including Diego Garcia, and the Mariana Island National Marine Monument prohibit activities in the area. Military activities are EXEMPT from any of the prohibitions and regulations.

Diego Garcia and the Mariana Islands are poised to fulfill the United States Department of Defense "Full Spectrum Dominance Vision 2020." '
____________________________________________________

The Guardian UK
Wikileaks Cables Reveal Foreign Office Mislead Parliament Over Diego Garcia
: UK official told Americans that marine park plan would end the 'Man Fridays' hopes of ever returning home
Rob Evans and Richard Norton-Taylor
Thursday, 2 December 2010

The Foreign Office misled parliament over the plight of thousands of islanders who were expelled from their Indian Ocean homeland to make way for a large US military base, according to secret US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.

More than 2,000 islanders – described privately by the Foreign Office as "Man Fridays" – were evicted from the British colony of Diego Garcia in the 1960s and 1970s. The Foreign Office, backed by the US, has fought a long legal battle to prevent them returning home.

The islanders' quest to go back will be decided by a ruling, expected shortly, from the European court of human rights.

New leaked documents show the Foreign Office has privately admitted its latest plan to declare the islands the world's largest marine protection zone will end any chance of them being repatriated.

The admission is at odds with public claims by Foreign Office ministers that the proposed park would have no effect on the islanders' right of return. They have claimed the marine park was a ploy to block their return, claiming it would make it impossible for them to live there as it would ban fishing, their main livelihood.

In May 2009, Colin Roberts, the Foreign Office director of overseas territories, told the Americans Diego Garcia's value in "assuring the security of the US and UK" had been "much more than anyone foresaw" in the 1960s, when the plan to set up the base was hatched.

"We do not regret the removal of the population since removal was necessary for [Diego Garcia] to fulfil its strategic purpose," he added under a passage that the Americans headed "Je ne regrette rien".

READ MORE

____________________________________________________

* Wilbert van der Zeijden who also forwarded the same article through the 'no US bases' group had a some comment as the below quoted on Dec. 2, 2010

'Friends,

A very intresting wikileaks document was released today. Several things are of importance:

- The UK government "do[es] not regret the removal of the populatio, since removal was necessary for the BIOT to fulfill its strategic importance"

- The UK government has developed the plan for a Chagos marine protected area with the sole purpose of keeping the Chagossians out! the wording they use is painful and all telling: there will be no "Man Fridays." It is a term that was also used for the Chagossians in the 1960's when they were forcefully removed from their Islands. The document goes on to say that the UK asserts that "establishing a marine park would, in effect, put paid to the resettlement claims of the archipelago's former residents". To achieve all this, the UK has managed to convince eco-groups like Pew charitable Fund and Greenpeace that the Marine Park was is a good ecological idea. The fact that they now try to establish it by violating the human rights of the Chagossians, is not much of a problem according to the British government official in the document, because "the UK's environmental lobby is far more powerful than the Chagossians' advocates."

Like the Mauritian government said a couple weeks ago: There's little point in talking by now - it is time for action!

Wilbert'
____________________________________________________

& David Vine, nousbases group has some response on the article. Check the below:

Foreign Policy in Focus on Dec. 3, 2010
WikiLeaks Cables Reveal Use of Environmentalism by US and UK as Pretext to Keep Natives From Returning to Diego Garcia
By David Vine, December 3, 2010

Video Fwd: UK EVENT TO MAKE SPACE ISSUES VISIBLE 우주 이슈들을 보이게 하기 위한 영국 행사

Bruce Gagnon blog
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
UK EVENT TO MAKE SPACE ISSUES VISIBLE



Keep Space for Peace Week event planned at U.S. Menwith Hill spy satellite base in North Yorkshire, England on October 2.
____________________________________________________________

* From caab.org.uk (Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases, UK)

Read/download a flyer for this event

Text Fwd: US 'missile defence' move criticised by CND

* Sent by Bruce Gagnon on Feb. 4, 2010

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

press office: 07968 420859
switchboard: 020 7700 2393
e-mail: pressoffice@cnduk.org
web: www.cnduk.org


Press Release
Thursday 4th February

Attn: News Desks / Political / Europe / Defence Correspondents


US 'missile defence' move criticised by CND

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament regrets moves towards the establishment of a US interceptor missile base in Romania, announced only days after plans emerged to site Patriot batteries in four Gulf states. CND criticised the move as part of a deepening entrenchment of US forces in the region.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said "President Obama's reconfiguration of plans for the Czech Republic and Poland allowed the 'reset' of relations with Russia. But deploying an ever-greater number of military systems across eastern Europe does nothing to help the US and Russia conclude a successor to the START disarmament treaty. Nor does it help make Europe safer. The suggestion that Aegis missile defence ships may patrol the Baltic and the Black Sea and that a Ukrainian radar may be used in the system, means there is a real risk that the thawing of US-Russian relations will be sent off-course. The US move to make permanent a temporary military base in Romania - and continued efforts to expand NATO - all serve to push Europe towards more military spending when it is completely unnecessary and we can ill afford it."

