An important week to stand against nuclear weapons

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.