Tri-Valley CAREs
Communities Against a Radioactive Environment
Friday, December 20, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
According to news reports, the U.S House and Senate appropriations committees will be working through the holiday recess to determine the amount of money that will be spent on U.S. nuclear weapons and related programs. We know that the nuclear weapons establishment and its contractors are exerting enormous pressure now to fund dangerous, proliferation-provocative and costly nuclear weapons R&D projects.
To read more and to take action click here.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
This professional mini-documentary celebrates Tri-Valley CAREs' 30 years of creating peace, justice, and the environment.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Earlier this month, we celebrated 30 years of accomplishment with about a hundred of our wonderful members and friends. Delicious food, drink, music, and great conversation were enjoyed by all.
At the party, we received two commendations, one from our Congressman, Representative Eric Swalwell, and one from our Supervisor, Scott Haggerty, and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
Click here to view the program and sponsors of our party...
 |
 |
 |
 |
Click here to view more pictures from the party...
TweetFriday, December 6, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Livermore Lab has installed a beach volleyball court, sand and all, right next to the main Plutonium Facility (Building 332) inside the so-called "Superblock," which contains the bulk of the Lab's nuclear materials.
Beach volleyball and deadly plutonium are strange bedfellows. Indeed, Foreign Policy magazine noted the Dr. Strangelove nature of the juxtaposition and pointed out, "the plant's scientists could be handling materials used in weapons capable of annihilating millions of people one hour, only to be playing beach volleyball the next."
Click here to read more from the Foreign Policy Article...
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Posted by Jo Ann Frisch
I'm Jo Ann Frisch and I've been a major supporter of Tri-Valley CAREs for the past 25 years. I'm also on the board of directors. For our 30th Anniversary, I compiled a special cookbook with over 30 delicious recipes our members have made for potluck events over the years. Some of you will remember these dishes! Now, for just $20, all of you can enjoy them.
I will have copies of "Cooking up Peace" at our Anniversary celebration at the Livermore Library on Tuesday, December 10th, where our member-chefs will have some of the dishes from the cookbook there for you to sample, indluding the cake shown on the cover below. Our Cookbook is now available here for your $20 donation.
Click here to order one now...
Monday, November 18, 2013
From Executive Director, Marylia Kelley, Board Member, Jo Ann Frisch, and filmmaker, Haleh Hatami.
Dear friends,
We are excited to let you know that Tri-Valley CAREs will celebrate its 30th Anniversary with a gala on December 10 � and you are invited.
Jo Ann is "Cooking up Peace" by compiling a special cookbook with many of the delicious recipes our members have made for potluck events over the years. The cookbook, and many of the dishes in it, will be at the party. Superb!
Haleh is putting the finishing touches on a professional videography of Tri-Valley CAREs in action. The short film will debut at the party. Hooray!
Marylia is writing to thank you, our valued members, for your partnership in our past victories and to ask your continuing support for our future endeavors. Yay, team!
Click the links below to read Marylia's letter, check out party details, and see notes from Jo Ann and Haleh.
Tweet
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
On November 14, Tri-Valley CAREs Board Member and Tracy business owner, Bob Sarvey, and the group's Executive Director, Marylia Kelley, spoke with community and business leaders about the environmental contaminants and Superfund cleanup at the Livermore Lab's Site 300 High Explosives Testing Range, located on Corral Hollow Road near the town of Tracy.
Public participation is crucial to obtaining a comprehensive and thorough cleanup of toxic and radioactive contaminants. Check out Marylia's PowerPoint presentation, below. And, if you have or know of a group who would like to invite us to come and speak about the ongoing Superfund cleanup at the Livermore Lab main site or Site 300, contact us at (925) 443-7148 or email [email protected] to arrange a date.
Click here for the ENGLISH presentation.
Click here for the SPANISH presentation.
TweetTuesday, November 5, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
The Fall 2013 edition of Tri-Valley CAREs' newsletter, Citizen's Watch, is now ready for you to enjoy. Click into the PDF link, and you will find:
Progress Stopping a New Nuclear Weapon - Interoperable warhead design hits bumps. Page 1
A Sampler of Accomplishments - Time to contemplate 30 years. Insert
Party Invitation - YOU are invited to Tri-Valley CAREs big 30th Anniversary bash. Insert (back page)
Plutonium Transport Petition Continues - Your signature requested. Page 3
Events & Opportunities - Check out our calendar section. Page 3
Print Bites - Read "All the News that Fits to Print." Including Fukushima, Sick Worker Support, Nobel Peace Prize, Inspector General Report, and more. Page 4
Plutonium Bomb Core News - The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board reports that Livermore Lab is moving ahead with the plan to transport whole bomb cores from Los Alamos. Get the latest information � and how to prevent it. Page 1
See the Winners - Get a report on our annual strategic planning retreat. Page 1
B61 Bomb - Check the status as its budget wends its way through Congress. Read how you can make a difference in the budget outcome today. Page 2
Hiroshima Action August 6 at Livermore Lab - Check out the insert and find a great 2-page flier with everything you need to know about the August 5 camp out opportunity at Del Valle (reservoir) and the August 6 action at Livermore.
