The UC Nuclear Free Campaign is an on-going campaign to educate students at the University of California (UC) on nuclear dangers and policy, as well as on the University’s management of the nation’s nuclear weapons laboratories at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore. The campaign seeks to end the University’s role in the research, development, testing and maintenance of weapons of mass destruction and to raise awareness of broader nuclear policy issues in this critical time. The Foundation has a number of partner organizations that have formed a coalition to support the campaign’s goals and to further demilitarize the University system.
Efforts in 2009 include providing support to the student Department of Energy Lab Oversight Committee (DOELOC), which was established at UC Santa Barbara in 2007. Additional DOELOC branches are expected to be established at other UC campuses in 2009.
The Foundation initiated the first Think Outside the Bomb (TOTB) student leadership conference in the summer of 2005 at the University of California at Santa Barbara, followed by a collaborative one-day conference at American University in Washington, DC later in the year. In 2006, TOTB conferences were held at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and at Pace University in New York. In 2007, conferences were held at UCSB and American University. In 2008, conferences were held in Washington, DC and Boston.
The 2009 TOTB conference is planned for August 13-16 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information, visit www.thinkoutsidethebomb.org.
Peace Leadership Trainings
The Foundation hosts leadership trainings in Santa Barbara, CA for high school and college students to empower them to become more effective in creating social change at the campus, community, national and international levels. The trainings comprise both educational and skill-building components, allowing students to become more familiar with the issues they seek to address and to develop tangible skills to advocate for these issues. Specific skill-sets covered include public speaking, coalition-building, working with the media, campus organizing, fundraising and non-violent direct action.
If you are interested in learning more about conducting a training for your school or organization, contact us.
Internships
The Foundation provides internship positions for select college students during the academic year to work with staff on current peace and security issues. Interns conduct research, write analysis of issues, work on the websites, and gain valuable insights into the nuclear policy field. During the summer, the Foundation offers three full-time paid internships to deserving students through a competitive application process at our Santa Barbara, CA office.