2011 NDE & Solidarity Events & Actions Archive

JANUARY

Rest In Peace: Sr. Rosemary Lynch, osf

January 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Parade; our "Peace Platoon" contingent.
We are #69--walk with us! FLIER

January 19 at 7:00pm: Martin Luther King Jr. Film Night--Citizen King (2004) Come to NDE's office (@ 1420 Bartlett Ave at MLK, north of Lake Mead Blvd.) Originally a PBS movie, Citizen King focuses on the last five years of Dr. King's life.

January 26 from 2:30 to 5:30pm (DOWNLOAD FLIER)

Eye-Witness Report from Afghanistan: Meetings with Afghan Youth and Peacemakers, plus a special performance by the "Creech-14 Players" w/ Nobel Peace Nominee Kathy Kelly.
College of Southern Nevada
6375 West Charleston Blvd., Bldg. D, Room D-101

Kathy Kelly and Brian Terrell went to Afghanistan in December of 2010 to learn more about U.S. war in Afghanistan from ordinary Afghans who bear the brunt of the war. This was Kelly's third trip with Voices for Creative Nonviolence delegations to Afghanistan. Terrell and she will be joined by one dozen companions who are part of the Creech 14 group awaiting their verdict from Las Vegas Judge William Jansen following their nonviolent direct action against drone warfare controlled at Creech Air Force Base.

Along with the report back, the assembled activists will perform a theatrical production based on the transcript of their exceptional September, 2010 trial during which expert witness testimony was presented by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Col. Ann Wright (a retired diplomat who served in Afghanistan), and Bill Quigley (legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights).

Issues raised in the proceedings and play include:

1. When should a judge or prosecutor limit what the defense is allowed to present on its behalf
2. What does one do when two laws seem to be in conflict with one another
3. What are the legal and moral implications of Unmanned Weapons Systems
(following up on the pre-trial forum at UNLV's Boyd Law School last September)

There will be ample time available for discussion with all in attendance.

The Creech-14 case stems from the April, 2009 arrests of citizens who crossed onto Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs in an effort to end Predator and Reaper remotely piloted airstrikes in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, that are controlled by crews at Creech. Initially declining to prosecute, the Clark County DA finally brought the group to trial in September, 2010. Although no one denied that the Creech-14 entered the base, the exceptional quality of the defense testimony led the judge to postpone ruling to have time to better consider the issues raised. The Honorable William Jansen is due to render his verdict on January 27 at 8:30 am in Clark County Regional Court, District 5, 200 Lewis St at 3rd St. A pre-court rally will begin at 7:30 outside the courthouse.

Co-hosted by the College of Southern Nevada's School of Education, Behavioral & Social Sciences.
Produced by Nevada Desert Experience, a local group that promotes peace, justice and an end to the nuclear arms race.
NDE's major organizing partners include Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, the Temple to Goddess Spirituality, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and various Catholic Worker communities from around the country.

January 27 from 7:30 to 8:15am: Pre-verdict rally @ Lewis St and 3rd (outside Regional Justice Center). This rally/vigil happens just prior to the court hearing in which Hon. William Jansen will pronounce his verdict--4 months and 13 days after the trial ended.

January 27 from 3:00 to 5:00pm: Public Vigil @ Las Vegas Blvd at Tropicana on pedestrian overpasses

January 28 from 6:30 to 8:00am & 3:30 to 5:00pm: Vigils at Creech Air Force Base in opposition to remote-controlled "hunter-killer drones" from Indian Springs.

January 29 from 11am to 1pm: Prayerful Memorial Observance of the 60th Anniversary of 1st Nuclear Bomb Test in NV. This event is @ the entrance to the Nevada National Security Site (formerly called the Nevada Test Site)--Mercury exit of US-95, 65 miles northwest of Vegas. The actual anniversary is January 27th, but our Memorial Observance is January 29th.