Daniel Ellsberg & Wonderful Guests - Read more about the Hiroshima action at Livermore Lab featuring Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and others. Page 4
Lawsuit Update, Bomb Plants, Fukushima, Disarmament, and More - Read the Print Bites with "All the News that Fits to Print." Page 2
Events & Opportunities - Check out our calendar section. Page 3
Party Invitation - YOU are invited to Tri-Valley CAREs big 30th Anniversary bash. You won't want to miss it. Page 3
Nuclear Weapons Funding Update - NIF, LEPs, UPF, Campaigns and more...
Report Out - Tri-Valley CAREs' Shakes up DC
TVC Litigates - Protecting Your Right to Know
Print Bites - All the News that Fits to Print
Hiroshima Day Action - At Livermore Lab on August 6th
Alerts 4 U - Upcoming Events with Tri-Valley CAREs
Livermore Lab's Weaponeers Ambitions for an "Interoperable Warhead"
DC Days Tri-Valley CAREs' Team Takes on the Nuclear Weapons Budget
Stopping Bomb Cores From Being Shipped on our Highways
Hazardous Waste - Lab Seeks Permit Renewal that Could Expand Storage Quantities
Print Bites - All the News that Fits to Print
30th Anniversary Silent Auction - Save the Date June 1st!
Alerts 4 U - Upcoming Events with Tri-Valley CAREs
Watchdog's Reveal Secret Memo - Navy Does Not Want Livermore Lab Weapon Redesign
Tri-Valley CAREs Turns 30 - Donate now to our 30th Anniversary Campaign
Livermore Lab at the Crossroad - Community Forum to Stop Plutonium Shipments
Sign our Petition - To Keep Plutonium Bomb Cores from Coming to Livermore
Print Bites - All the News that Fits to Print
Peace Vigil for Nuclear Disarmament - Join us at the Gates of Livermore Lab!
Alerts 4 U - Upcoming Events with Tri-Valley CAREs
Click here to download the PDF.
TweetMonday, October 28, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Strategic Forces Subcommittee will hold a hearing soon on the soaring cost of the B61-12 nuclear bomb and other nuclear weapons projects.
Scheduled to testify on October 29 are Donald Cook from the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration, Ass't Secretary Madelyn Creedon from the Pentagon, General Robert Kehler from StratCom, and Director Paul Hommert from NNSA's Sandia National Lab, which has the lead role in the B61-12 Life Extension Program (LEP).
The NNSA's nuclear weapons Life Extension Programs (LEPS) are rapidly expanding in their scope, severity of design change undertaken, budgetary cost and negative impact on global non-proliferation aims.
Click here for more
Click here for the Armed Services Committee website about the hearing
And, check back with Tri-Valley CAREs often for continuing updates on our efforts to stop the B61-12 and other "new and modified" nuclear weapons.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Our local congressman, Representative Eric Swalwell, has joined 12 other representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 2905. This bill seeks to amend the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, originally enacted in 2000, to strengthen the quality control measures in place for part B lung disease claims and establish a much needed advisory board on implementation of the laws section regarding claims made for illnesses from exposures to toxic substances, known as Part E. This bill, if passed by congress, has the potential to help hundreds of workers from Livermore Lab and Sandia - Livermore who have had claims denied improperly, as well as thousands of others across the nuclear weapons complex.
Click here to view the bill
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Tri-Valley CAREs' staff attorney Scott Yundt was invited to speak at the Monterey Peace Center in Seaside, California by Womens International League for Peace and Freedom's Monterey Chapter.
Click here to view the slide presentation
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Congress appears poised to end the government shutdown, although the votes have yet to be taken. Let us seize this moment to share a bit of what it all means for nuclear weapons and cleanup.
If Congress passes a new Continuing Resolution (CR), and it is based on the preceding Fiscal Year 2013 CR, it will mean that the National Nuclear Security Administration's nuclear weapons activities will get nearly $1 billion LESS than the President's Fiscal Year 2014 budget request, when calculated over the full year.
Click here for more ...
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Since 2001, current and former workers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Sandia National Laboratory � Livermore (SNL-CA), who believe that they have been made sick by on-the-job exposures to radiation and toxic chemicals, have worked together in a support group established and facilitated by Tri-Valley CAREs to help one another with claims for benefits and compensation brought under the Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). To date, 1760 LLNL and 187 SNL-CA employees have brought EEOICPA claims. Nearly 200 have participated in the Sick Worker Support Group.
