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This account was written and compiled by Astrid Ubas, who at the time had served as a Nipponzan Myhoji nun for 12 years,
and who had since left the order in 2002.
Continued from Peacewalk page 1
Tuesday 11 July 2000
Manchester to Rochdale
13 (234) miles
Magnificent blue sky, prayers with Gunaketu in the lovely small shrine room, and time to talk a little more on how to walk
in respect and harmony, with all our differences. It’s an ongoing process...
Start walking at 11am, Rae from Manchester CND joins us and guides the way, giving Marjan a break from the mapreading job,
which was getting stressful for her.
We have a long lazy nap in a perfect park. The monks cover themselves up with their robes - a little boy asks anxiously
: is he dead?
Arrive at Rochdale City Hall early - today was only 10 miles or so. Welcome inside the City Hall, an offering of cranes,
an interview, and then take off in four different cars to Littleborough for a shared meal. Handa shonin, Nagase shonin,
& Marina get left behind in their car, forgotten, and spend an hour relaxing and folding cranes.
When they are reunited with us, they find us all clean and smily - the family in whose home we’re having the meal also
have a SWIMMING POOL in the garden!!! We all went skinny dipping (in separate genders - ladies first - then men afterwards!)
Followed by a lovely buffet and a night with different families. How privileged we are!
Wednesday 12 July 2000
Rochdale to Burnley
15 (249) miles
Another not-too-long day, along canal and main road, passing thru small villages. Welcome in Burnley by Fr. Peter, a Pakistani
priest of St. Andrew’s Church. So kind! He cooks us curry and dahl - according to him for the first time in his life. tastes
so good it’s hard to believe! Half of us go to evensong (Holy Communion) in his church, the other half pays a visit to Peace
Park. The area where we stay looks a bit rough. some local kids seem fascinated by our group and ‘our’ Quaker-show-kit-trailer!
The priest tells us to lock the door at night, sleep away from the window in case glass gets smashed, and helps us to hide
the trailer in the backyard, under some panels.
The night passes quiet, except for Peter Lanyon arriving back! Jim is also back with us - womderful! (Peter L. had come by taxi
from the station, asking for St. Andrew’s hall, and was taken to St. Andrew’s PUB instead! Fortunately nearby). Father Peter
comes early next morning, to join our morning prayer. At breakfast he speaks of all the work the church is doing in the area,
and about racism.
What a long way we still have to go as a society... but, like our 500 miles to Scotland, we can only take it one day at a time,
doing the best we can.
Thursday 13 July 2000
Burnley to Skipton
17 (266) miles
Two people join. Matt is showing the way. We even get a little break & shelter from the drizzle in his home in Cole.
Then it’s uphill on the Old Skipton Road - just beautiful. Windy, with light waving through fields. Looks a bit like
Ireland here, with sheep and slate walls. Lunch in a forest, sheltering under trees. Our team of artistic monks
painted postcards. Marjan is starting to paint as well now. Downhill in the afternoon to the Friend’s House.
Yet again a fantastic shared meal, with quite a lot of people dropping in. We watched an inspiring video on Trident
Ploughshares, and had a good meeting. It’s Marina’s last night, though her prayers will be with us...
(From Marina’s notes)
Friday 14 July 2000
Skipton to Settle
15 (281) miles
Beautiful day: cloudy but dry, with great wide landscapes. Some local people join, which is always a booster.
At one point, when we were just going to sit down for a short break, a jogger invites us for tea in her home!
She’s French and a healer, and so excited to see us in this rather rural spot! We have tea, a proper toilet,
and a treatment on Nagase shonin’s leg. More cranes...
Walking down a steep hill (20%!) we enter Settle, straight to the Friend’s Meeting House. Astrid knows the
warden, Dorothy, from a previous walk. Marjan beams with the wonderful meal, full of yummie things even for
vegans. A friendly woman who owns a second-hand bookshop, gives her a copy of ‘The Hobbits’.
Saturday 15 July 2000
Settle to Kirkby Lonsdale
17 (298) miles
Penny Pullen, from Grange o’Sands, joins us - delighted to walk with us after years. Lovely walk, great
landscape, with Lake District mountains now in sight. Lots of sheep. Takashima shonin makes garland
(daisy chain) out of meadow flowers, puts it on Buddha’s neck - Kreb delighted. Marjan navigates
- slightly baffled sometimes.
We stay the night at a camping site, courtesy of Preston Patrick Quakers. Ed Stanton comes to visit
will walk with us tomorrow also.
