Peace pensioner Irene jailed again
Trident Ploughshares Media | 17.08.2009 15:14 | Anti-militarism | Iraq
Peace and environmental activist and Trident Ploughshares member Irene Willis, 64, originally from Essex but now living in Tregaron, Wales was released from jail last Wednesday, August 12th after serving 10 days of a 20 day sentence at HMP Eastwood in Bristol for non-payment of fines totalling £638 imposed for her part in nonviolent protests against nuclear weapons and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon between 2006-8.
Irene blockades Devonport submarine base, Aug 08 - Photo: S. Lasenby
Irene understands that the fines related to blockades at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment, the Labour party conference in Bournemouth and possibly an action against cluster bombs at USAF Lakenheath during Israel’s attacks on Lebanon in 2006.
The custodial sentence was passed down reluctantly on Monday, August 3rd by magistrates in Aberystwyth, Wales who, according to Irene, “didn’t know what to do with her.” Whilst in custody, Irene, who has been incarcerated on previous occasions for non-payment of fines resulting from her peace and environmental protests, also had to deal with the tragic news of her mother’s sudden passing from a stroke. She also fasted between 6-9 August in memory of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Irene’s local paper, the Cambrian News, reported that she was jailed for “mainly motoring offences”, despite the fact that she hasn’t driven for 15 to 20 years. The paper has, however, promised to print an apology after Irene complained.
The custodial sentence was passed down reluctantly on Monday, August 3rd by magistrates in Aberystwyth, Wales who, according to Irene, “didn’t know what to do with her.” Whilst in custody, Irene, who has been incarcerated on previous occasions for non-payment of fines resulting from her peace and environmental protests, also had to deal with the tragic news of her mother’s sudden passing from a stroke. She also fasted between 6-9 August in memory of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Irene’s local paper, the Cambrian News, reported that she was jailed for “mainly motoring offences”, despite the fact that she hasn’t driven for 15 to 20 years. The paper has, however, promised to print an apology after Irene complained.
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Comments
Hide the following 10 comments
Good luck.
18.08.2009 15:20
And you really are filth if your earning your whack off the back of arms dealing.
Eyes Higher
bombs
18.08.2009 20:35
Well it isn't, but it is hardly a surprise out of the blue. I'm sure Irene would of known that it was almost a certain consequence of not paying court fines. If everyone was let off because they didn't pay fines issued at court it would be pretty pointless wouldn't it?
> And you really are filth if your earning your whack off the back of arms dealing.
Not sure what this has to do with Irene. Maybe true, but people have been using weapons for 1000s of years even before our species evolved.
Personally, i feel happy to know that if a country were to aggressively attack us, they do so knowing that we have some metal tubes under the oceans containing weapons to retaliate. Maybe they arnt necessary at the moment, but im sure at some point in the future they will be. A bunch of flowers isn't going to stop a country that doesn't like us from dropping bombs.
ex
To ex
19.08.2009 08:33
Deterrence theory
wake up
19.08.2009 17:15
tex
Mentality of the genocidal maniacs who rule us
19.08.2009 21:03
These people utterly despise humanity. They are not to be trusted with anything more potent than a water pistol.
Deterrence theory
yes barking mad
19.08.2009 21:37
Thats how it works, bombs pointing both ways. Its barking when looked at in moral terms, but makes perfect sense in defensive terms. Most defence is a deterrence.
Its just part of how nature works. You get two animals squaring up to each other. If they both have equivilent strengths then they will back off and leave each other be. If one is a lot stronger than the other, then it will kill the weaker one without too much concern.
You might not like it, no one does, but thats how things work in the real world.
tex
I vote...
19.08.2009 22:12
Deterrence theory
Chalk and cheese sunshine
19.08.2009 22:32
When nuclear weapons are launched, there are launch detection systems that enable the other side to launch their weapons in response --> mutual destruction is guaranteed.
Thats a mutual deterrent.
A semi-automatic pistol isn't a deterrent. If two people have got guns, one can shoot the other without incurring any danger to themselves. There is virtually no risk of mutual destruction. Hence, no real deterrent
tex
You've converted me, tex.
19.08.2009 22:56
Deterrence theory
almost
19.08.2009 23:22
you forgot about rogue asteroids as well. What you gonna do, throw a flower at it?
tex