A new bill was recently introduced in both chambers of Congress to improve oversight and quality control issues with EEOICPA's implementation.
Click here for more information...
Click here to read our new Sick Worker Newsletter...
Click here to read the text of H.R. 2904...
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
We want to give a big thank you to Bonnie Raitt for inviting Tri-Valley CAREs to table at her show in Marin last night. It was not only a night of great music, but also an amazing opportunity to reach out to many receptive audience members.
"I know something they can 'shutdown'... Diablo Canyon" - Bonnie Raitt from stage.
 |
 |
 |
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
A new report from the Department of Energy Inspector General found Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory does not adequately protect its dangerous high explosives. Reporter Kiet Do from CBS Bay Area News interviewed Tri-Valley CAREs Executive Director, Marylia Kelley, about this report.
Click here to read the Inspector General Report...
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
It was reported this week that the overwhelming majority of countries condemned the continued existence of nuclear weapons and called for their banning and elimination at the first ever UN high-level meeting on nuclear disarmament, which took place on September 26th. While some of the nuclear-armed states spoke disparagingly about the meeting's importance, the rest of the international community demanded immediate action to remove these weapons once and for all. There were two excellent consensus statments made at the meeting on behalf of all of the Non-Governmental Organizations.
Click here and here to read the NGO statements.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Site 300 is Livermore Lab's high explosives testing facility. It encompasses 11 square miles along Corral Hollow Road west of downtown Tracy and east of Livermore.
It's part of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and it is massively contaminated. Many people are unaware of the pollution at Site 300. And, what they don't know could hurt them.
In an ongoing effort to bring public attention to the site's environmental dangers and improve the cleanup to protect future generations, Tri-Valley CAREs is offering a new 2-page fact sheet in ENGLISH and SPANISH.
Click here to read the ENGLISH language fact sheet.
Haga clic aqu� para ver esta informaci�n en Espa�ol.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Tri-Valley CAREs is one of more than 100 groups to send a letter today calling on EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to withdraw the agency's faulty, so-called "Protective Action Guides," or PAGs. The new PAGs would allow exposure to high doses from a radiation release before government action would be required.
The primary purpose of the new PAGs is to guide government response to nuclear power accidents, like Fukushima, or "dirty bomb" explosions.
However, by proposing options for allowable radiation concentrations in drinking water that are up to 27,000 times more permissive that the current Safe Drinking Water Act limits, for example, the new PAGs could end up weakening cleanup actions for currently contaminated sites as well as for future accidents.
In either case, the clear loser is the public's health.
Click here to read the 100 groups' letter to EPA.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Tri-Valley CAREs and Robert (Bo) Jacobs must announce, regretfully, that he will not be able to join us on September 5th. Bo's mother passed away and he will be attending her funeral.
We will still host our monthly letter writing party. It will take place as scheduled on Thursday, September 5th at 5:30 PM at the Tri-Valley CAREs offices, 2582 Old First Street, Livermore.
There will be a short briefing from Marylia and Scott and then time to write a Letter to the Editor of your favorite newspaper. Light dinner foods and refreshments will be provided.
Our thoughts are with Bo and his family at this difficult time, and we will reschedule his talk on his next visit to the Bay Area.
Friday, August 29, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
On Thursday, September 5, Tri-Valley CAREs is honored to present a talk and discussion with Professor Robert Jacobs of Hiroshima University.
Professor Jacobs, who prefers to be called by his nickname, Bo, is one of the most insightful researchers and inspiring speakers with whom we have had the pleasure of working. Bo will discuss his work on the "Global Hibakusha Project," which examines the legacy of radiation exposures at nuclear testing and other radiation-impacted sites throughout the world. Following his talk, there will be an opportunity to write a letter to the editor of your favorite newspaper, using any of the themes from Bo's talk � or one of your choosing.
Please arrive at 5:15 PM on September 5 for light dinner foods and seating for Bo's talk and a discussion of his work, which will begin at 5:30 PM, at 2582 Old First Street, Livermore, CA 94551. Your RSVP to (925) 443-7148 or [email protected] would be much appreciated but is not required. At 6:30 PM, for those who choose to stay, there will be a short briefing on writing letters to the editor and an opportunity to craft yours in a helpful, friendly environment.
Click here to read more...
Friday, August 29, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Today, August 29, has been proclaimed by the United Nations as the "International Day Against Nuclear Tests." For all of us working toward a more just and peaceful world, free of the scourge of nuclear weapons, this is a special time to stop a moment and consider the horrifying effects of nuclear weapons testing worldwide.
