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MONDAY 18 JUNE, 7.30AM - NOON There will be a non-violent protest at MOD procurement centre, Filton Abbeywood, Bristol against the procurement and use of weapons causing sickness, death and genetic damage to civilian populations and long-term contamination of the environment. We will also be protesting against the continued bombing of Iraq and consequences of strategic bombing to civilian life i.e. to enhance the effect of sanctions. Pre-action meeting on 17th June, at 6.30pm, at 56 Ashley Road, St Pauls, Bristol. For further information tel: 0117 954 0564 or e-mail daamdu@c4.com ACTION STATEMENT We are taking this action because we feel bound by conscience and international law to oppose the government's procurement and use of weapons which contravene humanitarian rules of war. Weapons such as the Trident Missile System, depleted uranium weapons, thermobaric weapons, laser weapons and cluster bombs all fail the following tests: 1. Weapons may not have an adverse effect off the field of battle. 2. Weapons should not remain active after the duration of armed conflict. 3. Weapons may not be unduly inhumane. 4. Weapons may not have a negative and long term effect on the environment. We are appalled that hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel are suffering trauma, sickness and death as a result of the actions of the British government and NATO in general. Many of these victims are children, many unborn at the time of conflict. The majority are being denied necessary testing and health care. We believe that the armed interventions of successive British governments since 1990, in Iraq, the Balkans and Sierra Leone, have not been in defence of democratic or humanitarian principles, but in defence of strategic resources and markets for the corporate world. This is an abuse of our armed forces, public money and civilian life. We believe that in the continued bombing of Iraq, the British government is in violation of the cease fire established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, 3 April 1991. It also violates this resolution by continued arms sales to the Middle East and failing to call for a nuclear free zone. UN Vote The United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities voted a resolution which included the following: ..."Convinced that the production, sale and use of such weapons are incompatible with international human rights and humanitarian law, ..."Urged all States to be guided in their national policies by the need to curb the production and the spread of weapons of mass destruction or with indiscriminate effect, in particular nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, fuel-air bombs, napalm, cluster bombs, biological weaponry and weaponry containing depleted uranium." 29 August 1996. Adopted by 15 votes to 1 (the US). -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk