Author: bryan

Waihopai, just outside Blenheim in the South Island of New Zealand, is a US run ground receiving station for space-based electronic intelligence.  In 2008 three Catholic activists entered the base and deflated one of the domes protecting a satellite dish.  In doing so, they brought the activities at Waihopai to a temporary halt, and disclosed useful information about how the base operates.

The activists were acquitted by a jury at the Wellington District Court in March 2010.  You can read my account of that trial here.

There was uproar in NZ after the verdict was announced.  The Attorney General threatened an appeal (no grounds), the statutory destruction of common law rights (completely stupid) and a civil suit to punish the activists and their families financially.

The civil suit is now proceeding, and many are looking forward to the testimony in that suit of the Director General of the top secret Government Communications Security Bureau, and his staff, about the operations of Waihopai.

The Anti Bases Coalition is conducting a protest rally at Waihopai from January 21 to 23 2011.  ALL are welcome.

My mate Graeme Dunstan http://www.peacebus.com/ has been writing to Major-General Steve Gower in his capacity as the Director of the Australian War Memorialhttp://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/ about ANZAC Day 2011.

I’ve culled that correspondence from e-mail, and it’s reproduced on the “AWM Correspondence page“.

I approve very much of the proposed ANZAC Eve Vigil, which is a really timely citizens’ addition to ANZAC Day.  In Cairns, Peace by Peace is organising a vigil for the Cenotaph on the Esplanade, in front of the RSL.  We’ll be using Graeme designed lanterns.  Graeme, Clair and friends will organise the Canberra War Memorial.  Every place in the country has an ANZAC venue.

If you read the correspondence from Major-General Gower, you’ll see where he believes that the War Memorial, and ANZAC Day, belong to him and his management Committee.

General Gower needs reminding that the war-making state is itself a target of scrutiny on ANZAC Day.  How have the Parliament, and the military, discharged the holy trust of minimising war, of guarding the memory and lives of those Australian soldiers killed and maimed in war?  How have Australians behaved in protecting the sanctity of life, and the safety of all?

By conducting a candle/lantern lit vigil in memory of all the victims of war, and by expanding the ANZAC Day liturgy to include three lines of John 15 12-14, the new component of ANZAC Day will help restore the underlying pacific nature as it was intended by the original ANZACs.

You can read the Open Letter from Silver Wattle here.

Actions, Verdicts, Lessons

I first met Sam Land when he came to Alice Springs in October 2006, where he joined in one part of the trial process of the Pine Gap 4.  Here’s a story about the trial from our legal advisor – solicitor and Barrister Russell goldflam.

The “Citizens’ Inspection” of Pine Gap was carried out in December 2005.  It contained elements of property damage that stopped short of “ploughshares” actions.    

The Pine Gap 4 cut through fences to gain entry, allegations were made about the “illegal” activities supported by Pine Gap, and we were pleased to disrupt the normal activities of the base by sending it into “lock=down” – but the focus of the action was disclosure/information for public discourse, not disabling weapons systems.

Giving evidence at the Waihopai ploughshares trial in Wellington in March 2010, Sam described the 2006 Pine Gap experience as a key element in forming his own determination to carry out a ploughshares action (which physically disables a weapons system in active use, in witness to the prophecy of Isaiah). He also met Ciaron O’reilly there, a powerful advocate of ploughshares actions.

Sam’s decision to move further into physically disabling weapons systems led him to deflating the dome at Waihopai Spy Base around ANZAC Day 2008, with his friends and colleagues Adi Leason and Peter Murnane.

It is also the reason that Sam, Adi, and Peter were acquitted of all charges, whereas the Pine Gap 4 were convicted of wilful damage charges under the Commonwealth Crimes Act.  (The Pine Gap 4 had some convictions quashed on appeal and replaced by acquittals, but they were under a different piece of legislation which has been subsequently amended by Parliament).

Continue reading “Waihopai & Pine Gap”

Hey Groovers!

I’ve got a new red tricycle to tool around on in Cairns (on account of how the nasty old Queensland government has suspended my drivers license – because I’m refusing to obey a court order that I should give $400 cash money to the ALP).  I love my new red tricycle!

