Philadelphia venue connects with Mexico City and
Santa Barbara on Day One of the International Youth Dialogue

A "bang" was heard around the world as Project for Nuclear Awareness, its youth network Ban All Nukes Generation (www.bang-usa.org), partner organizations, and many longtime supporters, convened in support of action for a nuclear weapons-free world.

On October 26-27, over 140 youth connected via live videoconference from venues in Moscow, Mexico City, Santa Barbara and Philadelphia for an International Dialogue for Nuclear Disarmament, and action-based brainstorm sessions.  Workshops focused on Legislative Advocacy, Economics of Nuclear Weapons, Outreach & Education, and Creative Communications.  Featured experts in these fields that worked closely with the youth attendees include keynote speaker Dr. Hans Blix of WFUNA; Alyn Ware of PNND, and recent Right Livelihood Award winner; Stephen Schwartz, author of Nuclear Security Spending: Assessing Costs, Examining Priorities (see PNA interview); and Sean Meyer, Nuclear Weapons Policy Project Manager of UCS.

By closing of day two, all venues announced cohesive ideas for simultaneous global youth action, with determined plans to spread the movement geographically beyond the four venues.  Specific notes by conference moderator and PNA intern Emily Gleason can be found at the Ban All Nukes Generation website, along with speech transcripts; real-time commentary can be found on the network's Twitter page. (Pictured: Stephen Schwartz leads the Economics of Nuclear Weapons with students in the Philadelphia venue) 

These events dominated media headlines, with live radio interviews in Philadelphia, New York, and Sweden, featuring PNA executive director Ed Aguilar, and Dr. Blix on his Haas Peace Award acceptance.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reached 700,000 print readers, and many more online, with Dr. Blix's exclusive op-ed release on a nuke-free zone in the Middle East.  ABC6 News captured Monday evening's award presentation, marking the second PNA appearance in action news within three months.  For youth unable to attend the Dialogue, Ban All Nukes Generation created a live webcasting channel of the conference, connecting world-wide viewers on both days, along with real-time Twitter updates, which reached thousands.  Youth representatives from Student IPPNW and Student PSR regenerated the days' content (find links on www.bang-usa.org). 

Held in conjunction with the conference was the second annual John C. and Chara C. Haas Peace Award Dinner & Silent Auction at DoubleTree Hotel.  Dr. Hans Blix received this honor, which high lights an individual's dedication and lifelong work in peace, social justice, and nuclear nonproliferation.  Nearly 150 PNA supporters and organization partners gathered to laud Dr. Blix, who was formally introduced by Ambassador Thomas Graham (pictured with Dr. Blix), and Dr. Craig Eisendrath.  Arts and culture strongly added to the evening, with a bravura performance by operatic soprano Sarah Davis, and pianist Feifei Zhang, alongside a disarmament-themed mixed media silent arts auction. (Pictured: Amb. Thomas Graham, Ed Aguilar, Sarah Davis, and Dr. Blix)

Hans Blix, Ed, and Craig all traveled to the Union League on Tuesday, where Dr. Blix held a "Counter-Point Conversation on Nuclear Weapons" with Dr. Michael O'Hanlon, of the Brookings Institution, which included an audience both of leading World Affairs members, as well as students from Bodine and other Philadelphia high schools' foreign affairs programs.

Finally, on Wednesday, Ed Aguilar and Emily Gleason visited Temple University, where they presented "You and the Atomic Age," to over 100 Temple students, capping three days of PNA's UN Week activites.  This power point presentation is available to be discussed at other campuses with Ed, Emily, or other PNA staff.  More details and sign-ups for action will be available on the www.bang-usa.org, and PNA's own web sites. 

PNA would like to thank our wide-range of supporters, volunteers, and attendees of both the conference and dinner.  Your various contributions have made a nuclear weapons-free world so much more possible, especially as we continue to work with the young people who have willingly accepted to put this vision into action.