The Halifax Peace Coalition held a protest against the Conservative government’s decision to buy the F-35 fighter-bomber on January 17th, which was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and also the 50th anniversary of U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower’s speech warning of the dangers of the military-industrial complex (Moira Peters, “Pricy Jets a Nice Haul for Lockheed Execs,” Halifax Media Co-op, 18 January 2011).

The protest took place outside Stadacona base in Halifax, where American weapons firm Lockheed Martin has an office.

“If it’s up to the Department of National Defense to make decisions about procuring things, [Lockheed Martin’s office on the base] does not speak very well of leveling the playing field, or preventing industry from lobbying behind the scenes,” [protester Heidi Verheul] said. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a peace office on the base?”

See also Steven Staples’ comments: “Eisenhower’s farewell address and F-35s“, Ceasefire.ca, 17 January 2011.