An important week to stand against nuclear weapons

Submitted by Ethan Vesely-Flad on August 4, 2008 - 12:12pm.
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This week we will once again observe the tragic anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, six decades ago. And while we look back at this historic dates, we must also double our efforts against nuclear weapons and power today. This is why United for Peace and Justice declared August to be Nuclear-Free Future Month.

I visited the website and was interested to learn that this month there will be a National Youth Conference on Nuclear Abolition, creatively titled "Think Outside the Bomb." The conference is being held in Boston from August 14-17, and registration is still open.

This past weekend, FOR supporter MacGregor Eddy in central California sent me and other peace activists a note, promoting this month of action and specifically inviting anyone in the Santa Barbara area to join her at an important protest this coming week:

This is short notice but Vandenberg Space Command will launch an ICBM delivery Minuteman III early morning August 13. I am willing to hold a protest but I need at least ONE person to be there with me before I post it as an event on the http://www.nuclearfreefuture.org/. Do you know anyone in Santa Barbara/ SLO/ Lompoc/ that would be interested? MacGregor Eddy, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and WILPF [the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom].

I will join other peace and justice activists in the Hudson River valley, the site of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, by speaking out to our legislators against continued efforts by many local and national politicians who seek to grow our nuclear industry. As the Fellowship of Reconciliation prepares to send our 8th peace delegation to Iran this month -- the focus of much debate about that government's nuclear capabilities and intentions -- I hope that everyone will organize nationwide in opposition to our country's own nuclear weaponry stockpile and growing nuclear energy industry by participating in the Nuclear-Free Future Month.

For Peace .... For Nukes... For Mankind

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 5, 2008 - 8:23am.

The power eternally present in the atomic nucleus is needed so our society can survive.
Not nuclear weapons, but nuclear generated electricity.

I oppose the use of firearms in war.
I support the use of firearms in law enforcement.

I oppose the use of biocides in war (gasses & bio agents)
I support their use in environmental protection, and the suppression of epidemics.

I oppose the use of blanket propaganda to mobilize progressive constituencies.
I support targeted appeals against specific , fixable wrongs.

I oppose the blind aversion to the fact of nuclear realities.
I support the peaceful use of those realities, to benefit mankind.

I oppose any "forbidden regions" where man may not explore.
I support, and strongly urge, the exploration of all possible benefit from nuclear generated electricity.

I oppose nuclear war.
I strongly support nuclear-generated civilian power.
I urge all progressive people to make this important distinction.

Have a nice day.

J. Sweeney

as we "abolish"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 5, 2008 - 8:41am.

Would we abolish the Earth, (scene of all past crimes)?

Would we abolish the human race (perpetrators of all past wrongs)?

Would we abolish gravity (cause of all falling deaths)?

Would we abolish fire ( the means of all witch-burnings)?

Would we abolish the human mind ( source of all past hatreds)?

Would we abolish life ( cause of all death)?

Would we abolish physics (source of all modern weapons)?

Would we abolish all speech (the source of all lies)?

Would we abolish physical reality ( source-bed of the nucleus)?

Could a great desire for Good, cause such blindness that Evil results ?

Could a strong wish for the non-existence of the nucleus,
lead a group of delusionists into a self-induced autism of the soul?

Is it possible to un-discover the entire basis of existence?

If so...Once one had un-discovered the basis of existence...
Would one exist?

If our very minds and bodies are 100% nuclear in their inner make-up...
What would the abolishment of the nucleus mean to us...
or to what would be left of us?

If anything were left of us, to consider the question
Would that be proof, prima facia, that we had failed in our abolishing?

If you were to desire your own Jainist suicide, as atonement for your own existence...
Ought that require a focus on the nucleus, in order to be implemented?

Or ought one seek atonement oblivion bravely, directly,
and leave the innocent nucleus out of the loop?

I seek your wisdom

J. Sweeney
Buchanan NY

Hiroshima/Nagaski commemoration

Submitted by Ed McManus (not verified) on August 6, 2008 - 11:26am.

Thanks Ethan for reminding us of the importance of this anniversary. In Chicago on Saturday, the 63rd anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, the Chicago area chapter of FOR will be sponsoring an event to commemorate the lives lost in 1945 and to urge the American public to demand that our leaders join with other nations in creating a nuclear-weapons free world. The event is held annually at the site of the first nuclear reaction in 1942, by scientists at the University of Chicago (the Henry Moore sculpture "Nuclear Energy," Ellis Av between 56th and 57th.) It is from 3:30 to 4:30. Main speaker will be Jack Kelly, Midwest coordinator of the U.S. Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World (www.nuclearweaponsfree.org).

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