Bruce Gagnon is coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space.
He offers his own reflections on organizing and the state of America's declining empire....
"Where Olive Trees Weep" offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice.
Ancient landscapes bear deep scars, having witnessed the brutal reality of ancestral land confiscation, expulsions, imprisonment, home demolitions, water deprivation, and denial of basic human rights. Yet, through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience—deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives.
This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty?
Peter Lux from Lakenheath for Peace explains more about the war planes that go in and out of the US air base at Lakenheath in the UK.
For more information about the number of fighter/bombers going through Lakenheath for the attack on Iran click here
LAP has 65 members including CND, Stop the War Coalition, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, Beyond Nuclear, Norwich & District Trades Council and Greenham Women Everywhere.
It acts against nuclear weapons, militarization and the drive to endless wars including opposing the stationing and operation of nuclear weapons in Suffolk.
I love organizing efforts like this that bring people together over a period of time and repeatedly return to the site of their outrage like we see above. At the end Peter remarks that these efforts have to be sustained over time. Similar to what we see in London at the 'Support for Palestine Action' arrests which keep piling up regularly. I'm certain the courts can't take these cases on. It's all a show by Starmer to act tough, to please Mr. Big.
Brits are one of the best at this. South Koreans are also at the top of the list for being one of the most fiercely dedicated people who we've seenin action many times. Our deep respect always goes to the folks daily opposing the naval base on Jeju Island - for many years. The Jeju base is used to dock US & NATO warships in the region threatening China, North Korea and Russia with war.
When the US warships hit Gangjeong village on Jeju Island huge masses of navy garbage are unloaded that the island locals have to deal with.
Sailors are put onto buses and taken to desired hot spots on Jeju where drinking and young women are located. Not the kind of tourism hoped for when South Korea turned Jeju into an international tourist destination. It's nature is world class.
Once in Germany as an 8th grader our school took us to a former Roman ruin along the Rhine River. (My step-dad was in the Air Force and was stationed in Wiesbaden.)
The tour guide explained that the stones we were standing on, mostly buried in the ground, was once the barracks for Roman soldiers.
I took notice. I had a couple thoughts. Why were the Romans so far from home? Who were they controlling? When did they leave and go home?
And finally the best lesson from the day was the understanding that all empires fall in time. Our job today is to accelerate the decline - ASAP. Stop it before it finishes bleeding our economy to death or destroying life on Earth out of greed, insanity and lack of spiritual connection to our mother.
So only by determined and consistent activism - while connecting the dots to most other related issues - can we rapidly move to bring down the final curtain on the US Wild West Show.
The American dream mythology, full of fury and hot death so craved by the Epstein class of devils in our midst, is finished.
Zionist tanks in the heart of Beirut, 1982: Before the official establishment of the great party. Today, Beirut and Lebanon are resistant to occupation thanks to Hezbollah. The zionists attack Hezbollah and its strength because they are slaves accustomed to servitude and subservience; the idea of freedom terrifies them.
Saudi Arabia arrests a number of Shiite clerics in Qatif.
Iran-US negotiations failed. According to reports, the US demanded Iran to give up its Uranium, refused to accept a full ceasefire in Lebanon, and did not accept Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not accept the demands, and the US did not want to actually ‘negotiate’, only demand. Both delegations returned to their capitals and the ceasefire may be extended for a week or 10 days to give negotiation talks another chance, but this is not confirmed. Strait of Hormuz remains open for those who pay in Chinese currency.
After arriving in Pakistan for negotiations with Iran V-P J. D. Vance took a four hour nap to recover from his jet lag and as a result missed the Iranian delegation’s opening statements at the table. Quite an auspicious beginning and snub directed at the Iranian people.
Rallies in Tehran in support of Hezbollah and the people of Lebanon.
Israeli Broadcasting Authority: The commander of the US Central Command will visit Israel on Monday to discuss the possibility of resuming the war on Iran.
