July 7- Live Earth letter from Al Gore

Dear friends,

On July 7, more than 2 billion people will join together to watch the Live Earth concerts and demonstrate to our leaders that the time has come to solve the climate crisis.

Wherever you are that day, you can be part of the action. At events around the world, we are going to convert the potential energy of Live Earth into a global campaign. In thousands of homes, people will invite their friends and neighbors to watch the concerts and join the movement.

In order to make these parties truly global, I've decided to partner with Avaaz. The 385,000 Avaaz members from every corner of the world, who mobilized to pressure the G8, amazed me. Avaaz's work to give ordinary people around the world a powerful voice in global decision-making is inspiring, and your organizing around the G8 Summit made a significant difference. Now we have the opportunity to expand on that great effort.

Will you commit to organize a Live Earth house party on July 7th? The parties will be fun--and they'll make a difference. If you've got a few friends and a TV, you've got everything you need.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/live_earth/li.php

7.7.07 will be the one opportunity we have to bring millions of new people into our campaign. We cannot let it slip by.

If you host a Live Earth Party, you'll have access to a special video I've made to urge people to take action. Together, I know we can convince everyone attending these parties to get involved. In a few short hours, you and your friends can watch the concert, take action -- and, at the end, upload a photo from your event that will be accessible to others taking part throughout the world. Through these parties, we can reach more people than ever before and build a truly global movement to solve the climate crisis.

Holding a Live Earth party is easy. All you need is a television and a few friends.

We will provide you with all the tools you need. Sign up as a party host by visiting:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/live_earth/li.php

Live Earth will be a unique moment when the uninterrupted and undivided attention of the world will be focused on the climate crisis. I need your help to make it count.

Thank you,

Al Gore

Activists risk their lives for peace - Talisman Sabre

Media release

19 June 2007
Several groups of pacifists entered the Shoalwater Water Bay Training Area in order to disrupt the Talisman Sabre military exercise. Talisman Sabre, involving US and Australian troops, begins its field component today.

A statement from the groups reads:


We are a group of people concerned about peace and our environment.

Our consciences will not allow us to stand by while troops prepare for more war.

We do not want to see this environment destroyed or exploited for these purposes.?

We plan to stay inside the training area for as long as possible.?

Talisman Sabre is the largest joint military exercise hosted by Australia. 20,000 US troops are participating in this exercise which takes place in numerous training areas and support sites throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory and surrounding seas.

Hundreds of people from around the country have gathered in Yeppoon as part of a Peace Convergence opposing the Talisman Sabre military exercise. Further nonviolent actions have been planned for the week.

For more information visit http://www.blogger.com/www.peaceconvergence.com

Media spokesperson: Treena Lenthall 043 2563 967 Film footage available

--
Peace Convergence
e: info@peaceconvergence.com
w: http://www.blogger.com/www.peaceconvergence.com
m: 043 2563 967
stop the exercises close the bases end the wars

PINE GAP - Sentence - No Jail for Pine Gap4

Statement on behalf of the Pine Gap 4:

We want to thank all our supporters in Alice Springs, across Australia and throughout the world.

We renew our commitment to non-violent resistance, which is a powerful way that ordinary people can make a difference in the world.We encourage others to take their next step in rising up against war. Join your local peace group, or if you can, support actions challenging the US-Australian war games - Operation Talisman Sabre - that will start next week in Queensland. "The choice now is not between violence and non-violence" said Dr Martin Luther King, "the choice is between non-violence and non-existence".

Four Christian pacifists are celebrating after being spared prison sentences in the Northern Territory Supreme Court today.

The Pine Gap Four, found guilty of breaching the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952, have been handed minor fines.

The public gallery erupted into song, applause, cheers and hugs and the feeling of victory and vindication was in the air.
Justice Sally Thomas noted their good behaviour and co-operation in the sentencing decision.

"All four were very genuine in the cause they sought to espouse," said Justice Thomas, "however their actions - no matter for what cause - cannot justify the breaking of the law."

Jim Dowling has been fined $1250, Bryan Law fined $1000, Donna Mulhearn fined $450 and Adele Goldie fined $550. They have also been asked to contribute $2500 each towards cost of fence repair.

