"Th e Re vol ving Door, A Re vol ting Acce s s " W h o re al l y be ne fits from w ar? W ar profite e rs de pe nd m ainl y on gove rnm e ntcontracts . Im agine w h at Lock h e e d M artin w oul d be w ith outth e ir Pe ntagon contracts ! Atth e s am e tim e gove rnm e nts ne e d an e xcus e for s pe nding s uch h uge s um s ofm one y e .g. “w ar agains t te rror”, “nationals e curity”, “pe ace force s ”, e tc. Since w ar profite e rs de pe nd on gove rnm e nt contracts th e y ne e d to be in th e pos ition to infl ue nce th e m . Th rough th e ye ars th e y h ave pos itione d th e m s e l ve s to h ave an im m e ns e pol iticalpow e r w ith in gove rnm e nts , and th e y e njoy privil e ge d acce s s to de cis ion-m ak e rs th atth e ge ne ralpubl ic can onl y dre am of. In orde r to s e l lth e ir products , th e w ar profite e rs ne e d acce s s to inform ation, and acce s s to th e diffe re ntde cis ion bodie s . H ow do th e y do it?By th e s o-cal l e d re vol ving door factor, and h e avy l obbying. Th e te rm 're vol ving door' re fe rs to th e m ove m e ntofe m pl oye e s be tw e e n gove rnm e ntand corporations . Form e r m il itary ge ne ral s or m e m be rs ofde fe nce m inis trie s m ove to h igh pos itions in th e w ar indus try. As th e y m ove to “de fe ns e contractors ” th e y com e w ith al lth e ir conne ctions and inform ation from th e ins ide for h ow to ge tth os e pre cious contracts . Th e re vol ving door al s o w ork s th e oth e r w ay around, w h e n e x-corporate bigw igs w ork ing for w ar profite e rs m ove to th e de fe nce de partm e nts or oth e r gove rnm e nt de fe nce contractde cis ion bodie s , w h e re th e y are in th e be s tpos ition to infl ue nce w h ich com panie s th e contracts are aw ard to. Th e re are m any cas e s ofth e re vol ving door, Dick Ch e ne y be ing th e m os tfam ous one , w h e n h e w e ntfrom be ing th e Se cre tary of De fe ns e to th e CEO ofH al l iburton to vice pre s ide ntofUSA. Buth e is notth e onl y one ! Jus tto m e ntion tw o in th e UK : Jul ian Scope s is BAE Sys te m s ' m os ts e nior pol iticall obbyis t and a form e r M oD civils e rvant, Scope s is re porte d to h ave re taine d h is al l -are a acce s s pas s to th e M oD, w h e re h e coul d e as il y vie w confide ntialinform ation. BAE h as not confirm e d or de nie d w h e th e r oth e r s e nior m e m be rs ofs taffh ave s im il ar acce s s . In anoth e r cas e Lord Inge , Ch ie fofDe fe nce Stafffrom 19 9 4-19 9 7, be cam e Non-e xe cutive Ch airm an atAe gis De fe nce Se rvice s . H e avy l obbying h appe ns w h e n com panie s h ave an officialrol e in m ak ing pol icy and contractde cis ions . Exam ine th e Europe an Union to s e e h ow th is w ork s . For m any ye ars th e arm s indus try trie d h ard to infl ue nce Brus s e l s ' de cis ion m ak e rs , prom oting th e conce ptth ata s trong m il itary Europe ne e ds a s trong arm s indus try. W h il e drafting th e te xt for th e cons titution th e Europe an Conve ntion's w ork ing group on de fe nce invite d a num be r of“e xpe rts ” to give advice on w h ats h oul d be incl ude d in th e tre aty te xt. Th re e ofth e th irte e n e xpe rts re pre s e nte d th e inte re s tof th e arm s indus try: Corrado Antonini, pre s ide nt ofth e Europe an De fe nce Indus trie s Group, Anth ony Parry from BAE Sys te m s and Je anLouis Ge rgorin from EADS. Th e m e s s age ofa s trong Europe an arm s indus try for a s trong m il itary Europe w as th e re . A s im il ar s ituation e xis ts in th e USA w ith th e De fe ns e Pol icy Board w h ich w as cre ate d in 19 85, m ade up of30+ re pre s e ntative s of indus try, te ch nol ogy and m il itary contractors . Th e De fe ns e Pol icy Board m e e ts four tim e s a ye ar to advis e th e Se cre tary ofDe fe ns e on w h atw e apons s ys te m s to buy, w h atcountrie s
are “th re ats ”, w h e re th e y ne e d a “pre e m ptive s trik e ”, w h atcountry th e y s h oul d occupy. For e xam pl e , in 2006 th e De fe ns e Pol icy Board incl ude s Jack Sh e e h an w h o w as in th e US M arine Corps , Ge ne ralin NATO , Supre m e Al l ie d Com m ande r in th e Atl antic w h o l e ftth e m il itary and be cam e Se nior Vice Pre s ide ntatBe ch te l . Be ch te lis one of th e l arge s tcontractors groups in th e w orl d, and h as one ofth e l arge s t contracts in Iraq to w ork on its re cons truction. In m any countrie s w ar profite e rs can l e gal l y donate l arge s um s ofm one y to pol iticalcandidate s , e xpe cting th e ir l oyal ty w h e n vote s com e up for w e apons s ys te m s . O fcours e bribe ry al s o tak e s pl ace . In th e US th e re are m any ins tance s ofCongre s s voting for contracts th atth e Pe ntagon h as not Ph oto: ScottSch ae ffe r - Duffy during a vigil e ve n as k e d for, butth e corporation h as outs ide Rayth e on a “s pe cialfrie nd” in Congre s s w h o h as w ays . pus h e d th e de fe ns e contractth rough . W e apons m anufacture rs h ave be com e s o pow e rfulth atth e y can te l lth e gove rnm e nt w h atth e y w antand don’tw ant. BAE Sys te m s (form e rl y Britis h Ae ros pace ) h as tol d th e UK gove rnm e ntth atifitdoe s notbuy from th e m th e y w il lpul loutofth e UK and go to th e US. According to th e US De partm e ntofDe fe ns e , BAE Sys te m s (th e y droppe d th e w ord “Britis h ” to be com e m ore trans national ) w as th e Pe ntagon’s s e ve nth l arge s ts uppl ie r in 2005. Th e com panie s cl aim th atth e y l e ave th e m oralde cis ions to th e gove rnm e nt, and th at th e y are onl y “doing th e ir patriotic duty” by re s ponding to w h atth e gove rnm e ntne e ds .