- ends –

1. For further information and interviews please contact Ben Soffa, CND's Press Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859

2. 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. www.cnduk.org

Text Fwd: S. Korea to Deploy Acoustic Weapon Locating System in Afghanistan

Korea Times
02-01-2010 17:57
[Exclusive] S. Korea to Deploy Acoustic Weapon Locating System in Afghanistan
By Jung Sung-ki, Staff Reporter

The nation's arms procurement agency has ordered a U.K.-built hostile artillery locating system (HALO) that uses multiple acoustic sensors for its troops to be deployed to Afghanistan later this year, sources at the Ministry of National Defense said Monday.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) sealed the contract with British defense group BAE Systems last week, with more orders being expected for force protection against possible North Korean provocation near the western sea border, the sources said.

"Related weapons procurement and upgrades are proceeding to properly protect our forces in Afghanistan," a ministry source said. "The HALO acquisition is part of that effort and the system, in particular, will help protect our troops from roadside bombs, referred to as improvised explosive devices (IEDs)."

In December, the Cabinet here endorsed a plan to send 320 troops, 40 police and 100 Provincial Reconstruction Team members to Afghanistan in July. A motion is awaiting parliamentary approval. The bill calls for a 29-month deployment.

The Korean military has U.S.-built artillery locating systems using acoustic technology, but they are subject to replacement as the systems were built in the 1980s.

HALO employs passive acoustic location techniques and precise meteorological monitoring and terrain data to locate and identify artillery or mortar sources as well as IED explosives.

The system can detect hostile firing near to adjacent friendly forces and identify areas of intensive activities. By detecting the occurrences of mortar fire, the launching of RPGs or improvised rockets, sniper attacks and other gunshots, HALO automatically defines an area assigned with more attention from aerial and ground surveillance, ambushes and patrols.

The system covers areas of more than 2,000 square kilometers and rapidly determines fire sources with location accuracy of 50 to 100 meters, by analyzing the acoustic propagation of the target's signatures.

HALO has been successfully deployed in high-profile combat zones, including Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

On top of that, the DAPA is equipping the four UH-60 helicopter for the Afghan mission with an anti-aircraft missile protection suite, the sources said. The protection system includes flare/chaff launchers, infrared guided missile countermeasure devices and radar threat receivers.

A defense division of Korean Air, a national flag carrier, will take charge of the modification works, he said.

Last month, DAPA said it plans to buy several U.S. Multipurpose All-Terrain Vehicles (MATV) to protect the 320 troops.

A proposal was sent to the U.S. government to buy MATVs through the foreign military sales program, a DAPA spokesman said.

The agency is also considering leasing or buying 10 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles if the purchase of MATVs fails.

IEDs are known as the number one threat in Afghanistan and account for 70 to 80 percent of casualties there, according to reports.

The U.S. Department of Defense has said that since 2007, the number of IEDs in Afghanistan has jumped 350 percent.

While many are found before they detonate, the number of troops killed has increased by more than 400 percent and the number wounded is up more 700 percent over the last two years, according to the Pentagon.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: UK-Italy Firm Vying for Korean Attack Chopper Bids

* Image source: same as the link below

'AgustaWestland is bidding for a contract to provide Korea with its T-129 attack helicopters.
The T-129, being developed for the Turkish Army, is an upgraded variant of the Agusta A129 Mangusta
/ Courtesy of AgustaWestland '

Korea Times
UK-Italy Firm Vying for Korean Attack Chopper Bids
By Jung Sung-ki
Korea Times Correspondent

VERGIATE, Italy ― It was a sunny autumn day and the "chop-chop" sound of the rotor blade of a helicopter was heard from the air. A blue and white helicopter was sinking out of the blue sky and approaching the ground.

"That's the helicopter for Samsung," Roberto Caprarella, a media relations official of AgustaWestland, an U.K.-Italy helicopter company, said Nov. 11 while leading a tour of a plant here, located about 45 kilometers northwest of Italy's northern city of Milan.

The helicopter was the first of the two AW139 medium-sized utility helicopters ordered by Samsung Techwin, a defense business arm of Samsung Group, the largest conglomerate in South Korea, Carprella said.

The helicopter, used to transport of Samsung VIPs and top executives, was there for pilot training before final delivery, he said. The other is to be delivered for the first quarter of next year.

The helicopter manufacturer believes the order from Samsung, the world's largest conglomerate, is very symbolic and will help further open the door for the commercial helicopter market in Korea.

"As you know, Samsung is leading commercial variants in Korea, so it's driving the requirements of others," an AgustaWestland official in charge of commercial marketing said, requesting not to be named. "If Samsung is flying the helicopter, others will follow suit. So we expect (Samsung's order) will finally open the door for the commercial market in Korea."

The helicopter firm is in discussions with several other Korean companies to sell its utility helicopters for VIP and corporate transport, the official said.

He expressed hope that his firm will provide utility helicopters to Korean TV broadcasting companies and the government for emergency medical service (EMS).

The standard AW139 configuration provides a 12-passenger seating capacity in a large, unobstructed cabin that offers ease of access and egress via large sliding cabin doors. The number of seats and other interior layout features can be modified in accordance with different missions ranging from offshore transport, search-and-rescue (SAR) and EMS, VIP and corporate transport to law enforcement and homeland security.

The twin-engine helicopter has a top cruising speed of 311 kilometers per hour and a maximum takeoff weight of 14,110 pounds. It has a maximum range of 1,250 kilometers and an endurance of nearly six hours.

Orders for nearly 440 AW139s have been placed by around 120 customers globally, according to the firm.

AgustaWestland helicopters have already been popular among Korean law-enforcement authorities.

