Forwarded for Global Zero (August 5, 2016)
THIS WEEKEND: In 25 Cities Worldwide, Thousands Rally Against Nuclear Weapons on 71st Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings
*** http://www.globalzero.org/bike-around-the-bomb ***
As U.S. Election Approaches, Activists Warn Next President Must Address Nuclear Threat On Day 1
Marking the 71st anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thousands of Global Zero activists will participate in a global day of action calling for an end to the nuclear threat. Demonstrations will include a 7-mile bike ride tracing the blast of a “small” nuclear weapon, highlighting the zone of devastation in which most injuries would be fatal, overwhelming any possible humanitarian relief efforts.
FIND A “BIKE AROUND THE BOMB” EVENT HERE: http://www.globalzero.org/bike-around-the-bomb
“We’re a few months away from handing over the nuclear codes to Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. With those codes comes the virtually limitless authority to launch a nuclear strike and kill hundreds of millions of people. There are a lot of tough issues facing Americans this year, but the rising potential for nuclear violence needs to be top of mind in the voting booth,” said Derek Johnson, executive director of Global Zero. “We’re mobilizing this weekend to make sure the Democratic and Republican nominees understand the only way to ensure these weapons are never used again is to eliminate all of them, everywhere. The next American president has to put that objective at the top of the foreign policy agenda.”
In 25 cities around the world, including 17 in the United States, grassroots activists will demand action to eliminate nuclear weapons as they “Bike Around the Bomb.” The demonstrations also come at a time when President Barack Obama, facing public pressure to live up to the nuclear commitments he outlined in Prague in 2009, is reportedly considering a series of executive actions to reduce the global nuclear threat, including a bold reform that would end U.S. policy permitting first use of nuclear weapons.
In Washington (DC), Global Zero members and bicyclists will assemble at Lafayette Park in front of the White House on Saturday, August 6th at 10:00am ET.
- RSVP here:https://www.facebook.com/events/1233301926689065/
- Speakers Include: Mr. Toshiyuki Mimaki, a Japanese survivor of the bombings of Hiroshima (“hibakusha”). Mr Mimaki, who is 76 years old, will join activists from Global Zero in the bike around DC and will be available for interviews through a translator. Stephen Miles, Director of Win Without War, will also be a featured speaker.
- Event co-sponsors: Win Without War, BicycleSPACE, Washington Peace Center, CodePink, ONE DC, and Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee
- Local Contact: Brett Abrams, 516-841-1105.
In Sante Fe (NM), Global Zero members and bicyclists will assemble at Cathedral Park on Saturday, August 6th at 8:00am MT.
- RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/918370218289464/
- Speakers Include: Valerie Plame Wilson (former CIA ops officer), Dr. Jim Doyle (former Nuclear Safeguards and Security Specialist at LANL), and Tina Cordova (Co-Founder of Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium).
- Local Contact: Jesse Guillen, 505-699-9367.
In Boston (MA), Global Zero members and bicyclists will meet up at Riverside Press Park on Sunday, August 7th at 1:00pm ET.
- For more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/128321570934508/
- Speakers include: City Councillor Nadeem Mazen
- Local contact: Mary Popeo, 508-918-9000.
In Richmond (VA), Global Zero members and bicyclists will meet up at the VCU Compass Plaza on Sunday, August 7th at 11:00am ET.
- For more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/1728240497418073/
- Local contact: Jack Wolfe, 757-375-9116.
In Los Angeles (CA), Global Zero members and bicyclists will meet up at Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area on Saturday, August 6th at 9:00am PT.
- For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1202887129762729/
- Local contact: Fiona Yamamoto, 714-461-8908.
In Seattle (WA), Global Zero members and bicyclists will meet up at the east end of Green Lake Beach near the playground on Saturday, August 6th at 4:00pm PT.
- For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/966025096853464/
- Local contact: Jenny Chang,253-579-9257.
In Portland (OR), Global Zero members and bicyclists will meet up at the Waterfront Park Fountain in Downtown Portland on Saturday, August 6th at 10:00am PT.
- For more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/856686384463181/
- Local contact: Jacinda Arndt, 360-989-7131.
In Orlando (FL), Global Zero members and bicyclists will assemble near Lake Claire on the University of Central Florida campus on Sunday, August 7th at 12:00pm ET.
- For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1190782194285607/
- Local contact: Veronica Rios, 407-492-5179.
This is Global Zero’s third annual “Bike Around the Bomb” event. Other locations include Pittsburgh, PA; Chicago, IL; Austin, TX; Albuquerque, NM; Ames, IA; Grand Junction, CO; Tucson, AZ; and Eugene, OR. Global Zero members in Pakistan, India, Canada and Australia will also host demonstrations.
For more information, or for interviews with Global Zero leaders, please contact Yasmina Dardari at 407-922-8149 or by email at yasmina@unbendablemedia.com