Take action against EDO MBM

Wed 20th February 2019

12 noon – 2.00pm

Information stall in Brighton city centre War Memorial, The Old Steine,

3.30pm onwards

Demonstration at Harris Corps, weapons factory, [formerly known as EDO MBM], Home Farm Road, Moulsecoomb

(You can get there via the road and steps at the back of Moulsecoomb Station or by walking up Home Farm Road from Lewes Road.)

Please circulate this email widely or share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/378729742905244/

Why now?

On 4th September 2018 Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) granted planning permission to US arms company Harris Corporation subsidiary EDO MBM Technology Ltd to expand its production of aircraft weapons release systems at its site on Home Farm Road in Brighton (Reference BH2018/01868). This most recent decision to allow EDO MBM to expand comes less than 15 months after planning permission was granted for a two storey side extension (Reference BH2016/05939).

Why EDO?

The EDO MBM factory has produced parts for weaponry sold to countries including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey and the United States, allowing them to commit grave human rights abuses, in violation of international law.

EDO components are being produced for UK-supplied Saudi Tornado and Typhoon warplanes. These warplanes are assisting war crimes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen. The war in Yemen has caused over 60,000 civilian deaths and a widespread famine, with UN OCHA estimating that 8.4 million people are at imminent risk of starvation.

Further, EDO owns the VER-2 (Veritical Ejection Rack), the main bomb rack used on the Israel F-16, which have been used to bomb Gaza. EDO bomb release components are supplied to Israel, Saudi Arabia and US air forces certified for use with cluster bombs, contrary to the Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act 2010.

In 2014, Israel’s aerial bombardment and ground invasion of beseiged Gaza killed over 2,200 Palestinians, nearly a quarter of them children. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reports that the Israeli F-16 is the most likely military aircraft delivery system for its nuclear weapons.

Could you make a donation?

We are a new group without any resources. If you could make a small donation to help cover the costs of the demonstration or future actions please get in touch.

Want to get a bit more involved?

If you want to get a bit more involved in planning for 20th February, such a flyering, making banners or placards, or doing stuff afterwards than drop us as email at brightonaat@riseup.net.

Join us in Brighton to take action against EDO MBM