From Fly Kites Not Drones in 2016.

HAW renews campaign against use of drones in  warfare

Hastings Against War continues to campaign against the growing use of drones in warfare with a consciousness-raising evening and the annual Fly Kites Not Drones event on the beach. John Enefer reports.

On Tuesday 5 March local activists Hastings Against War will host an evening to raise awareness about armed drones ahead of this year’s Fly Kites Not Drones, an annual event aimed at highlighting the growing use of armed drones. This, campaigners say, makes the world less safe by introducing a ‘Playstation mentality’ into waging war and allowing governments to launch wars abroad with no risk to their own side.

Fly Kites Not Drones was started in 2014 by the Afghan Peace Volunteers – a group of young Afghans committed to advancing peace in their war-stricken country and across the world. Reflecting the passion for kite-flying in their land, as well as concerns about civilian deaths caused there by drones, they began Fly Kites Not Drones, which has since been marked in the US and across England, as well as in Afghanistan.

The event is timed to coincide with Nao Roz – New Year’s Day as celebrated in Afghanistan and across the Middle East.

Armed drones have been used in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen and elsewhere. Since 2013 armed drones have been operated in the UK from RAF Waddington, south of Lincoln.

Although promoted as an improved way to wage war there are also concerns about the number of civilian and ‘bystander’ victims of armed drones. A leaked classified document revealed that nearly 90% of people killed during a five-month period of one drone campaign in Afghanistan (Operation Haymaker) were not the intended targets.

The meeting on Tuesday 5 March will start at 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 5 South Terrace, Hastings.

Hastings Against War meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Quaker Meeting House, South Terrace. The meetings begin at 7pm and everyone is welcome.

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