ECONEWS SERVICE
FEATURES:
Current Exopolitics News
Environmental War Desk
Extraterrestrials & the Environment
UniverseBooks.com
banspaceweapons.com
WASHINGTON E.T.
 
WASHINGTON, E.T.

UPDATES: Lara Johnstone & Her "Bush/ET 
Disclosure Request & Hunger Strike"

  • "Are you ready for the revolution?" by Grant Cameron
  • "Bush/UFO Disclosure Request Update" by Lara Johnstone
  • "Hunger Strike to Support Extraterrestrial Disclosure - Day 16"            by Grant Cameron
Are you Ready for the Revolution?
By Grant Cameron

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

"This is where I felt I had to go, and we'll see what happens." Lara Johnstone

 Just over 25 years ago, American forces left Vietnam for the last time. Part of the reason for the withdrawal was the advancing North Vietnamese forces advancing on the South Vietnamese capitol. The main reason for the withdrawal, however, was that the American people had turned on the idea of the war, and wanted it ended. Demonstrations in the streets of America, and acts of civil disobedience, had made the idea of continuing the war intolerable. 

 In a country that believes it is "Government of the people, by the people," it now appears that some people have begun to rise up on the UFO issue. These people believe that like the Vietnam war it is not a strong scientific or logical argument that will turn the tide. They believe that, like Vietnam, the issue is political in nature and political pressure is the main weapon for turning the tide.

 One such woman who has taken a stand on the UFO issue is  a 35 year old woman from Oakland California.

 The story began on July 22, 2001, when Dr. Steven Greer arrived in San Francisco to make a presentation of his traveling Disclosure Project. The event was held at the huge Masonic Auditorium. Among the 2,000 people in the audience was a woman by the name of Lara Johnstone.

 Lara was a bit skeptical of the whole extraterrestrial thing. She had no background in Ufology. She had never had a sighting. A friend sent her an e-mail about the local Disclosure Event. Lara visited the Disclosure web site on the Internet. After reading the objective she decided to attend. "I never before really "believed' Lara wrote to President George Bush, "in ‘verifiable evidence' of extraterrestrial visits." The Disclosure event turned out to be a "reality check" for Laura.

 During the event the two hour Disclosure Testimony Tape was shown. This tape produced by the Disclosure project [www.disclosureproject.org] was highlights of over 100 hours of testimony that had been collected from interviews with dozens of U.S. Government, industrial,  and military witnesses to UFO and extraterrestrial events and secret 'black-ops' projects. Following the presentation of the video- tape there was a  presentation by Disclosure director Dr. Steven M. Greer and local San Francisco Project witnesses  Carol Rosin (spokesperson for Dr. Werner Von Braun) and Daniel Sheehan (legal counsel for the Disclosure Project).

 The Disclosure Testimony video was a collection of testimony clips from military and government people talking about the reality of the UFO situation. It was made up of  two hours of the 100+ hours of testimony with key witnesses that the Disclosure Project had on file. The testimony that Lara witnessed that evening was more than she could take. She purchased the Disclosure book that Greer was selling at the event, which gave testimony from yet more witnesses telling the true story of what had happened regarding UFOs since 1947. 

 Lara decided  action was necessary. She chose  a form of protest that she was familiar with - a hunger strike. In late 2000 Lara had used this protest method successfully against the state of California. In an E-mail to Charles Huffer, Lara described her first hunger strike protest.

 I went on a hunger strike was against the CA Department of Corrections and Gov. Gray Davis. After 25  days, they bowed, admitted -- in writing -- what I had alleged, and what  they had 'said', but not in writing. Before the press conference, the dept  head of all of CA's prisons, came up to me and went ballistic. He started  screaming 'who do you think you are' 'how dare you' and on and on!  He  did not like being called up by the South African media, asked to answer very difficult questions regarding how he runs his prisons!

 Following the disclosure event, Lara quickly researched the UFO subject in preparation for sending a letter to President Bush on the subject. As a part of this effort she contacted Charles Huffer, an Arkansas UFO researcher, who on July 28, 2000,  had the opportunity to question President elect Bush while he was on the campaign trail for President.

