Youth Empowerment Initiative

 

Youth Outreach InitiativeProgramsGet InvolvedThink for YourselfAbout

 
   
  See for Yourself
 
Introductory   Adventurous

We all know the educational exercise in which a group of people stand in a circle and one person whispers a statement in the ear of one of the individuals next to him or her. The statement makes its way around the circle, but by the time the statement comes back to the source, the message has completely changed. This game illustrates the inaccurate process of relaying information, the tendency to misrepresent and embellish, and the importance of primary sources. This lesson can be applied to situations ranging form personal one-on-one interactions to international media corporations. Ultimately, the lesson emphasizes the importance of critical thinking.

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation believes that field trips, when combined with books, videos, lectures, and web sites, enhance young people's ability to think critically and develop as leaders. Similarly, the capacity to understand and articulate the connections between various social justice issues is a valuable asset. As such, the Foundation is organizing field trips in southern California this year so as to encourage our youth to explore their surrounding communities for themselves. Similarly, we have provided separate lists of international and adventurous destinations for individuals interested in organizing their own trips.

Disclaimer: Inclusion on this list of recommended places to visit does not indicate that the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation endorses the various messages that these institutions promote. See for Yourself is an exercise in pulling the curtain, gathering information and critical thinking.

 
   
 

See for Yourself - Introductory

> American Museum of Science and Energy - Initially named the American Museum of Atomic Energy, this museum opened in 1949 and emphasized peaceful application of nuclear science. The site is in close proximity to the first U.S. plutonium production facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee: http://www.amse.org
>"Hanford at the Half-Life" - An interactive exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Space and Industry (1245 SW Water Street, Portland, Oregon) that allows visitors to explore the environmental impact of the nuclear weapons production: http://www.omsi.edu/
> Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum - A short walk away from the hypocenter of the first atomic bomb exploded during war, this museum welcomes approximately 1 million visitors per year. http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/top_e.html
> National Atomic Museum - Located near the original site of the Manhattan Project in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this museum features exhibits on nuclear scientists, radiation, nuclear medicine, and arms control. http://www.atomicmuseum.com
> National Gandhi Museum - Located in New Delhi, this is the Indian government's official museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. http://www.gandhimuseum.org/
> National World War II Memorial - The newest addition to the Mall in Washington, DC, this memorial opens May 29, 2004. http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
> Nuclear Weapons Museum of The All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics - View life-size models from Russia's nuclear weapons history at this Sarov-based museum. http://www.vniief.ru/museum/museum_e.html
>"Nuclear Energy" by Henry Moore" - This sculpture at the University of Chicago commemorates the campus as the site of the first controlled release of nuclear energy. The sculpture is located at on the east side of Ellis Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets in Chicago, Illinois. http://physics.uchicago.edu/moore_sculpture.html
> Peace Palace Library - Located at The Hague, Netherlands, this library houses one of the world's largest collections materials on international law, international political and diplomatic history, and the history of peace movements. http://www.ppl.nl/
>"Three Mile Island: The Inside Story" - An exhibit at the National Museum of American History (14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC) marking the 25th anniversary of the worst nuclear power accident in U.S. history. http://americanhistory.si.edu
> United Nations - Based in New York City, the United Nations' core goals are to maintain international peace and security; to foster friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. http://www.un.org/

See for Yourself - Adventurous

> Chernobyl – Chernobyl is the site of the worst nuclear power accident in history, located in the former Soviet republic Ukraine. URL: http://www.chernobyl.com
> Fernald Closure Project, Outreach Department – Fernald is a former uranium processing plant outside Cincinnati, Ohio and environmental clean-up site. URL: http://www.fernald.gov
> Koeberg Nuclear Power Station - Located near Capetown, South Africa, Koeberg is the only nuclear power station in Africa. URL: http://www.eskom.com
> Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), News & Public Affairs – Located outside of San Francisco, California and managed by the University of California, LLNL is one of the primary U.S. nuclear weapons research laboratories. URL: http://www.llnl.gov/
> Marshall Islands -a former nuclear testing site in the central Pacific. URL: http://www.bikiniatoll.com/
> Minuteman Missile National Historic Site - South Dakota's newest national park, this site opens April 1, 2004 with the goals to preserve and interpret deactivated structures in the U.S. national missile defense system. URL: http://www.nps.gov/mimi/
> Nevada Test Site Tours – This is a former nuclear weapons testing ground and current waste management site outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. URL: http://www.nv.doe.gov/nts/
> Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Public Tours – Located in Tennessee, Rocky Flats was the first plutonium production plant in the U.S., Oak Ridge is currently a national laboratory. URL: http://www.ornl.gov/.
> Rocky Flats Closure Project, Tours & Visits –A former nuclear weapons production facility outside Denver, Colorado, Rocky Flats is currently a massive environmental clean-up project. URL: http://www.rfets.gov/.
> Savannah River Site, Outreach Programs - A basic materials production site for the manufacturing of nuclear weapons, the Savannah River Site is located in South Carolina. URL: http://www.srs.gov/

We welcome your comments and questions if you've visited any of these places, need help organizing a trip, or would like to suggest additional places. Write to