There will be an interview on Light FM (89.9 fm in Melbourne) on Wednesday 23rd between 10 and 11am and for those who are more mainstream inclined, Nova and Vega are both running an interview sometime in the breakfast show (6am-9am) on Thursday morning (24th).
Tell your friends! And look out for more coverage in the daily papers and other news sources.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
some ways you can support us...
We've had lots of people asking how they can help support us, so here are a few ways you can do just that:
1. We're holding an information night about the action and trial (see below) on the evening of Thursday April 17th. Would love to see you there.
2. "Forgive us our carbon debts" - we are acutely aware that this will be the third flight between Melbourne and Rockhampton we've taken, and particularly of the toll this takes on the earth. If you're able to plant a tree on our behalf to offset this, it would be most appreciated. You could call it your peace tree! If you do, we'd love to hear about it too.
3. On the day of the trial (Thursday April 24) from 12-2 there will be an information stall and frisbee throwing activities, beginning at Federation Square and roaming around the city, to bring public attention to the trial and to Talisman Sabre 09. Contact Jane (0403 713 157) if you'd like to be involved, or just turn up. There will be people handing out free frisbees (with "peace games not war games" on them) and information (many thanks to Urban Seed for the frisbees!). The great thing about frisbee is that it's a fun and happy way to engage people with peace issues, so it'd be great to have as many people involved as possible. If you can't make it to the city, have a game of frisbee with a friend (or even better, with an enemy!) on the day to remember us.
4. Pray for us. We believe deeply that, as Walter Wink says, "History belongs to the intercessors". Especially we ask you to pray for peace and courage in a system that is designed to intimidate, and for those who will be in the courtroom hearing what we have to say. And pray for peace in our world, that together we might be able to render Talisman Sabre 09 unnecessary.
Thanks!
1. We're holding an information night about the action and trial (see below) on the evening of Thursday April 17th. Would love to see you there.
2. "Forgive us our carbon debts" - we are acutely aware that this will be the third flight between Melbourne and Rockhampton we've taken, and particularly of the toll this takes on the earth. If you're able to plant a tree on our behalf to offset this, it would be most appreciated. You could call it your peace tree! If you do, we'd love to hear about it too.
3. On the day of the trial (Thursday April 24) from 12-2 there will be an information stall and frisbee throwing activities, beginning at Federation Square and roaming around the city, to bring public attention to the trial and to Talisman Sabre 09. Contact Jane (0403 713 157) if you'd like to be involved, or just turn up. There will be people handing out free frisbees (with "peace games not war games" on them) and information (many thanks to Urban Seed for the frisbees!). The great thing about frisbee is that it's a fun and happy way to engage people with peace issues, so it'd be great to have as many people involved as possible. If you can't make it to the city, have a game of frisbee with a friend (or even better, with an enemy!) on the day to remember us.
4. Pray for us. We believe deeply that, as Walter Wink says, "History belongs to the intercessors". Especially we ask you to pray for peace and courage in a system that is designed to intimidate, and for those who will be in the courtroom hearing what we have to say. And pray for peace in our world, that together we might be able to render Talisman Sabre 09 unnecessary.
Thanks!
Monday, April 14, 2008
letters of support
We'd like to request your help as we front court in a little over a week.
If you could find some time to write a letter in support of the Samuel Hill 4 as we front the Yeppoon Magistrates Court, it would be greatly appreciated. We'd ideally like to have letters of support as people, saying that our actions were consistent with the rest of our lives, but more importantly letters that support our action.
We'd like to plonk a whole bunch of letters down in front of the judge, from a wide cross section of the community, saying that they support us and the action we took to stop these "war games". Something like the one below would be ideal (though you don't have to have been nominated for the Nobel Prize, let alone by Desmond Tutu).
This is one way you can have a say to the court system and the government about your opposition to war and violence.
Send it to samuelhill4@gmail.com and we'll make sure it reaches the trial judge. Many thanks.
If you could find some time to write a letter in support of the Samuel Hill 4 as we front the Yeppoon Magistrates Court, it would be greatly appreciated. We'd ideally like to have letters of support as people, saying that our actions were consistent with the rest of our lives, but more importantly letters that support our action.
