Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center

2nd Annual Adopt-A-Silo Gathering Citizen Weapons Inspection Teams Saturday, October 2, 2004

It's that time again!

	Adoption Form PDF File

We are asking that each group bring as many people with them as possible -- 40-50 people at each silo would be great. We have a Big Goal this year for the number of adopters and other participants. After we receive your adoption form, we will send you an organizing packet, so that you can get people in your area or organization interested and excited to participate.

Erin Hamby
RMPJC, 205 Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80304
Office: 303.444.6981 / Fax: 303.444.6523
E-mail: Erin@RMPJC.org (Subject line: ‘Adopt-a-Silo')

The Idea:  To hold a highly visible and media-covered gathering at the 49 missile silos in northern Colorado to call attention to the existence of the 49 Minuteman III nuclear missiles on ready alert and deployed within the borders of Colorado. We also wish to honor the 3 Dominican nuns incarcerated last year for their plowshares action at Silo N8.

These 49 missile silos are part of 200 nuclear missiles concentrated in Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. We must reinvigorate the national discussion around nuclear weapons. By acting as Citizen Weapons Inspectors, we can show the people of Colorado (& the US) that Weapons of Mass Destruction are in our back yards.

Organizers:  The Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and the Secure World Foundation
Event Date:  October 2, 2004

Details:  We need at least 49 groups to “adopt-a-silo.” These groups will commit to performing a non-violent gathering at a chosen silo at 11 am on October 2, followed by a convergence of all 49 groups at the Garden Amphitheater at the University of Northern Colorado on 10th Ave in Greeley at 1 pm. We want all kinds of people to come: seasoned activists, the non-seasoned ones, faith groups, student groups, families, children and grandparents, community groups and other organizations. For a list of last year’s participants, visit: www.rmpjc.org. Each group would design their own action and recruit participants. The idea is to be as visible (balloons, flags, costumes, kites, colors) and creative as possible. The interest and appeal will be in the diversity of actions. Our goal is to have 4000 people in attendance.

Possible actions might include speakers, meditations, mass, singing, prayers, tea-party, stilt-walking, bed-in, picnic, artwork, Frisbee game, clowns, puppets, etc. All missile silos are easily accessed from public roads. Some have a gate at the entrance to the side driveway to the missile (missiles are still very visible). Others are open right up to the fence surrounding the missile. Sites can be chosen based on the type of action the group is doing. The public will be offered a “menu” of choices with directions on getting to each one. For example, go to N8 for a mass, O4 to hear the Raging Grannies, M3 for Buddhist meditation, L6 to play with Musicians for Peace. While each “action” is going on, a plane will be flying overhead with a banner: "We Found the WMDs -- Here in Colorado!"

Non-Violence Guidelines:

• Our attitudes and demeanor will be open, friendly, and respectful toward all people and toward the environment around us.
• We will not use or return violence, verbal or physical, toward any person or other creature.
• We will not damage any property.
• We will not bring firearms or other weapons.
• We will accept the consequence of our deeds.
• We will not incite other to do violence.
• We will act with compassion toward all beings at all times, including toward those with whom we disagree.
• We will not run or resist arrest should that occasion arise. We will remain accountable for our actions as means for furthering our witness to the illegality of these nuclear weapons.

Furthermore, participants understand that this is not a day for civil disobedience. All activities at the silos and at the UNC Greeley convergence will be completely legal.