Contact
Courtney Hanson, Georgia WAND Public Outreach Director
courtney@georgiawand.org
404-524-5999 (office), 308-631-8543 (direct)

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC - Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions (Georgia WAND) brought more than a dozen Georgia constituents to the Savannah River Site Citizen’s Advisory Board meeting Monday and Tuesday to advocate with local communities impacted by SRS projects, joining voices with concerned South Carolinians.

Due to the diminished Federal Year 2014 budget allocation for cleanup at SRS, CAB members say the program to dispose of the site’s 37 million gallons of high level radioactive waste could become ‘almost not recoverable.’

“Fully funding SRS cleanup efforts is a vital component for communities that are are living in the shadow of SRS to thrive,” Becky Rafter, Georgia WAND Executive Director said. “We support the CAB’s efforts to secure adequate funding from the Department of Energy.”

New reports that at least seven waste tanks are either completely or partially submerged under the local water table underscore the pressing need for SRS to remain focused on its mission of cleanup.

“Nearly half of all the storage tanks at SRS fail to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s leak and containment requirements,” Rafter said. “So the tanks’ exposure to the region’s shallow water table puts the surrounding and downstream communities even further at risk.”

Georgia WAND members also spoke in unity with South Carolina groups in support of a CAB proposal to decline the importation of 75,000 tons of radioactive nuclear waste for interim storage at SRS.

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Georgia WAND is a women-led organization that seeks to direct women's voices into a powerful movement for social change. We work to reduce militarism and violence and redirect excessive military spending toward unmet human and environmental needs.

 Contact
Courtney Hanson, Georgia WAND Public Outreach Director
courtney@georgiawand.org
(404) 524-5999 office, (308) 631-8543 direct

 Georgia and South Carolina —  Today leading environmental groups, community stakeholders and residents living near the Savannah River Site Cold War era nuclear weapons complex are standing up for their best interests,  in contrast to elected officials who are disregarding community needs.

The groups, including  Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions (Georgia WAND), Concerned Citizens of Shell Bluff, Friends of the Earth and Nuclear Watch South and their members are pushing back against a letter backing the problematic and unsuccessful MOX plutonium fuel program. In the letter, Sens Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) scolded President Obama today for ‘slowing down’ the MOX project.

“Now is the time to put the ill conceived MOX program to bed and focus on what really matters to us all and that is to ensure clean air, healthy waterways and food free of contamination.” Becky Rafter, Georgia WAND Executive Director said.

Rafter’s group says funding MOX distracts from cleanup, the most important mission of SRS, noting the MOX project is riddled with false promises and problems including a lack of job creation,  a dearth of customers for the MOX fuel, unchecked squandering of tax dollars and the failure to fulfill treaty obligations.

“The question is: what jobs are the Senators talking about? They have failed to identify if they’re local, how many there are, and whether they’re permanent,” said the Rev. Willie Tomlin member of Georgia WAND and Concerned Citizens of  Shell Bluff. “If our elected officials are going to justify polluting our communities by bringing up jobs, they need to start being forthcoming.

Touting MOX as a jobs program is misleading; the community understands the health risks of the program outweigh any potential job creation—which is shaky at best, because there is no demand for the fuel.

“Instead of trying to block the Department of Energy’s review of the MOX program, which is far over-budget and has no clients, Sen. Graham should be calling for an investigation into the gross mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.” Tom Clements, Southeastern Nuclear Campaigns Coordinator, Friends of the Earth said. “Friends of the Earth calculated a budget-busting $22 billion is left to be spent on the MOX program. This underscores the DOE’s need to develop cheaper, safer options for disposition of plutonium as nuclear waste.”

Questions remain over whether this publicly funded project will even meet the milestones needed to fulfill treaty obligations and security measures, which the Senators claim MOX addresses.

“We are well acquainted with the serious plutonium security gaps remaining unaddressed in years of licensing review,” Glenn Carroll, coordinator of Nuclear Watch South, said. “This program won’t satisfy U.S. treaty obligations if the fuel is never irradiated in a reactor, anyway. Our legal intervention at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission exposed uncertainties in tracking plutonium inventory.”

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 Georgia WAND is a women-led organization that seeks to direct women's voices into a powerful movement for social change. We work to reduce militarism and violence and redirect excessive military spending toward unmet human and environmental needs.

