Press Release -03/09/2008
Showing newest posts with label Military academy. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label Military academy. Show older posts
Friday, 5 September 2008
Fellowship of Reconciliation Wales oppose military academy
Thursday, 5 June 2008
More Raytheon Protests - now in Flintshire!
Daily Post, UK -DEMONSTRATORS held a protest outside a the Flintshire plant of a defence industry firm in support of peace activists prosecuted for occupying the firm’s ...
Solidarity demo at Broughton on day Raytheon 9 trial collapsesIndymedia UK, Campaigners from Wrexham, Chester and beyond held a demonstration outside the Broughton Raytheon factory this afternoon in so
lidarity with the Raytheon 9. ...
Solidarity demo at Broughton on day Raytheon 9 trial collapsesIndymedia UK, Campaigners from Wrexham, Chester and beyond held a demonstration outside the Broughton Raytheon factory this afternoon in so
lidarity with the Raytheon 9. ...Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Can't rely on Plaid
Don’t rely on Cardiff, says Plaid ic Wales - United Kingdom
On the multi-billion- pound Defence Training Academy development at St Athan, it says: “Plaid would have preferred if this major funding had gone into a scheme or schemes not so directly involved with the military. Nevertheless, the possibilities are there if we work to take them.”
Waht possibilities are these???Friday, 14 March 2008
Ilegal Propaganda in Schools
MoD accused of propaganda in Iraq worksheets for schools
Guardian, Friday March 14 2008
Polly Curtis, education editor
The Ministry of Defence has been accused of supplying "misleading propaganda" to schools and attempting to recruit pupils into the army. The children's secretary, Ed Balls, has written to officials in the MoD asking them to investigate teachers' claims that their worksheets for 16- to 18-year-olds provide a one-sided view on the war in Iraq. The National Union of Teachers (...) (...) on the war in Iraq. The National Union of Teachers said the MoD was "unethically" targeting recruitment materials at schools in disadvantaged areas. (...)
Guardian, Friday March 14 2008
Polly Curtis, education editor
The Ministry of Defence has been accused of supplying "misleading propaganda" to schools and attempting to recruit pupils into the army. The children's secretary, Ed Balls, has written to officials in the MoD asking them to investigate teachers' claims that their worksheets for 16- to 18-year-olds provide a one-sided view on the war in Iraq. The National Union of Teachers (...) (...) on the war in Iraq. The National Union of Teachers said the MoD was "unethically" targeting recruitment materials at schools in disadvantaged areas. (...)
and what are they teaching them in Vale of Glamorgan schools - Llanwit Major Comp has not replied to any of my lettersin the last month. Estyn said that the school must be contacted.
Is it legal to put just the BENEFITS of the Defence Academy on the curriculum? The article says that they are required by law to give a balanced view which is what we have written to the school and its govenors to ask.
There ahas been no reply from John Smith or the director of Education or the chair of thew education committee!
The Guardian article above ..
One worksheet supplied by the MoD and designed by a private marketing company, Kids Connections, describes the UK force's efforts in Iraq as mainly targeted at "helping the Iraqis to rebuild their country after the conflict and years of neglect".
It describes the work the armed forces have done in security and reconstruction, and notes the 2005 democratic elections. But union officials said it failed to mention the US-led invasion, Iraqi civilian deaths and the fact that no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.
The NUT will debate the issue at its annual conference in Manchester next week. Teachers are regularly sent model lesson plans, worksheets and other teaching materials by government departments, charities and private companies, but these are required by law to give a balanced political view. A report by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust in January highlighted websites set up by the MoD targeted at 12- to 17-year-olds, but noted that some recruitment tactics targeted children as young as seven. "Children are introduced to the potential benefits of a forces career, but not to its risks," the report said.
It describes the work the armed forces have done in security and reconstruction, and notes the 2005 democratic elections. But union officials said it failed to mention the US-led invasion, Iraqi civilian deaths and the fact that no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.
The NUT will debate the issue at its annual conference in Manchester next week. Teachers are regularly sent model lesson plans, worksheets and other teaching materials by government departments, charities and private companies, but these are required by law to give a balanced political view. A report by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust in January highlighted websites set up by the MoD targeted at 12- to 17-year-olds, but noted that some recruitment tactics targeted children as young as seven. "Children are introduced to the potential benefits of a forces career, but not to its risks," the report said.