W h atcan w e do? An im portants te p tow ards s topping th e w ar profite e rs is to s top th e ir pow e rfulinfl ue nce ove r gove rnm e nts pe nding on w e apons . H ow can w e do th at?Th e pow e r ofw ar profite e rs s e e m s s o ove rw h e l m ing, m ore pow e rfule ve n th an th e pow e rfulgove rnm e nts th e y s e l lto. A com m on anti-corporate s trate gy, boycotts , is difficul tw ith w ar profite e rs be caus e th e m ajor com panie s do noth ave civil ian products . Th e one s th e y do h ave – airl ine rs , cons truction proje cts – are not cons um e r products , butare bough tby corporations or m unicipal itie s . Ann Fe l th am ofCam paign Agains tth e Arm s Trade s ugge s te d w e “tack l e th is around th e e dge s ”, and w e dis cus s e d m any ofth os e s trate gie s atth e W ar Profite e rs Th e m e Group atth e W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalConfe re nce Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce . M onitor th e com panie s and th e pol icy com m itte e s and boards th e y s iton. Vis ibil ity is th e ir vul ne rabil ity. Expos e th e m as w ar profite e rs . De s cribe th e e ffe cts ofth e ir w e apons , and th e h um an righ ts viol ations of th e countrie s th e y s e l lto. Educate th e taxpaye rs re garding th e fact th atth e gove rnm e ntis us ing th e ir m one y to fund w ar profite e rs . Expos e th e bribe ry th ath appe ns in th e w ar profite e rs w orl d. Th e re are m any cas e s and th e y ne e d to be m ade k now n to th e publ ic. Th is can be done in cre ative and dram atic
Pre s s ure gove rnm e nts to re gul ate th e s e com panie s , de m anding trans pare ncy and corporate accountabil ity. W ar profite e rs can’t s tand up to th os e s tandards . Look atth e rol e th atbank s and Export Cre ditAge ncie s pl ay in s upporting and s ubs idiz ing th e w ar indus try w ith l oans and cre dits , as th e y m ak e itl ook as ifth e de alis com pl e te l y s afe for both th e gove rnm e ntand th e indus try. H ow do taxpaye rs and bank de pos itors fe e laboutth e ir m one y be ing us e d for w e apons production? O rganiz ations and individual s can buy s tock in th e s e com panie s . Sh are h ol de rs can put pre s s ure on corporations th rough s h are h ol de rs re s ol utions and atannual m e e tings . O r e ncourage pe ns ions funds , unive rs itie s and m unicipal itie s to dive s tin com panie s th at profitfrom w ar (incl uding al lw ar profite e rs , notjus tw e apons m anufacture rs .) To e ffe ctive l y ch al l e nge th e w ar profite e rs w e ne e d cam paigns th attarge tth e various l ink s in th e ch ain ofh ow th e corporations ge t m il itary contracts . To do th atw e ne e d to coordinate am ong groups w ork ing agains t arm s trade , financialins titutions and Export Cre ditAge ncie s th ats upportarm s s al e s and th e w ide r antim il itaris tand nonviol e nt m ove m e nt. Joanne Sh e e h an and Javie r Gárate
Editorial
Th is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e focus e s on w ar profite e rs . During W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalConfe re nce “Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce ” th at took pl ace in Eringe rfe l d Ge rm any be tw e e n th e 23-27 of Jul y 2006, w e h ad a th e m e group w h o w ork e d on w ar profite e rs . Th is th e m e group w as an e s s e ntials te p in th e de ve l op ofW RI's Gl obal Initiative Agains tW ar Profite e rs . M os tofth e m ate rial you w il lfind in th is is s ue com e s from th e w ork ofth atw e e k . During th e th e m e group w e l e arne d from s e ve ral organiz ations cam paigning agains tw ar profite e rs . A com m on unde rs tanding ofh ow to targe tth e s e corporations w as th e ne e d ofw ork ing to el im inate th e pow e r th atth e s e corporations h ave to infl ue nce gove rnm e nt pol icie s to ge t th e ir contracts . Th e firs tarticl e ofth e Brok e n Rifl e de s cribe s h ow corporations infl ue nce th e gove rnm e ntand th e de cis ionm ak ing bodie s th at de cide m il itary pol icy and m il itary contracts , and w h atcan w e do to s top th e m . During th e l as tw e e k of Augus ta m e e ting in Col om bia organiz e d by Re d Juve nilde M e de l l in on antim il itaris t initiative s and US inte rve ntion w il lbe l ook ing atth e rol e th at corporations h ave in th at re gion. An articl e w ritte n by th e organiz e rs ofth e m e e ting re ve al s h ow th e s e big corporations h ave dirty h ands in Col om bia. Atth e e nd of Se pte m be r a confe re nce of gras s roots w ork ing to Stop th e M e rch ants ofDe ath , organis e d by W ar Re s is te rs ' Le ague , is tak ing pl ace in M inne apol is USA. Starting w ith th e cas e s tudy on th e H one yw e l lproje ct th atw as bas e d in M inne apol is , w e s e e ath ow nonviol e nt cam paigns can be e ffe ctive agains tth e w ar profite e rs . I e ncourage you to re ad th is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e w ith an e ye on h ow you can ge t invol ve d in cam paigning agains tth e w ar profite e rs . Javie r Gárate
