Three peace activists from the group Trident Plowshares were acquitted late last month in Britain of malicious mischief and theft for destroying a communications system for the Trident nuclear submarine. This past June 8, the three boarded a floating laboratory on a lake in Scotland called Loch Goils and effectively disabled a vital link in Britain’s nuclear system. A jury acquitted them of the charges, based on their argument that they were trying to stop their country from committing a nuclear crime.

Meanwhile, on May 15, 1999, journalist Jim Goodnow was arrested by military police while covering a demonstration at Andrews Air Force Base. The demonstration, held by members of Jonah House and Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, took place at the height of NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia. Goodnow, a reporter with Radio For Peace International, was told to get on his hands and knees, handcuffed, detained for nearly 5 hours and released. He was charged with trespassing on military property and willfully disobeying a lawful order of a police officer. According to the base commander, Goodnow was a threat to the security of the base.

Guests:

• Angie Zetler, Member of Trident Plowshares in Britain who was acquitted late last month of charges of malicious mischief and theft for disabling the communications system for the Trident Submarine, which carries nuclear missiles. Speaking from Norfolk, UK.
• Jim Goodnow, reporter with Radio For Peace International.