See Jim Haber's analysis of the NNSS' nuclear tragedy

MARCH

Tuesdays, March 15 - April 12, 7:00 to 8:30pm at the LV Catholic Worker
 Living Gospel Nonviolence: A Lenten Journey
A five week process in which we bring our own life experiences into conversation wth the journey of Jesus, seeking to depen our understanding of the spirituality and pratice of active nonvilence. Seekers or Skeptics of whatever spiritual orientation are welcome. Session descriptions will be posted here soon. Co-sponsored by the LVCW and Pace e Bene. Facilitated by Peter Ediger of Pace e Bene.

March 17 - 24: NDE Coordinator and Volunteer Join Afghan Youth in Solidarity Delegation

APRIL

April 18 - 26: Sacred Peace Walk -- Schedule

April 26, 7 - 8 a.m.: Vigil at the gate to the Nevada National Security Site: 25th Anniversary of Chernobyl Disaster

Chernobyl/Fukushima Demonstration

This is the time for international activism.
Musical Commercial

JUNE

June 24, Fri. 6:30 to 8:00 a.m.: Vigil at Creech AFB in solidarity with anti-drone sit-ins in Pakistan. We'll carpool from the NDE/Pace e Bene Peace Zone at 1420 W. Bartlett Ave, LV 89106 at 5:40 to beat the heat and greet the base personnel, trying to bring the opposition message here.

June 25, Sat. 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.: Vigil on the Strip (on pedestrian walkway between MGM Grand and Tropicana at Las Vegas Blvd. and Tropicana), in solidarity with anti-drone sit-ins in Pakistan. We have banners, and we'll have small handouts for interested passers-by. It is also Nuclear Abolition Day, so we'll be representing for that too.

June 27, Mon: Deadline for submitting comments on the draft EIS about the Department of Energy's (DOE) proposed nuclear waste dump for Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level Radiation Waste (LLRW).

July 9, Sat. 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.: NDE Community Gathering with Updates from Afghanistan Peace Delegation mostly, with mention of recent developments around nuclear weapons, nuclear power, drones, allies in Pakistan and Korea, and what's up at the ol' test site itself?
Grill will be on hand for barbecuers too. (Bring a little something if you will.)
4584 Casa Mia Circle, 89121 (near Harmon and McLeod; a private home).

JULY

July 11, Mon. 6:30 - 10:00 p.m. Beating the Bomb & Left by the Ship films at 1420 W. Bartlett Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89106

A very special evening hosted by NDE, Pace e Bene and the Sekhmet Temple where you will have the opportunity to meet with Temple founder Geneveive Vaughan, view two outstanding documentaries and meet and speak with the makers of the films!

Starting at 6:30 p.m. we will be showing the film Beating the Bomb, a documentary charting the history of the British Peace Movement against the backdrop of the atomic age, framing the nuclear weapons issue within the wider context of global justice. This film was produced and directed by Meera Patel and Wolfgang Matt. (www.beatingthebomb.com)

Following a brief intermission and discussion period, the second feature Left by the Ship will be shown at 8:30 p.m. Produced and directed by Emma Rossi Landi and Alberto Vedemmiati this film explores the life of children of Filapina sex workers and American Servicemen stationed at the Subic Bay US Naval Base. (www.leftbytheship.com) 

AUGUST

August Desert Witness: Nagasaki and Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Commemoration
August 8, Mon. 5:00 - 9:00 p.m: Pot luck and teach-in at Sekhmet Temple in Cactus Springs in memory of victims of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Overnight accomodations are available: camping on the Temple grounds or staying in the guest house. RSVP to Megan @ nevadadesertexperience.org or (702) 646-4814.
5 to 6 pm: Arrive at Goddess Temple in Cactus Springs
6 to 7 pm: Pot Luck Supper
7 to 9 pm: Video and update on activities at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS, formerly known as the Nevada Test Site).