The UN website states: "Since nuclear weapons testing began in the mid-twentieth century, with the first test on 16 July 1945, nearly 2,000 have taken place. There has been little consideration of the devastating effects of testing on human life, let alone the understanding of nuclear fallout from atmospheric tests�"
The U.S. has conducted more than 1,000 of the world's nuclear tests and is the only nation to have used a nuclear weapon in war (on August 6 and 9, 1945). The United States and Russia today hold about 95% of all nuclear weapons. Our responsibility to take action for nuclear disarmament could not be more pressing or clear.
Click here to read more...
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Ploughshares Fund blogged an informative and interesting interview with Tri-Valley CAREs' Executive Director in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) and how it influences nuclear disarmament today. The LTBT was the first concrete step toward the elimination of nuclear testing. Marylia provided insights on how the LTBT impacts her work and what more can be done to stop nuclear testing.
Click here to read the interview
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
It may come as no surprise, but the Department of Energy's own investigative arm, the Office of Inspector General, released a report today that finding that Livermore Lab's subcontracting practices result in excessive waste of government (i.e. taxpayer) funds benefiting the private subcontractors.
In one example, the report determined that if Livermore had hired a certain Chief of Staff as an employee, rather than through a subcontract, at a rate similar to the highest rate of another Livermore Chief of Staff, it could have saved about $533,423.
Click here to read more about how our local nuclear weapons lab finds ways to enrich corporate subcontractors.
Click here to read the text of an article from Greenwire about this Report
Friday, August 9, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
An important interview with Ploushares Fund President Joe Cirincione. It is especially poignant as we observe the 68th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan today. Take a look.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Click here to read a companion piece in today's Washington Post by Ezra Klein.
(Updated) Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
200+ activists gathered at the gates of Lawrence Livermore Lab 68 years after the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The rally featured amazing speakers, including Daniel Ellsberg, Reverend Nobu Hanaoka and Tri-Valley CAREs own Loulena Miles. The theme this year was "Unfinished Business and Our Most Urgent Responsibility; Banning the Bomb at the Livermore Lab and Globally." Participants marched from the northwest corner of the Lab to the West Gate where 31 people were arrested for participating in nonviolent direct action.
Click here for the August 6 event flier.
Click here for photos of the event.
Click here to read an article about the event from the San Jose Mercury.
Click here to read an article about the event from the San Ramon Express.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
A recent Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB) site report for the activities at Livermore Lab stated that on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, three Livermore Lab workers in the Plutonium Facility "detected significant levels of radioactive contamination while completing an operation to bag-out bottles of waste solution from a glovebox used to process plutonium-238." Moderate levels of contamination were also measured on one of the worker's coveralls.
Click here for a copy of June 28th DNFSB Site Report.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
Livermore Lab is preparing for the transport of Plutonium bomb cores between Los Alamos and Livermore. The Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB) site report on June 21, 2013, reported that at the Hardened Engineering Test Building, they have begun installing a refurbished Shaker apparatus that is approved to operate with up to 5kg of fuels grade equivalent plutonium (most nuclear bomb cores need between 2-4 kg of weapons-grade plutonium). The Lab claims the refurbishment was needed on the equipment that has gone largely unused for years, in order to prepare for "potential future operations." The refurbishment will be complete and ready for testing by December.
This is cause for concern because it suggests the Lab is paving the way for plutonium bomb cores to arrive from Los Alamos for testing in the Shaker. Tri-Valley CAREs has been campaigning against this plan because Livermore Lab previously lost its high security status and is no longer authorized to handle, test, and store nuclear bomb usable quantities of plutonium like those that would be used in the Shaker. It is unclear whether the DOE plans to grant itself a variance in order to do this testing. Meanwhile, there has also been no National Environmental Policy Act review of this agency project.
We are hoping to meet with Representative Swalwell and other decision makers soon about this plan, and will continue to campaign to prevent the transport of Plutonium bomb cores from New Mexico to Livermore and back. We have a petition with around 2,000 signatures and would love yours! Please sign petition to help keep Livermore safe!
Click here for a copy of June 21st DNFSB Site Report.
Click here for a copy of the English Petition.
Click here for a copy of the Spanish Petition.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
The July-August 2013 edition of Tri-Valley CAREs' newsletter, Citizen's Watch, is now ready for you to enjoy. Click into the PDF link, and you will find:
Click here to download the PDF.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
Come join us at a Camp Out the night before the annual Hiroshima Commemoration, Rally, and Action at the Livermore Lab. This event will be located at the Eagle View camp ground at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore on August 5, 2013. Check-in time is between 2PM and and 9PM. At 6AM the next morning, Tuesday, August 6th, we will caravan to the Lab. Parking is limited at the campground, so carpooling is suggested. We ask for $10 per person with no additional charge for parking. Musical Instruments are welcome. NO pets and NO alcohol. Bring your own food and beverages.
