The poor deluded fools. If they were really against ALL terrorism they would renounce christianity.

Besides all the killing and conquering christians have committed over the ages, religion is a passive type of terrorism itself. A terrorism of the mind.

Children are indoctrinated from birth to believe in a 'god' that will judge them when they die. It teaches people spend their life doing things so they can enjoy an 'afterlife', instead of enjoying this life as the only life they have.

It teaches people to feel guilty. Guilty about their sexuality and their promiscuity.

It teaches people groupthink, a herd mentality, a belief in a fairy tale book (the bible).

It teaches people to worship some long dead revolutionary (jesus). Not unlike how the socialists worship Che.

Fuck Christianity. Fuck all religion.

Comment 1...well if you could take your hand off it (keyboard or other apendage) for a while and open the book that would have less ignorance to justify your diatribe. If you could access their website www.pinegap6.org you may have your prejudices  and ignorance challenged. if your comortable with your stereotypes with no basis in reality carry on, just wallow in it. But don't feel obliged to share them with us, it's a drag

"Bible Basher" is not a very high standard attack. these folks look like they are Catholic or post-Catholic. The Catholic tradition (and maybe most practising Catholics today) predate universal literacy and the printing press by some 1600 years. Most Catholics don't emphasise the bible, the emphasise the sacraments. It is protestant traditions that are post prinintg press. most literate and have easy access to the bible.

You obviously need a consultant for a good anti-papist rant. Why don't you try a KKK website or a LVF (loyalist) one for some tips?

Comment 2

Your last sentence betrays your politics. You are racist. you think it is ok for israel to have 400 + nuke warheads in the region and the U.S. have several hundred pointing at Iran and Iran not to have anyone. if you are a child of the Cold War yet you forget your lessons about "deterence".

If you oppose nukes, why don't you get off your arse and do something. You confuse being rebellious with being contrary! These folks look pretty busy on trial or supporting folks on trial. Why don't you do something...well the answer is obvious, you have no intention to do anything outside the first world white boy comfort zone you inhabit.

Solidarity with the Pine Gap crew

Cynicism is the 5th. column of the establishment!

You're right, I'm a psychic!

And have beento jail many times for resiting nuclear weapons, OZ uranium shipments to Iran, U.S., Japan, USSR (through Finland at the time).

Obviously the Iranians (with the U.S. military now positioned either side) have observed North Korea has not been invaded because they have got'em. Iraq was invaded because they didn't have'em. And this has led them back to the tired old Cold War conclusions of the "deterence".

You're use of "bollox" indicates you are from a Brit colonial cuture. No stranger to  attacks on the Irish, Catholics. You were shooting them dead as they marched for their civil rights in Derry only a few decades ago. You may have forgotten because there has been so many dead in so many places since then.

The Catholic tradition is sacramental, the protestant tradition is scriptual. Your vitrol against these four resisting Australian contribution to targetting in Iraq is therapeutic.

This is understandable, if you chill and be a little more rational, understanding is in your reach. The majority of theCatholic tradition is developed before the printing press. That has influenced radical Catholics to take such actions as these. Check out

www.jonahhouse.org

www.peaceontrial.com

www.plowsharesactions.org

M16, FBI, Special Branch are after these people, they aren't after you. Your attempts to undermine resisters facing trial in Alice Springs serve the imperial state.

Wallow in your ignorance and treat indy as therapy. You're not alone there. We'll get on with nonviolently resisting this war.

- Someone who believes in a fictional being called 'God'
- Is a member of a movement headed by the Pope, who preaches against homosexuality, abortion, even condom usage.
- Someone who believes in the 'afterlife' and 'heaven'. Two very fictional things.

It's a pity so many people have been brainwashed by religion. The world would be a much better place without it.

God is Yaweh, the word that cannot be spoken. To begin to define God is the start of idolatry. As in "God created man in his image-both male and female" (pretty rad concept at the time). See Erich Fromm apologetics for the use of "man" to describe all humans. the "image of God" is amongst us, it is human beings. We love God by loving humans, even the ones mother state defines as our enemies.

The Catholic church is a voluntary organisation, we know where the door is. And we know it will probably swing open again if we leave and come back in 30. "It is the only truly global phenomenon" The Guardian. There are a billion of us (there also a billion Chinese, a billion Muslims and an Amerikkkan Empire run by some fundamentalist Christians with a dodgy dangerous take on Revelation).

