Michael Coffey, Director of Youth Programs

Nearly all nuclear weapons in the US arsenal have been researched and developed by laboratories owned by the Department of Energy and managed by the University of California : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico . The relationship dates back to the birth of the atomic bomb. Over the last two years, the national media has drawn considerable attention to UC’s involvement in weapons production by covering confirmed reports of lab employee theft, lost equipment, and security breaches. In May 2003, Energy Secretary Abraham announced that for the first time, UC would have to compete for the Los Alamos contract. The University of Texas (UT), Lockheed Martin, and Bechtel have stated their intent to compete for the contract. This provides a tremendous opportunity for concerned citizens to raise the level of debate and coordinated action regarding the UC’s involvement in creating weapons of mass destruction.

Currently, the campaign has student groups on six key UC campuses: Santa Barbara , Los Angeles , Berkeley , Santa Cruz , San Diego , and Davis . UC Nuclear Free provides opportunities for a younger generation to contemplate critical issues related to nuclear weapons, claim a voice, and create positive change.

The UC Nuclear Free Campaign is at a critical juncture. We need your financial support to continue organizing students not only at all UC campuses, but also at any other university that potentially could win the bid to manage these weapons laboratories. Between now and the end of the year, your contribution will allow us to:

• Organize a delegation of students to attend a UC Regents meeting in order to voice their concerns on the issues;
• Organize a regional meeting of UC and UT students to strategize mobilization efforts at both universities; and
• Launch our KNUK Radio Project contest which will result in a compilation CD of original music that student organizers can use in their efforts to resist the increasing militarization of their schools.

Please join us today in educating and mentoring a new generation of leaders so that they will be equipped to meet the challenges of what has been called the “second nuclear age.”

I know you have done a great deal already to support the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. But, I urge you to help us begin passing the torch to the next generation of peace leaders by sending an immediate donation in as generous an amount as you can give.

Please respond as quickly and as generously as you can.

Sincerely,

Michael Coffey,
Director of Youth Programs

With your donation of $50 or more annually, you will receive one of our brand new UC Nuclear Free logo t-shirts and a subscription to the Waging Peace Bi-Annual Report by mail. Thank you for your support.