August 9, Tues. 5:30 to 8:00 a.m.: Nagasaki Day Vigil of Resistance at Nevada National Security Site (Mercury exit on US-95) in memory of all victims of nuclearism. Take offramp for Mercury; make U-turn before you cross the line to the NNSS; demonstrator parking are is off the road on the right almost all the way back to the freeway overpass. It takes about 65 minutes to drive to the NNSS from Las Vegas.

August 9th at 11:00am in New Mexico, at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Join Trinity Nuclear Abolition for a lunch-time vigil at LANL.

NDE Coordinator, Jim Haber, and NDE volunteer Mary Lou Anderson attended the World Conference against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs in Japan. Read more about their participation.

August 19 & 20, Fri. & Sat. Awakening to the Circle of Life 13th Annual Kateri Peace Conference in Fonda, New York featuring NDE Board members Johnnie Bobb and Dr. Bonnie Bobb. John Amidon, seasoned NDE volunteer is also helping organize this event. Visit http://www.kateripeaceconference.org/ for more information.

August 20, Saturday
5:00 to 9:00 pm

NEW LOCATION AND FOCUS!
4584 Casa Mia Circle (Map) 
From Harmon and McLeod go south on Harmon one short block. Go right on Casa Mia Lane and then make a quick left on Casa Mia Circle. House is at the end of the cul de sac.

A Celebration of Decades of Peace Ministry has been revamped and moved. Beloved Fr. Louis Vitale will not be in attendance. Instead...

JIM & MARY LOU WILL SHARE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE International Conference Against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs THEY JUST ATTENDED in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

AND

ANOTHER QUESTION TO DISCUSS: How can the energy like that raised to oppose threatened environmental destruction near Red Rock National Conservation Area be harnessed in opposition of the environmental destruction caused by nuclear weapons testing, development and deployment, including that at the nearby Nevada National Security Site (formerly the Nevada Test Site).

BONUS ACTIVITY:
We'll be set up for you to record and submit a "Say Your Peace" 30 second video for the September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows contest. See <peacefultomorrows-sayyourpeace.org> for more information.

This event will combine our desire for social connection with our need for political and spiritual exploration.

Before and after the discussion time, we will be eating, drinking, socializing and swimming.

August 21, 8 am Pacific Time / 11 am Eastern Time / 7:30 p.m. Afghanistan Time for 4 hours. Global Days of Listening
Listen to, and talk about, what it is like to live in war-torn countries & about the wish to live without wars. For complete information and registration if you would like call-in time visit: http://globaldaysoflistening.org/

August 29, Monday, Peace Vigil, 6 - 7:30 a.m.
August 29th is the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Union's closing of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. We will gather in the early morning for a sunrise ceremony at the entrance of the Nevada National Security Site (formerly Nevada Test Site) at the Mercury exit off of US-95. Some people will spend the night of August 28 at the Goddess Temple in Cactus Springs; others will drive out early to be there by 6:00 a.m. for sunrise. Otherwise, we'll be out there until 7:30 a.m. and would welcome more and new participants in these early but beautiful witnesses for peace.

SEPTEMBER

September 1, Thursday, Roundtable Discussion at Atomic Testing Museum: "Two Decades Without Nuclear Weapons Testing," 3-5 p.m.
In celebration of United Nations International Day Against Nuclear Tests and The 20th Anniversary of Closure of the Soviet Semipalatinsk Nuclear Site in Kazakhstan

Jim Haber, NDE Co-ordinator, was a member on this roundtable representing NDE. Check out this link for more information.

September 5, Monday, 5-8 pm Blessings & Safe Journey Celebration for Sr. Megan Rice
Location: Nevada Desert Experience 1420 W. Bartlett Ave, Las Vegas
RSVP: Appreciated (415) 828-2506
Pot Luck Dinner ~ We’ll BBQ (All Sides Welcome)

Open House for Sr. Megan to Wish Her Peace & Wonderful Travels as she Relocates to New York

Please Stop By, if Only Briefly, and Join Us in Honoring Sister Megan’s 6 Years of Heartfelt Service to the NDE Family and Commitment to Non-Violence Activism and the Anti-Nuclear Movement in Nevada 
as Well as Across the Globe.

