Livermore Marks Hiroshima Day by Looking Closer to Home

“In Hiroshima, there is a stone monument that says ‘Please sleep in rest. We will not repeat the same mistake.’ But we did. This time, by our own hands. Right now, in Japan, nuclear power plant radiation is affecting citizens physically and mentally as it was in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”

Exchange student Saori Matsuoka delivered these remarks at the August 6 Hiroshima Day rally in Livermore, California where close to 250 participants converged. Her remarks brought the memory of a nation’s tragedy into the present, and reminded us of the inherent danger of nuclear technology. Reinforcing that message were additional speakers, including, Ploughshares Fund affiliates Arjun Makhijani, President of Institute for Energy and Environmental Research and Marylia Kelley of TriValley CAREs.

After listing the historic health effects of weapons work at Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Weapons Laboratory, Kelley turned to the costs. “As for Livermore Lab, 89% of its more than 1.2 BILLION dollars will be spent on nuclear weapons activities in the coming year. This means the continued research and development of new and modified U.S. nuclear weapons even as we close schools, libraries and health services because we don't have ‘enough money.’”

A broad coalition of Bay area groups organized two days of events at the Lab, one of the two principle U.S. facilities engaged in nuclear weapons research and development. For more: http://tinyurl.com/3s24seu

In addition, TriValley CAREs set up tables at the MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) concert on August 7, a benefit aimed at disaster relief in Japan and for organizations worldwide promoting safe, non-nuclear energy, The Bay Area line-up featured Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Mraz, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Morello, John Hall, Kitaro, Jonathan Wilson, Sweet Honey in the Rock.