Talk and discussion: Jemez Springs Public Library, Sunday May 19, 2 pm

May 17, 2019

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This letter:

1. Talk and discussion: Jemez Springs Public Library (map), Sunday May 19, 2 pm: "The LANL Plutonium Processing Center: Status and Prospects -- and -- The New Mexico 'energy transition:' green or not? What can we do?" (details)
2. Global Climate Strike, Friday, May 24
3. How you can help if you wish!

Recently to our larger list, of which this is a subset:

• Bulletin 257: Pentagon pit study: The Trump plutonium pit schedule is impossible. NNSA: 2 warheads are delayed , May 10, 2019
• Bulletin 256: The Great Transformation: Nuclear Weapons Policy Considerations for Congress, May 8, 2019
• Bulletin 255: Special Report: "Draining the Nuclear Swamp," May 7, 2019

Most recent letter to this list:

• March 13, 2019 letter: NM youth climate school strike; failure to act to mitigate global warming by NM Legislature, Governor, congressional delegation; deep concern about how partisan propaganda and wishful thinking are displacing critical thinking and action on energy and climate issues

Dear friends on our New Mexico activist list –

Since we last wrote we've been focused strongly on nuclear weapons issues, our "day job" here.

Trish had knee replacement surgery, so she was out of commission at first wholly, and then partially, for some weeks. She recovering strongly and is back at work full-time now.

I was in DC for a week recently, briefing and exchanging information and views on and around the Hill. Congressional committees have been very active, with the New Mexico senators playing their usual pro-nuclear weapons, pro-lab roles. The first product of those deliberations is expected Monday from the House Appropriations Committee.

As we wrote on the 10th, the Trump nuclear stockpile agenda is slowing. Pit production, as discussed in Bulletin 257 and after that in Energy Daily ("Study casts doubt on ‘extremely challenging’ NNSA pit plans," May 14, 2019), is in trouble. Or rather, its trouble is becoming conscious. Denial is slipping. The Pentagon's consultants now agree with us on many things.

For its part, the Albuquerque Journal, a reasonably hawkish newspaper overall, is skeptical of the need for the pit mission -- and of Los Alamos National Lab's (LANL's) fitness for it (Editorial: "LANL leaders must make safety the lab’s top mission", May 16, 2019).

As was the case in previous pit plans, billions of dollars are at stake. Now, in overall life-cycle terms, tens of billions. Our senators openly salivate over this. Nothing will change for the better in New Mexico until we hold those in leadership positions to higher standards.

Establishing industrial pit production is repeatedly described by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as its highest priority. Establishing production at LANL is an essential first milestone, to be followed by expansion here or elsewhere if all goes well here.

What we collectively do here now -- or don't do here now -- will have overwhelming importance for the success of the Trump-Obama nuclear weapons agenda and all that depends on it.

This coming Sunday we will be speaking and leading a discussion in Jemez Springs, in the Village Conference Room (map), on this subject, on the New Mexico 'energy transition' (Green -- or not? ) and what can citizens we do in the face of these connected crises.

We want above all to have a good, energizing discussion in the finite time available, so we will have background handouts to cover some aspects of these three requested topics.

We would like to talk with more of you, but it's a two-way street. Invite us.

Many of you are already much more involved than we on the second item in this letter but nonetheless we would like to promote the Global Climate Strike on Friday, May 24 however we can.

We are of course very concerned about co-optation of this promising movement by Democratic Party politicians who have no intention of doing anything substantive on the environment, and by the Big Green NGOs closely allied with them. We've been so focused on nuclear issues and on decisions in Washington that we are unsure to whom to send you for more information. But you'll figure it out. Trish and I will be traveling that day to see family.

Do you want to be more involved? Call or write us. Invite us to speak or meet with your friends, or group. These are the places to start.

About 15 years ago we realized that the looming crises we face would make many people crazy. That is now happening, in spades. Our country, species, and planet are entering a difficult phase. Over time it will get much worse, beyond imagining. There is no escape, and what many considered "normal" was a shockingly destructive aberration. We need to work together, both in rebellion and in the constructive program. We do not need soothing propaganda, placebo policies, and science-free fantasies. We certainly do not need cynical withdrawal. We do not need more distractions, despair, or mass delusions, which is most of what is on offer these days in the public square. What we do need is surely a great deal less than we think. 

We hope to see more of you soon.

Best wishes,

Greg