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Activists Occupy Lockheed
Martin in Brussels
BY FOR MOTHER EARTH
Belgium Indymedia
Feb. 22, 2005
This morning a group of 13 anti-nuclear
activists occupied the European headquarters of US arms manufacturer Lockheed
Martin, in Brussels, in protest against the company’s close links with the Bush
government, and specifically its production of nuclear weapons and weapons used
in the war against Iraq. The activists, who all wore masks with the face of
George Bush, disrupted the working of the office for 35 minutes. The action was
timed to coincide with the visit of US President George W. Bush to Brussels.
At around 9am, activists entered the office building on Chaussée de la Hulpe,
where Lockheed Martin has its main European sales office. A large international
samba band, all wearing Bush masks, played loud music in the main lobby of the
building while other activists entered the offices of Lockheed Martin and
interviewed employees about the links between the company and the Bush regime.
The action was organised by For Mother Earth, a member of the Friends of the
Earth International network, with the support of JNM (Jeugdbond voor Natuur en
Milieu).
Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest defense contractor, and is responsible
for the production of Trident nuclear missiles deployed by both the United
States and Britain. Each of these missiles can carry nuclear weapons with a
destructive power equivalent to 60 Hiroshima bombs. In 1996, the International
Court of Justice in The Hague declared that the threat or use of nuclear weapons
would generally be illegal under the principles of international humanitarian
law.
The company also supplied weapons used in the war against Iraq,
including the F-117
Stealth fighters used in the “Shock and Awe” bombardment of Baghdad which caused
many civilian deaths.
The company has close links with the US government. It has played a leading role
in lobbying for increased defense spending after the terrorist attacks on Sept.
11, 2001. It has donated over $1 million to members of the US government
committees responsible for awarding defence contracts, and in return has been
rewarded with orders from the US federal government that are worth $65 million
per day. As well
as clear financial links, there is also a “revolving door” between the company
and the Bush administration, with personnel working for Lockheed Martin moving
to the Pentagon, and vice-versa.
The company sells weapons to oppressive regimes such as Israel and Saudi Arabia,
and the company has a long history of using corruption and bribery to achieve
lucrative deals. It has also been active in lobbying for increased defence
spending within the European Union.
Stephan Price, a campaigner with For Mother Earth said: “When President Bush
comes to Europe to encourage NATO and European Union governments to increase
their arms spending by joining the so-called war on terror, it is clear that
Lockheed Martin will be one of the big winners. The company is openly pushing
for greater spending on arms in the US and Europe, and acting in a highly
immoral way by supplying these deadly weapons. It is also acting illegally. As a
nuclear weapon producer, Lockheed Martin is involved in the preparations for war
crimes and crimes against humanity. We have visited the European headquarters of
Lockheed Martin this morning to give a clear signal that they cannot continue
this work unhindered.”
Background information on
Lockheed Martin, including details of bribery and corruption:
http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair01222005.html
Involvement in lobbying for increased defense spending:
http://www.corporateeurope.org/ebs2004.html
Financial contributions to
US politicians: http://www.opensecrets.org
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Posted by Bulatlat
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© 2004 Bulatlat
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