One Planet...because countries and corporations share their information, allocate their resources, and plot their responses on a global scale. So should we.

First Strike

"TP2000" is coming, one of the most ambitious international direct action proposals ever (and no, it's not about wrapping toilet paper around the White House...). Originated by Ploughshares activists at the Faslane base in Scotland, "Trident Ploughshares 2000" proposes hundreds of international affinity groups descend upon Britain's entire Trident nuclear submarine fleet with the intention of direct action to disarm them. (The name comes from the biblical invocation of swords into ploughshares.) Some two dozen affinity groups are already meeting and preparing, including a few in the U.S. Trident, incidentally, is housed at only two bases in the U.S.--one in Georgia and one 30 miles away, at Bangor in Kitsap County. There, a conference and direct actions will take place over the weekend of the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, August 6-9 (see flyer, this issue). Rumor has it some TP2000 activists will be in Kitsap County next week, too.--G.P.

Digging In

For four months now, aboriginal activists have been maintaining a blockade of a proposed uranium mine at Jabiluka in far northeastern Australia. The Mirrar people's blockade, in the Kakadu National Park (listed as a World Heritage site), has also prompted sympathy blockades of the offices of the corporate owners of the mining company, North Ltd. Were it to proceed, the Jabiluka mine would mean an extra 20 million tons (Br.) of radioactive waste for Kadaku park. Polls show over 80% of Australians oppose development of the mine.--G.P.

Ausralia is also the home of the largest uranium orebody on the planet: the Roxby Downs Mine, which is four times larger than the proposed Jabiluka mine. Recent expansion plans at Roxby Downs will make it the largest producer of uranium in the world, as well as a major gold and copper mine. Of course, the mine sits on the aboriginal territory of the Kokatha people, who've been displaced, whose sacred sites have been desecrated, and who are not allowed to walk on their own land without being accompanied by mine employees. Last year, the Kokatha people took part in a European speaking tour to condemn uranium mining on indigenous lands. During the six week tour, they spoke in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Austria, and Switzerland. With the help of other members of the tour, they drew up a resolution on uranium mining and the human rights of indigenous peoples. On January 15, 1998, the European Parliament voted on the resolution; it was accepted without amendment by a vote of 115 for, 85 against, and 13 abstentions.--M.T.

Franken-foods Get Punted

Some of the world's most imaginative protests are happening in the field of combating genetically engineered food. A few months ago in Britain, a crop of bio-constructed potatoes was subjected to a rousing game of cricket; what with the muddy field and all, the crop was, tragically, destroyed. A number of German crops have also been subject to premature, incautious harvest.

More recently, British eco-activists last month attempted a month-long "crop squat" of a genetically modified (GM) sugar beet site near Norfolk, England. Forty activists took over the Novartis-owned site, putting up tents, benders, and yurts, and proceeded to set up a permaculture plot--to create "a working demonstration of the alternatives to the genetic engineering of crops."

Their squat was cut short after two weeks, following an eviction order. The extensive media it received, however, mirrors the escalating momentum of the anti-GM movement in Britain; recently, in one night alone, seven separate sites had their crops destroyed. When will this movement make a desperately needed leap to U.S. shores?--G.P.

Chiapas Update

Events continue to deteriorate in Chiapas. Bishop Ruiz, the nonviolent mediator who has served as the sole trusted contact between the Zapatistas and Mexico's state and federal governments, resigned in frustration last month over the government's broken promises and escalating low intensity warfare. Washington and Wall Street are running this show, with stepped-up drug and border interdiction programs enabling Mexico to divert military resources to its 70,000-person army presence in Chiapas.

In Seattle and the U.S., efforts continue to both support the struggle for peace and social justice in Chiapas and to respond to escalations. Nationally, you can contact the Campaign for Freedom and Democracy in Mexico at 1-800-405-7770, or on the web at http://www.ezln.org. In Seattle, the Comite Contra la Represion y por la Democracia en Mexico can be reached at P.O. Box 12252, Seattle WA 98102 or via e-mail at lazarus9@hotmail.com.--G.P.