Schools receive 'pro-war propaganda' teaching materials from MoD Daily Mail, UK The Ministry of Defence has been accused of sending out pro-war "propaganda" to schools. Britian's biggest teachers' union has said the MoD asked schools to ...Row as teachers call for ban on army 'pro-war propaganda ... This is London Pupils 'given biased Iraq view' BBC News Teachers' concerns over Iraq are valid Independent The Observerall 10 news articles »
Teachers' concerns over Iraq are valid
By Richard Garner
The National Union of Teachers is justified in expressing concern over the materials included in the lesson plan commissioned by the Ministry of Defence for teaching about the Iraq war. As Steve Sinnott, its general secretary, says, it makes no mention of civilian casualties or the fact that the UN failed to sanction the invasion. A High Court judge ruled that Al Gore's Oscar-winng film, An Inconvenient Truth, could not be shown in schools without teachers providing "balance" and correcting inaccuracies in it. The same should be the case for the MoD lesson plan.
Having said that, the debate at the NUT conference will be interested. The motion attacking the lesson calls for support for opposition to military involvement in sxchools. Mr Sinnott wants that support limited to cases where the military is providing biased information to schools. He concedes that - if the produce quality material - there is no reason why schoolshould not use it.
By Richard Garner
The National Union of Teachers is justified in expressing concern over the materials included in the lesson plan commissioned by the Ministry of Defence for teaching about the Iraq war. As Steve Sinnott, its general secretary, says, it makes no mention of civilian casualties or the fact that the UN failed to sanction the invasion. A High Court judge ruled that Al Gore's Oscar-winng film, An Inconvenient Truth, could not be shown in schools without teachers providing "balance" and correcting inaccuracies in it. The same should be the case for the MoD lesson plan.
Having said that, the debate at the NUT conference will be interested. The motion attacking the lesson calls for support for opposition to military involvement in sxchools. Mr Sinnott wants that support limited to cases where the military is providing biased information to schools. He concedes that - if the produce quality material - there is no reason why schoolshould not use it.
ESTYN Reply to complaint
Alexandra.Doel@estyn.gsi.gov.uk Chief-Inspector@estyn.gsi.gov.uk
Thank you for your email to the Chief Inspector dated 8 February 2008 which was passed to me for attention. He has asked me to reply on his behalf.
Matters relating to the curriculum of a particular school should be directed in the first instance to the school and its governing body. If the issue is not dealt with to your satisfaction, you may subsequently raise it with the local authority and ultimately take it to the Welsh Assembly Government if necessary.
Thank you for your email to the Chief Inspector dated 8 February 2008 which was passed to me for attention. He has asked me to reply on his behalf.
Matters relating to the curriculum of a particular school should be directed in the first instance to the school and its governing body. If the issue is not dealt with to your satisfaction, you may subsequently raise it with the local authority and ultimately take it to the Welsh Assembly Government if necessary.
I am sure that you will understand that we cannot comment on individual cases ourselves.
Yours sincerely,
Meilyr Rowlands
Managing HMI
Secondary education and 14-19 area provision
NUT WAR MOTION
I spoke the NUT Wales 02920 491818 and Gleshi Jones has promised to get the press officer to get back to me.
War MOTION 55
http://www.teachers.org.uk/resources/pdf/3715_motions_08.pdf
Conference reaffirms existing Union policies which:
1. Call for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
2. Agree to participate in protests should military action be taken against Iran by US and/or UK forces.
War MOTION 55
http://www.teachers.org.uk/resources/pdf/3715_motions_08.pdf
Conference reaffirms existing Union policies which:
1. Call for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
2. Agree to participate in protests should military action be taken against Iran by US and/or UK forces.
Conference notes with particular concern the huge refugee crisis within and beyond Iraq’s borders, one consequence of which is the impossibility of education for most learners of all ages.
Further, Conference also notes that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the banishment of 750,000 Palestinians from their homelands. This unresolved injustice entrenches many opponents of the world’s most militarised states in a conviction that real peace, democracy and equality are not what those powers aspire to in these more recent conflicts. Conference congratulates those members that have established sustainable twinning arrangements with schools in Palestine, and encourages more to do likewise.
Conference further notes two respects in which schools are being asked to play a partisan role in war.