We'd like to plonk a whole bunch of letters down in front of the judge, from a wide cross section of the community, saying that they support us and the action we took to stop these "war games". Something like the one below would be ideal (though you don't have to have been nominated for the Nobel Prize, let alone by Desmond Tutu).
This is one way you can have a say to the court system and the government about your opposition to war and violence.
Send it to samuelhill4@gmail.com and we'll make sure it reaches the trial judge. Many thanks.
To Whom it May Concern,I am Rev. John Dear, a Catholic priest, writer and lecturer, involved in work for peace and justice in the United States. As a reference, I'll share that earlier this year, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa nominated me for the Nobel Peace Prize.I'm writing in support of my friend Simon Moyle. He hosted me in Melbourne last year during my speaking tour of Australia. I was so moved and impressed by his good work as a Baptist minister, but also by his good character, his passion for peace and humanity, and his Christian faith. Simon Moyle is a true Christian, a real peacemaker, which is rare enough in our world of war.I fully support Simon's peacemaking life and work, and his beautiful, nonviolent attempt to say no to Australia's warmaking in last year's military exercises. His nonviolent witness, like the actions of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., is rooted in love, truth and faith; it strives to speak to the country about the need for peace, and invite everyone to disarmament and justice. His witness fits within Simon's life, character and vocation to follow the nonviolent Jesus, his effort to live out the biblical commandments to "love your enemies." I hope he is found not guilty, and I hope that Australia will heed his call, disarm its weapons, and pursue nonviolent solutions to international conflict. Thank you for your consideration. God bless you.Rev. John Dear
Thursday, April 3, 2008
information night details
The Story Behind the Samuel Hill 5 Nonviolent Direct Action
Thursday April 17th at 7:30pm
Borderlands Co-op
2 Minona St, Hawthorn
( Melways Ref. 45 E11 )
SUPPER PROVIDED
"In June 2007, five Christian peace activists (Sarah Williams, Simon Reeves, Carole Powell, Krystal Spencer and Simon Moyle) walked onto a military base during Australia/US war games in Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in central QLD. They played frisbee with the troops, calling them to trade in their war games for peace games, before being arrested for trespassing. Come and hear the story of how this action was planned, what happened there and how they're approaching the upcoming trial."
In connection with:
Peace Convergence
Christian Activist Network
Thursday April 17th at 7:30pm
Borderlands Co-op
2 Minona St, Hawthorn
( Melways Ref. 45 E11 )
SUPPER PROVIDED
"In June 2007, five Christian peace activists (Sarah Williams, Simon Reeves, Carole Powell, Krystal Spencer and Simon Moyle) walked onto a military base during Australia/US war games in Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in central QLD. They played frisbee with the troops, calling them to trade in their war games for peace games, before being arrested for trespassing. Come and hear the story of how this action was planned, what happened there and how they're approaching the upcoming trial."
In connection with:
Peace Convergence
Christian Activist Network
Sunday, March 30, 2008
info night
More details to come, but we're having an information night about Talisman Sabre, our action and the court proceedings on April 17, one week before our trial.
We'd love it if you could come, so please keep that date free.
There will also be solidarity actions happening on April 24, so stay tuned for how you can be involved.
We'd love it if you could come, so please keep that date free.
There will also be solidarity actions happening on April 24, so stay tuned for how you can be involved.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
O Talisman - Sarah Williams
O TALISMAN – STORIES UNTOLD
We dream of a day when the story told in the news is not about missing persons and billion dollar war ships. We dream of a day when stories that are told are of brave people who gathered for the Peace Convergence in June 2007 to protest Operation Talisman Sabre where 26,000 U.S. and Australian troops practiced for war in Shoalwater Bay, QLD. Their message was very simple but profound: “We want to live in a world of peace and not war.” The stories not told are those of the people willing to step over the line saying we do not believe in war and we will break a law if it is unjust and leads to death of our brothers and sisters, we do not accept your barbwire fences, your blank faces, your lies about sovereignty.
