March 10 folk school lunch | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: John Wallace (walla003TC.UMN.EDU) | |
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 16:15:53 -0600 |
March 3, 2004 To: Folk School folks From: John Wallace Invitation to: Folk School lunch at John Wallace's office, Wednesday, March 10, 11:30 to 1:00 The purpose of these weekly lunch meetings is to dig into Gandhi's saying, "You must be the change you seek in the world." They are open, rolling conversations happening throughout this academic year, where people are free to come when they can, and come at any time between 11:30 and 1:00. You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch. Juice and cookies will be available. On March 10 we will a video about a recent saga of non-violent resistance, arrest, trial, and acquittal. Peter Shea interviews Katy Brown and Michael Brown about their participation in a trespass action at Alliant Techsystems headquarters in Edina on April 3, 2003. The article I have pasted in below from the web site of the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers gives more background about this action. My office is 868 Heller Hall, on the U of MN West Bank campus. Close to Wilson Library and the Humphrey Institute. Alliant 28 Found NOT GUILTY by Jane Evershed, 10/17/03 The Alliant 28 were found not guilty today by a jury in the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis Minnesota. The defendants trespassed at Alliant Techsystems headquarters in Edina MN to protest the use of radioactive waste or so called "depleted" Uranium used in missile tips. They entered the property on April 2nd 2003 to deliver a letter to the CEO, Paul David Miller to request that Alliant take responsibility for damages caused by "depleted" Uranium and to run the necessary tests to prove that DU is harmless. They represented themselves without an attorney and introduced international law by way of the Geneva Convention and the Nuremberg Tribunals to override the state trespassing laws. They stated that the use of these weapons manufactured by Alliant Techsystems is a crime against humanity as the radioactive waste is indiscriminant among combatants and civilians and continues to cause harm long after the dust of war has settled. They argued "Claim of Right" and stated that they were authorized by the constitution under article 6. The defendants expressed grave concern about the health of US soldiers who have been victimized with weapons deployed by their own country. Wendi Nauheimer testified about the death of her brother Patrick who the family believes contracted leukemia as a result of his exposure to radioactive waste left by the first Gulf War. He participated in the clean-up phase of the war in 1992. Four of the defendants had traveled to Iraq and testified about their encounter with the tremendous number of cases of leukemia and birth defects found in Iraq where "depleted" Uranium was used by the US troops in 1991. The defendants testified that these weapons were manufactured by Alliant Techsystems. Many of the defendants spoke of their deep concern for the gross deformities being born to Iraqi women and US soldiers and also, the devastating effect on the environment. DU has a lifetime of four and a half billion years and has been used in other countries such as Bosnia. Three times more "depleted" Uranium was dropped on Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom than during the Gulf War. An estimated 320 tons was dropped during Gulf War 1 and about a thousand TONS in the recent war. On a more touching note, the defendants shattered the usual solemn ether of the court by applauding the jury as they left, there was a mixture of tears and joy after the verdict was read. Wendi and Carol Nauheimer expressed that they felt some justice had been served on behalf of their son S.Sgt Patrick. "This the first time we have ever had a voice to say anything publicly about what happened to Patrick." John Wallace Department of Philosophy University of Minnesota (612) 624-5210 FAX (612) 626-8380 walla003 [at] tc.umn.edu
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