Have you had enough of excessive nuclear weapons spending? Let your Congressional Representative know today! In the next several weeks, Congress has a key opportunity to be fiscally responsible by cutting out expensive and outdated nuclear weapons systems.

The president has just submitted his budget request for the 2014 fiscal year, and nuclear weapons spending will be up for the fourth year in a row, while other programs are facing cuts. 

However, Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has reintroduced the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act (SANE), H.R. 1506., legislation that would cut nuclear weapons spending by more than $1 hundred billion over the next decade.

Congressional committees will start meeting to discuss the budget next week. This is the time to call about this bill and let all of Congress know that their constituents want to stop wasting money on nuclear weapons.

Call your U.S. representative today using the contact information below, and either thank them for already sponsoring H.R. 1506, the SANE Act, or ask them to co-sponsor this legislation today!

Here is a Sample Message:

"My name is ___ and I live in ____. I am calling to ask Rep. ____ to cosponsor H.R. 1506, the SANE Act, to save money by cutting wasteful nuclear weapons spending."

Let Congress know that they have a great opportunity to be fiscally responsible and keep us safer by co-sponsoring the SANE Act!

House Representatives from Georgia Contact Information and Status on the SANE Act

Georgia WAND’s WeCount! Campaign for voter engagement is kicking off a summer planning session for upcoming voter registration and issue education work! We will assess the political landscape of Georgia, recognize successful 2012 programs to utilize proven registration and mobilization strategies, and determine the best opportunities of where we can engage more citizens to get active and raise women’s voices in Georgia. 2014 is just around the corner and we need to keep the momentum going!

On May 16, Georgia WAND staff participated in The Voter Participation Center & Women’s Voices. Women Vote Action Fund, 4th Annual Summit Conference Call. Featured on the call: “Messaging, Metrics and Methods: How to Keep America’s New Majority Engaged”.  We will share information from this session and hear from other key civic engagement leaders in Atlanta area.

When: Wednesday, May 29 , Meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Snacks/Beverage Available starting at 6:30 PM with Discussion to start promptly at 7 PM
Where: WAND Office at the Georgia Hill Building  - Room 209 (250 Georgia Ave SE, Atlanta GA 30312)

For more information and to RSVP, e-mail  amanda@georgiawand.org or call 404-524-5999. 

We were thrilled to continue our collaboration with local environmental hero and eco-living expert, Laura Turner Seydel, whose on-stage interview with Bobbie Paul was personal and inspiriting.

Laura spoke about the reasons mothers must and will take leadership in caring for the earth and about why we must address violence against women in order to address larger systemic violence in the world. Laura also took questions from the audience, encouraging folks to pursue their dream and meaningful work rather than big paychecks. She challenged us to give of ourselves, our time and our treasure.

 Performances from a variety of artists made the event truly dynamic. Verlinda King, an Agnes Scott student, gave her own rendition of Julia Ward Howe’s Peace Proclamation and the Luchsingers, Agnes Scott’s first and only Acapella ensemble, wowed the audience with an Erika Badu song.

Local acclaimed poets and  mother-daughter duo Alice Lovelace and Theresa Davis gave inspired performaces, Alice’s dedicated to her mother and Theresa’s to the women of the Congo.

A video by Space Camp Productions, “Once Upon the Time”, which can be viewed below, told the story of three women who stood up for communities impacted by a greedy corporation.

Those three women were our amazing Mother’s Day for Peace honorees: attorney Diane Curran, a nationally recognized expert in the field of nuclear safety and security; attorney Mindy Goldstein, the Director of Emory University’s Turner Environmental Law Clinic; and Sara Barczak, the High Risk Energy Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. These amazing women have been on the front lines tackling one of the toughest industries in our nation both in the courtroom and on the ground, building a grassroots movement. 

The evening closed with Georgia WAND Board President, Dianne Valentin announcing a ‘passing of the WAND' from Bobbie Paul to Becky Rafter who assumed her role as Executive Director on May 1.

For those of you who made financial contributions, donated your time and talent, volunteered and attended on Sunday, thank you. You helped us celebrate the accomplishments of this year, the outstanding work of our honorees and the inspiring words of our speaker and performers.

