Jubilee Ploughshares Action

CONTENTS

1) State of Play

2) Further Resisance

3) Celebrations of Hope

4) Leaflets

5) Vigils - Staying Awake

6) Film Nights & Discussion

7) Trial Scene

8) "Urban Renewal on Board"

9) Help

10) Martin and Susan Update

1) STATE OF PLAY

The State has set a trial date for Friday April 20 (and set aside 10 days for hearing) at Basildon Crown Court, Essex. The Defence lawyers (who have a batting average of 2 acquittals/2hung juries on ploughshare cases) are still pressing for a change of venue to London. If they are successful this would imply a change of trial date.

Fr. Martin Newell and Susan van der Hijden remain in jail at Bedford and Holloway (London). It is their stated hope that their disamament and ongoing jail witness will nourish further nonviolent resistance to the war machine and the growth of a nonviolent resistance movement and communities. With this in mind we are working on the following events that will take place whether the defence lawyers are successful in changing the trial venue & date or not.

2) FURTHER NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE

Due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic sweeping the English countryside we have had to cancel Easter resistance actions at the Fylingdales Star Wars base in Yorkshire. We will join the CND organised demonstration on Easter Saturday, April 14th, at 10 Downing St., London at 12 noon against Star Wars developments. More info CND 020 77002393

A weekend of protest at Faslane Trident Base, celebrating International Womens Day, saw 8 women penetrating the base and board a French warship where they locked themselves on for 5 hours, they managed to stop the whole base working for the day, as they can’t do anything when they’ve got intruders. The women were removed and (ironically) charged with breach of the peace. (Schnews Report)

The third Ploughshares trial of Rosie and Rachel (of Aldermaston Women Trash Trident affinity group) begins in Manchester on Monday April 9th. Rosie and Rachel carried out a disarmament action on a Trident under construction at Barrow-on-Furness shipyards in February 1999. Their

last trial ended in an acquittal on the minor charge of criminal damage and the jury unable to reach a majority verdict on the major charge of disarming radar testing equipment. (Contact Manchester CND 0161-834 8301)

3) CELEBRATIONS OF HOPE

CAMBRIDGE 17/4/01 7.30 p.m. Golden Hind Pub, Milton Rd. Cambridge *Music *Speakers *Bar *Elvis. More info. Contact Sara 01223-355956

+OXFORD Wed. 18/4/01 7.30 p.m.*Poetry by Stephen Hancock *Music * Elvis *Bar *Dance *More Info. Contact Gawain 07967-392229

BASILDON (Eve of the Trial) Thurs. 19/4/01 7.30 p.m. Holy Trinity Church Hall *Speakers * Music * Elvis * Refreshments

CANNING TOWN Sat. 21/4/01 7.30 p.m. St Margarets Church Hall, Barking Rd. (near Canning Town tube) *Speakers*Music*Wooly*Elvis. Contact Ciaron 07947-569577

CAMDEN TOWN Thurs. 26/4/01 7.30 p.m. - midnight, Camden Irish Centre, Murray St. (off Camden Rd.) *Speakers*Music*Elvis*Bar*Dance (from 9.30 on Roots/Dub DJ "Urban Renewal") Contact Ciaron 07947-569577

**All these events are in different stages of development, they need your help in logistics and promotions - please make contact.

4) LEAFLETS

A lay Franciscan friend has printed 10,000 double sided A5 leaflets explaining the Jubilee Ploughshares disarmament, ways folks can show their solidarity and the events surrounding the forthcoming trial. Thanx for this generous donation of labour and resources!

We have managed to get 2,000 leaflets in direct mailings, thanx to Pax Christi, "Non Violent Action", London CND including the leaflets in their mailouts. If you know any other groups with mailings worth approaching, or any relevant events worth leafletting please suggest them to ciaronx@hotmail.com

5) VIGILS - STAYING AWAKE

We are hoping to organise vigils outside both Bedford and Holloway Prison in Easter week and do some media around them. Contact ciaronx@hotmail.com if interested in participating.

A weekly vigil against Trident and in solidarity with Jubilee Ploughshares takes place outside Holloway prison, London, every Saturday midday - 1 p.m. - all welcome. Contact 07947 569 577.

A weekly vigil against the transport of weapons grade nuclear material and in solidarity with the Jubilee Ploughshares takes place every Saturday 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Stratford Railway Station. More Info Contact Chris 0208-552 6447

Vigils against Trident and in solidarity with Ploughshares prisoners & resistance actions at the Ministry of Defence on Ash Wednesday took place in Derby, Liverpool, Durham, Norwich, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Oxford.

The Buddhist Monks of Nipponzon Myohoji Peace Pagoda are vigiling this week (Fri 23 - to Sun 25) outside the Depleted Uranium munitions factory in Wolverhampton to mark the 2nd annivesary of NATO’s war on the Balkans and the use of DU. More Info 01908-663652

6) FILM & DISCUSSION NIGHTS

BASILDON Tues March 27 Holy Trinity Church Hall 7.30 p.m. "Seeds of Hope Ploughshares Disarmament and Acquittal" film/Ciaron speaking.

CANNING TOWN Fri March 30, St Margaret’s Church Hall, Barking Rd. (near Camden Town tube) "In Praise of Disarmament" Excellent Swedish film on U.S. Plowshares movement.

WONERSH (Near Guilford) St. John’s Seminary Tues April 3rd.7.30 p.m. "Seeds of Hope Film"/Ciaron debates Dean of School of Moral Theology on "Ploughshares Prophecy or Vandalism" (should be good!)

PORTSMOUTH Friday April 6th. 7.30 p.m., Portsmouth Central Library "Seeds of Hope" film/Ciaron Speaking Contact Les 01329-312553

ST.ALBANS Sunday April 8th. Salvation Army (no bar!) Contact 07947 569577 for details.

7)TRIAL SCENE

We have met with Fr. Tom Jordan at the Holy Trinity Church in Basildon. He has been very supportive and has given us the opportunity to present the homilies at this weeks masses, followed by a film & discussion evening next week. Holy Trinity is also willing to give us use of the Church hall for a Celebration of Hope on the eve of the trial and as accommodation during the length of the trial. We will be able to gather there each morning with local folks for coffee and tea before walking to the Crown Courts. The Buddhist nuns will be joining us for the trial. There is plenty of space around the court building to gather for reflection and to vigil on a dual carriageway that runs by the court. There is also opportunity to vigil more downtown if folks choose to do so.

8) URBAN RENEWAL ON BOARD

"Urban Renewal" Roots/Dub Sound System folks have come on board to provide the dance music for the April 26th.event at the Irish Centre in Camden. Many thanx to Nick and Bob and also to the management at the Irish Centre for giving us this fine venue for free.

9 ) HELP

All the local contacts for the solidarity events around the trial would like to hear from you with offers of logistic and promotional help.

10) MARTIN AND SUSAN UPDATE

Fr, Martin Newell remains in Bedford Prison and is sharing a cell with a fellow Tottenham supporter. Susan van der Hijden remains in Holloway, where there are two other political prisoners in population - a framed Palestinian woman and an Animal Rights activist. Both Martin and Susan are in good health, high spirits as they prepare for trial.

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