Unfortunately the secular left is finished, largely exahusted by the defeat of the USSR and socialist project. Defeated by an alliance between modernist capitalism and pre-modernist Islam. These former allies are now turning on each other after their "success" defeating the USSR in Afghanistan (other successes in Indonesia, Middle East etc.) following the deployment of 1/2 million "Crusader" troops to the Islamic holy lands for Gulf War 1, the military success of the 911 attacks and the retreat of the U.S. military out of Saudi relocating in Qatar (use to be allied to the USSR back in the '80's). 

Catholics have been around for 2,000 years!

There are gay Catholic theologians. Read James Alison "Faith Beyond Resentment - Fragments Catholic & Gay". Read his other theology/commentary that goes beyond gay issues. When Arlo Guthrie became a Catholic he observed this is the most pluralistic movement I've come across (full of cultures, the poor, orders, renewals, monastics, prophetics etc.)

Along with the IWW, the Catholic Worker www.catholicworker.org is one of the oldest anarchist movements in North America. Read "Demanding the Impossible: A History of  Anarchism" (by Taylor or Marshal????). Read his capter on christian anarchism. In my experience the animosity that exists on "the left" in England & Australia to faith based activism (as displayed in the above comments) does not exist in the U.S.

Why is this so?

The U.S. for what it's worth is the only church going part of the 1st. world (40% of U.S. claim to be regular church goers, 4% of English make the same claim, there are now more "practising" Muslims in England than Anglicans; there are 50 million Catholics in the U.S., there are 100 million evangelical and fundamentalist christians in the U.S. Rupert Murdoch observed this when initiating a production company two weeks ago that will produce 6 major motion pictures a year with right wing theology for this market. There is a rich social history of movements led by faith based activists in U.S. history, anti-slavery, anti-war, civil rights etc (read Howard Zinn's "The Peoples History of America", see the DVD and observe how he accompanies Fr. Dan Berrigan SJ to North Vietnam as reps of the U.S. anti-war movement during the U.S. bombing to bring back U.S. POW's 

Abortion is a traumatic issue for everyone involved, I am reluctant to address it in this forum. James Allison observed at a public meeting in Brisbane a year ago, "Abortion is a bigger difficutly for Catholics, homosexuality a bigger difficulty for evangelicals/fundamentalist". Opposition to abortion makes sense in the context of a pacifist ethic. The Catholic church position on applying a relativist/just war theory to predominantly "male" violence of war and a pacifist/absolutist ethic to predominantly "female" violence of abortion is to me inconsistent. They should either go with a pacifist/absolutist ethic on both or a just war/relativist ethic on both. The Catholic church is one of the few groups to oppose the death penalty in the U.S. "Liberals" like Anne Richards and Bill Clinton embraced trhe death penalty to get elected. Catholic moderates like the, NY Gov. Cuomo, Dukakis risked popularity by opposing the death penalty. It was no embarrassment ot have lib fem Anne Richards chair the Democrat Convention that nomonated Clinto the first time, even though she had the most active execution chamber in the western world as Gov. of Texas. At the same convention they would not let anti-death penalty/anti-abortion/pro-social welfare Gov. of Pennsylvania Casey (?) speak. They also tried their best to silence ex-Jesuit seminarian, former Gov of California (the only Prez candidate in both parties opposed to the death penalty) Jerry Brown.

Setting aside how the condom could be over rated. I don't see any difference in avoiding conception through the use of condoms and the rhythym method. The intent is the same to avoid conception/the beginning of life with both techniques. I can understand the ethic of "every act of heterosexual intercourse should be open to the possibility of life" (no matter how many condoms one straps on!), otherwise without that ethic, the failure of the condom etc may lead to death/abortion.

Christians have many and varied views on "heaven" and the "afterlife". For many of us it's  definition is not significant to our faith. We are too busy trying to live and love and remain faithful to the way in this one for 3 score and ten.

The papacy is "the teaching authority" of the Catholic tradition. The Catholic is obliged to act with an informed conscience and in discernment with one's faith community. Te primacy of the "informed conscience" is recoghised inthe tradiiton.

The western world is largely free of religion and spiritual practise. The spirituality baby has been thrown out with the religious bathwater and comsumerism has been embraced for a source of identitiy, understanding and meaning. The majority have abandoned active citizenship for passive consumeism. The only freedoms valued are the expanding choices at the market place. Everything (music, football, children, sexualtiy) is commodified. Nothing is sacred.