The first is via the development of Key Stage 4 classroom teaching materials, produced by Kids Connections, a children's marketing agency, working for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and published at; www.defencedynamics.mod.com
In the particular section for English ‘Writing To Argue’ information is presented largely from the MOD’s point of view. (For example there are no figures for the dead, wounded, homeless or refugees.) This would impinge on many schools’ commitment to peace and equality contained in their mission statements, and also breach the 1996 Education Act (Section 56 paras 406 and 407), unless teachers contribute additional materials to achieve the balanced views of such topics required by law.
The second is via the exploitation of schools for recruitment by the armed forces. Precisely because unpopular recent wars have contributed to a decline in volunteers all branches of the military are upgrading their methods of recruitment. Again, military intervention in schools customarily presents a partisan view of war, largely by ignoring its fatal realities in favour of promises of travel, skill training and further or higher education course sponsorships otherwise often unavailable to young people, especially in areas of high unemployment.
Conference believes that teachers and schools should not be conduits for either the dissemination of MoD propaganda or the recruitment of military personnel.
Conference therefore:
(i) Congratulates colleagues in the Educational Institute of Scotland for their decision in 2007 to oppose military recruitment in Scottish schools;
(ii) Agrees to actively oppose military recruitment activities in schools across England and Wales.
Conference therefore instructs the Executive to:
a. By all means support Union members who face victimisation or other professional
difficulties in the course of implementing this policy of opposition to military recruitment in schools;
b. Support those students and parents who may also campaign against military recruitment in schools, locally and nationally;
c. Co-sponsor with the Stop the War Coalition and its other affiliated trade unions, mindful of existing legal guidelines, curriculum learning materials on peace and militarisation. In addition, the Union agrees to purchase and circulate the most recent education pack produced by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which promotes an understanding of the history of this most protracted dispute in the Middle East.
Lambeth, Croydon, East London, Cambridgeshire, Islington, Southwark, Redbridge
Monday, 10 March 2008
Army out of schools petition - Gordon Brown says NO
Army out of schools - epetition reply
10 March 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime to end military recruitment in all schools and colleges in the UK."
Details of Petition:
"We are very concerned at the drive by the military to attempt to use schools as recruiting grounds for the armed services. Given the terrible wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we demand that the school authorities resist pressure for increased military input in to our education. We do not believe schools should be used to recruit to the military directly or through recruiting agencies. We demand that no military force should be allowed into any school at any time. If spokespeople for the military are allowed in to our school we demand that all students are informed in advance, have the right not to attend the event and that there should be a right of reply from an anti war military parent or a speaker from the anti-war movement."
Read the Government's response
Armed Forces presentation teams undertake visits only at the specific invitation of the schools and colleges themselves. The purpose of these visits is to contribute to the curriculum by raising awareness of the Services and their place in a democratic society whilst building interest in the Armed Forces and the wide range of careers available within them. These visits support schools' careers programmes and offer advice on Service careers. Young people should be shown all available career options - the more information the presentation teams can give a young person about life in the Armed Forces, covering all points, both good and bad, the better informed he or she is.
The Armed Forces are one of the largest deliverers in the UK of apprenticeships; as such, joining any of the three Services offers a young person the opportunity to achieve nationally recognised skills and qualifications. All three Services offer a wide range of challenging careers to both men and women regardless of background. The market for young talent has become increasingly competitive and it is only right that young people should be made aware of all the available options.
Since 1963, when national service was abolished, no one in the UK has been forced to join the Armed Forces, which has since become an organisation manned entirely by volunteers. Furthermore, no one under the age of 18 years may join without the formal written consent of a parent or guardian.
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Bush Ally kicked into touch
Bush Ally Defeated in Australia 24 Nov 2007 Australia’s prime minister, John Howard, one of President [sic] Bush’s staunchest allies in Asia, suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of the electorate on Saturday, as his Liberal Party-led coalition lost its majority in Parliament.
Shame that Labour couldn't see sense here or Plaid and give the voters a chance to vote against offence and vote for defence without american coporations such as Raytheon and military training without inviting into our culture agressive us military agression.Saturday, 17 November 2007
Jobs Con on St Athan by Bryant, Morgan.....
Jill Evans is the only Welsh politican to speak out against the mega military academy proposals! Yet plaid policy is absolutely against privatisation so they speak out against post offices closing, traffic wardens been privatised but military training.....why not??
