SHAD Alliance Records

The SHAD Alliance (Sound-Hudson Against Atomic Development) was a collection of more than 20 local groups of people in southern New York State who were concerned about nuclear proliferation, low-level radiation, the nuclear fuel cycle, and the possibility of nuclear accidents. It was a "grassroots" alliance which took action by means of demonstrations, civil disobedience, educational forums, and leafletting. Nonviolence was always emphasized, and safe energy alternatives were promoted. SHAD's structure was very loosely organized. There was a central office in New York City which coordinated the antinuclear activity of between 20 and 30 "locals" (affiliates) which participated in varying degrees. The New York City and Westchester groups were among the most active local. Anti-nuclear activists from Westchester County, originally working out of the offices of WESPAC in White Plains, were initially focused on Indian Point before proposing to join forces in an alliance with those concerned about the Shoreham reactor. At the first SHAD-wide (general) congress in September 1978, it was decided that the Shoreham (New York) reactor, scheduled to open in the spring of 1980, would be the focus of a regional SHAD campaign. SHAD affiliates also took part in actions against the Indian Point (New York) and Seabrook (New Hampshire) reactors. In March, 1979, the entire antinuclear movement was galvanized by the near-meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania, and SHAD's membership grew accordingly.

SHAD affiliates also took part in the Manhattan Project's Wall Street Action (October 28-29, 1979), which attempted to close down the New York Stock Exchange. The SHAD Alliance encouraged the withholding of payments from Consolidated Edison, the New York utility which built the Indian Point reactor. Involvement in this region's antinuclear movement seemed to peak around the end of 1979. By 1980, the minutes of the Coordinating Committees of both SHAD-wide and New York City SHAD reflect a decrease in interest and falling-off of activity. Internal dissension and chronic lack of funds caused frustration and further limited SHAD's viability. By the end of 1981, it was almost defunct. The office of SHAD was dismantled in 1982, but it may have issued some publications as late as 1988, as noted on OCLC, a national bibliographic database. One committee, the SHAD Education Task Force attempted to carry on and broaden the work of the SHAD Alliance, without the civil disobedience component. It changed its name to Last Chance in 1981. The SHAD Alliance published three serials: Fallout Forum, New York City SHAD Newsletter, and New Rising Sun. The latter two titles were both published by the New York City SHAD local; New Rising Sun seems to have superseded New York City SHAD Newsletter.