I don't expect you to agree with everything the individuals who make up the Pine Gap 6 believe (I don't!..and some would not share all my beliefs expressed here). I do hope your prejudices don't get in the way of offering solidarity to the few people in Oz seriously, nonviolently resisting this war.

Dear Folks,

I had a soft enuff landing this time around. A thorough going over by customs based on looks rather than identity. Once the bag was opened lots of conversation about the nature of the war and Australian involvement in it ensued. As you maybe aware, on my last trip to Australia I was met right off the ramp by agents of the Australian Security Organisation. http://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/?p=113

I made as much political hay of this event as possible linking the evaporation of civil liberties in Australia witht he esclataion of the war effort (isn't that always the case life and freedom are the first to go as the war machine is cranked up and society accepts the rationing of our liberty and dissent?). Last visits detention and questioning was covered in mainstream media, The Melbourne Age, Irish Echo (weekly for the diaspora) newspapers, varied websites (from Crikey to Church) and radio. This time I approaced it with a "come and get me this is great" email...bit like Brer Rabbit and the Briar patch tale inverted. It worked, no ASIO on landing even though one of the first questions last time was I planning to go to Alice Springs (near Pine Gap). The purpose of my journey this time is to testify at the trial of the Pine Gap crew in Alice www.pinegap6.org

Meanwhile in Alice last week, Federal Police questioned a local about my good self be due to be arriving the same day as a plane is coming in from the U.S. U.S. Starlifters arrive in Alice twice a week to resupply the NSA Pine Gap base. They travel from Maryland via Hawaii and Christchurch/New Zealand (Aotearoa) to a military base in Sydney (Richmond?) and then on to Alice. Alice activists once delayed their landing by hiring bicylcles and riding them around on the runway in circles until apprehended! At the defendants last pre-trial hearing. Feds approached the defendants and stated, "We know Ciaron O'Reilly is here directing operations. We know he's had a haircut. We know he plans further action at Pine Gap!" On that day I was in Sydney being interviewed by a TV show. I have yet to visit Alice Springs or Pine Gap!

Although all this attention may seem flattering to me and insulting to anyone associated with me, there is a more sinister undercurrent. With the expansion of security/ anti-terrorist experts in Australia and elsewhere, when they haven't got a serious problem. They need to take someone like me, inflate me and spin me into a problem worthy of their time, budgets and underused expertise. They need a problem to solve to justify their employment, promotions and department expansions. If I'm regarded as a serious problem for the security forces in Australia, they really don't have a problem.

Beside the "High Noon" ambience evolving in an isolated town of 20,000 (6,000 indigenous, over 1.000 U.S. related to the base) and seems like choc a bloc with Feds and police drafted in from other states, I am looking forward to going to Alice Springs for the first time. I'm looking forward to bringing messages of solidarity from Ireland to the defendants.

http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25417

Catholic News Service

http://www.cathnews.com/news/609/169.php

Westender (Brisbane)

http://www.westender.com.au/stories.php?s_id=319

CHRISTIAN PACIFISTS FACE COURT OVER PINE GAP INSPECTION October 2, 2006

The right to publicly criticise and expose the activities of American spy bases in Australia will come under the spotlight this week when four Christian peace activists face the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Alice Springs after conducting a ‘Citizens Inspection’ of Pine Gap spy base last year. Jim Dowling (Dayboro), Adele Goldie ( Brisbane ), Bryan Law ( Cairns ) and Donna Mulhearn ( Sydney ), called Christians Against ALL Terrorism, face charges under the Commonwealth Crimes Act and the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act (DSU) 1952.

The first stage of the trial will start tomorrow (October 3.) Setting a legal and political precedent, Attorney General Phillip Ruddock granted permission for the Commonwealth to invoke the Cold-War era DSU act in order to throw heavy charges at the activists that carry a maximum of seven years in prison. Retired Federal Court judge, Ron Merkel Q.C is heading a legal team for the four which will question the Commonwealth’s right to use the act. CAAT member, Donna Mulhearn said the Defence (Special Undertakings Act) 1952, is designed to maintain secrecy and intimidate activists from actions at Pine Gap and other US defence installations by carrying absurdly heavy charges. “The fact that the act has never been used before reflects our current political climate of secrecy and paranoia. The Government is guilty about Pine Gap’s key role in the war in Iraq and is keen to hide its secrets.” Ms Mulhearn said the group entered Pine Gap on December 9, 2005, to do a ‘citizen’s inspection’ for suspected terrorist activity because of its role in providing targetting information for US missiles that have killed innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We believe that killing children with a bomb dropped from a plane is as much an act of terrorism as doing it with a suicide bomb,” she said. “So in order to maintain any intellectual and moral honesty on the issue of terrorism we are actively opposed to all forms of terrorism. “We felt we could not allow the US and Australian governments to continue to conceal the role of Pine Gap in the ongoing war in Iraq . “It’s time the Australian public knew the reality of what is happening on Australian land”.

