Nonviolence Czechoslovakia – 2008-03-23 22:15:14
http://www.nonviolence.cz
Petition against Czech Missile Bases
(March 18, 2008) — Hi Dept of Peace friends, my humanist Czech friends have been organizing alot of incredible activity around the US missile base plans in their country — it’s the No to the Bases campaign (perhaps some of you have heard of it). More than 80% of Czechs reject the Bases plan, but the government refuses to hold a referendum on the issue.
I would really appreciate it (as would they) if you could please sign the online petition against the installation of new US Bases in the Czech Republic and send it to your friends and other organizations. Jan Tamas, the spokesperson for the Campaign was in the US last week, and met with Chomsky who endorses the campaign, as does Gorbachev and many others.
cheers,
Roberto Verdecchia
Humanist Movement – info@europeforpeace.eu
http://www.nonviolence.cz
Online Petition.
Help us reach 500,000 signatures!
• Sign petition at:http://petice.nenasili.cz/?lang=en
The Letter
“I do not agree with the installation of a US military base on Czech Republic territory, as part of their NMD (National Missile Defense) project. The implementation of this project is increasing international tensions, generating a new arms race and is the first step towards the militarization and control of space.
Since more than two thirds of the Czech population are against this project, I think it is only fair that the Czech people have the right to decide on such an important question by means of a referendum.”
Mikhail Gorbachev
Dear friends
(March 16, 2008) — I welcome your initiative to draw attention of the European public to the danger of return of Nuclear threat to the European soil.
In this year that marks the 20th annivesary of the signature of the historic INF Treaty that eliminated the extremely dangerous US and Soviet euromoissiles from the continent it is important to remain vigilant and actively resist any plans of making Europe once again hostage to the fear and prejudice characteristic of the Cold War
Noam Chomsky
(March 19, 2008) — The installation of a missile defense system in Eastern Europe is, virtually, a declaration of war.
Simply imagine how the US would react if Russia or China or Iran or in fact any foreign power dared even to think about placing a missile defense system at or near the borders of the US, let alone carrying out such plans. In these unimaginable circumstancse, a violent US reaction would be not only almost certain but also understandable. for reasons that are simple and clear.
It is well known on all sides that missile defense is a first strike weapon. Respected US military analysts describe missile defense as “not simply a shield but an enabler of U.S. action.” It “will facilitate the more effective application of U.S. military power abroad.” “By insulating the homeland from reprisal, [missile defense] will underwrite the capacity and willingness of the United States to ‘shape’ the environment elsewhere.”
“Missile defense isn’t really meant to protect America. It’s a tool for global dominance.” “Missile defense is about preserving America’s ability to wield power abroad. It’s not about defense. It’s about offense. And that’s exactly why we need it.” All quotes, from respected liberal and mainstream sources — who favor developing the system and placing it at the remote limits of US global dominance.
The logic is simple, and well understood. A functioning missile defense system informs potential targets that “we will attack you as we please, and you will not be able to retaliate, so you cannot deter us.” The system is being marketed to Europeans as a defense against Iranian missiles.
Even if Iran had nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, the chances of its using them to attack Europe are lower than the chances of Europe being hit by an asteroid, so if defense is the reason, Czech Republic should be installing a system to defend the country from asteroids.
If Iran were to indicate even the slightest attention of such a move, the country would be vaporized. The system is indeed aimed at Iran, but as a first strike weapon. It is a component of the escalating US threats to attack Iran, threats that are in themselves a serious violation of the UN Charter, though admittedly this issue does not arise in outlaw states.
When Gorbachev agreed to allow a unified Germany to join a hostile military alliance, he was accepting a very severe threat to Russian security, for reasons too familiar to review. In return, the US government made a firm pledge not to expand NATO to the East. The pledge was violated a few years later, arousing little comment in the West, but raising the threat of military confrontation. So-called “missile defense” ratchets the threat of war a few notches higher.
The “defense” it provides is to increase the threat of aggression in the Middle East, with incalculable consequences, and the threat of terminal nuclear war.
Over half a century ago, Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein issued an extraordinary appeal to the people of the world, warning them that they face a choice that is “stark and dreadful and inescapable: Shall we put an end to the human race; or shall mankind renounce war?” Accepting a so-called “missile defense system” makes that choice, in favor of an end to the human race, perhaps in the not-too-distant future.
No Star Wars Campaign
Dear friend,
In April the Czech Parliament will have to take a stand about the construction of a US military base and probably it will vote in favour of its installation, even though 70% of the population opposes this plan.Given the urgency of the situation, we have launched an on-line petition to exert pressure on the Parliament and ask that the matter be resolved with a referendum.
The NMD project of the United States – their national missile defense system, is a very complex project which involves the production of new weapons, and the installation of American military bases in different parts of the planet. In particular, in Europe, the first step is the installation of a radar system in the Czech Republic, and a base for interceptor missiles in Poland.
This plan has divided Europe, which at the moment is not able to give a united, coherent and nonviolent response to the United States’ aggressive policies. The reaction of Russia and China has created a “cold war” atmosphere. International tensions are increasing, and the crazy arms race (both conventional and nuclear) has restarted. Above all, the bases are being installed to militarize and control space.
The majority of Czechs do not want foreign military bases on their territory.The majority of Czechs want to decide these problems themselves by means of a referendum: a fundamental instrument of any democracy.
You are being asked to support our nonviolent protest!This plan does not involve only us Czechs, but the whole of Europe and the whole world.
Sign our on-line petition, and pass it on to your friends!
Send us your messages of support!Help us collect a million signatures!
Jan Tamáš
Non-violent Movement against US bases in Czech Republic
Dana Feminová
Europe for Peace www.nonviolence.cz
Declaration
The NMD project of the United States – their national missile defense system, is a very complex project which involves the production of new weapons, and the installation of US military bases in different parts of the planet. In particular, in Europe, the first step is the installation of a radar system in the Czech Republic, as well as a base for interceptor missiles in Poland.
This plan has divided Europe, which at the moment is not able to give a united, coherent and nonviolent response to the United States’ aggressive policies. The reaction of Russia and China has created a “cold war” atmosphere.
International tensions are increasing, and the crazy arms race (both conventional and nuclear) has restarted. Above all, the bases are being installed to militarize and control space. More than two thirds of the Czech population are against the presence of United States military on Czech territory. Despite this, the Czech and US governments are continuing the negotiations which are, by now, reaching their concluding phase.
The Czech people will declare that any contract that the Czech government may sign with the US Government concerning the project to install US military bases on Czech territory will have no legal value. And so the Czech people will not feel in any way bound to any type of commitment. The formal respect for laws passed in Parliament by a relative majority is not enough to be considered as real democracy. When a Government takes a decision which clearly goes against the will of a majority of its citizens, it is not respecting either the spirit or deepest essence of democracy.
The US government must clearly understand that it is not carrying out a dialogue with the Czech people, but with a minority that does not represent the will of the majority of Czech citizens. For this reason, any agreement will have no legal value.
Our American friends must clearly understand that their government’s policies are generating a widespread feeling of “anti-Americanism” which was not present before in Czech culture, and in this way, their aggressive policies will only turn against them. We know that a nonviolent action to boycott American products has already begun, and that this phenomenon could quickly spread beyond the boundaries of the Czech Republic.
The majority of Czechs do not want foreign military bases on their territory.
The majority of Czechs want to decide these problems themselves by means of a referendum: a fundamental instrument of any democracy.
• Jan Tamáš
Nonviolent Movement against US bases in the Czech Republic
• Dana Feminová
Europe For Peace
