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

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