By Mary Lou Anderson, member of Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), formerly the Nevada Test Site, the most-bombed place on the planet, sits on the 1863 Treaty Land of the Western Shoshone Nation. This is sacred Earth, sacred burial grounds, and sacred space tainted and poisoned by the hands of man in testing and upgrading the nuclear weapons complex's most deadly of arms which threaten our Humanity.
"This is sacred Earth, sacred burial grounds, and sacred space tainted and poisoned by the hands of man"
For over 30 years, the Nevada Desert Experience Interfaith Peace Organization has hosted the Sacred Peace Walk, beginning at the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, NV and continuing deep into the Mojave Desert for over 65 miles, ending at the Nevada National Security Site, home of the Western Shoshone Nation. Over 40 participants from across the globe joined the Peace Walk this turbulent year in an effort to offer prayer and healing to our Earth and her people, and a distinct end to the workings of the nuclear weapons complex.
Over six days of walking, running, praying and meditating for Earth-healing was shared by a potent group of spiritual leaders, healers, activists and lovers of life, carrying flags, offering drumming and prayers to our Earth, and singing, dancing, offering inspiring talks and practicing contemplative silence in collective effort to spread love and nonviolence across the desert and the world.
Click the yellow arrows to scroll through the photos in the slideshow below.
Ending on Good Friday Morning at Peace Camp, at the NNSS, over 50 participants joined in the Nuclear Stations of the Cross within the tunnel leading to the Test Site, followed by a powerful walk to the boundaries of the NNSS led by Chief Council & Spiritual Person of the Western Shoshone Nation, Johnnie Bobb, drumming, praying and chanting for peace and cleansing for the Earth, her animals, her plants and her people.
"We believe in the power of healing through almighty love, and will continue this important journey each year"
The Sacred Peace Walkers commit to this week of offerings of prayer, song, solitude, laughter and spreading public awareness of the reality of the magnitude of the state of the nuclear weapons complex. We believe in the power of healing through almighty love, and will continue this important journey each year. As we know, love heals all and our time is now.