Th e Brok e n Rifl e
Th e Brok e n Rifl e is th e ne w s l e tte r ofW ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , and is publ is h e d in Engl is h , Spanis h , Fre nch and Ge rm an. Th is is is s ue 71, Se pte m be r 2006. Th is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e w as produce d by Javie r Gárate . Spe cialth ank s go to Joanne Sh e e h an and Acción K ol e ctiva por l a O bje ción Fis cal FO K A from Col om bia, and oth e rs w h o provide d th e inform ation us e d in th is is s ue . If you w ante xtra copie s ofth is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e, pl e as e contactth e W RI office , or dow nl oad itfrom our w e bs ite . W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , 5 Cal e donian Road, London N1 9 DX, Britain te l+ 44-20-7278 4040 fax + 44-20-7278 0444 info@ w ri-irg.org h ttp://w riirg.org/pubs /br71_ e n.h tm
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Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 71, Se pte m be r 2006
W ar Profite e rs
A s te p tow ards gl obal is ing nonviol e nce
Th e 24th W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalTrie nnialConfe re nce From 23-27 Jul y, th e 24th W RI “Trie nnial ” confe re nce took pl ace in Eringe rfe l d, Ge rm any. Sure l y, participation w as m ore gl obalth an atm any re ce ntW RI confe re nce s , w ith m ore th an 200 participants from al lcontine nts and m ore th an 30 countrie s pre s e nt. H ow e ve r, Ge rm an vis a re gul ations pre ve nte d Sam iira Jam aEbl i from Som al il and from s pe ak ing atth e confe re nce . Som e oth e r participants from Nige ria, M al i, and Se ne galw e re notabl e to participate be caus e ofvis a probl ems. Th e s tate d aim s ofth e confe re nce w e re : - m ak ing nonviol e nce m ore ce ntralin th e gl obalm ove m e nt ofre s is tance to w ar and e conom ic dom ination, - adapting nonviol e ntanal ys is and s trate gy to th e th re ats w e face today, and - cons ol idating and re viving our antim il itaris t, nonviol e nt, gl obalne tw ork . Itcan be q ue s tione d ifitw as pos s ibl e to ach ie ve al lth e s e – ce rtainl y h igh – aim s , buts ure l y th e confe re nce w as a s te p in th atdire ction, and contribute d to W RI's unde rs tanding ofth e s e is s ue s . A – tim e l y – h igh l igh tofth e confe re nce w as ce rtainl y th e pl e nary on Is rae l -Pal e s tine , w ith Doroth y Naor from Ne w Profil e, Is rae l , Sh e e rin Al -Ajab from Pal e s tine , and Angie Z e l te r from th e Inte rnationalW om e n's Pe ace Se rvice . Ste l l an Vinth age n provok e d s om e dis cus s ion w ith h is introduction to a nonviol e nts trate gy for th e gl obalpe ace and jus tice m ove m e nt– or th e l ack of s trate gy, and th e gaps w ith in nonviol e ntanal ys is . And th e dis cus s ion be tw e e n Jai Se n from India, and e x-W RICh air Joanne Sh e e h an on th e re l ations h ip be tw e e n th e m ove m e ntfor gl obal is ation from be l ow and th e anti-w ar m ove m e nt pointe d to a varie ty ofvie w s on th e W orl d SocialForum , and probl e m s w ith in th e W SF proce s s . Itis too e arl y to re fl e cton th e outcom e s ofth e confe re nce . H ow e ve r, s om e concre te pl ans h ave be e n m ade atth e confe re nce : - A conce rte d e ffortfor W RI to be pre s e ntand vis ibl e atth e W orl d SocialForum in K e nya in January 2007, w ith s e m inars prom oting nonviol e nce and antim il itaris m . Anyone inte re s te d in joining in pl e as e contactth e W RI office atinfo@ w ri-irg.org. - A ne w ne tw ork /w ork ing group w ith in W RI on m il itary inte rve ntions , or re s is tance to inte rve ntions , focus e d on actions in Europe . Pl e as e contactH ans Lam m e rantfrom Forum voor Vre de s actie ifyou w antto ge tinvol ve d (h ans @ vre de s actie .be ). - A s tate m e nton Is rae land Le banon, avail abl e on W RI's w e bs ite ath ttp://w ri-irg.org/ s tate m nt/l e banon06-e n.h tm . Andre as Spe ck and Javie r Garate
Col om bia: W ar Profite e rs - Cl arifying "w h o" th e y are W ar profite e rs are notonl y th os e th atbe ne fit from th e arm s indus try, butal s o th os e th at im pul s e m il itary action and e l aborate s trate gie s to profitfrom w ar. Am ong w ar profite e rs w e can incl ude : - Large private corporations H e re w e re fe r to th e trans nationaland m ul tinationalcorporations th atne e d control ove r our naturalre s ource s and our national te rritorie s in orde r to s upportth e ir h e ge m onic proje ctand s o th atre l ations ofe conom ic and pol iticals ol idarity cannotbe im prove d (w h ich w oul d pe rm ittrue de ve l opm e ntofLatin Am e rican countrie s ). Th e s e profite e rs al s o bas e th e ir corporate s trate gy on th e aggravation ofarm e d confl ict and th e cons ol idation ofm il itary and param il itary actors w ith th e goalofim pos ing m e gaproje cts w h ich in turn al l ow th e m to appropriate l arge portions ofour national te rritorie s and pol iticalpow e r. Th e fol l ow ing are s om e ofth e corporations th atinte rve ne as profite e rs in our country:
