No More Hiroshimas! Declare August 6 Nuclear Disarmament Day!

DECLARE AUGUST 6 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT DAY AND ASK CONGRESS TO DO THE SAME!

Burlington Vermont WILPF Branch originated this campaign in 2008. Read the 2008 description here. Ten WILPF Branches joined Burlington in petitioning Congress that year. Most started signature gathering in June and July, and then made  the petition a centerpiece of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day memorials. Branches or members in Ashland and Portland (Oregon), Vancouver (Washington), San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles/Whittier(California). Tucson (Arizona), Boston (Massachusetts), Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) helped collect thousands of signatures. Two Burlington Branch members and a DISARM! co-chair  delivered petitions in person to House and Senate offices in Washington D.C. They met  with the Vermont Senators and Congressman who were very supportive. They also had productive meetings with Congressional staff from other states. Download the printable petition from the home page. Sign and the on-line petition here and forward it to others.

The Mayor of Burlington was the first to proclaim Nuclear Disarmament Day. Ask your Mayor  to make a similar proclamation this year. Many of you have already helped enlist your Mayors as Mayors for peace, and they should be easy to engage. Download the Burlington proclamation here.

Now the Vermont legislature has done the same and declared August 6 Nuclear Disarmament Day! This is thanks to the work of the Burlington Branch and their active coalition building. Read the Branch press release here. So we can all contact our Mayors, move on to the Legislators and continue our petitioning of the U.S. Congress!

But let's begin with the petitions. Collect signatures and send either originals or photo-copies to the Burlington Branch by September 7 for delivery to your Senators and Representatives in Congress during the week of September 14 to 18.  You can continue collecting signatures (and encouraging others to do so) for additional deliveries in November and/or in 2010.This is an ongoing campaign.

Locally you can hand deliver the petitions (either photo-copies or the original) to local Congressional offices. Ask for a personal meeting with Representatives and Senators. Don't despair if you are first directed to staff -- those relationships are also important. They can also lead to a later meeting with the Senator or Representative her/himself. Refer to Eight Tips for a Successful Lobby Visit. This was originated by WAND and is now used by FCNL, WILPF and many of our partner organizations.

Contact our WILPF NUKE DISARM DAY PETITION COORDINATOR with questions or for more information. She is coordinating this campaign nationally as well as in Vermont.