Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice 202 Harvard SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-268-9557   Updated: 3 February 2008 Newsletter February 2008
February 2008 Newsletter Contents My Name Is Rachel Corrie and Say No to Nuclear Proliferation Membership Application	Denver-based political theatre collective, Countdown to Zero, in partnership with Justice First! announces the premier New Mexico stage production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie, the highly controversial play, in a limited run at the Out ch'YondA Art Space. The play, edited by Alan Rickman and Katherine Viner, was created from the personal journal entries, emails, and writings of the young activist Rachel Corrie after her death in 2003. She was killed while trying to stop an Israeli bulldozer in the Palestinian residential area of Rafah. The story tells of an idealistic, curious, and passionate young woman as she explores her personal world as well as the extremely complex world of Middle Eastern politics. After a critically-acclaimed run in Denver, Countdown to Zero's production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie will run for two performances only. This play was chosen by Countdown to Zero and Justice First! as an artistic vehicle for community conversation. After both performances of this highly-charged piece of theatre, we are offering post-show discussions in order to address the issues raised in the play and to encourage fair and honest conversation and reflection. Reservations are recommended and can be made at www.RachelABQ.com . Tickets are $20. See February 2008 calendar for recent updates.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) are working hard to push Complex 2030 thru the US Senate. We call it Bombplex 2030, because the main idea is to design and produce whole new generations of nuclear weapons. DOE is requesting millions of dollars. We need to speak out now: No! Don't build new nuclear weapons...Not in New Mexico, not anywhere! What you can do: Attend the New Mexico public hearings on the draft Complex Transformation SPEIS and sign the Petition! Socorro, Macey Center (NM Tech Center) 801 Leroy Place, Monday, March 10, 6-10 pm; Albuquerque, Convention Center, 401 2nd St. NW, Tuesday, March 11, 11am-3 pm & 6-10 pm; Los Alamos, Hilltop House, 400 Trinity Dr at Central, Thursday, March 13, 11am-3 pm; Santa Fe, Genoveva Chavez Center, 3221 Rodeo Road, Thursday, March 13, 6-10 pm. Top 5 Reasons to Oppose Complex Bombplex 2030... Building new nuclear bombs in New Mexico make this state a prime nuclear target. The U.S. would waste hundreds of billions of dollars on Complex 2030, which could be better spent on education, health care, hungry and homeless Americans. More radioactive waste would be generated and disposed in New Mexico, threatening people and the environment for thousands of years. Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs should clean up their sites, and become centers of Renewable Energy research and development. The United States will violate its pledges to nuclear disarmament under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if they build new bombs. More reasons to oppose Complex Bombplex 2030 It Makes New Mexico a more important target. Increased transportation of radioactive and hazardous wastes through urban communities. Radiation exposure whether caused by accidental releases or potential terrorist attacks during transport Environmental justice issues, particularly for low-income minority communities due to potential increase in pollution and contamination to the air, land and environment from releases of toxic substances. Increased thefts of radioactive materials and use in terrorist weapons. Proliferation of nuclear weapons increase possibilities of nuclear accidents. ...And the clincher is...it is unnecessary, because the 14,000 plutonium pits (pits are triggers in a nuclear weapon) stored at the Pantex plant in Texas are food for a minimum of 90 years. The average of these pits is just 21 years. Please send calendar items, comments, and questions concerning this Web document to Web@abqPeaceAndJustice.org .