07/08/08
squaddies rampaging around llanwit major?
St Athan Spin
Dear
Thank you for your email regarding Raytheon and its role in the Defence Technical Academy (DTA).
In the first instance, I would like to reassure you that Raytheon does not manufacture cluster bombs or any associated delivery vehicles. Any assertion to the contrary is based on dated information that is no longer correct. In addition, Raytheon has excellent relations with the Norwegian Government and continues to deliver a wide range of products to them, none of which are related to cluster munitions.
In context of the DTA, Raytheon Professional Services, the company’s training arm, will be involved in providing technical training to DTA personnel in aeronautical and electro mechanical engineering and communications/IT disciplines.
Raytheon Professional Services is well practised at delivering training around the world, in both the private and public sectors, and its clients range from NASA to General Motors. I hope this addresses your concerns, but if you have any further questions then please do not hesitate to be in touch using one of the following methods below.
Kind Regards,
Gemma
St Athan Project Public Consultation Services Call: 0845 618 0016
Write to:Camargue Group Ltd, Freepost RRKG-AZTG-JLJX,St Athan Consultation
Eagle Tower,Montpellier Drive,Cheltenham,GL50 1TA
Email: enquiries@st-athanconsultation.co.uk
Visit: www.st-athanconsultation.co.uk
Companies Excluded from the Investment Universe
...Defence and Space Company) EADS Finance BV General Dynamics Corporation L3 Communications Holdings Inc. Lockheed Martin Corp. Raytheon Co. Thales SA. The press release from the Ministry of Finance The recommendation from the Advisory Council on Ethics
(Ministry of Finance, 03.02.2007)
Recommendation on Exclusion of Cluster Weapons from the Government Petroleum Fund 
...Corp, L3 Communications Holdings Inc, Raytheon Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, Alliant Techsystems...from the Government Petroleum Fund. Raytheon Company produces, according to its own web-site, 3 http://www.raytheon.com/products/stellent/groups/public..
Norway excludes 3 arms producers from oil fund [Reuters]
Read the recommendation here (pdf)
The Ethical Guidelines List of Excluded Companies
Recommendation on Exclusion of Cluster Weapons from the Government Petroleum Fund- The Advisory Council on Ethics for the Government Petroleum Fund recommends that the companies General Dynamics Corp, L3 Communications Holdings Inc, Raytheon Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, Alliant Techsystems Inc, EADS Co (European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company) and Thales SA be excluded from the Petroleum Fund because they are presumed to be involved in production of cluster weapons.
Serco Group Plc should be kept out of Wales because of its involvement in the production of nuclear weapons.Why are our politicans not calling for the government to have ethical guidelines for investment like Norway.
Council on Ethics- Norwegian Government Pension Fund – Global - Read more here : http://www.regjeringen.no/templates/Kampanje.aspx?id=434879&epslanguage=EN-GB
The role of the Council on Ethics for the Government Pension Fund - Global is to provide evaluation on whether or not investment in specified companies is inconsistent with the established ethical guidelines. The Ministry of Finance makes decisions on the exclusion of companies from the Fund's investment universe based on the Council's recommendations. Both the Ministry's decisions and the Council's recommendations will be made publicly available on this website.
Recommendation on the exclusion of the company Serco Group Plc. The company is recommended for exclusion because of its involvement in the production of nuclear weapons.
01/08/08
Plaid sell out - St Athan deal dead - somebody tell them
Celtic News, France - 30 Jul 2008 Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones Deputy First Minister. here
Rhodri Morgan, First Minister of Wales : "We are willing and eager to make our own decisions.................The Defence Training Academy at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan will provide thousands of high quality jobs, training service personnel in an academic environment that will turn Oxford and Cambridge green with envy when it opens for business next decade."
really? ...
Don't think so!....this school for mercenaries by war profiteers will bring nothing more trouble IF it goes ahead..
Where was the decision to bring the defence training academy to Wales made? In Westminster by the hated new labour government!
Leanne Wood AM..."I accept that the decision around this development is not an Assembly decision and that it is not a devolved issue, but Members need to be satisfied that if this project falls apart, the Assembly’s budget will not be adversely affected." (more here)
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour) recently "The right hon. Gentleman is right that this is taking longer than is ideal. The financial appraisals have thrown up some difficult issues, and we are working them through with a view to taking a decision before the end of the year."
Sold out ...Plaid....Ieuan Wyn Jones...what ever you say Rhodri!!!
