For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Westbrook, Tel: 240-383-0574
Medea Benjamin, 415-235-6517

WOMEN LEADING GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IN VICENZA, ITALY ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

May 1, 2007 -- Two of the women leading the campaign against a new U.S. military base in Vicenza, Italy have arrived in Washington, D.C. and will remain until May 7 to draw attention to the strong opposition against the planned base, which has grown from a local movement to become a national cause, an issue which contributed to the recent fall, albeit temporary, of the Italian government. The trip includes visits to congressional offices to reaffirm the movement's determination to stop construction of the proposed base.

"We are convinced that what Italy, indeed the world, needs is not another military base," explains Cinzia Bottene, who has become the public face of this grassroots movement. "We welcome Americans in Vicenza to visit our beautiful treasures, learn about our rich history and enjoy our food and wine. But what we don't want are more soldiers, planes and military hardware."

Cinzia Bottene, together with Thea Valentina Gardellin, will also meet with U.S. peace activists in order to develop common strategies and garner support for their cause. And they intend to raise consciousness among U.S. citizens on the effects of foreign military bases on local populations, including urban and environmental impact, damage to the local economy and the risk of terrorist attacks.

Vicenza, a town of 120,000 and showcase of renowned Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is already home to several U.S. military installations, including Camp Ederle dating back to 1955. This new base will serve to unite the 173rd Airborne Brigade currently based in Italy and Germany and will be located at the little used civilian airport Tommaso Dal Molin, just a few 100 meters from the Palladio's "Villa Caldogno" and surrounded by a residential area.

Though negotiations between the U.S. and Italian governments, along with the local administrators, had been going for over 2 years, news began to leak out only in May 2006 and local residents, led by the women, mounted a grassroots campaign collecting 8,000 signatures opposing the base in just 10 days. Two national demonstrations have been held, bringing people from all over Italy, the last of which was February 17, 2007 with over 100,000 people. A permanent camp was set up near the site of new base in early January and has been a focal point of the movement ever since. Despite the Italian government's recent approval of the project, the people are determined to continue as long as it takes.

For interviews with the Italian women, contact Stephanie Westbrook at 240-383-0574 or Medea Benjamin at 415-235-6517.