Monthly Archive for July, 2012

Transform Now Plowshares action at Y-12 nuclear weapons complex

Posted on July 28, 2012
See here for August 3 court updates.
Before dawn on July 28, 2012, Michael R. Walli (63), Megan Rice shcj (82), and Greg Boertje-Obed (57) carried out a disarmament action at the Oak Ridge Y-12 nuclear facility.
Calling themselves Transform Now Plowshares, they hammered on the cornerstone of the newly built Highly-Enriched Uranium Manufacturing Facility (HEUMF), splashed human blood and left four spray painted tags on the recent construction which read: Woe to the empire of blood; The fruit of justice is peace; Work for peace not for war; and Plowshares please Isaiah.
Under the cover of darkness they intermittently passed beyond four fences in a walk for over two hours through the fatal force zone. “We feel it was a miracle; we were led directly to where we wanted to go” said Greg.

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A letter from Theresa Cusimano, recently released SOA Watch prisoner of conscience

Posted on July 20, 2012

Hope: A Message to the Movement

Last week I walked out of federal prison, flew home, and was greeted by my smiling parents at the airport gate. Unlike most other prisoners, I didn’t have to take a 14 hour Greyhound bus; or use my bright red, inmate ID card; nor wear my prison clothes en route. My privilege returned to me the moment of my release. Friends picked me up and drove me to the Westin hotel for a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream. Although it was July 11th and there was a heat wave burning through the country, I was still cold from my incarceration.

I entered prison because, like all of you, I believe torture is wrong and should not be a global export or a domestic product. The violence I survived during my six month stay in the five federal “holding” facilities confirmed my conviction. The United States’ Department of Justice likes to aggressively flex its muscles like a violent, bully when it comes to poor, sick and people of color. We spend our privileged fortunes on building expensive cages for them to fail in, without even providing clean drinking water. The Bureau of Prisons does not belong as a branch of the Department of Justice, but rather belongs in the Department of Defense, where torture and mass murder are their specialties.

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Fr. Carl Kabat returns to the Kansas City Plant for a July 4th nuclear weapons protest

Posted on July 4, 2012

Kabat’s de-fence of nuclear weapons plant

Carl Kabat returned to the Kansas City Plant on July 4 (as he did last year).  He named his action the 85% Pruning Hooks action.  Here’s two reports and his statement:

from Chrissy Kirckhofier

Update on Carl Kabat’s action in the early morning of July 4 at the new nuclear bomb plant in Kansas City: He has been charged with 2 counts of trespass and one charge of property destruction. He is being detained in the Kansas City detention center on a $750 bond.  It is antipated that he will appear before the judge via court TV at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning (July 5).

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Activists enter Faslane Trident base

Posted on July 2, 2012
by Faslane Flossie
Seven activists from Faslane Peace Camp and Trident Ploughshares entered Faslane naval base this morning with four members of the group slipping past guards and reaching points up to 100 yards inside the base. A further two were arrested in the attempt.

At 7 a.m. on July 2, Faslane Peace Camp and Trident Ploughshares activists attended the North gate of the Faslane Naval Base to serenade the approaching morning shift staff with peace and nuclear disarmament songs. The act doubled as a ruse to enable fifteen of the group to attempt entering the base. One TP activist, Brian Larkin, succeeded in gaining entry to the base whilst the rest were prevented from doing so by Ministry of Defence and Strathclyde police.

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Forty anti-nuclear activists arrested at Vermont Yankee

Posted on July 2, 2012

Cops, a cow and a cause

By Susan Smallheer, Staff Writer, Rutland Herald

VERNON — More than three dozen anti-nuclear activists were arrested Sunday afternoon [July 1] at the front gates of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, the latest demonstration in what organizers say will be continuing protests until the 40-year-old reactor is shut down.

The good-natured protest, under sunny skies and with temperatures pushing 90, was led by a giant Holstein cardboard cow, made by Sharon puppetry artist Ria Blaas. Many of the protest signs had a decidedly bovine theme.

“Vermont has voted Entergy Moooooooove Over!” said one.

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