Sunday 16 July 2000
Kirkby Lonsdale to Kendal
18 (316) miles
Quiet (as far as possible!) start of the day. No morning drumming on camping. Gordon joins for the
day. Great sceneries. Have lunch at a stream that some describe as "heavenly" and others
as "full of flies and nettles". I suppose it depends where you lie down and look! Handa
shonin paints a face on a stone. Edward guides us thru Kendal to Sprint Mill, a magic place!
A cluster of barns, gardens on a permaculture base, a waterfall, a swimming basin called
"Paradise", and lots of old and new soul friends: Bridie and her sons are there,
old friends of the monks - she turns out to actually LIVE there! Colette, who was fasting
with the monks in Greenham 20 years ago, and drove them to Vienna once, is there!
Edward S. who came on a workcamp at the Temple years ago, is there. We meet even Kate,
the monk’s old English teacher from 15 years before, walking around in Kendal. Edward and
Romala, who are living at Sprint Mill, are keen to share it with us - so simply opening
up their hearts and home to us, it moves us very deeply. What a perfect place to rest and restore our spirits!
Monday 17 July 2000
Kendal
Rest day
Some monks go to Coniston to climb the Old Man (mountain). Anna has a profound encounter on a walk
near the stream. Ulla sorts out her her legal trouble, others read, swim, sleep...
An evening meeting at Kendal, chaired by the United Nations Association group, has a very good turnout,
about 40 people. Sri Lankan chair does a very good job.
(From Marjan’s notes)
We all sit in a circle and introduce ourselves. After some explanations about the walk, we get into a
discussion about our hopes and fears for the future, and talk about whether progress has been made or not.
I suppose, like the stream of a few days ago, it depends on where you lie down and look... Over all, we
leave with a feeling that we’ve encouraged each other in this meeting, but we’ve got a long way still to go.
Tuesday 18 July 2000
Kendal to Shap
15 (331) miles
Bride and Colette, who has been involved with India since 1959, join this day’s walk over the hills and country roads.
Takashima shonin is quiet - he is worried about the distances between clumps od walkers (Kreb: leading and
last clumps up to 800 metres apart!). He doesn’t want to speak out, because he feels he’s no organiser and
onlyjoining for a short time. But he’s anxious about it, and wants to see the Walk getting more united and
‘together’ in harmony before arriving in Faslane.
That evening we arrive at Shap village hall, that has a war memorial plaque inside. Colette cooks for us, then
we have a little meeting about the next weeks, and say goodbye to Bridie and Colette.
Wednesday 19 July 2000
Shap to Penrith
10 (341) miles
Peter has to leave again for a few days. We’ll miss him, he is such a key person in this walk; not only does
he drive the luggage, shop, and do all sorts of support work. With his great humour and patience he keeps the
communication in the group going, and he builds good connections with our hosts (whe the walking lot can be too
tired to talk much!). Peter and Jim, as well as the monks, are always up first in the morning, preparing breakfast,
tidying up, looking after others.
Jim carries the banner today, and guides us over the old road. On the way, someone offers us cups of tea. They’re
not very interested in WHY we walk, but respects the fact it’s a LONG way! We arrive at Penrith about 3pm, and are
recieved by a group of people from CND, Quakers, environmental groups, etc, who have set up a beautiful stand in the
town centre, with lots of banners, posters, all sorts of leaflets, badges, books, etc. WE’re specially impressed by a
big poster how much could be done with the money spent on Trident. (Trident = ..nurses, ..teachers, ..free nursing home
care, ..homes, etc).
We stay with a very kind couple, who have just bought this huge house, that used to be a hostel - complete with lots of
showers, kitchen, bunk beds, etc! Lots of people drop in, bring all kinds of delicious dishes (someone says "These
peace people can sure eat!"), and then...
An evening of circle dancing and poetry by The Wild Women! The dancing is lovely, outside in front of the church, children,
teenagers, walkers, middle-aged CNDers, and old folks join in, all harmoniously moving in a circle. It’s to me a vision of
how society could be! The poetry is homewritten, full of passion and wisdom. We round up the evening with a short speech,
and Kreb recites a hilarious haiku:
"We are Peace Walkers
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo (with bow)
Let’s tri-denting it!"
A late night but a very satisfying one!
(From Takashima’s notes)
Thursday 20 July 2000
Penrith to Carlisle
20 (361) miles
Our host’s 40th birthday - we give 40 paper cranes.
