ANTI-WAR FAST BEGINS
AT WHITE HOUSE GATES
Physicist Vows to Fast Till U.S. Leaders Commit to The End of War -- OR, If Necessary, Till Death
LAFAYETTE PARK, D.C. -- On September 23, l986, Charles Hyder,
Ph.D., resumed fasting next to his two 4' x 4' signs, which he
tends around the clock on the sidewalk of Lafayette ("Peace") Park,
outside President Reagan's front door.
On June 2lst he had concluded a 33-day fast to gauge the
public's response to the idea of fasting.
Now, with family and friends gathering around him from all
over the country, Hyder again subsists only on water, air, and a
sparkling zest for life, fasting so we all might live without fear
of a worldwide nuclear holocaust -- if necessary, till death.
"THERE IS NO CURE FOR A WORLDWIDE NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST."
Thus I
must put my life on the line in order to stop this nuclear madness.
"I have committed to this fast to END WAR unless U.S. citizens
rise up and begin to turn the government away from its warring
policies," Dr. Hyder explains.
"REAGAN: HISTORY AWAITS YOU and OUR FASTING," one of his
signs greets motorists cruising west on Pennsylvania Ave.; "END WAR
- END VIOLENCE - END TYRANNY" another sign exhorts.
Charles Hyder is a massive man (6'2") whose credentials as a
physicist and established reputation as an anti-nuclear activist
match his impressive girth.
Born April l8, l930 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hyder received
degrees in physics and astro/geo/physics at the universities of New
Mexico and Colorado (respectively), taught at UCLA and the University of New Mexico, and worked for NASA for many years as a solar
physicist.
He decided he must take the initiative to act after he read
"The Population Bomb" by Paul Ehrlich. He educated himself on
nuclear tech-nology. When the U.S. government proposed burying
spent nuclear fuel rods in New Mexico salt deposits, he studied the
geophysics of salt.
Hyder's calculations showed that the heat from spent fuel rods
buried in salt deposits would cause huge, hot bubbles of
radioactive salt to rise to the earth's surface within a matter of
"30 to 300 years."
He and some friends at Southwest Research and Information
Center spent the l970's successfully lobbying the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, testifying before Congress, and rallying the
public against the proposed nuclear waste dump in salt in southern
New Mexico.
Although his activism cost him his job at NASA, Hyder had no
regrets. "Now salt is no longer acceptable as a storage medium for
spent fuel rods from nuclear power plants," he reports.
As a result of his work in New Mexico, Hyder was one of twenty
international physicists employed by the state government of Lower
Saxony (West Germany) to critique the federal government's plans to
bury German radwastes in the Gorleben saltdome. (West Germany's
plans were shelved.)
Hyder's studies of nuclear technology in the early 70's showed
that humans would not survive a significant nuclear exchange
between the USA and the USSR.
"Bomb blast and fire deaths, combined with radiation deaths
from nuclear releases from a hundred-plus nuclear reactors in
meltdown (like Chernobyl), would kill all humans on the earth over
the next ten to fifty years," Hyder found.
"Some deaths would occur within a few months due to prompt
radiation effects, but the majority would be due to cancers
manifest over many years."
Later studies by Dr. Carl Sagan and others in the USA and in
the USSR showed that a "nuclear winter" of many months duration
would also kill off all higher forms of plant and animal life on
the earth, compounding Hyder's sense of urgency.
In l982, Hyder states, "I quit contributing voluntarily to
U.S. national violence when the USS New Jersey shelled Beirut. In
l984 I quit 'working,' began giving away all of my possessions, and
started full-time, active work toward averting the impending
nuclear holocaust." Charles Hyder believes in miracles.
It is for the sake of his five grown children "and everyone
else on earth" that Hyder now chooses to devote -- and risk -- his
life for an end to war and holocaust-producing weapons.
"What will change your mind?" I asked him, echoing the many
visitors to Lafayette Park who have stopped by his signs.
"When the U.S. government makes binding commitments to
dismantle and disable all nuclear warheads safely by the year 2000
and not replace them --
"-- and promises not to use or support violent offensive
military operations against other nations as an option in
international relations --
"-- and promises to pursue an aggressive, good faith effort to
get the USSR and the rest of the nations of the world to join the
USA in these commitments," Hyder replied.
