Actions Demand Never Again!
• August
6th: No More Hiroshimas!
August 6th: No More Hiroshimas!
August 6 and 9, 2005 mark the 60th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. In scores of actions across the country and worldwide people are demanding Never Again! No More Hiroshimas! No More Nagasakis! Demonstrations, vigils, film showings, lectures, ceremonies, art, theater, music and performance are all being utilized to honor all the victims of U.S. brutality using nuclear weapons, and to reaffirm humanity’s stand that they will never be used again.
It is the U.S. that has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, has them deployed throughout the world, and is the only country to have used them. It is the U.S. that has used and continues to use depleted uranium in its armaments causing death, sickness, suffering and contamination. It is the U.S. that is using weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, not the Iraqis.
The use of the atomic bomb by the U.S. showed the world that the imperialists would stop at nothing to terrorize the globe into submission. By standing up in over 50 demonstrations and dozens of other events across the country and several regional actions at nuclear facilities, Americans are showing that they are not accepting the US government’s nuclear blackmail and are opposing the war and occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Palestine and everywhere the U.S. intervenes.
Voice of Revolution urges our readers to participate in regional actions and in rallies, vigils and other actions locally demanding that the U.S. disarm NOW! No U.S. troops or weapons abroad!
Regional and Local Actions
Four major nuclear weapons facilities will be the site of large rallies including entertainment, direct action, and more. Three of the four sites will host -hibakusha, the aging survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who will tell their stories and make direct appeals for the world to renounce nuclear weapons.
There will also be local actions in 19 states, from Florida and South Carolina to Texas and Arizona; from Hawaii to Utah, Oregon and Alaska; from New York, to Boston, Vermont and Maine.
Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, California
“Seeds of Change” celebrate the vision of a nuclear free world with music, a dinner rally and candlelight march; William Payne Park, 5800 Patterson Pass Rd., Livermore, CA; Saturday, August 6, 2005, 5pm.
Initial co-sponsors include: American Friends Service Committee, California Peace Action, Green Party California, Livermore Conversion Project, the Northern California Communist Party, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Peace and Freedom Party, Peace Fresno, Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (CAREs), Veterans for Peace San Francisco Chapter 69, Western States Legal Foundation, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Women for Peace.
Contact: Tara Dorabji, Tri-Valley CAREs, tara@trivalleycares.org, (925) 443-7148, www.trivalleycares.org.
Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Lab, New Mexico
“Hiroshima, 60 Years: It Started Here, Let’s Stop It Here!” Teach-in, sunflower pageant, workshops, music, candle ritual, meditation, and more; Ashley Pond Park in Los Alamos, NM; Saturday, August 6, 2005, 8:30am to 10pm.
Initial endorsing organizations include: Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Los Alamos Study Group, Pax Christi New Mexico, Upaya Zen Center and the local chapter of Veterans for Peace.
Contact: Los Alamos Study Group, (505) 265-1200, www.lasg.org; Pax Christi New Mexico, (505) 870-2275, www.paxchristinewmexico.org; and Upaya Zen Center, Joan Halifax, (505) 986-8182, www.upaya.org.
Nevada Test Site, Nevada
“Many Stories, One Vision for a Nuclear Free World.” Conference, speakers and public witness including storytelling, nonviolence trainings, liturgy, music, performance, workshops and nonviolent direct action; University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Nevada (Nuclear) Test Site; August 4-7, 2005.
Sponsored by: Nevada Desert Experience and Pax Christi USA; Co-sponsored by: Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Citizen Alert, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, Physicians for Social Responsibility (L.A.) and Western States Legal Foundation. Western Shoshone are supporting the action.
Contact: Nevada Desert Experience, (702) 646-4814, nde_youth@peacenet.org, www.nevadadesertexperience.org and www.paxchristiusa.org.
Y-12 Nuclear Facility, Tennessee
“Stop the Bombs!” Remembrance/names ceremony; peace march, rally and direct action; and peace lantern ceremony; When: Saturday, August 6, 2005, all day; Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN.
Contact: Ralph Hutchison, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, orep@earthlink.net, (865) 483-8202, www.stopthebombs.org.
Initial Co-Sponsors Include: Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace; Footprints for Peace; Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation—Diocese of East Tennessee; Nipponzan Myohoji—Atlanta Dojo; Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance; Pax Christi—Memphis; Pax Christi—Michigan; Presentation Sisters; Sisters of Charity, Cincinnati; Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton; and Women’s Action for New Directions, Michigan.
August 9, 2005: Remember the Bombing of Nagasaki
We are calling for candlelight vigils to be held at City Halls in communities across the country. In addition, we encourage people to organize readings, lantern lighting ceremonies, shadow projects and more. In support of the Mayors for Peace, we are calling on local groups to invite their Mayors to participate in the vigils and read out proclamations.
Contact: Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation, wslf@earthlink.net, (510) 839-5877, www.wslfweb.org.