Golden Rule Sails for a Nuclear Free World
The historic sailing vessel Golden Rule, restored by Veterans For Peace, will arrive in San Francisco Bay on Monday, September 21, International Peace Day, to begin a three week visit promoting a nuclear free world. She is expected to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge at 1 pm.
In 1958, the 34-foot ketch and its crew of Quaker peace activists ignited an international movement to stop atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, when they attempted to sail into a nuclear bomb test zone in the Marshall Islands. In 1963, President Kennedy signed an international treaty against testing nuclear bombs in the air, water or space.
“Nuclear weapons are still with us and the threat of nuclear war is very real,” said the Golden Rule’s Captain Ron Kohl of San Diego.. “We are dismayed that the U.S. government plans to invest One Trillion Dollars into upgrading its nuclear arsenal, instead of reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons, as called for in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.”
The Veterans For Peace Golden Rule Project is calling for an end to nuclear energy as well.
“The ongoing nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, Japan reminds us of the dangers of radiation poisoning posed by nuclear power plants,” saidGolden Rule crew member Helen Jaccard. “Nuclear power is the flip side of nuclear weapons, and we don’t need either of them,” said Jaccard.
The Golden Rule will spend its first few days in San Francisco Bay moored at the South Beach Harbor next to AT&T Park, before moving around the Bay to share its message of peace and nonviolence. Visits and activities are being planned in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland. Visitors will be invited to meet the crew, tour the Golden Rule and to go out for short sails on the Bay.
In mid-October the Golden Rule will return to Humboldt Bay, where five years ago she was discovered under water with a huge hole in her side. When local members of Veterans For Peace learned of the history of the sailboat, which was the inspiration for Greenpeace, they launched a campaign to give her a new life. Over a five year period, scores of volunteers and hundreds of donors have brought that dream to reality.
‘The Golden Rule is now a national project Veterans For Peace,” said Gerry Condon, the group’s national vice president. “Over the next ten years, theGolden Rulewill carry its message of peace around the world,” said Condon. “We look forward to making many new friends while we are in San Francisco Bay.”
You can learn more about the Golden Rule and make donations at www.vfpgoldenruleproject.org
For more information, call Gerry Condon at 206-499-1220