Despite informing the Defence Minister of their plans, widely publicising it in the media and the posting of extra police; two members of the group managed to breach security to enter the base, climb on the roof of a building and hang banners and take photos before being found. An hour later, in broad daylight two other group members walked through the outer restricted area right up to the high security fence and one member started cutting through it before being stopped by security.

The break-in forced a shut down of the base for about five hours. “In the upcoming trial the Government will attempt to defend this ultra-secret spy base and its support of US wars around the world,” Ms Mulhearn said. “We will put an alternative view - super secret American spy bases do NOT hold the key to Australia’s security. “Our security lies in building better relationships.”

Charges: The four who entered the base are charged with indictable offences under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 of unlawfully entering a prohibited area (max 7 years) and operating a camera in a prohibited area (max 2 years) as well as Commonwealth Crimes Act charges of trespass and damage. They will be tried together and will plead non-guilty.

The trial: The trial takes place in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, Alice Springs, beginning with pre-trial argument on October 3rd.

A national peace convergence is planned to take place at the same time as the trial, with protest actions at Pine Gap on the weekend on October 7-8.

For further information and interviews contact: Donna Mulhearn on 0422 749319 donnamulhearn@yahoo.com.au

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1754879.htm

Hey Ho, Blue skies (severe drought) great weather.

Catching up lots of friends & family. Word from Alice Springs, is that yesterday was spent in pre-trial argument around the issues of the charges being inappropriate. A former Federal Court judge has volunteered his services to the defendants, sensing the charges an attack on civil liberites in relation to dissent to Australian involvement n the war. The defendants who participated in a minimal, theatric, nonviolent (at its legal worse) trespass at the secretive Pine Gap base are being treated like major threats to national security. In the '80's many nonviolent activists(eg. "Women for Survival", "Anti-Bases Campaign" etc) were arrested for mass trespass at Pine Gap. This is the first time that peace activists have been charged with the authoritarian Defence (Special Undertakings) Act that carries 7 year maximum sentences. Indeed this is the first time anyone has been charged with it since it came into effect in 1952!

The Judge has reserved the decision on the arguments made yesterday. The state has assembled a team of 6 lawyers, ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisaton) has a very big involvement in the case and a large presence in Alice Springs presently. I'm expecting they will be a part of the welcoming comittee when I land in Alice tomorrow (Thurs). Coincidently a U.S. military flight is touching down at this small outback airport on the same day and concerns have been expressed about this coincidence.

The only national newspaper, "The Australian", carried a banner line yesterday "80%(of Australians) believe Iraq war has failed!". A new poll conducted by the Lowry Institute found two-thirds of Australians did not agree the war would lead to a spread of democracy in th Middle East" (I thought we went to war over WMD, but I guess they don't ask those kind of questions anymore!) This war has no popular support here, in U.S., Britain, Ireland or anywhere. Just goes to show they don't need to have popular support to have a war these daze!

The contardictions about the war abound eg. Cheney and Bush who evaded service in Vietnam sending working class cannon fodder off to kill and die for them, the Saudi princes living it up on hedonist holidays in the West returning to run a repressive, prudish society, now expresses itself in the Australian SAS. In the immediate aftermath of the start of the Iraq War, SAS sources say that 150 had left the regiment with many taking lucrative positions in private securty firms in Iraq. With each Sabre squadron containing fewer than 100 men, this means the regiment have struggled to find enough troops to fill its three squadrons, making it harder to meet the demands made on them. With three squadrons, it is impossible for the SAS to properly rotate its troops, keeping some soldiers deployed in combat, resting others and maintaining a third squadron on standby for counter-terrorism duties. So the Australian taxpayer has spent a mint on training these guys in specialist ways to kill the and the private contractors are reaping from their training without having to make investment.

