Hi all. I am saddened to announce the passing of one of our original South Jersey, anti-nuclear, and anti-war activists, Richard Walnut of Whiting, Ocean County.

Rick died on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 at the Crestwood Manor in Whiting. Born in Camden, he was a long-time resident of Southampton Township before moving to Whiting six months ago.

He was also a long-time member of the Coalition for Peace and Justice's sister peace group, the South Jersey Campaign for Peace and Justice, serving as the treasurer for SJCPJ, and on many local boards and committees, including the Southampton Zoning Board.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue, Inc., 60 Vera Cruz Road, Reinholds, PA 17569.

Rick was a typical peace activist. He was a baby boomer, part of that 99 percent the Republicans are trying to eradicate. He was polite, but determined. He knew that many of our goals would not be won easily, and perhaps not in his lifetime, like the abolition of nuclear weapons worldwide.

He would be glad to see President Obama's move to slash military spending, especially nuclear weapons. Not since President Reagan and Soviet President Gorbachev met in Iceland and agreed to cut both sides' nuclear arsenals in half, have we had a president committed to following Reagan's footsteps on the issue of cutting back on the number of nuclear weapons.

Who would have thought that it would take more than 50 years to even get to a point where one could rationally discuss our huge stockpiles of nukes, whose only military use is flatten large cities like Moscow; and we are still aiming our nukes at our former enemies.  How many nuclear bombs are needed to deter an enemy – 100, 50, or even less?

Not surprisingly, anything President Obama or his staff proposes on ridding the world of nuclear weapons or cutting the military budget here at home would be blocked in the Senate.  The tea party and other far-right-wing senators can halt everything in its tracks through the threatened use of a filibuster, dimming hopes for a Peace Economy that would redirect spending from the military to either budget balancing or economic stimulus.  Supporting the Peace Economy by moving money away from death (military spending) toward life (putting folks back to work) is an idea that should unite Republicans and Democrats.

I personally became interested in getting rid of nuclear weapons (and nuclear power) back in 1982. Now, almost 30 years later, there are glimmers of hope that what we started back in 1982 – the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign – has been vindicated. Sometimes peacemaking can be messy, like making sausage. Sometimes it’s just a slow and patient effort that brings results.

Some right-wing talking heads have been attacking President Obama for trying to negotiate for these cuts, calling him weak on keeping the country strong. It seems to me that this country is stronger by taking back the money saved by ending war, and by cutting the number of nuclear weapons. Republicans, this country is strong because we invest in ourselves, and because one way or another we do the right thing.

Rick Walnut's life was about working every day to seek a peaceful world for everyone. His voice, plus thousands more like him, helped put the dangers of a nuclear bomb in the public eye.

Norm Cohen is executive director of the Coalition for Peace and Justice and a coordinator for the UNPLUG Salem Campaign. Learn more at www.coalitionforpeaceandjustice.org and www.unplugsalem.org. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (609) 335-8176. Comment at www.shorenewstoday.com.