A public forum with videos, Sunday, October 4, 7 pm

Curtis Memorial Library
Brunswick

Presented by PeaceWorks

In recognition of Keep Space for Peace Week, October 3-10, PeaceWorks will present a public forum on drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) on Sunday, October 4th at 7 p.m. in Brunswick’s Curtis Memorial Library. Several videos will show how drones are being used in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan by the U.S. military. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and whole communities have been devastated in pursuit of terrorists.

Representatives of the aerospace industry have expressed strong interest in turning part of soon-to-be-closed Brunswick Naval Air Station into a testing facility for drones. The jobs argument is being used to persuade people to welcome drone testing in Brunswick. But, as Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, argues, dollars spent on light rail and energy efficiency produce many more jobs.

What are the long-term implications for Maine of such a site? Mark Roman, our speaker, worries that companies that express an interest in using the base for drone testing have made no concrete proposals, leaving that question wide open. Are we willing to be a base for surveillance of our own citizens? Do we want to become a target for enemy aircraft? Roman is a founding member of Waterville Area Bridges for Peace & Justice. Last month he met with Rep. Mike Michaud to point out that funding for wars abroad is tying up resources that could be used to provide health care, education, and investment in green energy.

Call 725-7675 for more information