Day 001 - 28 Jun 94 - Page 18
1 volume 1, tab 41, Mr. Morris.
2 MR. RAMPTON: Sorry, my Lord. I had not noticed they did not
have it. "Background". I have read that. I start with
3 the second sentence: "The early years were mainly spent
campaigning against nuclear bomb tests, and from 1974
4 against the nuclear power industry. In 1977 the Vancouver
Greenpeace Foundation established its branch in Britain,
5 Greenpeace Ltd, but there has never been any connection
between us. At this time the Group was pacifistic in
6 nature but ready to use nonviolent direct action, for
example by obstructing building work on nuclear power
7 stations. Although it had always had a broad ecological
perspective, it wasn't until the early'80s that the Group
8 really involved itself in other struggles.
9 Aims and Ideals. The main aim of our group is the
revolutionary transformation of society to create a world
10 without oppression, a world where human beings can live in
peace with each other and the rest of nature. To this end
11 all our campaigns are directed. We recognise that the
world is controlled by forces - industrial, military,
12 governmental - that are fast destroying the planet in
their greed for wealth and power. They are responsible
13 for nearly all the suffering in the world, whether it be
the starvation of children in Africa,elderly people dying
14 from the cold in London, or the torture of animals in
vivisection laboratories.
15
We take the anarchist view (though some of us dislike the
16 use of the word 'anarchist' as just another label) that it
is futile and immoral to collaborate with the existing
17 power structure, so we do not place any trust in
politicians or political parties. Meaningful change can
18 come only through the struggle of ordinary people in their
daily lives. The scant freedoms we possess today (which
19 are disappearing fast!) were won by the blood and sweat of
our ancestors. What we must realise is that resistance,
20 as well as oppression, forms a totality. Every aspect of
our lives - the food we eat, our sexuality, the job we
21 choose to do (or not to do), our behaviour towards others
- can be either a statement of dissent or of acceptance.
22
Revolution can begin anywhere, but please do not get the
23 idea that we are dull politicos: We laugh, have fun, get
drunk sometimes, fall in love. Indeed revolutionary
24 struggle itself can be fun if, like us, you believe it's
about taking action and communicating, not sitting around
25 in cliques discussing stuffy texts. Taking action is
vital because in the end deeds,not words, really matter.
26 That's why we support groups such as the Animal Liberation
Front who break the law. If property is used to abuse
27 others it should be destroyed, and that isn't violence
because inanimate objects don't feel pain. Some of us go
28 further and would support violent resistance to
oppression, for example the uprising by people on
29 Broadwater Farm in Tottenham in 1985".
30 Over the page: "Campaigns. Without the resources or the
desire to be a large, centralised organisation, we see our
