Speaking Out Against Nuclear Power and Militarization
France
The women of Larzac
On October 28, 1971, the farming community of Larzac in southern France learned that the government was planning to expand a nearby camp from 7,500 to 42,500 acres. This would mean the disappearance of over 100 farms. 103 owners signed a pledge not to leave and not to sell any land to the army. For almost a decade, now, they have waged a struggle against the expropriation of their land, a struggle that has attracted the attention of the world. In April 1973, after a first 6-day march with tractors to Paris, 50 farmers in an act of civil disobedience returned their military papers, which every Frenchman is legally required to keep with him after his military service. A recent arrest during a new march on Paris in 1978 brought forth the following declaration from women of the region.
On the occasion of the trial of Olivier Vial in Bonneville in Haute-Savoie on 12 October 1979, accused of having incited others to return their military papers during the march of the farmers of Larzac to Paris in November 1978, we, women of Larzac, declare ourselves to be "authors, co-authors and accomplices" of the pamphlet distributed during the Larzac-Paris march.
If the residents of Larzac, after having exhasted all legal procedures available to them, have sent back their military papers on 28 April 1973, it is because the powers have remained deaf to their just grievances.
If afterwards, having lived with the invasion of our territory by our own army - which respects neither the people nor the land - the farmers have urged the returning of military papers it is because the powers have refused to call into question an arbitrary decision. We, women of Larzac, attentive to the manifestation of life and therefore, perhaps, close to that which makes life more dignified and more beautiful, are concerned about military service, about the army, and about war.
We reject the present system of armed defense, the budget of which is increased again this year at the expense of education, health and agriculture.
We reject the militarization of our society where all opposition in any way whatsoever, is considered a subversive element manipulated by "the enemy",
We reject the role played by the army both inside and outside our country (especially in Africa at this moment).
We reject, as civilian population, being hostages to nuclear weapons.
We reject the ordinance of 59 which can mobilize us in the service of the army.
Rejecting also the relegating only to men the choice of national defense, we solemnly call on the consciences of women and ask them to act with us by tackling these problems with us, with their friends, with their husbands and with their children.
Claiming for us also the right of conscientious objection, WE TODAY URGE ALL MEN TO RETURN THEIR MILITARY PAPERS.
Netherlands
By the light of thousands of torches, the women in Holland held a massive march against nuclear armament on the evening of December 6, 1979. The were heading for the Houses of Parliament, where a debate was under way concerning NATO, the renewal of the middle-long range atomic weapons and the actual placement of nuclear weapons within the boundaries of our country or any other NATO partner.
The women presented a petition with signatures from all over the country, asking parliament to take a firm and clear stand in this matter together with some of the other, smaller partners in NATO. They should consider the decisions from the viewpoint of survival and not handle it at an abstract political level within the arms-race discussion.
The organisation of the manifestation sprang up spontaneously from different groups of housewives and the task-force which was being formed included women from a very broad spectrum of political and religious organisations all over Holland. Women from all protestant and catholic organisations were involved as well as women from women's group of all left-wing political parties and the trade unions.
They traveled far from every corner of the country and during the demonstration it became clear that huge group of feminist were joining the action. In the final speech at Parliament by an elderly women of the peace movement it was stressed that women are refusing to accept the dangers brought about by the placement of nuclear weapons in their living environment whether in the context of an intentional or unintentional arms race.
Although nuclear armament is a matter of concern for both women and men, it is clear that decisions concerning foreign policy, defence and armament are being taken primarily by men and are considered on an extremely abstract and verbal level. Catastrophes are counted in numbers of killed victims.
It's clear that women never have had much say in decisions of procurement and production of weapons by governments and big business. The so called "natural" affair of producing the new generation of women and men, was considered the sole concern of women!
All this points to the reason why women are now asked to show their own faces. Besides it is women in particular who experience the effects of abuse of power.
Violence is often used to frighten and intimidate them. Women are also often exposed to authorities attempting, Ally versus- Enemy ways of thinking, with little concern for the real interests of women. The constant maintaining and stirring up of political controversies on a national and international level is part and parcel of the strategy.
Women refuse to be "protected" by nuclear weapons!
If anywhere women take part in a action like the march organised by the Dutch women's group: "vrouwen tegen kernwapens" (Women against nuclear weapons) please send information to: DOMITILA (dutch action group for international solidarity between women) P. Potterstraat 20 AMSTERDAM HOLLAND
Southern Africa
WHAT DOES THE NUCLEAR WEAPON IN THE HANDS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RACISTS MEAN FOR THE AFRICAN CONTINENT?
