On October 6, Dr. Helen Caldicott, President of Nuclear Policy Research Institute, spoke at the Veteran's Hall in downtown Santa Cruz about the profound medical, environmental, political, and moral effects of nuclear weapons, nuclear power, and nuclear waste.

Audio: [ Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3 ]

[ Nuclear Policy Research Institute ]

This event was part one of the three part RELEVANT TO NOW lecture series.

see also: Oct. 20 Mike Ruppert and Oct. 27 Kevin Danaher

An International Week of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space will take place from September 25 to October 2. Helen Calidicott is the keynote speaker on September 25 at the Front Gate Protest Rally at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County. At 11:30 there will be a 3 mile march to the front gate starting at the Hwy 1 on-ramp at Vandenberg Village.

The Bush Administration (after abandoning the ABM Treaty that outlawed missle defenses) plans to deploy missle defense interceptors before the next election as the next step to controlling and dominating space. Fifteen interceptors (that have yet to be proven effective) will be put into the ground at Ft. Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg AFB, California. We oppose the development of the proposed "sheild" from behind which pre-emptive strikes can be launched. Help build support for a U.N. sponsored ban on weapons in space.

Audio and Photo: Raging Grannies: The Best Things In Space Ain't Free
Audio and Photos: Bruce Gagnon's Update on the Privatization and Militarization of Space
Audio: Question and Answer Session

[ Vandenberg Peace Legal Defense Fund I Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space I Womens International League for Peace and Freedom I DISARM committee I Sept 25 – Oct 2 Local Actions ]

Santa Cruz residents held a gathering at the clock tower on September 9 to mark the 1000th dead American solider in Iraq. Veterans For Peace and others held signs and spoke at an open mic to call for peace and the withdrawal of US soldiers from Iraq. (announcement)

audio: Interview with Vietnam Vet for Peace I photos

comment from media watch:
"You both left when it JUST started to get huge -- there were over 200 people with candles lining both sides of the street. It was really moving to see SO MANY people I hadn't seen before -- they also had signs printed up 1000 dead and my friend had a big one 10 thousand iraqi women children men dead and I held a big WHY? anyway sorry you missed the better part of it."

Related audio: Vigil for the Fallen as Bush Accepts GOP Nomination

An evening of original music, dance, theater and spoken word for peace, democracy and justice. Wednesday • August 25 • 7pm at the Santa Cruz Veterans’ Hall.

A Benefit for Art in Action Camp scholarships. Art in Action camps bring together young visionaries for 10 days to tell their stories, build community and cultivate positive alternatives to the madness of war and oppression. Through learning our histories, celebrating our cultures and linking the issues, we create a collaborative performance with giant puppets, hip-hop, dance, spoken word, and music to share with the community.

On Friday August 6, the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, the Santa Cruz Weapons Inspection Team attempted another inspection of Lockheed-Martin's large facility on Empire-Grade Road. A well-attended rally and press conference on the steps of the County building, where activists spoke about Lockheed-Martin's (L-M) local and global activities and the dangers of nuclear war, preceeded the inspection attempt.

Following the press conference more than 60 community members carpooled up Empire-Grade as far as the sherrif's deptarment would allow. The delegation walked up to the gates of L-M's facility and demanded to inspect the premises for WMDs.

The weapons inspectors were met at the locked gate by several L-M representatives, two of whom answered questions about the facility and its activities. On earlier visits, L-M officials had refused to even speak to the SC WIT; now they've engaged in conversation, if contrived, and PROMISED to continue negotiation and dialogue.

Santa Cruz Weapons Inspection Team

Peace Pilgrimage arrives at Hiroshima I Patriotic Correctness: the Hiroshima cover-up

A call to action to Americans from an American. Please distribute as much as possible by any means.

Nov. 19: Thousands Rally at the Gates of Fort Benning, Georgia
Nov. 20: Funeral Procession and Nonviolent Direct Action
Arlen Salas David - Presente!

Just as the U.S. Senate is coming out of the closet with bold voices against this war, it seems like everyday people across the nation are becoming more vocal about their opposition to this war. This Friday -- in Capitola and all over the United States -- people took time out of their schedules for National Stand Down Day in a statement against this illegal war.