Nobel Nomination For Christian Peace Activist

Angie Zelter, founder of Christian campaigning group Trident Ploughshares – has been nominated for a Nobel peace prize.

The 60-year-old anti-nuclear activist who lives in Wales, is currently engaged in a protest against the building of military base in South Korea. She has been put forward for the prize by former Laureate Mairead Maguire.

Nominating Ms Zelter, Maguire who won the prize in 1976 for her work in Northern Ireland, said: "Angie Zelter has dedicated her life to building peace and working for world nuclear disarmament.

“Her life is committed to working to prevent nuclear mass murder, and by her own personal example and through her organisational skills, she has inspired and empowered many people to mobilise to prevent their governments from nuclear genocide, and begin seriously the work of abolishing all nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

"From peace groups, demonstrations, vigils, street theatre, to nonviolent civil disobedience, imprisonment for non-violent protests, Angie Zelter’s activism and life of numerous acts of nonviolent civil disobedience against nuclear weapons qualify her to be a worthy nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize."

Ms Zelter who has been arrested over 100 times, and has served numerous prison sentences for her non-violent activism was one of the founding members of Trident Ploughshares, a predominantly Christian campaigning group which takes its name from the Biblical call to turn swords into ploughshares.

She made headlines in 1996 when she was part of a group of four women who were accused of causing an estimated £1.5 million of damage to a Hawk aircraft bound for East Timor. The four were acquitted when a jury agreed that they were attempting to prevent a major crime against humanity.