The following piece is reproduced from the Bulletin of the Organization of Angolan Women, 2/77. Available from : OMA, rua de Liberdade 100, Villa Alia, Luanda, R. P. Angola.
Reports from various sources confirm that South Africa is preparing to acquire the nuclear weapon. South Africa is incapable of changing its policy of apartheid or realizing that mankind is advancing on the road of progress, even though at the irrevocable cost of the lives and sacrifices of its finest sons. Proof of this is to be seen in all small and major victories achieved by the world's progressive forces and in the independence of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. The progressive regimes of those countries provide vital evidence of the peoples' unshakable determination to crush tyranny.
South Africa's intention to hold onto Walvis Bay, depriving Namibia of a strategic point, the puppet-show of bantustans with their respective marionettes, and the attempt to divide the country and prevent the creation of a feeling of national unity, serve no purpose other than to maintain the supremacy of four million white racists over eighteen million human beings and a part of the African continent rich in raw materials.
South Africa did not sign the treaty against the proliferation of nuclear weapons simply because it proposed to use such weapons to defend its odious regime, if hemmed in, and as a means of intimidation.
Imperialism has not laid down its arms, and it is corrupting Africans who are shamelessly betraying their people and continent. That is what Zaire has done by selling to the Federal Republic of Germany part of its territory for the establishment of rocket-launching pads, against its own continent and mankind as a whole.
By giving South Africa nuclear weapons imperialism is playing one of its last cards ! We, the progressive forces of Angola and of the whole world, must remain vigilant and frustrate yet another shameful manoeuvre. For an independent and united Africa. For an alliance with all the progressive forces in the world.
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
VICTORY IS CERTAIN
UNITED KINGDOM
As a feminist against Nuclear Power, we are opposed to transport of nuclear waste anywhere. But nuclear waste is just an end product of a process, an industry, and a mentality which threaten to destroy life.
We are opposed to nuclear power because it means just what it says- NUCLEAR: of the middle, centralised, and POWER: control over resources or people As feminists, we want control of our own lives, our own bodies, and no one else's. we don't need POWER to control our own lives, we need ENERGY.
Energy does not have to be produced by a centralised, highly technological, militarised absurdly costly, accident-prone industry, controlled by a small number of male experts. for centuries, man has been exploiting Nature in the name of progress ( not to mention profit). Instead of learning to fulfill energy need in harmony with nature, Men have sought to control and exploit natural resources. Whole classes of people, women, children people of colour have been exploited in the same way.
We agree that nuclear power is unsafe, prohibitively expensive, and inextricably linked to military used, but we wish to emphasise that nuclear power and its dangers are the end result of and its dangers are the end result of an exploitative mentality which profits just a few men. these men tell us that in order to ensure that "nothing changes" in the British " standard of living" we must have nuclear power.
As a feminist, we do want change We want an end to the hierarchies which inevitably centralise power. We want alternatives to nuclear power which can locally produced and controlled We want these alternatives to used in harmony with Nature to enhance life, not to destroy it.
FEMINIST AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER
24 Rancliffe road
E6 London
USA
Dear Sisters:
The feminist Anti-Nuclear Task Force has been formed in response to the crisis at Three Mile Island, a crisis which vividly demonstrated to the world that the impact of nuclear energy use it most devastating to women. Energy policy is one of the most critical decisions of our time. Women must make our power felt and our voices heard so that energy policies answer our needs and concerns. A New York Times poll, Conducted in the wake of the Harrisburg nuclear disaster, shows that more women than men question the wisdom of nuclear energy.
The Harrisburg disaster makes clear that radiation hazards threaten women and children first. Yet no studies adequately assess the health effects of radiation on present and future populations. Medical science lacks even the knowledge to define and monitor population at risk. In the face of inadequate safety controls and inadequate evacuation plans, women bear the final burden of fleeing with our families from a nuclear horror. We who bear ultimate responsibility for the health and welI-being of our children, ourselves, and our families, must halt the lethal threat of radiation and nuclear destruction.
The risk of genetic mutations and life-threatening diseases increases with the use of nuclear power. Already certain medical technologies - like amniocentesis - make it possible for us to screen for birth defects. But women have little to say in the development and use of these technologies. We must ensure that we have control over our reproductive capabilities so that these technologies are not used in human "quality control" or as tools to carry out racist, sexist, heterosexist, and classist priorities. We must demand that medical science instead be devoted to controlling the hazards to which human beings are exposed.
