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The ploughshares movement
The ploughshares/plowshares movement began in 1980 when eight Christian peace activists entered General Electric's King of Prussia plant in Pennsylvania and hammered on the unarmed nose cones of two Mark 12A nuclear warheads. Taking their inspiration from the Jewish prophets Isaiah and Micah, who talk of beating "swords into ploughshares", ploughshares actions are characterised by thorough preparation processes, nonviolence, the attempted disarming of a weapons system with hand-tools, and by the participants taking full and open responsibility for their actions. They are also often characterised by prison sentences. The 56th ploughshares action, that of the Seeds of Hope - East Timor ploughshares group, goes to trial in Liverpool as this issue of Peace News goes to press. The 57th action, that of Donna and Tom Howard-Hastings, who sawed down the poles of Trident's ELF communications system in Wisconsin, is yet to go to trial. The Hope & Resistance network has been holding two gatherings a year since 1988. Its next gathering takes place in Oxford in October.
Ploughshares petition handed in
Two British MPs - together with representatives from Campaign Against Arms Trade, Pax Christi, Seeds of Hope and TAPOL - handed in a petition on 18 July urging the Attorney General to discontinue the case against four Ploughshares women - Andrea Needham, Lotta Kronlid, Joanna Wilson and Angie Zelter. The women are charged with conspiracy to cause criminal damage and with 1.7 million of actual criminal damage to a Hawk aircraft. The women were refused bail and have been in prison since February. They could face up to 10 years in prison for their action.The petition was signed by almost 5,000 people, but the Attorney General refused to receive the delegation or to discuss the case. As Peace News goes to press, the trial is due to start in Liverpool Crown Court on 22 July. Spaces in the courtroom itself are severely limited, but there are a number of other ways to offer support, including vigils outside the courthouse and processions through Liverpool. International solidarity actions will also be taking place in Australia, Eire, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and USA.
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More information: Seeds of Hope East Timor Ploughshares, Box S, 55 Queen Margaret's Grove, London N1 4PZ (tel/fax +44 171 923 9511; email ricarda@gn.apc.org).