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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 4, 2002
CONTACT:
Kalynda Tilges
702.369.2730 Office
702.743.8523 Mobile Marcus Page 505.870.2275 Mobile
FAMILY SPIRIT WALK ARRIVES
AT NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
NNSA SPOKESPERSON REFUSES TO SPEAK WITH WALKERS
"Walking to bring awareness to communities of the dangers of radioactive
waste"
Las Vegas, NV- The Family Spirit Walk arrived in a flourish of banners, songs and solidarity today at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) building on Losee Rd. and Energy Way. The walk began it's journey August 9th, 2002, at Tsangawi, a site sacred to the Tewa people Indigenous to New Mexico. The walk proceeded through the town of Los Alamos, through dozens of indigenous communities affected by the nuclear chain (uranium mining, weapons production and testing, military and civilian waste, routine radioactive releases from nuclear power plants) , and now, after 800 miles and two months, is on its final stretch to the Nevada Test Site and Yucca Mountain.
The day's walk began at approximately 6 am on Highway 604 (Las Vegas Blvd.), and proceeded south to Cheyenne Ave, west to Losee Road and south to Energy Way, for a total of 14.7 miles. The walk arrived at the NNSA building this afternoon around 3 pm.
Walkers gathered in a circle in the parking lot of the building, after being refused access to the main entrance. They were greeted by Western Shoshone Elders Corbin Harney and Katherine Blossom who blessed the walkers as they entered traditional Western Shoshone lands.
Walkers asked to meet with a representative of the NNSA, and attempted to phone public relations head Darwin Morgan. When he was told that people had walked 800 miles to voice their concerns about nuclear issues, he responded "I see no reason to come talk to you."
The Family Spirit Walkers range in age from 15 months to 70+ years. Their prayer walk has been a powerful opportunity to meet and share stories with other community members affected by the nuclear chain. Walkers are from all over the U.S., and as far away as Belgium and Austria. Their journey of more than 800 miles has traveled through New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada.
Marieke Van Coppelle, who left her two sons in Belgium in order to participate in the walk, says, "Nuclear proliferation is a global problem. U.S. weapons of mass destruction are stored in my home country."
Steve Lamar, a farmer from New Mexico who has been on the walk since it began, says "Humans are the custodians of planet Earth; we want to protect it for our children, and children's children."
African American, Asian American, Latino and Native American representatives from other communities across the country affected by nuclear and chemical contamination will join the Family Spirit Walkers for the Nevada events. The multiracial delegation consists of members of the BASE (Building Action for Sustainable Environments) Initiative of the Peace Development Fund, a peace and social justice foundation based in Amherst, MA.
"Environmental activists representing the 'four colors' and traveling from the 'four directions' of the continent are coming to stand together against the U.S. nuclear policies that have terrorized our communities and threatened the lives of our children and families," said Doris Bradshaw of the Defense Depot of Memphis Tennessee- Concerned Citizen's Committee. "We are proud and excited to join in solidarity with our Western Shoshone neighbors to defend and protect our children's future."
Saturday October 5th, the walkers will be participating in the People's Nuclear Abolition Summit, 1.5 mile south of I-15 at exit 58, on the left site. (Make a right at the exit, and you can't miss it on the left side). Sunday, they will reconvene at the NNSA building at 9 am to continue their journey. Walkers will arrive at the Action for Nuclear Abolition events at the Nevada Test Site the morning of October 11th.
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