SEVERAL THOUSAND women from all over Brideployment of Cruise missiles last year.
have traditionally turned up at the same time over the last three years. Given the formal support given to the Greenham women at the recent CND conference in Sheffield and at many other gatherings over the last year we have the right to ask why the turn out was lower than at previous December actions.
To answer this we have to understand the attitude of women the Wally Although first the women staying there seemprotest on that day, and a motion was pur and successrully passed at CND conference supporting action, a change of heart tain turned up at Greenham Common on Sunday 9 December for the first anniversary protest since the The action did not mobilise the numbers that at the last minute confused many women.
A leaflet was circulated saying that the women at the camp had decided not to call a mass action, but they were glad other women were taking responsibility for it!
Such a lukewarm approach took the pressure Centers build the protest. They were nanov succo to con centrate on a protest outside the Soviet Embassy.
Peace activists have to appreciate the tremendous pressures the women at the camp are under. hey Lacc the repression the security forces, the hostilily of lne Iewbury 1orles the hardship of the winter tions to the rest of the are vital if actions called are to be a success support women in have to continue supporting the camp on a regular basis. Despite constant evictions the camp has survived.
Women regularly enter the base and the link with CND activists through the Cruisewatch telephone LICC that every development of the missiles being tracked protests being organised Womer particularly needed for the nightwatch during the week.
Following on from the who fought for for SIDDOSI Greenham to be upfront on CND's agenda for the next year, the pressure for a democratically organısec Women's Conference of CND is on.
Women want to have a forum wilere Coll discuss the way forward the ocal movement - for our right to organise at Greenham, mass actions Greenham in the spring, to link up with the mixed actions planned at the US bases being prepared for future deployments of cruise missiles.
There's , no way we're going to let CND forget the battle against missiles.
meeting ur counts Hall Saturday December 2-Son will discuss co-ordinating practical London groups. All women welcome.