2010 is a crucial year for nuclear disarmament. On the military base of Kleine Brogel (Belgium), there are estimated to be around 20 NATO nuclear weapons. Belgian pilotes are trained to use them. If we ever want to get rid of those nuclear weapons, the Belgian government has to take initiatives now. It's now or never. We aren't a part of the negociations, but we can make sure that the illegal nuclear weapon strategy doesn't go on undisturbed.

April 3rd will be a European Day of Action to ban nuclear weapons. Mass actions will take place at every European NATO nuclear weapons base in Germany, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Belgium.

Recent actions by the bombspotters activists : Bomspotters defy militaries of air force base Kleine Brogel | Torturés par des soldats belges dans une base de l'OTAN au coeur de l'Europe[fr]

2010: NOW OR NEVER FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS

The cold war is finished, twenty years already. A nuclear arsenal to control the main powers is not necessary. Against terrorism deterrence with mass nuclear weapons has no purpose. Nuclear weapons threaten our world. The nine countries which together own more than 25.000 nuclear weapons, are not sticking to their agreements to strive for a nuclear free world. Diverse countries work on the development of proper nuclear weapons.

2010: NEW CHANCES FOR NUCLEAR DISARMEMENT

What once appeared to be a far away dream, now is at reach. Even Obama wants to get rid of them. In a world where nuclear technology is widespread, it is for the proper safety more important to control nuclear weapons, than to own them. If owning a large arsenal of nuclear weapons obstructs the development of a strong control on nuclear technology, even old cold warriors start to doubt the use of nuclear weapons. Former ministers and politicians from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Norway, … over the past months called for a world free of nuclear weapons. The German and Norwegian ministers of foreign affairs, Dutch former prime minister Lubber, … they all want NATO to revise its nuclear weapons strategy.

2010 offers unique opportunities to put these statements into practise. In 2010 three important moments might be decisive for the future of nuclear weapons. The US discuss a new 'Nuclear Posture Review'. The review their nuclear strategy and determine which nuclear weapons will be deployed where. The final report is announced for March 2010.

From May 3rd on agreements will be made on the NPT Review Conference in New York, for the further execution of the Non-Proliferation treaty, the treaty that has to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons of nuclear weapons and in which nuclear weapons states promised to disarm. Also NATO discusses her strategy in 2010 for the coming 10 years. This time NATO can choose to go on without nuclear weapons. The NATO will wrap up its discussion on her strategical concept on a great NATO-summit on 19-21 November in Portugal.

2010: BELGIUM AWAITS

In the run op to the NPT review conference in May 2010 the political will in Europe is growing to get rid of nuclear weapons. The new German government puts the removal of the American nuclear weapons in the governmental agreement. The Norwegian government becomes engaged to start the debate within NATO. French dignitaries break a lance for nuclear disarmament. And Belgium? Last November Vredesactie had a talk with Minister of Foreign Affairs Leterme. The Belgian government for now leaves it up to the German government to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.

Even though the political space for an unambiguous plea for nuclear disarmament has never been so big, Belgium is afraid to put the NATO nuclear weapons into question. Even if the political space for a clear plea for nuclear disarmament has never been so big, Belgium obviously is reluctant to question NATO nuclear weapons. Still little engagement is being seen to support disarmament initiatives and to turn the NPT Review Conference into a success. What are we waiting for? If we want the nuclear weapons to disappear from Kleine Brogel, than the Belgian government has to take initiatives now. It is Now or Never.

2010: NUCLEAR DISARMEMENT IN ACTION

The past years thousands of people entered the Belgian military base of Kleine Brogel and the Brussels NATO headquarters in actions of civil disobedience. During complaint days thousands of official complaints were failed against the NATO nuclear weapons politics. In 2005 the Belgian parliament voted a resolution which demands the removal of nuclear weapons. The Belgian government remains stubborn in neglecting the call of the parliament. Until the day of today our minsters do not take any initiative to reduce their illegal nuclear weapons strategy.

DO IT YOURSELF ACTIONS

We are not taking part in the negotiations. We can´t agree on new treaties, but we can hinder that illegal nuclear weapons agreements, far away from the public in silence are further executed. We can make sure that Belgian ministers must react. We bring our knowledge and experience of ten years of Bombspotting into practice. We know where the nuclear weapons are situated, how they are secured, who secures them and which logistical and political structure keeps the nuclear politics alive. We know where we can take action, how to bring actions about and which actions are effective. One day is not enough, even though massive. Non-violent actions have to hinder the functioning of the base continuously. From December 2009 until the NPT-conference in May 2010 we call on all Bombspotters from across the country to head to Kleine Brogel on their own to non-violently enter the base, to disturb and get round the leak security.

April 3rd 2010: European Day of Action against Nuclear Weapons

April 3rd 2010, one month before the NPT Review Conference massive action will be undertaken at every European NATO nuclear weapons base in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Turkey, Great Britain and Belgium. In Belgium a large action of civil disobedience will shut down the base.

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