WAND - Mother's Day for Peace 2013 from Space Camp Productions on Vimeo.

After 10 years of fierce advocacy for peace and environmental justice, Georgia WAND's ever energetic Executive Director, Bobbie Paul, will be leaving her position on May 1. Bobbie will spend her time pursuing other activist and creative pursuits for justice. 

Under Bobbie’s guidance, Atlanta WAND, now Georgia WAND’s reach expanded greatly as she helped make major leaps in organizational structure, advanced our mission and focus areas, and connected diverse communities across the state. Her vision and creativity helped Georgia WAND grow into the dynamic organization it is today. Bobbie, always striving to be a bridge builder and peace maker in the community, remains committed to the core values of Georgia WAND.

She is “leaving the position, but not the mission” of Georgia WAND, she tells us!

Click here to write a message of thanks to Bobbie or to share your favorite memories.

We are thrilled to announce that Becky Rafter will join our team as Executive Director. After graduating from Agnes Scott College, Rafter served in a number of management roles in nonprofits before moving to attend New York University for a Masters of Public Administration. Before joining WAND, Rafter served as Director of Stakeholder Engagement at The Funding Exchange  Rafter’s experience, education, and Georgia roots promise to serve Georgia WAND well.

Becky plans to work with Bobbie through a transitional period. Bobbie can never be “replaced,” but we are confident that Becky's leadership and vision will help Georgia WAND move forward. Our future is in good hands. We are thankful that while Paul leaves the “position” she continues to embrace the “mission”. 

Planning for additional events to honor Ms. Paul and her contributions are underway.

After 10 years of fierce advocacy for peace and environmental justice,  Georgia WAND's ever energetic, Executive Director, Bobbie Paul, will be leaving her position on May 1. Bobbie will spend her time pursuing other activist and creative pursuits for justice. 

She is “leaving the position, but not the mission” of Georgia WAND, she tells us! 

We are thrilled to announce that Becky Rafter will join our team as Executive Director. After graduating from Agnes Scott College, Rafter served in a number of management roles in nonprofits before moving to attend New York University for a Masters of Public Administration. Before joining WAND, Rafter served as Director of Stakeholder Engagement at The Funding Exchange  Rafter’s experience, education, and Georgia roots promise to serve Georgia WAND well.

Join us this Sunday at a very special Mother’s Day for Peace event. Help us honor Bobbie Paul and welcome Becky Rafter to the team of committed women fighting for a better Georgia and a more peaceful world.

Click here now to purchase your Mother’s Day for Peace tickets and help us honor a wonderful mother and grandmother committed to peace and environmental justice in our community!

Becky plans to work with Bobbie through a transitional period. Bobbie can never be “replaced,” but we are confident that Becky's leadership and vision will help Georgia WAND move forward. Our future is in good hands. We are thankful that while Paul leaves the “position” she continues to embrace the “mission”. 

Planning for additional events to honor Ms. Paul and her contributions are underway.

Community Partner Event: Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable- ‘Towards A Human Powered City’

Atlanta Streets Alive has grown from a few thousand participants on Edgewood Avenue in 2010 to a projected 30,000 on Peachtree Street in 2013, and its success reminds us of the potential for a walkable, bikeable, people-powered city.

Come join the discussion by Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable, focusing on how events like Atlanta Streets Alive can bridge the gap between public opinion and policy and how we can move towards a human-powered Atlanta.

When: Friday, May 3, 7:30 to 9 AM (Doors open at 7 AM for networking)

Where: All Saints Episcopal Church- Ellis Hall, 634 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308

(Across from the North Avenue MARTA station at the corner of W. Peachtree and North Avenue)

You can register online here for $15 or at the door for $20.

For more information, e-mail roundtable@southface.org or call 404-872-3549.

May 9

Community Partner Event: One Billion Rising Atlanta- ‘Awareness to Action’

Come take part in ‘Awareness to Action’, a One Billion Rising Atlanta Town Hall Meeting!

Join over 100 partner organizations in reflecting on the impact of One Billion Rising Atlanta on February 14, 2013. Explore the connections and power of over 30,000 people who participated in the events in Atlanta, taking bold action to end violence against women and girls in our community.

