By Michael Coffey, Director of Youth Programs with the Nuclear Age
Peace Foundation
Aimed at getting the University of California out of the nuclear weapons
business, the UC Nuclear Free Campaign has a new, revamped online presence -
ucnuclearfree.org. A reflection of the efforts of the Coalition to
Demilitarize the University of California, the activist-friendly site is
action-oriented. The home page includes rotating "Featured Action" flash
movies, a toll-free number called the "Action Line" designed to help
document student organizing efforts opposing the many faces of militarism,
"Upcoming Events," and relevant, recent news stories. As a hub of activity,
the site helps seasoned student organizers maintain transparency and
accountability, and connect with newcomers. Background information and
specific descriptions of numerous suggested actions help youth and students
who are new to nuclear issues get involved and grow with the campaign.
Background - For over 50 years, the University of California has managed the
nation’s two primary nuclear weapons labs: Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos
National Laboratories. Every nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal passed
through the hands of a UC employee at some point. Massive institutions with
workforces in the thousands and budgets in the billions, these labs have
fueled controversy for decades. UC faculty have organized numerous votes and
issued a series of “white papers” meant to summarize popular opinion on the
issue. Currently, UC is in the process of competing with other research
universities and defense contractors to manage Los Alamos for the first time
in history. A recent poll found that UC lecturers and librarians prefer that
UC not to bid to continue managing nuclear weapons laboratories. The bid
competition renders all previous claims that UC manages the labs as a
“public service” or in the interest of “national security” as empty, false,
and unusable. It would be a significant victory for all who are working on
militarism, education reform, and social justice issues if the key
decision-makers of such a large and prestigious institution as the
University of California decided to get out of the nuclear weapons business.
KNUK Radio - The KNUK (pronounced kay-nûk) Radio Project is another project
developed with the goal of reaching new, young activists by providing an
outlet for artists who believe in a nuclear weapons-free world. Essentially
a songwriting contest, KNUK celebrates the 25th anniversary of the "No
Nukes" concert at Madison Square Garden where Bruce Springsteen, Gil
Scott-Heron, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and other top artists performed. The
contest will produce a CD, help update the aesthetics of the anti-nuclear
movement, and give activists working on nuclear issues an excellent outreach
tool. This project is to be completed in time for the 60th anniversaries of
the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 2005. Currently,
collaborative opportunities are being explored with American Friends Service
Committee (Philadelphia), Global Exchange (San Francisco), and Educators for
Social Responsibility (New York City).
National Conference - In contrast to the audience-building projects above, a
gathering for youth and students who are well-versed and highly-active in
organizing on nuclear issues (weapons, energy, & waste) is scheduled for
summer 2005. Tentatively titled "Think Outside the Bomb," the gathering will
bring some of the top organizers under 30 to California for a week of
workshops, field trips, and networking.
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