RSVP IS REQUIRED! Contact Scott at (925) 443-7148 or [email protected].
Click here for the flier.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
Tri-Valley CAREs' board of directors, staff, and members, new and old, gathered on Saturday, July 13th to conduct our annual strategic planning retreat. A skilled facilitator led us through a number of successful exercises to help us focus and plan the program for the coming year.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
On June 24, 2013, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously adopted a Resolution calling for U.S. leadership in eliminating nuclear weapons globally and for the "redirection of military spending to domestic needs." The Resolution, which follows President Obama's remarks in Berlin of June 19 on U.S. disarmament goals, offers specific measures to "meet the needs of U.S. cities."
Thirty Mayors introduced the Resolution, including four from California. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the nonpartisan association of American cities with populations of 30,000 or more.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 (updated July 9th with Infographic)
Posted by Marylia Kelley
The Republican Majority on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has apparently failed to notice that the Cold War was declared over in 1989, some 24 years ago. The HASC National Defense Authorization Act is mired in the past but will set policy and authorize funding for the future � and that is the problem.
Fortunately, there is a solution. This is where you come in!
Click here to read more...
Check Out this Brand New Infographic on the B-61 Budget from Ploughshares Fund
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Our entry included an atomic orange pick up truck, black and yellow "radioactive" balloons and banners designed by one of our volunteers to "Stop the Transport of Plutonium Bomb Cores to Livermore." Thanks go out to all who helped create the entry and to those who rode, walked, held banners, gave out balloons and leafleted alongside our float in the parade.
Click here to see some photos of us, courtesy of eLivermore.com
Friday, June 7, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
This morning, Tri-Valley CAREs filed a lawsuit against the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration for their repeated failure to respond to information requests made by the group pursuant to its rights under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
FOIA requires federal agencies like the DOE and the NNSA to respond to requests for information made by the public, news, or public interests groups within 20 days. Tri-Valley CAREs ught suit because the DOE and NNSA have failed to provide any responsive information to five requests made by the group, some of which have been pending for over two years.
Tri-Valley CAREs requests information about: Livermore Lab's proposed use of fissile material (like Plutonium) in the National Ignition Facility; expansion of the High Explosives Application Facility; an occupational exposure to beryllium at the Lab, the removal of Catergory I/II Special Nuclear Material from Livermore Lab; and the federal plan to bring back plutonium bomb cores to Livermore Lab for diagnostic tests. Keeping information on these topics hidden does nothing to protect the public and violates the law.
Click here for a copy of Tri-Valley CAREs' Complaint filed against the DOE and NNSA.
Click here to read our press release that contains more information about our lawsuit.
Click here to read an article in a local paper about our lawsuit.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
Today, Southern California Edison announced that it will permanently retire its beleaguered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station! Both reactors, Unit 2 and Unit 3, will be closed forever. Both have been shuttered since January 2012 due to faulty steam generating systems, one of which leaked radiation and prompted the closure. (Unit 1 was dismantled in 1992.)
According to the utility's press statement, the decision to retire the San Onofre plant is due to "continuing uncertainty" about when or if the nuclear generating station "might return to service."
This decision is testament to the power of community activism in and around San Clemente, where San Onofre sits on the beach next to sunbathers, surfers and families with picnic baskets. Kudos go also to numerous organizations around California and the nation that joined in the struggle to prevent San Onofre from being re-opened in the face of serious, unresolved safety questions.
Today, Southern California activists are dancing at the gates of San Onofre to celebrate their sudden, albeit long-coming, victory. Now, there is only one active nuclear power plant left in California, the Diablo Canyon plant near San Luis Obispo.
Click here to read Southern California Edison's announcement.
Click here to read an article from the LA Times and take the poll. Tell the Los Angeles Times readers you do not want to see a new nuclear power plant built in California.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Today, U.S. Representatives Loretta Sanchez (D-CA 46th District) and John Garamendi (D-CA 3rd District) released a joint press statement decrying the "outdated-Cold War view" that prompted certain members of the House Armed Services Committee (on which they both serve) to add half a billion dollars in wasteful spending to the fiscal year 2014 National Defense Authorization Bill.
Click here to read more...
Click here to read their press release...
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
"KEEP NUCLEAR BOMB CORES OFF OUR ROADS," is the title of Tri-Valley CAREs' peace and environmental entry in this year's Livermore Parade. That's the plutonium part of the equation.
And, the Fun? We will have banners, balloons and an atomic orange truck we are turning into a float. All we need is YOU. Join us and carry a banner, push a stroller (it's BYOB, Bring Your Own Baby), hand out petitions along the route, or ride in the truck and wave to the crowd. Participants of all ages are wanted.