Tucker Carlson on Trump: I feel sorry for him, as I do for all slaves. He is not free in this moment. Trump announced a ceasefire with relief, and then the ceasefire ended in 2 hours because Israel intentionally violated the terms by attacking Beirut.
German newspaper Bild: US forced to reactivate 68-year-old refueling aircraft! Following recent losses and damage to its aerial refueling fleet during operations related to the conflict with Iran, the Air Force has reactivated retired KC-135 tankers from storage. Among them is a 68-year-old Stratotanker, built in 1958, which is currently undergoing extensive maintenance to potentially return it to service.
The American B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bombers loaded with JDAM aerial bombs at Fairford Air Base in the United Kingdom, ready to take off again at any time to launch strikes on Iran. This will be the true result of Trump's deceitful 'peace' negotiations.
In the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, Ben Caspit said: “What matters to Benjamin Netanyahu is winning the elections. If there is no victory over Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, there will also be no electoral victory. That is why he sent yet another ‘sweaty’ recording to the studios yesterday, once again repeating, for the umpteenth time, the concept of ‘I ordered, I directed, I won,’ in an attempt to convince us again of his eternal greatness.”
London police arrested 530 people during Saturday's protest in Trafalgar Square against the ban on Palestine Action. The arrests were made once more when people showed support for the proscribed "terrorist organization."
The Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab will remain under Iranian-Yemeni protection only, without any foreign interference, and the United States has no right whatsoever to have its hand over these two straits.
Yemen military: Is it Israel that decides when America strikes? Or is the White House merely an executive branch for Netanyahu? The last straw that broke the back of American diplomacy: When the prime minister of another country announces the decision for war before the president of America, don't look for the actual ruler in Washington. Look for him in Jerusalem.
Washington ultimately doesn’t care that the Strait of Hormuz got closed. What upset the Trump Administration the most is that it was closed for the United States, Israel and their European and Gulf Arab vassals. Trump simply wants to blockade the Strait on his own terms, meaning cutting off Beijing’s energy supply and waging economic warfare against China.
In occupied Al-Quds, Easter never passes without worshippers facing harassment and repression at the hands of Zionist occupation forces. Do "Christians" in the west know this is how Israel treats the Christian natives of Palestine? Yes, it appears they just don't care.
The New York Times: NATO tries to prevent itself from becoming the new victim of the Iran war. Analysts warn that the rift between Europe and the United States over the Iran war could severely weaken the cohesion and trust within this military alliance.
Trump threatens Iran again: “We’re going to blockade Iran. It will be a total blockade, nothing in or out. It’s going to be very similar to Venezuela. But it will be a higher level. A massive fleet is headed to Iran. I predict they come back and they give us everything we want. I want with everything. I don't want 90%, I don't want 95%. I want everything! They have no cards.“
Trump’s new ‘multinational naval coalition’ to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, uhm closed, or was it open? “Many countries’ are coming up to assist the US blockade” states Trump. UK: Rejected, Italy: Rejected, Spain: Rejected, Japan: Rejected, France: Hesitant, Norway: Rejected, Canada: Rejected, Australia: Rejected, Germany: Rejected, Netherlands: No response, South Korea: No confirmation.
Trump is essentially declaring total war on the Belt & Road Initiative and on BRICS+. A major reason why Trump is waging these wars is at the behest of the demands of Netanyahu and the Israelis, but also of the energy oligarchs who have benefitted greatly from the rises of oil prices and the bankers who want to turn Iran into a debt colony for the IMF. However, there is an overemphasis on Israel’s influence when the US’ has spent decades planning to wage war against China. And this new naval economic warfare doctrine is the first step in Trump’s plans for World War III. The entire foundation on which the talks were premised was phony because the US is agreement-incapable and does nothing but lie at every stage of the process.