Corporation M e gaproje ct
- Coca-Col a
- Ne s tl e
H ydroe l e ctric Dam in th e W ate r and Biodive rs ity re s e rve ofth e m aciz o col om biano Ranch ing and dairy production in th e Cauca, Caq ue tá and Putum ayo
- Am oco Te xaco, Exxon
Gas pipe l ine th atcros s e s Col om bia, Ve ne z ue l a and Panam á
Drum m ond
Carbon and th e m e th ane gas e xpl oitation in La Lom a, M agdal e na
- M ons ato
H ydric re s ource s in th e Ve ga, Cauca (ne ar th e tripl e frontie r ofth e Am az on re gion)
Unde r gl obal iz ation th e s e trans national s buy l ocalpubl ic com panie s , in th is w as gaining controlofnaturalre s ource s s uch as pe trol e um , w ate r, oxyge n, nick e l ,l e ucite , pl utonium , and m e rcury. Th e s e l as tfour are us e d in th e arm s indus try. Th e cons e q ue nce s ofth e s e m e gaproje cts incl ude th e e xpropriation ofl ocalcom m unitie s ’ l and, e xpl oitation ofth e l ocall abor force , and th e aggravate ofconfl ictbe caus e s uch proje cts de e pe n th e s tructuralcaus e s of pove rty and ine q ual ity. - Financialins titutions contribute to w ar in tw o w ays : (1) th rough th e l e nding ofm one y to w ar inve s te rs , and (2) th rough th e de vas tating accum ul ation ofw e al th w h ich again de e pe ns th e s tructuralcaus e s ofw ar in Col om bia. 21.9 m il l ion pe opl e or 49 .2% ofth e popul ation of Col om bia l ive in pove rty, w ith th e 14.7% ofth e popul ation cl as s ifie d as ve ry poor. Itis w orth m e ntioning Santande r and BBVA bank s w h ich are today’s l e ade rs in m ortgage l e nding and am ong th e l arge s financialins titutions in Col om bia. Th e s e com panie s , atth e inte rnationall e ve lare partne rs to th e arm s indus try in Europe as w e l las l e nding to arm s inve s tors . - Nation-s tate s : W orl d pow e rs : th rough e conom ic, m il itary and pol iticalinte rve ntion in oth e r countrie s , th e w orl d’s m os tpow e rfulnations l ook to control th e w e al th and te rritorie s ofl e s s pow e rful re gions . In th e cas e ofCol om bia, th e USA inve s ts m ore th an US $350 m il l ion pe r ye ar in th e inte rnalw ar in Col om bia. Furth e rm ore , m ul til ate ralorganiz ations s uch as th e W orl d
Bank , th e IM F, th e Inte rAm e rican De ve l opm e nt Bank , and th e W TO l e nd m one y to de ve l oping s tate s , incre as ing th e inte rnaland e xte rnalde bt and im pos ing th e re q uis ite ofadapting th e ir e conom ie s to th e ne ol ibe ral e conom ic m ode l . And th e th ird w orl d countrie s , th rough national s e curity and de fe ns e pol icie s m ak e th e confl ict e ve n de e pe r. Publ ic orde r is m aintaine d atth e de trim e ntoffundam e ntal h um an righ ts . M ore ove r, be ginning in th e 19 9 0s , th e cons e ns us in W as h ington h as be e n to prom ote th e w e ak e ning ofth e w e l fare s tate and civill ibe rtie s w h il e active l y back ing an e s s e ntial l y inactive prom ark e ts tate w h ich ce de s m any ofits m os tim portant rol e s to private corporations and trans national s. A furth e r probl e m is th e cre ation and m ainte nance ofparam il itary s tructure s , be itby th e s tate – as in th e cas e ofCol om bia – or as th e s um m ation ofth e inte re s ts ofth e private s e ctor. Som e e xam pl e s of corporate pow e r and w ar s pe cul ation in Col om bia: - Th e pre s ide ncy w h ich s e e s righ ts as s e rvice s - Th e m afia w h ich M ap ofCol om bia: Im age - Fok a pe rm e ate s m il itary Ande an Re gionalInitiative (IRA in Spanis h ). s tructure s th rough drug traffick ing and Al th ough os te ns ibl y cre ate d as a re gional conne ctions w ith th e param il itary groups . As a antinarcotics s trate gy, th e IRA s e e k s to re s ul tofth e prol ife ration ofarm e d actors in re cons ol idate th e m il itarie s ofth e re gion. Col om bia, civils e ctor e m pl oym e ntis re duce d Pat riot Pl an and t h e IRA s e e k to s top th e and m il itary-re l ate d e m pl oym e ntincre as e s . cons ol idation ofth e tripl e w ay (Ecuador, - Th e Col om bian and US gove rnm e nts , Col om bia and Ve ne z ue l a), as w e l las confirm th ough pl an Col om bia and th e patriotpl an th e Am az on re gion as a s ource ofbiol ogical figh tagains tnarco-traffick ing and for th e pate nts . el im ination ofth e gue rril l as . H ow e ve r, th e drug - Pl an H ous ton, Pue bl a – Panam á, Bogotá w ar (w h ich incl ude s m il itary action and th e us e w h ich prom ote s th e e s tabl is h m e ntof oftoxic h e rbicide s ) is dire cte d agains tth e e ucal yptus pl antations and th