 During this encounter Huffer asked Bush "Half the public believes that UFOs are real." Would you finally tell us what the hell is going on? " Bush replied, " "Sure I will."
 A few minutes later Huffer ran into Bush again and the president-elect stated, " It will be the first thing that he will do." (He pointed at Dick Cheney who was just walking up) "He'll get right on it."

 Lara used the Huffer encounter with Bush to time the beginning of her hunger strike. The hunger strike would begin exactly one year to the day Bush promised he would work to tell the people about UFOs.  She wrote in her July 26, 2001 letter of protest to President Bush.

 One year later, on 28 July 2001, you are now the President and I again ask  you "are you willing to finally tell the American people and the whole  world, the truth about unidentified flying objects?" Hundreds of high level US government officials are standing courageous and willing to tell the  truth, which can change our world. Will you give them the opportunity. Can we begin healing our world? Can we end this endeavor of greed,  corruption, fear and destruction? Can we find a way to take a stand, step by step? If we continue this way, we'll only end up where we are going. It doesn't  have to be this way. We have a choice.

 As a South African,  Lara Johnstone also addressed her letter of protest to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, as well as President George Bush. She outlined her request,

 President Bush and President Mbeki, I am writing to share with you and all the other leaders around the world my extreme concern. My concern is so great, that I have decided to go on a hunger strike, starting July 28, 2001, to death if need be, in order to express my humble request.  My request is that the U.S. and other governments: 1. Hold open, comprehensive, secrecy-free hearings to take military/agency witness testimony on events and evidence relating to an Extraterrestrial presence on and around Earth. 2. To hold open hearings on advanced energy and propulsion systems, relating to extraterrestrial phenomena that, when publicly released, will provide solutions to global environmental challenges. 3. To enact legislation which will ban all space-based weapons, and to enact and implement international treaties and legal standards prohibiting the weaponization of space. 4. To enact comprehensive legislation to research, develop and explore space peacefully and cooperativel!
y with all cultures on Earth and in space. 

 In an interview with Lara Johnstone, I asked her about her plans for the hunger strike. She stated, "I'm on my way to D.C. I was going to do a bus trip across the country. I am hoping to be in Washington by the 28th of August which would make the hunger strike at one month, but I'm flexible on that. I have this feeling that I must not plan to much - that things are going to work right. Things are going to happen, and I should just be open and trusting. . . It started on the 28th of July to August 28th will be a month, and then interestingly enough the 28th of September will be two months and that is the start of the anti-globalization demonstrations."

 Lara has received the expected reactions from people to her hunger strike. Some have said that she is "totally nuts." One person told her, "You don't want to just take on the whole world - now you want to save the aliens too." To this Lara responded, "I said it's not about that. It's about all of us knowing what's going on. Are we just here to buy buy buy being little consumers, or are we here for a bigger purpose? To grow and to love. For me it's about the truth. With the secrecy we're spreading more fear, and more fear, and it's separation."

 Lara is preparing a web site where people can access the letters she has sent out, and stay updated on what responses she has received. She is preparing a letter for all members of Congress, and is sending out letters to names she received of people inside the UFO community who might be able to help her.

 Robert H. Williams, a man who lost his job at Clinton Community College in Rochester, New York, for his UFO beliefs, has been kind enough to help Lara in her time of need. On his personal web site, Robert is hosting a section with copies of all the initial correspondence between Lara and Charles Huffer, and the letter to the President. To view this material go to Mr. Williams home page, and then to the section on "WHO."

http://members.tripod.com/rhw007/

 As President George Bush vacations on his Texas ranch,  Lara is in the process of writing her second letter to him. There has been no word from the White House, and no major support or backing by the UFO community. Then again, it is still early in the hunger strike, Day 10 as this is being written. Lara is still confident. As Lara says, "We'll see what happens."

 Lara is available for questions or offers of support at 510-823-8109

Grant Cameron

"Are you ready for the revolution?"
Lara Johnstone, a California woman who began a Hunger Strike for 
Disclosure on July 28th.


