Humanists Call For Disarmament, Oppose New Base

Humanists Call For Disarmament, Oppose New Base

Prague, June 4, 2007

Humanist movement, founding member of the "No to the Bases" initaitive opposes the plan of the current US administration to build a radar base in the Czech Republic as part of the National Missile Defense System. Humanists will protest during the first day of President Bush’s visit in Prague on June 4 at 6pm at Hradčanské náměstí.

“We oppose the plan because it will lead to new arms race and because we don’t believe that Iran or North Korea represent real threat to the world security right now,” said Jan Tamáš, member of the Humanist movement and spokesperson of the initiative against the bases. “It reminds us the situation in 2003 when the whole world was told that there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq only to later find out that it was a lie.” He also stressed the fact that this US plan is dividing Europe and will increase a chance of a terrorist attack in the Czech Republic.

Humanists have recently initiated Europe for Peace declaration, which calls for Europe free from nuclear weapons, declaring of nuclear weapons illegal and other things. Dana Feminová, spokesperson of the Humanist movement in the Czech Republic commented that “the real threat to the security and peace in Europe and in the rest of the world are the nuclear weapons. Therefore the world superpowers must begin disarming, not creating new weapons and establishing new military bases.” The declaration was signed among others by MIT professor Noam Chomsky, nuclear physisist Angelo Baracca or Reiner Brown of International Association of Lawyers against Nuclear Armament.

The Europe for Peace declaration originated in Prague on February 22, 2007 and has been signed by many important intellectuals, philosophers, peace-campaigners and others from around the world. Its web site is www.EuropeForPeace.eu.
The Humanist Movement is an international volunteer organisation that promotes non-violence and non-discrimination. It takes its inspiration from the current of thought referred to as New or Universal Humanism that has been developed since 1969 and which focuses on the overcoming of pain and suffering at a personal, interpersonal and social level.
The "No to the Bases" initiative currently unites 50 Czech and international organizations opposing the US plan to establish a new military base in the Czech Republic. It was formed in July 2006 and calls for a national referendum on this issue. Its website address is www.NeZakladnam.cz.

Press conference of the Humanist movement:
Monday, June 4, 2007 at 2pm
Residence Bologna, Konviktská 5, Praha 1

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