As we (me, my older brother, younger brother, cousin from Offaly, handful of friends from previous anti-war actions and a barefoot hippy drafted while passing by with a "Where do you think you are going?") took to the streets in solidarity vigils with the Pine Gap defendants, it was hard to find this 80% expressing any public dissent over the war. As in Ireland, opposition to the war remains massive, passive and invisible!

Last night 50 folks turned up for a public talk by moi at the local libertarian ("Ahimsa") centre. A great venue, good bar, lots of meeting space, good big major room. I asked one of the centre organisers "How's it going here, generally?" He retorted "We've got a great building no (libertarian activist) movement!" I responded "Sounds like the church, we got a lot of great empty buidings too!" Australian humour-we're into aggressive intimacy, what can I say!

It was a good cross section audience, histories with NVDA experience, a socialist from Roscommon, folks who heard me on ABC radio the night before, old friends from the '70's/'80's/'90's, a couple of women who drove an hour and half from the north coast for the meeting. Only one young person (uni age)..go figure!

Local Briz anti-war activism is presently focussed on solidarity with the Pine Gap crew, U.S. warship & sub visits to Briz and next year's "Australian-US Joint Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 07" involving 30,000 +U.S military. The exercises taking place 700 km north of Brisbane, in Shoalwater Bay, (and people complain that Dub-Shannon is too far to go to confront U.S. troops!) is to practice the basics of bombing, raiding and invading (sexual harrasment, physical assault of the civvie locals & environmental destruction are merely secondary spin offs) The use of Depleted Uranium munitions is highly likely during these exercises, the presence of nuclear powered and armed warships is a definite! A national peace convergeance on Shoalwater Bay has been called for May-June 2007. www.peaceconvergeance.com

REPORT FROM ALICE SPRINGS/ TRIAL OF THE PINE GAP CREW

Hi to all our friends. Below is some text from the website that we have just updated. The brief version is that the Judge has reserved her decision on whether the prosecution is bound to prove that Pine Gap exists for the defence of Australia against internal agression. The Defence want the Crown to justify why they think this base is necessary to defend Australia. This week there is heaps of great energy and activity. Keep up to date with our website: www.pinegap6.org

Cheers Jessica ____________________________---

Wednesday, October 4th

THE QUEEN VERSUS THE PINE GAP 4 - DAY ONE Trial – Day 1

Today represented the first stage of the trial of the Pine Gap 4, which consisted of legal argument surrounding the the Prosecution's use of the Defence Special Undertakings Act. There were about 30 people (both locals and interstate visitors) who formed a colourful procession through Todd Street mall to the court. The spirit of the peace march to the courthouse was powerful and with Jim, Donna, Adele and Bryan leading the procession, we are all reminded of their strength and the need for solidarity. Our silence reflected the solemnity of the reason we’re all here, and our need to draw from inner convictions before acting. Several camera crews met us at the court house – and although most of them were not in Blue uniforms, we knew they were from the Aust Federal police. I do wonder how many photos they need of us! They had already taken several when we arrived at the airport earlier in the day.

Bryan shared some words with the crowd outside the court, listing all the lies our Governments told us leading about the Iraq war and reminding us of why we have all traveled so far to be here. Dave, a local Catholic man shared a prayer of blessing for the trial and for strength and that both sides would hold to their integrity and share their truth.

Inside the court room we were confronted by all the wigs and gowns, worn on both sides, reminding us that it was a Supreme Court hearing, and the seriousness of the charges. Northern Territory police flanked the defendants on both sides, and many other police and Protective Services staff were sitting in the room. What ensued was three hours of complex legal argument which stretched every one of our tired brains to follow the complexities of the legal wrangling. Court Argument The crux of the submission by our defence was that the Crown had not proved that Pine Gap defends the interests of the Commonwealth and therefore the defendants should be acquitted of the charges under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act (DSU Act). Our Counsel, Rowena Orr, appeared by videolink from Melbourne and was outstanding in her grasp of the complexities of these issues. From Rowena we heard that the DSU Act limits a fundamental right of freedom, and therefore there must be very stringent tests applied this law. The Crown on the other hand argued that the land is ‘private’ and therefore private property rights are paramount. A heckler in the court loudly whispered that it is Anangu land, and all this talk of private property was ridiculous.

The Accused return to court on Thursday to try to drag information out of the Crown, and to fight their suppression order. They will then return again on Thursday 12th in regard to today’s matters. The judge will either deliver a decision next Thursday or give a date when this will happen.

