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Editorial: Plenty of places to start
Having worked as Editorial Assistant at Peace News for a year now, I've witnessed the hard work and
dedication that goes into every issue. I've also observed the quiet way in which one or two ideas for stories will
transform into a whole paper full of news. With Ippy taking a well deserved break this month, I fretted over where I would
find stories to fill the pages of PN. Like others, I had underestimated the peace movement. Every week, groups of
concerned citizens are taking action - whether it's in response to injustice or to show that another way is possible.
Reasons to act
This month I was struck by the number of reasons to act. In a month, we have seen an assault on many of the rights that
are fundamental to the working of a democracy. Under the guise of preventing terrorism, our right to protest has been
curtailed; formally in the case of the ban on protesting outside Parliament, and informally in the case of a peaceful
demonstration abruptly halted by police. In addition, the police response to July's bombings has already resulted in the
death of an innocent man executed by trigger-happy police operating a "shoot-to-kill" policy.
This erosion of our civil liberties and the use of fear to cajole people into supporting blatantly repressive policies
is not new. However, the speed and ease with which these things are happening is; and this is of grave concern. These
things have long-term implications not only for the peace movement but for wider society. However, ill-thought-out and
hastily rushed-through laws will never succeed fully in doing what they set out to do. The "Serious Organised Crime and
Police Act" ( - who are they kidding? - Really!), designed to remove the boil on the government bum that is Brian Haw, has
failed in its quest due to a legal loophole.
Strength in diversity
Herein lies our strength. We are creative people, and more likely than most to think outside of the box. We need to use
these qualities to challenge the senseless logic on which the government - and the system which sustains - it depend. As
the Gleneagles G8 and many other actions have shown, our strength lies in our diversity: of tactics, of ideas, of ideals.
This diversity is essential if we are to stay one step ahead of the powers that be. However, our connectedness is also
essential. On 13 September, the DSEi arms fair comes to London. This is an opportunity to emphasise the areas on which we
agree, whilst retaining our originality in order to carry out successful, innovative actions.
Making connections
Making connections between groups and across issues is imperative, as this year's 60th anniversary of the dropping of the
bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki illustrates. It is more than ironic that while the majority of people regard the events as
the most shameful and wicked in human history, the British government retains the capability to unleash destruction many
times the strength of Little Boy. It is up to the peace movement to make the connections, to oppose the government's
attempts to silence us and to utilise our shared skills to ensure that our voices are heard. And remember, there are
plenty of places to start!
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