Nukewatch

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Nukewatch Delegation to International Week – Day 4 – July 17, 2017

All photos by Zara Brown, member of the US delegation, unless otherwise noted.

We shall not be moved. The international delegation took over an entrance to the Base as a police van approached.

 

“Oberstleutnant” Gregor Schlemmer, commander of the Buchel Air Base, Germany, was prompted to address the street blockade and accepted a copy of the newly adopted UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons from Sister Ardeth Platte, O.P., of Baltimore Maryland. (Photo by Marion Küpker)
The blockade sat down reinforcing their position.
The blockade was removed one by one, just as they had practiced in the non-violence training the day before. (Photo by Marion Küpker)
One by one. (Photo by Marion Küpker)
You are the last one. Are you going to leave peacefully or do we have to haul you out too? (Photo by Marion Küpker)
I will not cooperate in your defense of nuclear weapons. (Photo by Marion Küpker)
Police lined the blockade, which formed again alongside the Base entrance.
Photo by Marion Küpker.
These five got farther into the supposedly high-security base than any others had managed to in two decades of “go-in” protests here. They crossed lighted fields and roads, tramped noisily through several woodlots, clipped through four chain-link fences, and climbed atop a huge weapons bunker that may have contained nuclear weapons — all without being detected. (Photo by Ralph Hutchison) Read more about their action.

To view more of Zara Brown’s pictures from Day 4 click here.

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Nukewatch Delegation to International Week – Day 3 – July 16, 2017

All photos by Zara Brown, member of the US delegation, unless otherwise noted.

Leona Morgan of Diné No Nukes and Carol Gilbert, OP at the gates to the Büchel Air Force Base.
On Sunday the 16th, a pair of firsts was accomplished when a group of 50 protesters, accompanied by photographers and reporters, walked through the same gate and toward a “hardened” steel inner gate which was for the first time anyone could remember left inexplicably unlocked. At least 30 of us traipsed through the open steel door, fanned out, and began inspecting the otherwise exclusively military surroundings and their gaudy display of three retired war planes on pedestals.
Come on in! (Photo by Marion Küpker)

Susan Crane and I took up an idea from Sister Carol, and lowered the US flag. It had occupied a position superior to Germany’s, even at this German base. Having had a lot of experience with flags as a former Boy Scout, the task was done in a blink. But when Susan asked me, “Now what do we do with it?” I had to admit, “I don’t have a lighter,” and could only shout to the other “go-in” activists: “US out of Germany!” (There are some 50,000 US military personnel still occupying the country, 28 years after the end of the Cold War and 72 years after the end of World War II.) Our hosts told us later that no one in Germany would dare to take down the US flag for all the accusations of “anti-Americanism” that would result. Peace activists get called enough names as it is. -JL

The Dutch activists, most of them from the Amsterdam Catholic Worker, had gotten exactly what they wanted: to place loaves of “bread not bombs!” — as the old peace slogan goes — around the old “gods of metal.”
Bread not Bombs! (Photo by Marion Küpker)

To see more of Zara Brown’s photos from Day 3 click here.

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Nukewatch Delegation to International Week – Day 2 – July 15, 2017

All photos by Zara Brown, member of the US delegation.

On the second day of International Week local supporters of the campaign gathered for the musical event, Wake Up Call Germany!

“Radio-activists” performed some theatrical “early warnings” at the main gate Saturday morning.
Konstantin Wecker (left) and Marion Kuepker (far right) joined in opening the concert.
Concert- goers gathered in the afternoon for the musical event Wake Up Call: Music Not Bombs.
Marion Kuepker, international coordinator for DFG-VK and peace camp organizer, moderated the concert gathering.

Renowned singer/ songwriter Konstantin Wecker performed and read some original poetry.

 

Susan Crane and other members of the US delegation, spoke from the stage about their work for nuclear weapons abolition.
Carmella Cole and Ralph Hutchinson of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance spoke about the Y12 nuclear bomb plant. See video of their talk here.
Nicole Mercier performed in solidarity with the encampment.
Sr. Ardeth Platte, OP spoke of her participation in UN nuclear weapons treaty ban negotiations.
Sr. Carol Gilbert, OP also spoke about the successful adoption of the UN nuclear weapons treaty ban.
Members of the Youth International Work Camp representing Mexico, Russia, Germany and China spoke from the stage.
Steve Baggarly of Norfolk, Virginia Catholic Worker spoke about the Catholic Worker commitment to nonviolent anti-militarism.
Bonnie Urfer, board member and former longtime staffer of Nukewatch spoke about the long prison terms given to US nuclear weapons resisters.
Mohammed Koshary, recent refugee to Germany from Syria, performed freedom songs.
Leona Morgan of Diné No Nukes spoke about the impact of the nuclear chain on indigenous lands and population around the world.
John LaForge of Nukewatch spoke about the mental illness of becoming comfortable with nuclear weapons.
Info tables made a part of Sunday’s concert gathering and demonstration.

To see more of Zara Brown’s pictures from Day 2 click here.

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Nukewatch Delegation to International Week – Day 1 – July 14, 2017

All photos by Zara Brown, member of the US delegation, unless otherwise noted.

Our photographer Zara Brown in action. (Photo by Marion Küpker)
At the peace camp near Büchel Air Base in Germany July 14, international campaign coordinator Marion Küpker, of Hamburg, Germany, explains some protest history and the likely consequences of civil resistance at the base during “International Week.” “Büchel is Everywhere: Nuclear Disarmament Now!” is the theme of this year’s 20-week-long camp.
US delegation and German colleagues visited the base’s nine entrance gates. Photo by John LaForge.
US delegation and German colleagues visited the bases nine entrance gates.
Steve Baggarly of the Norfolk, Virginia Catholic Worker, and Leona Morgan of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Diné No Nukes at one of the gates into Büchel Air Base in Germany. A delegation of 11 from the United States joined “International Week” at a peace camp near the base focused on the illegal B61 hydrogen bombs deployed by the US Air Force there.

Banners adorn the road approaching the base’s main gate. “DFG-VK” is the oldest peace organization in Germany, this year celebrating its 125th anniversary.
Susan Crane of the Redwood City, CA Catholic Worker and John LaForge of Nukewatch walked into the base test the response of the German authorities.
Susan and John had a long conversation with base guards and later civilian police investigators (in shorts) demanded that they leave.
(Panavia) Tornado jet fighter bombers scream overhead disturbing the otherwise bucolic atmosphere. Jets like these pictured make regular test flights from the base.
Civilian police were called in to remove Susan and John.
Susan Crane was hauled away after refusing to leave.

To view more of Zara Brown’s photos from Day 1 click here.

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