Monday Oct 04, 1999

Activists reveal naked truth about nuclear catastrophes

50 people march nude on Van Ness to draw attention to Y2K dangers

By Ray Delgado OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Some activists get arrested to draw attention to their cause. Others scream and rant in hopes that people will listen.

Some nuclear activists, on the other hand  well, they get naked.

About 50 people who gathered Sunday night near City Hall for a conference on the potential dangers of Y2K-induced nuclear catastrophes ended the session with a mass nude demonstration along a block of Van Ness Avenue. Desperate for press attention for their cause, they opted to get covered by uncovering.

The nude march was led by Patch Adams, an activist and doctor who inspired the movie based on his lifetime of unconventional approaches to adversity.

"Non-violent people like us really have so few tools to face a capitalist system," Adams told the crowd as they uncomfortably disrobed outside Herbst Theater in the War Memorial Building. "All we really have are ourselves and our ideas. Our ideas have not done the job."

With those words, the crowd whooped and hollered their way out of the building and onto Van Ness for a quick stroll down the street, chanting, "Disrobe for disarmament," and, "News, not nukes."

Along Van Ness Avenue, some cars slowed to gawk and others honked at the protesters, who cheered in response.

The night air was chilly enough to have a noticeable effect on some participants, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm among the participants.

"I'm glad to be a part of a community that is as passionate as I am," said Palo Alto resident Carol Brouillet, a 42-year-old mother of three who has written books on nuclear issues. "I'm glad my husband's not here. He wouldn't do this, but we have different world views."

The conference, titled Creating a Culture of Peace for the 21st Century, was well-attended by interested participants but generated little media interest until Adams and prominent activist Dr. Helen Caldicott called for the nude demonstration. Although many ideas were discussed at the forum, the main thrust of the meeting was the dangers of nuclear accidents occuring on Jan. 1, 2000, if computer systems in countries around the world crash because they are not prepared to handle the date change.

Caldicott warned that some countries are unprepared for the Y2K problem, and she said too little attention is being paid to the dangers and consequences of nuclear fallout. Shedding her own clothes was not easy, she said, but was worth it to call attention to the problem.

"To be scared of doing something like this, which is a little thing compared to what's facing us, is just silly," Caldicott said. "It just shows that people are desperate for this cause and will do whatever it takes."

http://www.examiner.com/991004/1004naked.html

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), October 04, 1999

Answers

Photos, please.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), October 04, 1999.

I understand those arrested are being held for observation....

-- Same as B4 (NWphotog@Foxcomm.net), October 04, 1999.

The Rodent Revolution has struck another blow against the Evil Society of the Furless Man-Apes who for so long have sought to opress the mighty Rodent Population!!!Many of your fellow-beings have seen the Light as it is apparent who will truly rule over all!!!Surrender now, and find Me true grateful to those whom will serve me well!!! Even now plans to free my bonded Rodent Loving/Worshipping naked Furless-Ape bretheren are in the offing!!!Those furless ape-men foolish enough to ignore My Ultimatum will surely taste the wrath of the Rodent Revolution!!!All Hail the Squirrel King!!!Long Live the Rodent Revolution!!!Death to the Disbelievers!!!

-- The Squirrel King (Still Nuts@upina.Tree), October 04, 1999.

Rather 'cheeky' of them, I'd say! : )

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), October 04, 1999.

Not that I'm against a good hoot, but I can't say that this does much for the serious matter at hand. With this kind of emphasis, it's easier for the issue, and those talking about it, to be labled "nut cases" and "no big deal". And no, I'm not describing any anatomical parts.

-- Ninh Hoa (tech@univ.now), October 04, 1999.

I'm sure that the males involved rose appropriately to the occasion, while the females undoubtedly extended themselves all they were capable of (the air was cold, the report said). :)

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), October 04, 1999.

Nudity has a long and respected history
in political protest. Dukabours in Canada
frequently protest in the nude. I applaud
their courage and conviction.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), October 04, 1999.

I think Helen caldicot will mud wrestle for nuclear peace.. If she really wants to get some attention she should organize a million person march to plant a peace forest at the nevada test site to get it to close permanently, and call for an end to this 54 year old horror show called nuclear power,testing and weapons systems deployment. Nuclear weapons make the nazi crematoriums look matches.. The abm test this weekend was really a failure... Now the russians and chinese will feel justified to spend what ever is necessary to deploy their own. No Thanks to dr strangelove Clinton. The game of nuclear chichen has got to stop for our kids sake. Shut the nuke power plants down for a safety stand down the first 2 weeks into the new year. Lead by example. De alert the nukes too for the first two weeks. Ratify the ctbt this week dont let all that hard work go down the tubes. The whole world is watching. Work for Peace.

-- y2k aware mike (y2k aware mike @ conservation . com), October 04, 1999.

Hhhmmm, it's an idea, good company too. Yourdon Forum Nudist Colony Strikes A Pose For Y2K Preparation. The only covering was tinfoil hats ;-)

-- too shy (like@clothes.cov), October 04, 1999.

(0) Film at eleven...

(1) You DID remember to include a LOT of suntan lotion in your preparations?

(2) For those of us who live in remote locations, a nudist lifestyle may be normal...(or may not).

(3) For some of us, the only attention that we'd get would be a lot of giggling, laughing, and pointing.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), October 05, 1999.

While I have a cognitive understanding of groups of human beings'- their seeming need to ridicule what they do not understand, or what they lack passion for, I continue to be left with a staggering sadness, (mostly sadness, I think) for, and sometimes anger at the ridiculers, for their lack of apparent maturity, for what appears to be tiny, narrow lives full of unacknowledged fears. I continue to be amazed, and, amazed that I can still feel amazed about so much.

Middle of the night madness,...

"Nothing human is foreign to me." (this might be Hemmingway, I can never remember)

"Vision is the river, and we who have been changed are the flood." (Daniel Quinn, The Story of B)

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), October 05, 1999.