The Nuclear Resister

Gilchrist on far left, Adams on crutches second to right. (Photo by Guarionex Delgado)

Elliott Adams, past National President of Veterans For Peace and international peace activist, was arrested during a nonviolent anti-drone action at Beale Air Force Base on Tuesday, April 1. Adams lives in New York and is currently on a nationwide tour, speaking out about the importance of banning drone attacks, stopping war, and building a culture of peace. He has also been conducting Unarmed Peacekeeping Skills Training and Strategy Sessions around the country with the Meta Peace Team, whose goal is “pursuing peace through active nonviolence.”

Also arrested was Adam’s friend and fellow Veteran for Peace member Richard Gilchrist.  Gilchrist served in the army in Vietnam and has also traveled around the country speaking and taking action for peace.

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.”