Fly Kites Not Drones 2018

In this country, we currently – and one can only hope and pray, permanently – enjoy skies that are free of drone warfare. Residents of other countries are not so lucky. Why we think we can use this technology against others and imagine it will never happen to us, is beyond comprehension. Acknowledging this, Hastings Against War has organised Fly Kites Not Drones 2018, in peaceful solidarity with people who live in countries where drones have been and are still causing death, injury and fear. Rona Drennen writes.

This international campaign is led by young peace activists in Kabul who initiated the campaign in 2012 with their stories of how armed drones now make Afghan children too afraid to take part in their most loved pastime of kite running.

This is a much loved action which appeals to old and young who enjoy the joy and exhilaration of flying, while the symbolism and solidarity shown to children living under the threat of armed drones can be more powerful than words.

Fly your kite!

Save the date: Sunday 18 March 2018. People will be flying their kites from 11am on Hastings Beach (opposite the Carlisle Pub).

Make your kite!

Hastings Against War offer you the chance to make your own kite on Tuesday 6 March at 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 5 South Terrace, Hastings TN34 1SA. Ground floor with easy access. Entrance free. All welcome. Bring your own scissors. Materials and instructions provided. They will be using the template from the Fly Kites Not Drones Resources pack, on sale at the meeting.

Drone warfare

Drones have become the new way to wage war. The use of drones to launch attacks from great distances continues to grow.  Britain, the US and Israel have used armed drones in Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Gaza, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia.

Drones make war more likely. Drones mean that politicians and military commanders can now launch armed attacks and undertake military intervention anywhere around the globe at no human loss of their own population. Remote warfare potentially means more warfare. The use of armed drones to launch lethal strikes around the world is becoming ‘normalised’, resulting in a state of perpetual war.

Drones kill the innocent and terrorise the civilian population living under constant drone surveillance and threat of attack. US, Israel, and UK forces using drones claim that only enemy fighters are killed in their ‘targeted precision’ drone attacks, but numerous reliable corroborated reports of independent observers has proved otherwise: large numbers of women and children are also killed.

There is a lack of transparency on the part of the UK government and little informed public debate on the use of these weapons.

What can you do to stop the drones?

• Learn more via Fly Kites Not Drones and Drone Wars.
• Raise awareness in your network and community and campaign against drone warfare
• Join your local peace group: Hastings Against War, which belongs to the UK campaign network, Drone Campaign Network.
• Like this event and the group on Facebook.

A recent article by Drone Wars UK explains why now more than ever we need to be resisting drones, as they have allowed war to become perpetual. Although IS have been declared beaten in Syria and Iraq and UK fighter planes are returning home, the UK drones will remain in the region.

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