James Patrick Thomas's path toward nuclear disarmament began on Good Friday, 1982, when he and his fellow peace pilgrims started walking away from the Trident Nuclear Submarine Base near Seattle. Their Bethlehem Peace Pilgrimage would span 6,700 miles across the United States and nine other countries, each step aimed at ending the nuclear arms race.
After two years on the road, Jim continued his pursuit of peace and disarmament. Back in Spokane, Washington, Jim turned his attention toward the Hanford plutonium factory-one of the original Manhattan Project sites just 110 miles from his home. Over the next two decades, Jim helped uncover stunning revelations about Hanford's toxic regional impact and its role in our nation's nuclear weapons complex.
Atomic Pilgrim is the story of how one person's faith, actions, and persistence can impact seemingly immovable systems and hold even the most powerful bureaucracies to account.
Advance Praise for Atomic Pilgrim:
"Atomic Pilgrim is an inspiring memoir about courageous actions taken for peace and a world free of nuclear weapons. While Thomas's intense internal battles rocket from hope to despair, both parts of the book reflect his faith in God and belief in the basic goodness of human beings." ~Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews
"Atomic Pilgrim is both a journey of public witness but also one of examination of the soul.... Inspiring - Informative - Impactful." ~Charlene Howard, Executive Director, Pax Christi USA
"Atomic Pilgrim is an inspiring memoir that raises important questions for today about the human costs of nuclear weapons." ~Cynthia C. Kelly, President of the Atomic Heritage Foundation
"Thomas's messages on the importance of faith, reflection, persistence, and acceptance, and his vivid description of the struggles and rewards of fighting for truth and justice will inspire readers, and hopefully encourage at least some to live a life of service and walk a similar path for peace." ~Stephen I. Schwartz, editor and co-author of Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Since 1940
"A passionate memoir by an anti-nuclear activist and committed patriot." ~Gregg Herken, author of Brotherhood of the Bomb: The Tangled Lives and Loyalties of Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, and Edward Teller