For Peace Sake . . .

September 10, Peace Pyramid presentation in the Sacramento/Davis area with Jim Haber & Mary Lou Anderson

From the announcement by the hosts of the "Peace Pyramid:"
I write to invite you to attend the impending convocation of the Peace Pyramid scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, September 10, to take place at 2041 Campton Circle, GoldRiver, CA (a suburb east of Sacramento).  

The event will be focused on “the elephant in the room,” the problem as big as all outdoors that grows ever more threatening while we ignore it: the menace of nuclear proliferation.  Our speaker will be Jim Haber, Coordinator of the Nevada Desert Experience, which organizes interfaith resistance to nuclear weapons and war.  You’re sure to hear about NDE’s demonstrations against the predatory outrages of our government’s “drones,” headquarters of which are situated not far from NDE’s home base in Las Vegas.  And you’re             sure to hear about that place in Mother Earth’s anatomy where she is currently hemorrhaging—Japan—as Jim comes to us fresh from an August venture by NDE in Japan where, among other exciting experiences, relationships were deepened with the Japan Council Against A & H Bombs. 

 I’m sure it will not have been lost on you, either, just what makes the weekend we meet notable.  So I will leave you with this provocative tease: in recognition of the tenth anniversary of the towering catastrophe of 9/11, expect not merely a commemoration, but an electrifying lightning bolt!  --Tom King 

Feel free to bring friends you think might be interested. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.  You are asked to bring some edibles of your choosing for general consumption. (Some call it a potluck.)  As always, YOU (each attendee) will be invited in our OPEN FORUM segment to disburden your heart and speak your mind. 

DIRECTIONS TO  EVENT:  Traveling east on US 50, take the Sunrise Blvd exit.  Turn left onto Sunrise Blvd and continue 0.8 miles to Coloma Rd.  Turn right on Coloma and continue 1.1 mile.  Turn right onto Gold Country Blvd. continuing 0.7 miles, turn left onto Gold Bar Dr., then SECOND (NOT FIRST!) left onto Campton Circle.  2041 Campton Circle is on left.

RSVP to Tom and Dar King, tjking07@comcast.net, 916-241-9194

September 14, 6 pm, Informational Meeting in preparation for the SWEIS meetings to make your voices heard about the future of the Nevada Test Site (Re-named NV National Security Site). learn more about the Test Site Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), what is happening on the site now, and what are the options for the future of the former site of nuclear weapons testing.

Location: P.L.A.N. Offices (Progressive Leadership Alliance of NV) 708 S. 6th St., Las Vegas, Nevada

The informational meeting by Test Site Vision, a project of Healing Ourselves and Mother Earth, (H.O.M.E.) is in preparation for the Sept. 20 hearing on the EIS to be held in Las Vegas and later in the week at other sites in Nevada and Utah.

Out-of-town participants can call in to a teleconferencing number at 218-844-3366, password code 10661492#.

For more info on the document and the process, go to Healing Ourselves and Mother Earth. It is being updated as more analysis is done. Help us determine what is important to say for the record.

September 20, 5 - 8 pm, Las Vegas Public Meeting for Sitewide Enivornmental Impact Statement for the Nevada National Security Site (formerly Nevada Test Site), Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North

September 21, 5 - 8 pm, Pahrump Public Meeting for Sitewide Enivornmental Impact Statement for the Nevada National Security Site (formerly Nevada Test Site), Pahrump Nugget, 681 South Hwy 160

September 21, Wed. Deadline to vote to keep or change NDE’s name

September 21, 24 hours long. Global Days of Listening
Listen to, and talk about, what it is like to live in war-torn countries & about the wish to live without wars. For complete information and registration if you would like call-in time visit: http://globaldaysoflistening.org/

September 22, 5 - 8 pm, St. George, Utah Public Meeting for Sitewide Enivornmental Impact Statement for the Nevada National Security Site (formerly Nevada Test Site), Courtyard by Marriott, 185 South 1470 East

September 24,  2011 Evening of Peace Awards Dinner of the Teach Peace Foundation in Sacramento. Jim Haber & Mary Lou Anderson will be attending.

