CPTnet
Feb. 18, 1999
CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKERS "EXPOSE THE WOUNDS" CAUSED BY NUCLEAR=20
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY

Clam Lake, Wisconsin -- Eighty people from around North America including
17 members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) gathered in northern
Wisconsin in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday anniversary to
"expose the wounds" caused by the Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Project, a
nuclear submarine communications facility located near Clam Lake. After
individuals named the wounds that ELF and nuclear terror have caused to
humanity, the environment, and our culture, they sprinkled cups full of
blood-red liquid on the snow near the entrance, creating a large gash.
Sixteen individuals then crossed the line into federal property to continue
naming wounds as close to the ELF transmitter as possible. The group of
line-crossers included eight trainees with Christian Peacemaker Teams and
one fulltime Christian Peacemaker Corps member.
CPTers who crossed the line included Mennonites, members of the Church of
the Brethren, a Lutheran, and a Catholic Worker. Six people climbed the
inner fence in an attempt to get as close to the transmitter as possible.
Claire Evans, a fulltime volunteer with CPT who was carried to a squad car
by police officers after refusing to leave, stated, "It's a sinful thing
that we can even think of nuclear warfare-- and we are so blas=E9 about it! =
I
resisted arrest here to convey a sense of urgency about this situation."
Matt Guynn, a Bethany Seminary student who was also arrested, said, "During
today's action, I was thinking of Jesus' speech in the fourth chapter of
Luke. After proclaiming good news to the poor and freedom for everyone who
suffers, he says, =91Today this scripture has been fulfilled.' Hearing=
Jesus
say =91Today,' resonated in my mind as I climbed the fence at ELF." Seven
CPTers, including Evans and Guynn, were arrested and taken to the Ashland
County Jail, where they were released after being charged with trespassing.
All fifteen arrestees are subject to a fine of $181.00 and loss of Wisconsin
driving privileges if they fail to pay.
The ELF Project, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, is a naval
communications facility that transmits millions of watts of electricity into
the soil to bounce off the bedrock, sending low-frequency signals to nuclear
submarines stationed deep in oceans around the world. After receiving
ELF's signals, the submarines rise to a shallower depth to receive
first-strike firing orders. Evidence indicates that the ELF system was used
to transmit signals in the December 1998 attacks against Iraq.
CPT's January 1999 training group includes Jane Adas (Highland Park, NJ),
Gary Brooks (Lexington, KY), Jeffrey "Rusty" Dinkins-Curling (Arcanum, OH),
Michael Goode (Chicago, IL), Matt Guynn (Richmond, IN), Shady Hakim
(Arcadia, CA), Lisa Martens (Brandon, MB), Carl Meyer (Millersburg, IN),
Frank Moore (Houston, TX), William Payne (Toronto, ON), Paul Pierce (North
Manchester, IN), Rick Polhamus (Fletcher, OH), Mary Alice Shemo (Pittsburgh,
PA) and Doug Wingeier (Waynesville, NC). Christian Peacemaker Teams is an
initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and
Friends meetings that supports violence reduction efforts around the world.
CPT, P.O. Box 6508, Chicago, IL 60680; tel: 312-455-1199; fax: 312-666-2677;
web: www.cpt.org.