I’m keen to participate in nonviolent interventions that are nationally significant, so I’ve been thinking about two major actions in planning for 2011.

1/Transform ANZAC Day by adding a new event and liturgy.  A lantern lit vigil at the Cenotaph from sunset on 24 April – in memory of ALL the victims of war.  We pack up and leave when the RSL starts arriving for their dawn service.

2/Frustrate and stop the joint Aus/US wargames talisman sabre 2011 in June (32,000 troops, a nuclear aircraft carrier battle group, a well-resourced team of PR professionals, to practice invading foreign countries.

Here you can find a detailed explanation about several bits of the puzzle, and how they might fit together.

Continue reading “Putting an End to War.”

PUTTING AN END TO WAR

Anzac Day Weekend Workshop

Silver Wattle Quaker Retreat and Study Centre

23-26 April 2010

Open Letter from the Gathering

Dear friends and peace-workers,

On ANZAC Day weekend 23-26 April 2010, at the Australian Quaker Centre at Silver Wattle, Bungendore near Canberra, 17 Christians and 2 Buddhists gathered from the east coast of Australia to respond to the growing militarisation of both Anzac Day and Australian society and to consider ways of putting an end to war.

Continue reading “The Silver Wattle ANZAC Day Statement”

Here’s an annotated list

of Media Reports of the Waihopi Ploughshares trial and verdict

they’re chronological, from Press, TV, Radio and social media.

I reckon they tell a story about the kind of media coverage and public discourse brought about by creative and committed direct action – like the Waihopai Ploughshares. 

For a perspective on where media coverage fits in the spectrum of NVDA outcomes, read this piece from a nonviolence discussion list which discusses media strategy.

There are 43 stories, several with substantial links and/or discussion threads. 

The list is more representative than exhaustive (for example there are several blogs, and the bigger ones carried one or two stories most days).  There are more daily papers than surveyed here.  In some fields my selection is arbitrary, based on what was easiest to do. 

Towards the bottom you’ll find my final Report for Scoop, through which you can find links to all my Court reports.  Sarah, a documentary film-maker, plus me were the only recorders who stayed to cover the whole public part of the trial.

Please notice the extensive public discussion, in several movements, started by the trial and the verdict.

Continue reading “Media Stories Waihopai Verdict”

Eye-witness account

The Jury went out to consider its verdict at 3.45 pm Wellington time on Wed 17 march 2010.  The returned to deliver their verdict just two hours later.

Not Guilty for all defendents on all charges.

The judge thanked the jury for doing their duty and discharged them.  The court was packed, and when the defendents were allowed to leave the dock, the public gallery erupted into vigorous applause.  The same applause was given the jury after they were discharged and leaving the court.

It would be fair to say that everyone in the Court, from the Judge on down, felt this verdict was a worthy example of the Jury’s power to decide on the facts.

I published this report with scoop just before the verdict was reached.  It tells about the prosecution’s closing address, which we no see failed in its objective.

After the verdict  I went to the celebration Party at the Leason farm outside Otaki.

The following day I filed this report on the closings, and Judge’s directions. 

My full complement of Court reports can be found through that link, or on the trial pages of this Blog, in the “Waihopi” nest.

Hey groovers,

District Court no 3 in Wellington’s Ballance St has been closed to the public for one day and a half.  Judge Harrop has been hearing argument from Counsel, and has made his decisions aboutthe shape and scope of the trial.  In just over half an hour he will tell the jury and the public what those decisions are, and any remaining evidence will resume.

After all the evidence is given, the Prosecution and defence Counsel will give their closing address.

Then the judge “sums up” the case (by going through all the evidence in summary form, being careful to include all key elements), and then gives his directions (instructs the jury on what things the law requires them to consider and decide upon in coming to their verdict).

Finally the jury is sent out to deliberate, and if all goes well return a verdict.

If the jury convicts, there is a sentencing process to follow.

The trial will most likely take up the rest of this week, and may spill into next.

I’ll report on the Judge’s decisions this evening, and my feeling is they will be significant – both for the defendents, and for the processes of law in this country.

For gamblers, I’m still prepared to bet against a conviction.  Any takers?