Earlier this year, an AW139 helicopter was delivered to the Gangwon Fire Fighting Department. In August, the National Police Agency (NPA) ordered an eight-seat single-engine AW119Ke. The NPA has been flying two AW190 helicopters since 1994.

On Dec. 10, two AW139 helicopters for search-and-rescue missions were delivered to the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), which is considering buying four more units.

The helicopters had been modified to KGC's operational requirements, which include a maximum speed of 304 kilometers per hour and an operational range of 819 kilometers. The KCG models have a seating capacity of 10 and are equipped with a long-range radar and thermal imager system.

Bids for Korea Attack Helicopter

Besides the Korean commercial market, AgustaWestland, owned by Italy's Finmeccanica, is ambitious about entering Korea's burgeoning military helicopter market, which will require more than 250 attack helicopters through the local development of the Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH) and the AH-X direct purchase plans.

It remains to be seen whether or not both programs will go ahead as originally planned due mainly to budget constraints. But informed sources say Seoul's Ministry of National Defense is in favor of keeping the two alive to create a high/low mix concept.

The ministry believes that operating both heavy AH-X and light KAH attack helicopters will enhance the operational effectiveness of the Army's attack helicopter fleet.

Both the AH-X and KAH programs are aimed at replacing the Army's aging 500MD TOWs and AH-1Ss. About half of the 500MD TOWs will reach their life span of 30 years by 2013, and AH-1S helicopters have also been operated more than 16 years.

Against that backdrop, the AH-X effort calls for buying 36 foreign heavy attack helicopters and the KAH plan requires building about 270 homegrown helicopters in partnership with a foreign manufacturer.

The Defense Acquisition Program is now reexamining the required operational capability (ROC) of the KAH, which had originally called for a light attack version, and is scheduled to finalize the requirements by March.

According to sources, the agency supports the development of a light-weight KAH.

"Regarding the KAH requirements, a consensus has been built among the DAPA, the Army and the JCS that it will be more feasible to keep both the AH-X and KAH programs,'' a military source told The Korea Times. ``The plan has already been reported to Defense Minister Kim Tae-young and presidential aides. It is awaiting approval from President Lee Myung-bak.''

For both the AH-X and KAH initiatives, AgustWestland is offering the T-129 version, currently under development for the Turkish Army. The T-129 is an upgraded variant of the Agusta A129 Mangusta. The T-129 development is led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), with AgustaWestland as the primary partner.

"It depends on the ROC for the KAH, but the T-129 model is very competitive both for the AH-X and KAH," said an AgustaWestland official in charge of marketing in Northeast Asia.

If South Korea buys T-129s for its AH-X needs, the T-129 platform will be used in developing a KAH with cost effectiveness for service, support and training, the official said.

The T-129 could also be retrofitted with Korean equipments developed for the KAH, he said.

Should South Korea select the T-129 for the KAH program, it would help Korea get easier access to the international collaborative program as well as reduce the estimated development time, costs and risks regarding the KAH, he noted, adding the T-129 will also ensure access to export market sales.

The first prototype of the T-129 made its successful first flight in September with four more prototypes scheduled to be built in 2010. Under a 2007 contract, the team of TAI, AgustaWestland and other local subcontractors will produce 50 T-129s with an option for a further 41 aircraft.

TAI is in charge of developing an indigenous mission computer, avionics, weapons systems, self-protection suites and the helmet-mounting cuing systems. Turkey has full marketing and intellectual property rights for the T-129 platform, and there are also no restrictions imposed on it for the export or transfer of the platform to other countries.

Powered by two LHTEC T800 engines, the T-129 has an operational range of 561 kilometers and can cruise at a speed of 269 kilometers per hour. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 11,023 pounds. Weapons systems will include UMTAS locally-developed anti-tank missiles, Stinger AA missiles, a 20mm canon and unguided rockets.

If the KAH's ROC calls for a light attack helicopter, the AW109 light utility helicopter would be a feasible platform, the official said.

"The AW109 offers a low cost alternative for the 'low concept' of the KAH," he said. Among the possible collaborative projects for the AW109 are the design-development of mission weapon systems-avionics, component/sub assembly manufacture, final assembly and in-service support, said the official.

The AW109 is a light-weight, twin engine multipurpose helicopter. It has a maximum speed of 285 kilometers per hour and a ferry range of 964 kilometers. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 5,974 meters. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,283 pounds.

Korea-Turkey Procurement Imbalance

Industrial sources here say possible cooperation between Korea and Turkey over the T-129 program, in particular, will help resolve an imbalance in defense procurement between the two governments.

Ankara is the biggest arms importer for Seoul. Turkey has bought a host of Korean defense systems in recent years. These include the $100 million contract over the K9 155m self-propelled howitzer in 2001 for the Turkish army; the $500 million deal to deliver 55 KT-1 Woongbi basic trainers for the Turkish air force in 2007; and the $400 million contract to help Turkey develop a main battle tank.

Turkey is also considering purchasing Korea's amphibious large-deck landing ships, tank landing ships and K-10 ammunition re-supply vehicles.

During the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition in October, Murad Bayar, undersecretary for defense industries of the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, raised this issue when he met his Korean counterpart DAPA Commissioner Byun Moo-keun, according to the sources.

