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