Maine Drone Peace Walk
October 10-19, 2013
Preserve our Privacy: No Drone Spying in Maine

President Obama has announced that 30,000 drones will be soon flying around the US doing surveillance of the American people. Thirty-seven states have applied to be one of six drone test centers across the nation. More than 500 drone manufacturing corporations are now bidding to be recipients of Pentagon funds for drones. Join us as we walk across parts of Maine from October 10-19 to call attention to this deadly and unconstitutional drone program. We must push back against the expanding use of surveillance drones in the US and weaponized drones around the world that are killing many innocent people. There is much talk about bringing drones to Maine and making the Presque Isle airport a weaponized drone test center, thus our reason for starting the walk in Aroostook County. Our non-violent peace walk will be led by Buddhist monks and nuns from the Nipponzan Myohoji order.
Drone Walk Schedule:
•  October 10 (Thursday) Begin in Limestone (former Loring AFB) and walk to Caribou.
•  October 11 (Friday) Walk to Presque Isle
•  October 12 (Saturday) Drive to Indian Island (near Old Town) and walk into Bangor
•  October 13 (Sunday) Walk to Skowhegan (need to drive some part of the day)
•  October 14 (Monday) Walk to Mercer
•  October 15 (Tuesday) Walk to Farmington
•  October 16 (Wednesday) Walk to Waterville (need to shuttle some part of the day)
•  October 17 (Thursday) Walk to Belgrade
•  October 18 (Friday) Walk to Augusta and hold closing ceremony at state capital at 3 pm (Potluck & program at Mediation & Facilitation Resource Center, 11 King St at 6:00 pm)
•  October 19 (Saturday) Shuttle to Bath and join protest against BIW “Christening” of first stealth destroyer – we urge folks to join us from around state at 10:00 am

Get more information about the Maine Drone Peace Walk by calling (207) 443-9502 or visit our web sites.
Maine Campaign to Bring Our War $$ Home http://www.bringourwardollarshome.org
Maine Veterans for Peace http://vfpmaine.org

Two Row Wampum Renewal Peace Walk
July 27 – August 10, 2013
Rensselaer, NY  to United Nations, New York, NY

The Two Row Wampum Belt is the symbolic record of the first agreement between the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Europeans on Turtle Island/North America. 2013 marks the 400th anniversary of this first covenant, which forms the basis for the covenant chain of all subsequent treaty relationships made by the Haudenosaunee with settler governments on this continent. The agreement outlines a mutual, three-part commitment to friendship, peace between peoples, and living in parallel forever (as long as the grass is green, as long as the rivers flow downhill and as long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west). Throughout the years, the Haudenosaunee have sought to honor this mutual vision and have increasingly emphasized that ecological stewardship is a fundamental prerequisite for this continuing friendship. We will walk to support the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign’s Symbolic Enactment, a two week paddling journey and related events that will draw thousands of people to the Hudson River to learn and be inspired to create an equitable and sustainable future for all in the Hudson Valley and beyond. With each step we will strive to transform our relationship to the river and all parts of the natural world, incorporating a sense of historic responsibility for the environment and justice for the original inhabitants of this land.

Walk Schedule (subject to change)
7/27 (Saturday): Opening Fest, Russell Sage College, Troy, NY (10 am- 5 pm)
7/28 (Sunday): Rensselaer to Schodack
7/29 (Monday): Schodack to Coxsackie
7/30 (Tuesday): Coxsackie to Catskill
7/31 (Wednesday): Catskill to Ulster Landing
8/1 (Thursday): Ulster Landing to Norrie Park
8/2 (Friday): Norrie Park to Poughkeepsie
8/3 (Saturday): Poughkeepsie to Beacon
8/4 (Sunday): Beacon to Cold Spring
8/5 (Monday): Cold Spring to Stony Point
8/6 (Tuesday): Stony Point to Croton
8/7 (Wednesday): Croton to Piermont
8/8 (Thursday): Piermont to Inwood Hill
8/9 (Friday): Inwood Hill to Pier 96 (Manhattan); join the paddlers to march from Pier 96 to United Nations
8/10 (Saturday): Festival in New York City

We will walk a total of about 160 miles, typically walking 13-15 miles per day. We will begin walking around 8:30 or 9:00 am every morning, and finish around 4:30 pm. Because the canoes will be travelling according to the tides, they will depart at a different time each day, but we will meet them at the end of each day. All are welcome to join the walk at any point for any length of time. The walk will be free of drugs, alcohol, and weapons. Walkers who plan to join for more than one day should bring a tent and a sleeping bag, and their own plate and utensils.

Because we are walking in support of the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign, the situation with cost is different than most Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist Order walks. For the Two Row Campaign there is a cost of $30 per day to cover costs of food, camping, support vehicles, etc. Walkers are asked to contribute to those costs as you are able. All contributions can be made to Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (see contact information below).

For more information before the walk contact Jun San at the Grafton Peace Pagoda (518-658-9301); during the walk
contact Jules Orkin (201-566-8403). For more information about the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign contact
Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation/Syracuse Peace Council (315-701-1592).   www.honorthetworow.org

Peace Pilgrimage for a Nuclear Free Future
Friday March 1 – Friday April 5, 2013
Grafton Peace Pagoda – Washington, D.C.

