Friends,

17th March 2010

Today a jury in New Zealand found three Christian friends – Sam Land, Adi Leason, and Fr. Peter Murnane – not guilty on nine charges including burglary and wilful damage after just two hours’ deliberation. They had deflated a dome on a spybase in Waihopai on the South Island to stop its use in transmitting information used in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They did so in the Ploughshares tradition that seeks to enact the Mican and Isaian prophesies of beating swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. They pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing they had done so to prevent greater harm. The jury agreed.

Coverage here: http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/waihopai-spy-base-attack-case-draws-close/5/41872

and here: http://www.3news.co.nz/Waihopai-spy-base-trial—protestors-not-guilty/tabid/423/articleID/146835/Default.aspx?ArticleID=146835

This is extremely exciting news, as you can imagine! It provides encouragement and scope for further such actions of public Christian witness of an end to war in Australia and beyond.

Blessings of peace, Simon