Updates from Maine to Korea

• I spent about six hours yesterday watching the live feed from South Korea as activists in Seongju blocked the roadway where the US was trying to bring THAAD launchers to the new base Army built in their community.  I spent much of that time sharing the story widely on email and social media so that others would know what was happening.  I so badly wanted to be there to join the blockade and was so moved by the determination of the people.  I sent several messages to folks there encouraging them.  They must keep fighting because the fragile peace on the Korean peninsula is at stake.  But we all need to do more in our own communities to help.

• I was happy to see a story yesterday that Vladimir Putin had invited South and North Korean leaders to a regional development conference that Russia was holding in Vladivostok (which borders North Korea).  The article is called North Korean delegation arrives in Russia, to be joined shortly by South Korean President.

It reported:

Many suspect that Russian President Vladimir Putin who hosts the event will attempt to conduct dialogue with the representatives of both Korean states in order to try and de-escalate regional tensions.

• Let's hope that Putin can work some magic here.  We've seen him take the lead on the successful US-Iran nuclear deal and he was the key person to get Syria to destroy their chemical weapons a couple of years ago.  Russia and China both border North Korea and have much incentive to ensure that the Korean peninsula does not turn into the chaotic Asian version of Iraq, Libya and Syria.
• I also spent considerable time working on Keep Space for Peace Week yesterday (while watching the live feed from Korea).  We've co-endorsed space week with the Global Action Against Military Bases which is being organized out of Italy.  So we will co-promote these local actions during the October 7-14 period.  It's positive when groups can work together like this rather than in competition with one another.  We appreciate that.
• Also coming up fast is our Maine Peace Walk for Conversion, Community and Climate from October 13-21.  The wonderful artwork above by Russell Wray from Hancock, Maine will be put on a huge banner and will also be printed on the back side of our walk sweatshirts.  Of course the image will also be printed on our peace walk flyers that we intend to hand out door-to-door in Bath during the walk.  So it is an exciting and busy time for us.  
• We've been trying to keep our peace activities in Maine connected to the peace work on Jeju Island, South Korea where the destroyers built here at Bath Iron Works (BIW) are being sent to port at the new Navy base.  
• Plans are currently underway to line up prospective candidates to do civil disobedience here in Bath at the next destroyer 'christening' at BIW.  I am told that already more than two dozen people have signed on to join the next non-violent action - depending of course on the date of the event.

Bruce