A Green Vision for Livermore

Tri-Valley CAREs was founded in 1983 by local citizens concerned that nuclear weapons work at the Lawrence Livermore and Sandia Livermore Laboratories was impacting the environmental well-being of our communities. Our concerns are as valid today, some thirteen years later. There have been numerous accidents, spills and leaks, including serious releases of radioactive hydrogen (tritium), plutonium and uranium. These poisons have been released into the air, into the soil, and even into the ground water basin beneath our homes. Both Lawrence LivermoreÕs main site in Livermore and its Site 300 testing range between Livermore and Tracy are on the EPAÕs Superfund list of the most contaminated sites in the United States.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory generates many tons of dangerous waste each year, some radioactive, some toxic and some mixed. Containers of waste currently too hazardous for disposal line the grounds, while scientists investigate possible solutions. This ongoing history of environmental degradation is inextricably linked to the development of nuclear weapons.

While this information must necessarily alarm us, it need not make us feel hopeless. We can help create positive, long lasting change by converting LivermoreÕs weapons Labs to viable centers for peaceful and environmentally responsible scientific research. Conversion can be a win-win proposition, good for the community, the environment, and, ultimately, good for the Labs, too.

We are committed to achieving the following goals:

To clean up the Labs and reduce environmental and health hazards.
- Monitor the cleanup of contamination resulting from the activities of the weapons laboratories in Livermore. Advocate for increases in cleanup efforts when needed.
- Challenge the programs that continue to threaten our health and safety.
- Inform people of the risks to their community from nuclear weapons programs.
To convert the Labs to socially beneficial, environmentally sound research.
- Facilitate conversion of the weapons laboratories in Livermore from nuclear weapons design to missions in environmental restoration technologies, renewable non-polluting energy sources, alternative vehicles and transportation and the design of green manufacturing processes. Such constructive work can secure the quality of life for communities across the nation, including our own.
To end nuclear weapons research, design and testing in the United States.
- Confront and expose the nuclear programs which endanger the peace and security of people around the world.
- Work to change national security policy, which is still based upon the maintenance of a cred- ible nuclear threat, including the possibility of a first strike.
To abolish nuclear weapons worldwide.
- Work for acceptance of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, in the U.S. and internationally.
- Work to reduce stockpiles to an absolute minimum, and ultimately zero.
- Promote policies to achieve an equitable, successful non-proliferation regime.
To promote forthright communication and democratic decision-making in public policy on nuclear weapons issues, locally, nationally and globally.
- Inform, empower and encourage citizen participation in U.S. nuclear policy issues.
- Continue partnerships with Russian activists and other allied citizens' groups on issues of conversion, environmental cleanup and disarmament.

- drafted for Tri-Valley CAREs by its members, with special thanks to Carol Davis, Stephanie Ericson, Don King, Ester Soriano, Marylia Kelley and Jo Ann Frisch.

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