"In a meeting with the DAPA commissioner, Bayar asked Korea to consider buying the T-129 or joining the Turkey-Italy helicopter program," an industry source said on condition of anonymity. "Byun responded he would review the option in a careful manner."

The DAPA, in fact, asked AgustaWestland to provide information on the T-129 for examination earlier this year, according to officials of the procurement agency.

The agency plans to begin exploratory development of the KAH next year with an investment of about 3 billion won ($2.6 million).

The T-129 is expected to compete with the refurbished Apache Longbow helicopters offered by the U.S. Army for the AH-X program. For the KAH, it would compete with Eurocopter, which is developing the Korea Utility Helicopter with Korea Aerospace Industries.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr


* Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/12/text-fwd-exclusive-s-korea-plans-to.html
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Text Fwd: [Exclusive] S. Korea Plans to Develop Light Attack Helicopter

Text Fwd: [Korean translated: Lindis Percy] GN BOARD MEMBER JAILED IN UK

* Image Source*
1. http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2009/04/gn-board-member-jailed-in-uk.html
2. http://space4peace.org
3. Pyeongteak Peace Center (Lindis Percy, 3rd from the left)
4. No base Stories of Korea(Lindis Percy, fifth from left)

*Text informed by Bruce Gagnon's email and blog on April 22*

http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2009/04/gn-board-member-jailed-in-uk.html
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
GN BOARD MEMBER JAILED IN UK

I learned this morning that Global Network board member Lindis Percy was arrested yesterday in England and has been jailed for 45 days. Lindis has just returned to the UK from Seoul, South Korea where she spoke at the 17th annual space organizing conference.

Lindis is a leader of the group called Campaign for Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) in England that works hard to educate the public about and resist the presence of two US Star Wars bases at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales in Yorkshire.

According to the BBC, "A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the 67-year-old had been arrested for a breach of bail conditions. "

According to supporters in England, "Lindis Percy was remanded in custody for 45 days by the Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday. This was for some minor fines Lindis refuse to pay for so-called aggravated trespass at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales. Lindis has constantly refused to pay these fines and yesterday there was a Warrant out for her arrest just after she returned from Seoul."

Lindis is being held in the Low Newton Women's Prison.

To send a message to Lindis contact Elizabeth Barclay at elizabeth.barclay@nexusdsl.co.uk


GN 보드 멤버 린디스 퍼시 구속됨
브루스 개그논 씀, 2009년 4 월 22 일
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2009/04/gn-board-member-jailed-in-uk.html

나는 방금 글로벌 넷트 워크 보드 멤버인 린디스 퍼시가 어제 영국에서 체포되었고 45 일간 투옥중이었다는 사실을 알게 되었다. 린디스는 그가 연설자로 있던 17 번째 우주 조직 회담이 있던 대한민국 서울에서 막 귀국한 상태였다.

린디스는 영국 내 미국 기지 감시를 위한 캠페인 그룹의 지도자인데 이 그룹은 대중을 교육하기 위해 열심히 일하고 요크셔의 멘히스 힐과 플라잉 데일스 의 두 우주 기지에 저항하기 위해 열심히 일한다.

BBC 에 따르면 린디스는 “ 북부 요크셔 지방의 경찰은 말하길 67살의 린디스는 보석 조건 위반으로 체포되었었다.” 한다.

영국 지지자들에 따르면 린디스는 “ 린디스 퍼시는 어제 헤로게이트 행정 법원에 의해 45 일간 유치장에 재송환되게 되었다. 멘히쓰 힐과 플라인 데일쓰에 불만을 품은 침입에 대한 경미한 벌금을 그가 지불하기를 거부했기 때문이다. 린디스는 이 벌금들을 지불하기를 거절해 왔으며 어제 그가 서울에서 돌아오자마자 그의 체포에 대한 경고가 있었다.” 라고 말했다.

린디스는 현재 로우 뉴턴 여자 감옥에 억류되어 있다.

린디스에게 메시지를 보내려면 엘리자베쓰 바클레이, elizabeth.barclay@nexusdsl.co.uk에게 연락하길.

* Bio of Lindis Percy (England)*

'Lindis Percy was born in Yorkshire, UK. Lindis has been a trained nurse midwife all her working life. For ten years she lived 30 minutes away from Greenham Common where U.S. Cruise Missiles were deployed. She became aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons and joined in the women’s campaign. As Co-Coordinator of Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) she has focused on NSA Menwith Hill (Yorkshire) and US bases in general for many years. CAAB has worked since 1996 on the role of Menwith Hill and Fylingdales in American Missile Defense System. In 2004 Lindis was presented with the GN’s Peace in Space Award. (Source: http://www.space4peace.org)

* Speech on ‘The Cost of the US Military Bases Empire in the UK’ (10min.)

In the Plenary session II: "Global Anti-War and Peace Movements " on April 17 International Symposium.

린디스 퍼시(영국): 영국 요크셔에서 태어난 린디스는 평생 훈련된 조산원으로 일해왔다. 10년 이상, 미국 크루즈 미사일이 배치된 그린햄 커먼에서 30분 떨어진 곳에 살았다. 핵무기의 위험들에 대해 깨닫게 되었으며 여성 캠페인 에 참가했다. 미군 기지 감시를 위한 캠페인Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) 공동 코디네이터 로 일하며 멘히스 힐(요크셔) 에 있는 국가 안기부와 전반적인 미국 기지들에 촛점을 맞춰왔다. 1996년 이후 CAAB는 미국 미사일 방어 시스템에 있어 멘위스 힐과 플라잉 데일즈의 역활에 관한 주제에 촛점, 일해왔다. 2004년 린디스는 글로벌 넷워크의 우주 평화상을 받았다.