The stories not told are of a young man who was arrested whilst trespassing for doing the hokey pokey;
A story of whole communities in their diversity working together and living out of a common goal of peace;
A group of seven comrades prepared to risk their lives whilst camping in pristine wilderness, which happens to be military training ground and bombing site the size of Belgium;
Another group who do what Australians love most – spending time illegally at one of the most beautiful beaches (the Great Barrier Reef) in the world;
A couple of young lovers exposing their nakedness and their humanity declaring love not war;
A group of five Christian activists who walked down Samuel Hill tarmac wanting to play peace games not war games;
Stories of thousands marching together in colour and slendour to the beat of a different drum;
Independent media who follow their hearts in living for the truth uncensored;
Stories of strong women leaders from the Darumbal people (indigenous tribe of the area), from Hawaii and Guam who tell tales of what the U.S. bases have done in their countries;
Of a photographer who continues to be persecuted for taking photographs of deformed children and victims from the effects of the Gulf War;
The forgotten people who really are heroes.
Australia needs to wake up from its comfort and lives of ‘perceived’ fear of others and start opening up our hearts to the atrocities that go on every day in this world even in our own backyard. We need to ask the question: “Does our affluence fuel our apathy?” We need to say no to excess consumerism and yes to our neighbours who are dying everyday in unnecessary wars. Our governments need to start operating under true democracy where people have freedom of speech and a right to stand up for what they believe in. What is the point of economic advancement when the gap between rich and poor is on the increase?
Sadly, these stories will not be told because of big dollars and control. We were three of the five who were voluntarily arrested on Samuel Hill airbase on the 21st June. We walked down the tarmac with other Christian activists armed with a peace flag, a Frisbee, two letters for the U.S. and Australian Major Generals and the hope for dialogue. Before we were taken away by police we enjoyed many in depth conversations with military personnel who shared their inner feelings about the Iraq war and what they saw and were exposed to (e.g. use of depleted uranium and its effects). We got to share about our concerns for their lives and civilian’s lives and about our worry over the environmental effects that war and these games have. To our utter disbelief the hypothetical mission at the games was in regards to hypothetical “terrorists” coming to take over the country. Were we those terrorists? We were just everyday Australians armed with another message: Love at all costs! As we were driven out we saw tanks and soldiers scattered all throughout the bush that had cease-fired as the base was closed whilst we were on the grounds. That day our concerns for our friend’s safety that were still on the base went to parliament, as no one believed it was possible. To us it was worth it just to have the conversation we wouldn’t have had whilst we were kept in silence. Please don’t silence it anymore!
As all the protesters go home the local are left with the night sky blaring, the sound of bombing, their homes shaking, their health at risk and the real threat that because this base is located where it is they will be a likely target. The destruction of Shoalwater Bay continued until the 2nd July, 2007 and will go on for the next twenty years. Australia continues to spend $55 million a day on its military whilst where we live in Doveton, Victoria many social problems are unaddressed and experienced daily such as lack of affordable housing, social isolation, mental health issues, lack of education to name a few. We want to bring an end to the further militarization of Australia!
For our press release (June 21st, 2007) please follow the link - News “Media Coverage for Peace Convergence” and then go to “Activists Still Inside War Games Zone, More Go In: Press Conference in Action.” www.peaceconvergence.com/news/25
We dream of a day when the story told in the news is not about missing persons and billion dollar war ships. We dream of a day when stories that are told are of brave people who gathered for the Peace Convergence in June 2007 to protest Operation Talisman Sabre where 26,000 U.S. and Australian troops practiced for war in Shoalwater Bay, QLD. Their message was very simple but profound: “We want to live in a world of peace and not war.” The stories not told are those of the people willing to step over the line saying we do not believe in war and we will break a law if it is unjust and leads to death of our brothers and sisters, we do not accept your barbwire fences, your blank faces, your lies about sovereignty.
The stories not told are of a young man who was arrested whilst trespassing for doing the hokey pokey;
A story of whole communities in their diversity working together and living out of a common goal of peace;
A group of seven comrades prepared to risk their lives whilst camping in pristine wilderness, which happens to be military training ground and bombing site the size of Belgium;
Another group who do what Australians love most – spending time illegally at one of the most beautiful beaches (the Great Barrier Reef) in the world;
A couple of young lovers exposing their nakedness and their humanity declaring love not war;
A group of five Christian activists who walked down Samuel Hill tarmac wanting to play peace games not war games;
Stories of thousands marching together in colour and slendour to the beat of a different drum;
Independent media who follow their hearts in living for the truth uncensored;
Stories of strong women leaders from the Darumbal people (indigenous tribe of the area), from Hawaii and Guam who tell tales of what the U.S. bases have done in their countries;
Of a photographer who continues to be persecuted for taking photographs of deformed children and victims from the effects of the Gulf War;
The forgotten people who really are heroes.
