Peace Walking through Pennsylvania and New Jersey

April 27, 2010 - I haven't had a chance until now to blog (and I really shouldn't do it now - I'm illegally parked, and the (now) seven walkers just passed me at the steady pace of three miles per hour), but I have a few minutes to say hello from The Road again on behalf of the Proposition One In 2010 Crew.

Photo: The Walkers, on day 6 of our Interfaith Peace Walk to New York  for Nuclear Abolition, which began at Independence Mall in Philadelphia on Earth Day - Thursday, April 22nd.

Now, as we head towards Staten Island, NY, from "Tent State" (an "Education Not War" demonstration & encampment) on the Rutgers campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey, people are tooting their horns, waving, shouting encouragement, stopping to talk.  Some know about the Footprints for Peace Walk from Tennessee (joined for a week by Noritaka Matsuura of our crew). I suspect that a lot of New Jersey folks will be with us in New York on Sunday, May 2nd, starting at 2 pm at Times Square, when we rally and march to the UN to call for global nuclear abolition.  Yes We Can!

We hope we'll see you there, or earlier at Riverside Church for the International Peace Conference on April 30 and May 1, where we will be part of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF.org) workshop, as well as helping with logistics for the Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors from Japan).

We've been hosted by wonderful Quaker Meetings (Society of Friends) in Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton, and New Brunswick, and a kind friend in Princeton.   On Sunday we enjoyed a break at Laurenceville Presbyterian Church (pictured here) . 

We've been joined by several people, walking for a few hours, even days. 

Especially helpful, besides friends and the Friends, have been the Coalition for Peace Action (Delaware Valley) and individual WILPF members along the way.

Ethan Genauer, our walk organizer, created two great banners explaining our action and our mission while in Philadelphia, with the help of local artist/activists Spiral Q.  Someone always carries the WILPF banner and our colorful peace flags.  With Jay drumming along, we make a lively and cheerful spectacle along the road. 

We've been handing out WILPF applications and information, and have already recruited a couple of terrific women!

Photo:  Noritaka Matsuura, Ellen Thomas, and Susan Campbell at Lockheed Martin offices in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

 See you soon, we hope!

Ellen
and Walkers Ethan, Jay, Nori & Jason (& Debbie, Pat, Cathy, Saleema, Sandra, Richard, Jerry, Aaron, Jonah, Liz & . . .)

WILPF-sponsored Walk for Nuclear Abolition begins outside White House

4/8/2010  (Lafayette Park, Washington DC) - The Walk Begins.

The newest phase of the Proposition One Campaign began on Thursday with a hike from Peace Park, DC, to Peace Park in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Above, Jay Marx and Ethan Genauer were interviewed at the White House by a Scripps Howard journalist, as they began the Walk for Nuclear Abolition to New York City.   There were several other journalists present, especially Japanese.  There will be a HUGE Japanese presence at the Non-proliferation Treaty events in New York, April 30 through the first week of May, including 100 Hibakusha (survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs).  We hope there will be an even huger US presence!

Above: Ellen Thomas, holding a Women's International League for Peace and Freedom banner, and Noritaka Matsuura from Kobe, Japan, walking with a huge peace crane, were about to step off in front of the 29-year vigil for nuclear disarmament begun by William "Doubting" Thomas.  This is where Concepcion Picciotto, the world's longest continuous vigiler, continues her world-famous stand.

Above: Reverend Ichikawa of the Nipponzan Myohoji Temple in DC, who led the walk up 16th Street through DC to Takoma Park with her peace drum, is shown the new poster at the bus stop on K Street by Jay Marx.

The poster reads: "Kazakhstan: Working for a Nuclear Weapons Free World.  Kazakhstan, where 1.5 million people suffered from the effects of 500 nuclear explosions, knows the human cost of the nuclear threat better than anyone.  That's why we got rid of our nuclear arsenal, the world's fourth largest.  And that is why we call on the world to follow our example.  There is no other way to build a safer world, free from the nuclear threat.  - President Nursultan Nazarbayev"

We were met in Peace Park, Takoma Park, Maryland by Diane D'Arrigo of Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and Jay Levy of the Takoma Park Nuclear Free Zone Committee. 

Takoma Park was one of the nation's first nuclear free zones, established in 1983.

Next on the agenda:  To make a big noise at the Nuclear Security Summit, which is going to be three blocks from our community The Peace House, telling the 47 world leaders gathering April 12-14 that the only nuclear security is nuclear abolition.  See previous message about Monday's kick-off.

Then, to Philadelphia, for a series of events before we resume walking north at noon on Earth Day, April 22nd, from Independence Mall.  See http://nptwalk2010.org for details, to volunteer to walk, or to help the walkers.

Keep tuned, and ask folks to subscribe ... we're back on the road again, and we hope to see you and your friends! 