e inte gration of w e ak e s tparts ofth e production ch ain: th e Col om bia in th e w orl d e conom y via th e inte rcoca farm e rs , th e coca pas ta produce rs and oce anic canalofCh ocó, th e com pl e tion ofth e th e civil ian popul ation. Th e re altraffick e rs , Pan-Am e rican h igh w ay e n th e Darién re gion, l andow ne rs , pol iticians , and private actors th at and th e gas pipe l ine w h ich cros s e s Panam á, m anage th e drug m ark e tare ofte n not Col om bia and Ve ne z ue l a. targe te d. - Th e de fe ns e pol icy pl ace s m ore e m ph as is - Th e m e dia: on incre as ing m il itary s pe nding to th e de trim e ntoffundam e ntalh um an righ ts , h e al th , Th e m e dia pl ays th e rol e ofinform ation and e ducation. m e rch ant, traffick ing and profiting from s torie s - Th e De fe ns e M inis try notonl y w e igh s aboutth e w ar in Col om bia. Furth e rm ore , th e h e avil y on th e nation’s budge t, butal s o h as a m e dia is ve ry s k e w e d tow ard s upporting th e cl os e l y as s ociate d group of21 com panie s , s tatus q uo, s upporting th e cons ol idation ofth e incl uding Indum il(arm s m anufacture r), H ote l arm e d force s , and re inforcing th e ide a th atany Te q ue ndam a, and th e m il itary unive rs ity. Th is k ind ofoppos ition is a form ofte rroris m or group functions as a rotating inve s tm e ntfund re be l l ion. Th e m e dia te nd to cas ta pos itive w ith inve s ts in s e curity re l ate d activitie s . W e l igh t on th e s e curity pl ans ofth e gove rnm e nt, as k : w h ath appe ns to th e e arnings from th e s e th e prom otion ofprivate s e curity, and fore ign inve s tm e nts ? inve s tm e ntand appropriation ofnatural - Th e M inis try ofth e Inte rior and th e re re s ource s . ins e rtion to civil ian l ife ofth e 43000 de m obil iz e d s ol die rs : th is ‘pe ace ’ s trate gy In Col om bia th e m as s m e dia im pl icate d in ul tim ate l y s e e k s to capture m ore re s ource s for w ar s pe cul ation incl ude s : th e arm e d force s . - RCN w h ich provide s partialinform ation - Private s e curity firm s contractde m obil iz e d pande rs to th e inte re s ts ofpol iticalpartie s and param il itary office rs . individual s w h o s upportth e w ar. In th e re ce nt pre s ide ntiale l e ction, no e ffortw as m ade to Th e Col om bian gove rnm e nte xh ibits cre ate publ ic de bate be tw e e n candidate s , com pl e te com pl ace ncy in th e face ofde m ands rath e r th e re w as a profil iz ation in favor ofth e and s trate gic pl ans from th e US. Som e big-bus ine s s candidate . Itis nota coincide nce e xam pl es: th atth is m e dia group is control l e d by th e - Pl an Col om bia: th is is a m il itary s trate gy, Ardil a Lul e groups w h os e inte re s ts are in l ine w h ich is re affirm e d in th e O ctobe r docum e nt w it h t h e Uribe cam p. “l e y de l a e s tam pil l a”, and fortal iz e d by th e A s e rie s ofprogram s s upportth e arm e d Continue s page 3
Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 71, Se pte m be r 2006
W ar Profite e rs
3
Th e H one yw e l lProje ct A cas e s tudy on a nonviol e ntcam paign agains tw ar profite e rs Th e H one yw e l lCorporation w as bas e d in M inne apol is , M inne s ota, USA. H one yw e l lproduce d cl us te r bom bs (bom bl e ts ), s m al ls te e lbal lbe arings e m be dde d in a s te e ls h e l l . W h e n th is antipe rs onne lw e apon e xpl ode s , th e s te e lbal l be arings s h ootout2, 200 fe e tpe r s e cond. H one yw e l lal s o m ade oth e r w e apons and civil ian products . Se ve ralth ings ins pire d pe opl e to focus on th is corporation. In 19 67 th e Be rtrand Rus s e l lW ar Crim e s Tribunalw h ich took pl ace in Stock h ol m , conde m ne d th e us e of cl us te r bom bs agains tVie tnam e s e civil ians . Th e O ctobe r 19 68 is s ue of Libe ration M agaz ine Staugh ton Lynd w rote an e ditorialurging pe opl e to tak e on th e corporations th atw e re invol ve d in producing w e apons , particul arl y th os e invol ve d in th e w ar on Vie tnam . In De ce m be r 19 68 pe opl e in M inne apol is s tarte d th e H one yw e l lProje ct. From th e be ginning, th e y w e re cl e ar about th e ir goal s: 1)Stop re s e arch , de ve l opm e ntand production ofcl us te r bom bs and oth e r w e apons 2)Pe ace conve rs ion w ith no job l os s Th e re w as a com m itm e ntto nonviol e nce from th e be ginning. Th e founde rs al s o h ad a cl as s anal ys is , be l ie ving itw as im portant to putpre s s ure on th e pe opl e w h o profit, re cogniz ing th e y are th e de cis ion-m ak e rs noton th e w ork e rs . M arv Davidov, one of th e founde rs , e ncourage d th e group: “Le t’s notdo itunl e s s w e can do iffor 5 ye ars .” Th e y be gan by doing re s e arch for 6 m onth s to find oute ve ryth ing th e y coul d, m appe d office s and pl ants , m e tw ith w ork e rs , focus e d on th e l ie th atcl us te r bom bs w e re us e d agains tfigh ting force s notcivil ians . In th e s piritofnonviol e nce , organiz e rs m e tw ith H one yw e l lBoard Ch air Jim Be nge r, w h o form e d a re l ations h ip w ith M arv Davidov, H one yw e l lProje ct coordinator. Th e H one yw e l lProje cts tarte d l e afl e ting th e tw o pl ants w h e re th e cl us te r bom bs m ade . In April19 69 fifty activis ts de m ons trate d outs ide H one yw e l l ’s annuals h are h ol de rs m e e ting, m ak ing vis ibl e th e h orribl e re al ity ofcl us te r bom bs . Th e y w e re give n10 m inute s to s pe ak to th e m e e ting, th e corporations ’ re s pons e w as th at“th e
