arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Two activists from the peace organisation "For Mother Earth": Karen Fallon from Scotland and Ludwig Appeltans from Gent, climbed on the Belfort and dropped a big banner saying "STOP THE WAR PLEASE".

Just before climbing and dropping the banner, Ludwig Appeltans said: "The war in Afghanistan is not the right answer to the terrorist attacks. Hundreds of innocent people are getting killed and wounded and it provoces only more violence! This war is terrorism on itself!!! We ask the people and the politicians in Europe to speak out for peace and choose life!"

It was very easy to climb the building. The scaffold of repairworks was still there. Within 5 minutes the banners were on the building waving for peace. The police left us alone for about 1.5 hours. One officer, "Declerck" finally had the guts to climb up himself. He started negotiating with us and after some time to consider and after he gave us his word that we could keep the banners and and that we would not be arrested, we climbed down!
And surprisingly we were free to walk!

A nice fluffy action, no damage, no violence. That is what open and accountable non-violent direct action is about!