The Government has finally acknowledged major affordability gaps in the delivery of the defence training review programme. Given the worsening of public finances, would Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones think to ask the prime minster to give an undertaking to have a review of this undeliverable and unaffordable project - Documents produced following a recent meeting of the “defence training review executive board” reveal that the project, under which training will be handed to the Metrix consortium through a 30m PFI contract worth around £11bn, poses catastrophic risks on the front line.” dummies...Call for the prime minister to immediately instigate a National Audit office investigation. STILL NO SIGNED CONTRACT..BIN IT!!!
other stories
Accusations fly on defence training Shropshire Star, UK - 22 Jul 2008
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/07/22/accusations-fly-on-defence-training/
The Government has been accused of backtracking on the defence training contract won by South Wales in a two-headed contest with RAF Cosford, reports London ...
Union leaders at Cosford believe that it is increasingly likely that the St Athan deal will fall through...Welsh Nationalist MP Adam Price told Mr Ainsworth yesterday: “This project was announced with considerable fanfare in the run-up to the Welsh Assembly elections, but, 18 months on, there is still no signed contract.
Yesterday in parliament
guardian.co.uk, UK - 22 Jul 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jul/22/houseofcommons.lords
Defence ministers were accused of "backtracking" over plans for a new defence training academy in south Wales. Adam Price, for Plaid Cymru, said there was ...
New defence training academy in south Wales
Defence ministers were accused of "backtracking" over plans for a new defence training academy in south Wales. Adam Price, for Plaid Cymru, said there was "fear and concern" in St Athan that the multi-billion pound investment would not go ahead. Armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth conceded that the project had taken longer than expected. ...
...is this the same Adam Price who is against privatisation , war ? Yes fear and concern if it goes ahead..
Oral Answers to Questions — Defence
Defence Technical AcademyAll Commons debates on 21 Jul 2008
« Previous debate Next debate »
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2008-07-21a.515.5&s=Adam+Price#g517.0
2:30 pm
John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Watch this
What progress is being made on the defence technical academy, St. Athan; and if he will make a statement.
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Watch this
The Department continues to work constructively with the Metrix consortium on a range of issues on defence training review package 1 to achieve an affordable, value-for-money, acceptable and deliverable project. Negotiations with Metrix are continuing and both parties are working hard to drive down costs and obtain maximum value for money for the taxpayer.
Add your comment
John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Watch this
I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Will he take this opportunity to pay tribute to the integrated project team, Metrix and the Welsh Assembly Government for the way in which they are progressing this £12 billion private finance initiative, and especially their involvement of the local community in the planning and design stage, which has already resulted in a number of major improvements? Does he agree that, with a project of the scale, complexity and importance to the armed forces of this technical academy, it is important that we get it right and do not rush it?
Add your comment
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North
I thank my hon. Friend for his comments. As part of the planning process, we and Metrix are committed to an ongoing programme of consultation with the local community in Wales. We have involved the community in the redevelopment of St. Athan. That is a priority, and local comments will have a direct impact on how the details of any plans evolve. Public consultation exhibitions will take place—and, as my hon. Friend is aware, some are taking place at present.
Add your comment
James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire, Conservative)
But while it is important not to rush it, as John Smith says, the defence training review does seem to be taking longer to come to signature than everybody had thought. In Bordon in my constituency, this is a very important matter because the regeneration of the town depends on everybody having a clear idea of the Ministry of Defence's intentions. Are there any problems with the sale of MOD land that we need to be aware of? What is going on?
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour)
The right hon. Gentleman is right that this is taking longer than is ideal. The financial appraisals have thrown up some difficult issues, and we are working them through with a view to taking a decision before the end of the year.
Add your comment
Chris Bryant (PPS (Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC (Leader of the House of Commons)), Leader of the House of Commons; Rhondda, Labour)
The Minister will know that there is a warm welcome for this project not only in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan, but across the whole of south Wales. There are people in my constituency who formerly worked at St. Athan and who are looking forward to the prospect of working there again in the near future, and many of them have important skills. Will the Minister confirm that none of the delay that has so far occurred has been because any of the services is reluctant to work with the other services, because where all the services work together in providing training they can significantly add value?
Add your comment
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour)
The St. Athan proposal added significant value to training in the whole area that was covered by package 1, and that was why it was considered to be value for money. That is not the reason for any hold-up. We are getting total co-operation from within the services, and also from the local community in Wales. There are affordability issues, however, which we are trying to work through with Metrix. That has caused some delay, but we are still doing our best to bring this to a good conclusion.
Add your comment
Adam Price (Spokesperson (Communities and Local Government; Culture, Media and Sport; Defence; Transport; Ministry of Justice); Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, Plaid Cymru)
This project was announced with considerable fanfare in the run-up to the Assembly elections, but, 18 months on, there is still no signed contract. We already have one empty aircraft hangar in the area that John Smith serves as a result of a previous MOD U-turn. Does the Minister understand that there is fear in the community that the Government may be backtracking on the scale of the project, and can he reassure it that there is no truth in that?
what adam had to say ...no to miliatarism no to privatisation.. but yes to the academy on 'economical grounds!!! See his letter here
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Watch this
All I will say to the hon. Gentleman is that he and his nationalist colleagues ought to reflect upon the size of the defence training capability in Scotland and Wales were they to get their way and form governments in either of those places.
