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"Peace News has compiled an exemplary record... its tasks have never been more critically important than they are today." Noam Chomsky

Issue 2546 | June 2012

Editorial: Their lot is not a happy one

by Milan Rai and Emily Johns | Comment | June 2012

Is it revolutionary - or counter-revolutionary - to attack the police?

Jill's Defence Weekly

Lunch at the AGM of arms manufacturer BAE Systems, London, 2 May.

News in Brief

A new international · Academic action· East London warzone · Upper Heyford reunion · Nepal crisis · Western Sahara· Israeli refusenik jailed · Secrecy for us, not you · BAE Hawks to Saudi · Sing out, sister ...read

Letters

Again: whither CND?· Ardently pro-Arden· I was there· Briefly ...read

Reviews

Chase Madar, The Passion of Bradley Manning: The Story of the Suspect Behind the Largest Security Breach in U.S. History

James Beechey and Chris Stephens (eds), Picasso & Modern British Art, and associated Exhibition catalogue

Tayo Aluko, Call Mr Robeson – A life, with songs.

Iran: Lawyers say no to pre-emptive war

by Milan Rai and Emily Johns | Feature | June 2012

Prominent lawyers warned the British government against supporting an illegal attack on Iran as the British government consulted its legal advisors on its military options. Meanwhile, international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme stalled at a meeting in Baghdad in late May, as Western diplomats rebuffed concessions from the Islamic Republic.

Legal action stops Afghan torture transfers

by Gabriel Carlyle | News | June 2012

Even as Afghanistan introduces its own system of internment – and the UK seeks to circumvent high court restrictions aimed at preventing the torture of detainees – activists and lawyers in the UK have succeeded in temporarily halting the transfer of prisoners from British forces to the Afghan secret police.

features

We're all going on a summer holiday: Peace News Summer Camp 2012

by Milan Rai and Emily Johns | Feature | June 2012

Delicious details of Peace News Summer Camp 2012

Taking control

by Ian Sinclair | Feature | June 2012

PN marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of a ground-breaking pamphlet

CAAB counter-surveillance

by Lindis Percy and Melanie Ndzinga | Feature | June 2012

Looking back over the history of an important peace campaign.

An Argentine pacifist perspective

by Ian Sinclair and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel | Feature | June 2012

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel describes nonviolent resistance in Latin America

FEX: Funding the revolution

by Milan Rai | Feature | June 2012

Radical philanthropy shares power with activists

Countering Olympic myths

by Emma Sangster | Feature | June 2012

Exploring some of the concerns around the London Olympics.

news

Interrupting Vince

News | June 2012

An anti-arms trade protester manages to upstage Vince Cable, the business secretary, at the British arms exporters' biggest annual conference.

Conscientious Objectors’ Day

by Janet King and Bill Hetherington | News | June 2012

Last month, peace activists held commemorations in Manchester (13 May), London (15 May) and Birmingham (20 May) to mark the thirtieth International Conscientious Objectors’ Day.

1,600 hunger strikers’ victory

by David Polden | News | June 2012

On 14 May, some 1,600 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons won major concessions from the Israeli prison service, leading them to end their mass hunger strike which started on 17 April (see PN 2545).

Faslane’s 30 Days of Action

by Leonna O'Neill | News | June 2012

Faslane Peace Camp reveal details of some of the host of actions planned against the Trident nuclear weapon system in Scotland during June.

More singing, less bashing

by Gabriel Carlyle | News | June 2012

Some reflections on the Big Six Energy Bash demo in London on 3 May, which was 'kettled' by police.

comment

Painting by Bridget Coffey

Comment | June 2012

The world-wide awkward squad

by Jeff Cloves | Comment | June 2012

You act alone, and you don't tell....

Activism and... Having a laugh

Comment | June 2012

I used to belong to an affinity group whose motto was ‘fun and effective’. Every action was supposed to be both effective in advancing our cause, and fun for those of us carrying it out. ...

30 years ago: Waste dumping in Wales – a campaigning success

by Albert Beale | Comment | June 2012

Arguments about nuclear power stations and nuclear waste were prevalent 30 years ago, as now – and PN played a key part. Ex-PN-staffer Paul Wesley tells of a campaign that succeeded.