July 4th 2000 - Independence from America Day at Menwith Hill

INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA DAY
SAY NO to STAR WARS!
Tuesday July 4 2000

A peaceful non-violent demonstration at
MENWITH HILL - U Spy Base
8 am - 4pm

Organised by the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) and Yorkshire CND.

The American national Security Agency at Menwith Hill is the world's largest spy base. It already taps into all telecommunications including telephone calls, faxes and email from UK, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and former Soviet Union.

This year the base is due to become part of a mssive new US surveillance system monitoring earth from outer space to protect the United States.

Menwith Hill has been designated as the European Ground Relay Station for the SPACE BASED INFRA RED SYSTEM (SBIRS) which will be a crucial part of the new American National Missile Defence System - todays's version of Ronald Reagans' STAR WARS and the start of a new nuclear arms race. The US intend to dominate space for their own interests. There is a huge development under construction. Two SBIRS radomes are nearly complete.

'Star Wars' at Menwith Hill puts all our security at risk.

Please come to Menwith Hill on July 4th with your voice and your protest.
Make it clear we DON'T want Star Wars in the UK - we DO want Independence from America.

Information for the day

Anyone is welcome to join the demonstration. It is very important that this demonstration is peaceful and nonviolent and we request that this is respected.

The security fence is now alarmed and the CCTV cameras are working.

We ask you to be self sufficient with food, clothes, games and banners or whatever you would like to do.

We will provide legal support for those who get arrested.

Stewards will have information and they will also be available to help.

There will be an information point near the Main Gate that will have up to date information, first aid, rubbish bags etc.

We want you to enjoy the demonstration.

Programme for the day

CAAB will be at the Main Entrance from start at 7.30 am onwards. The police will probably ask us to park on Forest Moor Road, which is near the Main Gate or in the layby on the A59 towards Harrogate, from where you will need to walk on the road along the length of the base. You can meet up with others at the Main Gate.

At 12.30 pm join in the Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence from America which will then be handed in to the base authorities.

The walk from NSA Menwith Hill to Fylingdales will depart at 2.30 pm - join in too for a while or a day.

Protest in whatever way you feel moved throughout the day - inside or outside the base!

Half an hour of singing and 'noise making' at the main gate at 3.30 pm and then the demo will end at 4.0 pm - stay on to protest when the flags come down later.

Activities throughout the afternoon - whatever you want to do! For example:

Fence decorating and kite flying
Help to leaflet the people going into the base
Walking onto the base (may involve arrest, please see the legal briefing)
Picnicing inside or outside the base or taking a walk round the base

What to bring with you:

Kites
Picnic food
Drums/musical instruments/songs
Banners/flags
Star Wars costumes

Please take some time beforehand to publicise the demonstration and the fact that you (and your friends) are going.

Safety

Menwith Hill is surrounded by four busy roads, and the traffic moves very fast, so please take lots of care when walking around the base or standing near the main gate. Please make sure you are visible, with banners and bright clothes. Peace camp corner, towards Forest Moor has some space where you can sit off the road, and the footpaths across the sports field and across the orchid field are also off the road – the sports field has walls at either end of the footpath.

Getting to Menwith Hill

Menwith is North of Leeds and Otley. It is on the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton, and the B6451 goes along one side. If you travel from Harrogate or Skipton on the A59you will see the Menwith Hill 'golfballs'. Just turn off the main road and follow the roads to the Main Gate. If you travel from Otley take the B6451 north. (see map). Park on Forest Moor Road and walk to the Main Gate. If you have transport enquiries contact Yorkshire CND - tel: 01274 730795.

Please remember that the fields and farmland inside and around the base are farmer’s land.

PLEASE RESPECT THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE.

Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work.
Guard against all risk of fire.
Fasten all gates.
Keep your dogs under close control.
Keep to public paths across farmland.
Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls.
Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone.
Take your litter home.
Help keep all water clean.
Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
Take special care on country roads.
Make no unnecessary noise.

Produced by Yorkshire CND and CAAB, June 2000.

Contact:
CAAB, 8 Park Row, OTLEY, LS21 1HQ Tel/fax: 01943 466405 or 01482 702033 Email: caab.lindis_anni@virgin.net Web:www.gn.apc.org/cndyorks/caab
Yorkshire CND, 22 Edmund Street, Bradford, BD5 0BH. Tel: 01274 730795 Fax: 01274 414413 Email:cndyorks@gn.apc.org web:www.gn.apc.org/cndyorks