This contract will be the largest PFI/PPP project ever undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and will be the largest partnering arrangement ever undertaken in the
Politicians couldn't make a privatised railway work so it is pretty unbelievable that we even suggest privatising military training never mind applauding it especially when it is to be delivered by private arms companies that are excluded from any ethical investing country, bank or charity. What damage could be done here and as a private business they will train whoever pays! Just who are we inviting to Wales?
So why do plaid support them dumbly emm.. because of the jobs...but what jobs? They have been given figures that are wrong. The Government has lied! Rhrodri Morgan is lying. The assembly have an office and staff dedicated to making this academy happen what ever and it isn't because half the deal has been already dumped by the MOD!!
And what about more
Peace dividend? Peter Black
Speak now - or forever hold your peace Huw Lewis
South Wales Blunderers David Jones MP for Clwyd West; Shadow Minister for
Dragon's Eye Glyn Davies Tory Politican
Friday, 16 November 2007
Lying politicans - Get the figures right on St Athan
Plaid MEP queries military centre
BBC News -Plaid Cymru's vice-president Jill Evans MEP has questioned whether the party should support a military training academy at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan. ...
Dragons Eye 15th Nov 2007 A leading Plaid Cymru figure Jill Evans asks whether the party should back a military academy
It is you who have got it wrong. YOUR figures are wrong - want to put a bet on it? Its 19bn. And where did this figure of 5,000 jobs come from? That is pure spin!
How many jobs at St Athan? 1,100 and nothing like near 5,000 jobs promised and that Rhodri Morgan was drinking champagne to celebrate!
PCS the union that represents many MOD staff says that the number of jobs in scope of package 1 has dropped from 1500 to 1100. These 400 posts are those not directly linked to training delivery. Package 2 has been dumped by the government as it is too expensive.
Time for some honesty from our politicians!!
This contract will be the largest PFI/PPP project ever undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and will be the largest partnering arrangement ever undertaken in the UK. A Private Finance Initiative (PFI) for DTR in simplistic terms means that the winning consortia will effectively own all of the real estate and services for training for the next 25 years. For this they will be paid an annual sum,and must, by law, make a profit for their shareholders. The contract is worth £19 billion
For more information See http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=287 see also our blog http://www.metrixconsortium.blogspot.com/
http://www.nomurderacademyatstathans.com/
our briefings on:Qinetiq - http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=286
Raytheon - http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=287
and our cluster bombs press release - http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=288
The politicans who lie - can't get their facts right - misleading the Welsh People
Peace dividend?
4 hours ago by Peter Black The relentless bombardment of initiatives from Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price and the Party's Vice-President, Jill Evans MEP over the last few months has been difficult to keep up with. To be fair, no matter how much one disagrees with some ...Peter Black AM - http://peterblack.blogspot.com/ - References
Speak now - or forever hold your peace
2 hours ago by Huw Lewis Ieuan Wynn Jones’ silence over the barmy “defence” policy proposals of his own Vice President, Jill Evans MEP continues to be deafening. One wonders whether, given that this senior member of his party is now formally to propose that an ...Huw Lewis - http://www.huwlewis.org.uk/ - References
South Wales Blunderers
7 hours ago by David Jones Jill Evans, who is a Plaid Cymru MEP, says that the party should not support the proposed tri-service defence academy at St Athan and that the development would be “inconsistent with the spirit of the its defence policy and pacifist ...David Jones, MP - http://davidjonesclwydwest.blogspot.com/
BBC News -Plaid Cymru's vice-president Jill Evans MEP has questioned whether the party should support a military training academy at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan. ...
Dragons Eye 15th Nov 2007 A leading Plaid Cymru figure Jill Evans asks whether the party should back a military academy
It is you who have got it wrong. YOUR figures are wrong - want to put a bet on it? Its 19bn. And where did this figure of 5,000 jobs come from? That is pure spin!
How many jobs at St Athan? 1,100 and nothing like near 5,000 jobs promised and that Rhodri Morgan was drinking champagne to celebrate!
PCS the union that represents many MOD staff says that the number of jobs in scope of package 1 has dropped from 1500 to 1100. These 400 posts are those not directly linked to training delivery. Package 2 has been dumped by the government as it is too expensive.
Time for some honesty from our politicians!!