And many thanks to Women's International League For Peace and Freedom and Nuclear Watch South for their help -- technical, financial, promotional, and spiritual -- as we continue to work for a world without nuclear weapons, in our lifetime. 

et, currently in dc

U.S. CITIZEN NUCLEAR WATCHDOGS CALLING ON VISITING HEADS OF STATE TO PRESS FOR GLOBAL DISARMAMENT AT NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT

MEDIA ADVISORY: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD 9 am Monday, April 12th at Peace House, 1233 12th St. NW, Washington, DC with 8:30 am coffee and breakfast (located 3 blocks west of the Washington Convention Center where the Nuclear Security Summit is taking place April 12-13)

U.S. CITIZEN NUCLEAR WATCHDOGS TO CALL ON VISITING HEADS OF STATE
TO PRESS FOR GLOBAL DISARMAMENT AT NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT

Letter to 47 World Leaders Will Express Solidarity Against Nuclear Threat,

 Urge Nations to Demand U.S Leadership Now Toward Global Nuclear Abolition

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, April 12, a coalition of American citizen watchdog groups advocating for nuclear abolition “in our lifetime” will hold a press conference welcoming international heads of state to DC, applauding their participation in the Nuclear Security Summit, and urging them to take the next courageous steps toward a nuclear free world.

Representing over 70% of Americans who support world nuclear disarmament, the groups will announce a joint letter to the leaders of the 47 countries attending the Summit, calling on all nations to pursue nuclear weapons abolition as the truest nuclear security solution.

"To the participating heads of state and their nation's citizens," the U.S. grassroots coalition's letter will say, "we need your determination, and your courage, to strive for nuclear abolition if we are to rid our planet from the risks of nuclear war and terrorism as soon as possible. The world is watching and your urgency on this matter, at this time, can change history."

WHAT:         Press Conference on Global Nuclear Disarmament and Abolition in response to the Nuclear Security Summit

WHO:           Project for Nuclear Awareness, Proposition One Campaign, Peace Action, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - USA, Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area, Interfaith Peace Walk to New York for Nuclear Abolition.

WHERE:       Peace House, 1233 12^th St NW, Washington, DC (between M and N St, located 3 blocks west of the Washington Convention Center)

WHEN:          9 am Monday, April 12, 2010

At 8:30 am before the press conference, coffee and waffle breakfast with agave maple syrup, clover honey and local apple butter will be on hand for the enjoyment of members of the press.

CONTACT:   
Ethan Genauer, Proposition One Campaign, www.prop1.org
(202) 682-4282 / (856) 535 8547 (c) / ethangenauer@gmail.com
Kim-Thao Nguyen, Project for Nuclear Awareness, www.projectfornuclearawareness.org
(215) 546 3030 / (717) 265.5141 (c) / kimthao.pna@gmail.com 

Press conference RSVPs may be sent to Ellen Thomas at et@prop1.org

Stop the Grand Canyon uranium mines!!

It breaks my heart to think that the Colorado River will once again be polluted with radioactivity, this time by TOTALLY UNNECESSARY uranium mines on the sacred edge of the Grand Canyons.  See news story at http://www.indigenousaction.org/uranium-mining-begins-near-grand-canyon/ . 

Let's figure out a way to stop this!  Ellen Thomas

At last I have returned to the land of the living....

Since I last posted, I've been 'slapped in the face' and 'hit in the solar plexus' (see Jon Stewart, 3/11/2010).

My mother died on 2/28, and my van died on 3/10, just as I'm about to take off for the Walk for Disarmament and Economic Conversion from DC to NY City NPT Review at the UN (see http://nptwalk2010.org).

But I'm soon to be back on the road after a $3,600 resurrection of the "NO WAR" van for the next leg of the Proposition One In 2010 Campaign, the "Walk For Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion from DC to NYC," which is being organized by Jay Marx <marxjay@gmail.com> and Ethan Genauer <nptwalk2010@gmail.com> - 202-682-4282

I have no idea how we'll pay for gas and repairs and food to New York, as we've exhausted all donations with this van repair.  We'll camp when necessary.  But as we have done from the beginning of the vigil in front of the White House, (June 3, 1981 until now, see http://prop1.org), we are moving out on faith and hope.

Our plan after the Non-Proliferation Treaty events is to travel through New England.  We have strong support in Philadelpia, Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Vermont, but we need other venues along the way from DC to Maine.  Please let us know if you're interested in helping.

If you want to contribute with contacts, venues, logistical, financial, or other support to the campaign, please contact Jay Marx at <marxjay@gmail.com>, PO Box 27217, Washington, DC 20038 - 202-682-4282

Ellen Thomas
et@prop1.org

Obama's nuclear-free vision mired in debate

Obama's nuclear-free vision mired in debate

Pentagon officials have pushed back against the president's goals to shrink the U.S. stockpile and reduce the role of such weapons in foreign policy, sources say.

By Paul Richter
January 4, 2010 Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-nuclear4-2010jan04,0,2198537,full.story