The historic Golden Rule peace boat, lovingly restored by Veterans For Peace over the past five years, will arrive in Marina Del Rey Sunday, Aug. 30, on a voyage from San Diego to its homeport Eureka on California’s northern coast.
The 30-foot ketch and its Quaker crew ignited an international movement to stop atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in 1958, when they attempted to sail into a nuclear bomb test zone in the Marshall Islands. The Golden Rule is now sailing again to promote a nuclear free world.
“Nuclear weapons are still with us and the threat of nuclear war is very real,” said the Golden Rule’s Captain Ron Kohl of San Diego. “We are dismayed that the U.S. government plans to invest One Trillion Dollars into upgrading its nuclear arsenal, instead of reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons, as called for in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.”
The Golden Rule Project is calling for an end to nuclear energy as well as nuclear weapons.
The first voyage of the renewed Golden Rule sailboat began in Eureka on July 23. The Golden Rule and her four-person crew arrived in San Diego in early August in time for the Veterans For Peace national convention.
The Golden Rule will remain in Marina Del Rey for several days of events being organized by the local chapter of Veterans For Peace Los Angeles:
1. Peace Picnic: Welcome and Support The New Journeys of the Golden Rule: Sunday, Aug. 30 at 13650 Mindanao Way from 5 – 8 pm.
2. Golden Rule Meets Chain Reaction: Monday, Aug. 31 at Chain Reaction (adjacent to the Santa Monica Civic Center) 1855 Main St. in Santa Monica from 12 to 1 pm.
The Golden Rule will be available for viewing on Aug. 30 and 31 at the Marina Del Rey Guest Dock by Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina Del Rey, and for possible sails as well. For more information, contact Gerry Condon at 206-499-1220.
Follow the progress of the Golden Rule and make donations at www.vfpgoldenruleproject.org.