Clinton St. Quarterly, Vol. 5 No. 4 Winter 1983

are very feminist and adept at feminist/ New Age methodology. For many, the nuclear issue does not supercede issues of community and intimacy as approached at the camp, “the creation of a just society as a model for the planet.” They feel that men’s enculturation is in conflict not only with feminist values, but with imperatives of planetary survival such as non-aggression or peaceful confrontation rather than destruction as a response to obstacles. By restricting the community to women, the Camp attempts to fortify women politically and to demonstrate the force of feminist process in resolving conflicts. The Camp’s motives were similar in its exclusion of men from the encirclement plan — though it did encourage the participation of men in support activities such as child care. There were women who boycotted the action because of this sexual separatism, and others who participated with ambivalence or dismay, feeling that the sexual division is not only a misguided way of addressing an issue that cuts across sexual identity, but may also be counter-productive just when survival itself may depend on the most concerted possible efforts to effect peace. T he cutting light of news camera crews moved about the circle of nearly 40 women who sang together before dawn on Monday, October 24th, to begin the anticipated day of protest at Boeing. These initial arrivals had assembled next to service shelters set up on a strip of public land between the Green River and the plant. Following the ceremonial vigil, the women moved off to circuit the long perimeter of the plant in small groups, which they would continue to do until regathering with later arrivals at a noontime rally. One of the first to begin was Jaqueline, a nun from the Nichihonzan Myohoji Buddhist temple on Bainbridge Island. From her ozuto or monk’s satchel she drew a taiko, a fan-like drum which is struck with a slim wooden paddle. Beating the taiko before her and chanting, she set off at the brisk clip she would maintain the entire day. Other walkers trailed into the semidarkness, candles still glowing in protective dixie cups; Boeing’s main buildings slouching toward Mt. Rainier in the bare rim of light on the horizon. Lingering at the various gates, women handed out Japanese paper cranes emblematic of peace to drivers turning into the plant to begin their day’s work. Some employees rolled down their car windows to accept the cranes; others ignored the offerings, staring instead at the road. About 1000 women showed up, ultimately, to participate in the encirclement. FOLDING JAPANESE PAPER CRANES TO BE GIVEN TO BOEING EMPLOYEES "MISSILE AMERICA CONTEST" AT THE BOEING RALLY The Nuremberg Principles Nuremberg contained certain principles which placed responsibility upon individuals to refrain from committing an act which violated the principles of international law, even though commanded by their country to do it. So all of a sudden we have a principle adopted which says you have to interpose your estimate of the conduct, and not simply obey. That came out of the excesses of the Nazi regime. It came out of the fact ... that the death trains went by — nobody looked, nobody saw. It came out of the fact that there was a tremendous silence, and that the assembly line of death, destruction, and dehumanization in Nazi Germany was furthered by many and protested by few. So there was the recognition that you could not commit an act illegal under international law even if commanded by your government. Now that we are in a different time, how does one treat the Nuremberg Principles when the Nuremberg Principles do not expressly say that you have a duty to stop your government? They only say that complicity is a crime, and complicity is a participation in any act which furthers an illegal act. If you have knowledge that something is happening, and you do something to further it— that was fundamentally the concern of the Nuremberg Principles. Mary Kaufman There were bus loads from both Corvallis and Portland, Oregon, and individuals from other states and Canada. Also in attendance were two unmarked helicopters, which, according to Kent police, were security hired by Boeing. The remarkably supportive relationship the Peace Camp enjoys with the Kent police department involves something of a trade-off. Working closely with them lessens the likelihood that the local authorities will seek to oust the Camp. It also assures that any pressure the camp might exert on Boeing policy or community awareness will be relatively limited. Recently, in violation of the Camp consensus to avoid civil disobedience, five women took matters into their own hands by illegally entering the plant with the help of state-of-the-art Young Casual wear and fascimile Boeing ID’s. Once inside, they spread out, handing statements to the workers and urging them to choose not to work on the cruise missile. The walk-in effectively heightened visibility for the Camp’s message, and will continue to do so as the women go to court December 5th. As legal defense they intend to cite international law, the Nuremberg Obligation, and self-defense. AW t the noon rally a Missile America Contest took place, at which Peace staged a surprise win against the seductive charms of such buxom beauties as the Neutron Bomb and the Trident Submarine — and of course the local favorite, the Cruise. A Filipino, a black, a lesbian and an American Indian spoke by turns, their presence a sharp contrast to the ethnic non-diversity of the listeners. By about 2:00, when the now-sizable gathering of women moved to begin the encirclement, it had begun to rain. The gathering was coached to split in half, each group pacing itself single-file in order to walk in opposite directions around the plant in the longest lines possible. Eventually the heads of the two lines met at the southeast corner of the plant, the tails extending to near the northeast and southwest corners, respectively. In this way the line of women extended almost completely along two sides of the building. They had been encouraged to visualize all of the women they represented who were not present; and, holding hands in the now-steady downpour, they sang and chanted together. Over each extension of women a huge puppet had been appointed to preside as aspects of the work ahead to stop nuclear weapons buildup: spectral, white-faced Fear clinging to its pole to the east; and Hope looking southward over the staunch heads of the hopeful. ■ WITH PRESENCE Cheryl Reed 342-5068: wkdys. 345-0942: wknds., eves. IN E U G E N E TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 10 TO 6 SUNDAY 12 TO 5 NOW YOU HAVE AN 'HOMEGROWN' MEATS • low fat chemical free meats • homemade nitrate free sausages • open daily in Eugene at 4th & Blair in the Red Barn 345-3997 Clinton St. Quarterly 17

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