Review 2016: "20 action weeks against 20 nuclear bombs"

20 weeks of action at the Büchel nuclear base

 

Twenty weeks for twenty bombs – starting March 26*, 2016 (until August 9th), groups and individuals will hold vigils and other kinds of non-violent direct action at the gates of the Büchel nuclear base. Each group or person can choose a week in which they will undertake to organise actions on one day or more at the base. It can also be agreed to divide a week between more than one group. Supporting actions in other places in your region are also welcome!

*26 March 2010 cross-party motion calling on the government to work towards a withdrawal of nuclear weapons!

 

After their action, groups are invited to install a symbol of their choice on a piece of ground near the base. This can be a peace, religious or women's symbol, for instance.

 

Infrastructure

 

There are various places to stay nearby to Büchel, according to each person's needs. There will also be an office and a contact person nearby. All groups wanting to take part in the weeks of action should enter their preferred dates in the calendar to be found here:  http://buechel-atombombenfrei.jimdo.com/kalender/

 

Agreed framework for action:

 

When we take part in non-violent direct action, we will not use or threaten to use physical violence against any person, especially in situations where violence is being used against us. No participant in the action should hold another person against their will, push them or injure them in any way. We do not want to behave insultingly or humiliate others, rather we wish to treat others (e.g. police, soldiers, those opposing our action) with respect, despite the fact that we may be critical of the actions they take, due to their role in society. This also remains valid should it come to legal proceedings as a result of our action, during which we will naturally behave with solidarity towards one another. The complete agreed framework for action can be found on our homepage in German.

 

The Büchel nuclear base

 

The German air force base Büchel is in Rheinland-Pfalz, in the „Vulkaneifel“, a few miles away from the tourist centre of Cochem on the Mosel river. Twenty US nuclear bombs are deployed in Büchel. They are stored operationally ready for use for the moment when the order comes from NATO, as part of the nuclear sharing agreement. Then German pilots will take off in Tornado fighter planes with US nuclear bombs on board and drop them on their targets. These weapons of mass destruction are planned to be replaced by expensive, new, precision-guided US nuclear weapons by 2024.

 

This is despite the fact that the Bundestag took a cross-party decision on March 26, 2010, to call on the government to have these nuclear bombs withdrawn.

 

War in Syria

 

Büchel air base is not just used for „defence” and nuclear deterrence but is also currently taking an active role in war-fighting. Büchel has a central role in the illegal military operation in Syria. Apart from the four Tornados from the Jagel air base in Schleswig-Holstein, two Tornados and 20 military personnel will be provided in addition from the Büchel nuclear base. They will be deployed for one year at the Incirlik US nuclear base in Turkey to undertake operations in Syria.

 

The legal situation

 

In becoming a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970, Germany undertook not to directly or indirectly receive or to take control over nuclear weapons. Germany reinforced this commitment in 1991 in the 2+4 Treaty. Yet the nuclear sharing agreement violates this commitment. The German government voted in the UN General Assembly in December 2015 accordingly, together with the nuclear armed states, against a ban on nuclear weapons, while the overwhelming majority of UN states voted in favour of a ban. Germany should fulfil its international and national disarmament obligations, anchored in international law. We are hereby acting in support of the fulfilment of international law by taking action.

 

We call on the German government to:

 

1. Stop the upgrade of nuclear weapons in Germany
2. Withdraw nuclear weapons from Büchel
3. Ban nuclear weapons
   
   

The Peace Meadow

 

The idea is 30 years old and comes from Hunsrueck. 96 nuclear cruise missiles were based there and the peace movement installed 96 crosses in a nearby field. Diverse protest by the peace movement led to most nuclear weapons being withdrawn from Germany. The “Peace Meadow” connects today’s protest with that of the past and shows that our resistance can be successful. We’re looking for patrons for each of these vigil-symbols who are willing to help publicly reinstate them, should they be destroyed or damaged.

 

Declarations of Commitment

 

The active presence at the Büchel nuclear base is planned to be the beginning of a long-term phase of action to prevent the nuclear upgrade with new nuclear weapons. It is the core element of the campaign “Büchel is everywhere—nuclear-free now”:

 

 “I will come to Büchel once a year and take part in an action until nuclear weapons are withdrawn, and I will actively commit to seeking a nuclear weapon-free world in the place where I am living.”

 

Those who wish to take part can choose from three options:

 

1. I am prepared to take non-violent direct action as a form of civil disobedience,
2. and/or to support an action of civil disobedience
3. and/or take part in a vigil or demonstration.

 

Join us!

 

• Twenty weeks of action: Contact in Büchel: Marion Küpker, mobile phone +49-151 55731410
• More information on the Declaration of Commitment: Pressehütte Mutlangen, Tel. +49-7171-75661, redaktion@pressehuette.de

 

Important homepages (in German):

www.buechel-atombombenfrei.de

www.atomwaffenfrei.de

 

Please donate!

IPPNW

Bank für Sozialwirtschaft,

IBAN: DE39100205000002222210

BIC: BFSWDE33BER

Stichwort: „atomwaffenfrei“