29th August 2006 – Reading Magistrates Court
Two people from the international Vine and Fig Tree planters (Post Protest Community) who planted trees in Aldermaston in August 2005 begin to augment the altering of matters by appearing in Reading court to initiate changes themselves.
Two people from the international Vine and Fig Tree planters (Post Protest Community) who planted trees in Aldermaston in August 2005 begin to augment the altering of matters by appearing in Reading court to initiate changes themselves.
These planters risked a rainy day to be at Reading Magistrates Court to begin to initiate changes they wanted to see by averting payment of a compensation claim at AWE Weapons Establishment Aldermaston with offers of alternatives.
In proactive resistance change is initiated by the nonviolent calm interventionist, it is not left to the state or to institutions to decide, dominant narratives are replaced by creative live giving alternatives which make for change to happen. Large numbers are not needed to make change happen, it takes the 'cheeky monkey' in you - that is all and of course loads of respect for each other.
Planter painter L and planter L took it upon themselves to be freed up, to be at Reading magistrates’ court to deal with the compensation claim being made by the MOD and now bailiffs.
Initially they were told they had come on the wrong day, however this did not thwart the Planters who had definitely had been thinking that this was the correct day. The exchange was artistic in itself. There is actually only in time today to make changes.
Painter Planter L said she would not pay the compensatee the £201 required on a matter of principle; though added that being accountable was also their agenda and that Painter Planter L said she wanted to offer the MOD / AWE Aldermaston alternative options to the non negotiable non payment of compensation money, the fines officer then kindly agreed to write to the compensatee and offer alternatives for the money they were told that they would not be getting.
These are the very real options she agreed to put into the letter:
1. They were offered (ie AWE Aldermaston staff / MOD staff were) an invitation to view [as special guests] an art exhibition which contained a large painting of the 2005 Vine and Fig tree planting intervention,
2. To complete a commission for AWE Aldermaston of fruit trees or to gift to AWE Aldermaston
3. A cushion for their quiet room ofr contemplation / reflection.
The final option offered was to accept an invitation to return to Aldermaston for an invited planting. Painter Planter L will return to court in three weeks time for further dialogue.
Hope was seen, and cake got eaten what more can be asked for.
L Hoppstubbe Mor
In proactive resistance change is initiated by the nonviolent calm interventionist, it is not left to the state or to institutions to decide, dominant narratives are replaced by creative live giving alternatives which make for change to happen. Large numbers are not needed to make change happen, it takes the 'cheeky monkey' in you - that is all and of course loads of respect for each other.
Planter painter L and planter L took it upon themselves to be freed up, to be at Reading magistrates’ court to deal with the compensation claim being made by the MOD and now bailiffs.
Initially they were told they had come on the wrong day, however this did not thwart the Planters who had definitely had been thinking that this was the correct day. The exchange was artistic in itself. There is actually only in time today to make changes.
Painter Planter L said she would not pay the compensatee the £201 required on a matter of principle; though added that being accountable was also their agenda and that Painter Planter L said she wanted to offer the MOD / AWE Aldermaston alternative options to the non negotiable non payment of compensation money, the fines officer then kindly agreed to write to the compensatee and offer alternatives for the money they were told that they would not be getting.
These are the very real options she agreed to put into the letter:
1. They were offered (ie AWE Aldermaston staff / MOD staff were) an invitation to view [as special guests] an art exhibition which contained a large painting of the 2005 Vine and Fig tree planting intervention,
2. To complete a commission for AWE Aldermaston of fruit trees or to gift to AWE Aldermaston
3. A cushion for their quiet room ofr contemplation / reflection.
The final option offered was to accept an invitation to return to Aldermaston for an invited planting. Painter Planter L will return to court in three weeks time for further dialogue.
Hope was seen, and cake got eaten what more can be asked for.
L Hoppstubbe Mor
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