I met Pete (aka parking lot pete and proudline pete) in Valdez, Alaska, around 1997. He was an accomplished backcountry snowboarder and ice climber and I was learning the ropes in the mountains. We grew to become friends in Valdez. He would hang out with me and help me dream up stuff to put on the web - we created a couple of pages for him (they go back up as soon as I can get the files) detailing his adventures in the Chugach.
I lost touch with him in 2003 when I moved back to Georgia.
I think of him from time to time and emailed in October 2004 just to say hi. He wrote back that he had been in the Middle East and had been involved in protests against the war and ....
I had know idea how serious it was or how good he was at getting attention. I did a Google search and found alot of great articles mentioning him.
from http://italy.indymedia.org/news/2004/09/627839.php
follow the link to see a great picture off Pete - The article is in Italian.
from http://www.agrnews.org/issues/274/nationbriefs.html
Other signs read, “Resurrect Peace,” “Your Tax Dollars at War,” “Keep Alaska’s Forests Roadless,” “Support Our Troops: Bring Them Home,” and “Bush Administration: No Tree Left Behind.”
Scores of honkers, including nearly two dozen semi-trucks supported the protesters by blowing their horns as they drove underneath the overpass. Police showed up after the assembly moved closer to the entrance of the heritage center. When they began to push protesters back to an imaginary boundary, a lone protester, Pete Lowney, stood his ground and was arrested when he refused to ask the group to dispearse at the order of Anchorage police.
What impresses me about this? Pete is an activist. He does things. He is proud. He is fearless. He understands, as I do, that for America to work, Citizens must act out our opinions and voice our concerns. And not in a timid way. It's not our right. It is our duty.
from http://habitat.igc.org/
So what I would like to say to Pete is: I'm proud of you. You are living up to your end of the bargain. You are a hero for speaking out when others can't or won't.Pete Lowney, Valdez, U.S.A., #2590
The US has gone completely mad on fear, lies and murder. We are the people we've been waiting for. Aim for the heart of the beast with love to put the truth in action for justice and democracy.