Ground Zero Feature Articles
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Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action PEACE FLEET! 2006Meet the U.S. Navy fleet at Seafair. The tentative date this year is Wednesday, August 2, 2006. This year, activists are also encouraged to meet on land on the Seattle waterfront at the same time for a nonviolent demonstration against weapons of war. Meet on the waterfront by 1 pm to see vessels in Elliott Bay. Please note that we try to have Peace Boats in Elliott Bay by noon. Time goes pretty fast while out on the water. We will know more about this as the day gets closer, such as which Navy ships are coming to Seattle. For updates, please call or e-mail the contacts listed below. We are inviting all with the spirit of nonviolence, a sign, and a boat to join us on August 2. Peace Boats in the past have displayed earth and peace flags, and signs stating “No More War”, “Impeach Bush”, and “USN=WMD”, and a banner stating "Danger! Navy has weapons of mass destruction.” All boats should expect to be boarded by the Coast Guard. Boats must have approved audible sound devices, registration, life jackets, etc. Skippers should carry identification. All boats are required to stay 500 yards away from Navy warships. It is highly advisable to obey all Coast Guard orders. One Peace Fleet skipper is still contesting a $10,000 civil penalty for allegedly being too close to U.S. Navy vessels in August 2004. Why would we demonstrate for peace at a Seattle maritime festival? Because the celebration of warships in our harbor help bring about the normalcy of modern war. The fleet arrival at Seafair is a public relations and recruiting event for the U.S. Navy. Previous years have brought Trident nuclear submarines and Navy warships used to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles in the first and second Wars on Iraq and the War on Afghanistan. The fleet is displayed for four days in downtown Seattle at tremendous cost to taxpayers while crucial social services in education, health care, and transportation are being cut for lack of funds. Each year at Seafair, the Navy has brought ships into Puget Sound used to fire depleted uranium bullets. The Close-In Weapons System, aboard almost every U.S. Navy vessel, must be test-fired twice a month for calibration. The depleted uranium rounds are fired off the Washington coast or wherever the Navy chooses to leave them. Beat the Seafair blues and meet the fleet! August 2, 2006. Please call or e-mail for more information: contact Mary Gleysteen at (360) 297-3894, Glen Milner at (206) 365-7865, or info@gzcenter.org |