Solidarity demo We Are Here – speech

On April 11 we supported and joined the solidarity demo for We Are Here. We were also asked to speak. Here’s the text of that speech:

Fortress Europe means perpetual war. It is a war of borders against migrants. It is a war of weapons companies against societies. It is a war of the rich against the dispossessed. Fortress Europe exports destruction and imports resources. For hundreds of years it has sucked wealth out of Africa, out of Asia, out of the Middle East.
Lobbyists in Brussels and the Hague make sure that the European Union knows where its priorities lie. Share value is more important than providing decent and fulfilling lives. Fortress Europe is a machine that wants to keep on growing, and will eat our livelihoods to do so.

European companies extract natural gas out of Libya, fueling a civil war; European companies pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, turning the farms of South Sudan into fields of sand; European companies sell missiles and warplanes to Saudi Arabia, turning the vibrant cities of Yemen into bomb craters. In these companies’ search for constant profits, humans are expendable: they are killed, locked up and denied a decent living.

When people flee the destruction that Europe has exported into the rest of the world, they come face to face the full war machine. Army units patrol the Balkan route. NATO navies steam around the Mediterranean. The European Union is turning the world into one big militarized border, creating new barriers where before there were none, pressuring and
bribing governments in Northern Africa to fortify their borders. As a result, crossing the Sahara is now more dangerous than crossing the Mediterranean. Fortress Europe sends troops into Mali, and high-tech surveillance equipment into Senegal and Sudan. It strikes deals with Turkey, sending money and weapons in exchange for sniper towers on the border with Syria. It strikes deals with militias in Libya, sending radar equipment to their navy in exchange for migrant prisons where people are forced to work in slavery. Fortress Europe’s bottom line is an ever-increasing flow of wealth to shareholders, and ever greater control over the movement of people.

This war directly benefits weapons companies based in the Netherlands. Airbus, selling army helicopters and drones to EU border guards; Damen, sending ships to the Libyan navy; TNO, creating integrated border surveillance systems; And Thales, selling radar systems to the Egyptian army. These companies turn us against one another. The security industry
manufactures insecurity. It feeds a fear of migration, in favor of a tiny group of shareholders.

But this demonstration shows that the power of solidarity is stronger than the power of the shareholders of Airbus and Thales. If we ever want to live together safely, we need to break the deadly machine that is Fortress Europe. We need to open the migrant prisons, both here in the Netherlands and all along the migration routes; We need to end weapons
production and export; We need to shift our technological capabilities away from death and climate destruction; We need to redistribute wealth globally, away from the shareholders and their lobbyists; We need to fight for good, fulfilling lives, for housing and healthcare for everyone; Together, we need to stop the war on migrants.

April 11: succesful demo during shareholders meeting – speech

On Wednesday April 11, the Stop the War on Migrants theatrical demonstration was a great success. We saw different groups and individuals unite against a common enemy. It was great to see people bring their own props and banners to add to the vibe and the impact of the demo. We will continue to grow together until we tear down all the walls, states and companies that divide us.

Below you find the speech of Stop The War On Migrants and some pics. More pics and video later.

Media report: Demonstranten protesteren tegen wapenhandel/

Speech (in Dutch) / English translation below

Stop de oorlog tegen migranten!

De oorlog tegen migranten speelt zich overal af, onzichtbaar, oncontroleerbaar en bewapend met nationalisme en racisme, kapitalisme en kolonialisme. Een oorlog die geillegaliseerde vluchtelingen tot een leven op straat en in gevangenissen veroordeelt, hen met intimidatie en geweld tegenhoudt en anders met intimidatie en geweld terugstuurt naar de onveilige gebieden waar ze vandaan zijn gekomen. Een oorlog, geregisseerd niet alleen door regeringen en hun grenscontroles, illegalisering en deportaties, maar nadrukkelijk ook door multinationals die in wapens handelen en in apparatuur om de grenzen te beveiligen.

Een van die bedrijven is Airbus. En de aandeelhouders van Airbus vergaderen op dit moment hier in Hotel Okura. Hierbinnen in Okura wordt de oorlog verheven tot handel en daarmee ook de mensen die er slachtoffer van worden. De aandeelhouders daarbinnen zien de waarde van hun aandelen stijgen bij elk verkocht stuk oorlogstuig waarmee conflictgebieden en dictators van munitie tegen de bevolking worden voorzien. Zij zien hun winst toenemen door de machtige lobby van het bedrijf dat Fort Europa meer en meer tastbare en ontastbare versperringen doet oprichten tegen vluchtende mensen. Dat is, in het kort, wat hier gebeurt.

Dit betekent dat de oorlog tegen vluchtelingen zich hier afspeelt, in Hotel Okura, op veilige afstand van de plaatsen waar de bommen vallen en de geweerschoten klinken. Op veilige afstand van grenshekken met infraroodcamera’s en radarapparatuur, van schietende grenswachten, van het verdrinken in de Middelandse Zee, van het van honger en dorst omkomen in de woestijn, van achtervolging en vervolging, van de vlucht naar een beter bestaan. Hier, waar het zo vredig lijkt, is het oorlog.

