Fw: Bread Not Bombs Ploughshares Retrial, Preston Retrial
margaret (margaret@rie.net.au)
Fri, 15 Oct 1999 09:04:45 -0700
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ciaron O'Reilly <ciaronx@hotmail.com>
> To: <plowshares@onelist.com>
> Sent: Thursday, 14 October 1999 01:57
> Subject: Re: Bread Not Bombs Ploughshares Retrial, Preston Retrial
>
>
> >
> > >
> > >On Sunday evening October 10th. over 70 peace activists from Australia,
> > >Sweden, Ghana, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Scotland, Ireland, England,
> Wales,
> > >Slovakia, Netherlands, United States, Germany and Japan joined Bread
Not
> > >Bombs Ploughshares defendants Annika Spalde and Stellan Vinthagen in a
> > >Celebration of Hope in Preston, England. Folks were entertained by
Elvis
> > >impersonator Carmen Trotta from the New York Catholic Worker, the
Amazing
> > >Martin a professional circus performer from Germany, Bernadette Murphy
> folk
> > >singer from Manchester and Gertrude from Ghana.
> > >
> > >Annika and Stellan have returned for retrial in Preston folowing their
> > >September '98 ploughshares action on Vengeance, the fourth British
> Trident
> > >then under construction at VSEL shipyards in Barrow-on-Furness. Along
> with
> > >co-defendant Ann-Britt Sternfeldt they were held in prison on remand
for
> 6
> > >months before being released by a hung jury at the conclusion of their
> > >first trial last May on charges of "conspiracy to cause criminal
damage"
> to
> > >Trident.
> > >
> > >On monday Oct 11th. a speak-out was held at University of Central
> > >Lancashire attracting 35 people The gathering heard from Yuko a Japanes
> > >Buddhist nun from Milton Keynes temple of the Nipponzon Myohoji order,
> > >Carmen Trotta singing Phil Ochs and reflecting on the U.S. war machine,
> > >Rowan Tilly from the Seeds of Hope Ploughshares community that had
> disarmed
> > >the British Aerospace Hawk in 1996 and were acquitted by a Liverpool
> jury,
> > >Ciaron O'Reilly from the Jabiluka Ploughshares, a Bertlocht Brecht poem
> > >from Martin and reflections from Stellan Vinthagen. During the day the
> > >Amazing Martin and Elvis put on shows at a local high school where
Annika
> > >Spalde was presented and the issues surrounding the trial were raised.
> > >
> > >On Tuesday 13th. carmen Trotta gave a faith based reflection at St.
> > >Wilfreds church on his life working at the New York Catholic Worker and
> the
> > >faithbased resistance movement in the U.S.
> > >
> > >On the preceeding weekend ploughshares activists from Sweden, Britain
and
> > >the U.S. and Australia met for intenseive discussions and reflection.
> > >
> > >On Wenesday Oct. 14th. Yuko led 20 ploughshare supporters in a single
> file
> > >procession through the town centre to court. A circle was formed
outside
> > >the court where the dead of nuclear weapons, production, testing and
use
> > >were remembered. Followed by a reflection by Stellan Vinthagen and
song.
> > >
> > >The Bread Not Bombs legal team is served by Gareth Pierce who worked
> > >successfully for the "Guilford 4" and the "Seeds of Hope Ploughshares".
> > >The barrister for Annika is Stephen Kamlish from London. The trial
began
> > >with Judge Openshaw accepting the Absence of Ann-Britt on the basis of
a
> > >doctors letter and reference to the Attorney Generals response to
issues
> of
> > >International Law on nuclear weapons raised at the original trial. The
> > >government also has a second barrister in the wings prepared to argue
the
> > >case on international law. The defence team may also call on a
> specialist
> > >barrister to argue these legal issues. It is significant that the
Judge
> > >has acknowledged that issues of International Law lie at the centre of
> this
> > >trial. There has been a mobilisation in both legal teams around these
> > >issues.
> > >
> > >The Judge granted an adjournment until Friday morning for the trial to
> > >begin.
> > >
> > >Each morning will begin with a cup of tea at 8.30 a.m. at St. Wilfreds
> > >Church Hall Chapel St., a procession to court at 9 a.m. and a circle of
> > >reflection at the court at 9.30. A vigil and a court rota of access to
> the
> > >limited public gallery space (16) are then established.
> > >
> > >Accomadation in Preston is available but you must give notice of
specific
> > >needs calling Ciaron on 07930-961842.
> > >
> > >Mailing address: Ploughshares c/- Xaverians 179 Ribbleton Ave. Preston
> PR2
> > >6AA
> > >
> > >Email: ciaronx@hotmail.com
> > >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________
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