Four days notice to assemble on the North York Moors on a November weekday was enough to raise doubts of an impressive turn-out in the most optimistic of people. In the end though, all of that added to abysmal weather still didn’t manage to deter an impressive fifty people from gathering outside the entrance to "RAF" Fylingdales. Their reason – the visit to the base by one of the leading figures in missile defence – Lt General Kadish, head of the Missile Defence Agency in America.
His visit was officially an "informal familiarisation visit" but his insistence on visiting the base appears to have caused headaches in MOD HQ as they try to dampen recent growing fears that the U.K. has given the go-ahead for missile defence on the sly. Yorkshire CND saw his visit for what it was – a very clear sign that the base plays a key role in his missile defence plans and that it is only a matter of time (and the clock's ticking) until he requests use of it, and Menwith Hill, for his global star wars system. As such we worked with the ever-active Fylingdales Action Network to organise a protest at the base on the day of the General’s visit.
Media interest in the visit and the protest was high, with protesters interviewed throughout the day by radio, television and newspaper journalists, including the national media. Despite the horrendous weather conditions, spirits remained high throughout the event, which lasted about two and a half hours. Banners, placards, props and even a didgeredoo gave our presence a touch of colour.
His visit was officially an "informal familiarisation visit" but his insistence on visiting the base appears to have caused headaches in MOD HQ as they try to dampen recent growing fears that the U.K. has given the go-ahead for missile defence on the sly. Yorkshire CND saw his visit for what it was – a very clear sign that the base plays a key role in his missile defence plans and that it is only a matter of time (and the clock's ticking) until he requests use of it, and Menwith Hill, for his global star wars system. As such we worked with the ever-active Fylingdales Action Network to organise a protest at the base on the day of the General’s visit.
Media interest in the visit and the protest was high, with protesters interviewed throughout the day by radio, television and newspaper journalists, including the national media. Despite the horrendous weather conditions, spirits remained high throughout the event, which lasted about two and a half hours. Banners, placards, props and even a didgeredoo gave our presence a touch of colour.