September 27, 5 - 8 pm, Tonopah Public Meeting for Sitewide Enivornmental Impact Statement for the Nevada National Security Site (formerly Nevada Test Site), Convention Center, 301 Brougher Avenue

September 28, 5 - 8 pm, Carson City Public Meeting for Sitewide Enivornmental Impact Statement for the Nevada National Security Site (formerly Nevada Test Site), Carson Nugget, 507 North Carson

OCTOBER

October 1 & 2, NDE Council Meeting, Las Vegas

October 1 - 8, 2011.United Against Drones is a co-sponsor of "Keep Space for Peace" week (KS4P). Organized annually by the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, KS4P week is an international time of action and education to stop the militarization of space. This year's emphasis is to highlight the use of space as the vital war communications link that make drones and other armed robots possible.   

Not the only article of note on Drones of late, but this one is very extensive, addresses some of the claims in support of drone strikes, and focuses largely on the reactions in Pakistan to the US drone attacks there. An outstanding jumping off point because of the extensive links in it to other sources and articles.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/20117145247361110.html

The day of action is connected to other networks and actions in October because of the 10th anniversary of 9-11 and subsequent war on Afghanistan. United Against Drones, a network of organizations in the U.S. opposing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) that NDE has helped co-found, calls on groups and individuals throughout the country to mention and critique the deadly use of drones in upcoming actions and educational events around the 10th anniversary of the Afghanistan war.  

October 7 to 9 is the International Catholic Worker Gathering being held in Las Vegas and hosted by our compadres at the Las Vegas Catholic Worker. NDE is helping, especially with the October 9 day of actions at the NNSS as well as Creech AFB.

See <lvcw.org> for more information.

October 9 Largest Ever Anti-Drone and Anti-Nuclear Actions at NNSS and Creech AFB

Press Release
WHAT: Demonstration/Protest
WHEN: Sunday, October 9
WHERE: 9:00 a.m. Gate of Nevada National Security Site, Mercury, NV
1:00 p.m. Gates of Creech Air Force Base, Indian Springs, NV

***VISUALS: Signs, Banners, Puppets and Props, Civil-Resistance***

The largest anti-war demonstration ever at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada, and the largest anti-nuclear civil resistance action in at least six years at the Nevada Test Site  (now NNSS). Over 200 radical pacifists from across the globe will swell the ranks of local activists because of the International Catholic Worker (CW) gathering in Las Vegas October 7 and 8. The CW gathering culminates with the anti-nuclear, anti-drone demonstrations which also mark the 10th tragic anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan.

Catholic Workers & Creech 18 Arrests & Updates

December 2, (original deadline was October 27) Environmental Impact Statement for the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Comments Deadline

The Site Wide EIS (or SWEIS) is now in draft form. In 2010 we offered comments to the National Nuclear Safety Administration to make the scope of this environmental assessment of work being considered at the NNSS to be as broad as possible. Now it is in draft form, and we'll be suggesting comment points to be made about the draft SWEIS. The deadline for comments is October 27. Stay tuned for more details. 

The draft document can be accessed online at www.nv.energy.gov/sweis, or by calling 877-781-6105. Public comments can be provided via the website, by calling 877-781-6105, faxing 702-295-5300, or by U.S. Mail at P.O. Box 98518, Las Vegas, NV 89193-8518 (attention: NNSS SWEIS Document Manager).

View more details at our SWEIS page.

See additional Blog Posts from 2011 (scroll down to find them).