The Golden Rule is about to leave Humboldt Bay on her third peace voyage in as many years. We will be heading down the California coast to San Francisco Bay, up the river to Sacramento, and back down the coast, making 14 stops before arriving in San Diego on August 25. The historic 34-foot ketch is sailing for a nuclear-free world. This year, in particular, we are building support for the United Nations Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons. The UN General Assembly is expected to overwhelmingly approve the treaty in early July, despite opposition from the U.S. and other nuclear powers.
Event planning is well underway. In our first stop, Fort Bragg, Silvers At The Wharf is hosting the Golden Rule at their dock from June 11 – 14. We will offer public tours and possibly a chance to go sailing June 12 and 13 from 10 am to 4 pm. The evening of June 12 is a potluck hosted by Occupy Mendocino and the Ocean Protection Coalition.
The main event at Fort Bragg will be at Silvers At The Wharf, where the Golden Rule will dock. Dinner and drinks begin at 6 pm. At 7 pm, we will have a special presentation by physics professor and antinuclear activist Lynda Williams.
On Wednesday, June 14 will talk with the Rotary Club of Fort Bragg on Wednesday June 14 before sailing out to sea towards Bodega Bay.
As the Golden Rule enters Bodega Bay Thursday June 15, a group of kayaktivists and boaters will escort her to Spud Point Marina from 3 pm to 5 pm. On Friday and Saturday, June 16-17, from 10 am to 4 pm, the public is invited to tour the Golden Rule, and possibly even to go sailing .
Nationally-known author and activist Norman Solomon will be the featured speaker at our main event at the Veterans Memorial Building in nearby Santa Rosa. Drinks and snacks will be served starting at 6 pm. The presentation will begin at 7 pm. The weekend of activities is hosted by Sonoma Veterans For Peace, Chapter 71, and the Santa Rosa Peace & Justice Center.
San Francisco will be the Golden Rule’s next port-of –call. From June 21 - 28, we will hold our first ever “Peace Action Sailing Camp”. A young woman and man, 18 & 19, who are already training to be nonviolence trainers will come all the way from Tucson, Arizona, accompanied by three members of Tucson Veterans For Peace. We will learn how to sail the Golden Rule,while practicing the principles of non-violent direct action and discussing nuclear issues today. Many of our friends will join us, including our first captain of the season, experienced sailing instructor Norman Petersen; our first mate from the 2015 season, Jan Passion, and nonviolence trainer David Hartsough.
On Tuesday, June 27, members of San Francisco Veterans For Peace, Chapter 69, will host a reception and public event in the Veterans Memorial Building at the SF Civic Center. Reception at 6 pm, presentation at 7 pm.
We’re really excited about sailing up the Sacramento River and to where the Phoenix of Hiroshima is currently sank. The reunion is the first since 1958 when the Phoenix completed the journey, from Honolulu to the Marshall Islands, to interfere with atmospheric nuclear bomb testing.
We’re working with activists and Veterans For Peace chapters in Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Monterrey, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Long Beach and San Diego – see the schedule, and if you can help plan events, please contact Samantha Ferguson in the VFP national office, Samantha@veteransforpeace.org.
THERE ARE STILL SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR CREW, if you’re interested – contact Project Manager Helen Jaccard at Helen.Jaccard@gmail.com, or call her at 206-992-6364.
Thank you to VFP National and California chapters for all of your support in helping the Golden Rule and her crew sail for a nuclear-free world!
BAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS!
No New Nukes! / No First Strike!
GOLDEN RULE NEWS, with entire California schedule.