Y-12 Facility - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

One of the days we spent at the Peace Pagoda about thirty of us took the trip out to Oak Ridge, TN where the Y-12 Test facility is located – a base where nuclear weapons are manufactured and tested and, since 9-11, is where biological and chemical weapons are also produced. It’s a hot spot for vigils and activism among the peace movement and I was glad we were close enough that I could make the trip.

We don’t get to do much of that anymore on this trip – which is unfortunate as it’s this kind of stuff that keeps me going – seeing positive local works in action around the peace and environmental movements. Sometimes hearing about everything that is wrong in the world can only be tempered by witnessing what the hell people are doing about it.

So we walked about 7 miles out there, doing our singing and chanting and drumming thing. When we got to the gates there were about a dozen local activists waiting for us; they do vigil every Sunday evening and Monday morning and we got there right when they had arrived.



As well as their greeting, we noticed the mobilization of about a dozen armed officers just behind the fence line. As we crested the hill we could see them clumped up in a little knot, but as we came closer to the entrance of the facility they began to spread out and ready themselves for whatever it was we may be up to.



Not to worry though – no one was planning on being arrested today – we were just there to chant and drum and sing. Jun-san walked right over to the wire fencing and continued her na mu myo ho ren ge kyo – as about 20 people or so lined up beside her. Some of the security guards were laughing, others were standing at ready, some looked bored.



Afterwards we circled up, introduced ourselves and heard some words from the local activists. Jun-san then asked some of our number to speak, calling out representatives from the Dine and Havasupai Nations to offer prayers in the center of the circle. She then asked Marek, from Poland (one European country that neither manufactures nor stores nuclear weapons) to say a few words in his language.

I think the most moving comments for me though came from Shegecko-san – one of our Japanese friends – she had been fasting for the previous week, while continuing to walk and drum (no easy feat). Jun-san mentioned that Shegecko was fasting in prayer for peace and for the ceasing of all nuclear weapons – she was also praying for the remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.



Shegecko came out in the center of the circle and asked all of the Japanese to join her. Wako translated for her as she explained that they would be singing the Hiroshima song, “Blue Sky,” where lyrics essentially call for an end to war and peace for all nations. They sang the song and it was lovely and I am continued to be warmed by these people from Japan, and how little animosity they show their American friends. It’s heartening in a time and place when many Americans are fighting amongst themselves in terms of racism, that a group of people who we tried to destroy are coming hear and praying for peace for our nation as well as ours.


So thanks so much for that. Arigato!