The annual Livermore Rodeo Parade is SATURDAY, JUNE 8 at 10 AM. Our line up spot is at the intersection of 4th and N Streets in downtown Livermore. Our entry is #46. Our line up time is 9:45 AM.
All volunteers receive a Tri-Valley CAREs T-shirt, buttons and balloons. And, no pressure, friends, but last year our entry won First Place in its category. Come and educate the community on an important issue while helping us win a trophy again this year!
Click here to view the event flier.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
Join us at Awaken Chiropractic on Saturday, June 1 from 3pm to 6pm. Bay Area practitioners of both the healing arts and the visual arts are donating services and objects to this silent auction benefiting a very important cause, Tri-Valley CAREs. There will be a raffle for an amazing door prize and a silent auction for dozens of great items. This is a family friendly event (with face painting and games for kids) and plenty of snacks and beverages.
Click here to view the event flier.
Click here to check out some of the awesome auction items.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
The weapons labs want to "upgrade" the B61 nuclear bomb. And, as you may have read in our recent Citizen's Watch newsletters, the price tag to create the new, modified B61-12 has risen to just over $10 billion.
Two important developments are now converging. First, some members of Congress are beginning to question the "need" to fund new military capabilities for this bomb, including California Senator Dianne Feinstein. Second, the New York Times just published an editorial supporting CUTTING the $537 million that the Administration has in the 2014 budget request to upgrade the B61.
Right now, Congress is writing the nuclear weapons budget for fiscal year 2014, and so this is a PERFECT TIME to call your Senators and Representative and tell them to zero out the $537 million for the B61.
Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to reach your two U.S. Senators and your Representative.
Introduce yourself by name and let the staff person know you are a constituent. You can choose to highlight the New York Times editorial that recommends cutting the funding for the B61 nuclear bomb, or express your own thoughts. Keep your remarks short and focused so that the staff person can write what you say accurately. And, please thank the staff person at the end of the call.
Click here to read the New York Times editorial
Monday, May 6, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
We are sending out a huge "thank you" to all of our generous contributors. You have all made it possible for Tri-Valley CAREs to grow and thrive over the past 30 years.
And, today, you have helped us achieve our 30th Anniversary Campaign goal of raising $30,000.
True, it took a wee bit longer than our 30-day objective, but with your generous help we made it! Indeed, we exceeded our $30,000 goal. Your contributions are being put to immediate good use stopping nuclear weapons, winning cleanup of leaking radioactive wastes, and more.
Click here to read more about our 30th Anniversary Campaign and see a list of our wonderful supporters. Click here to read what legendary singer Bonnie Raitt, noted author Joanna Macy and Ploughshares Fund's Paul Carroll are saying about us.
Though we have reached this goal, we have many months left to celebrate our 30 years and that means you can still contribute and help us strengthen and grow our programs. We truly need and appreciate all of our donors. Also, check out our 30th Anniversary Silent Auction in Oakland coming up on June 1st.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
On Tuesday, May 21, there will be a special tour of the Livermore Lab's Main Site arranged by Tri-Valley CAREs. The tour will be from 9am to 12:30pm.
Participants must call to reserve their spot and provide required badging information (your full name, drivers license or US passport number, date and place of birth, and social security number) to us by May 7th. The tour will involve the technical staff at Livermore Lab in charge of remediating contaminated soil and groundwater under the Superfund law. This is a unique opportunity to see inside the fence at a classified nuclear weapons lab and learn what is being done to restore the environment.
Call our office to reserve your spot or for more information at: (925) 443-7148.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Posted by Alison Forrest
Tri-Valley CAREs was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle's front-page article about Livermore Lab's National Ignition Facility, entitled, "Nuclear Energy Project Changes Aim After Years of Failure" by David Perlman.
Click here to read the article...
Friday, April 12, 2013
Posted by Robert Civiak
Budget Graph: Now updated with the FY 2014 budget request and other information. Really tells the story!
Click here to download the graph...
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
The DOE NNSA released the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request to Congress. For Livermore Lab, Nuclear Weapons Activities still dominate the budget at nearly 84%. Click on the pie chart to see more...
Click here to download the pie chart...
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Source: Science Insider - David Malakoff
Click here to read the article...
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 (Noon) - Updated Thursday, April 11
Posted by Marylia Kelley
The "top line" budget numbers for the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) are now on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website. Tri-Valley CAREs notes with concern that the NNSA "nuclear weapons activities" are receiving an increase in this era of budget austerity.
Click here to read more...
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
Click here to read more...
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
The Department of Energy's Fiscal Year 2014 budget request for nuclear weapons will be made public late in the day on Wednesday, April 10. The DOE is holding its "rollout" event at its Headquarters in Washington, DC at 4 PM, Eastern.
