http://falloutshelternews.com/MenForPeace.htm
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2002/12/1555258.php

See also Nude Women Protest War Again; Men also Demonstrate

Florida Men Strip for Peace

by FSN 95 Saturday December 28, 2002 at 08:52 AM

Inspired by the brave women of Marine County, California, who created an
image of the word "Peace," with their nude bodies, Florida men gathered to
create their own male statement for peace.

On December 21,2002, near Gainesville, Florida, 22 men posed naked to send
a stunning Peace message to the American people and the war administration.
Braving the cold, these men from Fort Myers to Gainesville, gathered
together on a hillside to do the unthinkable: To Bare it all for Peace.

Deeply troubled by the looming war against Iraq, these serious peace
advocates determined to express their heartfelt desire for peace, by
crafting the word "PEACE" and the Peace Sign with their nude bodies. These
images were captured on film by renowned photojournalist and nature
photographer, John Moran.

The statement of this photo moment was enriched by the fact that many of
the men who came together to create these images were previously unknown to
each other. They were bound together by only one thing; their united desire to
stop the American war machine.

"What we did was outrageous, because war is outrageous," exclaimed Bob Ellenberg.
"All the peace loving people in the world need to see what we have done."

This depth of passion was echoed by Frank Gubasta, who said,
"I'd die for a better/peaceful world for my sons to grow up in.

"These men intended for their act to be a dramatic statement
and they want the chance to express themselves about war and peace.

A candidate for Tampa City Council, Kelly Benjamin, says,
"I'd love to talk with anyone about peaceful alternatives to this stupid war."

As the photo session took place, the act took on a somber aspect. One of
the participants, Jim Cameron, describes the scene as the men moved to take up
their assigned positions.

"As we walked in a broken group through the tall grass, I was deeply touched
at the sight of everyone against the hills, trees, sunlight and blue sky.
The group was composed of young college students, old hippies, alternative culture
folks and Viet Nam vets. But the sight of everyone wading through the tall grass
was so archetypical and I guess reminiscent of the tragedy of war."

Once the men were posed for the photograph, Mark Kamleiter, an attorney
and peace activist, was struck by the same symbolism.

"These bodies, pale and white, laid out, exposed on the
ground resembled, symbolically, the dead that the pending war with Iraq
will most certainly produce."

This peace action was organized by Diane Cardin-Kamleiter and Linda
Pollini, two Green Party peace activists. It sprang from a growing sense of urgency
as this country rushes to war. Despite at large peace demonstrations around
the country, the media has largely ignored the steadily growing peace
movement. Even the most conservative polls show that almost half of the
citizens in this county do not want a war with Iraq, yet the mainstream
media has neglected serious treatment of the anti-war sentiment in this
country.

Peace activists have been left wondering what will it take to make the
press stop, look and listen to their earnest peace message. Maybe the media can
ignore 200,000 demonstrating in Washington, D.C., but would they be able to
ignore a group of naked men, willing to set aside their modesty in order to
get their message out?

Once the idea was seized upon there was no stopping
it. What is sought from this daring act? That all those who see these
photographs stop and reflect on their meaning and hear the message of
Peace.

falloutshelternews.com/MenForPeace.htm

Page created December 30, 2002 by Charlie Jenks.