----- Original Message ----- From: Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:;@mindspring.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 6:56 PM Subject: GERMAN PROTEST OF RUMSFELD VISIT PROTEST OF RUMSFELD VISIT TO MUNICH EUROPEANS SAY NO TO STAR WARS For Immediate Release Contact: Regina Hagen (Darmstadt, Germany) [EMAIL PROTECTED] DARMSTADT - Peace groups have announced that they will protest the visit of new U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld when he visits Munich, Germany on February 3. Rumsfeld will be meeting with European leaders at the Munich Conference for Security Policy. The protest will be held at the Promenadeplatz at 11:00 am. Protest leaders are concerned that the Rumsfeld visit is an attempt to "sell" the new Star Wars program of the U.S. "This so-called National Missile Defense system is not about protecting the people of the world. It is part of the U.S. plan for 'control of space'. It is a destabilizing and provocative step that will lead to the development of a new arms race in space. We must speak out and say no", said Regina Hagen, a Board member of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. Rumsfeld, who told the Senate Armed Services Committee in his recent confirmation hearings that the ABM Treaty with Russia is "ancient history", has long been a proponent of Star Wars and has recently called for the U.S. to develop space-based weapons that will give the U.S. the ability to "deny" other countries "access to space." The Munich protest will be joined by local peace activists as well as by representatives from several large German national peace organizations. One of the many supporters who signed up to protest Rumsfeld's visit is Heidi Lippmann, a member of the German Parliament . "It is important that people all over the world understand that 'missile defense' will not protect us. In fact we will be less secure with such a system. We must create a global debate and movement to protect space from this new danger," said Hagen. "If the US continues with the militarization and weaponization of space, other countries are sure to follow. In their new space strategy, the European Commission and the European Space Agency are already suggesting that they may increase the use of European space assets for military purposes. We must stop this madness now. It's conflict prevention we must work on, not expanding conflict to space." For more information check the web site http://www.space4peace.org # # #