Reflections

The sense of yearning felt by Tracey, a supporter from Queensland, that ignorance of the general public of the threat that lies right on their doorstep is astounding. Also, the need to bring positive energy and encouragement to the four defendants is vital, since their willingness to act begs for the support and solidarity from other Christians. Alice Spring is a small town in the heart of Australia, my feelings are to stop the terrorism in our heartland.

Jo, a supporter who arrived from Sydney on Monday is excited to be here as history is made – he is convinced of the significance of this legal process. Personally he regards the trip as part of his own pilgrimage.

The most significant thing for Jessica today was sitting in court next to the head of security at Pine Gap. Being in close body contact was a constant reminder for me of our shared humanity. We both had reminder notes written on our hands, were trying to capture the crux of the court proceedings, and follow the process. Our legal system is an adversarial one, and invites us to divide into “them” and “us” – our challenge is to know that we have no enemies.

During the earlier procession reactions from the passer-bys varied. One woman mouthed the worlds “blessings to you” as she walked past. Another man heckled us all with “thank God for the Gap”. Some Christians conducting a play for what appeared to be evangelical purposes were overheard to say “they should just be preaching Jesus” – ironic because that’s exactly what we felt we were doing.

The next court appearance is this Thursday Oct 5th.

some terrorists should get together & bomb pine gap it has always been a corrupt member of the nsa causing mischief & terror around the world & basically giving us westerners a all round bad name.

Well folks,

I landed here Thursday after a 3 hour flight across the dry, red
landscape from Sydney. This is one big country and after being based in
Europe for the last ten years it's an amazing sense of space. I got off
in Alice to find two Federal Police wating for me, following me to
collect my bags and radioing in my arrival Concerns expressed a couple
of weeks ago that I was going to hit the runway running and engage the
U.S. Starlifter, due to touchdown that day to resupply the NSA Pine Gap
base, turned out to be groundless.

Hooked up with the defendants & support in "downtown" Alice. This
is one tough gig in terms of trial organising. The defendants are quite
geographically spread out. Brian Law, wife Margaret and child lives in
Cairns, north Queensland, Jim Dowling, wife Anne & 7 kidz on a
Catholic Worker farm 1200 miles south in Dayboro, Adele Goldie in
nearby Brisbane and Donna Mulhearn 600 miles south again in Sydney.

Alice Springs, site of the trial is a 3,000 km drive from Brisbane,
Pine Gap NSA warfighting base is located 30 kms. from Alice. Still,
support on the ground in Alice at present includes two country cousins
from a Catholic Worker farm in the north tip of Aotearoa (New Zealand),
a couple of activists from Adelaide (including a woman who was with
Donna as a human shield in Iraq in '03), a few guys from Sydney, a
woman from Kinka Beach near Shoalwater Bay military training base
(central Queensland), jessica one of the Pine Gap 6 from Melbourne. So
massive distances to offer solidarity. the vibe among the solidarity
community is good. There are whole little of Catholic folks in town
(rad nuns etc0 who have spent their lives working in solidarity with
aboriginal people and about 6,000 aboriginal people living in Alice
(22,000 pop)

The Uniting Church has given us a day base in the central mall, where
we have set up an info stall, tea, coffee, shade. 15 of us are camped
outside of town. And I (with 12 other folks, lots of kidz) had my first
ride in the CW vehicle fuelled by recycled fish and chip oil into town
this morning. Gotta go and plan our presence at Pine Gap tomorrow
afternoon....coming ready or not! Doing a public meeting tonight.
Hey Ho Hope all is well,
Looks like a bad scene in Mayo.

www.indymedia.ie 

One Love
Ciaron

http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/126149.php

http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2006/09/29/news/00lead.txt

http://www.resistancemedia.org/

Peter DeMott (Vietnam Veteran/Catholic Worker/Plowshares activist/father/husband) speaks on his release from 8 months of incarceration for the St. Patrick's Four nonviolent occupation of their local (Ithaca, NY, USA) Military Recruitment Centre.

The initial trial of Peter, Danny, Teresa and Clare of the St. Patricks Four ended in a hung jury. On the eve of Peter, Tersea, Clare and 8 other family members leaving NY/USA to attend the first Dublin March '05 trial of the Pit Stop Ploughshares, all defendants houses were visited by the FBI who hit them with felony charges for the initial occupation.

