Seeds of Change

On the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima...
     ACT to abolish nuclear weapons and war
      PROTEST new, earth-penetrating nuclear weapons at Livermore Lab
      CELEBRATE your vision of a just and nuclear-free world

RALLY AND MARCH TO THE LIVERMORE NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAB

WHEN: Saturday, August 6 at 5 PM

WHERE: William Payne Park, 5800 Patterson Pass Rd. Livermore, CA (BART shuttles provided by the Peace and Freedom Party) or Carpool at SpaceShare: http://spaceshare.com/livermore/ - Make your trip to Seeds of Change earth-friendly! Click here for a full list of transportation options.

Download the Seeds of Change flier. One-page PDF (engl.) click here: [front, 485 KB] and [back - 2.4 megabytes; high-speed connection only]. Half-page, in English, click here: (1.2 mb pdf). Semillas de Cambio - 1 (970 KB pdf); Semillas de Cambio - 2 (2.4 mb pdf).

To Volunteer: contact Tara (925) 443-7148

NO NUKES! NO WAR!

Why Livermore? Why Now?
The Bay Area's Livermore Lab acts as the "brain" of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. Currently Livermore Lab scientists are developing new and modified nuclear weapons, spurring the U.S. to spend billions of dollars upgrading the U.S. arsenal. The U.S. spends roughly one and a half times more on nuclear weapons activities than during the cold war (adjusted for inflation).

Developing nuclear weapons in the Bay Area puts communities at risk. The Dept. of Energy describes the 50-mile radius surrounding Livermore Lab as the affected population. This includes over 7 million people from San Francisco, to Silicon Valley to Stockton. Plutonium work continues to expand in Livermore, despite a shutdown of the plutonium facility in January 2005 - due to safety violations. The Dept. of Energy has given the green light to double the plutonium limit at Livermore Lab to 3,080 pounds, enough for 300 nuclear bombs.

On August 6, join with us in Livermore to say "yes" to peace and health and "no" to nukes and war.

The Seeds of Change theme reminds us that our actions now are laying the foundation for the peace of the future. Like a pyramid built through generations of labor, our movement is planting the seeds that will one day abolish nuclear weapons and heal global wounds caused by the nuclear legacy. Join with us to plant Seeds of Change and enjoy music, children's activities, and a candlelight march to the gates of the Lab. Bring an item to share at the picnic (potluck) dinner. On the 60th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we will gather at Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab. Hiroshima, Nagasaki NEVER AGAIN!!!

TRANSPORTATION
BART: Free shuttles from Dublin/Pleasanton BART provided by ALAMEDA COUNTY PEACE AND FREEDOM PARTY.
DRIVING: Directions to William Payne Park: I-580, exit on Vasco Rd go South; Patterson Pass Rd. will be on your Right. Turn Right, the Park is on your Right.
A complete list of busses and carpools will be posted to the trivalleycares.org website in mid-July.

SEND SUNFLOWERS! : Design a sunflower to "plant" at the gates of Livermore Lab. Be creative-use wrapping paper, or other decorative paper to design your flower. Bring your sunflowers with you to the rally; if you cannot attend the rally at the Livermore nuclear weapons lab on Aug. 6, you can participate by sending a sunflower that you make. For full instructions: www.wagingpeace.org/sunflower.

NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION: There will be nonviolent direct action on Tuesday, August 9. Meet at 8 AM at William Payne Park, 5800 Patterson Pass Rd. Take I-580, exit on Vasco Rd; go South 2 miles. August 9 is the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. This action is to honor all the victims of nuclear weapons-from mining to designing to testing to use. NAGASAKI NEVER AGAIN!!! NONVIOLENCE GUIDELINES BELOW.

MUSIC, THEATER AND OTHER EVENTS: Leading up to the August 6, Seeds of Change: No Nukes! No Wars! rally and march to the Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, we have organized events with music, theater and poetry. Creating and celebrating our culture of resistance strengthens our movement for peace. The struggle continues, our passion grows. Events include CD release parties with live music, a theater show "Oh My Goddess" and a nonviolence training. For a full list of upcoming events: http://www.trivalleycares.org/calendar. For a pdf flier of the “Oh My Goddess” performance: click here (pdf).