Add your comment
Robert Walter (North Dorset, Conservative) Link to this | Hansard source | Watch this
There are obviously serious difficulties with package 1, and it is clear that package 2 will never get off the ground. Does that not challenge the financial viability of the whole scheme, and has the Minister considered looking again at some of the investment the MOD has already made in my constituency at Blandford in the Defence College of Communications and Information Systems—more than £100 million over the past eight years—and at not sticking with the original defence training review plan, which was to locate communications and information systems training at Blandford?
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour)
We have announced a change in policy on package 2. As the hon. Gentleman will know, the synergies and, thus, the advantages in bringing people together, in the package 2 area were never as strong as those in package 1, so we are examining alternative solutions in those areas. Package 1 remains the best way of enhancing defence training, and we are committed to working through these problems and trying to deliver the proposal for St. Athan.
...........
The Defence Training Academy at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan will provide thousands of high quality jobs, training service personnel in an academic ...
Architects’ new regional director...WalesOnline, United Kingdom - 22 Jul 2008
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2008/07/23/architects-new-regional-director-91466-21385813/
“We have been appointed as the architect and landscape architect on the Defence Training Review in St Athan, which represents a significant regional ...
16/07/08
No Metrix Contract signed ..Welsh Press silence?
Doubts over defence training deal
<http://www.shropshi
cosford2.jpgMajor doubts arose today about the multi-billion pound defence training contract won by South Wales in a controversial deal which threatened the future of RAF Cosford.
For the first time, the Government has admitted that the contract won by the Metrix consortium for a new defence academy at RAF St Athan could fall foul of the credit crunch.
Despite the project being awarded to St Athan last year, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth admitted last night that the Ministry of Defence has not yet signed a contract with Metrix.
He told Tory MP for The Wrekin Mark Pritchard in a Commons reply that the MoD continues to work with Metrix “on a range of issues to achieve an affordable, value for money, acceptable and deliverable project”.
He added: “Cost growth and the implications of the credit crunch on borrowing have been a significant factor.”
Mr Pritchard commented: “This is the first public acknowledgement by a Government minister that the Defence Training Review programme is unravelling.
“The affordability gap would impact on defence training for all of HM armed forces and would also severely affect the capability of Britain’s frontline forces.”
RAF Cosford’s future has been uncertain since the Government awarded the contract, estimated to be worth £16 billion, to South Wales. The MoD’s current position is that Cosford could become a super-garrison for thousands of troops returning from Germany.
14 July 2008
No sign if this contract being signed what with pfi and the 'affordability' gap. So what are the Welsh Assembly Government spending money on a sham inept consultation?
Armed Forces: Training
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on Defence Training Review project financing of levels of demand from residential developers for his Department’s land at (a) Aborfield and (b) Borden. [217395]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Defence Training Review (DTR) Package 1 Project plans to improve and rationalise phase 2 and phase 3 technical training. As a consequence of this rationalisation both Bordon and Arborfield Garrisons will be released for sale from 2012 onwards.
MOD has sought recent independent valuation advice for both sites as part of financial appraisals for DTR which uses prudent levels of values in its assessments.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans have been agreed by his Department for managing affordability gaps identified in the Defence Training Review. [217725]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Department continues to work constructively with the Metrix consortium on a range of issues on DTR Package 1 to achieve an affordable, value for money, acceptable and deliverable project. Cost growth and the implications of the credit crunch on borrowing have been a significant factor. The Department has been working jointly with Metrix to drive the price down to seek to eliminate the affordability gap without materially affecting the scope of the project.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to discuss with the Comptroller and Auditor General the treatment of the financing of the Defence Training Review programme in his Department's accounts. [217726]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence has not yet entered into a contract for the delivery of Defence Training with the Metrix consortium. The treatment of the financing of the Defence Training Review (DTR) programme does not therefore appear in the Department's accounts and consequently there are no plans to discuss DTR with the Comptroller and Auditor General. One
minor entry for a contingent liability of £9.5 million will, however, be included in this financial year's account. This undertaking was laid as a departmental minute before the House for 14 working days on 29 January this year.
Defence Training Review Executive Board
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the minutes of the last meeting of the Defence Training Review Executive Board. [217394]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information requested as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interest.
26/06/08
Fortress Britain - St Athan mercenary training
Fortress Britain
Media Monitors Network - CA,USA
... for a privatised Military 'Academy' at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan to train all-service personnel and private 'security services'. ...
