Think Outside the Bomb 2008 National Youth and Grassroots
Conference for Nuclear Abolition -
August 14-17, 2008
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications is August 1st for those who require travel assistance and August 8th for those who do not.
2. When will I hear if my registration has been accepted?
Because we are receiving a very large number of registration applications, it may take up to two weeks for us to notify you of receiving your application. If two weeks pass and you do not hear from us, please contact conference organizer Steve Stormoen from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation here or call (805) 284-6911. Only those with confirmed registrations will be admitted into the conference.
3. What if I have to travel a long distance to travel to Boston? I may not be able to afford that.
This is a national conference, and the majority of conference participants will be from other areas of the country outside of the Boston area. The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is offering full travel scholarships to participants who need them, as well as free accommodations and free food for all four days of the conference.
It is for this reason that we are asking people to apply to the conference; the cost of each participant's attendance (food, travel, accommodations, and other expenses) would make it prohibitive.
4. Where will I stay?
We will arrange lodging for all participants on a case by case basis. We are in the process of arranging free "homestay" accommodations, meaning the vast majority of participants will stay on August 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th at the homes of friends and allies of the conference organizers and sponsoring organizations in the Boston area. Additionally, we are pursuing other modes of lodging for participants, including housing at a local church and other alternatives. We will contact you with your housing assignment roughly a week before the beginning of the conference, once we have been able to finalize our applicants list. . We will do all we can to ensure these accommodations are comfortable and that transportation to and from the conference location will be convenient.
5. If I have to arrive at the conference late, can I still attend?
We strongly prefer that all attendees admitted into the conference be present for its entirety. The event will start at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 16th and conclude at 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 19th. If you are traveling from out of town, we prefer that you arrive on the evening of August 15th. If you are attending the one-day conference pre-training, we prefer that you arrive on the evening of August 14th. If you apply to the conference, we expect that you will be prepared to arrive on time for the beginning of the event and stay through the end.
6. How much does it cost to attend?
We are asking for a $20 entrance donation from all participants, mainly to help cover the cost of food.
7. Is this a “youth” conference? What if I am not a “youth”?
Haven't you ever heard the phrase "youth is just a state of mind"? We accept "youth" applicants of any age -- as long as you have a youthful commitment to these movements! However, the conference is a space where younger voices will be privileged and encouraged. Most participants will range in age from 15-29.
8. What should I wear?
Dress comfortably! There is no dress code. Boston in August is rather hot, though. So much so that we may make our way to the beach at some point. Just to let you know.
9. What are some other logistics I should be aware of?
For those within driving distance, we will arrange for participants to carpool to Boston on a case-by-case basis, so as to minimize the ecological footprint of the conference and reduce costs that we can invest so as to strengthen other aspects of the conference. We will also help all conference attendees navigate carpools and public transportations to and from their lodging locations and the location of the conference at MIT.
10. Once my application to the conference is accepted, what can I be doing to prepare myself between now and the event itself?
Please see the "Background Reading" section of this web site, which includes selected articles to help familiarize participants with the primary issues and ideas the conference will be based on.
In addition, please stay in close contact with us regarding the logistics of your visit -- particularly, your travel arrangements and accommodations in Boston. Again, we are attempting to arrange the carpooling and homsestays in as efficient a manner as possible. If you are driving to the conference and would be willing to pick up other participants along the way, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you. If you live in Boston and can offer housing for those attending from out of town, we’d also greatly appreciate hearing from you.
11. Where at MIT will the conference take place?
Other questions? Call us
at (805) 965-3443 and ask for Steve Stormoen, OR, you can email us by using this
form.