|
|
Star Wars Peace Camp at Pine Gap
Three hundred people traveled to central Australia from October 5-7, to demand the remote Pine Gap satellite communication station cease providing information to the U.S. military or other terrorist organizations. In addition to Pine Gap's critical role in the wars against Iraq and Yugoslavia in the 1990s and Afghanistan in 2001-2002, the base is an essential link in U.S. plans for global military domination of space. The Pine Gap action camp was one of nearly 100 demonstrations worldwide during Keep Space for Peace Week, October 4-11, coordinated by the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space [www.space4peace.org].
About 50 people successfully blocked the base entrance for 24 hours until police dragged them off the road and arrested anyone who returned. Altogether, about 20 people were arrested over the weekend. Some pled guilty and were fined up to AU$500. Three charged with hindering police in their duty were set for trial December 9 in Alice Springs. Only Jim Dowling showed up, hitchhiking for 3-1/2 days, 3,000 km into the Outback. Dowling, a Brisbane Catholic Worker, answered the charge with the contrary view that he was "helping" police in their duty to protect human life by blocking workers at the terrorist base. While sympathetic, the judge convicted and fined Dowling. Dowling has no intention of bankrolling the criminal scheme by paying the fine.
For more information, contact Citizens Against Terrorism, POB 3077, Alice Springs, NT 0871, Australia.