Nuclear energy poses serious reproductive hazards. Other industries using toxic substance - lead, benzene, and others have developed policies that keep women out of jobs, or force us to undergo sterilization on the grounds of "protecting" our reproductive health. But we all make babies. Until we eliminate nuclear and other hazardous industries, feminists must lead the fight to ensure the whole health of workers of all classes and races, and both sexes, without erecting new job barriers for women.
The nuclear industry is exempt from financial responsibility in the vent of a nuclear disaster. Women do not control the nuclear industry which produces the disasters, nor do we control the government which allows these disasters to happen. But women pay the price. Who will compensate us for our forced job loss and our evacuation expenses? How can we put a price on damage to our reproductive potential? Who will foot the bill when women must support the ill and the dying as a result of a nuclear disaster? Women must force those responsible to be accountable for their destruction.
Energy is a feminist issue. Women have been caretakers and nurturers for centuries. Thus we know the crucial Iink between survival and the regenerative, nurturing use of all our resources. We also know that the exploitation and domination of Mother Earth reflects and perpetuates the violent exploitation to which women ourselves are subjected. Myth, language and history makes this clear. We must end the nuclear threat before it becomes the ultimate violent act. We call on women world wide to resist, with our rage, our hearts, and our actions, this final threat to our survival.
-Carolyn Projansky
Women for Environmental Health
1747 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-3903
-J. Sidney Oliver
Quest: a feminist quarterly
"before we die ... ''
Winona La Duke is an American Indian woman who works with WARN (Women of All Red Nations) and IITC (International Indian Treaty Council), as well as being a full time economics student. She has recently traveled in Europe to tell about the struggle of Indian people against uranium mining on their land, and of the Indian people's struggle to have their treaties with the United States government recognised rather than exploited. Lin Pugh and Moniek van der Kroef spoke with her in Copenhagen, where they were participating in a conference which marked the beginning of an international movement for a moratorium on uranium mining. The following are Winona's words.
"In most Indian Nations women are responsible for the land. The land cannot be owned, it can only be used, with respect. Men own their hunting equipment, that sort of thing. So if a woman wants a divorce, she just has to put the man's things outside the house.
Women are highly respected, because women are the future. Women are responsible for future generations. Children are also respected: they are the future generation. When you see in the old photos or cowboy films the man walking in front and the women and children behind, it is not because he is more important. It is because the women and children had to be protected from the white invaders, the future generations had to be protected. Walking around was really dangerous then."
When we asked Winona about what the uranium mines mean to the Indian women and the Indian culture she said we should hear the message that the circle of International Traditional Elders had asked to be given to the people of Europe.
"We give you a message before we die, before we are devastated. Last Spring the Medicine people came out after 500 years underground with this message: "In those sacred places there is life, if left alone. But if you will remove it, you too will die". And you who are downwind from us, you will also die.
-Gerri Traina
DC Area Feminist Alliance
- Sara Grusky
Abortion Rights Movement
of Women's Liberation
For more information on the Feminist Anti-Nuclear Task Force, contact Carolyn Projansky. For information on Feminist Resources on Energy and Ecology, send a stamped, self addressed envelope to F.R.E.E., Box 6098, Teall Station, Syracuse, NY 11311.
"It may be in well, on land, or on a hill, they do not care where they put the hole, if it means uranium.
"Out comes uranium, and a vacuum of air, a vacuum of radon gas. And there is crying in the wind, there is devastation on the earth.
'We elders have a duty to perform: to prolong the life as long as possible. The unseeing tasteless gas destroys everything, and you are downwind.
"We are begging for a chance or the seven generations ahead to survive. We are not talking about gadgets, we are not talking about electric blankets, electrically warned toilet seats, about places where men gamble with electric eyes and electric handles, or about electric curling irons for observation. We are talking about life, and death, but mostly about death. We have a short life, our grandchild have a short life. We cry for them.
We have become subjects of discrimination, of racialism, for the white man's need of power, electricity, and destruction of the globe. This is our blueprint. You are downwind. Our children will suffer the same unless...unless...unless...
They tell us to farm the land- how dare to ask us to cut our mother's hair
They tell us to mine the land - How dare you ask us to level our mother's breast
They tell us to to plough the land- how dare you ask us to cut our mother's side".
Lin Pugh and Moniek van Hea Kroef, October 27 1979