The event is free and open to the public, and there will be special performances by Sam Collier, Fly Musiq, and Korin Deanna. RSVP here today for your free ticket!

Co-hosted by Reverend Dr. Bernice King and Laura Turner Seydel and sponsored by One Billion Rising Atlanta.

When: Thursday, May 9, 6:30 – 8 PM

Where: The King Center Auditorium, 449 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

For more information, e-mail Nikki Noto at nikki@vday.org.

May 9

Community Partner Event: Drone Task Force Meeting

Join Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta in the planning for the international drone convention on May 28-31 in Atlanta. There will be reports on recent drone-related events, and discussion of ideas for drone education and action projects. The meeting is open to all who want to work to end drone assassinations and spying.

When: Thursday, May 9 at 7 PM

Where: Atlanta Friends Meeting, 701 W Howard Ave, Decatur GA 30030

For more information or questions, contact Bob Goodman at 404-378-5424 or goodman1015@bellsouth.net, or visit georgiapeace.org.

May 11

Community Event: Mother's Day- Walk to Honor Gun Violence Victims and their Families

Come connect with families in the Atlanta community to stand against gun violence. This is a family event, in which participants will walk around the whole Meadow in Piedmont Park, then around Clara Meer back to the playground. Then, at about 12 PM, participants will congregate and read the Mother’s Bill of Rights.

Please bring flowers to commemorate victims of gun violence and signs asking for action on common sense guns laws from Senators Isakson and Chambliss.

When: Saturday, May 11 at 11 AM

Where: Meet at Mayor’s Grove Playground in Piedmont Park; 400 Park Dr NE, Atlanta, GA

(The park runs along 10th Street and Piedmont Ave in Midtown Atlanta.)

For more information, see the Facebook page here.

May 13

Georgia WAND Event: Nuclear Committee Meeting

The next Nuclear Committee Meeting is Monday, May 13.  Join the discussion group focusing on all things nuclear: including weapons, waste, power, and clean-up, and hear updates about current work and action being taken and how you can be involved!

When: Monday, May 13 at 12:30 PM

Where: The Carter Center, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta GA 30307

For more information, contact amanda@georgiawand.org or call 404-524-5999.

May 14

Community Partner Event: Coalition for the People's Agenda Empowerment Meeting

Join the Coalition for the People’s Agenda for their next Tuesday Empowerment Meeting! They will be specifically planning for a town hall and empowerment meeting in Covington, Georgia. Come take part in the work of a great group of civil rights, human rights, and peace and justice organizations. 

When: Tuesday, May 14 at 12 PM

Where: SCLC W.O.M.E.N., Inc., 328 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

For more information, call the People's Agenda at 404-653-1199 or SCLC W.O.M.E.N., Inc. at 404-584-0303.

May 15

Community Partner Event: Town Hall Meeting with the Coalition for the People's Agenda

Come out to the town hall and empowerment meeting with the Coalition for the People’s Agenda in Covington, Georgia!

If you would like to carpool, please come prepared to share in the cost of the vehicle and gas.

Coalition member Bethlehem Baptist Church will host the meeting.

When: Wednesday, May 15, 12 PM - 2 PM

Where: Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2177 Usher Street NW, Covington, Georgia 30014

For more information, call the Peoples’ Agenda at 404-653-1199.

May 15

Community Partner Event: Women's Health Workshop

Come out to celebrate National Women’s Health Week (May 12 – May 18)! The Younger Women’s Task Force Atlanta Chapter and the Feminist Women’s Health Center invite you to a Women’s Health Workshop, including a Zumba dance party, green smoothie demonstration, and a discussion on women’s health.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided. 

When: Wednesday, May 15, 6 – 7:30 PM

Where: 1924 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

For more information, and to RSVP online, click here.

May 15

Community Partner Event: No to Endless War Vigil

Join the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta for their weekly vigil, standing up against endless war. Come speak out about grounding the drones, excessive Pentagon spending, and the importance of prioritizing jobs, education, healthcare, and peace!

When: Every Wednesday, 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM; Next Vigil on Wednesday, May 15

Where: At the corner of Moreland and Ponce de Leon, Atlanta, GA

For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPeace.org.  