Peter is away today. Gordon and Evelyn walked with us. We left at 8.00am, having prepared ourselves early and quickly.
It was cloudy and cold, but not raining. Kreb continued to carry Buddha. We set off wit good pace north, then crossed
over a bridge over the M6 and walked a straight (Roman?) road for some 8 miles which ran close to the M6. We had lunch
outside a pig farm which stank. The day got warm with sunny spells.
We arrived 5.20pm at Carlisle Friend’s Meeting House, warmly welcomed. We had vegatable soup, vegetable ratouille and rice,
followed by cakes and biscuits.
7.30pm Maruta Anjusan and her 19 year old nephew Hakafumi (pronounced Hakawhoomi) arrived, well greeted with bowing down to Buddha.
I have a cold and a runny nose.
(From Kreb’s notes)
Friday 21 July 2000
Carlisle to Kirkpatrick Fleming
16 (377) miles
Today we walk for the first time with the Gendaiki, the tall purple banner with the prayer (Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
in Japanese characters) on it. It adds a lot to the walk. We take it in turns to carry it. Takashima shonin is especially happy.
It’s very, very hot and we are slow.
Morning - when we walk out of Carlisle, a passer-by says, "Bless you, bless you". Lots of trucks hooting
in sympathy. Ulla talks with a woman photographing some trees. She tells, her father planted them in the 1920’s, her father
is gone, but she wants a picture of the trees before THEY die...
When we enter Gretna at the Scottish border, we see a big SCND (Scottish CND) flag, with Ronnie - Elinor’s borther-in-law
- to welcome us to Scotland.
Afternoon - saw a hilarious ram with four horns. Passed and prayed at a munitions depot.
We arrive Kirkpatrick Fleming about 5.00pm. In the evening Elinor welcomes us officially to Scotland, with a moving
speech. "We know you come in peace, and want to work with the Scots, to get rid of exploitation, killing,
and Trident. It’s time for the warmongers to pack up, and we will let them know it!" We all drank (cups of tea)
to that.
Goodbye to Takashima shonin, who has to go back to Sri Lanka.
Later, we get a lot of attention from kids; some agrue that nuclear weapons are good, but when we start giving out cranes
with Sadako’s story, they realise and say, that the money spent on Trident could be spent on cancer research. If only
our political leaders were that fast in getting the point...
A little trouble with other kids throwing stones to windows at night. Hall-warden ticks them off, and it stays quiet then.
Saturday 22 July 2000
Kirkpatrick Fleming to Hightae
17 (394) miles
7.00am. Early start due to the heat. See Chapelcross nuclear power station’s chimneys on our left. Nagase shonin-san
driving luggage today, and awaits us at Ecclesfechen, to point out Thomas Charlyle’s home and grave. He and Elinor
explain that he was the first person to write down SCottish history. He lived at a time when the system was breaking
down, and the next one coming. He was also connected with John Ruskin.
It’s again very hot, so we take a long break at a river. Ronnie shows up with cold drinks! There’s a mix up with
booking dates at the village hall, which is today used for a party. The camping site where we were going to instead,
wanted to put each tiny tent on a full caravan plot, at the full price, so Marjan boiled and refused to stay there.
This is where the picture taken near Manchester by the kindly organic-vegan couple started to work! It was put on the
internet, and a messgae added:"These are very nice people; please help them if you meet them." Which
is exactly what happened. Marian & partner takes us into their home & garden, and make beautiful organic
salad - heaps of them - to feed us. They’re wonderful to open up so to strangers and let their space be turned
into a camping! The dogs & chicken are a bit upset I’m afraid...
Sunday 23 July 2000
Hightae to Beatock
14 (408) miles
4.30am. The cockerel wakes... we too. He’s ginormous, and so is his voice! We have a short prayer outside.
Our hosts walk with us to Lochmaben. On 1st August they will marry at the seaside, in a pagan ceremony. We’ll
think of them and pray for their happiness.
Today Andrea from Potsdam, Germany, arrives to join the walk. It’s a quiet country walk.
At the village hall, we meet Branfry and Iralene Clark, who are CND veterans and have been involved with the first
Aldermaston marches, like Elinor! They also have a son-in-law who works at Faslane - a very difficult position!
Employment is a huge factor here... After a great veggie meal (with rhubarb crumble as well!!) half of the group
are taken by Ronnie and Lesley with their son, to Glasgow for the TP nonviolence training - the rest has a rest
day and one ‘small’ day without us.
