Report of European Network for Peace and Human Rights
January 31st - February 1st 2002
Brussels

Report on Workshop 2
The threat of star wars and how we can stop it

Chairs: Pernille Frahm MEP and Dave Knight
Animators: Dave Webb, Martin Broek, Dave Knight, Regina Hagen
Rapporteur: Rachel Julian

Topics covered:

1. What does US Space Command mean by "Full Spectrum Dominance" - how does this relate to the further militarisation of space?
2. Since the retreat on the ABMT - how do we maintain momentum for nuclear disarmament - what are the main aspects of "Full Spectrum Resistance"?
3. What is the relevance of nuclear-free zones, NPT and other restraints on Nuclear Weapons?
4. What are the implications for European countries with "Missile Defence" sites?
5. The experience of and scope for links between protests in Europe and further afield.
6. Is there still a meaning for a European nuclear-free zone?
7. The effects of Full Spectrum Dominance on subordinate allies?
   a) relations between NATO and Russia
   b) relations within NATO in the light of the military dimension of the EU
8. What is the significance of the recent upgrade of the BMDO to a Missile Defense Agency?
9. What is the role and power of the aerospace corporations ?
   a) NATO efforts
   b) Smaller projects
   c) Arms trade and defence industry
   d) Opposition from anti arms trade and defence industry angle
10. What are the implications for China, India and Pakistan and the Middle East?
11. What relevant treaties still exist and/or have been proposed?
12. What powers/influence does the EU parliament have?

Summary

This was a very interesting and informative workshop with valuable and substantial presentations and proposals. Three major points emerged from the discussion:

• The issues of primary missile defence and nuclear weapons are inseparable
• Missile defence leads to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and is a very destabilising force in the world, in particular for the international nuclear disarmament process
• Missile defence is just one step towards the US Space Command's desire for the control and domination of space and to Full Spectrum Dominance
• Missile defence is an offensive, not defensive system.

Star Wars sites in Europe

During the presentations it was made clear that Missile Defence sites in Europe are challenging the sovereignty of the countries in which they are situated. Denmark eventually gave away the land that the Thule Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar System (to be upgraded for Star Wars) covers in the 1950s. The Inuit population who were removed from the site are now fighting in court to be allowed to return - there are legal precedents that suggest that there is a chance they can win this case and we must closely follow the outcome. In the UK the work continues to highlight how the US military at the Star Wars bases in Yorkshire at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales can and do act outside UK law and indeed may be immune to UK legal actions. A legal writ was taken out (later dropped for a number of reasons) to try and prevent the building of Star Wars at Menwith Hill because it was against several International Treaties that the UK was either signatory to (i.e. the Outer Space Treaty, the Non-Proliferation Treaty) or should support in principle (the ABM Treaty). It is intended that other writs will be taken out against the US and UK governments/military if and when Fylingdales and Menwith Hill are further developed to take an integral role in Star Wars.

Role of the EU

Representatives and decision makers in Parliament, Council and Commission should be continuously informed and lobbied. The EU can play an important role in

• 'de-rogueing' N. Korea and other 'states of concern' targeted by the US
• developing Nuclear Weapons Free Zones

It is clear that we need a new way of thinking about what we mean by security - a new security architecture needs to be developed to include 'Security Risk Assessments' in the same way that Environmental Risk Assessments have been developed

The EU is itself developing Missile Defence systems. Therefore we must campaign against these developments as well as US plans. With this in mind we should be aware that there are many arms companies and contractors in the EU that are working for US missile defence projects. The European Aeronautic, Defence and Space organisation is also playing an important role - there is an opportunity here for shareholders actions and pressure from the nations involved. It is important to keep an eye on which missile defence systems or components NATO develops.

The US Space Command recognises that it needs to form 'global partnerships' with its allies as part of 'Full Spectrum Dominance'. It is not keen however for the EU to develop its own systems (e.g. the Galileo GPS system).

We must monitor and input into any new security policies developed by the EU. Russia must be involved in any European security policy. A new military-industrial complex must not be allowed to develop in Europe.

The United Nations

Again, we need to influence our delegations to push for PAROS (Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space).

There are existing International Treaties we can use now:

• The Outer Space Treaty - bans weapons of mass destruction in outer space and ensures freedom of access to space for all nations;
• The Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty - will fall in June 2002 if the US does withdraw;
• The Partial Test Ban Treaty - prohibits nuclear explosions in space;
• Interim agreement to START I (ratified) - prohibits the disruption of satellites;
• Interim agreement to STARTII (not in force) - prohibits nuclear systems in a partial orbit;
• International Telecommunications Convention - limit the disruption of radio signals (i.e. jamming).

A major priority must be to work towards a full Space Weapons Ban and a Nuclear Weapons Convention.

We also need to develop trust among peoples and nations and support and promote policies that aim to do this.

The media

Strengthening independent media and training campaigners to write material for the mainstream media would be valuable in building opposition to US policies.

The Future

We need to work to make missile defence and nuclear weapons 'taboo'.

The peace movement must devote more time to the militarisation of space - we need to look 5, 10, 20 years to the future when the US aims to have 'Full Spectrum Dominance'.

We need to employ 'Full Spectrum Resistance' - resistance at all levels (political lobbying, legal and environmental challenges, non-violent direct action, mass protests etc) to prevent global domination by the US military.

Action points

With the above in mind we propose the following three action points to the Network:

1. That the German Initiative: "An Appeal for Missile disarmament" be extended to all European Countries. The appeal, which has already been signed by 8,000 people in Germany can be translated, updated and distributed for the collection of signatures from individuals, organisations and municipalities. We propose that the first wave of signatures be handed into national governments on the day the ABM treaty falls.



2. We must link together military and economic domination, Full Spectrum Dominance, and the security paradigm - that includes missile defence and nuclear weapons - and then proceed to describe the alternatives - a vision and security regime that provides for people and not for the military. We must make it clear what we want the future to be and how we can achieve it. It must be made strongly argued by the Network that the EU must not be aiming to act as an alternative superpower to the US.



3. There must be Full Spectrum Resistance against missile defence and nuclear weapons. This must include all elements of campaigning: e.g. education, shareholder action, research of health and environmental effects, hearings in the EU and UN, promote NVDA, strengthen the media, put resolutions to municipalities, information to decision makers and elected representatives. Existing networks must be tightened, strengthen and worked with to avoid duplication and competition and take advantage of existing experience, skills and resources. We propose that the October 5-12^th 2002 Week of Protest and Education Against Missile Defence be a focus for groups

 
List of web pages
www.a2000.org
www.wagingpeace.org
www.reachingcriticalwill.org
www.space4peace.org
www.inesap.org
www.mbmd.org
www.ippnw.org
www.lcnp.org
www.yorkshirecnd.org.uk