Community Currency - 07/22/10

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Countdown to Zero - Time To Retire Nuclear Weapons with Marylia Kelley, Executive Director of Tri-Valley CAREs, founded by concerned neighbors living near Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, one of two locations where all US nuclear weapons are designed. They monitor nuclear weapons and environmental clean-up activities throughout the US nuclear weapons complex, with a special focus on Livermore Lab and the surrounding communities. Their overarching mission is to promote peace, justice and a healthy environment. Their goals include - Convert Livermore Lab from nuclear weapons development and testing to socially beneficial, environmentally sound research. End all nuclear weapons development and testing in the United States. Abolish nuclear weapons worldwide, and achieve an equitable, successful non-proliferation regime. Promote forthright communication and democratic decision-making in public policy on nuclear weapons and related environmental issues, locally, nationally and globally. Clean up the radioactive and toxic pollution emanating from the Livermore Lab and reduce the Lab's environmental and health hazards

Marylia Kelley has 27 years of experience doing research, writing and facilitating public participation in decisions regarding the Department of Energy weapons complex, Livermore Lab, nuclear weapons, waste and cleanup. She advises EPA and state agencies on the Superfund cleanup of toxic and radioactive pollution at Livermore Lab. She has provided input to the National Academy of Sciences on the proliferation risks of the U.S. nuclear weapons "stockpile stewardship" program and on the spread of contaminants at the Lab's main site and Site 300 high explosives testing range. She has written for numerous publications, including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. She edits the newsletter, Citizen's Watch. She has received numerous awards for her work, and, in 2002, she was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame. She has a background in journalism and humanities, and graduated summa cum laude from John F. Kennedy University. She has been a great inspiration for citizen activists.

A new stunning documentary, Countdown to Zero, about the escalating global nuclear arms crisis, produced by Academy Award winner Lawrence Bender, written and directed by Lucy Walker, premieres this Friday, July 23rd, in cities across the country. The film traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs: nine nations possessing nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join them, with the world held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident.

Marylia in this show shares her story of how she became involved with the local and global struggle against nuclear weapons, as well as her experiences at the recent UN Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York, which drew activists from all over the world.  She shares her insights into the difference between Bush and Obama's official nuclear posture, and the differences between the government's rhetoric and reality.  She also gives some insight into the history of non-violent civil disobedience at the gates of Livermore.

After 65 years of nuclear terrorism, threatening to annihilate selected nations and possibly all of humanity- "It's Time to Retire Nuclear Weapons". Tri-Valley CAREs and other groups invite people of peace to participate in a commemoration at the gates of the Livermore nuclear weapons laboratory, beginning at 8 AM, Friday, August 6th. The program will feature Taiko drummers, and speakers. Around 9 AM, following the rally, we will march a short distance to the Livermore Lab's West Gate, where those who choose will nonviolently risk arrest. A moment of silence at 8:15 AM will be observed in memory of the moment on August 6, 1945, when Enola Gay dropped a uranium bomb over the city of Hiroshima and vaporized thousands in a flash. Thousands more died agonizing deaths in the days and months that followed. Still more have died and are dying each year of the lingering effects of radiation exposure. Join the gathering  in remembrance and to pledge "never again." And, at the site where "new and modified" U.S. nuclear bombs are being developed, our physical presence and our voices will also proclaim our determination to achieve a nulcear weapons free world in our lifetimes. Join us, take a stand to eliminate these weapons- at Livermore and around the globe. Details posted at the Tri Valley CAREs website- http://www.trivalleycares.org/ .