Lights Around Portland on 9/11

Second stop of the Care-a-Van to Bring Our War $$ Home: Portland, Maine where organizer Grace Braley held an event on the evening of 9/11 ranging people around the bay with points of light. As we arrived, so did the Fukushima peace walkers on their way to Boston. So first we greeted people from the country that the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on. Then Mansour and Jane arrived; Mansour is from Libya, where NATO and the U.S. dropped bombs made with depleted uranium.

All of us spread out along the edge of the bay waiting for 7:45pm when we would turn on our love lights for fifteen minutes. Here Mark stands with Michael Cutting, one of those who was around the kitchen table in Sally Breen's house when the BOW$H slogan originated.

We saw Markos Miller, our favorite candidate for mayor of Portland, plus a lot of other peaceniks as we hiked the mile to our designated spot near Interstate-295. Along the way my sister in PINK Pat Taub explained why she was joining in on behalf of her young grandchildren.

A highway worker ignored Mark climbing on the sign post next to southbound I-295, but at least one passing motorist honked in greeting.

As twilight gave way to night we could see points of light along the shore stretching in both directions. A bicyclist passed us holding his light aloft. Back at the parking area we saw our friend El-Fadel Arbab, who was a lost boy of Sudan that found his calling traveling around speaking to young people about raising their voices against genocide. He will be at UMaine Presque Isle this week speaking to about 1,000 young people in total.

We're all in this together, people. Either we bring the light, or the forces of darkness will close over all of us.

Terrible things to share

Interview with the astonishingly well-informed pediatrician Dr. Helen Caldicott of Australia, on the real nuclear threat right now, and for a long, long time to come.

Message about how to help. Source: 日本 Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) via Codepink co-found Gael Murphy.

Dear friends,
Thank you very much for your warm messages and support to us. Your
messages are of great encouragement to us and all victims of the
disaster. We have translated your messages into Japanese and passed
them on to the victims and all Japanese people.

The damage caused by earthquakes and subsequent tsunami is so
horrible. All buildings were swept away. Thousands of bodies are
found every day. The number of those dead and are missing is expected
to be more than 11,500. The evacuees have increased more than
450,000. They are forced to stay at shelters with not enough food,
water, cloths, oil for heaters and gas for cars, etc.

In addition to that, the frightening accident of Fukushima power
plants is threatening the safety of people and their uneasiness is growing.

The municipalities and citizens of the damage struck areas have so
far given strong support to our signature campaigns for abolition of
nuclear weapons, our peace marches and the World Conference against A
and H Bombs. We have to help them when they are suffering.

Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) set up an account and
called on Japanese people to donate to help the victimized people and areas.

Postal Money Order
Account No.: 00110-9-1780
Account Name: Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo)

If you wish to donate or send support to the victims, we can accept
your donation at the above account. We will transfer your donation
to the victims or/and we will send necessary goods and services to
the victimized people and areas.

Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation. If there is
any questions/requests, please do not hesitate to ask us.

Sincerely,

(Ms.)Yayoi Tsuchida
Assistant Secretary General
==============================
===============
Japan Council against A & H Bombs (GENSUIKYO)
2-4-4 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8464 JAPAN
phone: +81-3-5842-6034
fax: +81-3-5842-6033
Email: antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp
URL: http://www.antiatom.org/

How is bowing in apology after you helped General Electric get rich at the expense of the Earth going to help?