The last month has seen a wave of practical protest in Britain, targeting and interfering with the military/industrial system which wants to take us to war. 500 ‘civilian inspectors’ turned up at the USAF base in Fairford, broke down the main gate and entered the site to tell the US air force where to go. ’A ‘civilian weapons inspection’ also took place at the huge BAE Systems factory in Glascoed, South Wales on March 1. Despite the efforts of security, police and 1 arrest, people broke into sensitive parts of the complex and made a proper nuisance of themselves. The factory produces many kinds of weapons which make people just as dead as ‘weapons of mass destruction’ do, including bullets and depleted uranium shells. Britain’s own WMDs were highlighted by Midlands campaigners who closed the Rolls Royce site at Derby for an hour by locking themselves to the gates. The company makes components for nuclear submarines and all the 7 arrested were released without charge.

A Tornado plane was wrecked by a Ploughshares activist at RAF Leuchars and RAF Lakenheath was invaded by a small number of protesters on the 11th. In Ireland activists have been breaking into the Shannon air base and damaging planes used for transporting US military gear. Most of these flights have been diverted as a result.
Esso took a hammering on February 24 when anti-war campaigners and environmentalists joined forces to close up to 120 petrol stations around the UK, including the North West. Pumps were disabled and small teams locked themselves together in the way of cars. With continued pro-oil lobbying in the US, Esso will share the guilt for any future US atrocities in the Middle East. The company also has a horrendous record for its treatment of the environment and people.
The latest demo blocked main roads in Manchester on the 18th. More actions are planned and more have yet to be thought up. As a campaigner said ‘if they can ignore massive, well behaved demonstrations then we will have to physically get in the way of the war machine.’