(From Handa Shonin’s notes)
Handa Shonin-san, Astrid Anjusan, Anna, Drea, Elinor, Hakafumi, Jim, Marjan have gone to Glasgow. Leaving four
of us at Beattock: Nagase Shonin-san, Maruta Anjusan, Ulla, and myself.
(From Kreb’s notes)
Monday 24 July 2000
Beattock
Rest Day
Rose 6.30am, morning prayers at 7.00am. Had good leisurely breakfast. Porridge. Toast & marmalade.
This morning a local woman called Graylene visited with two grandchildren, Katy & Scott. I showed them how
to fold paper cranes. Others joined in as well - Nagase shonin-san refolded a crane toa flying crane which flaps
its wings if you pull the tail!
Did shopping this afternoon. Bought cough linctus, postcards. Also nice Scottish marmalade & some socks.
Lydia Tindle who I met last year at J18 London (1999), turned up, saying she’s going on the peace walk. Dave
her son & Narciso from East Timor visited for tea.
Handa shonin-san returned this evening. We cooked our own supper tonight, a simple pasta dish.
(From Kreb’s notes)
Glasgow
Nonviolence Training
Strange being in a city. Miss the cows...
Sophie and Rachel from Turning the Tide facilitate the workshop. Except us walkers, there are only two other
participants: Mathilde from Sweden and another from England. Must be hard for them!
It’s good to have some time to really concentrate on thinking - when walking the daily stuff takes over!
The first day was a kind of loosening & warming up, with different exercises aboutgroup roles, reactions
to violence, quick decision making, non-verbal games, etc.
(From Anna’s notes)
Tuesday 25 July 2000
Beattock to Crawford
17 (425) miles
Rose at the usual time of 6.00am. Left at 8.00am., went north on B7078 which runs alongside the A74(M). Most
of the traffic is on the motorway, leaving this B road to very quiet and very little traffic. Has cycle lane
on it so we walked on it. Weather was dull all day, some would say cold but nice and cool for all of us. Today
a train hooted for us, and also a first for this peace walk a vehicle stopped to ask about our peace walk!
My cough persisted, sporadically, but otherwise I’m fine and able to walk. Today there are five of us. Lydia
carried the banner, Maruta the flag, and I the buddha. The other two, Handa shonin and Ulla beat the drum and
chanted. We were later joined by Nagase shonin, who having drove baggage car to Crawford, walked south to join us!
The last six miles today was taken up with a long conversation between myself and Ulla. Mainly on the subject
of spirituality, the soul, heaven and hell. We have different views on this. The energy that arose from this
debate sustained our walk - the last 6 miles passed by quickly!
Peter lanyon rejoined us. This evening those who were on the TP workshop returned. Mathilde is a new pledger.
The rest haven’t decided yet. Sophia joined us, as well as Angie. We are now back to a good sized group.
(From Kreb’s notes)
Glasgow
Nonviolence Training
The second day we got quite practical & into more details about what to do at the blockade at Faslane
on 1st August. We had a short session planning the end ritual of our peace walk, also a hot seat to question details, etc.
Slowly it got clearer, and we’re looking forwards to presnt it to the group.
Had a bit of a shock about unexpected costs! Elinor and Anna saved the day. Met David McKenzie, who does loads
of press work for us. And Phill from Scottish CND, who had organised the whole Scottish route. Angie back as
well! they gave us a lift back to the walk in Crawford - Elinor stays on in Glasgow to get some things set up
for our arrival there.
When we meet up, it’s a celebration: we’ve grown! Lydia from Geordieland is there, and PETER! Delighted to see
‘our’ Peter again - we’ve missed him. Sophie, Rachel, and Mathilde all decided to join, Angie back - we’re now 18 in number.
(From Anna’s notes)
Wednesday 26 July 2000
Crawford to Kirkmuirhill
14 (439) miles
It’s morning again - more walkers, but people walk individally except the ‘drummers’, some of them very far behind.
Taka notices it, but also thinks it fine as long as we all keep making efforts to walk, each in our speed. He misses
Takashima shonin though.
Very long straight country roads today - I’m exhausted. On the way, a cow walks towards us, then suddenly turns
round and jumps a 1 metre fence!
That evening we stay at Talamn co-op, an alternative community that’s very active - unfortunately most members are
at a Green Gathering, so we don’t hear too much about it. We camp here, and Warren cooks us a wonderful meal full
of fresh vegs, and according to Taka (Japanese chef) ‘funny herbs’. Most of us sleep in tents, but Anna in a caravan
and Taka... in the hay!
