Update: John Dear's sentencing

Just got this from one of John's friends...this after yesterday's news that he's been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize!

Dear friends,

I just got back from court. It was pretty intense. John read his sentencing statement (on NCR Internet cafe can access it through John's website FatherJohnDear.org ) The judge was insulting and nasty as usual calling John a renegade priest and citizen, a phony, publicity seeker, etc. The judge refused to give him a jail sentence since that's what he wanted so he fined him $500.00, 40 hrs of community service, 6 months probation. John, then, went to the probation officer in another court house to be informed of the terms of the probation which includes he cannot leave NM during that time period, periodic drug tests starting right then, and appointments with probation officer. He will refuse to pay the fine due today and community service to be set up with probation officer. This will mean being arrested at his house or notification to appear in court for refusal.

I am totally exhausted and hope this makes a little sense. We had probably about 15 supporters who showed up. After John's court house ordeal we all met for breakfast to process just a little what had happened and show our love and support for John.

What happens next, I don't know. John is still deciding what to do. Paying the fine and community service is not an option for him. So the drama continues.

Ciaron O'Reilly

Ciaron O'Reilly will be spending some time with us this week to tell us of his peacemaking exploits around the world.

Ciaron O'Reilly is a long time Catholic Worker, nonviolent resister and Christian anarchist. During the 1991 Gulf War, Ciaron was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group who disarmed a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffis AFB in upstate New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the U.S. penal system. After his return to Australia, Ciaron took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998. Ciaron went to trial at Dublin's Four Courts for a third time for disarming a U.S. navy war plane at the civilian Shannon Airport, Ireland in the early hours of February 3rd 2003. He was also featured last year on Andrew Denton's "Enough Rope" program on the ABC.

Pine Gap 4 nonviolence training

“To know, worship, love, embrace and follow the God of nonviolence is to become a people of nonviolence. In a world of violence, religion is about praxis, living a concrete peacemaking way of life. A theology of nonviolence must be lived. It is a theology of action. It requires focusing on the God of peace, accompanying (for Christians) the nonviolent Jesus, and taking public risks of love to end war and disarm the planet.” --John Dear

With the trial of the Pine Gap 4 coming up in late May, the Christian Activist Network has decided to put together a weekend of training and reflection on nonviolent Christian witness, particularly aimed at solidarity actions for the PG4. It will be a weekend of reflecting on the nonviolent life, death and resurrection of Jesus and our place in it, as well as practical training in nonviolent direct action.

Solidarity actions are being planned for May 29th (trial starts 2pm) and June 2nd (to coincide with Alice Springs vigil).

It is being held at the Indigenous Hospitality House's retreat centre, 215 East Beenak Road Gembrook on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May. It will begin at 10am Saturday and conclude at 5pm Sunday. Meals will be provided.

A suggested donation of $25 is requested.

Email Simon to book a place.

Forge Dangerous Stories II Summit

Forge is the missional network that...well, networks groups like ours and also trains leaders. They're having a 'gathering of the tribes' this weekend and have some wonderful speakers including people like Brian McLaren, Dave Andrews and Mike Frost. Jarrod and I will be running a session there called "Not Peace but a Sword: Emerging Missional Church and the Way of the Kingdom".


If you can get there, it'd be well worth your time.

John Dear information now up

For all John Dear info, go here. You can download the summary flyer or any of the three event flyers (complete with registration forms) from that page. Tim Costello is speaking at the Wednesday night event too.

This guy is amazing - well worth going to check him out! Click on the picture below for an enlargement:

Rainbow Serpent

So I've been asked to run an NVDA (nonviolent direct action) workshop at Rainbow Serpent, a "music, arts and lifestyle event" in central Victoria next weekend (Fri Jan 26th - Monday Jan 29th). I'm going up the Sunday morning and doing two workshops, and Anthony is coming with me. If you're interested in going as well, you'd be most welcome. Details are on the website (not sure about day passes yet, will find out).

Trip to Breakwater

In our discussions about intentional community, I mentioned there was a Baptist monastery in Geelong (Breakwater) that do amazing intentional community, and that we should go down there sometime and learn from them. We've tentatively made plans to head down to Breakwater next Saturday (27th) January. If you'd like to come with, let me know. I'll officially confirm or deny the trip going ahead later in the week.