"Bush/UFO Disclosure Request Update" by Lara Johnstone

Letter delivered to to Representative Barbara Lee Office in downtown
Oakland On Monday October 13, 2001.
-----------------------------------------------
ADDRESS
Berkeley, CA 94707
Tel: (510) 823 8109
12 August 2001 

Congressional Representative Ms. Barbara Lee
Ronald Dellums Federal Building, 
Oakland, CA 

Dear Representative Ms. Barbara Lee 

RE: Request to support my petition to President Bush 

Attached please find the letter I wrote (mailed, faxed and emailed) to
President Bush on 26 July 2001. It is a statement informing President Bush
of my reasons for going on a hunger strike, and requesting his response. 

I understand that Disclosure Project briefing materials have already been
delivered to your office. I am very hopeful that you have reviewed those
documents and videotapes and have decided to investigate the matter further. 

As you know, the recorded testimony of scores of military, goverment and
other witnesses to Unidentified Flying Objects and Extraterrestrial events
and projects is strong evidence of the existence of an UFO/Extraterrestrial
presence on and around Earth. This recorded testimony consists of dozens of
first-hand, often top-secret witnesses to UFO and Extraterrestrial events,
internal UFO-related goverment projects and covert activities, space-based
weapons programs and covert, reverse-engineered energy and propulsion
system projects. The technologies that are of an Extraterrestrial origin,
when publicly released within a planned transition period, will provide
solutions to global environmental and security challenges. 

These numerous recorded witnesses constitute only a small portion of a vast
pool of identified present of former military, intelligence, corporate,
aviator, flight control, law enforcement officers, scientists and other
witnesses, who will come forward when subpoenaed to testify at
Congressional Hearings. Without a grant of immunity releasing them from
their security oaths, many such unimpeachable witnesses fear to speak out. 

The legislation to ban space-based weapons will prohibit acts of war
against Extraterrestrial civilizations, which have proven to be concerned
about nuclear and weapons industry, but also have proven they are not to be
hostile. The comprehensive legislations will transform the terrestrial war
industry into a world cooperative military (without space weapons), civil,
and commercial space industry. This will provide unprecedented benefits and
opportunities to all on Earth and in space. 

Our generation of voters and leaders are responsible for this once in a
lifetime decision -- to ban space-based weapons so that we will be
permitted to join the peaceful travelers in the universe. 

My request to your office is:
1. Please attempt to verify that President Bush received my letter, and
request a response from his office. [I enclose another copy for delivery to
President Bush's office by your office, if required.]
2. Please write a letter in support of my request to President Bush.
3. Please call for open, comprehensive, secrecy-free hearings to take
military/agency witness testimony on events and evidence relating to an
Extraterrestrial presence on and around Earth.
4. Please call for open hearings on advanced energy and propulsion systems,
relating to extraterrestrial phenomena that, when publicly released, will
provide solutions to global environmental challenges. 

Many years ago, your predecessor Representative Ronald Dellums was the
first brave and lonely voice calling for an end to the nuclear arms race.
Many thought it impossible, yet he persevered, and many followed. All we
need in this issue is one brave Congressional Representative to have the
courage to step forward, and I imagine the other less-brave Congressional
members will eventually follow. 

Billions of people around the world could benefit from these technologies.
Hundreds of witnesses have been brave enough to come forward willing and
able to testify. Our entire planet could benefit from some light being
shone onto the secrets that divide us, the secrets that encourage our
fears, and the secrets that -- if kept -- could result in disastrous
consequences for millions, if not our planet and the continuation of our
human family. I hope you will do all that you possibly can to bring this
matter to the attention of the President, as well as all your fellow
Representatives. 

I would like to support you and your office to have the courage to make a
decision for truth, for full disclosure, for a world of unity, peace and
sustainability for all, and an earth where we welcome beings from other
planets. I shall therefore be spending between three and seven hours of
each working day meditating/ praying for you and President Bush, infront of
the Federal Building in downtown Oakland. I will also refrain from sending
out a press release until Wednesday, August 15, in order to give your
office time to brief yourselves on the issue. 

