A Call to Observe Hiroshima & Nagasaki Week in Massachusetts
August 6-9, 2015
70 years after the United States atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and 45 years after the entry into force of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the 9 nuclear weapons states have not acted on their solemn commitment to enter into serious negotiations to abolish nuclear weapons.
The Peace & Planet mobilization for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just and Sustainable World brought thousands of people from many countries to the streets of New York on April 26, and the Global Wave held over 100 actions around the world calling on governments to eliminate nuclear weapons before they eliminate us.
Massachusetts Peace Action calls on peace groups, people of faith, youth, community groups, and all people who care about the future of humanity to organize events across Massachusetts on or about August 6-9 to call attention to the people’s demand for nuclear disarmament.
We will organize a procession and outdoor commemoration in the Copley Square, Boston area along the lines of our activity last year.
Churches, synagogues and mosques will ring their bells, preach sermons, and hold other observances on or around August 6. University Lutheran Church in Harvard Square will vigil for elimination of nuclear weapons over a 70-day period from May 28 to August 5, and the United Methodists’ New England regional gathering in June will consider a resolution to reaffirm their call to abolish nuclear weapons. The bells rung by Harvard University’s Lowell House on April 26 as part of the Global Wave provide ideas and inspiration. People of faith can Christie Dennis, Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church, christie.p.dennis@gmail.com, to coordinate efforts. The next meeting of faith groups will be on July 1, 1:30 pm at Harvard Epworth Church in Cambridge.
We will organize a youth-led event using music and/or art, probably August 8 or 9 evening in Central Square, Cambridge. Contact Alina Michelewicz, Mass. Peace Action, alina@masspeaceaction.org, and Sofia Wolman, AFSC, sofiawolman@gmail.com, to coordinate.
We have launched a petition to President Obama to take action on de-alerting, no first use, global negotiations, and stopping nuclear weapons modernization, and invite your organization to help us circulate it. The petition is available online or in paper form.
We will hold monthly planning meetings with speakers from now to August 6. Stay tuned for the time and place of the next meeting.
Send information on your events to info@masspeaceaction.org or submit them here. We will publish a calendar of events across the state so that all people who seek a peaceful world will know that they are not alone!
Join us! Contact 617-354-2169 or info@masspeaceaction.org to connect and exchange ideas.
– Massachusetts Peace Action and American Friends Service Committee