* 4월 17일 오후 제2주제 "지구촌의 반전평화운동" 중 '영국의 미 제국 군사 기지를 지키기 위한 비'용'에 관해 연설

* Writing of Lindis Percy for the Seoul conference*

The Global Network Against Nuclear Weapons and Power in Space

Seoul, South Korea - April 16-18, 2009

What’s going on in the UK concerning Missile Defense?

Friends

I am so delighted to be here – thank you for asking me to say something about the situation concerning Missile Defense in the UK.

I would like to address two specific questions.

1) What’s going on in the UK about Missile Defense?

and

2) What’s going on about public awareness and protest in the UK?

Before I do however address the first question - let me give you a brief overview as to the extent of the Missile Defense connection in the UK.

There are two bases the UK that are confirmed as playing a crucial part in the US Missile Defense system. There are probably more US bases in the UK that may be, in some way, involved with Missile Defense because of the very nature of their roles – these are not publicly confirmed.

Both bases are in the county of Yorkshire in the north of England where Dave Webb and I live. I live 8 miles from the American intelligence and surveillance base – the National Security Agency of America-run base at Menwith Hill. Although referred to as ‘Royal Air Force’ Menwith Hill, the base is occupied and controlled by the US authorities and their Agencies. It is the largest such base outside the US and will play a crucial part in the Missile Defense system – should it ever work which as we know, is far from certain.

The other base is RAF Fylingdales – an important early warning station detecting missile launches. Data collected at RAF Fylingdales is shared between the US and UK. The radar facility was upgraded for Missile Defense last year.

What’s going on in the UK about Missile Defense?

In 1997 CAAB found out, by chance, that Menwith Hill was to be designated the European Relay Station for the Space Based Infra Red system – SBIRS. We have campaigned ever since – and were eventually joined by more groups and individuals over the years. The two SBIRS radomes at Menwith Hill were constructed in 2000.

On 5 February 2003, the then UK Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, made a statement to Parliament announcing the Government's agreement to a request from the U.S. Government to upgrade the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System at RAF Fylingdales.

Any semblance of public or Parliamentary debate has been a farce and in its usual subordinate way, the UK government has waited for the US government to dictate terms and conditions - assuming that the UK government will comply – and they have - with no questions asked. It’s part of the ‘special relationship’.

In an interesting article entitled – ‘Assessing the special relationship’ William Wallace (a Member of the House of Lords) says, “The US–UK special relationship today has a political and ideological superstructure and an embedded military and intelligence substructure.

Its political dimension rests partly on privileged access for British politicians and diplomats in Washington, partly on the perception that British and American interests are—or should be—closely aligned, and partly on sentimental assertions of shared values – however it is high time that a more open and critical debate should take place on its costs and benefits to the United Kingdom”. So there are some critical and questioning voices in high places.

The ‘special relationship’ was a concept thought up 60 years ago. The ‘special relationship’ allowed Missile Defense to come to the UK – with a network of US bases already historically established.

Two years ago in July 2007, a statement was made in Parliament, by the then Secretary of State for Defence in the UK. There was no chance for questions to be asked, as he announced that the UK government had given permission for Menwith Hill to be used for Missile Defense.

The latest development at Menwith Hill consists of an £8M contract to build an extension to one of the strategic buildings housing the hard ware technology of the base. We think it is probably Missile Defense grinding on but we are not sure. The firm that was awarded the contract has just gone into liquidation – part of the global meltdown - however plenty more firms will be waiting in the wings to take this on. The latest news is that it is delayed two years.

What’s happening about public awareness and protest to Missile Defense in the UK?

CAAB has always been interested in using the law to effect change and in 1998 we brought out a legal action in the High Court London, to try to stop the building of the two SBIRS radomes. The case went on for nearly a year - however we had to concede when Bill Clinton handed on the decision to deploy Missile Defense to….George W Bush…

The legal action was worth doing as we learnt a lot about Missile Defense and international law. It brought publicity about what was being planned. Gradually more groups became interested and the campaign took off in a limited way – always very limited because Missile Defense is a difficult concept to grasp – it’s out of reach and there is nothing specific to show – no silos with missiles in, or runways or visible signs and it’s all about space. The two SBIRS radomes at Menwith Hill are two of over 30 now and blend in with the rest.

We work with specific Members of Parliament who tirelessly ask questions on Missile Defense and all things concerning US bases. It is important to use the democratic system – however unhealthy – (and it is) - to chip away for information.

Protests continue at both bases. CAAB organises a weekly protest which has been going since the SBIRS radomes were built in 2000. There are a few people each week. The important thing is that it happens – a faithful witness each week to oppose what goes on at Menwith Hill and directed at people who come and go on the base.

The UK government has eroded many of the civil liberties which have been struggled for over centuries. Many draconian laws have been slipped in – involving the right to protest and which particularly affects us at Menwith Hill. Over the years the police have made it harder and harder to protest and we have struggled to keep the weekly protest going. However it does keep going – every week – winter and summer, rain, snow and shine!