Trump has shared an AI-generated image on Truth Social appearing to depict himself as Jesus Christ, shortly after his criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
Yesterday
22 people gathered in the western mountain college town of Farmington,
Maine to protest wars and colonial exploitation. The flavor of our
monthly standouts shifts depending on who shows up plus the mood of
leftists in the face of current events. What began as a response to the
U.S.-NATO effort to use Ukraine as a proxy to weaken Russia [ in February 2022] has morphed
over the years into an anti-colonial, anti-imperial coalition opposing
multiple U.S. wars around the planet.
Some
people came from pretty far away yesterday: Millinocket, Cumberland,
Biddeford, Brunswick. Several newer faces and some old friends as well.
(You meet the nicest people doing this work.)
Green
Party co-chair Kelly Merrill brought a soapbox and a bullhorn which
helped us be audible at a busy intersection where trucks roar loudly by,
some of them on purpose. Her theme was the extreme climate harm
caused by the Pentagon with its fuel guzzling war planes and nonstop
explosions. Pickup trucks revving their V8 engines to show their
displeasure just emphasized her point.
On
the whole we received more positive responses than negative, especially
from people on foot, and our one encounter with local police came when
an officer asked us to step back out of the street up onto the curb “for
your own safety.” I had expected him to object to how our closing
circle was filling up the sidewalk on one corner, but I guess that’s not
an issue for Farmington.
Veteran
Trish came from afar and delivered a barn burner of a speech about her
time in the previous Gulf wars, focusing on the lies and callous
disregard of her commanding officers. She brought a flag of Lebanon on
her signature fishing pole which I was glad to see because Beirut and
southern Lebanon are being pounded mercilessly right now by bombs from
the Zionists supposedly targeting Hezbollah by demolishing apartment
buildings full of children. When I left the Orange Cat Cafe where we
gathered to warm up after the stand out, she was being interviewed by an
activist from the American Communist Party (sorry I did not get his
name, could be Brian?).
Maybe
her testimony will turn up in one of the videos the ACP has been making
aimed at young people who might or might not enlist.
Black
Wolf of the Diaspora Pa’alante Collective spoke of how Puerto Rico has
been colonized by the U.S. for a very long time and, ever the organizer,
shared two handouts inviting us to join the DPC’s work. Black Wolf also reminded us of an event for Cuba they’re co-sponsoring that will be held in Bangor today.
Of
course Iran was on everyone’s mind as “negotiations” were over before
they started in Pakistan with the U.S. team making maximalist demands
like control of the Hormuz Strait which Iran de facto does and de jure
will control, likely in tandem with Oman. The U.S. presence in the
region is largely degraded and the destroyer they sent as a test case
yesterday was warned to back off (and did).
Stalwart
Cynthia with a cerebral sign aimed at liberals that she made quite
legible. She is a brilliant sign maker and I always look forward to
seeing what she comes up with! I usually see her outside the General
Dynamics bomb factory in Saco, and I’m a bit late in sharing this photo
from our last standout there on April 3.
There’s generally a crew there from 3:15-4:15pm on Fridays in case you want to join in.
Here
are Cynthia and Mark recently joining Yasmin’s daily vigil for Gaza in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Though you can’t see it here, the back of
Mark’s sign reads: Senator Collis votes $2 billion a week for war in Afghanistan. Those were the days. Current estimate for just the war on Iran is $2.1 billion for each day!
If
you’re “concerned” why not join us for the next statewide coalition
standout in Lewiston on Saturday, May 2 at 1:30pm on Main Street next to
Veterans Park? As Mark said yesterday in our closing circle, It feels good to stand with other people who care about what’s going on.
It started with a question… then the pressure never stopped.
In this cinematic LEGO story, a powerful leader faces growing global attention as “FILES” begin spreading across the world. Phones, newsrooms, and conversations are all focused on one thing.
At the same time, a major conflict begins.
War plans are made. Jets launch. Fleets move.
But something goes wrong.
As the pressure builds, reality starts to blur. Decisions become unstable. The line between control and chaos disappears.
