[Green-Activist] letter from Kim re "Peace Convergence"

Fri Jun 8 21:53:54 EST 2007

Dear Mr Livingstone,

I'm sorry that you take offence at our actions, but your anger is
misguided.  If you read the email you would see our protest is largely
about the use of depleted uranium and nuclear weapons by the US, and their
presence in our country.  It is not criticising troops in any way.  Troops
don't get to make a choice as to who they fight and with what.

Over 40,000 US troops have deserted since the beginning of the Iraq war.
Over 3,000 of them have died.  The military is actively silencing
dissenting troops and even discharging them despite what honours they
might have gotten. Australian troops have been lucky so far as casualties
go.

I say "probably" because the US Department of Defence never confirm nor
deny the presence of nuclear weapons on their ships, we can only assume
they are carrying them by what we know about the types of weapons systems
they are using (in this case, the Phalynx missile system).  It may
surprise you to know that Brisbane has no emergency plan in case of a
nuclear accident involving a warship, or any other kind of nuclear
accident.

My father-in-law is a VV and he is no more happy about the use of
Australian soil for US war games, or the effect that the Bush
administrations foreign policy is having on Australian military decisions.
 The defence force is for the defence of Australia, I thought, not the
defence of US interests in the middle east.  And my step-grandfather died
a few years ago as a result of cancer caused by exposure to radiation at
Maralinga in the 50s - he was a good friend to his fellow troops, but
certainly no fan of what the government or the army did for him (denying
that he and hundreds others were sick or died as a result of what the army
made them do).  He spent most of his life fighting the army to get justice
for himself and his fellow atomic veterans.

It's quite a different thing to be proud of what you've done as a soldier
who was brave and loyal to his kin, and to respect and honour a system
that will shaft you in your hour of need as happened to the atomic
veterans and many Vietnam vets.

I oppose the US military presence, the use of uranium weapons and bad
foreign policy decisions in *defence* of our troops, not in criticism of
them.  I don't want young men and women put in mortal danger for no good
reason any more than you.

I have unsubscribed you from the Nuclear Free Queensland list.  Please let
me know if you would like to be resubscribed.

Regards,

Kim Stewart
BA, BSc hons A
Friends of the Earth Brisbane

On Thu, June 7, 2007 1:20 am, Bob Livingstone wrote:
> Get a bloody life: if it wasn't for servicemen such as this you'd be
> speaking Japanese, or worse.
>
> Stop sending peace-nik crap like this to this address, get an education
> and learn how to write English first; the standard displayed in this
> email wouldn't pass a third-grade examination.
>
> How can you possibly expect to be taken seriously if you want people to
> come out and demonstrate against - your words - (probably)!!  Get the
> facts before you call for action.  No doubt you'd have thrown paint on
> Vietnam vets when they came home if you were old enough: just doing their
> duty but vilified because their duly elected government sent them to
> fight.
>
> I'm a Viet Vet, my father fought in WWII and my family fought for
> Australian values in WWI; where were yours?
>
>
> Wake up and appreciate that if you don't stand up to aggression you'll be
> slaves.
>
> I've no time for weaklings who'll sell your souls for a life of
> servitude.
>
> Read your history - those who don't are doomed to repeat it.
>
>
> Robert Livingstone
> ex-1735192 ARA-NS and damn proud supporter of our troops.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "kim" <kkaos at riseup.net>
> To: "NFQ-announce" <nuclearfreeqld-announce at lists.riseup.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 8:41 PM
> Subject: [nuclearfreeqld-announce] ACTION!!! US warships (probably)
> carrying DU in Port of Brisbane
>
>
>> ACTION!!! Peace Vigil at Fisherman's Wharf
>>
>>
>> Today we heard that three war ships are currently docked at Brisbane
>> Port
>> for Talisman Sabre.  Although we can't know for sure (the US has a
>> policy of no comment on whether they are carrying nuclear weapons), it
>> is highly likely they are carrying depleted uranium weapons. DU is
>> banned by the UN for it's tendency to contaminate and kill non-target
>> victims over a long period of time.  As the US buy most of Australia's
>> uranium, Australian uranium mines may well have supplied the nuclear
>> material that these unethical weaposn are made of.
>>
>> The USS Essex, USS Juneau and USS Tortuga are diesel powered war
>> machines. It is highly likely they are carrying depleted uranium
>> munitions as Essex and Tortuga are equipped with the Phalanyx missle
>> system that uses DU shells.  They have all participated in service in
>> Iraq.  All three are part
>> of a "forward deployment" team of warships based in Saseba, Japan.  They
>>  carry some aircraft and helicopter gunships.
>>
>> If you are interested in joining a Peace Vigil at Fisherman's Wharf
>> tomorrow morning (Thursday June 7) please let us know ASAP. If there are
>> enough folks to go out we will do a press release.  We have already had
>> media interest today. See below for more details...
>>
>> This week the first contingent of US warships here for the Talisman
>> Sabre 07
>> war games has hit Brisbane.
>>
>> more info on the ships: Essex
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_%28LHD-2%29>
>> Juneau <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Juneau_%28LPD-10%29>
>> Tortuga <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tortuga_%28LSD_46%29>
>>
>>
>> Call Treena on 043 2563 967 or Robin on 04 1111 8737
>>
>>

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