Hi Eleanor, fantastic piece and I'm eager to read more.
As you may remember I mentioned that I was present at the (ancillary men's) camp in company with my then-girlfriend. I stated at the time that she went on to marry a defence-industry engineer. In fact I've been subsequently informed that she married a Marine Corps intelligence officer and herself became a consultant to Lockheed-Martin.
Are there any other cases of the Greenham Women's Peace Camp to Defence Giant Consultantcy pipeline, I wonder?
"The story of Greenham is still missing from history textbooks taught in school. Too many of our young people, out on the street protesting the abuse of Earth’s resources, don’t know that non-violent-direct-action was perfected by Greenham women, that XR is the child of Greenham. There has never been another protest like it." Agreed!
Eleanor, this looks like a great story. It happened right in the middle of my university years, so I must have missed it completely. Given that Turkey had a Coup D'etat in 1980 with consequences going on for at least a decade, it is understandable that my attention was elsewhere. Best wishes for this new adventure.
I am very worried about nuclear weapons. I'm 62 so grew up when the Cold War was going strong. I'm particularly worried now that America and Europe are inching ever closer to direct conflict with Russia.
Also, this Wikipedia article about nuclear "close calls" is bracing.
Even if the scholarship of Wikipedia may not be first rate, the proliferation of close calls cited should lead us all to take seriously the risks of nuclear weapons being used accidentally or purposefully.
So I'm looking forward treading this not only for the political example of activism but for the specific issue of nuclear weapons and the threat they pose.
I don’t remember ever hearing about this, and I was a journalist at the time! What an amazing story. After reading your introduction I went to Wikipedia to learn more about it. Incredible. So glad you are doing this.
I'm not surprised, shocking that it is, that you say this. Its damning at the time, and since to the historical backwaters, is the reason I've written the novel. But I am really pleased to hear the prologue prompted you to look it up. Welcome aboard. Greenham will change all of us....
This is fascinating! I was an American military dependent living at Sculthorpe AFB in 1957-58 (shared with the RAF), long before this occurred. I'm amazed at the determination these women demonstrated. In the U.S. this phrase, "the personal is political," is associated with the poet Adrienne Rich, who may have been present at Greenham Common with the protestors. Thank you for carrying their story.
Even the prologue has caused a lump in my throat Eleanor… this is going to be an emotional read I wouldn’t miss for the world.
« but on that damp winter morning thirty thousand women arrived to link arms around the nine-mile perimeter fence. » it makes me wonder how many would turn up now - communication being so much faster and easier?
Finally, someone with the courage to say that the personal is political. In reality, everything is politics because no one lives in isolation within a bubble. We are surrounded by choices that involve rules, distribution of resources, and ways of relating to others. Distancing oneself from politics is distancing oneself from people, and neutrality is nothing more than passivity that facilitates control of the herd. I take this opportunity to acknowledge one of the great living poets of our time, who incidentally recreated the Greenham incident by adapting Aristophanes:
Hi Eleanor, fantastic piece and I'm eager to read more.
As you may remember I mentioned that I was present at the (ancillary men's) camp in company with my then-girlfriend. I stated at the time that she went on to marry a defence-industry engineer. In fact I've been subsequently informed that she married a Marine Corps intelligence officer and herself became a consultant to Lockheed-Martin.
Are there any other cases of the Greenham Women's Peace Camp to Defence Giant Consultantcy pipeline, I wonder?
I don’t know! But what a story… You could try connecting with the website https://greenhamwomeneverywhere.co.uk
"The story of Greenham is still missing from history textbooks taught in school. Too many of our young people, out on the street protesting the abuse of Earth’s resources, don’t know that non-violent-direct-action was perfected by Greenham women, that XR is the child of Greenham. There has never been another protest like it." Agreed!
Another serial from you! Yes, please!! Can't wait. And the subject matter couldn't be more up my alley.
🙌
So looking forward to this, and to learning about Greenham.
Great and compelling start, Eleanor. Looking forward to more!
So cool to see so much support from all over from so many inspiring individuals 😎
I didn't know anything about Greenham. An eyeopener already!
It’s become my mission to raise it up.
Any defense policy with the acronym MAD is mad. So eager to learn more about this movement of powerful women.
It’s beyond belief they went with that acronym 🙀
Eleanor, this looks like a great story. It happened right in the middle of my university years, so I must have missed it completely. Given that Turkey had a Coup D'etat in 1980 with consequences going on for at least a decade, it is understandable that my attention was elsewhere. Best wishes for this new adventure.
Thank you so much. Glad to have you along for the ride.
Your set up for this story is so good. I think you’ve established a new bar for launching a serial novel here.
Okay, good, I’ll take that. It’s a learning curve… x
This will be a valuable and eye-opening read.
I am very worried about nuclear weapons. I'm 62 so grew up when the Cold War was going strong. I'm particularly worried now that America and Europe are inching ever closer to direct conflict with Russia.
Also, this Wikipedia article about nuclear "close calls" is bracing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_close_calls#:~:text=A%20nuclear%20close%20call%20is,strikes%20against%20the%20perceived%20aggressor.
Even if the scholarship of Wikipedia may not be first rate, the proliferation of close calls cited should lead us all to take seriously the risks of nuclear weapons being used accidentally or purposefully.
So I'm looking forward treading this not only for the political example of activism but for the specific issue of nuclear weapons and the threat they pose.
Thanks, David. I thought I was pretty well versed until I began my research. Now I know so much more. Greenham has changed me.
Oh yes! I can't wait to learn about this. 30,000 women! It's amazing this isn't common knowledge.
It’s incredible, shocking, outrageous. I’m making it my mission to make it known.
I don’t remember ever hearing about this, and I was a journalist at the time! What an amazing story. After reading your introduction I went to Wikipedia to learn more about it. Incredible. So glad you are doing this.
I'm not surprised, shocking that it is, that you say this. Its damning at the time, and since to the historical backwaters, is the reason I've written the novel. But I am really pleased to hear the prologue prompted you to look it up. Welcome aboard. Greenham will change all of us....
This is fascinating! I was an American military dependent living at Sculthorpe AFB in 1957-58 (shared with the RAF), long before this occurred. I'm amazed at the determination these women demonstrated. In the U.S. this phrase, "the personal is political," is associated with the poet Adrienne Rich, who may have been present at Greenham Common with the protestors. Thank you for carrying their story.
Thanks so much for joining this conversation, and adding to it. I shall look up Adrienne Rich.
Even the prologue has caused a lump in my throat Eleanor… this is going to be an emotional read I wouldn’t miss for the world.
« but on that damp winter morning thirty thousand women arrived to link arms around the nine-mile perimeter fence. » it makes me wonder how many would turn up now - communication being so much faster and easier?
This question, of how and what would be replicated now, was a constant with me as I wrote the novel. Much to say on this once we're at the other end.
Finally, someone with the courage to say that the personal is political. In reality, everything is politics because no one lives in isolation within a bubble. We are surrounded by choices that involve rules, distribution of resources, and ways of relating to others. Distancing oneself from politics is distancing oneself from people, and neutrality is nothing more than passivity that facilitates control of the herd. I take this opportunity to acknowledge one of the great living poets of our time, who incidentally recreated the Greenham incident by adapting Aristophanes:
Common Chorus (Lysistrata) [https://amzn.eu/d/0at9ED3Y](https://amzn.eu/d/0at9ED3Y).
Wonderful. I’ve ordered a copy. Thank you.