GREENPEACE INVADES US SPY BASE FOR SECOND DAY

GREENPEACE INVADES US SPY BASE FOR SECOND DAY

4 July 2001

Menwith Hills, UK-Greenpeace activists have invaded a US spy base in North Yorkshire in the UK for a second day running.

20 protestors again breached security at the Menwith Hills (1) site at 06:45 am this morning (local time).

14 of the activists were stopped soon after entering the base, but six members of the group are still inside, 4 have started climbing a radio mast. They're joining a New Zealand activist who spent the night occupying another radio mast on the base. The second day of action was set to coincide with 4th of July celebrations in America.

"We want to send a clear message to George Bush that his Star Wars programme is not welcome here," said Greenpeace International Disarmament campaigner William Peden, "The Menwith Hills base is described as the eyes and ears of the programme, and we want everyone to see and hear our objections". The best Independence Day celebration would be to be liberated from the threat of a new nuclear arms race, a threat that will become very real if George Bush pursues Star Wars," Peden added.

The Star Wars programme is reliant upon the use of the listening station at Menwith Hills in North Yorkshire in the UK as well as a second nearby early warning radar base at Fylingdales and another similar facility at Thule in Greenland.

One of the activists involved in this morning's protest is from Denmark.

"We believe Britain and Denmark should join together to stop Star Wars. Both our Prime Ministers should send a clear message today that Star Wars is not wanted. It can be stopped and it should be stopped," said Anne Marie Rasmussen

Yesterday over a hundred protestors breached security at the base and spent the day occupying a water tower and adjacent roof top. The last of those protestors were removed just a few hours ago.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Call mobile 07801 212993 or the Greenpeace UK media office 0207 865 8255 (pager 01399 787076).

(1) The Menwith Hill base is rented from the British government by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and is home to over 1,000 American NSA personnel. It is primarily a listening base, which intercepts international phone , fax and email communications. However it also houses two 'golf ball' radomes that are described as.the "eyes and ears" the planned Star Wars system ). Two SBIRS (Space Based Infrared System) Radomes have been constructed in the Menwith Hill complex. If the UK government give the go ahead they will be used as a ground relay station to transmit information on missile location and trajectory back to the US to assist with targetting for ground, sea, air and space based interceptors.

For a background briefing on Greenpeace's international campaign to Stop Star Wars visit www.stopstarwars.org.