Justice Thomas noted that Pine Gap has a significant history of protest and trespass, with past trespassers being fined. "It's a big step up to talk about a jail sentence," she said in court on Thursday. "A prison sentence is one of last resort."

Justice Sally Thomas had allowed the defendants to present evidence throughout the 11 day trial including their beliefs about Pine Gap's role in the war in Iraq which resulted in civilian deaths and suffering. She later instructed the jury to disregard that evidence and any sympathies they might have for the defendant's beliefs.

When Bryan Law of Cairns, Jim Dowling and Adele Goldie of Brisbane and Donna Mulhearn of Sydney entered Pine Gap's 'Prohibited Area' to conduct a Citizens' Inspection on December 9th 2005, they were well aware of the potential consequences. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock took their actions seriously enough to charge the group under the 55 year old untested Defence (Special Undertakings) Act.

The consequences however are far greater than fines and criminal convictions. The Pine Gap Four conducted their inspection to disrupt the machinery of war and to draw Australia's attention to the missile guidance system in its heart.

Following sentencing today Mr Law said "We have still won. For me it's not about trespass, it's a moral issue.

"Our action was and is calculated to effectively intervene into the war-fighting operation of Pine Gap, under the public gaze, as part of an effective campaign to limit the damage from war in Iraq in the short term, and bring about global disarmament in the medium term.

"What's moral is not always legal, and what is immoral is not always illegal. If there is a minor law that has to be broken in the pursuit of moral faith then I will break it."

Through tears Ms Mulhearn explained "I thought it was the least I could do given the magnitude of the crime I was trying to prevent. I was trying to fulfil the promise I had made to the people of Iraq to do something to stop the war.
"What I did was an attempt to transform a military base into something open and honest."

In the final moments of the trial, Ms Mulhearn pointed to the stained hiking boots she was wearing. She had worn them in an Iraqi marketplace, in the aftermath of a US bomb.

"Now, in this court room, there is blood on my boots. Blood of a human being because of the targeting decisions made in Pine Gap," she said.
Mr Dowling told the jury "We went to that base to resist what is essentially a war crime – the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of civilians."

Ms Goldie also noted Pine Gap's role in crimes against humanity."My action to try to prevent crimes of such tremendous gravity is lawful," she said, referring to the Nuremberg Principles.

During cross-examination Ms Mulhearn questioned the Deputy Chief of Pine Gap, Mr Michael Burgess, about the severity of the charges. She asked Mr Burgess about the demonstrations of 1987 during which hundreds of people entered the declared 'Prohibited Area'.

"Are you aware how many of them were charged under this act?" she asked Mr Burgess."I believe none of them," Mr Burgess replied.

The shroud of secrecy surrounding Pine Gap was maintained during the trial. Justice Thomas ruled in favour of the Commonwealth's submission for public interest immunity at the start of the case. The ruling stated: "Information as to operations of the Joint Defence Facility at Pine Gap except as may be disclosed by the prosecution brief is not relevant to any issue in this case."
Defendant Jim Dowling asked in response: "So they're allowed to give the information they want without us getting a chance to query that?" Justice Thomas concurred.

The Pine Gap Four had already successfully challenged a suppression order made in a secret court in Darwin in 2006 in relation to ASIO's involvement in their arrest.
The question of parliamentary privilege was raised when the defendants flagged their intention to tender a Joint Standing Committee Report from 1999** as part of their case. Ms Mulhearn had spoken against the Commonwealth's submission, claiming it was against the "vibe" of the act.

"As an unrepresented defendant I think I'm allowed to quote from 'The Castle', Your Honour," she said. "I think it's the 'vibe' – that wasn't the vibe of this legislation at all."

Although the report is on the public record, Justice Thomas ruled it inadmissible due to section 16 (3) of the Parliamentary Privileges Act of 1688. Ms Mulhearn expressed grave concerns that this could result in an unfair trial.