..................With the demoralizing effect of ill-conceived interventions abroad, the struggle for politicians is then of rehabilitating the myth of the military, rather that the military itself. What interests policy makers is not so much the military, but the cult of military. Plans are also underway to introduce US-style citizenship ceremonies for children and a new public holiday to celebrate 'Britishness' by 2012, as part of "wide-ranging proposals to strengthen British citizenship."
In sharp contrast to the decrepit military stands the fortunes of the private military industry. The preference of recent governments for market solutions has facilitated the transfer of most military R&D to the private sector, with giants like QinetiQ and BAe Systems securing plum deals. When the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (Dera) was split in two in 2001, QinetiQ, a British company with links to the US-based Carlyle Group, absorbed the majority of its activities.
Along with a raft of other lucrative PFIs, the private military industry is set to benefit from the largest to date, involving at least £14 billion of taxpayers' money, for a privatised Military 'Academy' at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan to train all-service personnel and private 'security services'. The corporate bonanza in Iraq has had Private Military Contractors – mercenaries – reaping windfalls profits for investors with stakes in the businesses, such as Frederick Forsyth and former Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind (of Aegis and ArmorGroup respectively). The lure of salaries, at times reaching as high as £1,000 a day, may be one reason why the military is losing so many of its men to the mercenary business..................
UFO over St Athan
WalesOnline -
An anonymous source suggested the incident took place while the helicopter was at 500ft and waiting to land at the Ministry of Defence’s St Athan base in ...See all stories on this topic...sure it wasn't John Smith MP??
21/06/08
ST Athan move may take 8 years leaked email
Jun 21 2008 by Nick Machin, Western Mail here
2. 20th June Military transfer 'delay' worry here
The planned switch of military training to Wales to set up a £11bn new facility could be put back eight years, an e-mail obtained by BBC Wales suggests.
3. Don't miss on 26th June, 5:30-7:30pm Temple of Peace Rae McGrath, International Spokesperson on Cluster Munitions, is attempting to get the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament to support the ban on cluster bombs. He is aware of our campaign and that it has highlighted Raytheon's production of such weapons.
4. Next meeting of the campaign against St Athan Military Academy will be at 3pm 28th June 2008 Temple of Peace ..more information http://www.antimetrix.org/
News
1. St Athan move ‘may take eight years’ Jun 21 2008 by Nick Machin, Western Mail PLANS to move military training to Wales as part of a new £11bn centre could be delayed for up to eight years, a leaked email has suggested.
Building on the facility at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan is due to start next year, bringing 5,000 new jobs.
The Ministry of Defence last night said it remained “100% committed” and there was “no question” about its future. But a leaked email has suggested that the Metrix consortium, which is backing the operation is considering keeping HMS Sultan in Hampshire open.
Metrix, yesterday said that the transfer of military training was just one detail of a “complex” project.
The training college at Gosport, at the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, is the home of a number of organisations, including Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School.
It was due to close and move its training to South Wales in 2017, but the leaked email said it could stay open until 2025.
Union leaders fighting to keep work in Hampshire say the leaked email raised questions about the proposals. The PCS union opposes the plan to transfer. Paul Bemrose, a negotiations officer with the union, said the e-mail offered his members a degree of comfort.
But Metrix said the transfer of HMS Sultan was only one part of a scheme involving thousands of jobs. The firm said details were bound to change in what it described as a hugely complex programme running over 25 years.
.....................
2. 20th June Military transfer 'delay' worry
The planned switch of military training to Wales to set up a £11bn new facility could be put back eight years, an e-mail obtained by BBC Wales suggests.
Building on the centre at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan is due to start next year, bringing 5,000 new jobs.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it remained "100% committed" and there was "no question" about its future.
Metrix, the consortium backing the operation, said the transfer was just one detail of a "complex" project.
The memo leaked to BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme stated the Metrix consortium was considering keeping open HMS Sultan in Hampshire.
The training college at Gosport, at the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, is the home of a number of organisations, including Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School.
It was due to close and move its training to south Wales in 2017, but the leaked e-mail said it could stay open until 2025.
Union leaders fighting to keep work in Hampshire say the leaked e-mail raised questions about the proposals. The PCS union opposes the plan to transfer. Paul Bemrose, a negotiations officer with the union, said the e-mail offered his members a degree of comfort.
He said: "There are a lot of problems with the programme now in terms of affordability, which the MoD are not talking about, because they don't want to raise the spectre of the project collapsing."
However, Metrix said the transfer of HMS Sultan was only one part of a scheme involving thousands of jobs.
The firm said details we are bound to change in what it described as a hugely complex programme running over 25 years.
The MoD said: "There is no question whatsoever about the future of this project, which will bring world class training to our armed forces".
