On June 6, 2010, the United States plans to launch a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the California central coast. The missile will likely carry one or more “unarmed” warheads to the Ronald Reagan Test Site in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

The launch, the first of two planned for the month of June, will come
just nine days after the completion of the nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations.

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation President, David Krieger, who attended the NPT Review Conference earlier this month, said, “U.S. testing so close to the end of the NPT Review Conference will make many countries doubt our sincerity in
fulfilling our nuclear disarmament obligations under the NPT.
President Obama has said that he wants to reduce the role of nuclear
weapons in US security policy, but tests such as this one suggest that
we are continuing with business as usual.”

Krieger continued, “When any country tests long-range missiles and
nuclear weapons, it is more than just a test. It is a message to the
world and perhaps to specific countries; it says in effect, ‘This is
what we can do to you.’ If the US wants to lead the way to a world
free of nuclear weapons, it needs to stop sending such provocative
messages. In the US we are very aware of such messages when other
countries test. We seem to have a blind spot in our thinking about our
own tests.” For more info contact Rick Wayman at rwayman@napf.org or call (805) 965 3443

There will be a protest at the front gate of Vandenberg on Saturday,
June 5 at 1:00 pm to oppose the upcoming ICBM tests. David Krieger,
President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and Andrew Lichterman of
the Western States Legal Foundation will speak at the event. June 5 is
“Nuclear Abolition Day,” with events promoting the abolition of
nuclear weapons taking place in cities around the world. For more information on Nuclear Abolition Day, including the protest event in Los Angeles, please visit Nuclear Abolition Day Web Site

Posted: May 29th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
Comments: 2

In Santa Barbara Federal Court today, May 20, federal prosecutor Sharon McCaslin dropped all charges against Bud Boothe, Scott Fina, Hortensia Hernandez-Apel, Jorge Manly-Gil, Mary Becker and Steve Kelly, S.J..  However, Dennis Apel and MacGregor Eddy will be tried on July 15 for violating the arbitrary ban and bar order. Please mark your calendar and support them at the Santa Barbara Federal Court – 1415 State St., Santa Barbara, 93101. For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail: macgregoreddy@gmail.com or see MacGregor Eddy’s Blog for further info.

Posted: May 21st, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
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For the third time, on April 15, Bud Boothe appeared before U.S. Magistrate Federman for his arraignment for the Nov. 4th arrest. The prosecution has yet to file charges, therefore it was continued to May 20.

On the same day, Dennis Apel, Jorge Manly, and MacGregor Eddy also appeared before U.S. Magistrate Federman. However, since the original arrest in February, two identical charges have been filed but not yet placed on the court docket. The Judge agreed to hear all charges on May 20.

Please support them at the Santa Barbara Federal Court – 1415 State St., Santa Barbara, 93101. For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail: macgregoreddy@gmail.com or see MacGregor Eddy’s Blog for further info.

Posted: April 18th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
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Join us on Saturday,  June 5–World Nuclear Abolition Day– to vigil for peace and voice our opposition to the planned June Minuteman III ICBM thermonuclear warhead delivery system test launch from Vandenberg to Kwajalein, in the Marshall Islands. Testing nuclear weapon delivery systems violates the letter and spirit of article VI of the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). See slide presentation HERE

Please join us at either Vandenberg AFB from 1 pm to 3 pm, at the front gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base, six miles north of Lompoc CA on Highway One. (parking allowed at Vandenberg Middle School on Saturdays). Speaker: Andrew Lichterman of Western States Legal Foundation, or Los Angeles AFB in El Segundo, from 3 pm to 5 pm. The Los Angeles AFB is located at 262 N. Douglas, El Segundo, 90245  (aka Los Angeles Space and Missile Center), (please note, there is no public parking on nearby streets; plan to shuttle from available parking or public transit or drop off signs and people and have the driver find parking.) Speaker: Que Keju who will read a statement on behalf of residents of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.

Endorsed by: International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons;  Physicians for Social Responsibility; Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space; Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; War Resisters League; Los Angeles Catholic Worker; Office of the Americas; and Western States Legal Foundation;

For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail macgregoreddy@gmail.com or visit MacGregor Eddy’s Blog.

