Veterans For Peace Sails the Golden Rule for a Nuclear-Free World

Veterans For Peace Sails the Golden Rule for a Nuclear-Free World
and a Peaceful, Sustainable Future!!
2024 Pacific Northwest Voyage

In 1958 four Quaker peace activists sailed the Golden Rule toward the Marshall Islands in an attempt to halt nuclear weapons testing.  The US Coast Guard boarded her in Honolulu and arrested her crew, causing an international outcry.

Arrest of the crew and rising awareness of the dangers of radiation led to worldwide demands to stop nuclear testing.  This spurred the U.S. to sign the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 with the U.S.S.R. and the U.K..

She became a recreational boat in 1958 and in 2010 she sank in a gale in Humboldt Bay, Northern California. For five years, Veterans For Peace, Quakers and other volunteers restored her with love and hope for her future.

Nuclear Abolition Mission Restored!

From 2015 – 2022 the Golden Rule sailed the West Coast between British Columbia and San Diego and to Hawai’i and back. 

In 2022-23 she sailed the “Great Loop” around the entire eastern half of the US.  Tens of thousands of people along the route discussed about what they can do to stop the possibility of nuclear annihilation.

The Golden Rule is a weapon of mass education.  During nine years, Golden Rule speakers have given over 500 presentations at 150 ports-of-call.  They reached tens of thousands of people in person and hundreds of thousands through press coverage.  Indigenous tribes, city and county councils and state legislatures welcome the Golden Rule and her message of hope through action.

This year, with a plan similar to the Golden Rule’s 2016 voyage, there will be dozens of educational panel presentations with local organizers. In addition, the schedule includes protests with kayak-tivists and other boaters against Trident Nuclear-Armed Submarines (July 27 on Hood Canal) the Parade of War Ships (Elliott Bay in Seattle on July 30), Fleet Week in Seattle on July 31 – August 1, Air & Sea Shows (August 3 – 4 on Lake Washington in Seattle) and the Indian Island Munitions Facility (near Port Townsend in early September). 

Every year the Golden Rule team commemorates the anniversary of the horrific bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  This year, Golden Rule representatives will commemorate with the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo on August 3 – 5 and From Hiroshima to Hope at Greenlake in Seattle on August 6.

They also know how to have fun with Peace Picnics and Concerts in the Park (near the dock so you can visit!)  Look for a party at Log Boom Park in Lake Forest Park on 8/5, then at the Peace Park near the Tacoma Maritime Museum on Sun 8/11.

Golden Rule Ambassadors will talk with mariners at the Friday Harbor Yacht Club on 8/27, the Victoria (BC) Classic Boat Show 8/29 – 9/2 and the Vancouver (WA) Wooden Boat Festival 9/6 – 8.

Veterans For Peace and Golden Rule crew members work with peace, justice, nuclear disarmament, environmental and climate change organizations.  They will be at the Vancouver (WA) Peace Fair on 9/14 and participate in local vigils.  They especially encourage Indigenous leaders, Japanese Americans, Marshall Islanders, down-winders, Atomic Veterans and others affected by nuclear weapons to speak at their events!

The crew enjoys company!  One-day transits, day sails and boat tours are scheduled throughout the summer.  If you would like to be aboard for a protest, transit, or day sail, please contact Helen Jaccard (see below).

For further information or to find out how you can get involved, please visit https://vfpgoldenruleproject.org/ or contact Project Manager Helen Jaccard at 206-992-6364 or vfpgoldenruleproject@gmail.com