It's no new argument: There's more to Philly than cheesesteaks and baseball. BANG-USA re-affirmed this peaceful presence in our summer-long series, Bombs Away, which concludes in an action-filled festival on August 9 at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.
Join us in commemorating the 24th Anniversary of Philadelphia's Mayors for Peace pledge and in remembrance of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Two feature-length films will mark the festival: "Atomic Cafe", which gives a dark yet humorous overview of the public reaction to nuclear weapons, and "Why We Fight", a comprehensive and up-to-date documentary on the military industrial complex.
Ongoing activities for the day include the screenings 10 local and international film shorts, in-depth discussions on the nuclear issue with real policy experts and advocates, on-site action steps, and a designers' sign-up table for our upcoming Fringe Fashion Show: The Atomic Catwalk! Reserve your seat online!
3:30PM Doors Open
4:30PM Screening of "Atomic Cafe"
5:45PM Intermission and Anniversary Party
6:45PM Screening of "Why We Fight"
8:20PM Discussion, and signing of the Philly Nuke-Free Zone Citizen Petition
$6 Admission-- UArts students get 1/2 off with ID!
Kim-Thao Nguyen of Ban All Nukes Generation, and Ed Aguilar, Executive Director of the Project for Nuclear Awareness, will discuss effective actions citizens can take to help end the threat of nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation.
Background: Philadelphia's Pledge
In 1985, the City of Philadelphia joined a movement that unified mayors in an international call for safety, security, and specifically, for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Mayors for Peace, established in 1982 by survivor and then-Mayor Takeshi Araki of Hiroshima, challenged cities around the world to transcend national borders and unite for global nuclear disarmament.
This year marks the 24th anniversary of Philadelphia’s extraordinary initiative to be at the forefront of this pledge for peace, which now includes nearly 3,000 communities in 134 countries and regions.
In 2010, the City of Philadelphia will be celebrating its 25th anniversary as a participating city in Mayors for Peace and what an auspicious year to celebrate an important milestone. Also forthcoming in 2010 is President Obama's global summit on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, the review of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty by the United Nations, and Mayors for Peace hopes for a big push on the Hiroshima-Nagasaki protocol, which establishes a framework to achieve a safer world through the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Spread the word now! Join together and encourage your Mayor to help set the foundation for positive results in 2010.
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