Things are quiet at the moment however – concerning Missile Defense. A debate in both Houses of Parliament was eventually allowed. It was hardly a debate however – a Member of Parliament making a statement to oppose Missile Defense and limited questions following. There was no vote. Now the Government can say and does, there has been a debate on Missile Defense. The UK government however are impotent as the true masters are the US government.

But a new era dawns with the arrival of Barack Obama. It’s immensely exciting and a huge global sign of relief - after the dark days of the Bush regime. Barack Obama said good things running up to his election. There are cuts to Missile Defense and he has said that he is not in favour of allowing any more resources until the system is proven. He wants to talk to the Russians – who are deeply upset by Bush’s hopeless policy of silos and radar stations in Poland and the Czech Republic. And he has made overtures to the Iranians – surely the most intelligent way forward – we must give him and his administration a chance.

The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said recently that he was "counting on" the new U.S. administration to live up to its pledge to "reset" relations between the two countries, while a senior Russian diplomat sought to link the fate of a key nuclear arms control treaty to American concessions on missile defense. There is a new tone and it’s encouraging.

What we have to get across is what Mary Beth was talking about this morning. Missile Defense does not work, it costs too much, it creates international tensions and we have to do things differently. The cry always goes up about jobs – jobs for the locals and jobs for the military industrial complex – but as Mary Beth so well articulated – there are jobs to be done – building schools, hospitals, houses, recruiting teachers, jobs crying out to be done.

In the meantime massive and scandalous amounts of money continue to be poured into this crazy system – the military way ahead of the politicians – unaccountable and reaching into the coffers regardless and all this despite the caution by the new President.

Our job, in the UK or whatever part of the world we live where there is a connection with Missile Defense – is to campaign with even more vigor and persistence. We need to make the connections to the fact that we can’t afford Missile Defense and the US can’t afford the web of bases round the world. I understand that people in the US have no idea as to the extent of the US bases empire. In the UK it is the same.

CAAB campaigns for Independence FROM America. We have allowed the UK government to make these decisions behind closed doors – unfettered and unaccountable.

In the UK we have a huge continuing task to keep attention on the issue of Missile Defense and to keep the spotlight on Menwith Hill and Fylingdales. There are, however chinks of light appearing which is encouraging.

It’s increasingly clear that the outcome to the global meltdown could just mean that there is an historical opportunity to order world in a very different way – there is no choice.

Hope is the fuel of human progress. This could be the moment we have been waiting for – a special moment in history. For without justice there can be no peace. We much seize the prize and YES WE CAN!

* 서울 국제 회담 린디스 퍼시 글*

우주의 무기와 핵을 반대하는 모임

대한 민국 서울, 4월 16일-18일

영국에서는 MD에 관련해 어떠한 일들이 일어나고 있습니까?

[Translated by the Peace Network ]

동료 여러분. 저를 이 자리에 초대해 주시고 영국의 MD에 대해서 이야기할 수 있는 자리를 허락해 주셔서 감사합니다. 저는 다음과 같은 구체적인 질문 두가지에 대해 이야기하고자 합니다.

1. 지금 영국에서는 MD에 관련해 어떠한 일들이 일어나고 있습니까?
2. 영국의 대중들은 얼마나 알고 있고 이에 대해 얼마나 항의하고 있습니까?



첫번째 질문에 대한 답을 하기 전에, 현재 영국의 MD 관여 수준에 대한 간략한 설명을 드리겠습니다.

미국 MD 시스템의 중요한 부분을 차지한다고 확인된 기지가 영국에는 두 곳이 있습니다. MD 시스템의 천성상, 아마도 영국에 있는 더 많은 기지들이 MD에 관련되어 있을 것입니다. 그러한 기지들은 현재 공개적으로 확인되지 않았습니다

두 기지는 데이브 웹씨와 제가 살고 있는 잉글랜드 북부의 요크셔주(州)에 위치하고 있습니다. 저는 미국국가안전보장국(National Security Agency)이 Menwith Hill 지역에서 운영하고 있는 정보·감시 기지로부터 8마일 떨어진 곳에 살고 있습니다. ‘Menwith Hill 영국공군’이라고 흔히 불리어지는 이곳을 미국 당국과 그 하부기관들이 차지하고 제어하고 있는 것입니다. 미국 영토 밖에 존재하는 가장 큰 규모의 정보·감시 기지인 이곳은 MD 시스템에 있어 중대한 부분을 담당할 것입니다. 이 기지가 우리가 아는 바대로 작동할까요? 이는 전혀 확실치 않습니다.

또 다른 기지는 미사일 발사를 감지하는 초기경보 기지인 RAF Fylingdales입니다. RAF Fylingdales에서 수집된 정보는 미국과 영국이 공동으로 사용합니다. 작년에는 기지의 레이더 시설을 MD에 대비하여 성능개선 하였습니다.

지금 영국에서는 MD에 관련해 어떠한 일들이 일어나고 있습니까?

1997년에 저희 CAAB는 Menwith Hill이 우주적외선 시스템(SBIRS)을 위한 유럽중계기지로 지정되었다는 사실을 우연히 알게 되었습니다. 그 후로 우리는 반대 운동을 벌여왔고 최근 몇 년 전부터는 더 많은 단체와 개인들이 참여해 주고 있습니다. Menwith Hill에 있는 두 개의 SBIRS 레이돔은 지난 2000년에 건설되었습니다.