NO MORE FUKUSHIMA
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

On March 11, 2011 a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck Japan. This earthquake triggered a devastating Tsunami.   As a result the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant suffered explosions and created a very serious nuclear crisis, which continues even now. Almost 2 years after Fukushima’s nuclear accident there is still no solution. The radioactivity in Fukushima still measures one hundred and thirty eight times higher than Chernobyl. More than 40% of Fukushima children have precancerous thyroid problems. The Japanese government still has no solution to safely clean up and dispose of nuclear waste. We cannot allow this problem to pass to the next generation.

 The “Idle no more” movement in Canada is a movement to protect Mother Earth. For over a month Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawpiskat tribe has been fasting to call attention to the peoples’ land. We have limited natural resources.  We cannot coexist with nuclear power. Let’s walk together step by step as a testament of our commitment in protecting the natural resources of Mother Earth.  Let us protect ourselves and our future generations from re-occurrence of this tragedy.

Each step will be a prayer toward World Peace and a Nuclear Free future.

3/1 (Fri) Grafton Peace Pagoda – Troy NY

3/2 (Sat)  Troy NY – Knowles Atomic Laboratory Niskayuna NY

3/3 (Sun) Niskayuna NY – Albany NY

3/4 (Mon) Albany NY – Kinderhook NY

3/5 (Tues) Kinderhook NY – Hudson NY

3/6 (Wed) Travel to Fishkill NY –Beacon NY – Cold Springs NY

3/7 (Thur) Cold Spring NY Rest Day

3/8 (Fri) Cold Spring NY – Peekskill NY

3/9 (Sat) We will join the Leverett Peace Pagoda’s “Walk for a new Spring” at Croton-On-Hudson, NY to Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and will walk with them for the remainder of this walk.

For the remainder of the schedule please see the “Walk for a New Spring” flier at http://newenglandpeacepagoda.com

 We will walk a total of approximately 400 miles, beginning each day at 8 am and typically walking 15-18 miles per day.  Feel free to join the walk at any point for any length of time.  Please respect that the walk will be free of drugs, alcohol and weapons.

For more information:
*Grafton Peace Pagoda (518) 658-9301
*Jules Orkin  (201) 566-8403 (during walk 3/1 – 3/9)
Initiated by Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order

Jun San Yusada recently travelled to Ottawa, Canada in support of the “Idle No More” movement, and to support Cheif Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation. On that day, Chief Spence had spent more that 30 days in a hunger strike that began on December 11.

From Idle No More’s website:

Our Goals and objectives are to ensure that the environment is protected and our inherent right to Indigenous sovereignty is recognized as we urge the government of Canada to repeal all legislation which violates Treaties, Aboriginal inherent rights and title, and subsequently environmental protections of land and water.

Later that week Jun San also joined with joins Veterans for Peace walking from Baltimore, MD to Washington DC for the presidential inauguration.

Photo by Mary Crate
Graphic image by Jesus Barraza

The triple meltdown at Fukushima, which has driven tens of thousands of Japanese from their homes, and cast radioactive fallout across the US, will likely cost the Japanese economy $623 billion. It has been proven time and time again that humans do not have the capability to control the long-term effects of nuclear power from uranium mining to power production and radioactive waste.  Nuclear power is not sustainable from environmental, human rights or economic standpoints.

Lake Ontario is sacred to the First Nation people of US and Canada and yet it is being highly contaminated by 13 nuclear reactors on the Canadian side and 4 reactors on the US side (and the US government wants to build two more).  Native people have disproportionately high cancer rates due to higher exposure from nuclear radiation created by nuclear waste dumping and uranium mining on Native lands.

We walk together in love and solidarity for a nuclear free future. A more just, sustainable, and compassionate world built on respect for all living beings and for the earth that sustains us is possible now more than ever. Please join us to help make it a reality.

Walk initiated by Nipponzan Myohoji, Grafton Peace Pagoda and supported by:
Mayors For Peace, Sierra Club Ontario Chapter, Greenpeace Quebec Chapter, Syracuse Peace Council, Quaker Friends Meeting, Alliance for Green Economy, Indigenous Women’s Initiatives, Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ, First Unitarian Congregation,  Seneca Tribal Nations Cattaraugus Creek Watershed Task Force, Peace Action of Central New York

Please join us by walking for an hour, a day, or for the entirety.  You can support us by organizing a community potluck, a sharing circle, a visit to your mayor, a place for our walkers to sleep, or coverage by the local media.  Also, please keep this walk in your thoughts and prayers.  Our walk is drug, alcohol, and weapons free.

For more information contact:
Before the walk: Grafton Peace Pagoda 518-658-9301,  or Christian 413-320-2856 or cheythiya@gmail.com
During the walk:  Hannah  781-472-9676 , hm291952@albany.edu
 

Peace Walk Itinerary

**** This schedule is subject to change.  Please check with the contacts listed  for any changes and/or for daily start and finish locations