On return from the Dublin trial, prosecution argued for the travel of defendants to be restricted as "they had just been in Ireland involved in ongoing criminal activity", merely by attending the Pit Stop Ploughshares trial (who we later discover were not involved in any criminal activity at all, being acquiited in July '06!)

Link below has audio and visual of Peter's release....
www.stpatricksfour.org

Peter DeMott (Vietnam Veteran/Catholic Worker/Plowshares activist/father/husband) speaks on his release from 8 months of incarceration for the St. Patrick's Four nonviolent occupation of their local (Ithaca, NY, USA) Military Recruitment Centre.

The initial trial of Peter, Danny, Teresa and Clare of the St. Patricks Four ended in a hung jury. On the eve of Peter, Tersea, Clare and 8 other family members leaving NY/USA to attend the first Dublin March '05 trial of the Pit Stop Ploughshares, all defendants houses were visited by the FBI who hit them with felony charges for the initial occupation.

On return from the Dublin trial, prosecution argued for the travel of defendants to be restricted as "they had just been in Ireland involved in ongoing criminal activity", merely by attending the Pit Stop Ploughshares trial (who we later discover were not involved in any criminal activity at all, being acquiited in July '06!)

Link below has audio and visual of Peter's release....
www.stpatricksfour.org

They're on Trial for Us, We're on the Loose for Them!

The jury in the trial of Oxford anti-war activists Phil & Toby has npw been out for over 8 hours in deliberation on a verdict. The trial arises from the arrest of Toby and Phil in March '03 as they went equipped to disarm a U.S.B 52 Bomber at RAF Fairford (England). An earlier trial in Bristol of Paul and Margaret who had disabled 10 vehicles specifically designed to reload the B52's at Fairford ended in a hung jury a few weeks ago.

For background on the B52 weapon system, the role of RAF Fairford, the attempted disarmament action, the judicial journey of Phil and Toby's request to secure a fair trial......check the following site......

B52 Two website
http://b52two.org/

For ongoing commentary on the present "B52 Two" trial underway in Bristol, check.....

Blog from Bristol trial of B52 Two
http://www.b52two.blogspot.com/

Judge backs Govt over Pine Gap break-in

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79037

http://www.blackshamrock.org/article/114

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79073

http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25434

Pine Gap Activists Face Court.

 The five activists arrested at Pine Gap on
Saturday the 7^th of October faced court today charged with failing
to cease to loiter and obstructing traffic. Four of the five pleaded guilty
while the fifth, Edward Cranswick of Alelaide stated that he did not respect
the jurisdiction of the court as it did not represent the will of the
Australian people but that of the occupying power, the United States.  The magistrate adjourned the matter to the 5^th
of February.

In mitigation the other four defendants
stated that their actions were in protest against the United States’ government
and the involvement of Pine Gap in the war in Iraq.  Jamie Ford brought to the attention of the court that the CIA who
operates Pine Gap are well known for international human rights abuses such as
selling arms to Iran in the 1980s, Training terrorists such as Al Qaida and
supporting brutal regimes such as the Taliban and inciting war in Latin
America.  He also stated that the US
advocate the use of torture and incarceration without charge and that Pine Gap
was linked to Raytheon, the worlds 5^th largest arms dealer. “These
are the reasons that as a citizen of Alice Springs I am disgusted to have such
an installation in my region.” said Mr. Ford.

 Mr. Ford
along with Tracy Makamae of Yepoon, Carl Johnston of Alice Springs and Sam Land
of New Zealand were fines $280 each for the offences.

Australian born anti-war activist Ciaron
O'Reilly, recently acquitted of $2.5 million damage to a U.S. Navy war
plane, returned to Shannon Airport for the first time since his arrest
3 1/2 years ago www.peaceontrial.com

O'Reilly joined fellow Pit Stop Ploughshares Deirdre
Clancy, three U.S. veterans of the Iraq War (former interrogators at
Abu Ghraib) and 200 anti-war activists in a funeral procession form
Shannon town to the airport. They were met by an equal number of Irish
police and army at the airport.

Ciaron and the U.S. veterans
laid a coffin and flowers were laid by activists in memory of the 2,800
Americans, most who would have passed through Shannon to their deaths
in Iraq. Also remembered were the over 600,000 Iraqis (recent Lancett
Report) who have died in the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Shannon
Airport in "neutral" Ireland has been the major refueling pit stop for
U.S. troops travelling to and from Iraq (on pre-July '06 average 1100 a
day), it has also refueled CIA flights invlved in kidnap and rendition
programs.

