Peace Action of San Mateo County

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We believe that conflict doesn't have to result in violence or war at home or abroad. All action begins at the local level and activism begins with education. Join us at one of our free monthly events, view a topical film or listen to engaging Bay Area activists, educators and social justice advocates working to reduce militarism at home and abroad. Lively Q & A follows. Free refreshments and wheel chair accessibility.

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Sunday, July 31: Excerpts from an Anti-nuclear Anniversary

On June 12, 1982, amid fears of then-President Ronald Reagan embracing the cold war and much saber-rattling between the U.S. and the then-USSR, New York’s Central Park played host to an estimated one million people for a demonstration opposing nuclear weapons and the arms race. A similar rally, also spirited if not as large, took place at San Francisco’s Civic Center. The theme was to freeze and reverse the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and transfer the money spent toward human needs.

The day was a kick-off of sorts for the Nuclear Freeze Campaign, which later merged with SANE, or Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, to become SANE/Freeze. Sometime later, the name of the organization was changed to Peace Action. Peace Action of San Mateo County began in 1982 as the Nuclear Freeze Campaign of San Mateo County, one of many state or local affiliates that sprang up across the country.

This past June 12, the Roots Action Education Fund commemorated the day’s 40-year anniversary with an online presentation called “Defuse Nuclear War”. The event featured a wide range of speakers, towards a goal to rededicate ourselves to stopping nuclear weapons in favor of more sensible priorities. Nearly 100 peace, disarmament and social justice organizations co-sponsored the day, including Peace Action.

On Sunday, July 31, one week before the anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima, PASMC will show a video with parts of the two-and-a-quarter hour event. (Our version will be about 35 minutes.) As is typical of the times, this will be on the Zoom platform.

We will begin at 7 PM; first up will be excerpts, presented by Oscar-nominated film director Judith Ehrlich, from her new video about Daniel Ellsberg – followed by more comments from Ellsberg himself. There is also a talk by author and activist David Swanson, offering salient points favoring the elimination of nuclear weapons, as well as a piece from anti-war activist retired Colonel Ann Wright, who spoke about the 2018 false alarm in Hawaii of a nuclear attack by North Korea. With the time left we will discuss what we have watched, and perhaps that will include comments relating to the Hiroshima anniversary as well.

And sometime during the evening, we will conduct our annual PASMC Board and Officer elections. Our slate is in place but we still have room, and anyone with an interest in joining the Board should email us at smpa@sanmateopeaceaction.org.

Here is the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3289220486

Meeting ID: 328 922 0486

We look forward to seeing you on July 31 for interesting input about nuclear weapons.