25 years of protesting the U.S. base in Longare near Vicenza, Italy

We went with Gino Vallesella to the entrance of the U.S. base in Longare, Italy where a weekly vigil has been ongoing since December 1986 as a result of the Pershing and Cruise missile programs.  This base was home to nuclear warheads and the missiles were stored in another location.  In 1992 the warheads were removed and the base was closed, and the community was considering what to do with the space.  However, in 1994 the U.S. moved back in to the facility..  The 173rd Airborne Infantry is housed here and in Germany.  They have conducted military maneuvers in the mountains near here.  Many of the troops that go to Iraq and Afghanistan have passed through this base.

At the vigil location we met Bruno Matteo Bonato and Ambrosi Francesco, who are regulars at the protest.  Unfortunately, the rest of the seven people who showed up for the vigil were already gone when we arrived.  One of the founding members, Francesco Scalzotto, died two years ago and there is a plaque here honoring his memory.

One of the things that is not yet being investigated is the high incidence of cancer in and around this base.  Perhaps some of the radiation from the warheads still remains, or maybe there is some other cause.  Being a small group, they don't have the political strength to insist on an investigation.

The group is called "Group presence at Longare" and they are associated  with International Fellowship of and maintain communications with one of the 9/11 Truth groups in the U.S.  More pictures ...

Italian Servas experience

Servas is a wonderful organization, with many friendly, interesting people who hosted host us in their homes and became our friends.  Our experience in Italy brought us together with people who are very knowledgeable about the history, culture, geology, and politics of the island.  Many helped us to learn more about the military bases, the contamination and cancer epidemic, and the birth defects being caused by the weapons testing.

In Sardegna, we stayed with Servas friends in Macomer, Sassari, and La Maddalena - including 3 different homes in and near Sassari.  We had a nice dinner in Sassari with all of the hosts and friends, at a unique restaurant where they serve a kind of chick pea pizza.  We also stayed with Roberta and Renzo in Milano.

For the full report and pictures, click here

Italian Non-Violent Movement 50th Anniversary

The Italian Non-Violence Movement celebrated it's 50th Anniversary in grand style. A Beattles band, Magical Mystery Orchestra, started the program Friday night. There were speakers and a movie throughout Saturday with a fantastic concert by 10 women soloists in the evening. Giancarla Codrignani, Sam Biesemans, and Gerry Condon spoke about conscience objection, war resisters, and Bradley Manning.   More pictures ...

La Maddalena

La Maddelena is a beautiful island near Sardinia, which previously had a U.S. submarine base.  After a submarine crashed into a rock near the base, causing the only known earthquake in Sardinia, questions about the source of the earthquake forced the U.S. government to admit to the accident.  With that and a 17,000 signature petition demanding the removal of the base, the U.S. vacated the base.in January 2008 after a 35 year presence there.

Our Servas hosts Giovanna and Giovanni took us on a couple of great hikes and talked about their interactions with the marines stationed there.  Giovanna helped many marines, who at first were told not to interact with the locals, and later were allowed more freedom.

More pictures...

Sardegna military zone environmental contamination

We have been in Sardegna almost two weeks and have learned a lot about the environmental problems that the extensive military bases are causing on this island.  The U.S. military base which housed nuclear submarines on La Maddelena island was closed but the contamination was not cleaned up.  The huge bases in Quirra and Teulada are used as bomb and missile testing areas and are causing a huge number of deaths and cancers among the people as well as deformed animals and contamination of the soil and sea.  There are three albums related to this issue and we are working on writing an article about the issues.

Here are links to the albums:

Teulada - contaminating paradise
Quirra - contaminating paradise
Cagliari - protesting against the bases

Sassari Servas dinner

There are many Servas hosts in Sassari and we have had the pleasure of staying with two of them as well as meeting more.  A dinner was held for those that could come and now we have many more friends here in Sardegna.  More pictures...

Walk with Anna near Alghero, Sardegna

Our Servas host, Anna, took us for a lovely walk at Parco de Porto Conte near Sassari, Sardegna.  We were on a lovely peninsula overlooking the sea.  Pictures...

Ignazio and Lucia in Macomer

Ignazio and Lucia hosted us in Macomer, Sardegna.  Ignazio, a former marathon runner and safety engineer is on his way to becoming a great saxaphone player!  Lucia invited us into her kitchen to show her how to make ravioli.  We ate well and enjoyed the company of another guest, Gracia.  A good time was had by all!  More pics...

Anti Radar demonstration in Capo San Marco, Sardegna

The people of Sardegna successfully thwarted an attempt to build a new radar facility on the island, and now the military has a new site in mind, on Capo San Marco.  The people are again demonstrating against the radar, which has not proven to be safe and may be used in ways that they do not agree with.  We participated in the march.  It was attended by more than 100 people and was a relaxed, happy, friendly event.  People were VERY happy to have the international solidarity and participation by Veterans For Peace and invited Gerry to speak to the crowd, which he did.  His speech was last and very much appreciated by the audience.

The day ended with much food, beer, camaraderie, and many new friends!  More pictures...


No Radar protest in beautiful Capo San Marco, Sardinia. Helen and I were so happy to be there, representing Veterans For Peace.

Check out this beautiful video, with a righteous rap in Italian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwByKnhFTko

Visiting Sam, Carla, and Matteo in Canale Monterano

My wallet was lost or stolen yesterday, our last in Rome.  Not only did I lose some money but also my drivers' license and our phone SIM card information, so I'm trying to recover.  However, we are having a great time visiting our Brussels friends at their vacation home in Italy.  Alexis and Matteo are both 15, so it's nice to have two teens in the house.  We went on a walk in the nearby nature reserve where there are sulphur springs, waterfalls and creeks, an old convent where a band was making a music video, and a lovely view of the valleys.