This contract will be the largest PFI/PPP project ever undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and will be the largest partnering arrangement ever undertaken in the UK. A Private Finance Initiative (PFI) for DTR in simplistic terms means that the winning consortia will effectively own all of the real estate and services for training for the next 25 years. For this they will be paid an annual sum,and must, by law, make a profit for their shareholders. The contract is worth £19 billion
For more information See http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=287 see also our blog http://www.metrixconsortium.blogspot.com/
http://www.nomurderacademyatstathans.com/
our briefings on:Qinetiq - http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=286
Raytheon - http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=287
and our cluster bombs press release - http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=288
The politicans who lie - can't get their facts right - misleading the Welsh People
Peace dividend?
4 hours ago by Peter Black The relentless bombardment of initiatives from Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price and the Party's Vice-President, Jill Evans MEP over the last few months has been difficult to keep up with. To be fair, no matter how much one disagrees with some ...Peter Black AM - http://peterblack.blogspot.com/ - References
Speak now - or forever hold your peace
2 hours ago by Huw Lewis Ieuan Wynn Jones’ silence over the barmy “defence” policy proposals of his own Vice President, Jill Evans MEP continues to be deafening. One wonders whether, given that this senior member of his party is now formally to propose that an ...Huw Lewis - http://www.huwlewis.org.uk/ - References
South Wales Blunderers
7 hours ago by David Jones Jill Evans, who is a Plaid Cymru MEP, says that the party should not support the proposed tri-service defence academy at St Athan and that the development would be “inconsistent with the spirit of the its defence policy and pacifist ...David Jones, MP - http://davidjonesclwydwest.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Yes says Ffred to arms dealers in wales
Arfon Peace and Justice Group
MEETING WITH LOCAL A.M. TO OPPOSE THE MILITARY ACADEMY
Members of a local group have met with their Assembly Member to express their opposition to the biggest military investment in the history of Wales.Arfon Peace and Justice group meet with Alun Ffred Jones AM on Friday, November 9, to discuss the St Athan Military Academy in South Wales. The idea for the meeting came from a workshop on the development at the All Wales Peace Festival in Caernarfon in September.Members of the group - Sioned Huws of Waunfawr, Mair Jones of Caernarfon, Anna Jane Evans from Bangor and Ben Gregory from Penygroes - expressed their concerns to Mr Jones about the Academy, and public money from the National Assembly being used to support it. "With the worst financial settle for the Assembly in a decade from Westminster, and with Cyngor Gwynedd suffering the same thing from the National Assembly, we made the point that it is a total waste of public money to support the Academy," said Ben Gregory on behalf of the group."
The UK government is talking about spending £16 billion on attracting 4,000 jobs from other places in the UK to St Athans on the Vale of Glamorgan," said Ben. "That's £4 million for every job. It shows once again the gap between the investment in North and South Wales. The molney could go to creatng more jobs in the North, supporting the public sector, to keeping our schools open, instead of giving the money to a private company to spend on militarism."The meeting with Alun Ffred Jones is one of a series with Assembly members to lobby them on preventing the National Assembly giving money to the Academy.
"The Academy raises questions which are important to us all, about what sort of economy we want to see in Wales, and what are the priorities of the National Assembly," said Ben. "We have called on Plaid Cymru, as part of the government, to refuse to hand over any Assembly money to the project.The Arfon Peace and Justice Group intends to organise a public meeting in the near future in the county on the Academy and Militarism.
MEETING WITH LOCAL A.M. TO OPPOSE THE MILITARY ACADEMY
Members of a local group have met with their Assembly Member to express their opposition to the biggest military investment in the history of Wales.Arfon Peace and Justice group meet with Alun Ffred Jones AM on Friday, November 9, to discuss the St Athan Military Academy in South Wales. The idea for the meeting came from a workshop on the development at the All Wales Peace Festival in Caernarfon in September.Members of the group - Sioned Huws of Waunfawr, Mair Jones of Caernarfon, Anna Jane Evans from Bangor and Ben Gregory from Penygroes - expressed their concerns to Mr Jones about the Academy, and public money from the National Assembly being used to support it. "With the worst financial settle for the Assembly in a decade from Westminster, and with Cyngor Gwynedd suffering the same thing from the National Assembly, we made the point that it is a total waste of public money to support the Academy," said Ben Gregory on behalf of the group."
The UK government is talking about spending £16 billion on attracting 4,000 jobs from other places in the UK to St Athans on the Vale of Glamorgan," said Ben. "That's £4 million for every job. It shows once again the gap between the investment in North and South Wales. The molney could go to creatng more jobs in the North, supporting the public sector, to keeping our schools open, instead of giving the money to a private company to spend on militarism."The meeting with Alun Ffred Jones is one of a series with Assembly members to lobby them on preventing the National Assembly giving money to the Academy.