Photo of me holding sign many years ago while in Omaha, Nebraska. Cops keeping an eye on me. I grew up in military family and had a friend while young whose family had been stationed in Iran and they loved the people there. So early on I had a good view of Iran. Then in the 1980-90's in Orlando I had a dear Iranian friend Saviz Shafie who was the sweetest most gentle person on the planet. He loved food and to dance. My heart breaks for Iran, Lebanon, Yemen and Palestine right now. Bruce
Wall Street Journal: Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $4.7 billion Pentagon contract to supply Patriot missiles.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif reposts: Israel must be restrained for US-Iran ceasefire to hold.
Professor John Mearsheimer: Israel may ultimately use nuclear weapons against Iran. It is now clear that Israel cannot prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons using its conventional forces. That option does not work. The only option they have left is nuclear weapons. The United States will not stop it.
Turkish President Erdogan: On the day the ceasefire was declared, Israel brutally killed 254 Lebanese people. The genocidal network, blinded by blood and hatred, continues to kill innocent children, women, and civilians, disregarding all human values and recognizing no rules or principles. [Edogan hypocritically still trades with Israel.]
UK PM Keir Starmer confirms he is actively coordinating with Donald Trump to build a massive 30 nation military coalition to force open the Strait of Hormuz. They are using the ceasefire as a cover to prepare for a massive escalation against Iran.
The mask is completely off. The Israeli Defence Ministry goes on camera and openly boasts about their plan to systematically destroy civilian houses in Lebanon and permanently occupy the Litani area. They are literally confessing to war crimes and illegal land theft.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, speaking from Islamabad: In the upcoming negotiations, if the American side is prepared for a genuine agreement and grants the Iranian nation its rights, they will witness our readiness to reach an agreement as well. However, in the current conflict, we have shown them that if they intend to use negotiations as a futile exercise or a deceptive tactic, we are prepared to secure our rights through faith in God and reliance on our nation's capabilities.
Sayyid al-Qaeda (the leader) on the latest developments and updates: One of the most important outcomes of the Yemen front is preventing the Israeli and American enemy from using the Red Sea militarily in hostile actions against Iran and the Axis countries.
This is what has become of the American Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar after the Iranian strikes. The entire infrastructure has been demolished. Until now, the scale has been hidden. And so it is with all the bases. Iran was indeed defeated lol. This is what the American presence in the Middle East looks like now.
The Iranian delegation, in Islamabad, is in constant contact and coordination with its allies, notably Hezbollah.
Iran is following Israel’s aggressions and the resistance's responses moment by moment in order to make the necessary decision regarding the course of the negotiations (according to Tasnim).
Senior US official says US has not agreed to release any Iranian frozen assets (yet) — CBS News.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, has succumbed to his wounds one week after he was injured during US-Israeli bombardments. He was a University of Houston alumnus. His whole life he worked towards normalisation of Iran-US relations, at the end he was killed by the same US he seeked to establish friendly relations with. The intelligent ones will draw lessons, the blinded will look the other way.
New York Times: Historical analogies are never exact. But with the tenuous cease-fire deal in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, some are asking whether this is a “Suez” moment for the United States, marking the waning of American power and credibility in the world.
The Iranians have begun dismantling the site where US aircraft equipment was destroyed during pilot 'rescue'. More undies found.
Israeli media: Intense battles are taking place in southern Lebanon. The past 24 hours have witnessed several field developments, resulting in injuries among several soldiers and officers.
Iran informed the Pakistani mediators that "if the US ship's movement continues, it will be targeted within 30 minutes, and the Iran-US negotiations will also be affected.” — Fars.
Pakistan deployed fighter jets and military personnel to Saudi Arabia under their 2025 mutual defence pact. Jets arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base. This comes as Pakistan hosts Iran war talks. Pakistan is run by a military junta.
Scenes from the Israeli airstrikes that targeted southern Lebanon today.
An attack on a US C-130 aircraft at Shannon Airport in Ireland has grounded the plane.
Despite the difficult circumstances, young men play volleyball in a school that was burned, bombed and destroyed by the occupation in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.