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/7465154.stmPublished: 2008/06/20 14:52:12 GMT© BBC MMVIII
SEE ALSO
Protests against military academy 26 Apr 08 South East Wales
RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Metrix
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Sign of 'purple approach'
Politicians on St Athan 'victory'
Flying high and low at St Athan
PREVIOUS STORIES
Part of base training bid dropped
Plaid MEP queries military centre
Job hope as centre goes ahead
RAF base bid 'exceptional' - Hain
Hopes for 5,000 jobs at RAF base
Hangar opens to uncertain future
05/06/08
More anti Raytheon Demos in Wales
Bril pics here!!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. ...17/05/08
Resisting War Crimes Is Not A Crime – Defend the Raytheon 9!
There will be a mass protest outside the Court (opposite the Waterfront) from 9.30 to 10.30 on Monday 19th and every Monday morning as long as the trial continues. One of the defendants, journalist and civil rights’ activist Eamonn McCann, told Non Violent News “we can’t ask people to protest on a daily basis, but those who can spare an hour would be very welcome inside the Court to show support. Also, we will be gathering outside the Court every morning at 10.00am and we would be delighted to see anyone who wants to come along for just five minutes, to cheer us on, read a poem, do a piece of street theatre or anything else.”
Meanwhile, support for the Raytheon 9 is flooding in from across Britain and Ireland and as far afield as Australia. The Derry Anti War Coalition, which organised the action that led to the arrest of the nine, has linked up with campaigners in Wales who oppose British government plans to build a massive £14 billion Military Academy.
Davy McAuley, travelled to Cardiff recently to speak on behalf of the DAWC at a protest rally called by the Stop the St Athan's Military Academy Campaign. He says the proposed military academy “looks set to become Britain's 'School of the Americas' - a centre for counterinsurgency training and future imperialist adventures abroad.”
“The creation of a military super-academy at St Athan, between Cardiff and Swansea, was announced as a done deal in January 2007. Despite the fact this represented the biggest PFI in history, involving £14 billion of taxpayers' money, there had been no debate in either Westminster or the Welsh Assembly (Senedd).
“DAWC were invited to speak”, he says, “because the winning bidders for the project were the Metrix consortium. This consortium includes Raytheon and the anti-war people of Wales are as unhappy with their taxes pouring profits into the coffers of arms traders as are the anti-war people of Derry.
“The consortium also includes Qinetiq, the privatised research and development wing of the MoD. Qinetiq was recently the subject of intense criticism by the National Audit Office. Its privatisation was proposed by MoD managers - who then saw their shares rise 10,000% on the day of the sale!
Davey says that, in any case, “people need to imagine think about what else could be done with £14 billion! With hospitals and schools closing throughout Wales and the North of Ireland, with a desperate need to improve social facilities, create sustainable sources of energy etc, such public money could be invested in socially useful projects rather than the preparation for future wars of occupation like Iraq. For more information on Stop the St Athan's Military Academy Campaign, see http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/
There will be daily updates on this website during the trial.
Anyone who thinks they can help in any way should email resistderry@aol.com. There is a Raytheon 9 support group in Belfast to organise solidarity during the trial. It will try to provide accommodation for travelling supporters. Contact Gordon on 07742531617. For buses from Dublin, contact Mary on 0872917415 For buses from Derry, contact Davy on 07521527208 or Goretti on 07973528772
Touring bus joins Derry anti-munitions protestDerry Today - Derry,Northern Ireland,UKA touring bus warning people against cluster bombs joined a protest outside Derry-based munitions company, Raytheon, this week. The Cluster Munitions ...See all stories on this topic
Raytheon looking at Derry futureDerry Today - Derry,Northern Ireland,UKThe US-based company has been involved in controversy in the city because it supplies munitions software to countries across the world, although it has ...See all stories on this topic
Raytheon looking at Derry future
Global weapons giant Raytheon has confirmed it is "assessing its workload" at its Derry plant amid speculation that it is planning to axe staff. However a company spokesperson said no decisions have been made to reduce jobs.
One source told the Journal that the company, which operates a software development facility at Springtown, was considering cuts.The source said: "The future of the entire Derry operation is currently being discussed closure."However the company spokesman said yesterday evening: "While we are currently assessing our workload at the NISSC facility, no decisions have been made to reduce staffing levels. Our NISSC employees have exceptional skills and we fully anticipate the need for these skills in the future. Any decisions that are made with regard to staffing levels would, in the first instance, be communicated to our employees."
The US-based company has been involved in controversy in the city because it supplies munitions software to countries across the world, although it has denied that military work is carried out locally. A number of protests have been carried out at the Derry plant, with a protest against cluster bombs held there on Wednesday.The trial of a number of local people in connection with a protest at the company offices is due to begin next week in Belfast.
