November 14, 2002
MAKING THEIR BODIES FIGURES OF SPEECH

From  
Photo: Eva Soltes

 

 

 

 

 

West Marin women are serious enough about PEACE to spell it out. Wearing nothing but afternoon rain, 50 determined women lay down on Love Field near the Green Bridge Tuesday afternoon to literally embody PEACE and "show solidarity with the people of Iraq," said the organizers.

"Women from all ages and walks of life took off their clothes, not because they are exhibitionists but because they felt it was imperative to do so," the organizers added.

"They wanted to unveil the truth about the horrors of war, to commune in their nudity with the vulnerability of Iraqi innocents, and to shock a seemingly indifferent Bush Administration into paying attention." The coordinators, who came up with the idea only a day earlier, said that the coming together of this group on short notice was a testament to the seriousness with which the women view the threat of war with Iraq.

"Remembering that tens of thousands of civilians have already died in Iraq as a result of US bombing and sanctions, these women are not convinced by Bush Administration fear mongering that one more person should die," organizers said. They hope the president and news media take notice. (Photo by Art Rogers ©2002 Pt. Reyes) UnReasonable Women of West Marin

     


Sunday, January 12, 2003
A cheeky protest
Bay Area anti-war activists go nude in surge of creative vigils
By Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer

NUDE WOMEN PROTEST WAR
Ninety-four mostly West Marin women on Sunday used their naked bodies to spell out PEACE on Drake’s Beach. Fifty women mounted a similar demonstration in Point Reyes Station Nov. 12.

This time 24 men also demonstrated in the buff, creating a large peace symbol on the beach. Organizer Donna Sheehan of Marshall said the demonstrations were a "precursor to the mass naked demonstrations in San Francisco and Washington, DC, on Jan. 18." Sheehan said she expects "a 100,000 people – men and women – to disrobe for Peace" at that time.

Sunday’s female protesters expressed the "desperation of women" opposed to the Bush Administration’s plans for war with Iraq. Sheehan said, adding that the men by forming the international peace symbol were showing "solidarity with the women against global domination and war." (Photo of women by Jan Watson.)



Drake's Beach, Marin Co, January 2003

January 3, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NUDE WOMEN PROTEST WAR AGAIN

On December 29th, between storms, on a rocky, wet Pacific Ocean beach, over 100 women got naked again to protest America’s policy of naked aggression. This event is a precursor of what is to come.

"Our message to women all over the world, is be bold, be courageous, be vulnerable for Peace." said Donna Sheehan of "Unreasonable Woman Baring Witness", in Pt. Reyes, California.

"The US government does NOT represent the average American women who care about the sacrificing of husbands, sons, brothers, and lovers. We are the life and care givers. There is an old Russian saying, "Every bullet finds its target in a Mothers heart," Sheehan quoted. "We are feeling agony and frustration. At this time in history, WE WILL BE HEARD."

The women are extraordinary ordinary people. They are Democrats, Republicans, librarians, attorneys, waitresses, therapists, artists, from 19 years old to 70-somethings. They are as uncomfortable as anyone else at making themselves vulnerable in this way, yet they are willing to do so, because peace and justice are the cornerstones of a sustainable society. They are willing to do so, because they can imagine a future for peace, in which non-violent resolution is the norm, and the habit of war has been broken. So powerful is the message that similar actions, naked and clothed, have taken place in Bolinas, CA, Santa Cruz, CA, Gainesville, Fl, Missoula, Mt and New York City, with more to come.

The photograph and an article appeared in the Point Reyes Light weekly newspaper. Tax-deductible donations to
Baring Witness can be sent to P.O. Box 753, Marshall, CA 94940.

Oceana Taicher removes her shirt yesterday at the start of a nude anti-war protest at the Borello Ranch in Pt. Reyes.
Photo: Jeff Vendsel

Saturday December 28, 2002 at 08:52 AM
Florida Men Strip for Peace by FSN

This event was sponsored by the Green Party of Florida and their many friends.

Inspired by the brave women of Marin County,California, who created an image of the word "Peace," with their nude bodies,Florida men gathered to create their own male statement for peace.

