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The Peace News log

The Peace News log is a space for reflection, reportage and analysis, by activists from the UK and beyond. It is the blog of Peace News, the grassroots peace movement newspaper. If you have an article that you would like to contribute to the Peace News log, please contact us.

'Unacknowledged Deaths': Libyan Civilian Casualties in NATO’s Air Campaign
PN | 14 May, 2012

Review of Human Rights Watch's report 'Unacknowledged Deaths: Civilian Casualties in NATO’s Air Campaign in Libya', published May 14, 2012.

ImageHuman Rights Watch published its findings today on civilian casualties resulting from NATO's air strikes against Libya in 2011 in a report entitled 'Unacknowledged Deaths: Civilian Casualtie

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Three Weeks in Wales: Bradley Manning Solidarity Tour
Genny Bove | 13 May, 2012

Review of 'Three Weeks in Wales', a tour in solidarity with the Bradley Manning who lived and went to school in Wales.

ImageWISE Up for Bradley Manning is a loose network of groups and individuals in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England (WISE) taking action for Bradley Manning, the young US military intel.

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Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases
CAAB | 13 May, 2012

Synopses of the work of Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB).

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An Orwellian moment at a CAAB demo. PHOTO: CAAB

The Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) is a bit of a mouthful!

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Brief: Fourth Annual Sizewell Camp.
PN | 09 May, 2012

Brief review of the fourth annual camp at Sizewell nuclear power station

ImageThe fourth annual camp at Sizewell nuclear power station took place between 20-22 April, the aim of which was to both oppose the building of two planned reactors and a dry fuel storage dump and to provide information about about nucle
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The peace boxes of Parliament Square
PN | 04 May, 2012

On 3 May the police removed the remaining peace box, tent and other items of Maria Gallastegui's Peacestrike protest in Parliament Square after an injunction against the enforcement of the new restrictions on protest was lifted. Below are images of the peace boxes, inside and out, from the last year, and an update on the current situation.

see A SOCPA victory and the blanket ban and Parliament Square Peace Camp resists eviction

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The remaining peace box on the morning before it was removed by police.

Maria has been protesting 24/7 since 2006 in Parliament Square. It has been the base for so many Peacestrike activities including daily petitions to 10 Downing Street, speaking out about the causes and consequences and the horror of war, and supporting the protest of others.

The peace boxes more lately became a focal point in Parliament Square with their powerful statements, art work and all-round creative approach to use of the space. The protests in Parliament Square have for 10 years been a visible expression that war is wrong and have become a place where those who wish to express their concern and sorrow in relation to war can gravitate towards, a space of common concern within the anonymous city.

The legal case

Maria and the lawyers who have challenged the new restrictions on protest will go to the Court of Appeal and, if necessary, the European Court of Human Rights, to contest the case against the law.

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Maria beds down for the night with just a sleeping bag and some plastic sheeting

No sleeping in Parliament Square

With nothing but a single placard, sleeping bag and plastic sheeting, Maria spent last night on the pavement, determined to maintain her protest. At 3am the police arrived to enforce the law and gave her a warning to hand over the sleeping bag which she did. They informed her that she would be issued with a summons to appear at court.

Maria argues that it is vital to be able to sleep in order to sustain a long-term protest. Without sleeping equipment, that becomes very difficult and the protest is undermined.

What next for the peace boxes

Maria is keen to see the peace boxes auctioned to raise money for children in Iraq. One of the boxes in currently an exhibit in an art show in Los Angeles. See here

Photos by Emma Sangster and Maria Gallastegui. See Peacestrike for more

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We are all being ASBO’d
PN | 03 May, 2012

Simon Moore, the first person to be served with an ASBO relating to the Oympics, was in court again today. 

ImageSimon was served the Anti Social Behaviour Order after he was convicted for public order offences defending common land at Leyton Marsh against development for Olympic baseball courts.

The ASBO prohibits him from going within 100 yards of an Olympic venue or route, obstructing any Olympic participant - including officials and spectators, going onto any private land without permission of the owner, and from disrupting the Jubilee or Olympics events. (See more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/17/protester-receives-olympic...)

Todays hearing was for an interim ASBO for which a full legal case does not have to be heard but is based on whether the court considers it ‘just’ to prohibit activities. A date for a hearing to impose a full ASBO, which would be in place for a minimum of 2 years, will be heard on 14th June.

The prosecution asked the magistrates to consider if Simon was acting in an anti-social manner, likely to cause harassment and if so, whether an ASBO is necessary to protect others from such behaviour. While mentioning the rights of ‘others’ to enjoy an important international sporting event, he failed to mention the rights of the local community to enjoy their common land.

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