Ban the Bomb Rally Santa Clara/San Jose

Why:    Raise awareness of current United Nations General Assembly nuclear weapons ban treaty negotiations

This local action is part of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - San Jose Branch's support of the Women's March to Ban the Bomb, happening the same day in New York City.  Rallies and marches around the U.S. and the world will focus on the June 15 - July 7 United Nations General Assembly conference in NYC -- to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination.

There are nearly 15,000 nuclear weapons in current stockpiles, enough to destroy human civilization.  Most nuclear weapons are in United States and Russian arsenals.  The less-powerful atom bombs dropped in 1945 on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed hundreds of thousands. Most casualties were civilians.  The longterm aftermath of nuclear bomb explosions contaminates the atmosphere and the earth and causes genetic damage.
Visuals:  Large sign with mushroom cloud with red X superimposed on it, plus http://www.ICANW.org URL - visible from passing vehicles at busy intersection, plus smaller signs

Note:  San Francisco and Palo Alto will also have activities at noon on Saturday 6/17 relating to the UNGA negotiations.  See (incomplete) listings of those and other events on the WomenBantheBomb.org website.

More info: http://reachingcriticalwill.org http://icanw.org