The full article contains 227 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Page 1 of 1
GLAD TO SEE THE BACK OF THEM.
Raytheon are manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction which have been used around the world to kill innocent men, women and children. Their claim that the work carried out in Derry is not of a military nature is nonsense. Much of the work in Derry is on internal Raytheon projects that directly support the running of the company. To claim that the Derry operation is not in support of Raytheons main business of arms manufacturing is daft. If I were to assist someone to murder a person by facilitating that murder and providing the means to do it then in a court of law I would be as guilty as they were. Why should the Derry Raytheon plant be any different. If the don't close down then they should be forced out as act act of solidarity with the many people around the world that their weapons are deployed against daily. Oh and what about the very secretive JETS program that is currently running down there at the minute. Are they still claiming that isn't a armaments program.
Rate payer, Derry 16/05/2008 18:03:10
Good Riddance! Let the free market fundamentalists and the Gerry Murrays of this world froth at the mouth, but let this be the beginning of the end of Raytheon globally.Now, let's take the massive state subsidy Raytheon have been getting (out of our taxes) and spend it on some sustainable jobs in Derry. Some co-operative business seed money? a plant for developing computer-based teaching aides for autistic children?a specialist cancer treatment and research centre for the north west of Ireland?
25/04/08
march to stop the military academy
Mass demonstration called by Stop the St Athan Military Academy Campaign
Supported by UK Stop the War Coalition
Assemble 1.30 pm, Cathays Park
(opposite Museum/City Hall, Cardiff Saturday 26 April
Anti-metrix protest, Bring placards, banners, drums, people etc
In the summer of 2006, hundreds of people protested in Cardiff against the war on Lebanon. The Israeli military dropped half-a-million cluster bombs on Lebanon supplied by arms companies like Raytheon. Now Raytheon has been invited to Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government to help run a huge, privatised military academy near Cardiff. It's time to get back onto the streets! Anything we can do in Wales to prevent the State waging war on its terms can only be of help to those resisting in the frontline in the Middle East and beyond.
Stop the St Athan Military Academy Campaign supporters include:
Aberystwyth Peace & Justice Network, Bangor Peace & Justice GroupCaernarfon Peace & Justice Group, Cardiff Anarchist Network, Cardiff Justice & Peace Group, Cardiff RESPECT/Left Party, Church Action Against Poverty, CND Cymru, CND (Swansea), Communist Party of Wales, Cymdeithas y Cymod (Fellowship of Reconciliation Wales), Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Welsh Language Society), Cynefin y Werin, Green Party (Wales), Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Penarth Justice & Peace Group, Permanent Revolution, Quakers (Caerleon), RESPECT/Left Party, Socialist Labour Party (Wales), South Wales Anarchists, Stop the War Coalition (UK), Stop the War (Bristol)Stop the War (Cardiff), Stop the War (Swindon), Stop the War (Wrekin), Women in Black (Abergavenny), Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Wrexham Peace & Justice Centre
To add your name or organisation to the list of supporters or for more information about the campaign, email: no2militaryacademy@inbox.com
Imagine a world in which the armed forces are trained by arms dealers.And we subsidise their profits.
That world will become reality unless we stop the proposed school of death at St Athan.The creation of a military super-academy at St Athan, between Cardiff and Swansea, was announced as a done deal in January 2007. Despite the fact this represented the biggest PFI in history, involving £14 billion of taxpayers' money, there had been no debate in either Westminster or the Welsh Assembly (Senedd). A promise of 5500 local jobs was trumpeted loudly by an uncritical news media and presented as a great victory for Wales.
No wonder the politicians didn't want any debate. The new super-academy, replacing many smaller centres, means that military training will now be in the hands of shameless profiteers.The winning bidders for the project were the Metrix consortium. This consortium includes Qinetiq, the privatised research and development wing of the MoD. Qinetiq was recently the subject of intense criticism by the National Audit Office. Its privatisation was proposed by MoD managers – who then saw their shares rise 10,000% on the day of the sale! 33.8% of Qinetiq was also bought by the US-based Carlyle Group, a sinister lash-up of politicians and arms dealers with a vested interest in promoting war.Former members of its board include one George W. Bush.
Then there is the US arms manufacturer Raytheon. Raytheon make the missiles which deliver cluster bombs, the horrendous weapons which are estimated to have killed 100,000 people – 98% of them innocent civilians. The world can also thank Raytheon for the depleted uranium weapons which have led to thousands of horribly deformed babies and large increases in cancers in war zones and beyond.Raytheon, Qinetiq and friends will not just be training UK armed forces at St Athan. They will train any soldiers, sailors and air force personnel that are willing to pay for the privilege. And like all PFIs, the St Athan academy will be subsidised by the taxpayer, and if necessary, bailed out with public money.There has never been a detailed breakdown of the jobs the academy will bring. However, even Metrix admit that many of the military trainers will relocate from elsewhere. Every PFI has secured profits by cutting costs. St Athan will mean less MoD jobs overall, and the poorest pay and conditions for lowskilled workers.