gove rnm e ntcom e s to us , it’s our citiz e nl y duty.” Publ icity from th atre s ul te d in a union e xe cutive and progre s s ive pe opl e contacting th e Proje ct. H one yw e l lProje ctcre ate d an organiz ation of14 l ocaland re gional groups . Pe opl e bough ts tock to ge tinto th e Sh are h ol de rs m e e tings . In April19 70 H one yw e l lProje ctorganiz e d 3,000 de m ons trators outs ide and ins ide th e H one yw e l lannuals h are h ol de rs m e e ting, w h ich l as te d onl y14 m inute s as a re s ul t. Th e nationalpre s s corp w as th e re to cove r th is ne w s trate gy in th e antiw ar m ove m e nt. Spe ak ing tours ins pire d oth e r corporate cam paigns . In 19 71 tw o nationalgroups e nte re d th e cam paign to s top H one yw e l l ’s production ofcl us te r bom bs . According to M arv Davidov, “W e w e re organiz ing l ocal l y w h il e doing outre ach gl obal l y.” Th e l ocal organiz ing incl ude d s tude nts de m ons trating agains tcorporate re cruite rs on cam pus , and a Profe s s or doing re s e arch on pe ace conve rs ion pos s ibil itie s . Th e focus on cl us te r bom bs cre ate d a s ituation w h e re s om e pe opl e q uitw ork ing for H one yw e l l . Th e corporation gotm ore s oph is ticate d, Th e y produce d a 4 page pam ph l e tre s ponding to e ve ry is s ue th e H one yw e l lProje ctw as rais ing and dis tribute d itto th e ir 100,000 w ork e rs w orl dw ide . Th e y s e ntm e m os to w ork e rs e ncouraging th e m notto tal k w ith de m ons trators , cl aim ing th e y w e re th re ate ning th e ir job. H one yw e l lbe gan to give m ore donations to th e com m unity. Th e y cre ate d ads th ats aid th e y “do good th ings ”. Th e y w e re cl e arl y fe e l ing th e pre s s ure . In April19 75 th e Vie tnam W ar e nde d. From 19 75 th rough 19 80 th e cam paign w as dorm ante xce ptfor a l aw s uit. Th e Am e rican CivilLibe rtie s Union (ACLU) s ue d H one yw e l land th e FBI for cons piracy to de ny cons titutionalrigh ts of m e m be rs ofH one yw e l lProje ctand oth e r l ocalpe ace groups . Th e FBI h ad inform ants in th e ir group from 19 69 -19 72, th e y adm itte d itbutne ve r adm itte d th e y did anyth ing w rong. Th e cas e w as s e ttl ed in 19 85, $70,000 w as aw arde d. H one yw e l l Proje ctgave m one y to Sh ove l s for Laos w h ich e nabl e d pe as ants to dig s l ow e r s o th atw h e n th e y h itth e m e talcl us te r bom bs th e y coul d s top.
In 19 81 H one yw e l lProje ctre groupe d. At th e 19 82 Sh are h ol de rs m e e ting oppos ition to th e M X m is s il e contracts dom inate d th e dis cus s ion. In 19 82 th e H one yw e l lProje ctal s o dis cove re d th at H one yw e l lm anufacture d th e cl us te r bom bs us e d by Is rae l i force s s h e l l ing Be irut. Th atye ar 36 pe opl e w e re arre s te d ata nonviol e ntaction atcorporate h e adq uarte rs . Th e H one yw e l lProje ct cre ate d a participatory s tructure to organiz e l arge de m ons trations . Nonviol e nce training w as im portant. Ral l ie s incl ude d a cul turalcom pone nt. In 19 83 577 pe opl e w e re arre s te d be fore th e de pl oym e ntofCruis e and Pe rs h ing m is s il e s to W e s te rn Europe , s h utting dow n th e h e adq uarte rs for a day. Th e trial s w e re partofth e s trate gy. Th e y w e re abl e to rais e th e is s ue ofth e dam age caus e d by th e s e w e apons and tie d up th e courtfor a ye ar . From 19 82 th rough 19 9 0, tw ice a ye ar H one yw e l lProje ctorganiz e d nonviol e nt civildis obe die nce actions . Th e y w rote s h are h ol de rs re s ol utions to s top th e m ak ing ofcl us te r bom bs and for e conom ic conve rs ion. Th e ir s trate gy w as bas e d on l ocalorganiz ing, w h il e doing re gional , nationaland inte rnationalne tw ork ing. Nationaland inte rnationalpre s s ure w as im portant. Th e y rais e d th e ir vis ibil ity during th e 19 80’s w ith th e participation ofw e l lk now n pe opl e . M e dia cove rage w as good, al th ough itfocus e d m ore on h um an inte re s ts torie s th an th e is s ue ofe conom ic conve rs ion. “60 M inute s ”, a popul ar US TVne w s s h ow , fil m e d a s e gm e nton H one yw e l lCorporation buts ubm itte d to pre s s ure to cutth e focus on th e H one yw e l l Proje ct.
