/** wri.news: 781.0 **/
** Topic: Protest at Palace perplexes press **
** Written 12:57 am Jul 13, 1993 by gn:peacenews in cdp:wri.news **
*** Britain's national newspapers -- the tabloid and quality press alike
-- gave front-page coverage to the Women's Nuclear Test Ban Network and
their attempt to address members of Britain's royal family directly on
the need for an unconditional end to testing of weapons on Western
Shoshone land in Nevada.
The women's demands included the recognition of Western Shoshone
sovereignty (_PN_ Oct, Nov 1992); a British commitment to end testing;
and a commitment to clean up the test site area so that it can be
returned to productive use.
Unfortunately, but predictably, few journalists or editors paid much
notice to the substance of the women's protest, focusing instead on the
security threat posed by this group of 17 nonviolent protesters. The
action came just three days after police created London's first Northern
Ireland style "total exclusion zone" in the heart of the financial
district in the City of London; and journalists and MPs alike encouraged
people to confuse a group of pacifist women with Irish paramilitary
bombers.
The women used ladders to climb the fence surrounding Buckingham Palace.
Sixteen made it over, while another woman -- doing press work outside the
fence -- was arrested for the same reason. Two of the group were not
charged; the other 15 were charged with "conspiracy to commit criminal
damage" and "disorderly conduct". They were held overnight by police but
were given unconditional bail the next day. A review will take place on
21 July.
The last test at the Nevada Test Site was carried out in September 1992.
This was the most recent (can it be the last?) of Britain's annual tests,
which went ahead despite the moratorium announced five weeks earlier by
the USA. However, with president Bill Clinton's June 1993 decision to
extend the 1992 moratorium, there will definitely not be a 1993 British
test.
Juley Howard, who participated in the action at the palace, has covered
nuclear testing issues for _Peace News_. She worked in Las Vegas earlier
this year on the American Peace Test campaign for a testing moratorium,
leaving the USA the day Clinton announced the new 15-month moratorium,
a clear victory for American Peace Test's lobbying work. "It is still in
balance" she told _Peace News_ "and the British government has not
changed its opinion. It is now talking about laser technology and
computer testing."
The Women's Nuclear Test Ban Network needs donations to help pay off
its phone bill and to cover its office expenses. Make cheques
payable to "Women's Nuclear Test Ban Network" and send c/o 82
Colston St, Bristol BS1 5BB.
** End of text from cdp:wri.news **
-- Forwarded by: Bill Faulk bill@phony25.cc.utah.edu--