 Report from Bombplex 2030 hearing, by Glenn Carroll Coordinator NUCLEAR WATCH SOUTH We rocked the Bomb Town... and sang The Bomb a sweet lullaby by the riverside. We owned the room. We framed the discussion. The experience was unexpectedly positive. We were impeccably nonviolent in our speech and action. We were prepared, informed, articulate, and clear. The only tension in the room came from Ted Wyka who has to squirm in the hot seat while the Bomb Culture comes to terms with its End Game. The "other side" was eager to reflect its humanity to us. The election results provided a handy unifying and celebratory, at least for most it seemed, backdrop. The turnout was just right. I'm gonna say 50 people over the two meetings. The morning meeting had press ... only the alternative press was at the evening meeting. We had the best literature table spot (but had to wrangle for it). Almost all our literature was taken. We had darling buttons. Mushroom cloud with "no" superimposed. Earth with "yes" superimposed. Bombs Away. No Nukes. Disarmament Now. The previous night at the SC DHEC meeting on the GRIEVOUS HLW situation was the first time ever according to Leslie Minerd who should know because she has been in this movement since the beginning that opponents to DOE's project proposal outnumbered proponents. It, by the way, was a packed hearing room. But that's another story -- Joe Whetstone, Sierra Club, merits special recognition for his diligent leadership and study on this issue. We were diverse and spoke against Bombplex 2030 and for disarment and clean-up from a wide range of perspectives. The room was half-full in the morning and three-quarters full in the evening. Richard Lindsey, youngest of 10 children of a Cold War victim, SRP worker, who died at age 53 when Richard was only 8 ... whose aunt lived to be 104 and whose father's parents lived well into their 90s was a powerful and moving spokesman for the needs of his mother who, as with all the Cold War worker victims and families, is getting the runaround with the Worker Compensation Program. Bobbie Paul met the Lindsey family in a fortuitous accidental meeting and is strongly helping shape the Lindsey's case into what could well be The Case that breaks the logjam on the Worker Compensation situation. The Lindsey family is very special and meritorious of the focus upon it. He was appropriately at the center of our press conference and was poised and dignified through what must have been an intense "first time out." WE NEED TO PLACE THE WORKER COMPENSATION PROGRAM AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WITH DISARMAMENT AND CLEAN-UP. A COMPANION TO THAT IS TO ADVOCATE FOR WORKER SAFETY AS WE FACE THE GRIEVOUS WASTE SITUATION. Lou Zeller, BREDL, spoke early on and started the theme "Zero Nuclear Weapons by 2030." The press conference was well planned and run by BREDL, and our efforts were so blessed that even our mistakes turned into perfect timing! Augusta Chronicle, Aiken Standard, the SC radio network, a local TV affiliate and Atlanta Progressive were the only press in attendance (I think). BREDL also contributed a hospitality suite with nourishment for all (although only the cool people ended up hanging out in there). Janet kept the home fires burning for the duration of the morning meeting, serving as hostess and chief coffee maker. One of the biggest hits was a performance by Melanie Knight, Carolina Peace Resource Center and reBELLEious cheerleader, who reworked Dire Straits "Money For Nothin'" into a hilarious and bang-on message. "Look at that momma, she can't feed her baby -- while you suck upon the taxpayer teet." Sting's classic contribution "I Want My MTV" was changed, naturally! to "I Want My NTP!" We'll get those words up soon for your enjoyment and for folks in other towns who want to "cover" it. THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S testimony was so amazing. So clear so informed. Allison Peeler, CPRC, cracked open our hearts with her informed impassioned plea for her future. Laura Sima, who ANA folks know from DC Days a few years back, is organizing an anti-nuclear movement on University of South Carolina campus and spoke from a strong scientific and factual basis. Ranowul Jzar of Citizens for Environmental Justice, Savannah, and who is currently serving on the SRS CAB made note of Laura's testimony as the single best hook-up with the tricky EIS process. Other young people spontaneously signed up to speak and gave simple straightforward testimony for disarmament. David Matos, Aiken Peace, perhaps the first voice from Aiken EVER on the record, in opposition to The Bomb, made incisive comments to the global insecurity and