Ciaron's speech, updates, reports, photos of the procession demonstration can be found on the following link
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79324

At the Shannon rally yesterday, Tony Lagouranis described his role following the destruction of Fallujah two years ago.

He was ordered to strip the bodies of the dead and search their
clothing for inteligence. Both time I have heard Lagouranis speak it
has brought the war home. He is concise, understated and powerful.
He speaks in Cork later this week, check events listing

The link below is his interview on Sky News Oct 25th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTeE1ykArBU

For me it was the first time back to Shannon since the Pit Stop Ploughshares arrest 3 1/2 years ago. We five spent a year banned from entering the entire County of Clare and the next couple of years banned from a 5 mile radius of the airport until we were acquitted last July www.peaceontrial.com This is the first call out for the anti-war movement to head to Shannon this year - and the year is nearly up.

Good scene on the Dublin bus. Lots of good folks who are serioius about opposing this war. Sat next to Harry who is working on an article on the Pit Stop Ploughshares action/trial/acquittal. Maybe we could have tried the speed dating technique of everyone in the aisle seats (or those who were into it) getting up and moving every 15 minutes. A little dosie do may have been a good networking opportunity, retrospect is 20/20 vision. Fintan, Harry & Anthony seem to be doing a sterling job getting the show won the road.

There were Belfast folks, Dutch, English, Australians, the 3 U.S. vets, and 3 U.S. Catholic Workers on the bus. Mike works for "GI Hotline" advising folks on how to get out of the military. Katie's brother has been in Iraq for a year and has just had his tour extended.

Touchdown Lidel carpark. The Cork crew are there with the coffin. Good community vibe amongst the sure can do Cork crew. Galway bus turns up, lots of folks dressed for Haloween, they get into the sombre vibe and make it look like a Mexican funeral, day of the dead kind of thing. Ed, Conor and Tim who have done so much Shannon based activism over the years are there and lots of other good folks.

We lift the coffin and start walking. It's a great focussed way to return to Shannon Airport, the ongoing scene of the crime. I can't see much got a coffin pushed up to one side of my face and we're at the front behind folks carrying the small white child's coffin. Get in step with the Cork lads and onto the road. Cops in yellow vests backing off, chopper overhead and dogs on leashes. Nice slow pace, lots of time to think about this war that escalates and expands and all the young kidz who came through Shannon and didn't come back alive. All those in Veteran Hospitals, in the ground and those who will find themselves on the streets abandoned and homeless eventually.

As we get closer to the airport, the three Vets take over form the Cork guys in carryng the coffin. These guys are so young. They are courageous breaking with family military tradition, military peer group pressure to speak out against this war and the things they did in Iraq. Having spoken to them in the days before they are serious, they know it's going to be along war and presently there is little visibility of an anti-war movement here, in the U.S., anywhere. It's great to be returning to Shannon in their company.

We lay the coffin down, folks move forward to lay the flowers. The symbol and ritual are powerful, the mood is serious and sombre. There is a sense what we are doing is significant. A sense that it is impotant to come to this place and say "no!"

We pretty much turn our back on the forces of the state and head up the nearby hill for a rally. The Vets share their experiences of passing through this airport on the way to war, the nature of that war and call for Ireland to withdraw its complicity.

I call Carmen in NYC. He's happy to hear of our effort at Shannon. He says the next wave of resistance brewing is amogst National Guard who Bush will try to send back to Iraq a second time in the new year. He says many of them will rebel and refuse to go. He says the ones refusing now are not unpopular in the rank and file military.

There is more opposition coming out of the military - both grassroots refusal and elite dissent - than is coming out of the U.S. democratic party, social democratic Labor Parties in Britain/Ireland/Australia, the academy, churches, liberal cultural figures.

I think it was important to go to Shannon last Saturday. It would have been shameful if we had not gone this year as 1100 troops passed through daily to and from this war. It was something we could not not do. We are at the beginning of a very long war. One that will probably come home to Ireland - as it has to London, Madrid, NYC - because of the ongoing role of Shannon Airport in refueling the U.S. war machine. I think we should go to Shannon in numbers at least twice a year and set the dates soon so people can clear their calenders, so we can be joined by more internationals. We should have an element of nonviolent direct action/civil dosbedience each time we go.

 Photos-Funeral Procession to Shannon Airport

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79356

http://www.cairnspeacebypeace.org/index.php?optionfiltered=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=42