In anticipation, Tri-Valley CAREs and our allies in the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability have prepared key questions for the media and others to ask DOE on important nuclear weapons, nonproliferation and cleanup programs in the FY 2014 budget request.
The advance intelligence we have received about the pending budget request suggests that the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration will asked for increases in most nuclear weapons activities, with only slight reductions in the request for the failed National ignition Facility and select other programs that should be completely reoriented, deferred or cancelled outright.
Tri-Valley CAREs asked DOE but the agency was coy about saying exactly when it would get the thousands of pages that make up the detailed budget request on-line for public scrutiny. We expect it will be posted in multi-volume PDFs at about 5 PM, Eastern, on Wednesday, but could not get an official commitment or confirmation for any time-certain for its posting.
Your nuclear watchdogs here at Tri-Valley CAREs will provide same day analysis as soon as the budget becomes available, and then longer analysis and recommendations in the days to come. Check this site regularly for new information.
Click here to read our press releases the "Key Questions for Reporters to Ask" that we prepared in advance� (second one down)
Click here to read the "Key Questions for Reporters to Ask" that we prepared in advance�
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Californians have a unique role to play in reducing dangerous stockpiles of nuclear weapons. Our Senator, Dianne Feinstein, is the Chair of the committee that oversees the nuclear weapons budget, and is one of the most important leaders in the Senate on the issue.
That is why an urgent Statewide Call-in Day is planned for today, Tuesday, April 9th, to show Sen. Feinstein that Californians want to cut spending on nuclear weapons. Please join us in calling on April 9th, or on whichever day you can this week.
Current plans will have the US spend up to $500 billion in the next decade on these weapons, in direct contradiction to the more sane path that cuts our nuclear arsenals and saves billions of dollars to invest in human needs.
If we want Sen. Feinstein to take the lead in cutting billions in nuclear weapons spending, she needs to hear from you right now. Please join thousands of people across California who are coming together to call Sen. Feinstein on April 9th!
Call Senator Feinstein at (415) 393-0707. Here is a suggested message:
"My name is ____ and I live in _____. I am calling to ask Senator Feinstein to cut wasteful spending on nuclear weapons and new bomb plants."
Please call Sen. Feinstein today, April 9th, and help us keep her phone ringing off the hook. Keep calling after April 9th too. The date is not as important as making sure your voice is heard.
Monday, March 25, 2013 - Updated Wednesday March 27, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
On Friday, March 29th, we joined the Ecumenical Peace Institute and Livermore Conversion Project for the annual Good Friday march and demonstration at the gates of Livermore Lab to call for an end to violence and nuclear weapons.
This year's theme was "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" based on the title of a book by Martin Luther King Jr. The keynote speech was given by Rev. Phil Lawson, pastor emeritus of Easter Hill United Methodist Church in Richmond and co-founder of the National Council of Elders, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, and former interfaith program director of East Bay Housing Organizations.
Those attending met at Vasco and Patterson Pass roads in Livermore beginning at 6:45 a.m. Worship services will be held at 7 a.m., followed by a procession to the lab's west gate, where protesters, who so chose, engaged in non-violent civil disobedience by blocking access to the facility. 37 were arrested.
Click here to read a local news article about the event.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Last week, Tri-Valley CAREs and Nuclear Watch of New Mexico exposed the details of National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Performance Evaluation Reports in which an NNSA official made adjustments to the "recommended incentive fee" for Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC, and Los Alamos National Security (LANS), LLC - the private contractors that manage and operate the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Los Alamos National Laboratory for the U.S. Dept. of Energy NNSA. (See the Blog below)
In response to both press releases, an article by Douglas Guarino was published in Government Executive (and elsewhere) that includes an important development. He states, "A congressional staffer who follows the issue said...the concerns raised by the watchdog groups are 'valid.' The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to discuss the issue publicly, said lawmakers will likely raise the matter during NNSA oversight hearings this year."
Click here to read the rest of Mr. Guarino's article in Government Executive
Click here to read Tri-Valley CAREs Press Release
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
As the nation faces sequestration and across the board budget cuts, a high-level National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) official has made "an adjustment to the recommended incentive fee" for Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC, the private contractor that manages and operates the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for the U.S. Dept. of Energy NNSA.
The just-released NNSA Fiscal Year 2012 Performance Evaluation Report (PER) shows that these numbers were cooked to benefit LLNS after the evaluation had been completed, allowing for an increased fee award and an extra year, non-competitive extension of the contract for the LLC. These awards come despite the report's detailed description of many ways in which LLNS management has been deficient, indluding at the Lab's largest single project, the National Ignition Facility, where major milestones (like ignition) were missed in 2012.
Click here for our more detailed analysis of the PER...
