<<< Previous Page   •   Next Page >>>

From The Independent 21.09.2001

Thalia Campbell, who spent most of the 1980s going back and forth to Greenham Common, remembers the insults. "We were vilified. We were called hippies, dropouts, criminals, lesbians, slags. In fact, we were actually teachers, doctors, magistrates and lawyers," says Ms Campbell, an Aberystwyth mother-of -four.

She says she was brought up to believe that she could make a difference. "I had a very idealistic grandmother who brought me up to think that single-handedly I could change the world."

She knew she had to act when she saw a strange-coloured sunset and assumed someone had dropped a bomb. "People were really scared at that time. Reagan was saying 'Bomb Russia'." She eventually gave up her job as an art lecturer to devote more time to the protest, and describes her time with the campaign as the best of her life – one of joy and laughter, as well as fear. "My sons and husband were wonderfully supportive. My daughter was very embarrassed. She thought she had the most dreadful mother on the face of the earth. She's just beginning to be proud now."

Ms Campbell, who has also been protesting – in Aberystwyth – against Operation Infinite Justice, believes the achievements of the Greenham Common women were wide-ranging. "We publicised the dangers around the world. We actually got rid of cruise missiles – with other forces – and the tree and road protesters learned from us. We also changed women's lives. We now have a lot of Welsh Assembly members who were at Greenham, where they got their confidence." She believes women are naturally drawn to peace. "Both sexes have all qualities, but I do think women are closer to the vulnerability of life. Women do seem to seek consensus, and men do enjoy conflict."

Peace tapestry exhibition at Global Connections opening event at the Eastgate centre – Monday 23rd January 2006 – 6.00 till 7.00 p.m.

In the mid 1980s Pembroke resident Thalia Campbell concerned about the hatred of USA at the height of the cold war decided there must be another America to share with people in U.K. In a friends kitchen in North Wales she read the book “The Ribbon, A celebration of Life”. The ribbon was originally created to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. To make a statement people made ribbon segments they then converged on Washington in their thousands and encircled the Pentagon as well as many main avenues and boulevards. The whole route being lined with people carrying over 17 miles of ribbons from all over the world. The theme running through them all being “what you would miss most in event of a nuclear war”.

Thalia met the founder of this great idea and brought back some of the thousands of art works made by Americans of all colours, creeds and ages. She raised the money, travelled to Chicago and Milwaukee, and visited the Peace Museum and the homes of rich and poor and listened to their stories. Others heard of the display in the UK and sent more ribbon pieces from Vermont and Oregon.

Justine Merritt the inspiration for the project came over and did a speaking tour. Recently after years of silence because of ill health Justine Merritt now 81 emailed Thalia. She is delighted it will be on show again in Pembroke and we are privileged to be able to see some of this unique piece of history, which has been exhibited and touched people all around the world. Its message is timeless…The project is still being run from the U.S and there is a dedicated website http://www.theribbon.org

Thalia has run many workshops around the U.K on the ribbon as well as helping to organise exhibitions. Now in conjunction with Global Connections you can come and see some of the amazing pieces as well as a video about the event in 1985 in Washington. There will also be an amazing Friends of the earth rainforest banner and an Oxfam banner included in the exhibition and it is free and open to all. There will be a private view to launch the exhibition on the evening of Monday the 23rd January 2006

<<< Previous Page   •   Next Page >>>