I appreciate you for giving my request your attention. I look forward to
hearing from your office. 

Sincerely, 

Lara Johnstone 
 

+=============================================+
|  Hungerstrike Requesting President Bush to  |
|   honor his agreement to tell the American  |
|     people the truth, by supporting the     |
|  Disclosure Project witnesses to testify    |
| about their extensive knowledge of UFO's:   |
+---------------------------------------------+
|       Bush/UFO Disclosure Request:          |
|       http://www.amandla.org/ufo/           |
|           Disclosure Project:               |
|     http://www.disclosureproject.org/       |
+=============================================+


Hunger Strike to Support UFO Disclosure - Day 16
by Gant Cameron

“Got a few more calls today, one from an abductee who just could not stop saying thank you, and wishing well. One from someone who apologized for not giving his name -- just wanted to say thank you and that he was in the military and all that the disclosure project witnesses say is true, and much more, and he just wanted to share his appreciation. Someone else from Atlanta -- 'thank you' and so on.... Very nice people, chatted with all of them, and all very concerned about my health, but also very appreciative..” Partial report by Lara on Day 13

On July 26, 2001 Lara Johnstone, a 35 year old woman from Oakland wrote a letter to President George Bush in support of 400 UFO Disclosure Witnesses who had come forward to tell of their involvement in the cover-up of the UFO story by the government. Lara stated in her letter that she would support her request for disclosure with a hunger strike. Now, two and a half weeks later there is still no reply from President Bush, or any one else at the White House. There is not even an acknowledgment that the letter arrived.

This author E-mailed to President Bush, the first article in this series “Are You Ready for the Revolution,” detailing Lara Johnstone’s hunger strike for UFO Disclosure. Moments later the automatic E-mail responder at the White House sent back a reply. “Thank-you for writing President Bush. He is not able to read all his mail . . . thanks for your ideas . . . yada, yada. 

The fact that there was a response was good news. It meant that Bush was still there, and maybe Lara might still  get a response. Neither rogue North Korean terrorists, nor Al Gore forces had overrun the White House. Bush was still in charge.

On July 28, two days after Lara sent her letter to the President, and exactly one year after President-elect George Bush promised UFO researcher Charles Huffer he would reveal the UFO truth to the world, Lara began her hunger strike.

It is now August 12, sixteen days into the hunger strike. George Bush is on holidays at his Texas ranch, probably enjoying the occasional home ground Texas steak. Lara on the other hand is at home, living only on water, vegetable and fruit juices, and vitamins. She is concentrating on her perceived mission, and planning what action to take next. 

While she waits for the President to answer, Lara is writing a second letter to President Bush. She is also working on a web page she has set up to inform people about her mission (http://www.amandla.org/ufo/).  She calls the site “The Bush/UFO Disclosure Request”. It is a web site detailing the  “Hungerstrike Requesting President Bush to honor his agreement to tell the American people the truth, by supporting the Disclosure Project witnesses to testify about their extensive knowledge of UFO's.” In days the site is up and running, without all the “under construction” signs that are so common with new web pages.

The web site Lara has developed has a section where the original letter of protest to President Bush can be read. There is a section that relates news, and articles that have been written about the hunger strike. There is a direct link to Dr. Steven Greer Disclosure Project web site. There is a section on upcoming events. Finally, Lara has included a section that displays some of the letters of support she has received. She has some strong supporters. Among the many letters she has received are the following examples:

? Ron Eastwood, a former bodyguard for Martin Luther King’s wife and children following his assassination wrote. Eastwood detailed a hunger strike he had participated in with United Farm Workers Union organizer Caesar Chavez. He told Lara, “My own congestive heart failure, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure prevent me from taking the drastic measures you have chosen (namely hunger strike) but be assured I shall make my ability to write a sword of words to rattle the cages of as many of our recalcitrant and cowardly public servants as possible on this cause for total public disclosure. With your permission may I send a copy of this message to my local news media and government officials alone with the attached copy of the notice which informed me of your awesome undertaking.”