A boycottofH one yw e l lcons um e r products w as notcal l e d for, al th ough m any ch oos e notto buy products m ade by w e apons m anufacture rs . In 19 89 H one yw e l ltrie d to s e l lth e w e apons divis ion butno one w oul d buy it. W h e n itcoul d nots e l lits w e apons divis ion th e y cre ate d anoth e r corporation: Al l iant Te ch Sys te m s . H one yw e l ls aid s e l l ing offth e ir w e apons divis ion w as due to a com bination of e conom ic factors incl uding th e “e nd ofcol d w ar”. Ye trath e r th an dis banding th at divis ion th e y cre ate d a s ucce s s fulne w com pany. Al l iantTe ch is th e bigge s t produce r ofl and m ine s and bul l e ts in th e w orl d. H one yw e l ls aid th atde m ons trators h ad no e ffe ct, butth e ir actions contradict th at. In 19 9 5 Al l iantAction w as cre ate d. Th e H one yw e l lProje ctcan cl aim a num be r ofs ucce s s e s – e ve ryone k ne w w h ata cl us te r bom b w as , th e s e w e apons w e re no l onge r invis ibl e . Th is fue l ed oppos ition to th e us e ofs uch w e apons and to th e w ars th e y w e re us e d in. H one yw e l lProje cth e l pe d m ak e th e corporate rol e in w ar vis ibl e , be cam e a m ode lfor oth e r anti-corporate cam paigns , particul arl y in its us e ofnonviol e ntdire ct action. Th e organiz ing gave ris e to a s trong progre s s ive m ove m e ntin M inne apol is th atre m ains today. Butde s pite th os e s ucce s s e s , production ofcl us te r bom bs continue s . O ur ch al l e nge is to find s ucce s s fulw ays to s top th e s e m e rch ants ofde ath . According to H one yw e l lProje ctfounde r M arv Davidov, “Give n th e pe rm ane ntw ar e conom y, th e m ove m e ntm us tbe l ocal , re gional , nationaland inte rnationalto be e ffe ctive .” Joanne Sh e e h an
Jim Be nge r w as H one yw e l l ’s Ch airm an ofth e Board from 19 68 to 19 75. H ow e ve r, m e e tings w ith H one yw e l lofficial s e nde d wh enh e l e ft. Th e ne w CEO re cogniz e d th atw ork e r’s m oral e w as l ow be caus e of de cade s ofprote s ts , and re fus e d to m e e t w ith th e group. In 19 84 H one yw e l lCorp did a forum on “Pros pe ctfor Pe ace m ak ing” to s h ow th e y w e re inte re s te d in pe ace m ak ing. Th e y m e t w ith oth e r pe ace groups , and re fus e d to m e e tw ith H one yw e l lProje ct.
Donate to W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational from page 2 force s , incl uding th e radio ofth e nationalpol ice , th e radio ofth e arm y, TVprogram s on th e s tate ch anne l , th e ‘Im pacto’ program on th e UNO ch anne l , and th e ‘m e n ofh onor’ s h ow w h ich pre s e nts a pos itive im age ofth e arm e d force s and l e ads pe opl e to s e e m il itariz ation as a w ay to re s ol ve inte rnalconfl icts . Th e s e com m unication s trate gie s capture s tate re s ource s as w e l las ge ne rating th e ir ow n re ve nue , w h ich al l ow s th e m to e xpand th e ir s ocialm il itariz ation program s . Final l y th e arm e d force s and s tate s e curity force s h ave a s e rie s of publ ications and com m unications aim e d atm ak ing th e popul ation fe l l ‘s afe ’. Th e y al s o cl os e offre s ide ntialare as ne ar carte l s , and m il itaril y occupy publ ic s pace s , th e re by ge ne rating a s ocie ty bas e d on m il itary controlove r civil ian l ife in th e urban ce nte rs . O ne w oul d h ave to arrive atth e concl us ion th atbe ing a w ar profite e r is a e as y and m ore l ucrative bus ine s s th atbe ing and actor in arm e d confl ict. Al s o itis appare ntth atth os e invol ve d in w ar profite e ring are ofte n m ore M ach iave l l ian th an th e s ol die rs th e m s e l ve s . Th e y controlth e fine s trings ofpow e r and de ath , butth e y don’tdire ctl y ge tth e ir h ands dirty be caus e th e y are notth e one s w h o do th e k il l ing. FO K A (Acción K ol e ctiva por l a O bje ción Fis cal ) Trans l ation: M attYarrow
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Re portfrom th e "Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce " th e m e group During W RI Inte rnationalConfe re nce “Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce ” w e h ad a th e m e group on th e topic ofw ar profite e ring. M e e ting e ve ry day ofth e confe re nce , w e w e re abl e to go th rough a proce s s ofl e arning aboutw ar profite e rs , cam paigns agains tth e m , and e xpl ore h ow W RI’s Gl obalInitiative Agains tW ar Profite e rs can h e l p groups in th is im portantw ork . Th e aim s ofth is th e m e group w e re : *Le arn from groups w ork ing on th e topic *M ak e l ink s be tw e e n th e groups al re ady w ork ing on w ar profite e rs and groups and individual s w h o are ne w to it *Ide ntify th e rol e th atW RI can pl ay in cam paigning agains tw ar profite e rs atan inte rnationall e ve l *Ide ntify s trate gie s Com e w ith concre te ide as to w ork in th e future W e s tarte d by de s cribing w ar profite e rs and anal yz ing s trate gic opportunitie s to s top th e m . Ann Fe l th am from th e Cam paign Agains tth e Arm s Trade (UK ). Expl aining th atth e re are tw o k inds ofarm s trade : s m al larm s /l igh tw e apons and th e m ajor w e apons , s h e focus on th e big com panie s th atm ak e th e l arge w e apons s ys te m s and h igh te ch com pone nts . W h il e th e s e products can k il l ,al otare ne ve r us e d. Eve n ifth e productdoe s is notus e d, it can give m orals upportto h um an righ ts viol ators , dam age s e conom ie s and th e e nvironm e nt, h e l ps th e m il itary m yth continue . Such w e apons are bough tby any gove rnm e ntw ith m one y. Fre nch activis tTik iri e xpl aine d m il itary outs ourcing – h ow private com panie s now profitby providing s e rvice s th atw e re once done by th e m il itary. Th e s e fal linto th re e cate gorie s : 1)ge ne rals e rvice s s uch as l aundry, cate ring and trans port(provide d by com panie s s uch as Sode xh o and Se rco. 2) Te ch nol ogy de ve l opm e nt, provide d by arm s m anufacture rs s uch as Lock h e e d-M artin and North rup Grum m an. 3)Private M il itary com panie s th e provide s e curity guards and m e rce narie s , draw from el ite force s by com panie s s uch as Bl ack w ate r Se curity and CACI. Re cons truction is anoth e r ne w e r form ofw ar profite e ring. A pre s e ntation by Sim on H arak from W ar Re s is te rs Le ague ’s Stop M e rch ants ofDe ath Cam paign (US) e xpl aine d h ow com panie s s uch as Be ch te land H al l iburton re ap h uge profits from contracts to “re buil d” Iraq afte r th e bom bs ofoth e r w ar profite e rs h ave de s troye d it.
