More Words on Warships

Groundswell #25, May 1987

To inaugurate Brisbane's "Year of the River", the U.S.S. Goldsworthy, Henry
B. Wilson and Robinson, visited us in February.

When news of the impending visit by three nuclear armed vessels reached us,
members of the Peace and Environment Fleet and others, immediately organised
what have now become our traditional protests against such visits. The
warships were to dock at Newstead Wharf, so our strategies centred on this
area.

There were to be as many obstructive vessels, bodies and objects in the water
as possible.  Many friends from northern New South Wales came to help out.

So, the day dawned and in came these lethal warships.  Watching the rusty old
tubs, the U.S.S. Robinson and Henry B. Wilson, slink in, was not as bad as
watching the U.S.S. Goldsworthy, knowing many millions had been spent on
"upgrading" it recently.  (Euphemism for fitting it out with ASROCS, etc.)

Upwards from fifty people congregated at the tip of Newstead Park, near the
soaring American eagle and noisily supported the water actions, despite a
large police presence.

The police had already stopped a deadly, two person row-boat from rushing out
and ramming the great, grey warships!

When the warships reached a certain point, as if by "military precision", as
one paper so ingeniously commented, boats, swimmers, surfers and police
turned the river into a frothy, exciting mass of movement.  Everyone was
brave, and wetsuited figures were seen being dragged into police boats, while
our balloon and banner decorated flagship, Rainbow Dolphin, disappeared
during the melee.  The media enjoyed it all immensely, their main concern
being the physical unconcern of the protesters.

The protesters also enjoyed watching it all on TV that night, some after long
hours spent in the watch-house.  The next day, when the third warship came
in, we found out just how effective we had been.  The police made it clear
that if any boat or body even moved upon the water it would be arrested.  So,
we were not spectacular that day, but we had got an informative reaction to
our previous action.

It told us that in future, they will not tolerate protests.  Why? Because we
are bringing to the attention of Brisbaneites that nuclear weapons are
actually in their backyards.  Because we are putting our bodies where our
mouths are, which must lead to questions about our sincerity.  A week later,
when the warships were leaving, a certain ultra-light high flier (Dean
Jefferys eds.) warmed up his motors near the river, and was arrested for his
"intentions".

What does all the above mean?  Well, it shows that the U.S. warships are
continuing to come to Brisbane, with increasing frequency, and that they will
be assisted by our local authorities.  It also shows that while we can get
moderate numbers to participate in, and support actions, we have not yet
moved the silent majority to do the same.  Finally it shows that previous
strategies will not do in the future, because they will be "nipped in the
bud".  I don't think it matters that we can't yet stop the warship visits,
(but wouldn't it be nice?), nor that local authorities help them (authorities
do that, don't they?)

I do think it matters that we are not getting more support.  One of the
reasons is, of course, that being activists, we don't go in for much
educational activity.  However, I'm talking about visible support.  Maybe
there's a huge number of anti-nuclear warship people who are nervous about
being arrested, being seen on T.V., etc.  There are 60,000 people who voted
for N.D.P. (Nuclear Disarmament Party), and I wish we could get them out of
the closet.  With the numbers who do come out, we can have good actions,
however.  In future, they will just have to be different actions or they
won't happen - and if we are to "come to the party", when foreign nuclear
warships visit for Australia's Bi-Centennial Bash, we must start planning
soon, using our experiences, e.g., February's fun and games; the Navy's 75th
Anniversary celebrations.

The lingering images I have of the February warships action are of firstly,
how like our beloved sea mammals the protesters looked in the sunlit water,
as they dodged around the alien grey warships.  Secondly watching a young
person dive from our river bank, and swim to the channel, just after he'd
told me, "This is my first warship protest".  Someone must have said that
once in New Zealand, and...
Vicki Turner-Jones