December 2000

Dear Sisters,

UPDATE BRIEFING: A newsletter gets issued when one (or more) of us manages to find time & energy to cobble together all our news - generally the problem is WHERE to start! (& when we've finished printing realising all the things we've left out!).

It is no coincidence that the Womenwith Hill Women's Peace Camp was evicted last year; women are under High Court injunction, with the threat of imprisonment if we camp outside the base; a brand-new, high-security, weld-mesh fence with CCTV cameras & a sound-alarm system has been erected to keep out intruders & protect the 'Star Wars Mk11" developments......

i) 'Star Wars' on trial: On June 19th, at 10.15 on a lovely sunny morning, 3 women, Helen John, Angie Zelter & Anne Lee, ably supported by Cat & Kath, cut the new security (chicken-wire) fence at Steeplebush Gate, Menwith Hill, which was filmed for ITV regional news. Some 10 minutes later the women were arrested in the Operations Area, where Angie & Helen were cutting their way into SATCOM compound & Anne was approaching the Ops entrance. (Every available MoD Police Officer was involved - oh imagine women cutting at different places at 5-minute intervals! The mind boggles!).

The trial opened on October 30th before District Judge Browne at Harrogate Magistrates' Court. Helen is represented by Frances Taylor (solicitor) & Claire Wade (barrister), Anne has Jane Gregory as 'McKenzie Friend' (lay legal adviser) & Angie is, as always, defending herself. The trial, which has generated much media coverage so far, was adjourned after the second day's hearing & will continue on December 15th.

The women's defence (that they had lawful excuse to attempt to disrupt the illegal spying activities of the U.S.National Security Agency - unlawful interception of communications & development of Space-Based Infra-red System integral to 'Star Wars' & in contravention of the Outer Space Treaty) was challenged by the Crown Prosecutor, who maintains that the action was merely 'a publicity stunt'. Despite his argument that the women would not be allowed to present any evidence of NSA's operations, the judge, after reading what judges have stated in previous cases, has allowed the defence to present all their evidence (& by this stage Anne's papers were in a shambolic mess!

There is no doubt about the verdict! The Harrogate hearing is practice for the appeal to the Crown Court. If you come to court on Dec. 15th it will be interesting!

(You've already missed the delicious moment when the Crown Prosecutor realised that his evidence, the boltcroppers, bagged-up & labelled 'Exhibit 1', had disappeared...& the trial was adjourned while the court was searched...nuff said...)

ii) Women's International League for Peace & Freedom: Yorkshire Branch is now up & running. Further details of our quarterly Sunday 'brunch' meetings can be obtained from Cat on 01943 468593. Thanks, Cat & Helen, for taking this initiative & also hosting meetings which are enjoyable social events. Jean Kemp addressed the last meeting & told us something of the impact of WILPF & her active involvement. WILPF's resolution to the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva is supported by many international peace campaigns.

iii) Helen John is now a Yorkshire regional representative on National CND Council: she is requesting CND support for 'rolling actions', to highlight the current threat to the ABM & Outer Space Treaties, at ALL at all U.S. bases in Britain, including the U.S. Embassy, on the 3rd weekend of every month. This is intended to make such events national actions - the focus on the Yorkshire bases of Menwith Hill & Fylingdales is giving the peace movement the impression that a campaign of opposition is Yorkshire's concern!

iv) Campaign Against Depleted Uranium Weapons (CADU): congratulations to all involved in organising & fundraising for CADU's tremendously impressive conference held on Nov. 4th & 5th, which involved speakers of international recognition from 13 countries and over 200 delegates. Dr. Rosalie Bertell's speaking tour, which followed the conference included the launch of her new book: 'PLANET EARTH: THE LATEST WEAPON OF WAR' (available from Waterstone's) at Canada House in London; as well as meetings Rosalie did a series of broadcasts for the BBC World Service & had a HERSTORIC meeting with Alice Stewart! WELL DONE, CAT!

Anna Cheetham's picture contrasting the Iraqi baby '99 with the Blair baby '00, which illuminates the hypocrisy of sanctions against the people of Iraq & Serbia, captured the attention of the international press gathered at the conference.

v) Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space: Bruce Gagnon, Co-ordinator, Speaking Tour, December 2nd - 16th. We have raised the money to pay Bruce's air fare & some of his expenses. He will be speaking to CND groups, MP's & the press; touring London, Canterbury, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Leicester, Cardiff, Oxford, Cambridge. Details of times & venues of meetings can be obtained from Yorkshire CND, tel: 01274 730795 e-mail: cndyorks@gn.apc.org

GLOBAL NETWORK CONFERENCE 2001: Leeds, May 4th - 6th.

vi) Ombudsman: SHE has recommended that we take a case against the Ministry of Defence to the Parliamentary Ombudsman: still in preparation.

vii) MONEY - WE HAVEN'T GOT ANY! Er, have you? Funding the Rosalie Bertell & Bruce Gagnon tours has cleaned out our bank account & thank you to all sisters to whom we made a personal approach. & we are still desperately trying to fund-raise for a vehicle to use as an 'ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION CENTRE' at Menwith Hill. - Mr Justice Hooper, who ordered the eviction of the Women's Peace Camp & injuncted women, acknowledged that we raised serious issues of public concern & had the right to a daily presence on the highway - which concession has not been granted to any other campaign - provided we remove it each night).