"The Academy raises questions which are important to us all, about what sort of economy we want to see in Wales, and what are the priorities of the National Assembly," said Ben. "We have called on Plaid Cymru, as part of the government, to refuse to hand over any Assembly money to the project.The Arfon Peace and Justice Group intends to organise a public meeting in the near future in the county on the Academy and Militarism.
Thursday, 8 November 2007
No2 Road South from Junction 34 for Military Academy
New Road to the airport?
Now what is this about - improve access for who? The Metrix Consortium? Improved roads required for the Academy? How much will this cost us?
Now what is this about - improve access for who? The Metrix Consortium? Improved roads required for the Academy? How much will this cost us?
This story in Jan is now followed up by a very quiet consultation on the road to the airport - an environmental big issue - there should also be a planning consultation soon. £100m transport boost on back of St Athan Jan 30 2007 ROADS and railways in South Wales could be in line for a £100m upgrade in the wake of the decision to build a massive military academy to St Athan....
The basic problem is that St Athan is somewhat remote from main road and rail arteries. This
was not a major obstacle during its relatively minor role as an RAF base, but the new academy will train 10,000 recruits from across the UK.
Although living on campus, they will need to travel to and from St Athan. Other workers will live off-site and commute to the academy, with 1,500 ancillary jobs predicted in the area.
The new facility will also need good freight access, for supply of food - including 600,000 loaves of bread each year - as well as any military hardware required.
Improving Access to The basic problem is that St Athan is somewhat remote from main road and rail arteries. This
was not a major obstacle during its relatively minor role as an RAF base, but the new academy will train 10,000 recruits from across the UK.Although living on campus, they will need to travel to and from St Athan. Other workers will live off-site and commute to the academy, with 1,500 ancillary jobs predicted in the area.
The new facility will also need good freight access, for supply of food - including 600,000 loaves of bread each year - as well as any military hardware required.
Building a road south from Junction 34 may offer the best chance for improving road access in time for the academy's full opening in 2012. With no houses in the way, the planning process could be relatively straightforward - and the new route could partly use the existing A4226 road.
St Athan academy road links plan thrown into doubt Feb 16 2007 Peter Collins, South Wales Echo
Improving access to Cardiff International AirportFollowing the public exhibitions held in early October 2007 the Welsh Assembly Government has decided to hold two additional exhibitions.http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads3/ImprovingAccessToCardiffAirport/?lang=en
Newsletter No.1 – Autumn 2007 2007 Public Exhibition
Board 1 = Welcome Board
Board 2 = Previous Studies
Board 3 = Trunk Road Forward Programme
Board 4 = Recent Announcements
Board 5 = Context Plan
Board 6 = Aerial Photograph – M4 south to A48
Board 7 = Aerial Photograph – A48 south to coast
Board 8 = Environment
Board 9 = Transport
Board 10 = Issues Identified so Far
Board 11 = Potential Options
Board 12 = Thank you and What Happens Next
Public Exhibition Comment Form
St Athan Development Brief -
| File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML St Athan Development Brief. July 2006. 2. Planning Policy Context. 2.1 National Context. The Wales Spatial Plan sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s ... www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/files/Living/ |
Vale of Glamorgan - Development Briefs -
| The St. Athan Development Brief was approved by Council in July 2006. ... St. Athan Development Brief (0.7MB); Site Location Plan (4MB); Site Plan (2.2MB) ... www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/living_menu/ [ More results from www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk ] |
Friday, 26 October 2007
St Athan another white elephant for Wales?
St Athan Military Training AcademyAnother White Elephant for Wales?
With the latest news about the indefinite delay of package 2 of the StAthan Military Training Academy project, another wheel has come off thistrundling white elephant. How many more wheels will have to be lost beforepoliticians of Wales’ four main parties realise that the whole project is aterrible mistake, and is not going anywhere. Instead of wasting time and money pursuing even more crazy militarysolutions to international problems, our elected representatives should befocussing on addressing the major environmental changes our world faces.
