Dear Friends of a world free of the threat of nuclear annihilation,
President Biden stated the obvious this past week: “We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis.” Indeed we have not (although we certainly had far too many near misses)! And in yet another speech last week President Putin, in addition to saying he would use “all available means” to defend Russian territory (oh my!!!), reminded the world that the atomic bombs the United States dropped on Japan in 1945 had “created a precedent.” Hmmm… he does have a point there!!!
All of this is very sobering. And when the two superpowers that wield over 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons continue their monumental and decades-long struggle for hegemony, the prospects for humanity certainly look bleak. So what’s a nuclear resister to do?
We can certainly question our government when told that a war is necessary to protect our “national security” or that nuclear weapons are essential to that same “national security.” When our government tells us that China, Russia, North Korea and Iran threaten our “national security” we can call the bull___t card and remind people of the billions of tax dollars squandered on paranoid delusions that only serve to fatten the coffers of huge weapons makers and their cheerleaders on both sides of the aisle in Congress.
The ultimate question is, Of what use are nuclear weapons? The bottom line is that they are of absolutely no use… unless we want to incinerate and irradiate ourselves and bring an end to this experiment called civilization. While there is a grand focus on “No First Use” of nuclear weapons, in reality ANY use of nuclear weapons would likely elicit a response by the nation being attacked or, in the case of what is known as the “nuclear umbrella”, the probable use of nuclear weapons to respond to an attack on a nation covered by a security alliance (with the United States). No matter how you cut it, it would not go well; so when push comes to shove it becomes (or should become) obvious that the only sane position regarding nuclear weapons can be NO USE! And from that follows the logic of total and complete disarmament being the only way to avert nuclear omnicide.
So there; glad we could get that all cleared up! This is certainly a time for all of us in the nuclear abolition community to band together to call on rational people in every corner of the globe to demand an end to the nuclear madness, to the strengthening of the United Nations, and to real cooperation among nations to peacefully resolve conflict and collaborate to restore our fragile environment. For the sake of future generations we must put our energy and economic power into healing our bruised planet and caring of everyone (Sorry Elon, Jeff and other planetary explorers, there is NO Planet B!!!).
At Ground Zero Center we continue to question, challenge and resist the violent status quo through our humble experiment in truth. We continue to resist Trident while working for the global abolition of nuclear weapons. We also continue to cultivate Ground Zero Center as a focal point for local and regional activists, community-building, and as an example of grassroots organizing. And we have been extremely fortunate to receive some wonderful gifts – from those who donate their time and energy to GZ’s day to day work; to the recent gifts to The Center, including Tracy Powell’s Peace Dove and Becca Thebad’s Sunflower sculpture, and Carol and Charlie Michel’s gift of solar energy for The Center earlier this year.
Summer activities included weekly bannering over Interstate 5, the annual Peace Fleet and our annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki weekend of remembrance and action. A number of people were cited by authorities during the nonviolent direct action that took place on August 8th, and so far five of them have appeared in court. you can read about all of this and much more in the October 2022 Ground Zero Newsletter.
Ground Zero Center helped with the September 24th Seattle Rally for Nuclear Abolition, and Ground Zero’s Tom Rogers was one of the speakers. You can read the full text of his speech in the October Newsletter.
In addition to our Newsletter, you can see video of the Flash Mob performing as part of the August 8th nonviolent direct action, read our Appeal to Navy Personnel, and much more at our Home Page at gzcenter.org!
Coming soon will be our Annual Meeting on October 22nd. The agenda for this year’s annual meeting includes a brief review of 2022 activities and a discussion of goals for the future and activities for 2023. This year’s annual meeting will feature the premier and videotaping of Tom Rogers’ presentation titled, “Nuclear Weapons: From Opposition to Abolition.” We invite you to join us for this gathering and, if you are so moved, to consider what gifts of your time and energy you may be able to offer in our common work for a better world.
Also coming up at Ground Zero Center on November 12th will be a day Celebrating the Original Meaning of Armistice Day. If you are in the area we hope you will plan to join us, and spread the word to others.
Thanks to all of you for supporting Ground Zero Center in so many ways, and above all – THANK YOU for your Love and Patience!
On behalf of Ground Zero Center,
Leonard Eiger