2003년 2월 5일, 당시 영국의 국방장관이었던 죠프 훈(Geoff Hoon)은 RAF Fylingdales에 있는 대륙간탄도탄 조기경보시스템을 성능개선하자는 미국의 요청을 영국 정부가 승락한 것에 대해 언급한바 있습니다.

지금까지 의회에서나 공적 영역에서 이루어진 토론들은 그야말로 우스운 수준이며 늘 그렇듯 종속적입니다. 영국 정부는 미국 정부가 조건 사항들을 지시해 주기만을 기다려 왔습니다. 어떠한 의문사항도 없이 영국 정부는 그저 따르겠다는 심산입니다. 흔히 말하는 “특별한 관계”의 상대국으로서 말입니다.

‘특별한 관계에 대하여’(Assessing the Special Relationship)라는 제목의 글을 통해 윌리엄 월러스 상원의원은 “오늘날 미국과 영국 사이의 특별한 관계에는 정치·이념적 상부구조가 있으며 군사·첩보적 하위구조가 이식되어 있다.”라고 말했습니다.

그는 계속하길, “영국의 정치인들과 외교관들이 워싱턴과 특권적인 관계를 맺는 것은 그 정치적인 구조의 하나로 설명할 수 있다. 그들은 영국과 미국의 국익이 긴밀히 일치한다는(또는 그래야 한다는) 인식하에, 또한 서로 공유가치를 갖는다는 감정적인 판단아래 그렇게 해 오고 있다. 그러나 지금은 영국이 이를 통해 어떤 비용을 감당하게 되고 또 어떤 이득을 얻을 것인지에 대해 좀 더 공개적이고 비판적인 토론을 해야 할 때이다.” 라고 하고 있습니다. 실제로 고관들 사이에 일부 비판적인 목소리와 문제제기가 존재해왔습니다.

‘특별한 관계’란 60년 전부터 사용되어온 개념입니다. 이 ‘특별한 관계’로 인해 영국은 이미 역사를 거쳐 구축해 온 미군 기지 네트워크에 더해 이제는 MD까지 받아들이게 되었습니다.

지금으로부터 2년 전인 2007년 7월, 당시 국방장관이 의회에서 성명을 하나 발표했습니다. 영국 정부가 Menwith Hill을 MD로 사용할 수 있도록 허가한다는 발표를 한 그는 기자들에게 질문의 기회도 주지 않았습니다.

가장 최근에 Menwith Hill에서 진행된 개발사업 중에는 기지 하드웨어 기술을 위한 전략적 시설을 확장하는 8백만 파운드짜리 계약이 있습니다. 아직 확실하지는 않지만 아마도 우리는 이것이 MD 계획의 일부라고 생각하고 있습니다. 이 계약을 따낸 기업은 국제 경제 붕괴로 인해 얼마 전 파산 했습니다. 그러나 이 계약을 따내려고 대기하고 있는 기업들은 꽤 많을 것입니다. 최근의 소식은 이 일이 2년 연기되었다는 것입니다.

영국의 대중들은 얼마나 알고 있고 이에 대해 얼마나 항의하고 있습니까?

CAAB는 법을 통해 변화를 가져오는 일에 늘 관여해 왔습니다. 1998년에는 두 개의 SBIRS 레이돔 건설을 중단시키기 위해 런던지방법원(London High Court)에 법적 소송을 했습니다. 거의 일년의 기간 동안 소송을 진행했지만 빌 클린턴이 MD 배치 관련 결정권을 조지 부시에게 넘기면서… 우리는 물러날 수 밖에 없었습니다.

그러나 저희가 MD와 국제법에 대해 알면 알아갈수록 그 소송은 걸만한 가치가 있는 것이었습니다. 왜냐하면 당시 이미 추진되어 가던 계획에 대해 널리 알릴 수 있는 기회가 되었기 때문입니다. 이때부터 점차 더 많은 단체들이 이 문제에 대해 관심을 갖게 되었고 제한적이나마 반대운동이 시작되었습니다. MD 관련 운동이 제한적이 될 수 밖에 없는 이유는 개념 자체가 이해하기 어렵기 때문입니다. 접근하기가 어렵고 사람들에게 뭔가 특별히 보여줄 만한 것이 없습니다. 미사일이 들어 있는 지하 격납고를 보여줄 수도 없는 노릇이고 뭔가 가시적인 표식도 없을뿐더러 모든 내용이 우주에 관련돼 있습니다. Menwith Hill에 있는 두 개의 SBIRS 레이돔은 이제 나머지 30개 중의 일부가 되어버린 상황입니다.

저희는 MD 및 미군기지 문제 전반에 대해 꾸준한 질문을 하고 있는 특정 하원의원들과 협력하고 있습니다. 우리 민주주의가 아무리 병들었다 하더라도 정보들을 모으고 세련하는 일에 민주주의적 체계를 통하는 것은 매우 중요합니다.

현재 양 기지에서 시위가 계속되고 있습니다. CAAB는 지난 2000년 SBIRS 레이돔이 건설되었을 때부터 지금까지 매주 시위를 조직해 왔습니다. 지금도 매주 소수의 사람들이 동참하고 있습니다. 여기서 중요한 것은 계속되고 있다는 것입니다. 이들은 Menwith Hill에서 무슨 일이 진행 중이고 그곳을 들락날락하는 사람들은 대체 무슨 일을 하고 있는 것인지에 대해 매주 충실한 증인이 되어주고 있습니다.