Thursday 27 July 2000
Kirkmuirhill to Blantyre
18 (457) miles
Good morning. Taka’s up early today, at 5.30am, he is making a fire, boiling water, etc. It’s a bit cold and wet
today. We’re clearly getting near Glasgow, can see more and more houses in the distance over the hills.
At Hamilton, naughty kids throw nuts and yell, it becomes a bit tense. Taka tries to talk with them and glares
a bit, but get stuck in their 'why, why, why?’ (Kreb: This is at Larkhall, a Orange Order area, very sectarian
and into parades, some kids apologise when we explain we are peace walkers).
At Blantyre, local CND people welcome us and offer a great supper. It’s every time grateful! Taka’s shoe is
broken, it gives him a blister and sore foot.
(From Taka’s notes)
Friday 28 July 2000
Blantyre to Glasgow
13 (470) miles
Today we pass two peace trees. The first is hidden down an embankment, where we stop at shortly.
At the second one, we are met by a group of local people. They belong to a peace network. We have a ceremony
there with prayers, songs and a speech. Peter was leafletting sucessfully, and there was a journalist as well.
We arrive at the border of Glasgow, met by Ronnie and Lesley, and some other SCNDers. Phill spends some time
looking for us, and finally found us in the gardens of the People’s Palace - a brilliant piece of social
history museum of Glasgow.
That afternoon we walk to Kinning Park, leafletting as we go. Kreb gets a migraine. When we arrive, we
find Karen waiting for us, friend Gwyneth and Yuko anjusan! We stay in a big community centre in a rather
rough area. Warden helen warns us about the kids at night, "When they drink they get agressive"
(drink? these kids look no older than 9!). Hear some funny things going on round car & trailer. We arrange
'alternative accomodation’ for car & trailer, so astrid can sleep at night, and talk with the kids.
They promise to behave - and so they did! Elinor’s family brings wonderful meal!!
Saturday July 2000
Glasgow
City walk and events
An official welcome to Glasgow, by SCND. Phill is there, and Billy Wolff, several other speakers - and a band!
Lydia amazes everyone by swinging on her foot - with enormous blister! We sing, listen, leaflet, and later,
when the musicians are gone and only John remains at the stall we take up some posters about Trident and drum.
We get a lot of response. Finally, we disarm a Trident submarine made of balloons, by sticking pins in it!
Stringing paper cranes... Marjan decided to make 2000 cranes now... See fantastic exhibits in Mungo Museum:
tapestry made of kids from around the world.
(From Andrea’s notes)
Sunday 30 July 2000
Glasgow to Dumbarton
14 (484) miles
Walking again... past Orange Lodge (never knew this N. Ireland trouble was playing here in Scotland - must
find out more). About 20 walkers now. Good energy. Good to get out of the city.
talks about a People’s Police Truth Force, where OUR police arrests the Strathclyde Police for abuse of the Law.
At noon we reach Clydebank. Our old veteran CND friend John Morgan, and the rest of Clydebank CND, welcome us
with songs 'Imagine’, speech, and plant a tree with plaque "...nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more...".
After that, we all walked singing to the council chambers, and were welcomed by the Provost - an ex-policeman!
We were offered a silver welcome cup (Kreb: quaich, inscribed "To Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhists /West
Dumbartonshire Council /Provost Alastair MacDonald JP /30th July 2000"). Peter gave a great presensation,
and we tucked into a buffet lunch. They open museum especially for us... joined for rest of the day by a few locals
and new walker Jonathon.
Walk to Dumbarton. Big confusion tonight about sleeping place. It’s been booked, then unbooked, money applied for,
cancelled, another hall booked, etc. We end up getting a lift to Helensburgh, becuase Jane had key for the Scout Hall,
where we’ll stay tomorrow. We’ll stay two nights. Ed Stanton appears.
When we arrive, more confusion - forgot all the food was in Gwyneth’s car & transferred to another one, it’s
not here anyway. We’ll have to wait more. It’s 9.00pm by the time we eat - chips offered by FRED who’s just arrived!
Many people from Faslane meeting up and strategizing in little lying-down-circles. Karen goes for a swim in the Loch
and is bitten by a jellyfish. Turns out to be allergic and ends up in Leven valley hospital with an allergic shock,
needing pots of adrenaline. Record number of snorers!!!