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M ich Crol s from Forum voor Vre de s actie , Jan Cape l l e from Proye cto Gato and M arijn Pape rk am p from th e Dutch Cam paign Agains tArm s Trade tol d of
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Th e m e groups m ark e tduring th e "Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce " confe re nce h e ir w ork w ith private financialins titutions and Export Cre ditAge ncie s th atare invol ve d w ith arm s m anufacture rs . Bank s h ave s h are s in th e arm s indus try, or s upportw ith l oans /cre dits trans actions for arm s trade . ExportCre ditAge ncie s (ECAs ) are publ icl y back e d gove rnm e ntor s e m i-gove rnm e nt age ncie s w h ich give financialguarante e s to com panie s ope rating abroad, incl uding arm s s al es. Th e y are th e s ingl e l arge s ts ource oftaxpaye r s upportfor private s e ctor com panie s s e e k ing to offl oad on to th e publ ic th e financialris k s ofth e ir bus ine s s in th e South and Eas te rn Europe . Th e pre s e nte rs al ltol d us h ow th e “re vol ving door” is a k e y factor for w ar profite e rs , h e l ping com panie s re ap e ve n l arge r profits from gove rnm e nts . Pe opl e w h o are m ak ing th e de cis ions re garding w e apons contracts re pre s e nts trong corporate inte re s tin th e s e de al s. Cas e s tudie s ofcam paigns h e l p us unde rs tand w h ich are good s trate gie s for w ork ing agains tw ar profite e rs . Se ve ralcas e s tudie s w e re pre s e nte d. W e h e ard aboutCam paign agains tth e De fe nce ExportSe rvice s O rganis ation in th e UK w h ich e xis ts to s e l larm s for com panie s and to l obby for arm s e xports w ith in th e gove rnm e nt. “M y M one y Cl e ar Cons cie nce ” is a Be l gian cam paign pre s s uring bank s to dis inve s tin arm s produce rs , w ith a firs ts te p to ge tth e m to dis inve s tfrom controve rs ial arm s produce rs . Cam paigns agains tExportCre ditAge ncie s both in th e Ne th e rl ands and in Be l gium . Th e ge ne ralaim of th e s e cam paigns is to e nd th e financials upportfor arm s e xports s ince th is w oul d m ak e th e e xportof l arge , e xpe ns ive w e apons s ys te m s to de ve l oping countrie s al m os tim pos s ibl e. We l e arne d from th e H one yw e l lProje ct, a nonviol e ntcam paign in th e USA agains ta com pany th atm ade cl us te r bom bs us e d agains tth e pe opl e of Vie tnam . We l e arne d from th e s e cas e s tudie s th ata s ucce s s fulcam paign h as to com bine cl e ar goal s, good re s e arch on th e com panie s and an unde rs tanding ofth e s ituation w ith a dive rs ity of tactics . Itis im portantto focus on th e de s tructive nature ofth e w e apons and to m ak e vis ibl e h ow corporations carry outth e ir bus ine s s (e .g ins ide r infl ue ncing, bribe ry, e xce s s ive profits m ade from taxpaye rs ), cal l ing th e ir re putation for be ing “good corporations ” into q ue s tion. Cam paigns ne e d to provide opportunitie s for pe opl e to join organiz e d e fforts to e l im inate corporate pow e r. During th e th e m e group w e agre e d th atW RI ne e ds to pl ay a rol e in coordinating an e xch ange of inform ation ofw h atvarious groups are doing, and prom ote th e ir w ork to th e w ide r antim il itaris tnonviol e ntne tw ork . W RI ne e ds to provide re s ource s s uch as cas e s tudie s to h e l p groups de ve l op s trate gie s for nonviol e ntcam paigns . To buil da s ucce s s fulinitiative agains tw ar profite e rs , W RI ne e ds to k now w h atyour ne e ds are and h ow w e can hel p you de ve l op your cam paigns . Ifyou are doing th is w ork or w antto be gin to de ve l op e fforts to s top w ar profite e rs , pl e as e contactus ! Joanne Sh e e h an and Javie r Gárate co-conve ne r w ar profite e rs th e m e group