Portland Welcomes the Historic Golden Rule Antinuclear Sailboat

The event is tomorrow at the First Unitarian Church, Portland, OR

The historic Golden Rule sailboat is in Portland for Fleet Week. Photos: Veterans for Peace

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - In 1958, a crew of Quaker peace activists attempted to sail the Golden Rule to the Marshall Islands to interfere with US nuclear bomb testing.

This bold nonviolent direct action inspired a worldwide movement leading to the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.

After five years of restoration by Veterans For Peace and many friends, the Golden Rule is once again sailing for a nuclear-free world and a peaceful, sustainable future.

The historic Golden Rule antinuclear sailboat, now a national project of Veterans For Peace, started this epic voyage on May 31st.

From early June through September, she will be plying the waterways of the Great Northwest, making stops in over 30 ports as she continues her mission to sail for a nuclear free world and a peaceful, sustainable future. The Golden Rule was docked in the Eureka marina in Humboldt Bay on the northern California coast, where reconstruction team volunteers worked on the repairs, upgrades and redesigns.

Now her rust colored sails are emblazoned with a peace sign (the original symbol of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and the logo of Veterans For Peace.

Visitors to the Golden Rule will learn about her amazing history, her courageous crews, and her ongoing mission.

Physicians for Social Responsibility is assisting with organizing in both Washington and Oregon. Portland VFP Chapter 72 is helping to plan for the Golden Rule’s presence at the Fleet Week Parade of Ships, June 8, and the Parade of Roses, June 11.

“This voyage is very timely,” said Helen Jaccard.

“We want to focus people’s attention on the Obama administration’s announcement that One Trillion Dollars will be spent over the next 30 years to ‘modernize’ the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal. This is unacceptable, and a total violation of both the spirit and the letter of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.”

The Golden Rule and her crew will also spread the word about the continuing dangers of nuclear power, and the poisoning of the air, water and soil from the entire nuclear cycle, from uranium mining to the disposal of nuclear waste. “We will give a platform to local activists who are concerned about threats to the environment from proposed coal and natural liquid gas ports throughout the Northwest,” said Jaccard.

“Veterans For Peace is also very concerned about the militarization of Washington state, where the Navy is conducting widespread electronic war games on the Olympic Peninsula and even invading Seattle city parks.”

Seattle VFP is helping with plans for Fleet Week and the Parade of Ships in Elliott Bay, August 3, and for the Golden Rule crew to participate in Hiroshima Day activities at Green Lake on Saturday, August 6.

Ground Zero and friends are planning a Nagasaki Day protest flotilla near the Bangor Trident Submarine Base on Tuesday, August 9.

PORTLAND: Wednesday June 8, 2016, 7-9:30 pm

• Rev. Genko Rainwater, of Dharma Rain Zen Center, will lead a five-minute meditation
• Helen Jaccard, Golden Rule crew member
• Harvey Wasserman, Solartopia, Solar Energy proponent and vocal opponent of nuclear power
• Kianna Juda-Angelo, Living Islands Marshall Islanders support organization
• Mimi German, Founder of No Nukes NW/RadCast
• Teressa Raiford, Don't Shoot Portland
• Fred Schafer, National Commander of the National Association of Atomic Veterans
• Chuck Johnson, Physicians for Social Responsibility, works to close the Columbia Generating Station
• Music by DAVID ROVICS

Suggested donation: $10, nobody turned away

Event sponsored by Veterans For Peace Portland Chapter 72; No Nukes NW; Alliance for Democracy Oregon; Education WithOut Borders. Follow the Golden Rule project on facebook, and You can follow her progress real time at share.DeLorme.com/GoldenRule.

Source: vfpgoldenruleproject.org; michaelmunk.com