Saturday June 25th is Nuclear Abolition Day. The MVPJ steering committee is inviting you to send an email or letter to your mayors before or on that day encouraging them to join mayors across the planet calling for an end to nuclear weapons and declaring their cities nuclear-free zones. Read more for information about this campaign, a sample letter to mayors, and links to your mayor's web sites.

What is Nuclear Abolition Day?

Nuclear Abolition Day is an annual global day of action for a treaty to outlaw and eliminate all nuclear weapons. It is coordinated by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The date changes from year to year depending on significant events. The first global day of action was held on 5 June 2010 in response to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, which had just concluded.

Why is this year's day of action 25 June?

At last year's Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, the five original nuclear weapon states - the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China - agreed to "accelerate concrete progress on ... steps leading to nuclear disarmament". The leaders of these five nations will meet in Paris on 29 and 30 June to discuss nuclear security as a follow-up to the Review Conference. June 25 is our opportunity to send them, and all other governments, a loud and clear message: it is time to begin work on a treaty to outlaw and eliminate all nuclear weapons.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons has produced a raft of resources to enhance public understanding of nuclear threats, and to demonstrate the feasibility of a comprehensive treaty prohibiting the use, production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons, and providing for their elimination within an agreed timeframe. For more information, visit www.icanw.org or click here to download a booklet. 

ACTION:  Write Your Mayor:  Time required: 15 minutes

The mayors of more than 4700 cities in 150 countries have joined the Mayors for Peace network calling for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons by 2020. When membership reaches the 5000 mark, the mayors will speak on behalf of over one billion people.

With your help, that goal could be reached by 6 August 2011, the 66th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Is your city or town affiliated with Mayors for Peace? If not, urge your mayor to join. If your city or town is already affiliated, ask your mayor to write to another mayor about joining.

Click here to see if your mayor is already involved.

Sample letters

If your mayor is not part of Mayors for Peace:

Dear Mayor,

I am writing as a resident concerned about the threat posed by nuclear weapons. There are still roughly 20,000 of these immoral, illegal and inhuman devices in the world, with cities and towns among the intended targets. Most governments have acknowledged the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and yet there is still no comprehensive treaty to prohibit them and provide for their elimination.

To counter this constant danger, mayors have joined together in Mayors for Peace. As a mayor, you have the responsibility to protect residents of this district. The horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated - anywhere. I encourage you to join the Mayors for Peace network of over 4700 mayors in 150 nations calling for a treaty to abolish nuclear weapons. The network's website is: www.mayorsforpeace.org.

Yours sincerely,

If your mayor is already part of Mayors for Peace:

Dear Mayor,

I am proud that our city is affiliated with Mayors for Peace. As you may know, membership of the network is rapidly approaching 5000 cities, at which point Mayors for Peace would represent over one billion people worldwide. Efforts are under way to reach this target by 6 August 2011, the 66th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

I am writing to encourage you to take a few minutes in the coming days to call or email a colleague of yours, and ask him or her to join you as a member of Mayors for Peace. All you need to do is direct the mayor to the website www.mayorsforpeace.org.

Thank you,

How to Contact Your Mayors

City of Belmont
The Honorable Coralin Feierbach cfeierbach@belmont.gov
Mayor of Belmont
City Hall
One Twin Pines Lane
Belmont, CA 94002

Cupertino
The Honorable Gilbert Wong gwong@cupertino.org
Mayor of Cupertino
Cupertino City Hall
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014-3232

Foster City
The Honorable Linda Koelling Lkoelling@fostercity.org
Mayor of Foster City
City Hall
610 Foster City Blvd.
Foster City, CA 94404

Los Altos http://www.ci.los-altos.ca.us/
The Honorable Ron Packard rdpackard@losaltosca.gov
Mayor of Los Altos
Los Altos City Hall
One North San Antonio Road
Los Altos, CA 94022

Los Altos Hills
The Honorable Ginger Summit gsummit@earthlink.net
Mayor of Los Altos Hills
Town Hall
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

Menlo Park
The Honorable Richard Cline racline@menlopark.org
Mayor of Menlo Park
701 Laurel Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025

Mountain View
The Honorable Jac Siegel jacsharonsiegel@comcast.net
Mayor of Mountain View
500 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041

Palo Alto
The Honorable Sid Espinosa Sid.Espinosa@CityofPaloAlto.org
Mayor of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton Av.
Palo Alto, CA 94303

Redwood City
The Honorable Jeff Ira jira@redwoodcity.org
Mayor of Redwood City
c/o City Clerk
P.O. Box 391
1017 Middlefield Road
Redwood City, CA 94064

Santa Clara
The Honorable Jaime L. Matthews jamie.matthews@att.net
Mayor of Santa Clara
City Hall
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050

San Mateo
The Honorable Jack Matthews jmatthews@cityofsanmateo.org
Mayor of San Mateo
330 West 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403

Sunnyvale
The Honorable Melinda Hamilton mayor@sunnyvale.ca.us
Mayor of Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale City Hall
456 W. Olive Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086