“Fly Kites Not Drones” Weekend of Action, March 21-23

From Voices for Creative Non-Violence UK

Afghans celebrate the New Year on March 21st. Voices for Creative Non-Violence is holding a weekend of solidarity with Afghans who will be facing uncertainty and the probable escalation in conflict during the renegotiation of the international presence within Afghanistan.

Kite flying has become synonymous with Afghanistan as a well loved pursuit which was banned under the Taliban, now Afghans are more used to the presence of UK and US armed and surveillance drones flying overhead. In the last 5 years there have been 547 UK drone strikes on Afghanistan, which is now the “drone capital” of the world.

We are encouraging concerned citizens, peace groups and those from the Muslim and Afghan community to fly kites in solidarity with Afghans who now have to live under the mental pressure and physical destruction which British and American drones now inflict upon Afghanistan.

The issue of drones has heightened in the last few weeks as Pakistani drone witness Kareem Khan was kidnapped and tortured -he was set to give evidence in the European Court, in addition a Yemani drones witness has also been harassed. Meanwhile British Courts threw out the case of Noor Khan due to fear of causing bad relations with the US, while new drone bases are set to open if not in Afghanistan then elsewhere in Asia and Britain co-operates directly with the US on launching drone strikes. Currently the cost of life by drones is unknown as the MoD refuse to release names and numbers due to “national security”.

Drone warfare is set to continue, we must resist now and make our voices heard.

Make your own kites (especially suitable for kids) see a basic template here.

Take Action:

Check Voices for Creative Nonviolence FaceBook page for events near you.

Fly a kite in your area Friday 21st- Sunday 23rd March
Take a photo and send a mini report of your action to kitesnotdrones@gmail.com
Make signs saying “In solidarity with peace for Afghans”, “Fly Kites Not Drones” etc and give out leaflets. VCNV UK will be returning from it’s third peace delegation to Kabul with a number of Afghan kites which you can order from us.

March 24-25 Fly a kite not a drone, Occupy Beale AFB monthly No Drones Peace Encampment outside Beale Air Force Base, Marysville, CA
Join CodePink, Veterans For Peace, and activists throughout Northern California
Mar. 24, Monday, 3pm-5pm, Wheatland Gate, S. Beale Rd. and Ostrom Rd.
Mon. Night Encampment, Main Gate, N. Beale Rd.
Mar. 25, Tuesday, 6-8am, Wheatland Gate
See Occupy Beale AFB FaceBook page.

Fly kites not drones Saturday 22nd March 2pm LONDON
Join a mass kite flying theatrical event in central London led by the feminist protest group ‘The Activettes’ who will be making props and costumes for a flamboyant daring and never forgotten action!

Drone Watch Waddington 1 to 3pm, 21st March
Bring a kite, banners and another other resources. The watch will be at the main gate on the A607- down a track off to the left before you reach the village of Waddington, coming from Bracebridge Heath. The no. I bus to Grantham via Waddington leaves from near Lincoln train station at 12.35 and returns again at 14.58 -There will also be a live Skype link up with the Afghan Peace Volunteers in Kabul

Order leaflets and your genuine Afghan Kite, or for further info, contact: kitesnotdrones@gmail.com