영국 정부는 수세기를 걸쳐 쟁취해온 시민의 자유를 상당부분 훼손시켰습니다. 그간 엄벌주의적 법들이 은근슬쩍 통과되어 왔습니다. 특히 시위의 권리를 제한하는 법은 저희의 활동에 영향을 미치고 있습니다. 지난 몇 년 동안 경찰은 시위하는 것을 점점 더 어렵게 만들었고 우리는 매주 시위가 계속될 수 있도록 더욱 애써 왔습니다. 저희들의 시위는 이런 상황에서도 매주 눈이 오든 비가 오든 계속되고 있습니다!

그러나 요즘은 MD에 관련된 논의가 한산한 상황입니다. 상하 양원에서의 토론은 결국 허용되었습니다만 하원의원 한 명의 MD 반대 성명과 이에 대한 얼마 안 되는 질문만으로는 그걸 토론이라고 할 수 없었습니다. 표결을 한 적도 없습니다. 그런데 이제 정부는 ‘우리는 MD에 관련한 토론을 거쳤다’라고 말할 수 있게 되었고, 실제로 그렇게 말하고 있습니다. 영국 정부는 미국의 종이라도 되는 듯 무능해 보입니다.

하지만 버락 오바마의 등장과 함께 새로운 시대가 열리고 있습니다. 이는 부시 정권의 암울한 시대를 지나 이제는 문제가 풀릴 것이라는 대단히 고무적인 징후입니다. 버락 오바마는 그의 선거기간 중 매우 바람직한 발언을 한 바 있습니다. MD 축소와 함께 그는 MD 시스템이 증명되기 전까지는 더 이상의 자원을 소비하지 않겠다고 밝혔습니다. 폴란드와 체코에 미사일 사일로와 레이더 기지를 설치한 부시의 절망적인 정책으로 인해 매우 화가 나 있는 러시아인들에게 오바마 대통령은 대화를 시도하고 있습니다. 그는 또한 이란인들에게도 대화를 제안했습니다. 더 없이 현명한 결정이 아닐 수 없습니다. 우리는 오바마 대통령과 미국 정부에 기회를 주어야 합니다.

최근 러시아 대통령 드미트리 메드베데프는 미국 정부가 양국의 관계를 ‘재설정’하겠다는 공약을 이행할 것을 ‘기대’한다고 말했습니다. 그런가 하면 핵무기 관리 조약의 운명과 미국의 MD 포기를 연관 짓고자 한 러시아 고위 외교관도 있었습니다. 지금 새로운 분위기가 흐르고 있고 이는 고무적입니다.

오늘 아침 메리 베스씨가 한 이야기를 통해 앞으로 우리가 사람들에게 무엇을 알려나가야 하는지 알 수 있었습니다. MD는 효과가 없고, 비용이 너무 많이 들며, 국제적 긴장을 야기하므로 우리는 뭔가 다른 방법을 취해야 합니다. 이러한 주장들은 늘 현지 일자리 기회나 군산복합체가 창출하는 일자리 등 취업 문제에 관련을 짓고 있습니다. 그러나 메리 베스씨가 정확히 집어낸 것처럼 지금 필요한 사업은 따로 있습니다. 그것은 학교를 짓고 병원을 세우며 주택을 늘리고 교사를 충원하는 등의 사업입니다.

그러는 동안에도 이 광적인 시스템에는 여전히 막대하고도 떳떳하지 못한 돈이 흘러 들어가고 있습니다. 신임 대통령의 경고에도 불구하고 군대가 정치인들에 앞서 국고에 손을 뻗고 있습니다.

영국에서, 아니 MD가 관련된 세상 모든 곳에서 우리가 해야 할 일은 지속적인 반대운동을 더욱 힘써 펼치는 것입니다. 우리는 영국이 MD를 감당할 수 없고, 미국 또한 전 세계에 걸친 관련 기지망을 운영할 수 없다는 사실을 강조할 필요가 있습니다. 미국인들은 ‘기지 제국’의 수준까지는 전혀 알고 있지 않다고 알고 있습니다. 이는 영국인들도 마찬가지입니다.

CAAB는 ‘미국으로부터’ 독립을 얻기 위한 운동을 펼치고 있습니다. 우리는 그 동안 영국 정부가 밀실에 숨어 무책임한 결정들을 제멋대로 내리도록 용인해왔습니다.

영국에서 저희는, 지속적으로 MD 관련 문제에 관심을 놓지 않고 Menwith Hill과 Fylingdales에 항상 시선을 집중해야 한다는 중요한 과제를 가지고 있습니다. 그런데 한 가닥의 빛이 나타나 우리를 격려하고 있습니다.

세계적 경제 붕괴는 바로 지금이 세상을 바꿀 수 있는 역사적인 기회라고 점점 더 확실히 말해주고 있습니다. 다른 선택이 없는 것입니다.

희망은 인간 진보의 연료입니다. 바로 지금이 우리가 기다려온 그 역사적인 순간일 수 있습니다. 정의가 없다면 평화도 없을 것입니다. 우리는 목표를 이뤄야 하고, 이룰 수 있습니다.

Yes, We Can!

Lindis Percy