"What do you mean by 'binding commitments'?"
"Proposals for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution by the U.S.
Congress would do," he said.
"The world's population is the disenfranchised victim of the
USA, USSR, and other countries' nuclear buildup. We cannot stand by
and let this insane threat become a horrible reality.
"Only total disarmament can bring us to a state where the end
of war can be realized in order to assure that no holocaust can
occur."
"Do you really think that one man fasting (perhaps to death)
is going to convince Congress to pass amendments to the
Constitution that would force the weapons industries and their
lobbyists to give up their profits?" I asked.
"Maybe not. But one man fasting (perhaps to death) might
prick other people into action. If a nonviolent clog-up of
Washington were to occur, there will be no need for anyone to die
fasting.
"The lawmakers will have to listen when enough people hit the
streets, flood the mails, tie up the phone lines, shut down
transportation systems, and walk out of their offices and
factories.
"You know, of course, that Charlie Liteky, George Miso, Duncan
Murphy and Brian Willson have also started 'fasting for life in
Central America'" (two on September l and two on September l5), "to
stop U.S. contributions to inhumanity, killing and war there.
"The Great Peace March is also due to arrive in mid-November.
It's time for other concerned citizens to act."
"The weapons manufacturers seem quite comfortable with the
40-odd wars they're currently supplying," I mused. "Is there a
practical alternative to the arms industry if the government can be
persuaded to cease weapons production, sales and use, as you sug-
gest?"
"Yes! Clean-environment industries are needed for human
survival, and they can replace our habitual wartime industries. We
can provide adequate jobs and maintain our high quality economy
while improving the quality of life.
"Non-polluting energy research and development and pre-release
toxic waste control and cleanup would be productive beginnings. We
need to put the burden of proof on producers of toxic and lethal
substances."
"What caused you to begin a water fast here in Lafayette
Park?" I asked.
"After a few months of participating in the five-year-old
24-hour anti-nuclear/pro-peace vigils here, I found that although
public awareness of an inevitable holocaust is high, public apathy
about an individual's ability to do anything about it is just as
high," Hyder replied.
"'Let George do it,' and 'You four vigilers keep up the good
work!' continues to dominate the public's thinking and willingness
to act on the issue.
"So I was moved to determine how I (or two or three of us)
could motivate enough of the public to do something that would turn
the U.S. government away from its active warrior leadership in the
world.
"Historically, a few powerless nonviolent people with a clear
vision for the good of everyone have used masses of equally
powerless people and/or terminal fasting to set their people free.
(Gandhi is an example.)
"But everyone in the U.S., even the 'poor' and 'powerless'
citizens, has too much to lose to accept the risks and discipline
required to turn the U.S. government away from funding and
supporting the burgeoning weapons industries.
"So we are left with terminal fasting as a primary weapon to
motivate apathetic citizens to regain control of their government."
Dr. Hyder says he has great hope for the President when unin-
formed visitors accuse him of opposing Reagan.
Pointing to his sign "REAGAN, HISTORY AWAITS YOU and OUR
FASTING," he says "Ronald Reagan has the power and opportunity to
be the greatest leader the world has ever known.
"If he can achieve worldwide commitment to nuclear
disarmament and stopping violent and deadly military attacks
against foreign homelands -- which I believe he can -- then he
deserves a paramount place in history."
Perhaps Mr. Reagan will join the growing number of people who
visit Dr. Hyder, day and night, at his signs in Lafayette Park.
The president has the same opportunity as the million tourists
who step out the front door of the White House each year to walk
across Pennsylvania Avenue.
He should look for the American flag drooping or flapping next
to the words "PEACE, EQUALITY, COMPASSION" and "NONVIOLENCE - WE
WANT YOU!"
Won't YOU DO SOMETHING to help Dr. Hyder's quest to remove the
threat of worldwide nuclear holocaust from YOUR life?
Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil ... At the White House
Gates...
Call: (202) 462-3542. Write: P.O. Box 272l7, D.C., 20038.
Feel free to reprint and distribute this article.