Australia needs to wake up from its comfort and lives of ‘perceived’ fear of others and start opening up our hearts to the atrocities that go on every day in this world even in our own backyard. We need to ask the question: “Does our affluence fuel our apathy?” We need to say no to excess consumerism and yes to our neighbours who are dying everyday in unnecessary wars. Our governments need to start operating under true democracy where people have freedom of speech and a right to stand up for what they believe in. What is the point of economic advancement when the gap between rich and poor is on the increase?
Sadly, these stories will not be told because of big dollars and control. We were three of the five who were voluntarily arrested on Samuel Hill airbase on the 21st June. We walked down the tarmac with other Christian activists armed with a peace flag, a Frisbee, two letters for the U.S. and Australian Major Generals and the hope for dialogue. Before we were taken away by police we enjoyed many in depth conversations with military personnel who shared their inner feelings about the Iraq war and what they saw and were exposed to (e.g. use of depleted uranium and its effects). We got to share about our concerns for their lives and civilian’s lives and about our worry over the environmental effects that war and these games have. To our utter disbelief the hypothetical mission at the games was in regards to hypothetical “terrorists” coming to take over the country. Were we those terrorists? We were just everyday Australians armed with another message: Love at all costs! As we were driven out we saw tanks and soldiers scattered all throughout the bush that had cease-fired as the base was closed whilst we were on the grounds. That day our concerns for our friend’s safety that were still on the base went to parliament, as no one believed it was possible. To us it was worth it just to have the conversation we wouldn’t have had whilst we were kept in silence. Please don’t silence it anymore!
As all the protesters go home the local are left with the night sky blaring, the sound of bombing, their homes shaking, their health at risk and the real threat that because this base is located where it is they will be a likely target. The destruction of Shoalwater Bay continued until the 2nd July, 2007 and will go on for the next twenty years. Australia continues to spend $55 million a day on its military whilst where we live in Doveton, Victoria many social problems are unaddressed and experienced daily such as lack of affordable housing, social isolation, mental health issues, lack of education to name a few. We want to bring an end to the further militarization of Australia!
For our press release (June 21st, 2007) please follow the link - News “Media Coverage for Peace Convergence” and then go to “Activists Still Inside War Games Zone, More Go In: Press Conference in Action.” www.peaceconvergence.com/news/25
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
April 24
Those of you who have been following the (seemingly interminable) court processes will be relieved to know that today the four of us who pleaded not guilty received the date of our trial. We will front the Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 24th 2008. Having already signed and submitted a formal admission of our presence on the base, we intend to argue that we had lawful excuse for doing so. While the chances of such an argument succeeding are slim, we plan to take the same spirit of transforming hopefulness, joy and peace into the courtroom that we took with us into the military zone.
If you're of the praying persuasion, please pray that the truth would be spoken and known on that day. Pray for boldness and courage, for peace and the presence of Christ in our words and actions.
For those who follow the church year, our trial date falls on the feast day of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, who paid the ultimate price for refusing to renounce his beliefs (ironically, at the hands of my fellow Protestants). He died praying, as Jesus did, "Pardon my enemies, O Lord: blinded by passion they know not what they do." May we all, like Jesus, have the courage to renounce violence even when threatened, and learn to love and forgive our enemies.
If you're of the praying persuasion, please pray that the truth would be spoken and known on that day. Pray for boldness and courage, for peace and the presence of Christ in our words and actions.
For those who follow the church year, our trial date falls on the feast day of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, who paid the ultimate price for refusing to renounce his beliefs (ironically, at the hands of my fellow Protestants). He died praying, as Jesus did, "Pardon my enemies, O Lord: blinded by passion they know not what they do." May we all, like Jesus, have the courage to renounce violence even when threatened, and learn to love and forgive our enemies.
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