Are you Ready For The Revolution?                                              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.

Her story began on July 22, 2001, when Dr. Steven Greer arrived in San Francisco to make a presentation of his traveling UFO Disclosure Project. The event was held at the huge Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco. Among the 800 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 cooperatively 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 Plattsburgh, 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://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 backing by the UFO or Disclosure Movement 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

Lara's web Site is http://www.bushufodisclosure.org

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

Lara Johnstone Ends 'Hunger-Strike'                                        Grant Cameron


On Sunday September 9 - Day 44 Lara Johnstone made the decision
to end her hunger strike to encourage President Bush to fulfill his promise to Charles Huffer to disclose the truth about UFOs. She discussed her decision to end the hunger strike, prior to ending it, with some of the supporters who had been with her for most of her effort to achieve disclosure.

When I talked to her Sunday evening, she said the hunger strike was supposed to focus on disclosure. It was now focused on her and the time to end it had come. Minutes later at rest stop on her bus trip from Oakland to Los Angeles to speak at a conference Lara stopped and ate a burger. "It was a small vegetable one," she told me in a phone call minutes later.

Despite a letter from her congress woman Barbara Lee requesting that the President provide Lara Johnstone with a reply to her July 26, 2001 letter, it appears that the President will not be forced to answer mail from constituents.

Lara told me that, in the end, Mr. Bush had no support to make a UFO disclosure. The American people and even many inside of the UFO community have many issues on their mind ahead of Disclosure. In order to make such a big move the President needs broad consensus. It was evident this did not exist.

Even many inside the UFO community were not prepared to do anything more than talk about the issue. On many occasions I discussed this fact with Lara. She stated that she was quite surprised at how different the UFO community was than other protest communities.

It appears to this author that the UFO community is a community in diapers whose time to contribute to the world is still some time in the future. I told Lara that if her effort for disclosure worked UFO people would become the new power, and we'd surely blow up the world in the first week with our fighting.

The attacks on Lara from the UFO community, particularly the UFO
UpDates List took their toll. Lara told me when asked for a comment about this said that naysayers exist in all movements. However, in other movements those striving to achieve an objective join together and ignore the noise. This does not happen as much in the UFO community, and is maybe one of the things that can be learned from her hunger strike.

Lara will be putting up a statement on September 11 about her decision to end the hunger strike. It will appear on her web site.

http://www.bushufodisclosure.org

Many will say that the hunger strike is a failure because Bush was able to just ignore the issue and continue on with his plans to drill for more oil, and ignore treaties dealing with weapons in space and green house gases.

The analysis is not that simple. I firmly believe that disclosure will not come from some 'hail Mary' pass play that scores the winning touchdown. Like evolution it will occur in small bits rather than large bites. It comes from people like Lara who put one foot in front of the other and edge the ball further down the field. The ball is definitely closer to the goal line than it was 44 days ago.

When the UFO community has moved the ball over and over down the
field, and when the general population is ready - then disclosure will come. Let's all pray for $20.00 a gallon gas prices.

People are not ready for disclosure yet. Perhaps that is why the aliens have not ended the mystery with their own landing on the White House lawn, or by cutting in during Monday night football to announce their arrival. They can see the baby bottles sticking out of our back pockets, and know we have things to work out first.

Lara wished to thank all those who have offered her support over the many days of her effort. She was moved by many of the letters, and considers many of those she has met friends for life.

Lara will continue to work for disclosure as she still believes this one of the critical issues of our time. If in the future she believes that a hunger strike would be supported, and that it is the thing that would be needed she said she would do it again.

Speaking on behalf of those close to Lara I would like to thank Lara for her contribution to the Disclosure movement. Even though they were never made public, we know the dramatic things she lost in taking on this challenge. They were things that we more earth bound souls would never think of giving up.

I am sure that those closest to Lara consider her a hero, and will join her in a minute to help her in any new plans she has for disclosure. She has been a prime example of sacrifice, determination, and selflessness. Her contribution to this field will long be remembered.

President Bush Finally Answers Lara Johnstone

Lara Johnstone Tells the Story November 3, 2001

Dear Friends,

On 28 July 2000, after attending a briefing of the Disclosure Project, I went on a hungerstrike and  wrote a letter to President Bush requesting his support that the U.S. government:

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.

The entire letter, as well as other letters written to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Peggy Noonan (President Reagan's ex-speechwriter), and Archbishop Tutu and others can be read at:

http://http://www.bushufodisclosure.org/ (letters link)

On Sunday, September 9, 2001 (day 44), after consultation with close supporters I decided to end my hungerstrike. My full End Disclosure Hunger Strike statement can also be read at the above web site link,
and was released on September 11, 2001 on the morning of the World Trade Center bombings.

Today I received a letter of response from The White House, as well as from Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office. The text of those letters are below.

I will be writing a letter to President Bush's office, as well as Congresswoman Barbara Lee thanking them for their support, courage and continued dedication on this difficult and sometimes embarrassing (to some) matter, and sharing my continued support for their efforts to bring disclosure on this issue forward.

If you have a concern about hearing the testimony of these brave military, agency, corporate etc witness testimony, please visit the Web site and write a letter to President Bush, your Congressional and
Senate Representatives, as well as the media.

An issue such as this requires great courage for any leader to address, and we can not expect or ask our leaders to come forward on difficult issues if we are not prepared to let them know we will support
them and be responsible about hearing the truth, no matter how difficult it may be to hear.

The site also has links to the official Disclosure Project web site, as well as other related web sites such as XPPAC (Extraterrestrial Phenomena Political Action Committee), the Paradigm Clock, etc.

LETTER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:
--------------
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

September 6, 2001

Dear Representative Lee:

Thank you for forwarding Ms. Lara Johnstone's letter
regarding the Disclosure Project and the anti-IMF/World
Bank demonstration.

We appreciate being apprised of your constituent's
perspective in this important area. Many difficult
challenges lie ahead, and President Bush believes the
views of individual Americans can play an invaluable
role in guiding his Administration's efforts to meet
those challenges. I have shared your constituent's
comments with the Office of Presidential Correspondence
for direct response.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Nicholas E. Calio
Assistant to the President and Director of Legislative
Affairs

The Honorable Barbara Lee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
-----------------------------
LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE'S OFFICE:
-----------------------------
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515-0509

October 23, 2001

Ms. Lara Johnstone
1868 San Juan Ave
Berkeley, CA 94707

Dear Ms. Johnstone:

Enclosed is a copy of the interim reply that I
received from The White House in response to my
inquiry on your behalf regarding your concerns.

Please be assured of my continued interest in this
matter, Ms. Johnstone, and that I will be in touch
with you again when I have received any additional
information.

As always, if you should have any questions or comments
regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me
through my Staff Assistant, Tania Harrison, in my
Oakland district office.

Sincerely,

Barbara Lee
Member of Congress
-----------------------

If you wish to support President Bush, Congress, the Senate and the Media to address this issue, to help to bring the truth out about this matter, please let them know. Make your voice heard and maybe we can bring the truth out and make the Sahara blossom, as well as the future for our children.

Thanks for listening,

Sincerely,

Lara Johnstone