Why can’t we in Wales be at the forefront of training in non-violentconflict resolution, in preventing violence at home and abroad? Why are hospitals and schools in Wales facing closure?Nobody should be taken in by the latest amount of spin over this issue. Itis about time that the Westminster and Cardiff Governments learned theirlesson - £77 million of taxpayers’ money has already been wasted on anothermilitary fantasy at St Athan - ‘Project Red Dragon’. An expensive 65,000square metre white elephant.The proposed military training academy at St Athan will be built and run bya consortium which includes major multinational arms companies, and willtrain not only British service personnel, but those from any regime orprivate military company that can fork out the ready cash.
The whole StAthan project has a bitter cold heart. It addresses a future whereinternational conflict can only be solved by violence, accepts thewidespread death and maiming, misery and suffering caused to innocentpeople by militarism and ignores the permanent environmental damage causedby wars and conflict.
It does nothing to deliver the Wales that people inthis country want – a Wales that honestly addresses global warming andother environmental problems, champions human rights, teaches our childrenthat violence solves nothing, does not invest in the arms trade, encouragesvaluable, long term employment and delivers decent public services.
The champagne sprayed by Assembly Ministers Morgan, Hutt and Davies towelcome the signing of the contract to build the academy, on January 17ththis year has, by October acquired a sour, vinegary flavour.
Jill Gough
National Secretary
CND Cymru
Write to the papers. And your MP, AM, Cllr
With the latest news about the indefinite delay of package 2 of the StAthan Military Training Academy project, another wheel has come off thistrundling white elephant. How many more wheels will have to be lost beforepoliticians of Wales’ four main parties realise that the whole project is aterrible mistake, and is not going anywhere. Instead of wasting time and money pursuing even more crazy militarysolutions to international problems, our elected representatives should befocussing on addressing the major environmental changes our world faces.
Why can’t we in Wales be at the forefront of training in non-violentconflict resolution, in preventing violence at home and abroad? Why are hospitals and schools in Wales facing closure?Nobody should be taken in by the latest amount of spin over this issue. Itis about time that the Westminster and Cardiff Governments learned theirlesson - £77 million of taxpayers’ money has already been wasted on anothermilitary fantasy at St Athan - ‘Project Red Dragon’. An expensive 65,000square metre white elephant.The proposed military training academy at St Athan will be built and run bya consortium which includes major multinational arms companies, and willtrain not only British service personnel, but those from any regime orprivate military company that can fork out the ready cash.
The whole StAthan project has a bitter cold heart. It addresses a future whereinternational conflict can only be solved by violence, accepts thewidespread death and maiming, misery and suffering caused to innocentpeople by militarism and ignores the permanent environmental damage causedby wars and conflict.
It does nothing to deliver the Wales that people inthis country want – a Wales that honestly addresses global warming andother environmental problems, champions human rights, teaches our childrenthat violence solves nothing, does not invest in the arms trade, encouragesvaluable, long term employment and delivers decent public services.
The champagne sprayed by Assembly Ministers Morgan, Hutt and Davies towelcome the signing of the contract to build the academy, on January 17ththis year has, by October acquired a sour, vinegary flavour.
Jill Gough
National Secretary
CND Cymru
Write to the papers. And your MP, AM, Cllr
Monday, 22 October 2007
Support for resolution on military academy.
Wales FESC, part of the new union for lecturers UCU, will now back the resolution at the upcoming Stop The War conference.
The proposed super-academy represents, among other things, an insidious development in the privatisation of education and training. Among the arms merchants and ex-MOD insiders of the Metrix consortium which will run the academy is that great British institution the Open University.
The campaign to stop the school of death at St Athan received a minor setback when SWP members and supporters ensured Cardiff Stop The War Coalition rejected our resolution for the STW conference! The resolution is already on the conference agenda but support from Cardiff STW would clearly have increased its chances of success.
Resolution on the St Athan Military Academy
This coalition notes:
The MOD’s decision to both centralise and privatise its training at a new complex at RAF St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, to open fully in 2013.
The award of a £14bn government contract for this to the Metrix consortium, involving among others Qinetiq, a privatised wing of the MOD led by ex-MOD John Chisholm, and Raytheon, manufacturer of the cluster bombs and depleted uranium weapons that have killed and maimed civilians in Iraq, Lebanon and elsewhere.
The lack of public consultation on the project and lack of criticism or even debate in the mass media, or from supposedly anti-war MPs Welsh AMs, or the Welsh TUC.
