AIM Support Group of Ohio & N. KentuckyUpdates and Announcements
Monday, March 04, 2002Jim runforfreedom@fuse.net wrote: Subject: Urgent help needed Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2002 23:55:04 -0500 Hello, My name Is Jim toren and I am helping with organizing overnight acomidations for the walkers of this event. I have attached a shedual. walk.pdf Please if you know anyone in these area's that might be able to help please contact me by email at runforfreedom@fuse.net or by phone at 513-943-1229. If you need more information about the walk you can go to the web site at: http://www.dharmawalk.org Thank you for your time. Peace, Jim Toren A Walk for Peace January 15 - May 12, 2002 Beginning January 15, 2002, people from all over the world will walk across the United States carrying a flame left from the embers of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. We will be walking as a spiritual pilgrimage for world peace, disarmwnent, to end the Star Wars Missile Defense Frogram, and to save mother earth from further destruction. We will honor the Native people who have been victims of our nuclear development and listen to their message of peace. The events of September II th and the resulting war have made this walk and our prayers even more urgent. The Hiroshima Flame In 1945, after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a man named Tatsuo Yamamoto collected some of the embers left from the bombing and took them back to his home. Yamamoto was filled with hostility, but his grandmother preserved the embers and kindled a flame which was used to illuminate the fwnily's Buddhist altar. Although Yaxnamoto felt that the embers symbolized his anger, for his grandmother it represented love and the memory of her son who had died. Over the next twelve years Mr. Yamamoto's grandmother tended the fire. I)uring this time he underwent a complete change of heart and the flame transformed into a flame of love for him as well. In 1968, a "Peace Monument Flame" was inaugurated in the village of Hoshino. Yamamoto's flame became a symbol for world peace and other flwnes were kindled from it and set up across Japan. From these original embers of Hiroshima, a fire will be carried across the United States. The Nuclear Threat and Native American Nations During the 20th century unprecedented numbers of people died due to way, more than ever before in human history. Not only have people died during wartime conflicts but also as a result of the development of nuclear weapons and the construction of the modem war machine. The proliferation of nuclear weapons has harmed the health and well-being of people, the earth, air, and water. From the start, nuclear testing and development claimed far too many victims. In particular, the United States failed to respect the sovereignty and life of native Americans. Many of their lands have been used for the extraction of plutonium and uranium, and the dumping of nucleu wastes. Those who were exposed to radiation sickened and died. But even as this tragedy grew, Native elders and spiritual leaders renewed their call for peace. By walking and carrying the Hiroshima flame to many indigineous nations we wish to show how these lands and peoples are directly connected to the devastation created by nuclear proliferation. We will honor the victims of nuclear development and listen to the message of peace that Native leaders have brought. Star Wars Missile System Returns The United States has revived plans for "Star Wars," a National Missile Defense system that will put nuclear powered weapons into space. This system will come at a tremendous cost -- both economically and in its effect on nuclear arms control and development. In the end, it will not make us more secure and it will not protect us from the kind of terrorism that occurred in New York. posted by Webmaster@ AIM Support 3:30 PM Last updated:
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