Activity Report Explorer

Cascade Volcanoes • Entered by Linda Buckley on July 2, 2023

book discussion on environmental book ATOMIC DAYS; re: Hanford

June 30, 2023

Key Issue: Multiple apply
Activity Type: Education & Outreach (tabling, films & lectures, regional B-walks/works)
Key Partners: fort vancouver Public library and Columbia Riverkeepers

Short Description of Activity

For 6-7 weeks, we read a book called Atomic Days the Untold Story of the most toxic place in America. by Joshua Frank. It was the “revolutionary reads” book for all of Clark County Washington, with webinars and themed movie Atomic Bamboozle about the contemporary risks of blindly accept nuclear power as the new green energy source. Columbia riverkeepers presented one of the webinars and have been active with the YAKIMA tribal leadership advocating for safe and healthy disposal of the nuclear waste at hanford. This was original site of making plutonium for the big WWII bombs and finally closed in the 1980’s but we learned about the mismanagement of contracts between government entities and for profit defense industry companies like Bechtel.

Reflection/Evaluation

I developed discussion questions. Our consciousness was raised, but we agreed there was too little in the book on advocacy or action steps. But the 6 of us came up with the following advocacy follow up ideas; have an educational event with speakers or panel on Hanford and contemporary plans for building small nuclear power plants in our area-both sides of the Columbia. another idea is to attend public Utility district meetings to question their board, which just gave $80,000 for private nuclear power company to explore building sites. rally, LTE, invite speaker to our meeting from Hanford Promise, an advocacy group based in Seattle.

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book discussion group on the book Atomic Days: the untold Story of the Most Toxic place in America by Joshua Frank