[imc-ontario-stories] Resisting Wescam Warmaking, Friday May 13, 3-5 pm, Burlington

[TASC]

(feel free to forward)

Protest Wescam's Profits of War, and Remember Wescam's Victims:
Friday, May 13, 3-5 pm
L-3/Wescam, 649 North Service Rd. West (at King Rd.), Burlington
For rides from Toronto call (416) 651-5800 or email tasc at web.ca

Why is Burlington home to a major military manufacturer called Wescam?
How many have been killed by militaries using Wescam products?
Is Wescam developing technology for space warfare and "missile defence"?

Burlington's largest military manufactuer, L-3/Wescam, continues to make a
lot of money off the targeting systems for a variety of deadly military
products, including the U.S. Air Force's "Predator" unmanned aerial
vehicle. They supply human rights violators from Egypt to Colombia. And now
they may be involved in the creation of products for space warfare (parent
company L-3 is a "missile defence" contractor. A key part of space warfare
relies on the targeting technology of a company like Wescam.)

Three quarters of Wescam's business is "government systems," a euphemism
for Colombian and Canadian navy boats, US Marines attack helicopters, and
US missile-carrying unmanned aerial vehicles. The "payload" Wescam provides
these attack machines makes military domination and repression easier for
those who want to pay for it. Wescam's products have very likely been, and
very likely are, being used in wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia and
elsewhere around the globe.

Wescam's products are also used in repressive border control measures
directed at refugees and immigrants, and in police operations against
groups like, well, peace and social justice goups! And crappy Hollywood
movies with aerial views of car chase scenes? You can thank Wescam for
those too.

Crimes Against Humanity and Crimes Against Aesthetics: it's all here in
Beautiful Burlington, Ontario.

For more info: Call Homes not Bombs Burlington (ask for Gail),
905-634-7654. HNB Burlington has held vigils regularly at Wescam since the
fall of 2002.

IF YOU ARE COMING FROM TORONTO, CALL (416) 651-5800 so we can go down together.

Background on Wescam and prior actions there:

Basic background, http://www.hwcn.org/link/hasc/weScam.html

Weapons Inspectors Busted at Burlington's Wescam; Three Charged Seeking
Information on Canadian Company's Possible Links to International Law
Violations, December 10, 2002, http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/wescambusts3.htm

"Wescam Three" Acquitted: Anti-War Protesters Cleared of Trespass Charges
but Sternly Lectured on the Pre-Eminence of Private Property by
Restaurateur turned Justice of the Peace; "These people [military
manufacturer Wescam] run a business. I don't know what it is and I don't
care what it is." - Burlington Crown Attorney Tom Davies, April 2003,
http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/wescamacquit.htm

Hamilton directions
- From the 403, exit at Waterdown Road and head north to North Service
Road, then east on North Service to Wescam, which is very near King Road.

- From Plains Road (York Blvd in Hamilton), turn left on King Road and
follow it over the 403 to King Road. Turn right and you're there.

- Bus service from Hamilton leaves Jackson Square regularly, taking York
Blvd, which turns into Plains Road. It's $2.35, but transfers from the HSR
on Burlington Transit work, and vice versa. Get off at King Road in
Burlington and walk north on King. At a brisk pace it takes about 15
minutes to reach North Service Road and Wescam.