- Anti-militarist, environmentalist and internationalist groups have organized the thirteenth Vital March for 10 April. They will conduct a route from Bilbao to Getxo, where they will conduct concentrations against the most important companies collaborating with the military industry in the area.
The thirteenth Vital March will depart from Bilbao on Saturday at 10:00 from the Palace of the Foral Deputation of Bizkaia and then concentrations will be held against the arms industry “against the subsidiaries of major companies of the Greater Bilbao that collaborate with the military industries”. Specifically, "against the companies ITP Aero de Barakaldo (former PCB Precicast) and Sener de Getxo".
The organizers want to denounce the “increasing involvement” of Basque companies with the arms industry, “while increasing cuts in health care, pensions, equality policies, social benefits or access to decent housing”. They also call for military production to become civilian production and for an end to the arms trade in Libya.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Defence, in the Basque Autonomous Community there are about 100 companies engaged in the military industry and CAV certifies EUR 600 million each year. "It is the third most important community in the state, after Madrid and Andalusia," the groups pointed out in a press conference.
That is why, through the March of Life, they will demand that "military production become civilian and that the arms trade be ended". The organizers of the march are Askapena, Eguzki, Ekologistak Martxan, Kakitzat, Kem-Moc, Komite Internazionalistak and ongi Etorri Errefuxiatuak.