This coalition believes:
That the new complex, on a scale hitherto unseen in the UK, will be the site of training of all branches of the armed forces for the “War on Terror”; in other words, for further war on the nations of the Global South and for the suppression of protest and civil liberties in the UK and throughout the world.
That the complex will represent a significant militarisation of the Welsh economy with a major impact on the lives of South Wales residents.
That the Welsh Assembly government has sold this package on the promise of jobs for South Wales, but (a) most jobs at St Athan will involve the redeployment of skilled workers and teachers from elsewhere, leaving low-paid unskilled work for the local labour force, and (b) the closure of training centres throughout the UK will actually lead to greater unemployment overall.
That it is contradictory to oppose imperialist wars, or the assault on civil liberties, if we do not equally oppose the training for these under the pretext of our ‘defence’.
This coalition resolves:
To oppose the creation of the St Athan academy.
To organise a mass protest at the site of the academy and to facilitate events throughout the UK educating people about the reality of the academy.
To win the support of trade unions, student unions and activist groups in building an international campaign; to call on MPs, MEPs and AMs to support this.
To call on the UK government to solve the problem of unemployment in South Wales and areas affected by MOD closures by instead investing in socially useful jobs in health, education, construction etc, and the development of peaceful and environmentally friendly technology.
The proposed super-academy represents, among other things, an insidious development in the privatisation of education and training. Among the arms merchants and ex-MOD insiders of the Metrix consortium which will run the academy is that great British institution the Open University.
The campaign to stop the school of death at St Athan received a minor setback when SWP members and supporters ensured Cardiff Stop The War Coalition rejected our resolution for the STW conference! The resolution is already on the conference agenda but support from Cardiff STW would clearly have increased its chances of success.
Resolution on the St Athan Military Academy
This coalition notes:
The MOD’s decision to both centralise and privatise its training at a new complex at RAF St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, to open fully in 2013.
The award of a £14bn government contract for this to the Metrix consortium, involving among others Qinetiq, a privatised wing of the MOD led by ex-MOD John Chisholm, and Raytheon, manufacturer of the cluster bombs and depleted uranium weapons that have killed and maimed civilians in Iraq, Lebanon and elsewhere.
The lack of public consultation on the project and lack of criticism or even debate in the mass media, or from supposedly anti-war MPs Welsh AMs, or the Welsh TUC.
This coalition believes:
That the new complex, on a scale hitherto unseen in the UK, will be the site of training of all branches of the armed forces for the “War on Terror”; in other words, for further war on the nations of the Global South and for the suppression of protest and civil liberties in the UK and throughout the world.
That the complex will represent a significant militarisation of the Welsh economy with a major impact on the lives of South Wales residents.
That the Welsh Assembly government has sold this package on the promise of jobs for South Wales, but (a) most jobs at St Athan will involve the redeployment of skilled workers and teachers from elsewhere, leaving low-paid unskilled work for the local labour force, and (b) the closure of training centres throughout the UK will actually lead to greater unemployment overall.
That it is contradictory to oppose imperialist wars, or the assault on civil liberties, if we do not equally oppose the training for these under the pretext of our ‘defence’.
This coalition resolves:
To oppose the creation of the St Athan academy.
To organise a mass protest at the site of the academy and to facilitate events throughout the UK educating people about the reality of the academy.
To win the support of trade unions, student unions and activist groups in building an international campaign; to call on MPs, MEPs and AMs to support this.
To call on the UK government to solve the problem of unemployment in South Wales and areas affected by MOD closures by instead investing in socially useful jobs in health, education, construction etc, and the development of peaceful and environmentally friendly technology.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Green with envy or red with blood, Rhodri?
First Minister Rhrodri Morgan in the South Wales Echo:'
Sep 17 2007..As Wales prepares to mark its first 10 years of self-determination, our First Minister delivers his own verdict..."We can also look forward to the establishment of the Defence Training Academy at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, which will provide thousands of high quality jobs. It will train service 
personnel in an academic environment that will turn Oxford and Cambridge green with envy when it opens for business next decade." So Wrong Rhodri!
Sep 17 2007..As Wales prepares to mark its first 10 years of self-determination, our First Minister delivers his own verdict..."We can also look forward to the establishment of the Defence Training Academy at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, which will provide thousands of high quality jobs. It will train service 
personnel in an academic environment that will turn Oxford and Cambridge green with envy when it opens for business next decade." So Wrong Rhodri!Haven't seen many folk like this in Oxford or Cambridge?
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