New actions

WHEN: Sunday, September 23, from1:00-2:00 pm

WHERE:  Governor Hunt Road in Vernon, Vermont

WHAT: Quaker Worship, Vermont Yankee’s Main Gate

This religious witness will go forward regardless of the weather. It is organized under the care of Burlington Meeting (VT)

 

We request that all who plan to participate in this worshipful witness gather at the Putney Friends Meetinghouse that morning at 11:00 am for a discussion of basic logistics and ground rules, and final discussion based on our previous dialogues with Chief Hebert of the Vernon Police Department and Patrick Ryan, Head of Security for the plant.  At that meeting you will also meet the Quaker elders, identified with arm bands, who will serve as monitors during the worship and aftermath.

We ask that no signs be carried; there will be one banner identifying us as under the care of Burlington Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. We also suggest that Friends may want to carry snacks or a sandwich and something to drink, as the plant is in a rural area with no stores or restaurants. Food can be bought prior to the 11 am meeting at the Putney Coop. There are portapotties including a wheelchair accessible one at the Vernon Town Beach about a quarter of a mile away from the gate. There will be a car available to shuttle those who need it.

Chief Hebert has offered to let us park at the Vernon Town Offices parking lot and along the road behind it.  There is no parking at the local school. Both are also within walking distance of the plant gate  We will also be able to have an appointed transport person to drive anyone with health needs from the parking area to the gate and back.  Directions to both Putney Meetinghouse and the plant in Vernon are attached to this letter.

At approximately 12:45 pm we will walk prayerfully in single file, in silence, from the parking area to a designated place at the beginning of the plant driveway and form a circle to continue our standing worship. Please bring a light-weight chair with you if you are unable to stand for the worship period, which will last somewhere between a half hour and one hour, and the booking time after, approximately 30 minutes.

We have had many questions about the issue of civil disobedience  The meeting for worship, which is the primary focus of this religious witness, is being held in a mutually agreed upon spot on the edge of the plant’s property, and participation in the worship will not incur arrest.  There are a few of us who feel we are called to leave the circle during worship, to duck under a rope and continue our worship further inside the plant grounds, about 15 – 20 feet from the first circle. We will form a smaller circle there and continue in worship. We ask that the initial circle continue to hold the worship, while some go inside the grounds.  We will then be asked to leave and if we do not, we will be charged with trespassing and be arrested. The police will walk with us to a small house next to the driveway where our paperwork will be completed, and we will then be released on our own recognizance and allowed to leave. We will not be handcuffed. We ask that the circle hold us in worship while we are being booked, until we come back and join you.  No one is under any pressure to either go inside or remain outside, nor do Friends need to decide that before we gather.

We would be grateful if Friends who are coming for this witness will let us know your approximate numbers and your home meeting or church at the email or phone number below.  We also urge you to carpool if possible.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Email: betsyandjane@gmavt.net

Phone: 802-434-7114

Emergency contact phone for that day only:

802-734-8449

Directions to Putney Friends Meetinghouse:  Take exit 4 off of I – 91.  Go north on Route 5 for about a mile.  The Meetinghouse will be on your left.

Directions from the Meetinghouse to Vernon Town Offices: From Putney Meetinghouse, take Route 5 South, through the downtown of Brattleboro, onto 142 South.  In Vernon, continue onto Governor Hunt Road.  The Town Offices are on the right. The time is about 25 minutes

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Vermont Yankee Meltdown: What Will We Do?
Lessons from Fukushima
Monday, September 24, 2012
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Stinchfield Hall, Greenfield Community College Main Campus

This should be an excellent opportunity to hear first hand about
Fukushima. Please consider attending this event in Greenfield. The
danger from Vermont Yankee does not stop at the 10 mile evacuation
zone. The Greenfield Guardians Affinity Group.

Ira Helfand, M.D., co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility
and emergency physician in Springfield, MA, returns from a conference in
Japan with the latest on Fukushima. Join us to hear crucial information
for all of us living within 50 miles of Vermont Yankee. Additional
comments by Deb Katz, co-founder Citizens Awareness Network. Discussion
to follow.

Sponsored by Citizens for Emergency Preparedness
More information call: Suzanne G-Sosis 413-774-3585
Press, please call Marian Kelner 413-773-8401

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WHEN: September 30th, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
WHERE: Upper Valley Food Coop, Route 5, White River Junction, VT
WHAT: SAGE Alliance Affinity Group Meeting
For more information, go to:

Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution

Location:

Connecticut River – Hinsdale, NH

When:
Sep 8 2012 – 11:00am to 3:00pm

Flotilla September 8th

Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution 

Saturday September 8th  on the Connecticut River, Hinsdale NH

Join us by watercraft or along the shore in a creative “Flotilla” action

to protest the thermal & radioactive pollution of the Connecticut River

by Entergy’s Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor.