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Tri-Valley CAREs Staff Attorney, Scott Yundt, gave a presentation last week to an audience at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference at the University of Oregon School of Law entitled "Confronting the US Nuclear Weapons Complex in the 21st Century."
Click here to view the slides from his Power Point Presentation...
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
There is a lot of hype around the showdown over sequestration or the across the board cuts in the federal budget. The worst fear mongering is about the impact on the Pentagon budget and the Department of Energy's Nuclear Weapons Budget.
The New York Times editorial today said, "Some of this is plainly hype. Both the generals and the civilians in the Pentagon know that some cuts are possible and that even under the sequester American security need not be compromised. The military has many resources, and in some respects it is over-resourced." The same goes for the DOE's Nuclear Weapons Activites.
Call Congress (202) 224-3121 today and tell your representatives to stop the hype and save the programs we need by cutting the waste from the "over-resourced" Pentagon budget.
Urge our representatives to act because the public supports balancing the budget on the back of reductions to the Pentagon budget rather than through cuts to programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Our communities cannot afford cuts in "under-resourced" programs that are investments in our future: education, healthcare, infrastructure and green energy.
Call Congress at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to:
1. Support cutting the Pentagon budget by $1 trillion over 10 years and similarly cutting the Department of Energy's Nuclear Weapons Budget.
2. Fund education, rebuild infrastructure and create green energy in order to rebuild our economy and our communities.
Significant cuts in the Pentagon and Nuclear Weapons budgets, closing corporate tax loopholes and getting the rich to pay their fair share of taxes is the only way to break the cycle of hype and fear mongering. The time to act is now.
Call Congress (202) 224-3121
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
On the morning of February 8th, activists gathered at the gates of Lawrence Livermore Lab to sing songs, wave and talk to workers while protesting ongoing nuclear weapons development and calling for nuclear abolition. They will be gathering again at the corner of East Avenue and Vasco Road on Friday, March 8th at 7-8 AM.
Click here to read more...
Click here to read a blog about the vigil and see pictures...
Tuesday, February 5 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
A Short Report on the Potentially Illegal Plan to Ship Plutonium Bomb Cores from NM to CA
On January 30, Tri-Valley CAREs hosted a forum in Livermore with environmental, legal and nuclear experts from New Mexico and California to discuss a federal proposal to transport plutonium bomb cores from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the Bay Area.
The forum attracted about fifty thoughtful, articulate participants. Following the expert presentations, participants formed three planning groups to brainstorm ongoing actions. One group focused on local organizing and outreach to raise awareness of the plutonium proposal, one chose political advocacy to influence decision-makers and the final group chose to focus on needed cleanup of toxic and radioactive pollutants that resulted from previous nuclear weapons activities at Livermore Lab.
Click here to read more...
Click here to see the NBC Bay Area News story that ran the evening of the forum
Click here to read an article in the Tri-Valley Times and other Bay Area newspapers, "At Livermore forum, nuclear watchdog groups oppose lab weapons testing plan"
Click here to listen to a radio show about the community meeting
Click here to read an article from the Environmental News Service about the Forum
Monday, January 28, 2013
Posted by Scott Yundt
Wednesday, January 23, 2012
Posted by Marylia Kelley
What: A Community Forum to Stop a Plan to Truck Deadly Plutonium Across Three States to Livermore�
When: January 30th, 7 PM - 9 PM
Where: Livermore Main Public Library, 1188 S. Livermore Ave.
Who: Presenters will include Jay Coghlan, Executive Director, Nuclear Watch New Mexico; Peter Strauss, Environmental Scientist & Superfund Technical Advisor; Marylia Kelley, Executive Director, Tri-Valley CAREs; and Scott Yundt, Staff Attorney, Tri-Valley CAREs
Why: In September 2012, Livermore Lab's security level was downgraded. The Livermore Lab is no longer authorized to handle, test or store nuclear bomb-usable quantities of plutonium, including, of course, whole plutonium bomb cores (also called pits).
Click here to read more...
Click here to download our flier with more information
Click here to see our media alert
Friday, January 11, 2013
Posted by Marylia Kelley
In early November, forty-six respected organizations joined Tri-Valley CAREs in a letter to Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration officials to protest the government's plan to ship plutonium bomb cores from the Los Alamos Lab in New Mexico to the Livermore Lab in northern California, even though Livermore Lab lacks the security or authorization to handle them.
Today, Tri-Valley CAREs received a very brief response to our detailed letter stating that before the Plutonium Bomb Cores are put on the road, NNSA will perform a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the potential environmental impacts of the plan. The response does not indicate that the agency will conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement with public hearings, which Tri-Valley CAREs believes are necessary to evaluate the plan.
The response reinforces Tri-Valley CAREs' efforts to engage the community as early as possible to challenge this plan.
Click here to read our original letter
Click here to read the NNSA's response to our letter