Monday 31 July 2000
Dumbarton to Helensburgh
8 (492) miles
Lydia goes for a puddle in the loch, and meets no jellyfish, thank God. She contemplates the beauty of the place
and the way we pollute everything with our bombs and radiation... Many people today, sitting in quiet reflection,
then all help to set up breakfast, wash dishes, etc. We are ferried back to the point where we stopped yesterday
- the comaderie is strong.
We are sorry for Phill and a local woman who have spent lots of time on planning today’s route along nice way -
the walkers decide unanimously they want to go the shortest, straightest way! Agree though, our prioroty now is
to get prepared for tomorrow’s blockade.
It starts raining... and more... meet friendly horses, friendly people, and more rain.
We arrive back in Helensburgh at noon, get dry, changed, and drink hot soup. Then it’s back again into the rain,
to an official CND welcomingstand on the pier. We walk through town with our banners, and get a very warm welcome
to Helensburgh. Leflet a bit, sing and talk a bit, and then we make a quick but dignified retreat to the Scout Hut.
Ther, the crane stringing starts in full earnest. Don Mason arrives - and Margaret, then Tim. A few more people arrive,
the Finnish girls who sings beautifully together. Those who can, grab some rest. There’s a good feeling of togetherness.
At 5.00pm, the German documentary crew arrive to film us tonight & tomorrow. Local people bring food from Faslane.
After the meal another camera team arrives - BBC. We do a briefing, short nonviolence training, and role play.
Including a scenario where activists behaved agressively and took over the thing - tremendous confusion, almost
like the real thing!
Everyone tries to wind down and sleep early, because we’ll have to start walking at 4.00am tomorrow! Everyone
excited and bit nervous - we all hope it will all come off peacefully and well.
(From Angie’s notes)
1 August 2000
Helensburgh to Faslane
5 (497) miles
Rose at ungodly hour of 3.00am. Packed and left at 4.00am - fairly tipping with rain outside. Silent walk some
30 of us & two film crews & several police. Wore cloak and hat. By 5.30am it is light, rain has eased
off. 6.00 arrived at Faslane Peace Camp, camp looked nicer since I last visited it, tree house still there.
Had some porridge there. Left 6.30am, marched to North Gate of Faslane Naval Base, last mile of peace walk.
7.00 We arrived to applause from a goodly crowd of welcomers. Then monks and nuns went straight into chanting.
Then about 80 of us sat down in front of the North Gate. Police arrested a lot of people. Monks and nuns arrested.
I was in a line with 4 others (Jim, Anna, me, Ulla, Margaret). I got arrested at 7.30am and eventually taken to
Maryhill Police Station. Was charged with ‘breach of the peace’, put in a cell on my own. Was given a marcaroni
chesse thingy.
Late afternoon, a solicitor informed me that I was to be detained overnight, because of an outstanding warrant
of failing to appear at court in November 1999. I was released the next day, 2 August 2000.
(From Kreb’s notes)
When we walk up to the fence as close as we can, many people are cheering. We march up, monks in front, chanting
the 'Rissho Ankokuron’. We plan to form a circle, sing, pray, talk, finish, and read our statement. Even as the
monks are chanting, the police starts cautioning. More people stream onto the road, locking onto each other,
to a wheelchair...
Nagase shonin is arrested first. Astrid anjusan shortcuts ceremony, starts the final statement. Handa shonin
lifts his arm, he wants to hear the speech finish, but he’s carried off, in peace. Lots of noises, people getting
warnings, people singing, our walkers sit down - they all start chanting. No one seems upset, they’re calm inside.
Ulla gets arrested, then Jim. Karen and Taka sits down."Too fast drumming", says Taka to Karen.
"Must be the nerves", replies Karen. and gets gently lifted, with great care, for her hurt wrist.
Taka gets lifted by four cops and keeps beating drum so hard, that I worry about giving a policeman a black eye by
accident - fortunately not! Anna is now arrested as well. Fred, Yuko anjusan, and Marjan check on us, Elinor too.
Jim lifted. Lots of press around Maruta anjusan. When she gets carried off, with a smile, lots of camera goes off!
Kreb gone as well now.
Astrid anjusan is last. We could finish our statement, but we’re not allowed to hang the 1000 paper cranes
in the fence. I’ll keep it for Hiroshima Day. In the police van, I’m tired, peaceful. We’ve done it, and... we’ve won!
(From Angies’s notes)
Text © 2000 Astrid Ubas, Kreb Dragonrider, Marina, Marjan Willemsen, Andrea, Takashima Shonin, Handa Shonin, Anna, Angie Zelter
Drawings © 2000 Astrid Ubas
Website © 2007 Kreb Dragonrider