Rome Continued

We returned to Rome and spent a day with Cristina DeFino and her friend from Dublin.  We went on an interesting tour of an old Roman estate that is partially excavated with a light show that demonstrates what the estate looked like when people lived in it.  We were not able to take pictures inside.

Afterward, we continued our tour of Rome and we were treated to a magnificent show by thousands of birds making various shapes in the sky.

Some pet parrots have been released in Rome

Christmas in Rome

Alexis arrived from Seattle Dec 19 and we walked around Rome the whole day.  She was sick the next day, but on the 21st we walked around Rome again, going to the top of a hill where we could look down over the city and see, for example, just how many amazing churches and other structures are there.

We moved to the coast Southwest of Rome, a little town called Ostia, where we spent the day in Ostia Antica that was built around 50 BC.  It was amazing - what's the Colliseum compared to an entire city?

Now we're enjoying Christmas day, our last full day in Ostia before going back to Rome for more sightseeing with Cristina DeFino, whom we met in Dublin.

Fun with new friends in Modena, Italy

We had a whirlwind trip to Modena, starting with the strike by the railroad and bus workers, which meant an adventure getting there from Venezia.  We were hosted by a very cool group of young anarchists who mostly live in the same building.  We went to three demonstrations, had two meetings at the Libera Officina, and went to a concert!  Here are links to pictures:

Evening benefit for fired Fiat union organizer

Demonstration against eviction of Anarchist group






Demonstration against military academy

Gerry Condon talking about Bradley Manning

Concert - their version of grunge

Beautiful Venice!

We did a day trip to Venice while we were staying in Vicenza.

Munich to Verona train ride

We went on a beautiful train ride from Munich to Verona!

Protest against continued Afghanistan war and occupation in Bonn, Germany

On Monday December 5, 2011 Presidents Karzai and Obama along with several other leaders meet in Bonn, Germany to discuss the future of Afghanistan after the U.S. pulls out its troops in 2014.  To even agree that the U.S. should stay that long is a crime against humanity!  But to go further and declare that the rest of the world will decide about Afghanistan's future is worse.

Sign across the river from the conference

Helen and Gerry meet Malalai Joya

Protest near the official conference

Pictures of Protest against Afghan War and Obama and Karzai meeting


There are 3 days of actions and meetings, so we're here representing Veterans For Peace and showing that there are Americans who are against war!

64 Members of European Parliament support Bradley Manning

This was a major victory for Gerry and I, Veterans For Peace, the Bradley Manning Support Network, and justice!

Christian Engström, Marisa Mattius, Gerry Condon, and Ana Gomes in the Euopean Parliament Press Room

64 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including two of its Vice Presidents, signed a letter to President Obama expressing their concerns about the violation of Bradley Manning's civil and human rights. In their letter, the MEPs called on the US government to allow the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to meet privately with Bradley Manning. 

VIDEO of Press Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1iA2wex5nM&feature=channel_video_title

STORY AND LETTER AS PRINTED IN GUARDIAN
(10 more MEPs signed afterward, a total of 64)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/29/bradley-manning-concerns-mep-letter?newsfeed=true

Back to Brussels

Carla Goffi is now back in town, so we are staying in her lovely guest suite - we have our own kitchen, bath, bedroom, and living room - I can't imagine a better place to be!

Sam Biesemans and Carla Cazzaniga had us over for dinner with Carla Goffi and Gerd Gruene, president of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objectors.

Gerry is preparing for a press conference with Members of European Parliament who are sending a letter to President Obama and other American officials - asking them to allow the UN Special Rappateur on Torture to have a private meeting with Bradley Manning.  The press conference scheduled for Wednesday November 3, 11:30 am in the European Parliament press room.

Our final days in Dublin

On the way from Cork to Dublin, we saw the most amazing rainbow!

Roger Cole and Nuala Dempsey hosted us for a night and formal dinner with Fergus and Teres MacAigan.  All are  with the Peace and Neutrality Alliance.  We had a lovely time and got to know a lot about the organization.


We spent our last two nights with Bill and Dot Fine, American expats who head up the Servas organization in Ireland.  They invited Glenda, her friend Arthur, an aspiring Irish actor and our mutual friend Cristina, for dinner with us.  Cristina is Italian and also a member of Servas.  We joined Servas - it is a way for guests to stay for two nights with a host and get to know each other as a way to promote friendship between people of different countries in order to reduce conflict and avoid war.  As such, the guests and hosts have progressive values and very meaningful stays together.  We became members of Servas while staying with Bill and Dot.


We went to the Egyptian Embassy to participate, as Veterans For Peace members, to protest against the police killings of Egypian protesters in Tahrir Square.  Glenda was there, too.  Gerry was interviewed by an independent journalist.

We toured Kilmainham Jail, which was a good way to continue our Irish history lessons. Many heroes of uprisings for Irish independence were imprisoned here, and some were executed.  Other prisoners included women and children who may have stolen a loaf of bread to feed their family.

Cork, Ireland - Occupy Cork, Solidarity Books

Cork has a lot going on and we had opportunities to learn a lot as well as speak.  Our hosts were James and Virginia, and there is a 3rd housemate who is out of town.  James works at Solidarity Books and is part of the socialist anarchy organization - Gerry and I gave a talk at the bookstore - I was able to present the Bradley Manning topic, so we are sharing the podium now.  Gerry also spoke at Occupy Cork.

Pictures from Occupy Cork

We didn't get to spend much time with Virginia, but she is involved with the Kinsale Transition Town, as a teacher of permaculture.

We finally got to met Veronica Kelly!  We met at a cafe to get acquainted, then the next day we met for dancing to a blues band - it was wonderful!  Her husband Serge joined us for a short while as well.