? Larry Bryant, a UFO researcher and long time crusader for total disclosure of the UFO story by the government wrote, “As an old semi-street warrior myself, (having taken part in the anti-UFO-secrecy demonstrations that the now defunct Operation Right to Know mounted some years ago at the White House, the Washington Post Building, the Pentagon (there only indirectly. Since I was still employed there), and the GAO building in Washington), I get a vicarious thrill knowing that a young woman has taken this bold lead in a renewed knock on officialdom’s UFOdoor.”

? Tom Buyea from Miami Florida wrote, “I just read about you and forwarded the email to about 3,000 people on all my UFO & government conspiracy etc. email lists. What else can we do to help you?”

? Hi there, I just read about you, I am the International Director of P.R.I.S.M. International Paranormal Research Investigation Services & Monitoring International here in Adelaide, South Australia, I am starting "Operation Recovery" which is the Sister to Project Disclosure, & I have people coming forward, all though I would not like to say if the Extraterrestrial Agenda is good or bad, how ever like you I believe in the uncovering of the truth behind it all. You are a brave lady, I admire you very much, I Love you very much too :) I hope one day I can meet you & give you a big hug, cause your my hero Lara, & everyone else's too, thank you for being there for us, if I can help you somehow, please ask how!, take care Lara, from all your friends in Australia
 

Lara spends time talking to people from all over the world (calls from as far away as the UK and Australia) who have phoned to offer support. She counsels with a small group over what to do next, and E-mails people who have written with questions or comments about her actions. She also watches and comments on the many messages being posted on the many Internet discussion boards that are discussing her Hunger Strike.

There have been ups and downs, even though after talking to Lara, one comes away with the impression that for Lara it is all good. She is a strong tree in the windy storm. Usually, it is Lara who provides  the support for the many concerned people who see a looming disaster, and who have called her and expressed concern for her well-being. An example is Lara’s answer to one concerned person who asked her about the pain of being hungry all the time. Lara’s response, “You are only hungry for the first three days. I promise.”

Despite Lara’s steadfast optimism there have been downs over the first 16 days of the hunger strike. The main down would be the weight. Lara is down 13 pounds. To most this would seems like an ensuing disaster. Lara, however, says, “I have a few pounds I can lose.”

Most of the comments have been supportive but unfortunately there have been some real shots taken at her. Lara has after all, chosen to involve herself in the world of Ufology where primitive tribal warfare is often the norm. One example of the very few attacks on Lara came from Jack Sarfatti, a physicist who hosts a very small UFO/zero point energy chat group (made up mainly of theoretical physicists, and “bump in the night” intelligence types). Sarfatti is a big supporter of space-based weapons. Perhaps it Lara’s open opposition to space based weapons that led Sarfatti to post a vile attack on Lara on the Internet.

Laura is a typical clueless New Ager  brainwashed by  Macroshift psycho-babble with no ability to discriminate between real  science and Cargo Cult superstition posing as science. This poor woman is obviously in need of psychiatric help. 

Where the normal UFO response would be to counter-punch, Lara was calm and collected in her response to Sarfatti. Perhaps this is a result of the fact that Lara had absolutely no background in Ufology before beginning the hunger strike. She took the attack as an opportunity to repeat the goals of the hunger strike.
 

I appreciate your comments, and, I am okay with you saying whatever you like -- I know that your definition of who I am or what I do is not 'who I am' ;-), only your imagination! ;-) And a very vivid one at that! ;-) I want the truth, I want the light of the truth to shine where the darkness of secrecy, fear and hate currently reigns and makes us more afraid of one another, so that we call them names, whatever name we wish to denigrate them by. I apologize but I do not wish to do that, and that is not my quest or my purpose. I shall continue my search for truth, and I support you in continuing yours. Mine is a request to President Bush to honor his agreement with Charles Huffer and the American people. I imagine that includes you! ;-), unless you already have been informed about the 'secret' truth!, and are trying to deflect the issue to me! 

