I have updated my post on the Stop the Divine Strake action to include three video clips. For convenience, there they are in this post:
See video clip of sunrise ceremony here.
See video clips of indigenous leaders taking the group to the test site gate here and to a Western Shoshone man crossing the line here.
See links to photos below each heading. See link to Salt Lake solidarity vigil here.
As reported via phone post, the Stop the Divine Strake Action is over and is considered to have been a highly productive and successful event. People came from as far away as Pennsylvania to attend the action.
Govinda set up an operation from which he ran a radio station that could be heard in the area. He broadcast the entire weekend and those with radios could listen from anywhere in the camp. Govinda conducted interviews with people there, mostly Western Shoshone, and also played clips recorded from the previous weekend’s Western Shoshone Defense Project’s annual gathering. Govinda also played a lot of activist and indigenous music.
Word reached us Saturday morning that breaking news had been delivered as to the “indefinite” postponement of the Divine Strake test and that protestors were “celebrating”. This was misleading. Yes, while it could be considered a “victory” that the test has been postponed, it by no means is a “celebration”. A “battle” may have been won but the fight is not over. I find it quite interesting and strategic that the announcement of this “postponement” came just as the Stop the Divine Strake Action was beginning. And guess what: a significant number of folks who were supposed to be present at this action were not. On one hand, I can see that traveling a far distance to protest a postponed test might be seen as a waste of energy and resources to save for future actions, but on the other hand, this is precisely what I feel the government wanted: for people to be temporarily “satisfied” that the test was not happening – yet. In some small way, however, it is empowering to think that our action may have influenced this decision of postponement. Organizers and participants at the action agreed that we won’t stop the pressure until funding is cut and tests are is CANCELLED.
Now on to the events of the weekend.
Friday, May 26 – Arriving
See photos here.
Continue reading
Monday
Tearing down, saying goodbye, surroundings and anti-nuclear art
Continue reading
Sunday Action
Direct action at the gate to the Nevada Test Site
Continue reading
Sunday Morning
Sunrise Ceremony; programs
Continue reading
Saturday
Setting up the water and meeting tent; scenery; Corbin Harney, Western Shoshone Spiritual Leader, blesses the evening’s food.
Continue reading
Friday, May 26
Arriving
Continue reading
I will be offline for a few days.
The Green Party of the United States issued a press release today on the Stop the Divine Strake Action. I a m quoted in it:
“It’s obvious that Divine Strake is a show of force preceding an imminent attack on the people of Iran — which may include the use of nuclear weapons. It’s a test run for President Bush’s apparent attempt to set off a world war with Middle Eastern nations,” said Deanna Taylor, Desert Green candidate for Salt Lake County Council , who plans to participate in the protest. Desert Greens (Green Party of Utah) have led the Green Party of the United States in opposing the test.
————————————
Here is the latest update of Stop the Divine Strake Actions.
Workshops:
(subject to change)
Teton Rainbows ~ Bennie LeBeau aka Blue Thunder
Continue reading
(Check back for updates)
Workshops:
International Human Rights and the Western Shoshone
Continue reading
I am a co-coordinator of scheduling workshops at the Divine Strake Action at the test site next weekend. So far, here are the workshops scheduled on Saturday, May 27th at Peace Camp:
International Human Rights and the Western Shoshone
Continue reading
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 