For Peace and Justice: Disarm Now!

This year young people around the world are on the move organizing for a nuclear free future.

On April 30-May 2, thousands of people from around the world will gather in NYC for a weekend of inspiring and powerful activities to call for a just, sustainable, and nuclear-free world.

Delegates will gather at the United Nations from six continents to review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which aims to bring about a nuclear weapons free world.  As the world faces economic and environmental crises, we must invest in people and the environment, not bombs!  These governments need to hear from us!  Real change will come only with popular pressure. 

Join us for an International Peace Conference April 30-May 1 and as we take the streets for a Rally, March and Peace and Music Festival May 2. The rallying point for international youth on May 2nd will be at West 41st st and 7th Ave.

A number of groups have been working hard to carve out creative and interactive space for young participants to come together during the NPT review.  Here is a schedule of events the first week:

Schedule of Awesome Events by/for us younger folk:

Friday, April 30^th

Think Outside the Bomb Tour Kick-off

When: 1-3pm

Where: The SGI New York Culture Center

7 E. 15th Street (between union sq west and 5th ave)

5th floor

What: Learn about nuclear weapons, power, and waste and what young people in the US are doing to resist.  This event will kick-off the National Think Outside the Bomb Summer Road Tour.

International Youth Meet-up

5pm, by riverside church, come early to register

To get on the same page with our international youth organizers.

International Peace Conference

When: 6-9 pm; registration open at 3:30 pm

Where: Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, New York City

What: Conference for a Nuclear Free, Peaceful, Just and Sustainable World

Saturday, May 1^st

Labor, Immigrants Rights March

11am, Union Square, NYC

International Peace Conference

When: 10am-8:30 pm, check-in and registration at 9am

Where: Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, New York City

What: There will be two youth led workshops: Youth Messaging and Lobbying -10am, and Weaving Stories into Action -5:15pm

Int’l Peace Conference After Party!

When: 8:30pm

Where: Havana Central, Upper West Side, 2911 Broadway, NYC

What: Come kick back, unwind, grab some food, drinks, and chill with international youth who care about a nuclear free future.

Sunday, May 2^nd

Think Outside the Bomb Art Party

When: 10am-1pm

Where: Bryant Park, West 41st and Avenue of the Americas

What: Join TOTB in making crafts/signs for the march

International Day of Action: Rally, March, and Festival

When: 1:30pm assemble, 2-3:30pm Rally, 3:30pm March to UN, 4-6pm International Peace & Music Festival

Where: For Rally and March youth assemble at 7th Ave and 41st St; Festival is in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at the United Nations

What: Rally, March, and Peace and Music Festival: join people from around the world for a day of action!

WRL Scenario Review Session

5-7:30pm at The Gallery Room, Holmes Community House, Community Church of New York, 28 East 35th Street (between Park and Madison)

Monday May 3^rd

The War Resisters League Action: “Disarm Now, Begin with U.S.”

When: 8-10am

Where: Grand Central Station

What: Declare NYC a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference Begins

United Nations

NGO Welcome

7-9 pm at the Church Center for the United Nations, 777 UN Plaza, Second Floor

Tuesday May 4^th

Youth Rally by Gensuikyo

When: 3:30-6:00 pm

Where: Auditorium of 1199 SEIU 310 West, 43rd Street (Between 8th & 9th Ave) NYC

Friday May 7th

“Arms Down!” in NGO room by Religions for Peace, 1:15-2:45pm

NGO presentations and Youth speech 3-6pm, inside UN

Global Zero Now Festival 6:30 -8:30 pm at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza

For more on the calendar of events visit:  http://nptyouth2010.wiki.zoho.com

Why Young People?

We have power!  It’s our future being decided upon and we must make our voices heard.  We don’t wage the wars, yet we’re recruited to fight them.  We didn’t invent atomic bombs, but we’re recruited to build them.  Collectively we have the power to rise up, resist, and create a new future.

What’s up with Nukes?

There are currently nine countries that possess nuclear weapons with an estimated 23,000 nuclear warheads in tact globally.  The US and Russia possess over 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons, of which about 2,000 are on high alert, meaning they are ready for launch in a matter of minutes.

	Russia	U. S.	France	China	U. K.	Israel	Pakistan	India	N.Korea	Total
# Nuclear Weapons	12,000	9,400	300	240	185	80	70-09	60-80	<10	23,000

Source: Kristensen, Hans M. Nuclear Notebook. Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. 2009.

The US is suffering crises of unemployment, healthcare, and education cuts, yet President Obama, despite receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for his stated vision of a nuclear weapons free world, has proposed the largest nuclear weapons budget ever.  The budget significantly increases funding for nuclear weapons activities while cutting funding for weapon dismantlement and environmental clean-up.  It includes a 5 year plan of $7 billion to construct 3 new bomb-making facilities in Los Alamos, NM, Oakridge, TN, and Kansas City, MO that will quadruple our ability to make new nuclear weapons.  The US already has 10,000 nuclear weapons.  Join US youth in calling on Obama to dismantle our bombs and invest in human needs and the environment.

Get Involved:

Download buttons, posters, and leaflets in Spanish and English that you can put your local contact info.  Join the millions around the world in signing and circulating our petition for abolition of nuclear weapons to be delivered to the White House and the United Nations in May.  If interested in helping to shape the May events, or for ideas on actions in your own community contact lputkey@peace-action.org.

Transportation

Make your travel plans today.  Link up with others through our rideboard (peaceandjusticenow.org), join one of the 5 Marches to NYC, or hop a bus with friends.  Students are encouraged to apply for travel grants though their school/student government.

Housing

Here is a list of low cost housing, etc in NYC: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/revcon2010/accommodations.html.

If you would prefer to stay with other youth in a church bring a sleeping bag and contact: lputkey@peace-action.org.

Links

March, Rally, Festival and International Peace Conference: www.peaceandjusticenow.org

Think Outside the Bomb: www.thinkoutsidethebomb.org

Ban All Nukes Generation: www.bang-USA.org

Peace Action: www.peace-action.org

International NPT Youth Organizing: www.nptyouth2010.wiki.zoho.com

FMI Contact: Lisa Putkey, Peace Action, lputkey@peace-action.org