In any case, imagine what else could be done with £14 billion! With hospitals and schools closing throughout Wales and the UK, with a desperate need to improve social facilities, create sustainable sources of energy etc, such public money could be invested in socially useful projects rather than the preparation for future wars of occupation like Iraq.
If this development goes ahead, 21 st century Wales will be become a militarised, security-obsessed nightmare. If you want to stop the war profiteers in their tracks, support the campaign and raise it in your union, student union, workplace and community.
04/03/08
The Wales Office has not initiated or approved any private finance initiative projects in the last three years.
Wales Departmental Private Finance Initiative
I am pleased the Welsh Office has not initiatedBob Spink (Castle Point, Conservative) | Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) value and (b) start date was of each private finance initiative project approved by his Department in each of the last three financial years.
Paul Murphy (Secretary of State, Wales Office) | Hansard source
The Wales Office has not initiated or approved any private finance initiative projects in the last three years.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-03-03a.190810.h&s=speaker%3A10454#g190810.r003/03/08
MP accuses government of cover up over St Athan
27/02/08
Protest at OU working with Raytheon arms dealers
Cynefin y Werin (Common Ground) is an all Wales network of organisations which promotes equality, peace, justice, human rights and co-operation between nations, peoples and communities on the basis of sustainable environmental, economic and social development.
Does your university work for/with the milititary?
The proposed military training academy at St Athan will be built and run by a consortium which includes major multinational arms companies, and will train not only British service personnel, but those from any regime or private military company that can fork out the ready cash. This consortium includes the Open University and we call on them to withdraw. there will be a Protest today at 1pm at ou office 18 custom house street Cardiff.
This is part of the National Day of Action for University Ethical Investment - Coordinated events held at universities across the UK, in protest against university shareholding in arms companies. Anne Greagsby coordinator of the campaign against the privaitised military academy at St Athan said, "As a graduate from the opne university I am shocked that they could work with and profit from arms dealers such as Raytheon associated with cluster munitions and Serco and Qinetiq.
The Open University
"Our continued dedication to social justice and equality of opportunity is embodied in a set of commitments and principles. Through these commitments, we will strengthen our position as a university of choice."????
Military organisations - including arms companies and
the Ministry of Defence - annually sponsor hundreds of projects at UK universities.
The Study War No More report examines military involvement at 26 UK universities in order to highlight the impact military funding has on university departments. The report provides information about the funding of UK universities by military organisations, both governmental and industrial. It also intends to support students concerned about the impact their institutions have on international peace and conflict; and to encourage debate regarding the democratic deficit within academic institutions and the ends and ethics of research and research funding.
Study War No More: Military Involvement in UK
Universities is a joint project between Campaign Against Arms Trade and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The campaign website hosts full details of military involvement at 26 UK universities. You can download the Study War No More report, which exposes the ways in which the military sector is being pushed into UK universities, view in-depth data on each of the 26 universities we researched or find out more information on researching and campaigning in this area.
Read more
25/02/08
Land Securities Trillium for sale & former director labour funding scandal
Yetr another director of a company making a fortune from government money. More sleazy directors with dodgy dealings while seeking contracts. I hope we can have assurances that none of the Metrix consortium companies have funded any labour party activities or councillors. but how much the WAG has paid out is not yet known.
Bidders Circling for Land Securities Trillium
PPP Focus.com - Manchester,England,UK
According to various press reports, private equity firms and Macquarie the Australian-based bank are pondering on bids for Land Securities Trillium. ...
Since the Land Securities announced a restructuring in November, it was believed that Trillium was being lined up for a flotation. Whilst source say this may still be the favoured option there are increasing reports that a number of bids are being considered to purchase the division outright.
Analysts have valued the business at between £1bn and £1.5bn. No official news has emerged from either Land Securities or Macquarie Bank and any potential bids are believed to be at a very early stage.
See all stories on this topic
By sooty(Cat)
Mr Chande is a former director of Land Securities, the UK’s biggest property company, and, with Mr Myers, joint founder of Trillium, which won a contract to own and manage the majority of the Department for Work and Pensions property ...portfolio – a 2bn deal that made it Britain's biggest commercial landlord.
Independent Republic of the Canongate - http://independentrepublicofthecanongate.blogspot.com/
Caltongate developers funded Labour
By Mike(Mike)
Mr Chande is a former director of Land Securities, the UK’s biggest property company, and, with Mr Myers, joint founder of Trillium, which won a contract to own and manage the majority of the Department for Work and Pensions property ...
