NUCLEAR ABOLITION SUMMIT
Email: shundahai@radix.net
BREAKING THE NUCLEAR CHAIN
2/26/96
TO: Nuclear Abolition Summit organizers and participants
From: Reinard Knutsen
Dear Friends,
It is hard to believe that there are only 35 days left until the
Nuclear Abolition Summit. It seems like just last week when we
first began to make tentative proposals and plans for a
Nuclear Abolition Network meeting which has blossomed into the
current event. At the start of a project it is always a little
difficult to see exactly how things might shape and form
themselves. The Nuclear Abolition Summit has evolved in many
wonderful ways that we did not predict. We could not have got
where we are in this process with out your involvement and
support.
Thank you to everyone who has participated and will participate
in the creation of this event. I know that every one is really
busy with their own projects and working on specialized issues,
so we really appreciate the time and energy that you have put
into bringing this Summit to life. And we do feel that every one
who attends the summit will benefit from the hard work we have
all done on this together.
It would take up a few pages to list everyone that has given us
support and advice along the way. But we would like to mention a
few people who in particular have been very influential in
getting the summit organized. Thank you to:
Jennifer Viereck of Healing Global Wounds for the incredible
strength and energy that has kept us coming back to the Test Site
each year;
Peace Action and Peace Education Fund and in
particular Fran Teplitz and Karina Wood for being there
from the very beginning and all your dedication and energy in
building new coalitions;
Chris Brown and STAND for arranging the
Summit meeting space at UNLV:
Rick Nielson of Citizen Alert for
the office space and support you have given in preparing a smooth
transition for us into Las Vegas;
Virginia Sanchez with Citizen
Alert Native American Project for her support and guidance.
Chief Raymond Yowel, Zabarte and the Western Shoshone National Council for their many years of leadership in the struggle to
shut the Nevada Test Site down and stop shipments of nuclear
waste into Nevada.
Grace Thorpe from NECONA,
Bruce Hall with CTB
Clearinghouse and now Greenpeace Disarmament Campaigner for his
work in spreading information about CTB and international
disarmament work;
Jackie Cabasso with
for her many years of work in bringing the
international and national movements together;
John and Louise of the Hiroshima / Nagasaki Peace Committee who have given us so
much support in DC;
Peter Bergel and Center for Energy Research;
Bridget Chisholm of Travel Concepts for help with hotel
negotiations;
and thank you to all the organizations and
activists that are working on the many levels of nuclear
abolition campaigns.
I wanted to make a brief report on the current situation and I
hope to begin follow up phone calls this week to individually
make contact with many of you to discuss your particular
involvement in the Summit. But I also encourage you to please
call me if you have any questions or concerns that you need
clarification with. I have exactly seven days left in Washington
DC before I hit the neon streets of Las Vegas. Time is moving
very quickly and I am in a constant race to catch up.
Agenda
I am including the most recent agenda schedule for the Summit.
Note that this is still a DRAFT copy and has not been finalized.
Thank you to all who have given suggestions and participated in
creating a basic agenda where everyone is represented in some
way. We still welcome you input into this process and
I am sure that the agenda will continue to evolve.
Logistical
We are in negotiations with the Continental Casino which is about
five blocks from UNLV to hold a block of 10 rooms for March 31
and a block of 30 rooms for April 1-3. To reserve a room you will
need to contact the hotel directly. It will be cheaper if you are
able to group up with others from your area. Up to four people
can legally squeeze into each room. If you are a single
representative and would like help coordinating a room share
please let us know. We will be able to do this on a limited
basis. Later on today we might have the contract finalized and
will provide you with the 800 # for the hotel.
We are planning on providing a camping space for people who can
not afford or do not want a hotel. We have not finalized the
location for this spot but it will be a main priority as soon as
I get to Vegas. We do have several leads of possible sites any
where from 3 miles to 20 miles from UNLV. As soon as we have a
spot finalized we will provide a map and directions on how to get
there. Where ever the location is we will provide some kind of
shuttle between the site and UNLV. We will also try to provide
limited pickup services from the airport or bus station. Seeds of
Peace will provide a kitchen and logistical support at the
camping area.
We will be coordinating a mass Convoy out to the Nevada Test
Site, 60 miles north of Las Vegas, on Thursday April 4. We hope
that you will stay for the Healing Global Wounds Spring Gathering
but will provide transportation both ways for people needing to
return to Las Vegas. If you need a ride either one way or both
ways please let us know.
If you are a driver with a vehicle and are interested in helping
us with our transportation logistical dilemma, WE NEED
YOU!
For information on travel arrangements to and from Las Vegas
please call Bridget Chisholm of Travel Concepts at 1-800-787-2937
Registration
We are reaching a point where in order to help us with our
planning and to provide funds for logistical support of the
Summit it is essential that we get in your early registration.
Please fill out the accompanying registration form and mail it
in immediately. Registration is on a sliding scale donation
basis. NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY! We estimate that the Nuclear
Abolition Summit and Nuclear Abolition Day of Action will cost
$75 per person. We appreciate it If you are able to donate more
then that to help some one else who might not be able to afford
as much. We must all support one another in this.
Getting in your registration forms will allow us to get updated
information to you quicker.
Fill them out and Fax them in!
Nonviolence Training
We are organizing an independent full day Non Violence Training
Workshop for March 31. We see this as a time to
discuss the deeper implications of nonviolence as a lifestyle and
political tactic. This workshop is still in development.
Please let us know if you are interested in participating in this
and if you have any materials on Nonviolence that you
would like to share.
In the next few days please take this opportunity to discuss with
others in your organization or community ways in which
you want to participate in the summit and Nuclear Abolition Day
of Action. It will be great to speak with you personally to
discuss the many exciting developments in the organizating
process.
If you have not recieved our latest organizers letter and Agenda
Development Questionarre please let me know and I will
fax it to you right away.
In Peace and for a nuclear free future,
Reinard
NO MINING! NO TESTING! NO PRODUCTION! NO DUMPING! NO NUKES!
INITIAL ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS:
BAN Waste Coalition,
Bay Area Action,
Center for Energy Research,
Citizen Alert,
CTB Clearinghouse,
Gray Panthers,
Grandmothers for Peace (Northland Chapter),
Hiroshima / Nagasaki Peace Committee,
Manhattan Project II,
Peace Action,
Peace Action Education Fund,
Proposition One,
Sane /Freeze Hawaii,
Seeds of Peace,
Shundahai Network,
STAND,
Unity Foundation,
War Resisters League,
Western States Legal Foundation,
Wetlands Preserve Environmental Center,
Women's International League of Peace and Freedom,
Women Strike for Peace
NAS -Invitation - Proposal - Shundahai Committment - Flyer
Proposition One --- Peace Park --- Current Events