May 14 and 28

Community Partner: Stop Plant Vogtle Coalition Meetings

Come join the coalition of folks working on creative ways to organize against Plant Vogtle and the construction and financing of the new nuclear reactors! The next meetings will be on Tuesday, May 14 and 28.

When: Every other Tuesday at 7 PM; Next Meetings on May 14 and 28 at 7 PM

(Upcoming Meetings: June 4 and 18, July 2, 16, and 30)

Where: 414 Oakdale Road NE, Atlanta GA

For more information, e-mail courtney@georgiawand.org or StopPlantVogtle@gmail.com or visit stopplantvogtle.com.

May 17

Community Partner Event: Third Friday Film Series

Come see the 2011 film, ‘The LAST MOUNTAIN’, by Bill Haney about a coal mining corporation- Massey - and a tiny community in West Virginia vying for the last great mountain in Appalachia untouched by mountaintop removal.

Popcorn and refreshments will be available, and there will be a discussion after the film led by Courtney Hanson, Public Outreach Director for Georgia WAND.

Donations are welcome - $1 to $10 sliding scale.

The film showing is co-sponsored by Stop Plant Vogtle and First Existentialist Social Justice Guild.

When: Friday, May 17; Doors open at 7 PM, Film starts at 7:30 PM sharp

Where: First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta

470 Candler Park Dr., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

For more information, see the facebook page here or call 404-524-5999.

May 17-31 (Continuing Weekly Friday Event)

Georgia WAND and Community Partner Event: Stand for Peace

Come out to Stand for Peace every Friday at 12 PM! Spread the message of peace at this weekly vigil, and then afterwards, join folks in the Colony Square Food Court for lunch, discussion, and fellowship.

Stand for Peace began over ten years ago to speak out against the Iraq War, and still continues every week to promote the message of ending wars and building peace.

When: Every Friday, 12 PM - 1 PM; Upcoming days: May 17, 24, 31

Where: Colony Square, 14th and Peachtree, Atlanta GA

For more information, call at 404-524-5999.

May 20

Community Partner Meeting: Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition / Atlanta

Come join Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition / Atlanta (GPJC) for their monthly business and planning meeting! GPJC is a volunteer network of community, faith, and student organizations / individuals committed to global justice and peace. They have organized hundreds of street demonstrations, educational programs and lobbying campaigns calling for fundamental foreign policy change, and have worked specifically for complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and bases from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Everybody is welcome!

When: Monday, May 20 at 7:15 PM

Where:American Friends Service Committee Office, 60 Walton St. NW, Atlanta 30303

For more information, contact Bob Goodman at 404-378-5424 or goodman1015@bellsouth.net or visit georgiapeace.org.

May 20-21

Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board Meeting

The next Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) meeting is this month. Please join Georgia WAND in participating at the CAB meeting, and make your voice heard on environmental justice issues in Georgia and around SRS.

All general meetings are open to the public with opportunities for comments.

When: Monday, May 20, 1-5 PM:  CAB Bimonthly Combined Committees Meeting

Tuesday, May 21, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM: CAB Bimonthly Full Board Meeting

Where: North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Ave., North Augusta, SC 29841

For more information, contact courtney@georgiawand.org or visit the SRS CAB website here.

May 21

Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Meeting

Join Georgia WAND at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice meeting. The meeting will be addressing community concerns around environmental justice issues.

When: Tuesday, May 21, 6-8 PM

Where: Allen Chapel Baptist Church, 113 Allen Chapel Rd, Waynesboro, GA 30830

For more details and carpooling information, contact courtney@georgiawand.org or call 404-524-5999.

May 22

Community Partner Event: Coalition for the People's Agenda Empowerment and Town Hall Meeting

The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda will have an Empowerment and Town Hall Meeting in Covington, Georgia, hosted by coalition member, Bethlehem Baptist Church with Pastor, Reverend Hezekiah Benton.

If you’re interested in carpooling to the meeting, please come prepared to share in the cost of the vehicle and gas.       

When: Wednesday, May 22, 12 PM - 2 PM

Where: Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2177 Usher Street NW, Covington, Georgia 30014

For more information, call the Peoples’ Agenda at 404-653-1199.

May 23

Community Partner Event: Drone Task Force Meeting

The Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition / Atlanta is hosting a gathering to plan ideas for the international drone convention coming to Atlanta May 28-31. Open to all who want to end drone assassinations and spying, come be a part of the preparation process before the press conference and rally at the convention.