Het kan die aandeelhouders daarbinnen in Okura niets schelen. Wapenhandel en grensbeveiliging zijn legitiem. Die keurige aandeelhouders hebben echter wel degelijk bloed aan hun handen. Je ziet het niet, je ruikt het niet en je proeft het niet maar we weten het wel. Daarom staan we vandaag hier. We staan hier, omdat we niet kunnen en niet mogen accepteren dat multinationals zoals Airbus feitelijk de politieke agenda van de regeringen van de lidstaten van Fort Europa bepalen met hun lobby. Alleen al daar gaat zoveel geld in om, dat het wel terugverdiend moet worden met de ellende van vluchtelingen.

Het is aan ons allen dit te stoppen, omdat het in ons naam gebeurt, zogenaamd voor onze veiligheid. Zodat wij hier zo vrij kunnen zijn om in een land van vrede te leven die een schijnvrede is. Een land waarin apartheid heerst tussen een bevoorrechte bevolking die hier geboren is enerzijds en geillegaliseerde vluchtelingen anderzijds. Deze politiek kan alleen maar worden volgehouden zolang bedrijven daar geld, wapens en high-tech apparatuur in pompen. Zolang er mensen zijn die daar geld aan willen verdienen.

Wij staan hier, omdat de aandeelhouders van Airbus op hun verantwoordelijkheid dienen te worden aangesproken, zodat zij niet vergeten waaraan zij zich schuldig maken. Zodat WIJ niet vergeten waaraan zij ONS medeplichtig maken zolang wij dit accepteren. Zodat de oorlog tegen migranten in naam van onze veiligheid en vrijheid stopt!

Het gaat Airbus niet om vrijheid, veiligheid of vrede. Airbus heeft oorlog en repressie tegen migranten nodig als onderdeel van hun megawinsten. En wie wil er nu aandelen hebben in zulke beschamende praktijken?
Stop de wapenhandel! Stop de militarisering van de grenzen! Geen mens is illegaal! Vrijheid van beweging NU! Maskers af van de handelaren in de dood!

Stop de oorlog tegen migranten!

ENGLISH

Stop the war on migrants!

The war on migrants is everywhere, invisible, uncontrollable and armed with nationalism and racism, capitalism and colonialism. A war that condemns illegalized refugees to a life on the streets and in prisons, that inhibits them with intimidation and violence and sends them back with intimidation and violence to the unsafe areas where they came from. A war, directed not only by governments and their border controls, illegalization and deportations, but emphatically also by multinationals acting in arms and in equipment to secure the borders.

One of those companies is Airbus. And the shareholders of Airbus are currently meeting here in Hotel Okura. Here in Okura, the war is elevated to trade and with it the people who fall victim to it. The shareholders inside see the value of their shares rise with every piece of weaponry that provides ammunition to conflict areas and dictators against the population. They see their profits increase by the powerful lobby of the company that allowes Fortress Europe tp create more and more tangible and intangible barriers against fleeing people. That is, in short, what is happening here.

This means that the war against refugees takes place here, in Hotel Okura, at a safe distance from the places where the bombs fall and the gunshots sound. At a safe distance from border barriers with infrared cameras and radar equipment, from shooting border guards, from drowning in the Mediterranean Sea, from starvation and dying of thirst in the desert, from persecution and prosecution, from the flight to a better life. Here, where it seems so peaceful, it is war.

It does not matter to those shareholders in Okura. Arms trade and border security are legitimate. However, those neat shareholders do have blood on their hands. You do not see it, you do not smell it and you do not taste it, but we know it. That is why we are here today. We are here, because we can not and must not accept that multinationals such as Airbus actually determine the political agenda of the governments of the member states of Fortress Europe with their lobby. There is so much money involved in that alone, that it must be recouped with the misery of refugees.

It is up to all of us to stop this because it happens in our name, supposedly for our safety. So we can be so free to live in a land of peace that is a false peace. A country in which apartheid prevails between a privileged population born here on the one hand and illegalized refugees on the other. This policy can only be sustained as long as companies pump money, weapons and high-tech equipment into it. As long as there are people who want to earn money from it.

We are here, because the shareholders of Airbus must be held accountable for their responsibility, so that they do not forget what they are guilty of. So that WE do not forget what they make US complicit in as long as we accept this. So that the war against migrants in the name of our safety and freedom stops!

Airbus is not about freedom, security or peace. Airbus needs war and repression against migrants as part of their mega profits. And who wants to have shares in such shameful practices?
Stop the arms trade! Stop the militarization of the borders! No human is illegal! Freedom of movement NOW! Masks off from the traders in death!

Stop the war on migrants!