Posted: March 24th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
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Dennis Apel, MacGregor Eddy, and Jorge Manly-Gil have a court date scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 9 am, for their March 3rd arrest. At 10:30 am Bud Boothe’s trial/arraignment (part 3) will continue for his November 4th arrest.

Please support them at the Santa Barbara Federal Court – 1415 State St., Santa Barbara, 93101. For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail: macgregoreddy@gmail.com or see MacGregor Eddy’s Blog for further info.

(Ret) Col. Ann Wright will be at a noon press conference following the court appearances.  Court seating is limited, but everyone is invited to the press conference.

Also, check out this Slideshow about Vandenberg.

Posted: March 16th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
Comments: 1

A test launch of the Minotaur IV (first ever launch of this rocket) is scheduled for April 20 from Vandenberg.  Payload is not known. It is likely that this date will be rescheduled, therefore, no protest is scheduled.

For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail macgregoreddy@gmail.com

See Vandenberg launch schedule here

Posted: March 11th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
Comments: 2

The chief of public affairs for the base, Jeremy Eggers, was present wearing a suit and tie, but nobody was asked to present ID.  However, after a two minute warning, though they did not cross the line, Dennis Apel, MacGregor Eddy, Fr. Steve Kelly, and Jorge Manly-Gil were detained as a result of their “ban and bar” letter, taken to the visitor center and cited for illegal trespass then released.  The MP’s approached Bud Boothe in a respectful manner, but did not arrest him.  They wanted Bud to sign a piece of paper, but when he refused, they left. A reporter from the Santa Maria Sun was present to cover the vigil, as well as the L.A. Catholic Worker Community and supporters from Santa Barbara.

The base has received many letters and press inquiries about the mistreatment Bud Boothe received on November 4.   His arraignment remains scheduled for March 18 at 1:30 pm.  Bud has retained Catherine Swysen, of Sanger and Swysen, as his counsel. Please send letters of support to: Bud Boothe, P.O. Box 464, Los Olivos, CA 93441.  He does not use e-mail.

The next monthly vigil will be Wednesday, April 7, at 4pm at the front gate on Highway One six miles north of Lompoc.  Please do not park in the middle school parking lot, park on Mountain View Street near the school and walk to the front gate. Please join us.

For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail macgregoreddy@gmail.com

Posted: March 11th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
Comments: none

Our regular monthly vigil is planned for Wednesday, March 3, at 3 pm. Please join us on the first Wednesday of each month at the front gate on Highway One six miles north of Lompoc.  Please do not park in the middle school parking lot, but park on Mountain View Street near the school and walk to the front gate.

Posted: February 27th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
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Because the prosecution did not have the law he was charged with violating, Bud Booth’s February 18 arraignment was postponed until March 18, at 1:30 pm.  Bud is charged with a class A misdemeanor for refusing to provide ID on November 4, 2009, when injured by the MPs.  Bud is a WWII Army Air Corps veteran who flew with the late historian and author Howard Zinn. Please support Bud at the Santa Barbara Federal Court – 1415 State St., Santa Barbara, 93101. See MaGregor Eddy’s blog for further info.

http://vandenbergprotest-macgregor.blogspot.com/

Posted: February 27th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
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The Wednesday (February 3) vigil, was peaceful.  Seven people gathered outside the main gate. MacGregor Eddy was detained and cited for a bar and ban violation. Dennis Apel and Jorge Manley-Gil also were detained for failing to show identification.   Dennis was held until 10:30 pm at the Lompoc jail;  Jorge was released quickly since he was ID’d on Sunday.

Bud Boothe appears in Santa Barbara Federal Court, 1415 State St, 9 am, Thursday, February 18, for the November 4, 2009 witness when MP’s injured him. If you plan to attend, you must have ID and no cell phones are allowed inside the court.  Please come to support Bud.   Donations for legal costs can be sent to the Vandenberg Peace Legal Defense Fund, P.O. Box 5789, Salinas CA 93915. NOTE: Donations are not tax deductible as the Fund is not a 501 (c)(3).

Another vigil is planned for Wednesday, March 3. Please join our monthly vigils at 3 pm on the first Wednesday of every month, at the front gate on Highway One six miles north of Lompoc.  Do not park in the Middleschool parking lot.  Park on Mountain View Street near the school and walk to the front gate.

Posted: February 6th, 2010 under News, Upcoming Events.
Comments: 3