In a surreal move described by one defendant as "more Alice in Wonderland tactics", prosecuting counsel asked that a model of Pine Gap base be forfeit to the Commonwealth on the basis that it contravened the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 section 2 ("A person is guilty of an offence if the person obtains, collects, uses.. a photograph, sketch, plan, model.. [of] a prohibited area. Maximum penalty: seven years."). The model had been brought to the courthouse on June 5 th to clarify a point of evidence. It was constructed prior to the Citizens' Inspection of the base, using Google Earth photographs for reference.

The defendants had planned to use sections 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 of the Criminal Code (necessity, defence of others etc.) to legally justify their actions, but these were ruled inadmissible by Justice Thomas on Tuesday. Nine barristers and lawyers were present for the prosecution case, while the Pine Gap Four represented themselves.

The trial has been closely followed by the international legal community, concerned that the Attorney General's intervention and the use of an archaic act reflect poorly on freedom of speech and political expression in Australia.


** (Report 26: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/reports/report26/report26.pdf)

Pine Gap 4 face charges for their non violent action.

Dear Friends of Peace

If you would like to receive emails of the Pine Gap 4 trial proceedings, please send an email to Pinegap4supporters@yahoogroups.com asking to be added to the list .

As Christian pacifists and activists opposed to war we were driven to take non-violent action in the tradition inspired by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jnr and Dorothy Day. Our goal is to expose the truth about Pine Gap and its connection to the killing of civilians through state terror.

Excerpt from their live journal website site.http://pinegap6.livejournal.com/

Lobbying Members of Parliament _ Pine Gap 4

Dear friends

Lobbying Members of Parliament is an effective way to shift the political spotlight onto the secret activities of Pine Gap and its link to the war in Iraq.

If MP’s believe their constituents are concerned about a particular issue, they will sit up and take notice – particularly in marginal seats with an election coming up!

Unfortunately Australian Members of Parliament have been largely kept in the dark about Pine Gap - a reminder of this will hopefully make them uncomfortable and begin to ask questions. If they are inundated with letters from constituents, they will have no choice but to ask questions!

Letters to MPs will carry more weight when written in your own words, but we have pasted below two sample letters as examples of the kind of messages we want to get through to them. So feel free to use these ideas in your own style. Yo could also refer to our suggested “Letters to the Editor” from the previous message, see www.groups.yahoo.com/group/pinegap4supporters

!
Also pasted below is the transcript of a story by SBS Dateline back in 2000 when the Joint Standing Committee on treaties was forbidden from getting information about Pine Gap when it was making a decision about whether to extend the treaty. At the same time it was noted that US members of Congress are given regular access to Pine Gap!

The transcript makes for chilling reading and should disturb all of us – especially your local MP!

You will find details of your MP’s e-mail and postal address on this site
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/index.htm
And Senators at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/index.htm

Be sure to write to the Defence Minister Brendan Nelson at:
PO Box 6022House of RepresentativesParliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7800Fax: (02) 6273 4118
ministerfordefence@defence.gov.au

And Shadow Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon at:
PO Box 6022House of RepresentativesParliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 4404Fax: (02) 6277 8479
Email: J.Fitzgibbon.MP@aph.gov.au

And of course the Prime Minister!
PO Box 6022House of RepresentativesParliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7700Fax: (02) 6273 4100
e-mail from this link: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm

and the Opposition Leader:
PO Box 6022House of Representatives<>Parliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 4022Fax: (02) 6277 8495
Email: Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au

WATAC Conference July 20-21, 2007- Joan Chittister

Joan Chittister OSB coming to WATAC Conference on July 20-21, 2007

Women Making the Vision Happen -

Saturday and Sunday 21st & 22 nd July 2007

Keynote Speakers:

Joan Chittister OSB

Ann Gilroy SJS

Canterbury Park Function Centre

King St.

Canterbury

Registration and information

Phone: 02 9520 9409 email: watac@watac.net

Conference cost: $275

9 - 13 July 2007 Ecology & Spirituality

Tabgha Centre for Ecology and Spirituality is offering a one week course from July 9 - 13th, 2007.

The content of the course will explore a Christian Ecological perspective in a changing world.

For more information please contact

Veronica Littleton OSU or Kay McGrath RGS

Tabgha Centre, 52 Montrose Rd,

Cabarlah, Qld. 4352

Telephone 0746969700

Email: tabgha@bigpond.com