ANTI-WAR FAST BEGINS
AT WHITE HOUSE GATES
Physicist Vows to Fast Till U.S. Leaders Commit to
The End of War -- OR, If Necessary, Till Death
LAFAYETTE PARK, D.C. -- On September 23, l986, Charles Hyder,
Ph.D., resumed fasting next to his two 4' x 4' signs, which he
tends around the clock on the sidewalk of Lafayette ("Peace") Park,
outside President Reagan's front door.
On June 2lst he had concluded a 33-day fast to gauge the
public's response to the idea of fasting.
Now, with family and friends gathering around him from all
over the country, Hyder again subsists only on water, air, and a
sparkling zest for life, fasting so we all might live without fear
of a worldwide nuclear holocaust -- if necessary, till death.
"THERE IS NO CURE FOR A WORLDWIDE NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST. Thus I
must put my life on the line in order to stop this nuclear madness.
"I have committed to this fast to END WAR unless U.S. citizens
rise up and begin to turn the government away from its warring
policies," Dr. Hyder explains.
"REAGAN: HISTORY AWAITS YOU and OUR FASTING," one of his
signs greets motorists cruising west on Pennsylvania Ave.; "END WAR
- END VIOLENCE - END TYRANNY" another sign exhorts.
Charles Hyder is a massive man (6'2") whose credentials as a
physicist and established reputation as an anti-nuclear activist
match his impressive girth.
Born April l8, l930 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hyder received
degrees in physics and astro/geo/physics at the universities of New
Mexico and Colorado (respectively), taught at UCLA and the Univer-
sity of New Mexico, and worked for NASA for many years as a solar
physicist.
He decided he must take the initiative to act after he read
"The Population Bomb" by Paul Ehrlich. He educated himself on
nuclear tech-nology. When the U.S. government proposed burying
spent nuclear fuel rods in New Mexico salt deposits, he studied the
geophysics of salt.
Hyder's calculations showed that the heat from spent fuel rods
buried in salt deposits would cause huge, hot bubbles of
radioactive salt to rise to the earth's surface within a matter of
"30 to 300 years."
He and some friends at Southwest Research and Information
Center spent the l970's successfully lobbying the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, testifying before Congress, and rallying the
public against the proposed nuclear waste dump in salt in southern
New Mexico.
Although his activism cost him his job at NASA, Hyder had no
regrets. "Now salt is no longer acceptable as a storage medium for
spent fuel rods from nuclear power plants," he reports.
As a result of his work in New Mexico, Hyder was one of twenty
international physicists employed by the state government of Lower
Saxony (West Germany) to critique the federal government's plans to
bury German radwastes in the Gorleben saltdome. (West Germany's
plans were shelved.)
Hyder's studies of nuclear technology in the early 70's showed
that humans would not survive a significant nuclear exchange
between the USA and the USSR.
"Bomb blast and fire deaths, combined with radiation deaths
from nuclear releases from a hundred-plus nuclear reactors in
meltdown (like Chernobyl), would kill all humans on the earth over
the next ten to fifty years," Hyder found.
"Some deaths would occur within a few months due to prompt
radiation effects, but the majority would be due to cancers
manifest over many years."
Later studies by Dr. Carl Sagan and others in the USA and in
the USSR showed that a "nuclear winter" of many months duration
would also kill off all higher forms of plant and animal life on
the earth, compounding Hyder's sense of urgency.
In l982, Hyder states, "I quit contributing voluntarily to
U.S. national violence when the USS New Jersey shelled Beirut. In
l984 I quit 'working,' began giving away all of my possessions, and
started full-time, active work toward averting the impending
nuclear holocaust." Charles Hyder believes in miracles.
It is for the sake of his five grown children "and everyone
else on earth" that Hyder now chooses to devote -- and risk -- his
life for an end to war and holocaust-producing weapons.
"What will change your mind?" I asked him, echoing the many
visitors to Lafayette Park who have stopped by his signs.
"When the U.S. government makes binding commitments to
dismantle and disable all nuclear warheads safely by the year 2000
and not replace them --
"-- and promises not to use or support violent offensive
military operations against other nations as an option in
international relations --
"-- and promises to pursue an aggressive, good faith effort to
get the USSR and the rest of the nations of the world to join the
USA in these commitments," Hyder replied.
