Military bases

Peace activists from Ofog paint peace signs on the runway at Vidsel air base, which is a part of North European Aerospace Testrange -- an area almost as big as Belgium, that Sweden, Nato and others, are using for war preparations (military exercises).

Police plans to keep non-Swedish activists detained for three days / call for solidarity

170 international peace activists from 17 countries today entered the North European Aerospace Test range in a massive act of nonviolent civil disobedience in the north of Sweden. Some 28 activists have been confirmed as arrested or detained, among them activist from Venezuela, Spain, Germany, UK and Finland. At the end of the day, police kept ten non-Swedish activists detained, and interrogated them at the police station of Lulea.

On 26 July, more than 200 peace activists from 17 countries took part in an international nonviolent action at NEAT near Lulea in the north of Sweden. About 150 entered a "prohibited area" of the military training ground (see main text), and 28 were detained - most of them only for a short time. However, ten non-Swedish activists are being kept, and it is feared that they will remain under detention for 72 hours.

International solidarity is a powerful force. We therefore call for international solidarity for the remaining detainees in Lulea, Sweden.

Over 150 peace activist from 17 countries will take action against the military training area NEAT in northern Sweden on Tuesday (26 July).

"NEAT is used by NATO to fine tune their unmanned aircraft for assignations.  They transform murder into a click on a computer screen" said Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer from the USA.

Agneta Norberg

A military exercise area for war in northern Sweden, a commercially independent but politically very hot area where the US and NATO countries are testing their weapon systems on previously neutral, but now only “alliance-used” land. The exercises also disturb the residents in neighbouring areas, and occur without regard to the UN Indigenous Rights Declaration.

This is the newsletter for the international actioncamp War starts here in Luleå, Sweden, 22-29th of July 2011

Contents

1. Camping for Peace
2. Programme for the week
3. Working groups at the camp

1. Camping for Peace

The location for the camp site during War starts here is now booked. At the camp there will be plenty of room for tents, and for those who want a real bed to sleep in there are cottages and double rooms.

This is the newsletter for the international actioncamp War starts here in Luleå, Sweden, 22-29th of July 2011

Content

1. Inspiration for the peacecamp - more pink actions!
2. The Incredible Peace Machine
3. The Swedish War Map
4. Portraits of Resistance
5. Posters and newspapers - help us spread them
6. More and more people tell us they're coming

1. Inspiration for the peace camp - more pink actions!

This is the newsletter for the international action camp War starts here in Luleå, Sweden, 22-29th of July 2011

Content Mass action 26th of july - come and expose the war industries! Transport Volountary donation for the camp Alcohol Policy Languages 1. Mass action July 26th - Come and expose the war industries!

Luleå, Sweden
Thursday, 27 July 2011

Free detained activists!

War Resisters' International is calling for the release of ten activists who were detained by Swedish police during the “War Starts Here” nonviolent action at the North European Aerospace Testing Area (NEAT) near Vidsel, Sweden. The test site – covering an area the size of Belgium – is used for testing a range of innovative weapons, including planes, missiles and “drones” (remotely piloted weapons). Despite its size, NEAT is a little known site – even in Sweden – yet plays a crucial role in multi-national preparations for war.

WRI Council meeting & ofog/WRI seminar, and action camp in Luleå, Sweden, 19-29 July 2011

WRI/ofog Seminar and WRI Council meeting in Luleå, Sweden

This year's WRI Council meeting will take place from 19-21 July 2011 in Luleå, in the very north of Sweden. The Council meeting itself is part of a seminar and action camp under the title "War Starts Here", organised by WRI's new Swedish affiliate ofog. The camp and seminar will begin on 22 July, and last until 29 July.

This is a newsletter for the international peacecamp “War starts here” in Luleå, Sweden the 22nd to 29th of july 2011.

Content

1. Military tank painted pink
2. Show your support
3. Join the resistance
4. Register to aid preparations and planning
5. The mobilisation continues