The Nuclear Resister

March 21, from Susi Snyder, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

Some news from the Netherlands, which is gearing up (and shutting down!) to host 53 heads of State and Government next week for the Nuclear Security Summit:

To draw attention to a significant lack of nuclear security in our little country, this week four Dutch activists entered the secured zone of Volkel Airbase and managed to take a picture of one of the SW3 bunkers in which American B61 nuclear bombs are kept. The activists were arrested and remain detained.

Photo by Greenpeace France

from Greenpeace

On Tuesday, March 18 at 5:50 a.m., 60 Greenpeace activists from France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Poland staged an occupation of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant,  France’s oldest nuclear power station.   They criticized the risk that French nuclear power poses to the whole of Europe, and called on the French government, which has programmed the closure of the Alsatian power station, to bring about a real change in energy policy in France.   Some activists first displayed a banner at the side of Reactor 1, while others climbed up the side of the reactor pool of Reactor 1 and onto the reactor dome.  Once there, the activists unfurled a banner which was 200 metres square and read, “Stop risking Europe”. They stayed in place holding this banner for four hours.  Twenty of the activists were arrested.

Photo by Joyakgol

from the Santa Maria Times, by Janene Scully

Activists from around the world held a Friday afternoon vigil [on March 14] at Vandenberg Air Force Base to oppose military programs and show solidarity with local protesters, two of whom again were arrested for trespassing.

Approximately 30 people attended the hour-long vigil which launched this weekend’s 22nd annual space organizing conference in Santa Barbara. The conference involves the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, made up of 150 peace and religious groups opposed to what they say is the development of a new arms race in space.

But as protesters spoke Friday, Air Force security forces members walked up to Santa Maria resident Dennis Apel, handcuffed him and led him away as other sign-holding protesters chanted “Free Dennis Apel.”

photo by Mike Wisniewski

from the Nuclear Resister

Over the first weekend in March, about 60 people took part in the 8th annual gathering of the Pacific Life Community (PLC).  This year the group met at the Las Vegas Catholic Worker.

The PLC is largely comprised of peace activists motivated strongly by their religious faith to engage in and support civil resistance at locations across the American west involved in preparation for nuclear war. Many are part of the Catholic Worker movement. This year, attendees ranging in age from their 20s into their 80s came from Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and even Maine and New York to break bread with, protest with, learn from and support each other.

from the Santa Maria Times

by Janene Scully

A week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that military commanders can decide who can be on their installations, activist Dennis Apel and another protester were arrested again for trespassing at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Apel of Santa Maria and another longtime activist, Father Steve Kelly from the Bay Area, were detained by security forces members shortly after the protest began in front of Vandenberg on Wednesday afternoon.