On December 21,2002, near Gainesville, Florida, 22 men posed naked to send a stunning Peace message to the American people and the war administration. Braving the cold, these men from Fort Myers to Gainesville, gathered together on a hillside to do the unthinkable: To Bare it all for Peace.

Deeply troubled by the looming war against Iraq, these serious peace advocates determined to express their heartfelt desire for peace, by crafting the word "PEACE" and the Peace Sign with their nude bodies. These images were captured on film by renowned photojournalist and nature photographer, John Moran.

The statement of this photo moment was enriched by the fact that many of the men who came together to create these images were previously unknown to each other. They were bound together by only one thing; their united desire to stop the American war machine. " What we did was outrageous, because war is outrageous," exclaimed Bob Ellenberg. "All the peace loving people in the world need to see what we have done." This depth of passion was echoed by Frank Gubasta, who said, "I'd die for a better/peaceful world for my sons to grow up in." These men intended for their act to be a dramatic statement and they want the chance to express themselves about war and peace. A candidate for Tampa City Council, Kelly Benjamin, says, "I'd love to talk with anyone about peaceful alternatives to this stupid war."

As the photo session took place, the act took on a somber aspect. One of the participants, Jim Cameron, describes the scene as the men moved to take up their assigned positions. "As we walked in a broken group through the tall grass, I was deeply touched at the sight of everyone against the hills, trees, sunlight and blue sky. The group was composed of young college students, old hippies, alternative culture folks and Viet Nam vets. But the sight of everyone wading through the tall grass was so archetypical and I guess reminiscent of the tragedy of war." Once the men were posed for the photograph, Mark Kamleiter, an attorney and peace activist, was struck by the same symbolism. "These bodies, pale and white, laid out, exposed on the ground resembled, symbolically, the dead that the pending war with Iraq will most certainly produce."

This peace action was organized by Diane Cardin-Kamleiter and Linda Pollini, two Green Party peace activists. It sprang from a growing sense of urgency as this country rushes to war. Despite at large peace demonstrations around the country, the media has largely ignored the steadily growing peace movement. Even the most conservative polls show that almost half of the citizens in this county do not want a war with Iraq, yet the mainstream media has neglected serious treatment of the anti-war sentiment in this country.

What is sought from this daring act? That all those who see these photographs stop and reflect on their meaning and hear the message of Peace.

January 18th, San Francisco Peace Demonstration

Unreasonable Women of West Marin

Santa Cruz, CA.

Photographs by Stephen Laufer
A Birds Eye View: The Bonny Doon Beach naked peace sign
MetroActive.com, Santa Cruz

    

 

\ Sussex ,England

Note the frost on the ground. Despite cold weather, a group of 30 peace campaigners went naked in East Sussex for their latest protest against any military action.

 

On the ice of Lake Superior, USA a group formed a giant peace dove while 2 snowmobiles circled shouting insults. "It was very intense, but very beautiful at the same time." This group of 95 formed a continual line of peaceful touch-hand to foot. "The power felt by all was immense. The image of faceless, oil guzzling aggression circling us leaving us unphased and strong was incredible" said organiser Honore Spickerman. http://www.barewitness.org/

Antarctica, January 2003
  Published on Sunday, January 19, 2003 by CommonDreams.org  
People from McMurdo Station in Antarctica joined with the millions of others around the world in calling for peace not war.With the Antarctic Mt Range in the background we laid on the ice in a symbolic call for peace.Seven continents united.

Champaign-Urbana, IL - 26 January 2003
MIDWEST WOMEN LIE NAKED IN THE SNOW FOR PEACE

Working For Peace
"A few really dedicated people can offset the ill effects of masses of out-of-harmony people, so we who work for peace must not falter, we must continue to pray for peace and to act for peace in whatever way we can. We must continue to speak for peace and to live the way of peace; to inspire others, we must continue to think of peace and to know it is possible. What we dwell upon we help to bring into manifestation. One little person, giving all of her time to peace, makes news. Many people, giving some of their time, can make history.