AUG 6 AND 9 NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION: August 6 and 9, 2005 mark the 60th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. Join with people at four central U.S. nuclear weapons sites in major actions calling for an end to the development and production of nuclear warheads. Activities will recognize the devastation caused by nuclear weapons and memorialize the many victims of bomb production at every step - from uranium mining to design, to production, to testing and use. Join the global majority to say NO! to militarism, war and oppression, and YES! to nonviolence, justice and a more secure world for all.

Here's a list of nationwide actions: http://www.besafenet.com/nuclear.htm

Aug 9, 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. For more information: http://www.abolitionnow.org/augustactions.html

SPONSORS AND ENDORSERS: Initial Cosponsors and Endorsers: Alameda Co. Green Party; Alameda Co. Peace and Freedom Party & Movement; American Friends Service Committee; Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition; Bay Area United for Peace and Justice; Berkeley Friends Meeting; Buddhist Peace Fellowship; California Peace Action; Circle of Concern; Communist Party USA, Northern California District; El Cerrito Democratic Club; Environmentalists Against War; Fiat Pax Berkeley; First Unitarian Church of Oakland, Justice Council; Food Not Bombs; Friends of Davis Religious Community for Sanctuary; Global Exchange; Grandmothers for Peace, Hayward Chapter; Gray Panthers of San Francisco; Green Party of California; Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice; Hayward Demos Democratic Club; La Onda Bajita, KPFA; Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy; Livermore Conversion Project; Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center; Modesto Peace/Life Center; Monterey Peace and Justice Center; Nevada Desert Experience; Nicaragua Center for Community Action (NICCA); Night on the Streets Catholic Worker; Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; Pax Christi Fremont; Peace Action New Mexico; Peace Action of San Mateo County; Peace Coalition of Monterey County; Peace Fresno; Peninsula Peace and Justice Center; People's NonViolent Response Coalition; Physicians for Social Responsibility, Bay Area Chapter; Santa Cruz Friend's Meeting; St. Joseph the Worker Fr. Bill O'Donnell Social Justice Committee; South Bay Mobilization Against the War; Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive Environment); Tuolumne County Citizens for Peace; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County, Social Concerns Committee; Veterans for Peace, SF Bay Area Chapter 069; Veterans Speakers Alliance/Veterans for Peace Chapter 101; Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club; Watsonville Brown Berets; Western States Legal Foundation; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Monterey Branch; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Berkeley Branch; and Women for Peace. Contact Sherry: (510) 663-8065 to sponsor or endorse.

NONVIOLENCE GUIDELINES: Nonviolence has always been a core value of the anti-nuclear movement. Perhaps that is because nuclear weapons represent the ultimate form of violence. The atomic bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki initially killed some 200,000 people. Most of the 30,000 nuclear weapons in the world today have much larger explosive yields than that first nuclear weapon. Nonviolence is more than the absence of violence. Many of us believe that the active practice of nonviolence is a direct challenge to the violent policies of our governments. As we extend our hands to people new to our movement, we invite you to join us in our nonviolent direct action. While participants in this action are not required to embrace the philosophy of nonviolence, in order to create an atmosphere that is welcoming and safe for all participants - including newcomers, children and families - the organizers ask you abide by the following practical guidelines to keep the rally and march peaceful and safe:
1. We will use no violence, physical or verbal, towards any person. We consider speech or acts that are racist, homophobic, sexist or against persons with disabilities to be violent.
2. We will carry no weapons.
3. We will not bring or use any alcohol or illegal drugs.
4. We will not damage property.
5. We will respect the rights of all people.
6. We will use our best efforts to encourage others to act nonviolently.
7. We will accept the legal consequences of our actions as we continue our struggle in the courts.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, managed by the University of California (UC) is one of the two principal U.S. nuclear weapons design laboratories and as such, is one of the highest security facilities in the country. Up to 3,080 pounds of plutonium could be stored on site, protected by guards who have been given "shoot to kill" orders in the case of unauthorized intruders. In these times of heightened security, crossing the facility boundaries or climbing on or over the Lab fences carries an elevated risk of injury or death. In addition, over the past 20 years UC police have consistently demonstrated a zero tolerance policy for people who go limp at the time of arrest. If you choose to risk arrest and go limp, be aware that you risk extreme pain and possible injury. If past practice holds, generally those who choose to risk arrest and cooperate with their arresting officers will not be subjected to pain holds or injury.