Golden Rule Peace Boat Coming to Traverse City
Historic Sailboat Supports UN Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons
Veterans for Peace of Northern Michigan will welcome the storied anti-nuclear sailboat Golden Rule to Traverse City for a 2-day stay, Tuesday, August 22 & Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
Golden Rule first set sail to oppose nuclear weapons testing in 1958, and the 2023 visit to Traverse City is an opportunity for our community to turn out to stand against the modern threat of nuclear war and welcome the historic vessel as she sails into Grand Traverse Bay past Northport, Omena, Peshawbestown, Suttons Bay, and Old Mission to Traverse City’s Open Space Park.
Veterans for Peace is sending out the call for a Flotilla for Peace of local boats including NOTABLE VESSELS (insert names of vessels here) to meet and escort the Golden Rule as she sails down the Bay. The restored 34-foot wooden ketch is a national project of Veterans For Peace, and the visit will kick off a series of local events to raise awareness about the growing danger of nuclear war and to build support for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
"There is so much divisiveness in our world and community today,” explains Tim Keenan, President of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 50. “One fact the vast majority of us can agree on is that the use of nuclear weapons would be catastrophic for humankind and our planet. The Golden Rule aims to bring awareness of the importance of supporting the UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons, and the visit gives the people of our region a chance to make their voices heard."
In addition to the Flotilla, on Tuesday, August 22 the State Theatre will host a free showing of two 25-minute documentaries: Making Waves: The Rebirth of the Golden Rule followed by Phoenix of Hiroshima: An Odyssey Interrupted and a Q&A with the crew of S/V Golden Rule . Movies begin at 7:00pm, doors at 6:30pm.
On Wednesday, August 23, the public is invited for Golden Rule Boat Tours and an informational Peace Rally at the Open Space at Clinch Park Marina. This is an opportunity to learn more about the current threat of nuclear arms today and what we can do to stop the possibility of nuclear war! Meet the captain and crew, and tour the historic peace boat from 11 am - 3 pm. The Open Space is also the location of the Peace Rally hosted by Veterans for Peace of Northern Michigan from 4:30 - 8:00pm. Tribal drummers and singers will begin at 4:30, followed by speakers on the current status and threat of nuclear arms, and other local musicians will add their voices throughout the event.
Speakers will include Golden Rule crew members Jerry Condon and Helen Jacard; Physicians for Social Responsibility lobbyist, writer on nuclear issues, and part-time crew member Alfred Meyer; NMC professor John Zachman; Water Protector and co-executive director of Title Track Holly Bird; and Beyond Nuclear watchdog and nuclear waste specialist Kevin Kamps. There will also be music from Grand Traverse Band Community Drum, Mindimooyenh Healing Circle, Victor McManemy, and Robin Lee Berry and band.
To view a complete schedule of events, information about speakers, presentation, and the Golden Rule including live updates on the timing and organization of the Flotilla for Peace, please visit https://leelanau.com/goldenrule.
To schedule an interview, please contact the Golden Rule Project Manager, Helen Jaccard,at vfpgoldenruleproject@gmail.com or 206-992-6364 or Tim Keenan, President of local chapter 50, Veterans for Peace, 231 357-4776 or timkeenan1946@gmail.com.
Link to media images for download (click link to preview image):
The Golden Rule in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif., at the end of its first sailing season since the re-build, October 2015. Photo by Gerry Condon.
Golden Rule Shines in San Francisco Photo by Norman DeVall, Nadya Williams and Gerry Condon
SV Golden Rule in TenTom Waterway 2022
We hope to see you all there... It's going to be a great series of events!