There's no greater block to world peace or inner peace than fear. What we fear we tend to develop an unreasoning hatred for, so we come to hate and fear. This not only injures us psychologically and aggravates world tension, but through such negative concentration we tend to attract the things we fear. If we fear nothing and radiate love, we can expect good things to come. How much this world needs the message and example of love and faith!" This is the way of peace:
Overcome evil with good,
falsehood with truth,
and hatred with love.

-Excerpt from "Steps Toward Inner Peace' byPeace Pilgrim

Monday, October 4, 1999
By Ray Delgado OF THE EXAMINER STAFF
50 people march nude on Van Ness to draw attention to Y2K dangers

Some activists get arrested to draw attention to their cause. Others scream and rant in hopes that people will listen. Some nuclear activists, on the other hand -- well, they get naked.
Dr. Helen Caldicott and Patch Adams led 50 other people who gathered Sunday night near City Hall for a conference on the potential dangers of Y2K-in a nude demonstration along a block of Van Ness Avenue. Desperate for press attention for their cause, they opted to get covered by uncovering.
The nude march was led by Patch Adams, an activist and doctor who inspired the movie based on his lifetime of unconventional approaches to adversity.

"Non-violent people like us really have so few tools to face a capitalist system," Adams told the crowd as they uncomfortably disrobed outside Herbst Theater in the War Memorial Building.
"All we really have are ourselves and our ideas.
Our ideas have not done the job."

With those words, the crowd whooped and hollered their way out of the building and onto Van Ness for a quick stroll down the street, chanting, "Disrobe for disarmament," and, "News, not nukes."

Along Van Ness Avenue, some cars slowed to gawk and others honked at the protesters, who cheered in response.

The night air was chilly enough to have a noticeable effect on some participants, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm among the participants.
Photos above are courtesy of Barbara Wiedner via Alan Moore

 

Friday, 5 July, 2002, 20:09 GMT 21:09
UK, from BBC News:
Nude protest at Pamplona bull run

Protesters want to ban bullfighting from the festival

Naked animal rights campaigners have demonstrated in the Spanish city of Pamplona to protest against the start on Sunday of the hugely popular annual spectacle of bulls chasing dare-devil young men through the streets.
At least a dozen young activists from various European countries and the United States said they wanted to draw attention to the suffering of the bulls during the animals' three-minute charge through the old city.

With the slogan "let bulls die in peace" painted on their bodies, the activists from across Europe and the United States drew curious crowds with their dash.

The group say they will make the naked romp an annual event to create an alternative to the bull run.

 

Peace Heroes Peace heroes are controversial. They face public disapproval, physical endangerment and, sometimes, imprisonment. Yet peace heroes exist all over the world, in every region, country, culture, background, language...

Grandmothers for World Peace
Code Pink
Women In Black
Women for Peace ,
*Suttner, Courtney, Royden, and Weil
*Jane Addams, Woman's Peace Party, and WILPF
*Dorothy Day
*Women Strike for Peace
*Feminism and NonviolenceYou assist an evil system most effectively by obeying its orders and decrees. An evil system never deserves such allegiance. Allegiance to it means partaking of the evil. A good person will resist an evil system with his or her whole soul...Quotes by Gandhi

Take Five for Peace

The Golden Rule not the Rule of Gold
The Protest Songs


A Desperate Passion: An Autobiography
by Helen Caldicott

Peace Posters & Quotes

"Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception."...Mark Twain, The Mysterious Stranger Mark Twain Quotes

"In our time the military mentality is still more dangerous than formerly because the offensive weapons have become much more powerful than the defensive ones. Therefore, it leads, by necessity, to preventive war. The general insecurity that goes hand in hand with this results in the sacrifice of the citizen's civil rights to the supposed welfare of the state. Political witch-hunting, controls of all sorts (e.g., control of teaching and research, of the press, and so forth) appear inevitable, and for this reason do not encounter that popular resistance, which, were it not for the military mentality, would provide protection."...Einstein "The Military Mentality"...Einstein Quotes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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