The Chemical Weapons Working Group is a project of the Kentucky
Environmental Foundation (KEF). KEF was founded in 1990, by a local
grassroots group, Common Ground. KEF's mission is "to further the
cause of safe disposal of chemical weapons and environmental democracy
by improving public access to information, coalition building, fostering
cooperation between government and citizens, and encouraging
grassroots participation in the decision-making process."
Common Ground was formed around the nerve gas disposal
issue in 1986, soon after the Army announced its plans to build hazardous
waste incinerators in Kentucky. In 1990, more than 2,000 local citizens
turned out for a public scoping meeting held by the Army at a local
middle school, and the local movement for safe disposal began. At the
time, the Army told local citizens they had two choices, burn the
weapons here or move the weapons elsewhere. Given those choices,
citizens in Kentucky were in favor of moving the weapons somewhere else.
KEF was founded as a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization to serve the Central
Kentucky community by working to oppose the Army's plans to
incinerate chemical weapons. 70% of KEF's Board are elected by Common Ground
members. The other 30% of KEF's board are "at large" positions.
At the time KEF was founded there was no national movement for safe disposal,
and KEF founders were focused on the issue of how to prevent the Army
from building incinerators in Kentucky.
In 1991, with support from Greenpeace, Military Toxics Project, and the
Tides Foundation, KEF organized the first "Citizen's Summit" on
chemical weapons disposal in Richmond, KY, which brought together
concerned citizens from all 9 U.S. chemical weapons stockpile sites, as
well as Russia to share concerns about safe disposal as well as
organizing strategies.
Working together, citizens from all sites moved from their divided
position of "not in my backyard" to an inclusive, responsible and unified
position of "develop safe disposal technologies." Consensus was reached
at the first CWWG conference that transportation of these weapons to
another community was not an option . The "Citizens' Accords" were
written by consensus and all agreed that to win on this issue citizens
from all affected sites would continue to work together, to share
information, and strategies.
In 1992, CWWG members expressed an interest in continuing to work
together in a more organized fashion. At that time, KEF was elected to
serve as lead organization of the CWWG and Craig Williams was elected
as national spokesperson. As a result of KEF's responsibilities as lead
organization of the CWWG, KEF began to expand its focus from local
organizing towards national coalition building.
In 1993, KEF organized the second CWWG conference. That same year,
in recognition of the importance of the work KEF was doing on the CWWG
project, the KEF Board voted that KEF would spend 95% of its time on national
coalition building, and 5% on local Kentucky organizing.
In December 1994, the Caucus of Representatives (CORE) group was
created as a mechanism to facilitate better communication between KEF
and CWWG members. CORE is made up of representatives from all eight
U.S. stockpile sites and the Pacific. The diversity of CORE reflects the
diversity of the coalition, with nine members- two people of color, five
women. CORE members are selected by coalition members at the sites
and are responsible for oversight of KEF's work plan; budget priorities;
and for representing the concerns of their constituents when important
decisions are made.
In 1995, 5% of KEF's budget was spent on local work. In return, local
volunteers have helped KEF's small staff keep up with its CWWG project
work. And Common Ground continues to play an important role in
KEF's work by keeping KEF connected to the grassroots from which it
sprang. It has been affirmed by Common Ground and KEF's local
constituency that Common Ground, like all CWWG coalition members,
will continue to strive for self sustainability and financial independence
and that KEF's role in the movement for safe disposal is to work for
national and international change.
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