Wade's world - http://mikewadejournalist.blogspot.com/
22/02/08
Norway may ditch Israel electric Bonds
Why can we not have an ethical Wales?
Welsh politicians, even Plaid Cymru is prepared to welcome Raytheon, Serco to St Athan
Norway may ditch Israel Electric bonds
Jerusalem Post -
The government has banned the 2.08 trillion-krone fund from investing in companies involved in nuclear weapons or cluster munitions, and companies that it ...
"Information that the Israeli government is using this company to cut electricity supplies to Gaza, and thereby worsening the situation for civilians there, has made Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen ask the ethics council to investigate the company," ministry spokeswoman Kaja Haldorsen said by e-mail Thursday. Israel Electric wasn't immediately available for comment.
The government has banned the 2.08 trillion-krone fund from investing in companies involved in nuclear weapons or cluster munitions, and companies that it says are guilty of human rights or environmental abuses. An ethics council investigates companies alleged to be breaking the investment guidelines.
Israel Electric is a state-owned monopoly power supplier.
The
The ethics council concluded that there were no grounds for excluding companies active in
Companies that have been dropped previously by the fund include Poongsan Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp, Raytheon Co., European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., according to the Finance Ministry.
The Norwegian fund was established 11 years ago and is one of the world's oldest sovereign wealth funds. Yngve Slyngstad took over as head last month, succeeding Knut Kjaer, who managed the fund since its inception.
Tal Barak in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
15/02/08
CND Cymru 50th Anniversary of Global summit
cnd cymru
campaign for nuclear disarmament yr ymgyrch dros ddiarfogi niwclear
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CND GLOBAL SUMMIT THIS WEEKEND
Activists and campaigners from Wales, will be taking part
in this weekend's Global Summit for a Nuclear Weapon Free
World, hosted by British CND to mark the 50th anniversary of
the campaign's launch. Other participants in the
conference include Sergio Duarte, the UN High Representative
for Disarmament Affairs, Hiroshima bomb survivor Mikiso Iwasa
and Bianca Jagger the Councilof Europe Goodwill Ambassador and
Chair of the 'World Future Council'. CND will also welcoming
campaigners and activists from across the world - from
Israel, Indian, Pakistan, the US and France.
The Summit, held this Saturday and Sunday in London's City Hall
and opened by Mayor Ken Livingstone, will be the most
significant international conference on nuclear disarmament
since the end of the Cold War. It will draw together leading
diplomatic, scientific and policy experts who will focus on
how to create the conditions for abolishing nuclear weapons,
with the aim of promoting negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons
Convention. Such a convention would outlaw nuclear
weapons in the same way that the manufacture, procurement
and use of chemical and biological weapons have already
been outlawed.
British Government representatives have also been invited
and conference outcomes will be communicated to the Prime
Minister and Shirley Williams, his advisor on nuclear
proliferation. Over the last month both the Prime
Minister and the Defence Secretary have talked about
the need for renewed efforts at achieving reductions
in global nuclear stockpiles.
Jill Evans, Chair of CND Cymru will be taking part in the
Global Summit. A year ago, Ms Evans was arrested along
with other European elected representatives, for blocking
the gates of the Trident nuclear weapons
base in Scotland. She said today:
'We must take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment
to ridding Britain and the world of these immoral weapons
of mass destruction. At the same time
we should be looking towards ways of solving international
conflict by non-violent means and addressing the issues
of worldwide poverty, injustice, environmental destruction
and of global warming.
The longer that weapons of mass destruction exist in the
world, the closer the time comes to them being used.
I bring a message from Nuclear Free Wales that nuclear weapons
and the philosophy behind them are not what we, or our children
want or need.'
Kate Hudson, Chair of British CND : "This weekend, exactly half
a century since Bertrand Russell and others addressed our founding
meeting, will help bring us closer to the day when governments begi
substantive negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention."
CND Cymru and supporters, amongst them survivors from the
Hiroshima bomb, will join hundreds of others at the Atomic
Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston on Easter Monday,
24th March for a mass protest on the half-century anniversary
of the first march to Aldermaston.Plaid Cymru Llwyd, Elfyn Price, Adam
have signed these early day motions ... EDM 892 and EDM 72 yet both will not condemn the Government or evan the Welsh Assembly Government for working with Serco a key partner in the Metrix Consortium who in the biggest PFI/PPP ever are to be permitted to run a military training academy for UK army, navy and airforce recruits and will train mercenaries, soldiers for any regime with the money in Wales at St Athan.Serco Group Plc should be kept out of Wales because of its involvement in the production of nuclear weapons.
Why are our politicans not calling for the government to have ethical guidelines for investment like Norway.