Where:  Main launch area: Prospect Street Boat Launch in Hinsdale, NH:

Land Rally: Fort Hill Rail Trail near the Prospect St. Boat Launch

Area map: http://goo.gl/maps/4CJpA

When:  Saturday September 8 (rain date Saturday September 15)

  • 11:00 am – Noon: Boats arrive and launch
  • 12:30 pm Land Rally
  • Please launch early enough to join us by 1pm on the river

What :

  • A flotilla of watercraft from kayaks to motor boats will launch & fill the Connecticut River, just East of Vermont Yankee.
  • Land supporters will gather at two shady rock outcroppings on the Fort Hill Rail Trail, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the boat launch on Prospect St. From these points, supporters will look out over the flotilla, directly across from Vermont Yankee and be able to hear speakers & music. Bring your binoculars, signs and banners!
  • There will be speakerson the water
    • David Deen, Connecticut River Steward, Connecticut River Watershed Council
    • Christian Parenti, acclaimed writer for The Nation
    • Deb Katz, Executive Director of Citizens Awareness Network (CAN), a member of SAGE Alliance.
  • There will be music from Tom Neilson, Molly Scott, and One Journey
  • There will be a symbolic “ice drop”,  to cool the river, highlighting the thermal pollution by VT Yankee and it’s effect on the river ecology.

WhyEntergy Corporation’s Vermont Yankee Nuclear Reactor dumps millions of gallons of heated water, some of it at 105 degrees, into the Connecticut river on a daily basis. Fish like the Atlantic salmon and American shad are very vulnerable to warmed habitats; in Vernon VT, where the reactor discharges, the shad have decreased by 99% since the 1990’s. The effects of this heated plume extend up to 55 miles downriver to Holyoke MA. Entergy could avoid all this by exclusively using their cooling towers instead of the river for cooling the reactor. Join us in telling Energy to cool it.

Launch Details:

  • Prospect Street Boat Launch in Hinsdale, NH: 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. (or from the Fort Hill Rail Trail just north of the Boat Launch) Note; there is a bridge to go under from this launch point. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and small boats will have no problem. Larger boats should launch elsewhere. Area map: http://goo.gl/maps/4CJpA
  • Brattleboro: 
    • Brattleboro marina 28 Spring Tree Rd  Brattleboro, VT 05301 www.vermontmarina.com/ 2 hour paddle to Vermont Yankee
    • Vermont Canoe Touring Center 451 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT.: 2 hour paddle to Vermont Yankee
  • Other locations: Please allow plenty of extra time for launch from these locations:

Canoe/kayak rental info:

  • Vermont Canoe Touring Center  451 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT. 2 hour paddle to Vermont Yankee
  • Barton s Cove in Gill MA has Kayaks and canoes for  $40/day.  (413) 863-9300.  Can reserve with a credit card.
  • Amherst/Northampton area: Eastern Mt. Sports for $35/day & Adventure Outfitters for $30/day and canoes at $35/day.

Water Safety: All participants on the water are required to have proper flotation equipment (vests, cushions). All boats/rafts need to have sufficient flotation equipment for everyone on board their craft. Motorized boats must be cautious — we expect most of the folks will be in canoes and kayaks, and motor boats must be aware of creating wakes and distracting paddlers. No inner tubes, horseplay, weapons, alcohol or dogs (except service dogs) please. Even though this is not a civil disobedience action, all those in the flotilla (on water or land) are expected to follow the SAGE Alliance Nonviolent Code of Conflict.

Shore Supporters: Along the shore on the the Fort Hill Rail Trail (map coming). The trail is flat. There are two large openings to the side of the trial, a 10-15 minute walk from the boat launch. Bring large signs, banners, puppets (Fish, River, No Hot Water, No Radiation symbol, Close VY, ). Food and water will not be available, so bring your own. Binoculars will be a bonus! Cameras and video are always welcome.No weapons, alcohol or dogs (except service dogs) please. Even though this is not a civil disobedience action, all those in the flotilla (on water or land) are expected to follow the SAGE Alliance Nonviolent Code of Conflict.

Post-Flotilla Gathering: The Marina restaurant, just off Putney Road (Route 5), 28 Spring Tree Rd,  Brattleboro, VT 05301 www.vermontmarina.com/

 

Questions: please email contact@sagealliance.net

 

Poster credits: Canoe photo by Will Bennington from Red Clover Climate Justice. This group organized the Northeast Regional Convergence in Burlington VT in July 2012, which highlighted the resistance of the indigenous Innu communities to the mega-dams planned for Northern Quebec. Canoe image edited by Tom Wyatt. Vermont Yankee photo: Lauren Frohne

Flotilla action poster