Protest Trial Update

Wednesday 1 June 2011
Information about trespassing trial, pleaded guilty today. News here: olyblog.net/protest-trial-tomorrow

[The following are thoughts I had the day after:

It's Thursday morning. I woke up with the feeling that I had been railroaded by the prosecution into a guilty plea. I was led to believe that I wouldn't be afforded a public defender because the prosecution was not seeking jail time. However, the judge made it apparent that if we were to pursue a plea of not guilty then, based on financial need, a public defense might be possible.

Now it seems that I have a federal criminal record...but I think most people will understand that my actions were based in altruism, and my actions and those of my co-defendants were also very respectful of humanity and all life on this planet.

Thursday afternoon: The actions of my government leave me feeling depressed. I know this is a simplified way of looking at the situation, because the problem is much deeper and bigger than "the government." The problem is actually socio-cultural. And it is about the political-economic that is built on that socio-cultural phenomenon.

I have thought (many times, and for many years previous to now) of suing the government for inflicting emotional and psychological harm.

As someone who cares about humanity and all life on the planet, the actions and policies of my government leave me feeling depressed.]

Military Submarines are Offensive!

Just a thought I had yesterday while participating with the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action Mother's Day vigil and traditional civil disobedience at the Naval Base Kitsap Bangor. NBK Bangor is homebase for about 8 Trident capable submarines. Trident is an ICBM system. Each submarine is capable of carrying 24 missiles. Each missile can be equipped with 8 nuclear warheads, with an effective range of about 4,000 miles. The explosive potential of the warheads is either 100 kilotons (W76), or 475 kilotons (W88), depending on which of two varieties the particular vehicle is equipped. By contrast, the bombs that exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were about 15 and 21 kilotons.

According to scientists, these weapons are capable of striking virtually anywhere on the planet within about 15 or 30 minutes.

Submarines [military submarines] are an attack weapon. They are designed to lurk undetected near targets. They are designed to intimidate and instill fear. Putting nuclear weapons aboard submarines is just about offensive as it gets.

At the May 2011 protest, in opposition to the weapons, seven people entered the roadway in front of the main gate to the military base. They were cited with a traffic violation before being released on their own recognizance.

Let our hearts and our voices cry out: Trident must be abolished! Military spending must be redirected toward productive and peaceful purposes! End imperialism!

Below, I have posted some photos from yesterday's protest.

Berd

We'd like to speak with the commander.

Saturday 15 January 2011, Bangor Kitsap Naval Base

On Saturday I participated in a protest against nuclear weapons. Here is a short recount of the events from my perspective:

The six of us crossed the line holding hands and walked abreast toward the gate sentry. we were confronted in a rapid manner by base security personnel, and I spoke to them, "We'd like to talk to the commander." The security detail seemed to do a double-take, visibly flinch, and then we were told, "sorry, that's not an option." We were then given a chance to "reconsider." We looked at each other and smiled. The security personnel took this as a queue to take us into custody, whereby we were each held by our arms and walked approximately 50 meters or so to a nearby van, where we were processed. I handed over my driver's license and gave them my current address, phone number, full social security number, and current weight. They took photographs, mug shots, straight on and each profile. I tried to smile, but I'm not sure how they turned out.

I hope the soldiers were able to sense that I do not view them as the enemy, and that my concern for their well-being is real. I believe that we are all victims of militarism, racism, and economic injustice—whatever our skin color, or economic background. A system that is based on competition for economic resources, and involves exploitation of labor and other economic abuse is not serving life.

We need a system that serves life, and values the intrinsic dignity and worthiness of every single human being. We are all members of the human family.

More information here:
http://olyblog.net/arrests-protest-against-nuclear-weapons

GZ MLK Day Photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwhitlock/sets/72157623225518786/

Peace Vigil and Protest of Nuclear Weapons (especially as they exist in an offensive capacity)

I returned yesterday from a the 50th Annual Western Washington (regional - Oregon included) Fellowship of Reconciliation Conference at Seabeck. It was a great weekend and I learned a lot about the activist community. I had fun and enjoyed the company of so many dedicated Peace and Justice activists. After the conference, a group of us drove a few miles North to the main gate of the Naval Base Kitsap Bangor for a peace vigil. I just uploaded some photos from that, but the set will eventually grow to include some from the rest of the weekend's festivities.

I held a sign that read, "This is an act of Love."

Think about it - we can choose to act out of either love, or fear. I choose love.

Photos from Ground Zero Mothers Day 2008

Here's a link to the original flickr set: www.flickr.com/photos/rwhitlock/sets/72157605014102403/

Here it is embedded (follow the link above if the embed doesn't work):

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Civil Disobedience

link to photos

Activists hung a banner from a highway overpass near the maingate of the Bangor Naval Submarine Base. The Banner contains a message from Dr. MLK Jr.: "When scientific power outruns spiritual power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men." The nonviolent direct action to obstruct entrance to the submarine base was coordinated by the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in celebration of Dr. King's life, work and birthday. He would have been 78 years old on Monday.