Letters to the editor May 95

• Menwith prison notes *
• Boycott US products
• No war for oil *
• Anarchist archaeology? *

Menwith prison notes *

I had an open day out of prison on 8 April, which allowed me to attend the dayschool held by Leeds city council. This was well attended and the support for the women-only protest at Menwith is growing. Many delegates have offered ways in which they can be involved, and one man has placed more info about the forthcoming evictions on the Internet while others raised money towards fax facilities that are much needed at camp.

Recently, Malcolm Rifkind banned a High Court case to establish who runs Menwith Hill. When I am released on 5 May, we intend to engage in a lawsuit against John Major and Malcolm Rifkind regarding the corruption of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The time has come to expose the role of the government in allowing the whole of the British Isles, and its citizens, to become classed as either [potential] terrorists or drug dealers in order to allow the USA to gain military, political, and economic information to fuel the arms trade and boost multinational corporations.

Time to take their own laws and use them to good effect. We will be happy to keep you informed and hope you will be able to publish the facts as they emerge.

We will have to raise funds for legal costs. Any day now we expect the council in Harrogate to act and of course this will also bring publicity to bear on Menwith Hill and Dr N Addison-Bell, the chief of station whose headquarters windows I broke in a symbolic gesture to raise the alarm over the dangerous and illegal acts, carried out on the base, which endanger us all.

from Helen John, Askham Grange Women's Prison

Boycott US products

It seems that the British media gave unprecedented attention to the mechanics of death by electrocution--the length of time it takes, the physical agony suffered as the flesh chars; the necessary cooling period before the doctor can examine the body between charges, and so forth. These details outraged not only those who oppose capital punishment but also many who do not.

Burglary, tying the victims to a tree, and shooting them at point-blank range are horrific actions, but how can the state take the moral high ground when it is prepared to incarcerate a man for 12 years while he contemplates the manner of death which the state will inflict? Then, at the end, the "cat and mouse" game continues until finally the deed is done.

Even if we leave the physical and mental torture of Nick Ingram out of the equation, we wonder what possible purpose can be served by inflicting a lifetime of unimaginable suffering and bereavement on his innocent family.

We have decided to boycott US products and services until the death penalty is repealed and all outstanding capital sentences are commuted. We have written to president Clinton and the US embassy in London informing them of this. Perhaps like-minded readers would wish to do the same.

from Debby and Peter Wakeham, PEACH

No war for oil *

Although I am approving this legislation, I deeply regret the Act's inclusion of an unrelated provision that would place a moratorium on exploration of oil and natural gas off the coast of North Carolina. This area ... is the largest potential gas field east of the Mississippi and could be used to offset our dependence on foreign energy sources ... Such a moratorium is ill-advised in view of recent events in the Persian Gulf, where I have found it necessary to deploy American soldiers 7000 miles from home to protect our vital national interests.

Hmmmh.

from Lowana Veal, Cambridge, England

Anarchist archaeology? *

The East Midlands anarchists have been running the successful Red Rambles for some time. The Yorkshire Federation of Anarchists have started the Dales Rambles. Why not other areas? But why limit the south-east to archaeology and history? And why a Society?

First, I am passionately interested in archaeology and history. I think it regrettable that I have never met other comrades on field trips and other activities, when many I know have a passionate regard for the countryside and a strong historical sense. And although there is absolutely no reason why someone else or some group cannot start a general anarchist rambling club in the south-east, nobody has done so yet.

Clearly some comrades are simply interested in the workplace, in our notion of political action, in environmentalism, feminism, peace action, various welfare activities, or specific projects. Good luck to them. But just because I am focussing on my interests, I would not exclude participants interested in other areas joining in. As a disabled person, I would not limit the activity to the young and energetic, as many rambling clubs perforce tend to do although not intentionally.

I suggest we go off together to places of archaeological or historical interest--henge sites, hill forts, castles, monastic sites, and the like; attractive places where we can have a picnic and the more energetic can go off for a ramble while the less mobile potter around the locality. Honour satisfied all around.

The idea is to create a feeling of comradeship, where we can get to know one another better and where people new to the movement might meet older comrades informally in a congenial atmosphere. And if comrades want to broaden the discussion or plan activities, then it is up to them.

I suggest a society rather than a group because a group implies the acceptance of a universality of principle and action whereas a society implies a much looser participation of interests focusing on an activity and subject.

I have detailed a much longer set of suggestions, including a list of places we might go to, and will send this to anyone who sends a stamped addressed envelope.

from Peter Neville, 4 Copper Beeches, Witham Rd, Isleworth, Middx TW7 4AW