Another temporary down was the lack of support or contact from people that would have been expected to race to Lara’s aid. Again the ever-positive Lara understood. She told this author,

I imagine they are a little unsure as to what to do -- should they endorse, and then it goes down the drain, and damages all the work they have done . . . My focus - I want to keep on Pres. Bush -- it was his agreement (made twice) with Huffer (and therefore the people) that I want him to keep, or at the very least re-negotiate -- which is what anyone who makes an agreement has to do, if they can no longer keep it!... So, I am going to attempt to keep my focus there . . .They need to keep their 'professionalism' -- and not be seen as 'activist' and they have worked hard at that... I can support them, and appreciate their work, without them having to 'endorse' me. They are not responsible for my actions; only I am, just as only bush is for his! ;-) 

To avoid confusion and to keep the lines of communication lines open Lara E-mailed one of the groups on August 9th.

I am writing because I would like to keep an open line of communication . . . to keep you informed. I imagine disclosure and knowledge on your part of my actions would be more helpful than silence and surprise. 

As the third week of the hunger strike began Lara received two new indications that her efforts were not in vein. In addition to all the people who had been motivated by he action, it was learned that Charles Huffer, whose original contact with George bush had motivated Lara, was now motivated by Lara’s action to press again for his own answer from the White House.

On the August 11 “Strange days . . .Indeed” radio show broadcast out of Toronto radio station CFRB, Lara appeared to update the listening audience on how the hunger strike was progressing. While on the air she received positive encouragement from Washington D.C. UFO lobbyist Steven Bassett who was also a guest on the show. Bassett had been closely connected to the Disclosure movement, and his words came as a comfort that the Disclosure movement had come to grips with Lara’s form of public protest. Bassett spoke about Lara and the hunger strike.
 

I had talked with Lara at length (2 hours). What I think about this is really straightforward. When the government looks out the window, what it needs to see - particularly now in an ever increasing degree - is a relentless public coming at them from every different direction, very clearly not going to give up, not going to go away. That means pacts, lobbyists, hunger strikes, marches, and protests like we used to have. It means political initiatives, press conferences, and the whole nine yards. The more it sees that the more it will start to realize that there is simply no where to go but toward us, with the disclosure and with the truth.

Lara is adding another piece to that mosaic, and she knows what she is doing. She’s good at it. I knew this would happen, and I think it’s coming from a person that can do well. I have indicated to her that when she gets a little further along, because as you know these things tend to go for 60-80 days if you’re really serious, in which case Lara will be getting requests to rant modeling in New York. In a little while when she is a little further down the line I have every intention and every capability to bring this to the attention of the entire congress, as well as the political press here, and to the next level of awareness.

It’s her show, not mine. I will stay in the background. Getting into the public is very easy. Whether she gets onto any of the shows like Art Bell or Jeff Rense - well that’s up to them. For now it needs to build a little slowly. I think that’s appropriate. It’s timing is excellent. The strategy is wonderful. Tying it to the Bush statement, so that it can be a matter between her and George Bush is wonderful. It’s logical. It’s something that people know about. Huffer was there. It has all been documented. The effect of it will be to bring new attention to the Huffer event, which as you know came and went. It is out on the net but in large is not news to the press anymore, unless of course something like this happens. So all of this works very nicely, and the timing is great as well . . .if I’m Washington looking outside the beltway, I’m seeing this stuff happening. Clearly I’m going to be getting a clear impression that I can play deaf, dumb, and stupid, and this is going to go away.
 
 

Upcoming Events
On Monday Day 17, Lara takes her hunger strike to the steps of the federal courthouse in Oakland, to petition her Congress woman Barbara Lee to write a letter to President Bush sharing Lara’s request for UFO Disclosure.

On Monday Day 17, Lara will be interviewed by the South African News Service out of Washington. The media in South Africa considers Lara the most prominent South African activist in the United States. 

Lara will be interviewed by host Adam Clark on the Wake Up America website. Listen live at 8:00 p.m. Central Wednesday August 17 at (http://wakeupusa.netfirms.com/

On Day 22, Saturday, August 18, at 10:30 eastern, Lara Johnstone will appear on “Strange Days . . .Indeed” CFRB – AM 1010 Toronto, Canada for an update on her progress. (http://www.cfrb.com/)