The Resurgence of the Golden Rule: A Legacy of Anti-Nuclear Activism
In 2010, a historic sailboat named Golden Rule was salvaged from the depths of Humboldt Bay, California. Once sunken, its recovery was more than a rescue; it marked a revival of a narrative intertwined with anti-nuclear activism. A group known as Veterans for Peace took the helm of the boat’s restoration, realizing that the story of the Golden Rule still resonates powerfully in today’s world.
I had the distinct privilege of joining the crew aboard the Golden Rule on its journey from San Francisco to Eureka. Following in the footsteps of its original crew, I reflected on its purpose: to amplify awareness about the enduring threat posed by nuclear weapons—an issue that remains deeply relevant in our time.
The tale began in 1958 when four Quaker pacifists purchased the Golden Rule, aiming to place themselves in a then-active U.S. nuclear test zone at Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The crew, led by Albert Bigelow, a former World War II naval officer, sought to fulfill a moral obligation to intervene against the growing threat of nuclear warfare.
Despite a climate of fear, with prominent figures like Linus Pauling, Albert Schweitzer, and others vocalizing the grave risks of nuclear arms, Bigelow and his crew felt it was their duty to act.
However, their voyage was cut short when the Atomic Energy Commission issued a ban on navigation in the test zone, leading to their arrest in Honolulu. Though they never completed their journey to Eniwetok, their story ignited a significant anti-nuclear protest movement that drew inspiration from the civil rights demonstrations of the era.
While public awareness surrounding nuclear testing diminished as time passed, the Golden Rule‘s legacy endured. Although the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty curtailed aboveground tests, underground testing persisted into the 1990s, and some advisors to the current administration are now considering the resumption of these hazardous tests—sparking bipartisan opposition, particularly in Nevada.
Analyzing Bigelow’s motivations reveals a deeply personal drive. As a naval commander during WWII, he learned of the Hiroshima bombings while at sea. Transitioning to Quakerism, he extended hospitality to the Hiroshima maidens, young women affected by the atomic bomb, which reshaped his views on nuclear warfare, prompting him to resign his commission just before receiving his pension.
Bigelow often reflected on the inadequacy of their original mission, lamenting that they did not reach the testing grounds. However, historians recognize that the Golden Rule became a potent symbol of resistance, paving the way for future movements like the first Greenpeace voyage and the growing nuclear freeze movement in the 1980s.
As tensions with the Soviet Union rose during the early 1980s, public opposition grew once more, catalyzing significant events like the UN’s Second Special Session on Disarmament, which saw a million protestors gather in Central Park in 1982. The public’s united stance led to widespread support for nuclear “freeze” resolutions across numerous states and cities.
One night aboard the Golden Rule, the starry sky adorned with bioluminescent algae sparked contemplation of the parallels between past and present threats, from Reagan’s Star Wars initiative to modern proposals for the militarization of space. The contrasting beauty of the serenity around us highlighted the urgency of action in a world increasingly overshadowed by various existential crises.
Reflecting on how to mobilize a contemporary anti-nuclear movement, as the looming threat of nuclear conflict becomes intertwined with other global issues, raises challenging questions. Bigelow famously stated, “How do you reach men when all the horror is in the fact that they feel no horror?” How do we inspire action in a time where many feel desensitized to such threats?
It is evident that while the Golden Rule crew succeeded in raising vital awareness about nuclear testing threats, the fading of that awareness over time poses challenges in the current landscape, which shares stark similarities to the Cold War. A nagging truth remains: today, the potential for nuclear catastrophe still looms.
Conversely, this increasing threat level may inspire renewed recognition and resistance against nuclear weapons. The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, highlighting efforts towards nuclear disarmament. Additionally, the establishment of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons signifies a global commitment against nuclear arsenal proliferation.
As our journey with the Golden Rule continued, accompanied by dolphins at dawn, it became ever more clear that the prevailing issues of nuclear armament require sustained advocacy and activism. The symbolism embodied by the Golden Rule is as critical today as it was in 1958, underscoring the urgency for action and persistent effort in the fight against nuclear weapons.
“When you see something horrible happening, your instinct is to do something about it. You can freeze in fearful apathy or you can even talk yourself into saying that it isn’t horrible. I can’t do that. I have to act. This is too horrible. We know it. Let’s all act.”
—Albert Bigelow, The Voyage of the Golden Rule: An Experiment with the Truth, 1959
