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Against the arms industry on two wheels
  • As every year, several groups have organized a cycling march for Saturday, 23rd. The objective will be to show our rejection of the activity of the companies that manufacture arms in the Basque Country, as well as the institutions that finance them.
Uriola.eus @uriolaeus 2022ko apirilaren 21a
Argazkiak: Uriola

The Saturday tour will be easy, practicable for the youngest. Cyclists will leave at 11:00 hours from the Gran Vía, at the front of the Palais de la Diputación Foral. They will thus denounce the role played by public institutions in the financing of the arms industry. This was explained by Luis de Jesús of anti-militarist coordinator Kakitzat: “We will denounce military spending and the huge investment that is made through public aid to the military industry, because we understand that such public aid should be to transform the military industry and turn it into civilian industry.”

Against the arms industry on two wheels

Just as they want to imply with the slogan “war begins here”, the companies that make weapons and war material are here, as the CAV is the third largest gun community at the state level. Thus, on both sides of the estuary, a bicycle stop will be held during the march, specifically in front of the companies ITP (Barakaldo) and Sener (Getxo). Each of them will explain the material generated in these factories and the conflicts and countries in which they are used.

The war in Ukraine is the most important country in the news today, although it is recalled that there are currently 55 countries in conflict around the world. “We only look at Ukraine, which is close, and it is very serious, but we cannot forget the rest of the conflicts and the responsibility we have in them.” From Jesus he recalled that “here we manufacture weapons to use in other countries and kill people” and has set Yemen as an example.

Thus, they have regretted that the Government of Pedro Sánchez has decided to increase its budget for the army by EUR 6.5 billion and has spent EUR 10 billion more on arms: “These are frightening figures, considering that what should be on the agenda today should be as basic needs, health and education.”