arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

This morning a group of 13 anti-nuclear activists occupied the European headquarters
of US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, in Brussels, in protest against the company’s
close links with the Bush government, and specifically its production of nuclear weapons
and weapons used in the war against Iraq. The activists, who all wore masks with the
face of George Bush, disrupted the working of the office for 35 minutes. The action
was timed to coincide with the visit of US President George W. Bush to Brussels.

At around 9am, activists entered the office building on Chaussée de la Hulpe, where
Lockheed Martin has its main European sales office. A large international samba band, all
wearing Bush masks, played loud music in the main lobby of the building while other
activists entered the offices of Lockheed Martin and interviewed employees about
the links between the company and the Bush regime. The action was organised by For
Mother Earth, a member of the Friends of the Earth International network, with
the support of JNM (Jeugdbond voor Natuur en Milieu).

Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest defence contractor, and is responsible for the
production of Trident nuclear missiles deployed by both the United States and Britain.
Each of these missiles can carry nuclear weapons with a destructive power equivalent
to 60 Hiroshima bombs. In 1996, the International Court of Justice in The Hague declared
that the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be illegal under the principles
of international humanitarian law.

The company also supplied weapons used in the war against Iraq, including the F-117
Stealth fighters used in the “Shock and Awe” bombardment of Baghdad which caused many
civilian deaths.

The company has close links with the US government. It has played a leading role in
lobbying for increased defence spending after the terrorist attacks on September 11th
2001. It has donated over $1 million to members of the US government committees
responsible for awarding defence contracts, and in return has been rewarded with
orders from the US federal government that are worth $65 million per day. As well
as clear financial links, there is also a “revolving door” between the company and
the Bush administration, with personnel working for Lockheed Martin moving
to the Pentagon, and vice-versa.

The company sells weapons to oppressive regimes such as Israel and Saudi Arabia,
and the company has a long history of using corruption and bribery to achieve lucrative
deals. It has also been active in lobbying for increased defence spending within the
European Union.

Stephan Price, a campaigner with For Mother Earth said “When President Bush
comes to Europe to encourage NATO and European Union governments to increase
their arms spending by joining the so-called war on terror, it is clear that Lockheed
Martin will be one of the big winners. The company is openly pushing for greater
spending on arms in the US and Europe, and acting in a highly immoral way by supplying
these deadly weapons. It is also acting illegally. As a nuclear weapon producer,
Lockheed Martin is involved in the preparations for war crimes and crimes against
humanity. We have visited the European headquarters of Lockheed Martin this morning
to give a clear signal that they cannot continue this work unhindered.”

Background information on Lockheed Martin, including details of bribery and corruption:
http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair01222005.html

Involvement in lobbying for increased defence spending:
http://www.corporateeurope.org/ebs2004.html

Financial contributions to US politicians:
http://www.opensecrets.org

photos of the action are on http://wvl.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/4195.php