increased threat from our hostile posture. Jerry Rudolph, CPRC, broke new ground with some astonishing ideas which he will hopefully send up the pipeline. This one stood out: he invoked Daniel Ellsberg's revelatory Viet Nam deceptions that if known in time would have prevented the war. He made a call for conscience to DOE employees who may be aware of classified deceptions that should be made public. He also called for the terrorist threat to us from resuming nuclear weapons manufacture to be analyzed, and followed that thread in detailing the many facets, the threats to tourists in other nations, the threat to our economy if our goods are boycotted. And the threat of modelling ourselves after Russia and draining the treasury on this enterprise. Elizabeth Baldwin gave grim detailed narrative of what to expect in the aftermath of a nuclear blast in your city ... the first responders mostly dead, the outlying responders overwhelmed by the number of victims, the simple task of finding wood to cremate the dead while the maggots crowd in ... drawing from testimony she knows so intimately from her work as a Japanese translator and with the hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She began her comments by thanking the people who do not agree with our viewpoint for their respectful attention and the goodwill created by that simple acknowledgement was palpable. I believe the strongest point I made was in invoking the new, unmatched weapons system, the Trident, especially since Kings Bay, Georgia constitutes the world's third-largest nuclear power. That one single example exposes the lie that we don't have a credible threat or that the shelf-life of our bombs is expiring. DOE folks said they don't want to analyze the use of the product or the Disarmament 2030 alternative. Natch. But if they do their duty, the message will be reported back even if they can't figure out what to do with it in the EIS. And look for Brian Costner in his role with DOE NEPA Compliance at some of the meetings. For some reason, the "DOE organizers" like to say how much they respect Marylia Kelly! I told them to read "Nuclear Rites" before they hit Livermore. Too much to tell ... so beautiful and so perfect They only allowed Congressional legislators priority status. Everyone else of that ilk was first come first served. None from "official leaders" in opposition to DOE's scheme. We listened to the usual listless droning about bring your money bring your money from the chambers and support from the towns and area technical schools. United Way and the representative from 100 Black Men who works with underprivileged children were the most painful co-options. The only criticism I had of the way they ran the meeting was that the facilitator's "One minute remaining" was intrusive. They said they would get a bell. So now they'll be handing out wings during our testimony!! I wish I dared say more it's so long already. And I wasn't in the room at all times to hear everything. Leslie Minerd, Environmentalists Inc. reminded SRS to be careful what they wish for ... to make note of the many, many more meetings being held in New Mexico and if Complex 2030 is built elsewhere, it will undermine support for the clean-up mission at SRS. Dianne Valentin, Bobbie Paul and Krista Brewer, Atlanta WAND, contributed the BB demonstration at both hearings. The entirety (6-1/2 hours total, including the previous night's HLW hearing) was videotaped by Judy Conder, Georgia Peace & Justice. I'll end here, and wish it were even appropriate to elaborate further and cite ALL the compelling and EVERYBODY's testimony. But this last and most special observation: the evening ended with Bobbie Paul and Elizabeth Baldwin singing the now-classic reworking of Sam Cooke's "Don't Know Much." The last words uttered on the record at the SRS meeting: "If common sense could only start a chain reaction of the human heart, what a wonderful world this would be. " Respectfully submitted, Glenn * -- Glenn Carroll Coordinator NUCLEAR WATCH SOUTH (formerly GANE - Georgians Against Nuclear Energy) P.O. Box 8574 Atlanta, GA 31106 PHONE/FAX: 404-378-4263 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it COMING SOON!!!! www.nonukesyall.org NOTE: Some of the buttons Glenn mentions (graphics in the initial Bombplex message in the archive and the earth icon on the homepage) were designed and produced by Charleston Peace. If you need buttons and we like your idea (or you like ours), Charleston Peace can create any number of 2 1/4" buttons for your group or event. For details and to see samples, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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