the poppy gardeners climbed over the barricades onto the ministry of defence lawn, and started digging with small forks and spades to plant their seeds.

nearby, the MOD security went for a piss, but didn't glance over. after the planting, the activists sat on the lawn with banners, and made a statement to camera about their actions.

they decided to wait another ten minutes, and if still not arrested then they'd go home. as they begun to pack their bags and return to the pavement opposite downing street, they were finally noticed by two guards, who looked a little bemused. a few minutes later, as they started to walk towards parliament, a police car drew up.

by then it was too late. very little to see. perhaps some misplaced turf? the detectives were flummoxed.

perhaps the FIT team should have stuck around? or maybe they didn't want to push their overtime scam any more for today?

it was lucky our plucky activists aren't real terrorists planting something more sinister than poppy seeds the day before parliament resumes!

here is their statement:

planting poppies for peace through non-violence

we come here today, sunday, 7th october 2007, to plant poppy seeds on the lawn of the ministry of defence, whitehall london. today is the sixth anniversary of the invasion of afghanistan in which british forces took a major part.

we plant poppy seeds to remember the dead of afghanistan, especially the innocent civilians, especially the children. we remember too all the dead military personnel on both sides. we also remember that "war is not about victory and defeat but about death and the infliction of death. it represents the total failure of the human spirit." (robert fisk)

poppies grow in soil which has been disturbed, which is why they grow on the battlefields of the first world war. the earth around the ministry of defence needs to be disturbed to symbolise the responsibility of the country for the battlefields of afghanistan.

poppy seeds can lie dormant for many years and then flower. our hope in planting these seeds is that true peace through non-violence may eventually flourish.



all who took part have given their permission for facial photographs to appear on indymedia