When: Thursday, May 23 at 7 PM

Where: Atlanta Friends Meeting House, 701 West Howard Avenue, Decatur GA, 30030

For more information, call 404-378-5424, e-mail goodman1015@bellsouth.net or visit georgiapeace.org.

May 28-31

Community Partner Event: Drone Convention Protest Events

The drone industry will hold an international convention in Buckhead! The Atlanta peace and civil liberty community is pushing back and adding our weight to the fast-growing worldwide movement to end drone assassinations, surveillance and spying. There will be a press conference and rally to protest the morning of the first day of the event and then vigils and protest throughout the conference.

When: Tuesday May 28, 9 am - press conference and rally

Where: Grand Hyatt Hotel, 3300 Peachtree Rd. NE in Buckhead

Email courtney@georgiawand.org to volunteer to help sustain the peace vigil/demonstration throughout the conference or for more information.

Contact
Courtney Hanson, Public Outreach Director
404-525-5999 (office), 308-631-8543 (cell)
courtney@georgiawand.org

Dianne Valentin, Board President
404 431-9593

Georgia WAND hires Becky Rafter as new Executive Director

Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions (Georgia WAND) announced today that Becky Rafter has been hired as the new Executive Director.  The board is thrilled to welcome Ms. Rafter to the organization.  After graduating from Agnes Scott College, Rafter served in a variety of non-profit management roles before moving to New York City to attend New York University.  Upon graduation with a Masters of Public Administration, Rafter served as Director of Stakeholder Engagement at The Funding Exchange.  Rafter’s experience, education, and Georgia roots promise to serve Georgia WAND well as we move forward in our mission.

“I am overjoyed to join Georgia WAND as Executive Director at this pivotal time in the organization’s history,” Rafter says.

Eight Georgia WAND members work to stop wasteful, risky nuclear weapons spending hikes and divert funds to environmental protection and non-proliferation

Eight members of Georgia WAND visited Washington, DC April 14 through 17 to oppose U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear projects, which will waste billions in taxpayer funds, damage the environment, and undermine the nation’s non-proliferation goals. The group met with several Georgia Congressmen, as well as David Huizenga, head of Environmental Management at the Department of Energy, and Allison Macfarlane, Chairperson of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

We worked in conjunction with colleagues from a dozen other states who participated in the 25th annual Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA) "DC Days.” The group’s goal is to influence Congress to cut programs that fund new weapons and reactors and to redirect those funds toward cleaning up the toxic and radioactive legacy of nuclear weapons research, testing and production.

Specifically, Georgia WAND advocated for funding cuts to eliminate the mixed oxide plutonium (MOX) fuel plant at Savannah River Site and for the safer alternative of immobilizing weapons-grade excess plutonium in a large glass matrix.

We also continued the fight to restore environmental radiation monitoring to the communities downwind and downstream of SRS. We are working closely with the Department of Energy to find creative solutions to address the monitoring issue in a way that includes the local community in a program that will be ongoing for decades.

During our friendly meeting with Allison Macfarlane, the new Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Georgia WAND member Annie Laura Stephens brought her important perspective as a resident of Shell Bluff, the community in the shadow of nuclear Plant Vogtle. She raised concerns about lack of information, intimidation, and poor housing conditions in her community.

We also discussed the importance of using outreach tools accessible to the community and why citizens need more transparency and accountability from the NRC.

The trip was also an important time to hear from our colleagues who work on these issues at nuclear weapons sites across the country. A highlight was the annual ANA Awards Reception, where Georgia WAND Executive Director Bobbie Paul was awarded the secret Grassroots Activist of the Year Award for her deep commitment to environmental justice efforts in Georgia and South Carolina. She shared the stage with other awardees Judith Mohling, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, Kristen Iversen, Kathleen Sullivan and Diane Curran. 

This year’s Georgia WAND contingent included Dominique Clarke, Stephanie Stapleton, Annie Laura Stephens, Dianne Valentin, Betsy Rivard, Cee Cee Anderson, Courtney Hanson and Bobbie Paul. A huge thanks goes out to everyone who helped send these women to Washington through generous financial contributions.