April 11, demo at Okura Hotel: legal team

Legal team / Arrestee group during the demonstration at Okura Hotel tomorrow, Wednesday April 11:

This is a legal demonstration that is announced to the authorities so we don’t expect many problems. There is, however, always a chance that you might get arrested during this demonstration.

The legal support group is ready for you and you can reach them on: 0629296141. If you see any arrests taking place, please also inform them but be careful to not mention names during the phone call.

We have asked the lawyer Willem Jebbink to assist us in case of an arrest, his phone number is 0655791837. He and his colleagues will be ready and you can ask for him if you get arrested.

Furthermore, we will spread infosheets with legal information during the demo so that you know everything you need to know if you’re arrested.

Have a good one!

Final preparations for next Wednesday April 11: be part of the theatre and the noise

Picture:
making white suits and missiles as part of the theatrical demonstration Wednesday April 11 at Okura Hotel during Airbus’ shareholders meeting.

We need your help to make it work:

It can be difficult for people to imagine what a company like Airbus does, so we are going to point it out in a loud and visual way. In order to do this we need everyone to contribute to the theme of the demo.

We need some people to be dressed up in formal clothing (suits and ties etc). This is if you have you own formal clothes as we are unable to obtain more than white T-shirts. These people will be selling the shares we have created and represent the bureaucratic/profit based side of Airbus;

Picture: making the banner

We need some people to be wearing white paper suits (which we can provide) that will hold onto the missiles. This will represent the technological side of the company;

At the end of the demo some people will be covered in white sheets on the ground to symbolize the people who have lost their lives due to this dirty business;

Last but not least, there will be sirens and noise to start with as well, so pots and pans en drums etcetera: bring them along!

Our e-mail to Hotel Okura: cancel reservation of Airbus shareholders meeting

To: Hotel Okura, Amsterdam

Written to: events@okura.nl, info@okura.nl

Write your own e-mail or use this one as an example!
Or tweet, post on their facebook page: here’s how and where.

Subject: reservation shareholders meeting Airbus April 11, 2018

To whom it may concern,

On Wednesday April 11th, you are scheduled to host Airbus’ Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which has taken place at your hotel every year now for several years.
In light of the information which will be laid out in this letter, we at Stop the War on Migrants call on you to cancel this event.

Airbus is the second largest arms producer in Europe and the seventh largest in the world. It makes profit selling aircrafts and missiles to countries at war, repressive regimes, and human rights abusers. In this way it fuels the crises that force people to flee their homes. Then, it profits again providing the EU with border security equipment meant to stop refugees and migrants. In recent years we have seen the increasing militarization of the EU borders, which is intended to prevent the entry of people forced to move due to crises often created, contributed to, or intensified by, Western/EU policy (including arms trade policy).

The result of this militarization has been ever more violence, brutality, and difficulty for migrants trying to reach Europe. Airbus has a direct role in perpetuating this violence and brutality: not only does it provide the EU with equipment, it is also a key player in the industrial lobby which pushes for the militarization of the borders. The company sees, in the further fortification of Europe, and the accompanying brutalization of migrants trying to enter it, an opportunity to increase its profits and please its shareholders.

On April 11th Airbus and its shareholders will celebrate the rising profits of their deadly business, paying no attention to the rising number of deaths in the Mediterranean, Middle-East and Africa where their products are being used. We urge you, Hotel Okura, not to give them this platform to normalize and conceal the brutality they’re perpetuating, and to cut all ties with this company and the military and security industry of which it forms a vital part. Don’t give Airbus a platform to whitewash their bloody business at your hotel.

Regards,

Stop the War on Migrants.

Video: demo at TU Delft – Join the protest at Airbus shareholders meeting on April 11 in Amsterdam


April 11, 1 PM: demonstration during shareholders meeting of Airbus at Okura Hotel Amsterdam!

Video: demonstration on February 20 at the TU Delft against the cooperation between universities and weapons companies. TU Delft has been cooperating with Thales and Airbus on research and development of advanced military technology, such as radar systems and composites for military aircraft. Both companies were taking part in the career fair in TU Delft.

Now Airbus is welcomed to hold their annual shareholders meeting in Okura Hotel Amsterdam on April 11. Join the protest! In the run up: put pressure on Hotel Okura to cancel reservation AIRBUS shareholders meeting

Afghaanse vluchtelingen vragen Leidse universiteit om promotiebijeenkomst wapenbedrijf Airbus te annuleren

Bron: Doorbraak

Vorige week riepen we op om protestbrieven te schrijven tegen de promotie van het wapenbedrijf Airbus op de faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen van de Leidse universiteit. Morgen maart komt Hannah de Vries daar in het kader van een “CareerCollege” een praatje houden over haar werk voor het wapenbedrijf.

Namens 24 lidorganisaties schreef de Federatie van Afghaanse Vluchtelingen Organisaties in Nederland (FAVON) deze open brief aan de faculteit.

Continue reading “Afghaanse vluchtelingen vragen Leidse universiteit om promotiebijeenkomst wapenbedrijf Airbus te annuleren”