"What do you mean by 'binding commitments'?"
"Proposals for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution by the U.S.
Congress would do," he said.
"The world's population is the disenfranchised victim of the
USA, USSR, and other countries' nuclear buildup. We cannot stand by
and let this insane threat become a horrible reality.
"Only total disarmament can bring us to a state where the end
of war can be realized in order to assure that no holocaust can
occur."
"Do you really think that one man fasting (perhaps to death)
is going to convince Congress to pass amendments to the
Constitution that would force the weapons industries and their
lobbyists to give up their profits?" I asked.
"Maybe not. But one man fasting (perhaps to death) might prick
other people into action. If a nonviolent clog-up of Washington
were to occur, there will be no need for anyone to die fasting.
"The lawmakers will have to listen when enough people hit the
streets, flood the mails, tie up the phone lines, shut down
transportation systems, and walk out of their offices and
factories.
"You know, of course, that Charlie Liteky, George Miso, Duncan
Murphy and Brian Willson have also started 'fasting for life in
Central America'" (two on September l and two on September l5), "to
stop U.S. contributions to inhumanity, killing and war there.
"The Great Peace March is also due to arrive in mid-November.
It's time for other concerned citizens to act."
"The weapons manufacturers seem quite comfortable with the
40-odd wars they're currently supplying," I mused. "Is there a
practical alternative to the arms industry if the government can be
persuaded to cease weapons production, sales and use, as you sug-
gest?"
"Yes! Clean-environment industries are needed for human
survival, and they can replace our habitual wartime industries. We
can provide adequate jobs and maintain our high quality economy
while improving the quality of life.
"Non-polluting energy research and development and pre-release
toxic waste control and cleanup would be productive beginnings. We
need to put the burden of proof on producers of toxic and lethal
substances."
"What caused you to begin a water fast here in Lafayette
Park?" I asked.
"After a few months of participating in the five-year-old
24-hour anti-nuclear/pro-peace vigils here, I found that although
public awareness of an inevitable holocaust is high, public apathy
about an individual's ability to do anything about it is just as
high," Hyder replied.
"'Let George do it,' and 'You four vigilers keep up the good
work!' continues to dominate the public's thinking and willingness
to act on the issue.
"So I was moved to determine how I (or two or three of us)
could motivate enough of the public to do something that would turn
the U.S. government away from its active warrior leadership in the
world.
"Historically, a few powerless nonviolent people with a clear
vision for the good of everyone have used masses of equally
powerless people and/or terminal fasting to set their people free.
(Gandhi is an example.)
"But everyone in the U.S., even the 'poor' and 'powerless'
citizens, has too much to lose to accept the risks and discipline
required to turn the U.S. government away from funding and
supporting the burgeoning weapons industries.
"So we are left with terminal fasting as a primary weapon to
motivate apathetic citizens to regain control of their government."
Dr. Hyder says he has great hope for the President when uninformed visitors accuse him of opposing Reagan.
Pointing to his sign "REAGAN, HISTORY AWAITS YOU and OUR
FASTING," he says "Ronald Reagan has the power and opportunity to
be the greatest leader the world has ever known.
"If he can achieve worldwide commitment to nuclear disarmament
and stopping violent and deadly military attacks against foreign
homelands -- which I believe he can -- then he deserves a paramount
place in history."
Perhaps Mr. Reagan will join the growing number of people who
visit Dr. Hyder, day and night, at his signs in Lafayette Park.
The president has the same opportunity as the million tourists
who step out the front door of the White House each year to walk
across Pennsylvania Avenue.
He should look for the American flag drooping or flapping next
to the words "PEACE, EQUALITY, COMPASSION" and "NONVIOLENCE - WE
WANT YOU!"
Won't YOU DO SOMETHING to help Dr. Hyder's quest to remove the
threat of worldwide nuclear holocaust from YOUR life?
Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil ... At the White House
Gates...
Call: (202) 462-3542. Write: P.O. Box 272l7, D.C., 20038.
Feel free to reprint and distribute this article.